White-topping work on jc road hits traders hard; residents urge swift completion

Ongoing white-topping work on JC Road has severely disrupted the lives of traders, motorists, and pedestrians. The construction, which began seven months ago, shows little progress, causing dust storms in the summer and muddy chaos during the rains. Shop owners have made repeated appeals for the swift completion of the project. Stretching from Minerva Circle to Town Hall, the 1.2 km stretch is a key arterial road connecting South Bengaluru to Vidhana Soudha, City Hall, and Majestic. Now, the road is filled with loose soil, trenches, and large pipelines, leaving minimal space for vehicle movement. Previously a 10-minute drive, commuting now takes 30–45 minutes, with ambulances also struggling to navigate. JC Road, known for its automobile shops, agricultural supply stores, hospitals, theaters, and banks, has seen a drastic fall in business. “We are suffering heavy losses. The dust is unbearable, and if health deteriorates, who will take care of us?” lamented a local shop owner. Work delays are attributed to the ongoing installation of sewer pipes, optical fiber cables, and water lines. Officials say multiple pipes—some 15–20 in certain areas—must be laid before the road can be resurfaced. Engineers claim that complete closure of the road would allow work to be finished within three months, but traffic constraints force them to proceed slowly. Business owners urge authorities to expedite the work, citing severe health risks and declining footfall in the once-busy marketplace.