Drone footage of Bengaluru’s skyline sparks debate on urbanization

A drone video showcasing Bengaluru’s densely packed skyline has gone viral, igniting a debate on social media about the city’s rapid urbanization. The video, filmed in Nandini Layout, was shared by a Bengaluru resident on X with the caption “Aerial view of heart of Bengaluru- development or urban chaos?” The footage highlights the overwhelming presence of concrete structures, with little visible green space, leading to a divide in opinions among netizens.

Aerial view of Heart of Bengaluru - Development or urban chaos?#realestate#concretejungle#bangalorepic.twitter.com/8nnyBjO1B2

— Srihari Karanth (@sriharikaranth)

Aerial view of Heart of Bengaluru - Development or urban chaos?#realestate#concretejungle#bangalorepic.twitter.com/8nnyBjO1B2

— Srihari Karanth (@sriharikaranth) March 16, 2025

">March 16, 2025

While some view the development as progress, many raised concerns over the city’s environmental degradation. One user commented, “Man-made disaster. It’s time to stop all building activities in and around the city,” while another added, “100 percent urban chaos. Bengaluru will die. The groundwater levels are down from greed. Trees will die.” A long time resident lamented the city’s transformation, saying, “It pains me to see both sides filled with buildings instead of greenery. It looks like lifeless barren land.” Criticism was also directed at the ongoing expansion on the city’s outskirts.

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However, some users suggested solutions to mitigate the issue, like creating roof gardens on terraces to increase greenery. Recently, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara acknowledged the city’s infrastructure challenges, noting that Bengaluru’s roads and transport systems were not designed to accommodate its current population and vehicle density. With a population of 1.4 crore and an equal number of vehicles, Parameshwara emphasized that traffic congestion would remain a major issue unless new infrastructure is developed to spread out Bengaluru.