Quick fix? Bengaluru’s Bannerghatta dust storm may die down, but not for long

Bengaluru: For thousands of commuters braving potholes, craters, and bone-rattling rides on Bannerghatta Road, here is both good news and a reality check. Good news, first. After months of growing public frustration, civic authorities have started repair on one of south Bengaluru’s busiest roads. Reality check: It’s only patchwork; complete resurfacing appears to be nowhere in sight.Over the past two days, Bengaluru South City Corporation (BSCC) has been filling potholes with bitumen and tar between Vega City Mall Junction and Arekere Junction, bringing relief to motorists. This stretch is notorious for damaged surfaces and slow-moving traffic. TOI had highlighted this road and sufferings of motorists and residents, including those visiting the premier Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore.The repairs come just as Bengaluru welcomed the monsoon. If the season starts in full force, poor road conditions are expected to worsen further. Officials said the current exercise is a temporary measure aimed at making the road safer and more navigable during the rainy season.“We will complete the pothole-filling process by Wednesday. There is some work pending from BWSSB, which is preventing us from taking up complete relaying of the road,” a senior BSCC official said.But there are two questions: why can’t Bannerghatta Road be asphalted for good instead of being subjected to patchwork? And will the filled-up potholes survive the rainy season?Officials admitted that fund crunch has deterred them from resurfacing the road. “Initially, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) was expected to complete the damaged portions of the road after Metro construction was over and Rs 12.5 crores is set aside for now. But the condition of the road has become so bad the amount is not sufficient to complete repairs. BMRCL had deposited the money with BSCC and told the latter to undertake repair work. How can we restore the road with that meagre amount?” asked a senior civic official.With the broken road triggering terse reactions from the public, BSCC has transferred the proposed road development project to B-Smile (Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd), which has proposed to take up white-topping on the road and is readying a detailed project report for comprehensive redevelopment of the corridor. Officials estimate that proper road reconstruction, drainage works, and white-topping along the six-lane stretch could cost between Rs 85 crore and Rs 100 crore.Ramesh KN, commissioner, BSCC, said: “We cannot begin road restoration until the pipeline work is completed. We are not satisfied with the patchwork carried out by BWSSB so far. Around 600–700 metres of work is still pending. Decisions on road restoration will be taken based on the progress made.”