Shukla, who became the first ISRO astronaut to reach the International Space Station during Axiom Mission 4 in July 2025, said his drive from Marathahalli to the summit venue took nearly three hourslonger, he noted, than parts of his return journey from orbit. His comment drew laughter from the audience but underscored a frustration widely shared by commuters.
Sharing the stage with Shukla, Karnataka IT & BT Minister Priyank Kharge acknowledged the issue and said the government is working to reduce travel times through improved traffic management and infrastructure coordination. “According to Shubhanshu, it’s easier to reach Bengaluru from space than from Marathahalli. We will ensure such concerns are addressed,” Kharge said.
The Bengaluru Traffic Police heatmap for June 2025 highlights the scale of the crisis. The city endures nearly 190 km of daily congestion, with travel times rising 16% over the past year. Commuters now take an average of 63 minutes to travel 19 km, losing an estimated 117 hours annually in gridlock.
Vehicle density continues to surge. More than three lakh new private vehicles were registered between January and June this year, including 50,000 in June alone. Transport officials say the actual load is higher when accounting for vehicles entering from surrounding regions.
Shukla, selected as one of the four astronauts for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission, also engaged with students at the summit on space science and innovation. But it was his traffic quip delivered in passing that echoed far beyond the venue, capturing the everyday struggle of a city racing to keep pace with its own growth.
