Civic agencies drag feet as Bannerghatta Road falls apart

Bengaluru: For thousands of vehicle users traversing Bannerghatta Main Road daily, the 2.5-km stretch between Arakere and Vega City Mall has become a test of patience, spinal health and vehicle durability, with deep potholes, uneven surfaces and debris making every trip an ordeal.

A visit by this DH reporter revealed a classic case of administrative apathy and a lack of coordination between the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and the Bengaluru South City Corporation (BSCC).

Commuters, especially scooter riders and auto drivers, described what it is like to travel on the road every day.

"Every day is a gamble. If you do not fall into a pothole, you are dodging a bus that's swerving to avoid one," said Venkatesh, an auto driver.

A delivery boy said: "The dust is blinding, and at night especially, you cannot see where the road ends and a trench begins. We pay road tax, but where is the road? It's just mud and stones."

Local business owners are equally frustrated. The owner of a medical shop near the stretch said dust and chaos were hurting businesses.

"People struggle to even park or walk into the shop. The dust is constant, and we see at least two or three minor two-wheeler skids every day. The authorities seem to be waiting for a major tragedy before they wake up," he said.

Blame game

BSCC Chief Engineer KV Ravi said the BWSSB had laid pipes, but did not finish the work on time.

"I am being hounded with RTI queries, but what answer can I give? The BWSSB has laid pipes, but they are not finishing the work on time. We cannot restore the road until they are done," he told DH.

He alleged that the BWSSB's delay was causing public outrage to fall on the BSCC. "It is humiliating. Every time I check social media, it's full of posts about Bannerghatta Road. We have issued show-cause notices and demand notices, but there is no concern for public safety from their end. They cut the road at night and do not even inform us properly."

A BWSSB executive engineer cited technical hurdles and a recent internal reorganisation for the delay.

"We can only work at night, from 9 pm to 5 am, which limits our progress. We have encountered hard rock surfaces and existing underground cables that require careful handling," the official said. "Recently, the zones were reorganised under the South Zone chief engineer. This transition in the last 10 days has caused some coordination hurdles."

The official said work on the chambers would be completed in three days, after which restoration could begin.

In its 2026-27 budget, the BSCC announced development of Bannerghatta Road from Dairy Circle to NICE Road. The work will begin after the BWSSB and metro works are completed, officials said.