“The problem isn’t money, it is ...”: Chidambaram reacts as Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw offers to fix Bengaluru roads

Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw’s offer to fund Bengaluru’s road repairs has reignited debate on the role of industry in civic development, as P Chidambaram proposes a public-private accountability framework.

Bengaluru’s crumbling roads may soon get a lifeline, not from the government alone, but from the private sector. In a rare and bold intervention, Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has offered to personally fund road repair works in the city, signalling growing frustration from Bengaluru’s industrial leaders over its civic decline.

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Shaw met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar earlier this week to extend Deepavali greetings and reportedly offered her assistance in improving city infrastructure. Shivakumar, who oversees Bengaluru’s civic affairs, confirmed that several industry leaders have expressed willingness to cooperate in developing Bengaluru, while maintaining that such initiatives would not undermine the government’s system.

The move drew national attention after Congress MP P Chidambaram praised Shaw’s initiative but stressed that Bengaluru’s infrastructure problem is not about funding but execution. “The problem with our public works is not the lack of money; it is in the execution,” he said, proposing a model where industrialists supervise civic projects and are held accountable for quality and deadlines.

I noted with interest Mrs Kiran Mazumdar Shaw's offer to fund the development of some roads in Bengaluru. A great offer! Congratulations!

BUT, the problem with our public works is not the lack of public money; the problem is in the execution of the public work

Governments can…

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) October 22, 2025

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Under his suggested framework, public contractors would still execute the work, but the supervising company or individual, like Shaw, would bear penalties or cost overruns if targets are missed. Chidambaram called Bengaluru and Chennai ideal cities to pilot such a public-private accountability model.

Bengaluru’s poor roads, endless potholes, and traffic congestion have long been symbols of civic mismanagement. Shaw’s offer, and the ensuing political conversation, has revived public debate on whether India’s urban infrastructure can improve through industry-government collaboration or if structural reforms are the real need of the hour.