'Backward Growth?' Viral 1980s Bengaluru Photo Stirs Nostalgia and Discontent

An evocative photograph from the 1980s showing Bengaluru’s iconic MG Road–Brigade Road stretch has gone viral on social media, rekindling memories of a quieter, cleaner, and greener city. Shared by the handle @IndiaHistoryPic on X (formerly Twitter), the image reveals a vintage view — wide, nearly empty roads, classic cars, and leafy boulevards — in stark contrast to the city’s present congestion and chaos.

1980s Bengaluru: MG Road’s calm streets and vintage charm spark nostalgia.

Many residents were quick to voice their emotions, ranging from nostalgia to frustration. “This was the Bengaluru we knew and loved,” said one user. Another pointed out, “The city was more beautiful back then. Literacy has improved, but civic sense has fallen — we are growing backwards.”

The photo, likely from the MG Road junction area, highlights the rapid urban transformation Bengaluru has undergone — not always for the better. One netizen recalled how the lush boulevard visible in the image was razed for Namma Metro’s construction, calling it a "loss disguised as progress."

The image has sparked renewed debates around urban planning, cultural preservation, and the cost of unchecked development. Citizens expressed concern over vanishing green spaces and increased pollution, often citing the city’s outdated infrastructure and weak enforcement of civic norms.

In response to ongoing concerns, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya recently introduced a 15-point plan aimed at rejuvenating the city's civic systems. His proposal includes traffic reforms, better public transport, and the establishment of a 'Bengaluru 2050 Vision Group'—a task force of experts and officials to chart a sustainable path forward.