Legislative Council Data Questions BBMP’s Spending Amid Rising Road Repair Works
Bengaluru’s pothole menace continues to worsen despite the civic body spending crores on repair works. Fresh government data presented in the Legislative Council has revealed that the number of potholes in the city rose sharply over the past year, even after heavy expenditure by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
According to the figures, BBMP repaired 1.07 lakh square metres of potholes in 2023-24. However, the repaired area shot up to 1.78 lakh square metres in 2024-25, marking a 63 percent increase. To tackle the issue, the civic body spent ₹12.25 crore in 2024-25 compared to ₹7 crore in the previous year.
Despite the expenditure, commuters remain unconvinced. Residents complain that the potholes reappear within weeks of being patched. Mahadevapura resident Murthy said, “The same stretch is repaired again and again, but within days, the potholes resurface. It is nothing but a waste of public money.”
A senior BBMP engineer admitted that the civic body was merely filling potholes instead of addressing the root causes. Poor drainage, which allows waterlogging, and frequent digging by utility agencies like BWSSB, BESCOM, and KPTCL, were cited as primary reasons for recurring potholes.
Commuters on Bannerghatta Road and residents of several other areas echoed similar concerns. Meanwhile, BBMP Commissioner Maheshwar Rao said monsoon conditions make long-term repairs difficult. “During rains, only temporary measures are possible. Permanent solutions will be taken up after the monsoon,” he assured. While BBMP continues to defend its measures, residents argue that until structural issues are resolved, Bengaluru’s potholes will remain a recurring nightmare despite escalating costs.
