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How the 'Bengaluru Dream' turned into a nightmare

STORY: Nineteen-year-old Kkavya landed in Bengaluru with dreams of getting a degree in English literature and an exciting job at a technology company. During a job interview, Khavya, who is from Kashmir, was told that she would have fantastic job opportunities in India's Silicon Valley. She was sold the “Bengaluru dream”. “When I came to work I was promised they said, 'Listen, the weather is going to be amazing, you're going to get paid, come to work.' Seven hours for us to go home, drink a beer, relax, sleep. “After three years in the city, the dream falls apart, and quickly. One problem is traffic.” Do you see the horn? Have you heard? It? became India's answer to Silicon Valley. It attracted millions of workers and housed the regional headquarters of some of the world's largest IT companies. But unchecked urban expansion has dented Bengaluru's character as a livable city. The city is about to vote in India's second phase. During the national election on Friday (April 26), Kkavya said she was frustrated that these issues are rarely addressed by local politicians and candidates who never talk about them. Traffic is our problem, the roads are our problem, the hospital is your problem. So when I tell my boss that I can't be there on time, that's my problem, not the people who built the roads, not the people who are in charge of the traffic.” And she fights for it every morning, water for daily use Last year's weak monsoon rains in the southwest failed to replenish depleted groundwater, leading to shortages. This forced residents to ration water use and pay a much higher price. Water prices in her apartment have increased nearly fourfold, from about $8.40 a month to over $27. “Water is as expensive as it gets.” It's kind of like how we fight, because I remember two days ago this building and the next building had a war over a tank. Because there was only one tank available and we both wanted it, so they basically paid more and got it.