BBMP spends Rs 12 cr, but Bengaluru sees 63% rise in potholes

Bengaluru: Bengaluru's pothole problem is getting worse. And there is new data to back it up.

According to BBMP data presented by the government in the Legislative Council, the civic body filled up 1.07 lakh square metres of potholes in 2023-24. But in 2024-25, the area went up to 1.78 lakh square metres, a 63% increase compared to last year, indicating that the number of potholes were increasing year-on-year. 

To fill these increasing potholes, the civic body spent Rs 12.25 crore in 2024-25, up from Rs 7 crore in 2023-24. 

However, commuters trashed the works carried out, saying many potholes open up within weeks of being filled up and that such a huge expenditure was not yielding results.

“We did see BBMP taking up pothole filling works. However, just a few weeks later, we noticed that the same roads have again developed potholes. If the road is back in the same shape within a few days, this is a waste of effort and taxpayer's money,” said Murthy B, a resident of Mahadevapura zone.

Pointing to the bad state of Hosa Road in Bengaluru South, a resident said that potholes popped up just three months after the BBMP relaid the stretch by patching up the bad portions.

Commuters raised similar concerns about Bannerghatta Road. However, a senior BBMP engineer, on the condition of anonymity, said the BBMP was only filling potholes and not addressing the root cause. 

“The potholes don't appear on any road. They develop only when water stagnates on roads. This is because of poorly maintained shoulder drains due to which water enters and stagnates on roads,” the engineer said.

That apart, infrastructure works also weaken roads, officials added.

“There are many roads which would have been dug up by various agencies like BWSSB, Bescom, and KPTCL. Though they would have restored that stretch, the surrounding area would also have become weak and they develop potholes again,” another senior official said.

BBMP Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao said that it was difficult to take up permanent measures during the monsoon. “We can only take up temporary fixes owing to rain. Hence, they might reappear. However, long-term measures will be taken after the monsoon,” Rao said.