Bengaluru
Despite being hailed as South Asia’s largest industrial cluster, Bengaluru’s Peenya Industrial Area is grappling with severe infrastructure woes. Frustrated by persistent government apathy, several industries have now warned of shifting their operations to Tamil Nadu.
Ravi Kiran Kulkarni, industrialist and former secretary of the Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA), expressed deep disappointment with the state’s neglect. “We’ve been denied basic civic amenities like proper roads, electricity, water supply, and sanitation. Repeated pleas to the government have gone unanswered. We are now left with no option but to consider relocating to Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Initial discussions in this regard have reportedly already taken place with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and the state’s Industries Minister. “If the Karnataka government continues to ignore our demands, shifting out is inevitable,” Kulkarni warned.
Many entrepreneurs in Peenya echo his concerns. “We are proud that Peenya is Asia’s second-largest industrial cluster, but today we are ashamed of the abysmal infrastructure,” another industrialist told
Spread across 1,800 acres, Peenya houses around 3,500 micro, small, medium, and large-scale industries, employing nearly 6 lakh workers. It generates an estimated ₹8,000 crore in annual revenue for the state. Yet, its roads are riddled with potholes, its lighting insufficient, and its waste management system nearly non-existent.
“During monsoons, these roads turn into death traps. Many accidents have occurred due to crater-sized potholes. Poor infrastructure has also forced many newly hired employees, especially women, to quit,” said Smita, another entrepreneur.
Beyond poor roads, mounds of uncollected garbage have worsened conditions. “Wherever you go, you see trash dumped everywhere. BBMP hasn’t cleared waste for months,” another business owner added.