Karnataka Government Sets Deadline to Fix Bengaluru’s Pothole Crisis Amid IT Leaders’ Outrage
Bengaluru’s notorious potholes have sparked a major row, with IT bigwigs slamming the city’s crumbling roads. Now, the Congress-led Karnataka government is stepping up, promising to fill every pothole by a strict deadline. This comes after a top tech CEO announced he’s relocating out of Bengaluru due to the poor infrastructure.
On Wednesday, IT industry leaders voiced their frustration and urged the state government to take immediate action. The backlash hit hard, especially with heavy rains turning roads into a nightmare for commuters and businesses alike.
Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha on Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar took full responsibility. "Roads naturally develop potholes during the monsoon season," he said. "We’ve set a clear deadline to fix them all and instructed MLAs to use their grants for this purpose. No more excuses."
When pressed on why the problem lingers despite spending thousands of crores on Bengaluru road repairs, Shivakumar pointed to the recent downpours. "Overnight rains created fresh potholes even around Vidhana Soudha," he explained. "We’ve assigned responsibilities to officials and are working round-the-clock. Tweeting or issuing statements won’t solve it—we need real action."
The spat escalated with Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s social media jab, accusing Shivakumar of scaring away IT companies and startups from Bengaluru with the pothole mess. Shivakumar fired back: "What’s Kumaraswamy done for Bengaluru as a Union Minister? The UPA era poured funds into the city via the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission. As the PM’s close aide, why can’t he secure Rs 10,000 crores for Bengaluru’s growth?"
He didn’t stop there, questioning Kumaraswamy’s unfulfilled promises. "He claimed he’d approve the Mekedatu project in five minutes—what happened? Why no nod for the Mahadayi project? He calls himself a ‘son of the soil,’ so why stay silent on Maharashtra’s Supreme Court threat against the Upper Krishna Project? Tweets won’t fix these issues."
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh’s open letter inviting Bengaluru firms to shift base added fuel to the fire. Shivakumar dismissed it, saying, "They lack businesses, so they’re poaching. Why did the PM hail Bengaluru as a global city? Everyone who benefits from it will stick around. Global companies flock here for a reason—Bengaluru boasts 25 lakh engineers, outnumbering California’s 13 lakh. Plus, over two lakh foreigners work in our tech hubs, drawn by the top-notch talent and ecosystem."
On claims that the Union government is ignoring Bengaluru’s development, Shivakumar was blunt: "Absolutely, they haven’t allocated a single rupee for the city’s progress."
Finally, addressing rumors of a funds crunch for other departments due to the Upper Krishna Project, he clarified: "That’s totally false—no such proposal exists. We’re fully committed to completing the project, and the Centre must resist pressure from any state."
As Bengaluru’s IT sector drives India’s economy, fixing these potholes could prevent more companies from eyeing an exit. The government vows swift action to keep the Silicon Valley of India shining.
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