Following widespread public outrage and significant social media backlash, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah embarked on a city-wide inspection tour on Saturday. He sternly confronted engineers, contractors, and other civic officials over Bangalore’s dilapidated roads, unmanaged waste, and blatant neglect of duties.
The Chief Minister expressed his palpable frustration with the dismal state of solid waste management. He promptly instructed Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh to serve a notice to Raghavendra Prasad, the Chief Engineer of Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd. (BSWML). This decisive action was triggered by his visit to Ward number 23’s solid waste collection center, where he discovered shocking mounds of garbage overflowing outside, despite adequate space being available indoors.
As monsoon rains continue to exacerbate the city’s pothole crisis, Mr. Siddaramaiah issued a stringent one-month ultimatum to all civic agencies. Their mandate: restore the roads to a motorable condition, emphasizing that repairs must be permanent and high-quality, not merely superficial patches.
A Thorough Inspection of Major Arteries
The Chief Minister’s inspection commenced at the Windsor Manor Bridge, extending across critical routes such as Hennur-Bagalur Road, Benniganahalli Flyover, Old Madras Road, Panathur Road, and Kaadubeesanahalli. During this extensive tour, he meticulously reviewed asphalting projects and specifically examined the numerous potholes marring the stretch from Iblur Junction to Silk Board junction.
At Panathur T-Cross, the Chief Minister was dismayed to observe significant piles of construction debris illegally discarded along the roadsides. In response, he swiftly mandated the installation of CCTV cameras and the deployment of BBMP marshals. Furthermore, he instructed both the Police Commissioner and the Corporation Commissioner to pursue stringent legal action against those responsible for such illicit dumping activities.
The inspection in the Hennur-Bagalur division led to a dramatic outcome: the immediate suspension of an executive engineer. This action was taken after Mr. Siddaramaiah discovered that potholes were being crudely filled with jelly stones, a substandard material, rather than proper asphalt. He issued a clear warning that such gross negligence would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Regarding the ongoing white-topping project on Hennur Road, the Chief Minister firmly stated that contractors would be held fully responsible for road maintenance until the project’s completion. Given the substantial government investment of ₹13 crore per kilometer for this 5-km stretch, he granted the contractor a strict one-month deadline to finalize the work and guarantee pothole-free roads.
Addressing Damage from Metro Construction
The Chief Minister also voiced serious concerns regarding the adverse impact of Metro construction. He highlighted how neglected service roads, clogged drains, and persistent water stagnation had severely damaged recently white-topped road segments. He mandated immediate repairs and ongoing, diligent maintenance for all service roads affected by these projects.
During his tour along the Ring Road, Mr. Siddaramaiah abruptly halted his convoy upon noticing old construction debris discarded in areas lacking CCTV surveillance. He immediately directed officials to identify and apprehend the culprits, confiscate their vehicles, and initiate legal proceedings. In a heated exchange, he challenged civic and traffic officials, questioning their apparent blindness: “Do you walk around the city with your eyes closed? Can you not see waste being dumped on the road?”
In his concluding remarks, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah issued a definitive and stern warning: all engineers, contractors, and commissioners will face direct accountability for any failures in road maintenance, pothole repairs, or effective waste management. The message was clear – negligence will have direct consequences.