A video posted by a Bengaluru-based technology professional has taken Instagram by storm, cleverly drawing parallels between a modern IT park in the city and the iconic urban landscape of New York. The creator, Sagar Sonawane, has left social media users both amused and impressed with his witty observation.
The Viral Clip: Bengaluru or New York?
In the now-viral reel, Sagar Sonawane is seen dressed in formal business attire, complete with his official Cognizant ID card. As he walks through a sleek IT park in Bengaluru, he narrates in Marathi, humorously insisting that he is working from a tech hub in New York, not India. The video effectively plays on the visual similarities, showcasing the park's contemporary design.
Sonawane specifically highlights the park's advanced infrastructure, including a foot overbridge equipped with escalators that allows pedestrians to safely cross busy roads without navigating traffic. He also draws attention to the surrounding greenery, describing the area as organised, clean, and pedestrian-friendly.
"Guys, I'm in New York's IT park. To cross the road, they have escalators. Look at the roads and the greenery," he says in the clip, before delivering the punchline that brings the viewer back to reality: "This is not New York. This is Bengaluru."
Sparking a Lively Urban Debate
The video quickly resonated with a wide online audience, triggering a vibrant discussion about urban infrastructure and workplace design in major Indian cities. Many users applauded Bengaluru's modern planning, noting that features like escalator-equipped footbridges significantly ease daily commutes for professionals.
However, the clip also ignited a playful rivalry. While appreciating Bengaluru's facilities, Sonawane added a humorous aside, wondering when similar amenities would be seen in Pune, another major IT hub. This prompted a flood of reactions from viewers comparing the two cities, particularly focusing on Pune's Hinjewadi IT corridor.
User comments ranged from jokes about resisting family pressure to move from Bengaluru to Pune, to more serious observations about governance and development pace. Some pointed out that Hinjewadi's open layout differs from gated IT parks, while others humorously warned potential visitors to experience this "New York IT Park" during Bengaluru's monsoon season for the full effect.
Beyond Virality: The Bigger Picture
The light-hearted video, which has amassed over 1.56 lakh views and counting, underscores how everyday experiences in India's corporate landscapes can transform into viral content when presented with relatable humour. It has successfully turned a spotlight on the evolving face of Indian tech campuses, which increasingly rival global standards in aesthetics and functionality.
Ultimately, Sonawane's viral moment does more than just entertain. It frames an important conversation about the aspirations and realities of India's urban development, showing that while there is impressive progress in cities like Bengaluru, the desire for similar high-quality, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure is widespread among professionals across the country's tech hubs.
