From better roads to waste management: Residents outline Bengaluru's new year wishlist

Bengaluru: As the New Year unfolds, Bengaluru citizens are voicing their concerns over persistent civic issues that demand immediate attention from local authorities.

Long-standing problems such as delays in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections, lack of accountability, transparency, and poor inter-departmental coordination continue to hinder the city's development.

Residents are renewing their calls for better roads, efficient solid waste management, walkable footpaths, improved public transport connectivity, and healthier drainage systems. 

This is what they have to say...

Whitefield's woes 

Preservation of public land and inadequate solid waste management are major challenges in Whitefield and Mahadevapura.

Resident Murali Govindarajulu pointed out that the last tender for solid waste management in the area was issued in 2018. "In the past six years, the number of houses in Mahadevapura Zone has likely increased by 20-30%. However, solid waste infrastructure remains outdated. Consistent road width during re-asphalting and maintenance of internal roads connecting arterial ones are critical,” he said.

Issues at Horamavu 

Rapid development in Horamavu, a residential and commercial hub near Banaswadi, Kalkere, and Ramamurthy Nagar, has been accompanied by deteriorating infrastructure. The area suffers from poor roads, inadequate underground drainage, and non-functional stormwater drains.

Kochu Shankar, a resident, noted last summer’s severe water shortage and emphasised the need for sustainable solutions. “We need robust solutions for essentials like water and roads. Additionally, adopting rooftop solar panels can help alleviate power shortages,” he added.

What plagues Hebbal? 

Vidya Goggi, a ward committee member for JC Nagar and part of the Whitehouse Association, criticised the lack of local governance.

“There is virtually no ward-level governance. Citizens are left to fend for themselves,” she said. Vidya also highlighted issues like malfunctioning CCTV cameras installed five years ago and the recurrence of sudden, unscheduled roadworks in RT Nagar.

Crisis at Kanakapura 

Abdul Aleem, founder of Changemakers of Kanakapura Road, underscored the need for better railway connectivity in South Bengaluru. He also stressed the urgent requirement for walkable footpaths, which are virtually non-existent in the city’s outskirts.