Ganguly wrote that he had spent a week at his new location. Leaving Mumbai, which he had considered home, was not an easy decision, but he gradually realised that construction work in the city would never seem to end because it generated income for contractors and ministers. He said there would always be a new project or renovation that would make people's lives difficult. If no new project was available, he added, something built only a few years earlier would be demolished to make way for a bigger structure.
'A Serious Government Would Not Cut Bus Services'
Ganguly acknowledged that infrastructure development was necessary to improve commuting facilities. However, he questioned the government's approach, arguing that a government serious about improving transport would not reduce the number of buses so drastically. Instead, he said, bus services should continually be expanded.
He pointed out that good cities abroad have strong bus networks used by people from every section of society, whereas Mumbai's situation was the opposite.
According to Ganguly, living in Mumbai felt like playing life on hard mode. With a child in the family, he wanted more greenery, open spaces and schools with enough room for children to play.
He recalled that he had liked Mumbai when he moved there from Delhi nine years ago. However, the situation had changed over the past few years, particularly after the lockdown. He suggested that Mumbai had been a good place to live until saying that someone had come from Delhi was considered a taunt or an insult. He added that he would now see what happened next.
Ganguly Says Bengaluru Is Better Than Mumbai Despite Construction
Ganguly acknowledged that Bengaluru also faced construction-related problems, but said the city still had plenty of trees. He noted that 50% of the city was military cantonment land and that its greenery helped keep the city alive.
He also said Bengaluru offered better schools, better homes and lower rents. According to him, almost everything seemed cheaper after living in Mumbai.
Ganguly admitted that Bengaluru was not like Coimbatore, but said that after recently exploring the city, travelling around and assessing its facilities, he found it considerably better than Mumbai.
NCR Pollution and Aggressive Environment Also Influenced Decision
Explaining the broader challenges faced by stand-up comedians when choosing where to live and work, Ganguly said the National Capital Region, Bengaluru and Mumbai were the main options for most comedians, regardless of whether their experiences were positive or negative. Pune and Hyderabad could also be considered if a comedian had an audience there.
However, he said the pollution situation in the NCR made it difficult to live there with a child. Having lived in Mumbai, he also found the atmosphere in the NCR somewhat aggressive for no apparent reason.
These considerations contributed to his decision to move to Bengaluru with his family. He concluded by saying that he would see how things developed in the future.
Social Media Users Offer Mixed Reactions to His Move
Ganguly's post prompted varied reactions on social media. Some users agreed with his assessment of Mumbai and welcomed him to Bengaluru, while others suggested locations in Mumbai that they believed offered the greenery, educational institutions and other facilities he was seeking.
One user said they were happy for Ganguly if the move made him happier. However, the user argued that several construction projects undertaken in Mumbai over the past few years, including metro services, roads and new suburbs, should have been completed much earlier. According to the user, these developments were necessary to make commuting easier for daily travellers. The user also suggested that Ganguly's profession did not require him to depend as heavily on commuting infrastructure every day.
Another user described Mumbai's current condition as extremely poor, saying it was difficult to breathe, walk or drive in the city. The user called the situation frustrating and expressed a wish to leave Mumbai as well.
Shifted out of Mumbai last week. Gradually realised the city will be in a perpetual state of construction since that's how contractors and in turn ministers will make money. So there'll always be that next project, next renovation to make your life tough. And if nothing else, they'll break an existing one completed just few years ago to make something bigger. Living in Mumbai constantly felt like life in hard mode. And with a baby in picture, wanted to have a little bit of greenery and space around. And eventually schools with space. Used to love the city when I came 9 years back from Delhi. But something shifted some years back, specially post lockdown. Incidentally I think Mumbai was good to live as long as 'Dilli se aaya hai kya?' used to be an insult. Now let's see..
— Abijit Ganguly (@AbijitG) October 19, 2026
A third user said the situation was genuinely concerning and agreed with Ganguly's observations. The user anticipated that some people would accuse him of portraying Mumbai negatively, while others would argue that conditions would improve over time. However, the user maintained that things were not going well.
A fourth user pointed out that Mumbai still had several areas with considerable greenery, including Walkeshwar, Shivaji Park, Dadar Hindu Colony, Matunga and Five Gardens. The user suggested that Ganguly could have considered these neighbourhoods, highlighting the availability of good schools, educational institutions, healthcare services and, most importantly, safety.
Ganguly's move has therefore sparked a wider discussion about Mumbai's construction activity, public transport, green spaces, housing costs and the challenges of raising children in the city, with social media users offering differing views on whether Bengaluru provides a better alternative.
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