CM Wants Bangalore Pothole Free Within A Week

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered officials to fill all potholes in Bangalore within a week, reinforcing an earlier directive that had set October 31 as the deadline for repairs across the city's corporation limits.

The renewed urgency follows a fatal accident on October 24 that claimed the life of a 26-year-old banker, the second pothole-related death in less than a month.

Priyanka Kumari Poonia, who worked for UK-based bank OneSavings, died after falling from a two-wheeler and being run over by a truck near the APMC market on Huskur main road. Her brother Naresh Kumar was riding the motorcycle on their regular commute to Madavara metro station when a car ahead slowed suddenly to navigate a pothole.

Kumar braked sharply, causing both siblings to lose balance. Priyanka, who was not wearing a helmet, fell into the path of a truck approaching from the opposite direction and sustained fatal head injuries. Kumar escaped with minor injuries.

The incident occurred on a stretch of road that residents say has been in poor condition since pipe-laying work for the Yettinahole project was completed without proper resurfacing. Shashidhar, secretary of the local Resident Welfare Association, said that over the past year approximately 10 people from the Alur BDA Phase 2 area have sustained injuries on the same road. He noted that trucks using the route regularly to reach the APMC market have created craters in the improperly laid surface.

This death follows another pothole-related fatality on September 29, when 20-year-old student Dhanushree lost her life in similar circumstances near Budigere Cross under KR Puram traffic police limits. The engineering student lost balance whilst trying to avoid a pothole and fell from her two-wheeler.

A tipper truck coming from behind ran over her, causing fatal injuries. The recurring nature of these accidents has intensified political pressure on the state government and city administration.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made the renewed deadline announcement after flagging off projects for comprehensive road development, including white topping, in the Gandhinagar Assembly constituency.

Speaking to officials including Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bangalore Authority Maheshwar Rao and Additional Chief Secretary Tushar Girinath, Siddaramaiah emphasised the one-week timeframe for completing pothole repairs. He acknowledged that heavy rainfall this year had delayed filling work, with the monsoon creating more challenging conditions than usual for road maintenance.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who holds the portfolio for Bangalore development, stated that over 10,000 potholes have been filled so far. He referenced an affidavit filed by the previous Bommai government in court stating there were approximately 20,000 potholes in the city.

Shivakumar said the administration has given the public and traffic police the opportunity to identify and report additional potholes, claiming the government is working in a transparent manner.

The administration is pursuing white topping as a longer-term solution to the pothole problem. White-topped roads, which use concrete rather than asphalt, can last 25 to 30 years according to official estimates. The government has already allocated Rs 1,800 crore for white topping 83 roads covering 148 kilometres.

A detailed project report is being prepared to white top an additional 500 kilometres of roads at an estimated cost of Rs 4,000 crore. Simultaneously, black topping work is progressing on 350 kilometres across 182 roads at a cost of Rs 695 crore, with the chief minister providing a grant of Rs 1,100 crore for asphalting 550 kilometres of roads.

Leader of Opposition R Ashok criticised the government's response, questioning how many more lives need to be lost due to negligence. He specifically challenged Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, asking whether potholes get repaired simply by holding inspections of the city, and whether wearing sunglasses, t-shirts and clicking photographs solves the underlying problems. The Bharatiya Janata Party has consistently attacked the Congress administration over road infrastructure failures.

Bangalore's road safety record has become increasingly concerning. Traffic police data shows the city recorded 3,105 road accidents from January to August 2025, with 539 proving fatal and claiming 558 lives. In the previous year, the city saw over 877 road fatalities, accounting for nearly 6 per cent of all metro city traffic deaths nationwide. The city now ranks among the most dangerous urban zones for road users.

Pedestrians and two-wheeler riders face the highest risk. In 2023, Bangalore topped the list for pedestrian deaths with 292 fatalities, representing almost 10 per cent of such deaths across 53 cities.

Police attribute the alarming figures to speeding, reckless overtaking, poor road design, exploding vehicle population and chronic lack of pedestrian protection infrastructure.

The Greater Bangalore Authority has launched initiatives aimed at improving road safety, including a $128 million investment in sustainable road projects and the Suraksha75 programme, which has redesigned over 100 dangerous intersections.

The authority also plans to upgrade 100 critical roads with focus on durability, footpaths, drainage and citizen involvement. Whether these measures, combined with the emergency pothole filling drive, will significantly reduce accidents remains to be seen.

For now, residents like Naresh Kumar and the family of Priyanka Poonia face the devastating consequences of infrastructure failures that have been allowed to persist despite repeated warnings and earlier commitments to repairs.