Bengaluru techie’s post on ‘Traffic Tax’ goes viral; says he wastes 2.5 months in traffic every year

BENGALURU: A techie took to Reddit to express frustration over the “traffic tax”, saying that’s how he feels in traffic congestion in Silicon City, sparking widespread debate online.

The man lives in JP Nagar and commutes to office on Outer Ring Road, earning Rs 28 lakh annually while paying Rs 6.5 lakh in income tax and Rs 1.4 lakh in GST on daily expenses.

The office is 14 km away, which should ideally take 30 minutes to reach, but due to heavy traffic, the commute stretches to 90 minutes. This translates to a staggering two-and-a-half months wasted in traffic each year. The taxpayer questioned the purpose of income tax and GST if not for providing good roads, smooth travel and smart city infrastructure. He also wrote about ending up paying hidden taxes and not even having time to look back and introspect.

The post has gone viral, prompting varied reactions. Some suggest the government should incentivise investments in tier-2 cities beyond capital cities. Others argue that funds allocated for freebies should instead be channelled into improving road conditions. The poor state of roads not only damages vehicles, but also leads to health issues due to traffic congestion, they pointed out.

Many users express frustration over the additional financial burden of vehicle repairs due to poor roads, likening it to budgeting for children’s education. The debate highlights the growing discontent among citizens regarding infrastructure and governance in Bengaluru.