BBMP gags twitter accounts of citizens complaining about potholes, sparking public outrage

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is facing widespread criticism for blocking Twitter accounts of individuals who raised complaints about potholes. The local civic body has come under fire for allegedly silencing voices of citizens who highlighted infrastructure issues in the city.

Many Bengaluru residents have taken to social media, especially Twitter, to tag BBMP and report problems with roads, including the urgent need to repair potholes. One such incident involved a woman, Neethu, who tweeted about a pothole and requested BBMP to fix the road.

 Instead of a response, her Twitter account was blocked by BBMP’s IT cell, drawing significant backlash.

The act of blocking accounts that lodge complaints has raised concerns about BBMP’s approach to citizen feedback. The city’s residents have expressed outrage over this authoritarian tactic, claiming that BBMP’s actions show disrespect towards public concerns.

The civic body, which has often urged citizens to report problems through social media platforms, is now facing questions regarding the transparency and fairness of its IT department. In addition to Neethu’s case, several other accounts that posted grievances were also blocked.

While BBMP officials continue to maintain that social media is an essential tool for public communication, the recent actions of blocking complainants have caused serious discontent. The public is now awaiting an explanation from the IT department on the rationale behind these actions, hoping for accountability and clearer communication from the civic body.