Bangalore, previously labelled as “India’s Garden City”, has earned a bad reputation owing to its terrible roads and an ineffective infrastructure accompanied by insane traffic, this issue being a reason for major arguments and dissatisfaction amongst the natives. Increasingly critical views regarding the political infrastructure of Bengaluru are surprising in their lack of precision, as they all tend to merge into a single statement that abhors the city’s authorities for the present level of road maintenance in all its glory, perhaps the current chaos in Indian big cities is a product of planned neglect of the road infrastructure in the places where a lack of urban planning and minimal governance were left there for decades.
Bengaluru’s urban transport system faces a sad scenario that includes, a rising population that has set off a chain reaction in traffic congestion thereby causing rough surfaces and traffic jams all over the city to be a common occurrence. What turns these troubles into major catastrophes is Bengaluru’s poor climatic region where tender middles leading to heavy downpours reveal why the city is unsustainable. Over the years as promises started to pile up and people grew agitated, the state delved into measures that made matters worse instead, as infrastructure was only looked into temporarily. The recent public outrage where citizens spoke through viral videos showing flooded roads has brought unwanted attention to a city’s already failing architecture.
Nevertheless, trouble does not end here, as there are deep-rooted and more complex problems present in the city such as lack of planning, and trouble maintaining these plans, and putting them into motion, they seem to be getting badly impacted the greater the rate of urbanization as well as proliferation of governance.
The earlier history of dysfunction and narrative regarding BBMP governance helps to decode why there are such viciously tragic aspects of infrastructure within Bengaluru’s urban area.
Indeed, it is well known that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has been riddled with corruption scandals. And many of the contractors indeed cheapen the road works contracts in this case because they will use low-quality materials for construction and then the roads will be left to rot within a few years. There have also been reports of contractors colluding with officials over project budgets that should be more accurate. KaTPP is to prevent such acts but due to poor enforcement, this mischief never ceases to end.
Further, as one might expect, the BBMP and other local bodies do not have any internal accountability mechanisms. As a result, poorly done jobs are left – often without any consequences. Consequently, this leads to cutting corners and modifying surfaces instead of replacing them the entire infrastructure goes underling discouraging cost effectiveness for the client.
Urbanization, too, is another factor that has contributed to the deteriorating road conditions of the city of Bengaluru. With a population density of more than 12 million of which a large proportion rely on roads means that the city is constantly growing. However, there has been insufficient planning. The existing roads and the development plans do not seem to be in alignment. The situation is further worsened appropriation of land and buildings without authorization, a lack of spatial planning, and the absence of commensurate road facilities.
The problem gets further aggravated during the seasonal monsoon. Due to the nature of Bengaluru’s drainage systems, the poorly constructed roads of the region become flooded over time adding to their wear and tear. Moreover, flooding both in 2022 and 2023 caused extensive problems as well, which have only been fix partially.
Despite having plans such as the Revised Master Plan 2031 which aims at urban planning and enhancing the region, the execution has been poor at best. Urban sprawl, unanticipated building development, and poor road conditions have all worsened this issue. Lack of foresight and implementation has ensured that even well-meaning projects are incapable of providing any long-term solution.
The legal and political framework that underpins the policies of a regulatory authority for road maintenance is absent. Such provisions are present, but they tend to be ad hoc, piecemeal, or in a reactionary mode without any proactive strategic engagement necessary for effective management. Take for instance the rise in complaints about roads in the rainy season indicating that there is no proactive maintenance of the roads and other infrastructure.
The city’s budget is also complemented by the lack of budgetary allocation. While a reasonable percentage of the budget is set aside for the infrastructure in the year, most of it goes to carrying out emergency repairs instead of focusing on structural changes. Weak prioritization of budgets demonstrates a failure of legal compliance over the efficiency of expenditures. The transport policies that have been described above for Bangalore aggravate the situation. Most people resort to their cars because there are no proper facilities for public transport. The deterioration of the roads is compounded by the added effect of the nasal congestion caused by body traffic. The Namma Metro, which could have been more effective in lowering vehicle activity, is not only taking a long time to implement, but it has also not made the desired impact in terms of the reduction of traffic on the roads.
To address these issues, experts suggested systemic changes such as stricter implementation of contractor accountability laws, increased investment in durable infrastructure, and the establishment of independent monitoring agencies. Policies to encourage sustainable public transport and resolve monsoon-related drainage issues were also critical.
The poor state of Bengaluru’s roads reflects the administrative failures and the urgent need for long-term, sustainable urban planning. Without significant changes in policy and governance, the city will continue to struggle with its road infrastructure, affecting the daily lives of its residents and the overall growth of the city.
Written by Ratisha Khare
