Bengaluru: Bengaluru’s perennial problem with pothole-strewn roads has once again come under the spotlight, with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar promising residents a lasting solution. Speaking on Tuesday, Shivakumar said that approximately 13,000 potholes have already been repaired in the city, with another 4,000–5,000 identified for filling in the coming weeks.
“The officials are following government orders and filling potholes. Along with this, I have told them to prepare a Rs 1,100 crore plan for developing arterial roads,” he said. The Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds charge of Bengaluru Development, revealed that officials have been asked to draw up an ambitious Rs 1,100 crore plan aimed at upgrading 550 kilometres of arterial roads. He noted that concreting key junctions would take about 26 days, with discussions underway to manage traffic during this period.
Shivakumar added that the Chief Minister has separately committed Rs 750 crore towards pothole filling.
Inspected the ongoing road improvement works at Kasturba Road with senior officials. Directed teams to focus on quality and timely execution in line with the vision of Brand Bengaluru.
ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ನಗರ ಪ್ರದಕ್ಷಿಣೆಯ ಅಂಗವಾಗಿ, ಇಂದು ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ಆಡಳಿತಾಧಿಕಾರಿ ಶ್ರೀ ತುಷಾರ್ ಗಿರಿನಾಥ್, ಜಿಬಿಎ… pic.twitter.com/jkymDoLiNm
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) September 30, 2025
Potholes being documented using photos, videos & GPS tagging
At the constituency level, a further Rs 1,100 crore has been earmarked for road development, with strict instructions that the funds be used solely for improving infrastructure. Shivakumar stressed that each repaired pothole is being documented using photos, videos and GPS tagging to ensure accountability. A mobile app has also been developed for residents to report potholes directly, while the police have been enlisted to identify problem areas.
“Such an initiative is only available in Karnataka,” Shivakumar said, highlighting Bengaluru’s prominence. “As Bengaluru is a global city, the issue is being highlighted more. But potholes are there in Delhi too, I can take a delegation of BJP leaders and show them.”
‘Let BJP come with me…’: DK Shivakumar
He also suggested that the state and opposition work together in approaching the Prime Minister for financial support. “Let BJP come with me, we will go together and ask for funds for Bengaluru,” he added.
The city’s worsening road conditions have attracted sharp criticism in recent weeks. Industry leaders such as former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai and Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw have urged swift government action. Public anger intensified after logistics platform BlackBuck announced plans to relocate operations from Bellandur, citing poor road infrastructure on the Outer Ring Road.
With civic authorities under mounting pressure, the government has set a 30-day deadline to make all city roads motorable, a target that residents and businesses will be watching closely.