The state of Bengaluru's roads has become a contentious issue, drawing sharp criticism and sparking a defensive response from Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar. Faced with concerns over the city's deteriorating infrastructure, particularly the proliferation of potholes, Shivakumar has asserted that the problem is not unique to Bengaluru, stating that "Potholes are everywhere, even the road to the Prime Minister's house has potholes". He described the situation as a "systemic failure" across India, while also suggesting that the media is unfairly targeting Karnataka.

Shivakumar's remarks came amidst growing complaints about Bengaluru's crumbling infrastructure, exacerbated by heavy rains and traffic. The issue gained further prominence after Rajesh Yabaji, CEO of online trucking platform BlackBuck, expressed his company's intention to relocate from the Outer Ring Road (ORR) area, citing unbearable traffic and poor road conditions. Yabaji lamented that employees were enduring commutes exceeding 1.5 hours each way, and accused authorities of neglecting the problem for the past decade. However, Yabaji later affirmed his company's commitment to the city.

In response to the escalating concerns, Shivakumar has taken steps to address the pothole crisis and improve Bengaluru's roads. He has directed contractors to repair potholes across the city by November. Furthermore, the Karnataka government has allocated ₹1,100 crore for road repairs and development in Bengaluru, with the goal of creating pothole-free roads throughout the city. The funds will be used for both repairing existing roads and constructing new ones. This allocation is part of broader infrastructure efforts, including a proposed ₹18,000 crore elevated corridor project to decongest traffic, expected to commence in December 2025.

Shivakumar has also emphasized the deployment of over 10,000 engineers to address the issue, claiming that nearly 50% of the work has already been completed. He has assured that budgetary constraints are not a concern and that the government is committed to ensuring the safety and convenience of commuters. He also mentioned that a system has been created to streamline the process of identifying and rectifying potholes and that citizens can use a newly developed app to register complaints.

While acknowledging the existence of potholes, Shivakumar has also attempted to downplay the severity of the problem in Bengaluru by pointing out that potholes are a common issue in other major cities, including Delhi and Mumbai. He has also accused the opposition BJP of politicizing the issue to undermine the Congress government.

Despite the controversy surrounding his remarks, Shivakumar has reiterated the government's commitment to improving Bengaluru's infrastructure and addressing the concerns of its residents. He has set a deadline of October 31st to make all roads motorable. It remains to be seen whether these efforts will be sufficient to resolve the pothole crisis and restore Bengaluru's reputation as a city with world-class infrastructure.