Krishna Byre Gowda Questions Bengaluru Civic Officials Over Road Quality

Bengaluru development minister Krishna Byre Gowda questioned civic officials over road-making challenges and urged them to focus on developing infrastructure in peripheral areas during a review meeting in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Taking charge 13 days late, Gowda held his first review meeting with officials of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and commissioners of the five city corporations to address road quality and civic accountability.

During the meeting, Gowda raised critical questions regarding the state of the city's roads, asking officials if road-making in Bengaluru was rocket science and why it was so difficult to maintain pothole-free roads. He also questioned why pothole-filling had become such a large business.

Gowda directed the civic authorities to shift their focus toward improving infrastructure on the periphery of Bengaluru. He noted that while historical investments and white-topping projects had been concentrated in the core areas of the city, the peripheral areas continued to face major challenges.

According to the minister, roads in peripheral constituencies are frequently dug up due to ongoing works taken up by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) in areas that are not yet fully covered. He emphasized that the pressure is immense on these outer areas because of relentless expansion.

The minister stated that the formation of the GBA and the five city corporations was a fundamental solution to the problems of Bengaluru. He pointed to government projects like the tunnel road and elevated corridors as examples of policy continuity aimed at resolving the city's infrastructure issues.

Addressing concerns raised by opposition leaders regarding waste management tenders with contract periods exceeding 30 years, Gowda stated that the city requires long-term solutions rather than quick fixes. He added that a panel of senior officials formed by the government is currently evaluating these tenders.

Gowda urged leaders across party lines to work together to address the challenges facing the city. He also noted that the government plans to introduce interventions to address revenue differences among the five city corporations.