After rain, potholes resurface yet again affecting Bengaluru traffic

Recent rains in Bengaluru have led to many potholes resurfacing on the city’s roads but the BBMP has been struggling to complete the work due to “unconducive weather conditions”.  File photo.
| Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

With Bengaluru receiving rains over the last few days, the condition of roads, which were already bad, has worsened, making it hard for motorists to commute. 

In September earlier this year, at the end of the monsoon season, Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D. K. Shivakumar set a 15-day deadline to fill all potholes and the civic body claimed to fill all of them. However, October rains led to many potholes resurfacing. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has been struggling to complete the work due to “unconducive weather conditions” since then.

BBMP Chief Engineer (road infrastructure), B.S. Prahhad talking to The Hindu said the pothole filling exercise was an “ongoing process”. “The BBMP is doing its best to provide safe roads for commuters,” he said. 

5,828 potholes filled so far

According to the data shared by the BBMP, of the 9,796 potholes identified based on the complaints filed on the dedicated app to report potholes, 5,828 have been filled. Around 2,522 reports were rejected due to duplicate complaints and because many of these potholes are on roads that still come under the defect liability period. Contractors have been asked to fix them. As on Wednesday (December 4, 2024), 729 new potholes were reported and fresh work orders were issued to fill 519. 

According to BBMP data, of the 9,796 potholes identified based on the complaints filed on the Raste Gundi Gamana app, 5,828 potholes have been filled. 
| Photo Credit:
HANDOUT E MAIL

However, stretches of Bannerghatta road, Outer Ring Road, Wilson Garden, Kammanahalli, Sarjapur road, Whitefield, Uttarahalli, J.P. Nagar and other areas of the city are rid with large potholes affecting everyday traffic movement. Ongoing white-topping work has only added to woes of the commuters as a few roads are shut and traffic is diverted. 

Woeful road condition

Naveen G., an IT employee who commutes daily on Puneeth Rajkumar Road (ORR) said that the condition of the road has been bad since October. “Due to potholes movement of vehicles has become slow resulting in a longer travel time. Between October and November, the BBMP did fill some potholes but they have resurfaced after recent rains,” he said.

Sowmya Rao, who lives in a PG accommodation in Wilson Garden, said a junction which connects the sub-arterial road and Hosur Road has two large craters. “I have seen two motorcycles falling after losing balance due to these potholes. I am now avoiding the route as it is unsafe for two-wheelers. Residents have raised complaints with the BBMP through Raste Gundi Gamana app but action has not been initiated to fix the problem.” 

Sudarshan Yadav from J.P. Nagar said multiple roads in south Bengaluru are no different. Earlier, at least south Bengaluru had better roads but now they are also in bad condition. The BBMP filled the potholes twice at J.P. Nagar 3rd phase but their condition is back to square one now — potholes have reappeared at the same spot. The poor quality of asphalting is to blame,” he added.