Issue of potholes in Bengaluru is being politicised, says Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday asserted that the issue of potholes in the city was being “politicised”, and assured that all such stretches would be made motorable by October 31.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Mr. Shivakumar said that potholes were not unique to Bengaluru. “There are more than 100 potholes in Delhi itself. If you go to Mumbai or any other part of the country, you will find them. But when it comes to Bengaluru, it is becoming a conspiracy against the Congress government,” he remarked.

Mr. Shivakumar said that a system had been created to streamline the process of identifying and rectifying potholes. “I have instructed the police and the traffic police to report any potholes they come across. Citizens can also use a newly developed app to register complaints, which will directly reach the corporation. More than 10,000 engineers are on the job, and nearly 50% of the work has already been completed,” he said.

He emphasised that budgetary allocations were not a constraint. “We have made a specific budgetary provision for this. The Chief Minister has also reviewed the issue. Despite heavy rains creating thousands of potholes in a single day, we are confident of meeting the October-end deadline,” he added.

Stating that the government’s priority was to ensure safety and convenience for commuters, Mr. Shivakumar maintained that the administration would “take care of citizens” and deliver motorable roads.

This statement comes after industry leaders in the city raised concerns over poor road conditions, with one company on Outer Ring Road even threatening to relocate due to infrastructure issues — a matter quickly seized upon by the Opposition BJP.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Mr. Shivakumar said, “Our government is paying attention to the concerns of Bengalureans. Potholes across the city are being filled and roads are being resurfaced to provide smoother and safer journeys for everyone.”