Bengaluru: Pothole-filling work across Bengaluru has slowed significantly in recent days as Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) engineers and staff have been reassigned to conduct a citywide socio-economic caste survey. The delay comes amid ongoing heavy rains that have worsened road conditions, damaging even freshly asphalted stretches.
Engineers caught between deadlines and survey duties
An executive engineer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The chief minister has warned us of stern action if roads are not repaired within a month. Now, we have been directed to expedite the caste survey, and we fear we will be at the receiving end if deadlines are missed.”
Over 200 engineers from the five municipal corporations under GBA, who were working day and night to patch potholes, are now engaged in the survey. “Owing to Ayudha Puja, contractors had already paused pothole-repair work for a few days. We are now ready to resume, but with engineers and staff busy on the survey, work has slowed further,” said a contractor.
Residents are noticing the slowdown. Parag D’Souza of Lavelle Road said, “In the Central city corporation, only a handful of pothole repairs are progressing, while in other zones, work has virtually come to a standstill.”
Pothole repair targets may be missed
Engineering officials have admitted that meeting the chief minister’s pothole-repair deadline may be difficult. According to a senior GBA official, about 60% of pothole-filling work was expected to be completed by now. “Work will resume only after the survey concludes,” the official added.
Earlier, GBA had been conducting mass clean-up drives, including pedestrian walkway clearance and public sanitation campaigns. With most staff now engaged in the survey, these drives have also been temporarily halted.
Impact on municipal services
The survey is impacting other civic functions as well. Revenue department officers, who are also involved in the survey, are struggling to maintain tax collection and other public services. A Amruth Raj, president of the GBA Municipal Officers and Employees Welfare Association, said, “From Group D workers to senior officers, nearly 3,500 employees across all five municipal zones, including myself, are currently engaged in the social and educational survey process.”
Residents hope that once the survey is completed, pothole repairs and other civic activities will resume promptly, particularly as the monsoon rains continue to damage city roads.