Nearly 1,500 potholes within GBA will be filled everyday: GBA Chief

Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), M. Maheshwar Rao, on Monday said that around 1,500 potholes will be filled every day across all the corporations. The potholes will be identified using data from various apps including ‘Fix My Street’ app. On average, each of the city’s corporations has identified 250–300 potholes to be taken up daily, Mr. Rao said. 

“We will be using cold asphalt for the work. Compared to other zones, the South and East corporations have reported more potholes. Stretches with heavy traffic and water stagnation have been the worst affected,” the GBA chief said, adding that he is confident that the corporations will meet the daily target.   

Mr. Rao stressed that the challenge was not about funds but about priority. Both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister have directed that pothole filling should be treated as the first priority, he said. 

Delay in work has resulted in national embarrassment

East City Corporation Commissioner D.S. Ramesh directed officials from Civic and Utility Departments to urgently restore and make motorable several arterial and residential roads in the zone, arguing that delays in basic infrastructure works have caused “embarrassment at the national level.” To improve coordination, the corporation’s eight engineering divisions will now have executive engineers acting as nodal officers. Utility agencies will also designate nodal officers responsible for synchronising works with divisional engineers and ACP-level police officers. 

Roads prioritised for immediate action include Bhoganahalli-Panathur road, directed to be widened to 12 m from 8 m, Balagere Road, Vibgyor Road stretch, Jayantinagar Road, Agara Lake Road, among other identified stretches.  

South Corporation Commissioner K.N. Ramesh directed officials to clear footpath encroachments and improve cleanliness around Banashankari Temple and Sarakki Market. Mr. Ramesh also ordered that street vendors without valid identification cards issued by the corporation be removed from the area.  

North City Corporation Commissioner Pommala Sunil Kumar also inspected several areas. During a visit to the Thanisandra Municipal Workers’ Mustering Centre, the Commissioner checked attendance records and found that while 13 workers were absent on the biometric system, only three absences were recorded in the attendance book. He instructed that the mustering process be completed between 5.30 a.m. and 6.30 a.m.