Bengaluru civic authorities have directed that newly asphalted roads must not be excavated for at least one year, while agencies responsible for poor-quality work may be made to bear the cost of repairs. The instructions were issued by Lokhande Snehal Sudhakar, Additional Commissioner (Development), Bengaluru East City Corporation, during a review of road and infrastructure works.
The review covered road development, road collapses, pothole repairs, stormwater drains, sewerage systems, manholes, water-supply works and projects being carried out by the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) and Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM). Sudhakar expressed displeasure over delays in implementing earlier instructions and directed officials to complete all works on priority.
Officials were asked to immediately repair stretches excavated by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) in Seegehalli, Basavanapura, along the Outer Ring Road, Green Glen Layout, Bellandur Main Road and Devarabeesanahalli. They were also directed to address potholes and road collapses and restore surfaces damaged by road-cutting works in coordination with the departments concerned.
The administration said road agencies must maintain construction quality and adopt technical measures to prevent roads from collapsing again after completion. Where agencies have carried out substandard work, the repair cost should be recovered from them and the corporation should undertake the restoration, according to the instructions reported by Vijay Karnataka.
The directions also cover recurring waterlogging at Kamadhenu Nagar and the HydroSite Corridor–Varthur Road junction. The BWSSB, B-SMILE and other relevant agencies have been asked to conduct a joint inspection and identify a technical solution. Officials were instructed to expedite the installation of precast manholes, correct manhole levels and ensure that covers are aligned with the road surface.
The administration further directed officials to identify the boundary of the rajakaluve, or stormwater channel, between Varthur Kodi and the Balagere sewage treatment plant. Pending works related to road excavation, water leakage, sewerage and road restoration by the BWSSB are to be completed quickly, with no delay in securing required permissions, technical inspections and other approvals.
BESCOM and other departments were asked to coordinate to remove implementation obstacles and prevent damage to BWSSB pipelines during cable-laying work. The instructions also included action against buildings allegedly constructed in violation of rules within the KPTCL 220-kilovolt transmission-line corridor, through a joint team.
Officials must submit progress reports detailing the action taken on problems identified during the inspection, pending works and their completion timelines. The corporation has also asked departments to identify private roads that could improve public connectivity and reduce traffic on major roads. Before any road is declared a public road, the Urban Planning Department’s prior approval and a technical examination must be completed in accordance with applicable rules and guidelines.
