Bengaluru Blue Line Construction Leaves Roads Pothole-Riddled, Commuters Struggle
The promise of the Bengaluru Metro’s Blue Line, set to ease travel on the southeast roads of the city, has yet to be realised, as construction continues to wreak havoc on the daily commute. While the line is intended to improve traffic flow and make commuting more efficient, the ongoing work on a stretch of service road on the Outer Ring Road from Ibblur Junction to Bellandur Junction has created major disruptions for motorists.
Residents and commuters, particularly tech professionals, are finding it increasingly difficult to navigate the service road due to deep potholes, uneven surfaces, and poor lighting. The road, which was dug up nearly six months ago for the Metro construction and subsequent sewage and water pipeline work, has yet to see any significant repair, leaving motorists in a daily struggle to avoid accidents. Aradhana M, a 23-year-old professional, drives from Ibblur to Indiranagar every day and shared her frustrations. “We have to leave earlier than usual because potholes slow down traffic. The road was dug up for Metro work nearly six months ago, but it hasn’t been repaired. At night, it’s even more dangerous due to poor lighting, making it difficult to see where the road is uneven. During peak hours, when everyone is rushing to work, things get riskier,” she said. Aradhana’s experience is shared by many others, as they are forced to plan longer commutes to avoid delays caused by the deteriorating road conditions.
Mohan KG, vice-president of Sobha Garnet Apartments’ Welfare Association, echoed similar concerns. “The service road is used heavily, almost like a main carriageway, and yet there has been no proper action to fix it. Pedestrians face enormous risks. There have even been incidents of people falling and two-wheelers skidding. If they cut the road, they should restore it properly,” he said. The lack of action to fix the potholes has become a major safety hazard for those using the road. The situation has prompted complaints to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which oversees road maintenance in the city. A senior BBMP official responded to the situation, stating, “The road was dug up for Metro work and then for relaying sewage and water pipelines. We are filling potholes whenever we receive complaints or ask Metro authorities to do it. That’s the only solution we can provide until Metro work is completed.” The official’s response, while acknowledging the issue, has done little to reassure frustrated commuters who feel the safety risks are escalating.
Meanwhile, a Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) official stated they have not received any formal complaints regarding the damages caused by the Metro work. However, they assured, “We will send our officials to see where potholes have come up because of Metro work and fix them soon.” This response, too, raises concerns about the length of time it will take to address the issues, with no clear timeline for when the repairs will be completed. As the city grapples with the challenges posed by the Blue Line construction, commuters are left waiting for a solution that will restore safety and ease to their daily journeys. With the completion of the Blue Line still uncertain, it remains to be seen how long the people of Bengaluru will continue to endure the toll of poorly maintained roads in the heart of the city. Until then, many hope that the BBMP and BMRCL will take immediate action to address the pothole crisis and make the roads safer for everyone.
