BENGALURU
A crucial stretch of State Highway-9 in Yelahanka has turned into a major source of inconvenience for thousands of commuters, with residents demanding answers over prolonged roadworks, worsening traffic congestion and deteriorating road conditions.
The nearly 5-km stretch between the NES office and Nagenahalli Gate is riddled with dug-up sections, loose gravel, potholes and construction debris, making daily travel difficult and unsafe. Residents say the situation has steadily worsened, with little information on which agency is carrying out the work or when the road will be restored.
The disruption begins near the Yelahanka police station junction, where a flyover project has been under construction since 2022. While road-widening work is under way on one side, excavation for drainage and water pipelines on the opposite carriageway has further compounded traffic woes.
Commuters report severe congestion during peak hours, particularly near Puttenahalli Lake and Anantapura Gate. Office-goers travelling towards Doddaballapur Road often spend an additional 15 minutes navigating bottlenecks caused by narrowed carriageways and uneven road surfaces.
Residents also expressed concern over safety risks. Priyanka Shetty, who lives along the corridor, said the road has been repeatedly dug up and patched without proper restoration.
“As long-time residents, we have seen this road being dug up several times, but this project seems never-ending. There is no clarity about which agency is responsible, and potholes have become dangerous, especially for two-wheeler riders,” she said.
The lack of coordination among agencies has added to public confusion. While a Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) official denied carrying out any major work on the stretch, officials from the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) confirmed that pipeline work linked to the Doddaballapur industrial belt was in progress.
KIADB Chief Executive Officer Govinda Reddy said only around 150 metres of pipeline work remains. He added that the agency has already reimbursed restoration costs to the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL), which has initiated road restoration.
Despite these assurances, residents say they will remain sceptical until the road is fully repaired and normal traffic movement is restored. For now, the dug-up highway continues to test the patience of motorists, traders and local residents alike.