BENGALURU: In a unique protest, around 200 residents from the Panathur area of Bengaluru took to the streets on Saturday, cutting a cake shaped like a pothole-ridden road to highlight the deteriorating condition of the S-Cross Road. The demonstration was aimed at urging the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to take action to widen the road and address the persistent pothole problem that has plagued the area.
The 1.5 km stretch, connecting Gunjur, Varthur, and Belagere to the Outer Ring Road (ORR), has become a daily challenge for commuters, especially near the 100-meter Railway Under Bridge. According to The Hindu, the stretch has been suffering from poor conditions and frequent potholes, creating a nightmare for residents.
This protest follows a similar one that took place a year ago, on December 14, 2023, when over 500 residents formed a human chain along the Belagere-Panathur stretch to demand road widening. Despite the previous demonstration, the road conditions remain unchanged, prompting renewed frustration among residents.
Videos shared by locals on social media showcased the dire situation, with one user describing the road as “pathetic” and a “nightmare for 2-wheelers.” Many citizens voiced their anger, blaming the lack of action from concerned authorities, despite paying high taxes. One resident remarked that the cake-cutting protest symbolized not just a year of hardship, but “at least 10 years of suffering.”
The protest also comes amid allegations of corruption surrounding road development funds. The Karnataka Anti-Corruption Forum recently filed a complaint with the Enforcement Directorate (ED), alleging that ₹46,300 crore allocated for road development under BBMP had been misappropriated by various officials and contractors.