Ibrahim Sahib Street, a bustling shopping lane behind the glitzy Commercial Street in Bengaluru, has become a symbol of civic neglect. The 500-metre stretch, lined with shops, has been undergoing white-topping for nearly a year. The prolonged construction has left the road dug up in several places, hindering businesses and causing significant traffic congestion. The onset of the southwest monsoon has exacerbated the situation, leading to waterlogging and flooding of homes.
Even as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Smart City authorities blame each other, Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad has vowed to complete the roadwork in 15 days. Manohar, a 70-year-old resident of Venkataswamy Naidu Street, expressed frustration over the authorities ignoring the persistent waterlogging in his house. He has lived in the area for nearly 50 years and has seen his house flood every time it rains for the past decade, without any remedial action from the authorities.
Shopkeepers and vendors on Ibrahim Sahib Street are also suffering due to the incomplete roadworks. Umair, who assists at La Scents, a perfume store at the junction of Ibrahim Sahib Street and Narayana Pillai Street, described the street as perpetually congested and muddy, making it difficult for both shoppers and vehicle users. Another shopkeeper attributed the delay to pending transformer work by Bescom.
However, a Bescom assistant executive engineer clarified that the transformer work is unrelated to the incomplete roadworks, explaining that a “special design” for the transformer on Ibrahim Sahib Street aims to elevate it, providing more space for pedestrians. BBMP Assistant Executive Engineer (Jayamahal) Saifuddin stated that the white-topping works are “almost nearing completion,” with only the junction work pending, which he assured would be finished in the next two weeks.
MLA Arshad confirmed that roadworks are a priority across his assembly constituency, from Kamaraj Road to Ibrahim Sahib Street. He added that the delays were also due to ongoing water pipeline installations, but promised that all work would be wrapped up within 15 days.