Bengaluru: A freshly asphalted service road on Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road (ORR) being dug up soon after completion has once again highlighted the city’s long-standing coordination issues among civic agencies. The incident came to light during a late-night inspection by Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, who questioned officials over the unauthorised excavation and ordered immediate corrective action.
The minister inspected the 17.1-km ORR corridor between Lowry Junction and Silk Board Junction on the night of July 2, accompanied by senior officials from the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), BWSSB, BESCOM, Bengaluru Traffic Police and other departments.
Agencies fail to identify who cut the road
During the inspection, Byre Gowda stopped at a stretch where a newly resurfaced service road had been cut open. Officials from the East Bengaluru City Corporation initially claimed BESCOM had carried out the excavation. However, BESCOM denied any involvement, leaving officials unable to identify the agency responsible.
Expressing his displeasure, the minister questioned how a freshly laid road could be excavated without proper coordination and directed officials to identify those responsible and initiate action against agencies carrying out unauthorised road cutting.
He also instructed authorities to immediately restore the damaged stretch.
GIS platform planned to improve coordination
The issue was discussed at the second meeting of the GBA Executive Committee, which includes representatives from the city’s civic and infrastructure agencies.
To prevent repeated road cutting, the government plans to introduce a unified GIS-based digital platform that will map roads, underground utilities, streetlights and ongoing civic works. Departments will be required to upload project details before starting work, allowing agencies to coordinate activities and avoid duplication.
The proposed platform will also allow residents to report potholes and other civic issues while tracking the progress of repairs.
ORR makeover planned with public consultation
The inspection also reviewed the proposed redevelopment of the ORR corridor under the B-SMILE initiative. The state government is considering a comprehensive upgrade of the stretch at an estimated cost of ₹400 crore to ₹450 crore.
The project includes redesigned footpaths, service roads, bus bays, medians, stormwater drains and junctions aimed at bringing one of Bengaluru’s busiest corridors to global standards.
Byre Gowda said the final design would be prepared only after consultations with residents, the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA), commuters and other stakeholders. Many road users have urged the government to begin major construction only after the Namma Metro Blue Line becomes operational to minimise traffic disruption.
During the inspection, the minister also directed officials to clear footpath encroachments, shift low-hanging BESCOM cables, repair damaged service roads and prepare location-specific plans to ease congestion at major junctions, including Doddanekundi, Kodibeesanahalli, Devarabeesanahalli, Bellandur Ecospace and Iblur.