Bengaluru: Thousands of commuters travelling daily on Bannerghatta Main Road are facing severe hardship due to the deteriorating condition of a 2.5-km stretch between Arakere and Vega City Mall, where deep potholes, dug-up surfaces and debris have turned commuting into a major challenge.
Motorists using the busy corridor described the stretch as one of the worst affected roads in Bengaluru, with uneven surfaces causing traffic congestion, vehicle damage and safety risks, particularly for two-wheeler riders and autorickshaw drivers.
A ground visit to the area revealed damaged carriageways, exposed trenches, loose mud and dust accumulation across several sections of the road, reflecting prolonged delays in restoration work.
Commuters complain of daily ordeal
Residents and regular commuters expressed frustration over the poor state of the road, saying daily travel through the stretch had become stressful and dangerous.
Venkatesh, an autorickshaw driver who frequently uses Bannerghatta Main Road, said navigating the damaged road has become a daily struggle.
“Every day is a gamble. If you do not fall into a pothole, you are dodging a bus trying to avoid one,” he said.
Delivery personnel and two-wheeler riders said visibility becomes particularly poor during nighttime because of dust and incomplete trench work.
A delivery executive stated that the condition of the road has worsened significantly due to loose stones, dust and uneven surfaces left after excavation works.
“The dust is blinding, and at night it becomes difficult to see where the road ends and a trench begins. We pay road tax, but there is hardly any proper road left,” he said.
Several motorists also complained of increased vehicle maintenance costs due to pothole-induced damage to tyres, suspension systems and shock absorbers.
Businesses affected by dust and chaos
Local shop owners along the affected stretch said the damaged road and constant dust pollution were impacting business activity.
The owner of a medical shop near the road stated that customers often struggle to park vehicles or walk safely to shops because of the poor road condition and ongoing excavation work.
According to him, dust continuously enters commercial establishments and minor two-wheeler skidding incidents have become a regular occurrence in the area.
“We witness at least two or three minor skids every day. The authorities appear to be waiting for a major accident before taking serious action,” he said.
Business owners also pointed out that traffic congestion and poor pedestrian access have reduced customer footfall in several commercial establishments along the corridor.
Civic agencies blame each other
The deteriorating road condition has also triggered a blame game between the Bengaluru South City Corporation (BSCC) and the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).
BSCC Chief Engineer K. V. Ravi blamed BWSSB for delaying restoration work after laying underground pipelines along the stretch.
He stated that the civic body was unable to begin full-scale road restoration until BWSSB completed its pending underground works.
“The BWSSB laid pipelines but has not completed the work on time. Public anger is directed at us even though the restoration cannot begin until they finish their work,” Ravi said.
He further alleged that road cutting was being carried out without proper coordination and that repeated notices issued by the civic body had not resulted in timely completion of the project.
According to Ravi, social media complaints and Right to Information (RTI) queries regarding the road condition have increased significantly in recent weeks.
BWSSB cites technical hurdles
Responding to the allegations, a BWSSB executive engineer said technical and logistical challenges had slowed down the project.
The official explained that pipeline-related works could only be carried out during nighttime hours between 9 pm and 5 am, limiting the speed of execution.
The engineer also cited hard rock surfaces and the presence of underground utility cables as major obstacles requiring careful excavation work.
Additionally, recent administrative reorganisation under the South Zone chief engineer reportedly caused temporary coordination issues over the past 10 days.
The BWSSB official stated that chamber-related works would likely be completed within three days, after which road restoration activities could begin.
Long-term road development planned
The poor condition of Bannerghatta Road has once again highlighted Bengaluru’s recurring infrastructure coordination problems involving multiple civic agencies working simultaneously on key roads.
In its 2026-27 budget, the Bengaluru South City Corporation announced plans for comprehensive development of Bannerghatta Road from Dairy Circle to NICE Road.
Officials stated that the proposed road development works would commence only after completion of BWSSB pipeline works and ongoing metro-related activities along the corridor.
Residents and commuters, however, urged authorities to prioritise immediate temporary repairs to reduce accidents and public inconvenience before the arrival of monsoon rains.
With traffic density on Bannerghatta Main Road continuing to increase, citizens say coordinated planning and timely execution of infrastructure projects are essential to prevent further disruption on one of Bengaluru’s major arterial roads.