- November Deadline: Contractors told to fill all Bengaluru potholes by November.
- Major Road Work: Black topping of 182 roads (349 km) approved at ₹694 crore.
- Business Backlash: Start-up CEO cites traffic chaos, vows to move company out.
GG News Bureau
Bengaluru, 17th Sept: Facing public outrage over crumbling roads and heavy traffic, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar has set a November deadline for contractors to fill all potholes across the city.
Announcing the move on Wednesday, Shivakumar said, “Contractors have been given a final deadline to fill the potholes within November. Since a clean Bengaluru and smooth traffic are our goals, the Greater Bengaluru Authority will provide relief from potholes as soon as possible.”
The order follows a viral post by Rajesh Yabaji, CEO of logistics start-up BlackBuck, who said his firm would relocate from the city’s Outer Ring Road area due to unbearable traffic and neglected roads.
The post triggered a wave of complaints from residents and industry leaders, including investor Mohandas Pai, who called the situation a “big, big failure of governance.”
To speed repairs, black topping of 182 roads covering 349 km has been sanctioned at a cost of ₹694 crore, alongside an earlier ₹1,100 crore citywide road upgrade plan.
Bengaluru Central City Corporation Commissioner Rajendra Cholan has directed officials to identify ward-wise waste “black spots” and ensure water does not stagnate on newly asphalted stretches.
