Bengaluru: Residents of Varthur and neighbouring localities have once again raised concerns over deteriorating road conditions and worsening traffic congestion, alleging that long-pending infrastructure projects have failed to ease their daily commute.
Commuters say they continue to navigate pothole-ridden roads, damaged stretches and heavy traffic, while delays in the State Highway 35 Varthur Elevated Corridor Project have only compounded their problems.
Residents question years of delay
Many residents said they were assured that road improvement works would be completed years ago, but little progress has been made.
Monalisa Goswamy, a resident of Varthur, said she purchased an apartment in 2020 after being informed that the road would be ready by 2023.
“It is now 2026, and the road remains in the same condition,” she said, expressing frustration over the prolonged delay.
Incomplete work adds to commuters’ misery
Residents say the stretch between the Varthur Police Station and Varthur Lake remains in poor condition despite ongoing construction activity.
Kaushal Deo, another resident, said only a few pillars for the proposed elevated corridor have been erected, with little visible progress on the remaining work.
“The promised service road has also failed to materialise,” he said.
Apart from damaged roads, residents noted that sharing the narrow highway with heavy vehicles has made commuting increasingly unsafe.
Long traffic jams continue
Yash Dev, another commuter, said only a small stretch of the road was repaired ahead of a religious event attended by ministers, while the adjoining sections continue to remain neglected.
He said commuters often spend nearly 40 minutes travelling just two kilometres, particularly during peak hours.
Residents also blamed delays in land acquisition by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) for slowing the road widening project. They added that despite assurances that the service road would be repaired by March, the stretch continues to remain in poor condition.
With traffic increasing steadily in eastern Bengaluru, residents have urged the authorities to expedite the elevated corridor project and complete road repairs to improve safety and reduce travel time.