Investor Ashish Kacholia Expresses Gratitude To Mumbai Administration; Here's Why

Kacholia was travelling from HSR Layout, a residential neighbourhood in Bengaluru, to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), over 50 kilometres from the city centre

Prominent Indian investor Ashish Kacholia recently vented his frustration on social media after a Google Maps glitch caused him to miss his flight from Bengaluru to Mumbai. Kacholia, co-founder of Hungama Digital with the late Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, reported that the app severely underestimated the travel time from his Bengaluru location to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).

Kacholia was travelling from HSR Layout, a residential neighbourhood in Bengaluru, to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), over 50 kilometres from the city centre. He noted that Google Maps estimated the trip would take around 1 hour and 45 minutes. However, due to Bengaluru's infamous traffic and unexpected rainfall, the journey stretched to three hours, causing him to miss his flight.

Kacholia took to X (formerly Twitter) to recount his experience, stating, "Yesterday missed my flight from Bengaluru to Mumbai because journey took 3 hours instead of 1.45 as shown by Google Maps." 

He also commented on the city's infrastructure and expressed appreciation for Mumbai's traffic management, saying, "Deeply grateful to Mumbai administration @mybmc for investing in infrastructure to keep traffic moving in maximum city." 

The post quickly gained traction, with users chiming in with their own similar experiences. 

One internet user remarked, "I think bangalore is the only place, where u can't rely the travel time shown on Google map. Rarely happened in Gurgaon. (Even though I used to commute ggn to Delhi every day).”

“U atleast reached airport my wife once could travel only till hebbal junction from domlur leaving for office at 3.30pm for a 8pm flight to Chennai. She reached herbal at 8pm and took a detour to madiwala to catch a bus to Chennai finally reaching at 5am,” added another user.

A third user added: “After 3PM it's peak hour,it's impossible to reach airport from HSR layout in one and half hour because 45 minutes it takes after hebbal itself. Hence most of the time would have taken from HSR layout to Hebbal, may be sir you needed to plan for it earlier."