Canadian vlogger documents Bengaluru's broken footpaths; calls it ‘pathetic’. Viral video prompts repairs by authorities

A video by Bengaluru-based Canadian vlogger Caleb Friesen showing broken footpaths, rubble and large holes on Indiranagar’s 12th Main went viral. In a follow-up post, Friesen said some of the highlighted spots had been repaired.

A viral video highlighting the poor condition of footpaths in Bengaluru’s Indiranagar appears to have prompted quick civic action, with Canadian vlogger Caleb Friesen saying some of the spots featured in his video have since been repaired.

Friesen, who lives in Bengaluru and has previously posted about the city’s infrastructure challenges, recently shared a video documenting the condition of footpaths along 12th Main in Indiranagar. The video showed damaged pavements, piles of rubble and a large hole filled with rubbish.

In a follow-up post, Friesen said some of the locations highlighted in the video had been fixed.

‘It’s pathetic’

In the video, Friesen walked along 12th Main and pointed out cracked and broken sections of the pavement. Describing the condition as “pathetic”, he questioned how such pedestrian infrastructure existed in a neighbourhood associated with Bengaluru’s technology and startup economy.

“Bengaluru is a pretty important city here in India. It's one of the tech capitals of the country,” Friesen said in the video.

He also pointed to Indiranagar’s position as a hub for startups and venture capital firms, arguing that the condition of its footpaths did not reflect the city’s reputation for technology and innovation.

The video showed sections of broken pavement, scattered construction debris and a large hole containing rubbish. Friesen also questioned why the debris had been left unattended and suggested that the problem was not limited to the stretch he was filming.

In the post accompanying the video, he said Indiranagar’s footpaths should be “walkable, safe, pedestrian-friendly” and a reflection of the innovation associated with Bengaluru.

Viral video followed by repairs

The clip triggered discussion on social media, with users sharing their experiences of Bengaluru’s pedestrian infrastructure and pointing to similar problems in other Indian cities.

In his latest update, Friesen said some of the spots highlighted in his video had been repaired.

“Great news! Some spots highlighted in this video were fixed today. Tomorrow more work will be done,” he wrote in the follow-up post.

Friesen also said he was not in Bengaluru at the time and that another person would be at 12th Main along with area inspector Vijay Haridas, whom he credited with helping make the quick fixes happen.

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has previously responded to infrastructure issues highlighted in Friesen’s videos. In December 2025, a separate video by Friesen led to repairs on an Indiranagar footpath, according to The New Indian Express. The report said the civic body fixed the stretch after his video drew attention to damaged and obstructed footpaths.

Bengaluru’s pedestrian infrastructure problem

The latest episode highlights a recurring tension for Bengaluru: a city widely associated with technology, startups and venture capital continues to face basic urban infrastructure challenges.

Friesen’s videos have repeatedly focused on the experience of navigating Bengaluru on foot, turning everyday problems such as broken pavements, obstructions and unsafe stretches into social-media conversations.

A previous viral video by Friesen also helped draw attention to a long-abandoned walkway connecting Domlur and Indiranagar, which was subsequently restored after public pressure and efforts involving civic authorities and local residents.

For the latest 12th Main video, however, the immediate update is that some of the locations featured by Friesen have been repaired, while he said more work was expected.

About the Author

Anjali Thakur is a Senior Assistant Editor with Mint, reporting on trending news, entertainment and health, with a focus on stories driving digital conversations. Her work involves spotting early signals across news cycles and social media, sharpening stories for SEO and Google Discover, and mentoring young editors in digital-first newsroom practices. She is known for turning fast-moving developments—whether news-driven or culture-led—into clear, tightly edited journalism without compromising editorial rigour.<br><br> Before joining Mint, she was Deputy News Editor at NDTV.com, where she led the Trending section and covered viral news, breaking developments and human-interest stories. She has also worked as Chief Sub-Editor at India.com (Zee Media) and as Senior Correspondent with Exchange4media and Hindustan Times’ HT City, reporting on media, advertising, entertainment, health, lifestyle and popular culture.<br><br> Anjali holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miranda House, and is currently pursuing an MBA, strengthening her understanding of business strategy and digital media economics. Her writing balances newsroom discipline with a clear instinct for what resonates with readers.

Stay updated with the latest Trending, India, World and US news.

HomeNewsTrendsCanadian vlogger documents Bengaluru's broken footpaths; calls it ‘pathetic’. Viral video prompts repairs by authorities