Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on Thursday, November 20, made a light-hearted remark about Bengaluru relentless traffic during the tech summit in the southern Indian city.
Group Captain Shukla is an Indian Air Force officer and test pilot. He is one of four astronauts selected and trained for India’s first manned mission, Gaganyaan, slated for launch in 2027.
Taking the stage before a packed audience at the Bengaluru Tech Summit, Shukla joked that his commute from Marathahalli to the venue took three times longer than his scheduled speech.
“I’m coming all the way from the other side of Bengaluru, Marathahalli. I have spent thrice the time that I am going to be spending on this presentation with you. So you have to look at the commitment that I have,” he said.
Group Capt. Shubhanshu Shukla, began his session at #BTS2025 with a sarcastic remark on #bengalurutraffic, saying he had taken “three times longer to reach the venue from Marathahalli, than the duration of his presentation.”@gagan_shux pic.twitter.com/1s2ewScM2J
— Elezabeth Kurian (@ElezabethKurian) November 20, 2025
Responding to the comment during his closing-day address, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge quipped, “Shubhanshu Shukla said it was easier for him to get from space to Bengaluru, but getting from Marathahalli to this venue was difficult.”
Kharge added that the government would ensure such delays do not recur.
The Future Makers Conclave, one of the most engaging sessions of this year’s Bengaluru Tech Summit, drew thousands of participants and featured a strong lineup of creators, innovators, founders, athletes and thought leaders.
VIDEO | Bengaluru: “Getting into space is fun… but it is also disorienting,” says astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla as he shares his experience aboard the Axiom-4 mission at BTS 2025.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 20, 2025
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/73kvJg8Lu1
Speakers included Shukla, entrepreneur-author Ankur Warikoo, Zepto co-founder Kaivalya Vohra, mind reader Suhani Shah, six-time Grand Slam champion Sania Mirza, and India wicketkeeper-batter and ICC World Cup champion Richa Ghosh.
The 28th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit, themed ‘Futurise’, organised by the Department of Electronics, IT & BT, Government of Karnataka, concluded at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC).
