Despite spending ₹10 crore per kilometer, there is chaos

White topping still no solution to potholes

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: Even roads that have been spent ₹10 crore per kilometer on concreting (white topping) instead of asphalt (black topping) have not been free from potholes.

BBMP has been planning to white topping all the main and sub-main roads of the city for many years. Many roads have been white topping. White topping work has started on many roads at a cost of ₹1800 crore. However, potholes are appearing on the white topping road, which was completed four years ago. These are not being repaired either.

It has not been a year since the white topping work that took three or four years on BVK Iyengar Road was completed, but potholes are visible there. The BBMP's promise that there will be no problems for about 25 years is a lie here. BVK Iyengar Road is just one example of how even the white-topped road is not free from potholes.

Potholes can be seen on many white-topped roads, including Mysore Road, Sumanahalli Ring Road, Indiranagar Road, Nrupatunga Road. The BBMP is not repairing them. The locals themselves pour stones and bricks found on the side of the road. Otherwise, the traffic police tell the driver of the concrete truck to pour concrete.

"For many years, there was a lot of trouble while white-topping BVK Iyengar Road. Even after the work was completed, potholes continue to appear here and there. No one comes if we complain. We have to clean up the mud and fix it ourselves," said Manohar, a trader.

A nightmare for citizens

When white-topping work begins on a road, residents in the vicinity have to endure at least a year of painful traffic. The work is carried out at a speed slower than a turtle. Vehicles cannot be taken out of their homes for months. Even the drainage work takes several months to complete. Thus, the white-topping work is a nightmare for citizens.

‘Six months have passed since the white-topping work of Govindarajanagar 1st Main Road began. Only one side of the drainage work has been completed on this road, which is less than a km long. They block one side or the other every day. Traffic is difficult,’ complained Chandrappa.

Neglect of ward roads

The Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Chief Commissioner all inspect the main and sub-main roads. However, the Zonal Commissioner, not the Chief Engineer, but the Ward Engineer does not pay attention to the ward roads where the citizens live. 

Although there is a separate grant for the development of ward roads and repair of potholes, the roads are full of potholes due to the indifference of the Zonal Commissioner. Even after the rainy season begins, no repair work is done. The remaining money from this grant is spent on other work. The potholes remain as they are. This is a problem of the wards in eight zones.

‘Many roads in Rajarajeshwari Nagar ward are full of potholes. When a complaint is made, wet mix is ​​applied in one or two places. After a week, all the stones go away and the potholes reappear. Even though asphalt is applied in some places, the potholes are not completely closed,’ complained T.E. Srinivas.