Why Many Wealthy NRIs Choose to Stay Abroad Despite Roots

Many Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) often dream of retiring in their homeland. However, one man who returned to India with his wife after living in the US for 25 years discovered that the reality can be challenging. In a comment on social media, he shared that “horrendous traffic” in Indian cities is a major reason many NRIs hesitate to come back, despite financial means and emotional ties.

“My wife and I spent 25 years in the US and moved back to India. Now, some of our American friends are asking about retirement here,” he explained. Although he found many positives, the chaotic traffic conditions emerged as a serious concern. “There are hidden costs to traffic issues. It needs urgent attention,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Reactions on social media varied. One user pointed out that a country of 1.5 billion naturally has traffic issues and compared it to China. The original poster replied that the issue isn’t just traffic but the lack of discipline and order. “In Chicago, people follow lanes even in jams,” he said.

When asked why he chose to return to a crowded city for retirement, his simple answer was “Mom.” Another user argued that returning to India is always a trade-off between emotional and practical reasons. The poster added, “Aging parents, affordable healthcare, and domestic help make it a wiser choice.”

One commenter suggested gated communities as a partial solution since improving infrastructure in major cities might take a long time.

(Note: This article is based on user-generated content on social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims.)

NRI retirement, Indian traffic, Non-Resident Indians, moving back to India, retirement challenges