In Pics: Bengaluru IT Workers And Students Fix Roads Neglected By Authorities

After the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) failed to maintain the road connecting Kadubeesanahalli and Varthur in the Karnataka capital, a group of IT professionals, students and residents have taken matters into their own hands to clean and fill potholes. The BBMP claimed they did not have sufficient funds, forcing the group to fix the roads.

Since videos and pictures of their effort circulated online, people praised the locals but criticised the civic authorities for their negligence. According to Moneycontrol, soon after news of the road conditions reached the Chief Minister’s Office and Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, he asked BBMP officials to address the issue. Although BBMP sent a cleaning machine, it only cleared a small portion of the road before residents stepped in. Sharing the video on X, the page wrote, “Residents of Balagere/Varthur are out on roads cleaning road slits. Techies work on weekdays to pay BBMP and do their work on weekends.”

Reacting to the post, a user wrote, “First citizens pay high taxes and then do BBMP’s duties.”

Another shared, “This is so pathetic of the authorities.”

“Kudos to the volunteers,” a comment read.

Another wrote, “This is how Brand Bengaluru looks like. Pay taxes and clean your roads.”

An individual asked, “If people do your work, what should they pay taxes for? And will you do their work?”

One more added, “Wondering what government doing not providing such basic needs.”

Not just Balagere Road, residents of the Doddakalasandra area are also tired of approaching authorities. Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, a local individual said, “The situation is unbearable. The roads are full of craters and have puddles whenever it rains. This is a major road connecting to the Doddakalasandra metro station, and many students use it to commute to nearby schools and colleges. Despite multiple complaints to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), BWSSB, and the local MLA, nothing has been done to address the issue.”

Reportedly, the poor quality of tar used in the initial repair works has exacerbated the problem, causing the road surface to deteriorate rapidly under the strain of traffic and weather conditions.