Bengaluru's struggle with potholes continues despite significant investments and technological interventions aimed at resolving the issue. Recent data reveals a concerning trend: the extent of damaged roads patched up by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has increased by 63% in the past year. In 2024-25, the BBMP filled 1.78 lakh square meters of potholes, a sharp rise from the 1.07 lakh square meters in 2023-24. This surge indicates that pothole formation is accelerating, despite the crores being spent annually on repairs.
The financial implications are also substantial. The cost of pothole repairs has risen from ₹7 crore to ₹12.25 crore in the same period. Despite this increased spending, residents report minimal improvement in road conditions. Many complain that newly repaired roads quickly revert to their pothole-ridden state, raising questions about the efficacy and longevity of the current repair methods.
In response to growing public frustration, the BBMP has been exploring and implementing various technological solutions. One such initiative is the "Pothole Attention Software," designed to monitor and track road repairs by integrating citizen complaints uploaded through a mobile app. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, has emphasized the importance of accountability and timely repairs, even conducting late-night inspections to push officials to expedite the process. The city police have also been enlisted to identify potholes within their jurisdictions.
Among the technologies being considered is "Ecofix," which utilizes industrial by-products like iron and steel slag to create more durable road surfaces. This method was piloted in select areas of Bengaluru in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) and Ramuk Global Services, with encouraging results. Ecofix has shown faster filling times and improved road strength in initial trials and has been successfully implemented in other states like Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Arunachal Pradesh. The BBMP is also using hot mix and cold mix methods for pothole repair.
BBMP has also launched a "Fix Pothole" mobile app that allows the BBMP, traffic police, and the general public to report potholes with the help of GPS technology. The app is designed to improve the efficiency and transparency of the repair process, reduce costs, and ensure accountability.
Despite these efforts, fundamental issues persist. A senior BBMP engineer acknowledged that pothole filling is often a temporary fix. Potholes frequently develop in areas where water stagnates due to poorly maintained drainage systems. Water seepage weakens the road surface, leading to collapse and pothole formation. Additionally, repeated digging by utility agencies like BWSSB, Bescom, and KPTCL contributes to the problem, weakening the surrounding areas even after restoration.
The BBMP has identified 3,995 potholes within its jurisdiction, with 264 deemed "irreparable," requiring a partial makeover. The East Zone has the highest number of potholes (784), followed by Mahadevapura (638), South Zone (593), and Bommanahalli (520). To address citizen grievances, the BBMP has developed a unified dashboard that integrates complaints from various platforms, automatically assigning issues to responsible executive engineers.
Moving forward, experts suggest a shift from temporary fixes to comprehensive road maintenance. This includes improving drainage systems, stricter monitoring of utility works, and ensuring accountability in road restoration. While the BBMP promises longer-lasting solutions, Bengaluru residents continue to face bumpy commutes, particularly during the monsoon season.
