Pothole-Free Bengaluru: City To Undergo Major Road Revamp With Rs 1,800 Crore White-Topping Initiative

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has announced a significant infrastructure project aimed at making Bengaluru a pothole-free city.

As part of this initiative, a total of 157 km of roads will be white-topped, with an investment of Rs 1,800 crore. White-topping, a method involving the overlaying of concrete on asphalt roads, is expected to protect the city’s roads from damage for the next 25 years.

This effort is part of the broader ‘Sugama Sanchara Bengaluru’ and ‘Brand Bengaluru’ initiatives, both aimed at enhancing the city’s infrastructure.

Shivakumar explained that Bengaluru’s roads are particularly susceptible to potholes due to frequent rains. The white-topping initiative will ensure long-lasting road quality and durability.

He also emphasised the importance of maintaining high-quality standards and completing the work within a specified deadline to achieve the goal of a pothole-free Bengaluru.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has been tasked with identifying and prioritising the roads that will benefit most from this treatment.

In addition to the white-topping project, Shivakumar outlined a five-point programme designed to further improve the city’s infrastructure.

This programme includes initiatives for providing drinking water, filling potholes, expanding the property tax net, enhancing property tax collection, and clearing encroachments on Rajakaluves (water resources such as canals and lakes).

Shivakumar, along with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has been actively inspecting various parts of Bengaluru to oversee ongoing infrastructure and flood prevention works, as per Financial Express report.

Furthermore, BBMP announced the deployment of 15 vehicles equipped with artificial intelligence-enabled cameras to detect potholes and other road issues.

These vehicles will patrol the city at a speed of 5 km per hour, collectively covering 300 km per day. BBMP commissioner Tushar Girinath stated that the data collected by these cameras will be instrumental in helping civic officials identify and address damaged streetlights, footpaths, and other elements contributing to road safety hazards.

This proactive approach is expected to significantly enhance the maintenance and safety of Bengaluru’s roadways.