Bengaluru, September 19 (Daily Kiran) : Karnataka’s Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda conducted a late-night inspection of Bengaluru’s streets on September 19. The inspection began around 9 PM and lasted for over three hours, revealing significant maintenance issues along one of the southern corridors of the city.
Accompanied by South Corporation Commissioner K.N. Ramesh and senior civic officials, Minister Gowda assessed the area from the JP Nagar Metro Station to the Gottigere NICE Road junction. The inspection uncovered problems with streetlights, footpaths, drainage systems, and overall road conditions.
Notably, it was found that out of 1,540 streetlights on the JP Nagar-Gottigere route, 530—approximately 34%—were non-functional. Only 1,010 lights were operational, raising concerns as the situation had not improved despite prior surveys conducted on September 7 and 15. Minister Gowda criticized the lack of progress following high-level meetings and repeated directives, even mentioning the suspension of an engineer.
The contract for LED lighting had ended in February, but the contractor failed to complete the work on time. Minister Gowda pointed out that outdated 90-watt lights were still being used instead of the necessary 120-watt fixtures. He also noted that high-density and median lights were in poor condition.
Throughout the inspection, inadequate lighting was observed near Christ University and Mega City Mall, prompting Minister Gowda to question whether engineers were genuinely conducting nighttime inspections or merely filing reports from their offices. He instructed that contractors failing to meet standards should face double penalties and, where necessary, be blacklisted.
The Minister expressed frustration over the condition of footpaths near Vega City Mall Junction, Nagarjuna Hotel, and Empire Hotel, where concrete slabs meant for footpath and drainage work were scattered. Open drains posed risks for pedestrians and motorcyclists alike. Minister Gowda emphasized the need for immediate action to rectify these hazardous conditions.
He directed engineers to ensure footpaths are constructed properly, including concrete ramps for the elderly and disabled. Measures were also ordered to prevent vehicles from encroaching on footpaths, such as installing pressed-concrete bollards and ensuring smooth surfaces for pedestrians.
Minister Gowda instructed the immediate removal of large unauthorized advertisement boards from public spaces and urged civic officials to collaborate with Bescom for a joint inspection to remove dangerous electrical cables and pipes from footpaths.
During the inspection, he also noted potholes and debris from construction work near the Happy Fertility Center, directing officials to remove waste as part of the “Freedom from Waste” campaign. He criticized the ineffective mechanical cleaning near Maruti Public School in Hulimavu, where litter remained on the streets, and called for expedited cleaning efforts.
At the Bannerghatta-NICE Road-Gottigere junction, the Minister found deficiencies in road widening, drainage, and surfacing work. He questioned officials about areas where proper tar coating was absent and where unnecessary bends had reduced the actual width of the road.
Describing this junction as a crucial entry point for thousands of vehicles daily, he ordered the removal of overgrown bushes, completion of road surfacing, and rectification of design flaws to improve traffic flow.
After the inspection, Minister Gowda informed the media that the ongoing metro work and BWSSB pipeline laying had severely damaged Bannerghatta Road. Although temporary repairs with asphalt had been made, continuous heavy traffic was causing further deterioration. He announced plans for a comprehensive “white-topping” project for the entire Bannerghatta Road under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).
To prevent future encroachments on cleared footpaths, a joint task force involving the GBA and city police will be established soon. The Minister emphasized that the focus will remain on ensuring pedestrian facilities are available for public use after repairs. He instructed officials to prioritize the maintenance of streetlights, pothole repairs, and footpath upkeep. He warned that failure to address these issues could lead to strict disciplinary actions against officials at all levels.
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