BlackBuck CEO Rajesh Yabaji
Bengaluru: In a strong clarification, BlackBuck CEO Rajesh Yabaji has refuted media reports suggesting that the logistics-tech unicorn is planning to exit Bengaluru due to traffic congestion and infrastructure woes. His statement comes a day after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru’s guardian minister D.K. Shivakumar issued a stern warning to IT companies, stating that the government will not bow down to “blackmailing tactics” and that no firm can threaten to leave the city.
Rajesh Yabaji clarified that BlackBuck is not moving out of Bengaluru, but merely relocating to a different office within the city to facilitate better employee commutes. “We unilaterally refute claims made by some media outlets that we are considering moving out of the city. Bengaluru has provided us with resources, infrastructure, talent, and opportunities to grow. It will continue to be our home,” Yabaji said.
He further emphasized that a large portion of BlackBuck’s operations will continue along the Outer Ring Road (ORR), Bellandur, and Koramangala tech corridor, which has long been the backbone of the IT and logistics ecosystem. “We will continue to seek help from government authorities for infrastructure improvements on ORR to facilitate smooth business operations,” he added.
Yabaji’s response comes in the backdrop of a brewing debate after several IT executives, including a CEO based in Bellandur, raised concerns about traffic chaos and hinted at moving operations out of Bengaluru. In response, D.K. Shivakumar dismissed such threats, urging firms not to blackmail the government. “No one can threaten the state. Bengaluru’s growth is unstoppable, and the government is already investing ₹1.25 lakh crore in infrastructure, white-topping roads, and building new flyovers and elevated corridors,” Shivakumar said earlier.
The Karnataka government recently announced the formation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), replacing the BBMP, to streamline civic governance and ensure better accountability. Shivakumar has repeatedly argued that the new model will transform Bengaluru into a global-standard metropolis and address bottlenecks such as potholes, flooding, and traffic congestion.
BlackBuck, founded in 2015 at Koramangala’s Sony Signal, moved its base to Bellandur ORR in 2016 to expand operations. Over the past decade, it has grown into one of India’s leading trucking-tech firms. The company reiterated that its commitment to Bengaluru is long-term and that it will also be expanding its footprint in the city.
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