Bengaluru development minister Krishna Byre Gowda has ordered urgent pothole repairs and a review of delayed road works on the Varthur-Gunjur stretch of State Highway 35, after severe congestion left schoolchildren spending hours in traffic. Contractors were warned that continued delays could lead to action, while officials were directed to prioritise damaged sections between Brigade developments and Gunjur and on Varthur-Kodi Road.
The review meeting brought together officials from the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL), Bescom, Bengaluru East City Corporation, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the state government, including the additional chief secretary. The meeting focused on the condition of the road, delayed construction activity and the shifting of electric poles and other power infrastructure.
Gowda instructed contractors to begin immediate repairs on potholes and damaged stretches. The directions cover the section between Brigade developments and Gunjur, as well as Varthur-Kodi Road, where road users have faced worsening conditions amid continuing infrastructure work.
Officials questioned during the meeting attributed some of the delays to the contractor, while also acknowledging difficulties linked to land acquisition. Bescom officials, including the utility’s managing director, were questioned about delays in shifting electric poles and related power infrastructure. Residents and officials have repeatedly identified these shifts as a major factor slowing work along the corridor.
The ministerial intervention followed complaints about severe congestion on SH-35. According to the report, some schoolchildren travelling in school buses were taking more than two hours to cover only a few kilometres. The situation triggered widespread public outrage and renewed scrutiny of how road construction, land acquisition and utility relocation are being coordinated on the corridor.
The additional chief secretary has called both contractors to a meeting on Monday to explain the delays. A source familiar with the discussions told The Times of India that if the contractors do not provide a concrete explanation, the additional chief secretary is likely to recommend replacing them. The report did not state that a replacement decision had already been taken.
There were also signs of activity at the site. Local representatives told The Times of India that contractor representatives visited parts of the Varthur-Gunjur stretch on Sunday to assess pending works. The KRDCL chief engineer also inspected the site. Residents said authorities should replace the contractor immediately if deliberate delay or failure to work is established.
The immediate focus is now on whether the instructions result in visible repairs and faster progress. The contractors’ meeting with the additional chief secretary on Monday is expected to determine the next administrative response to the delays.
