Residents and commuters in East Bengaluru are facing renewed frustration as a recently laid asphalt layer on the crucial Vibgyor Road has already started peeling off, merely a month after the long-awaited repair work was completed. The quick deterioration has ignited fresh accusations of corruption and poor quality control in the area's infrastructure projects.
Long-Awaited Repair Fails Swiftly
The stretch on Vibgyor Road, which connects areas like Varthur and Gunjur to the Outer Ring Road (ORR) as an alternative to the Marathahalli Bridge, had been in a terrible state for years. After sustained public pressure and protests, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) finally asphalted the road around a month ago, bringing temporary relief to daily commuters.
However, that relief was short-lived. Residents noticed that the new surface on a small stretch began to disintegrate and peel off within weeks of the work being finished. The swift damage prompted immediate questions from the community regarding the quality of materials and construction standards employed.
Public Outcry and Allegations of Corruption
Local resident and Aam Aadmi Party member Ashok Mruthyunjaya highlighted that the road improvements were a hard-won victory after a long public struggle. He directly alleged deep-rooted corruption in the Mahadevapura zone's infrastructure development, which he claims consistently results in substandard work.
"We, the people of Mahadevapura, urge a Lokayukta inquiry into the corruption involved in the road building and provide justice to honest taxpayers," Mruthyunjaya stated, voicing a demand for accountability beyond quick fixes.
Regular commuter Pavitra Holla echoed the sentiment of disillusionment, stating that the community expected the roads not to last. "Even after years of protest, all efforts just go to waste because some contractors are not doing their job well, and the engineer is not monitoring the roads properly," Holla said. She called for strict action against those responsible to instill a sense of fear and responsibility.
Official Response and Quick Repair
Faced with public questioning, the GBA moved quickly to address the visible damage. An engineer from the GBA East City Corporation provided an explanation, shifting the blame away from construction quality. The official cited heavy movement of water tankers heading to a nearby Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) facility as the primary cause for the road's rapid deterioration.
"We have cut the damaged portion and have asphalted it again immediately. There was heavy movement of the tankers in recent days, and this caused the damage," the engineer explained. While the authority has undertaken a patch-up job, the incident has left citizens skeptical about the longevity of the repair and the transparency of the entire process.
The recurring issue underscores a persistent problem in Bengaluru's peripheral zones, where rapid urbanization and heavy traffic, including commercial vehicles, strain infrastructure that is often allegedly built without due diligence or quality checks. The demand for a formal probe reflects a growing public insistence on sustainable solutions and accountability over temporary patches.
