Bengaluru: Dug-up roads across Banashankari 1st Stage, including in Srinivasa Nagar, Ashokanagar, Vidyapeetha and Hanumanthanagar, have severely disrupted traffic and left residents grappling with dust. While civic agencies acknowledge the inconvenience, they maintain that the works are essential and nearing completion.
Multiple Projects Underway
The affected stretches, falling under the Bengaluru West City Corporation, are witnessing simultaneous infrastructure upgrades. Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) is laying pipelines for natural gas in some pockets, while the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is replacing ageing water supply and sanitary lines. A major portion of Kathriguppe Main Road, between Mount Joy Road and Vidyapeetha Circle, remains partially or fully closed, slowing traffic and impacting local businesses.
Delays and Challenges
Officials explain that the water and sewer lines being replaced were decades old and prone to leaks. However, workers have faced delays due to hard rock formations and underground internet cables interfering with excavation. Kiran B S, a shop owner, said, "Workers have been laying pipes quickly, but they had to re-lay our sanitary line as it got damaged while laying the supply line." Another shopkeeper, speaking anonymously, noted that the simultaneous execution of multiple projects has inconvenienced residents and customers.
Ganesh A, a resident, highlighted the constant dust from exposed soil as a persistent problem. "We understand the works are essential, but there is a lot of dust from the road in front of our house," he said. Some residents have taken to social media platform X, complaining of roads remaining dug up for months and alleging poor coordination among agencies.
Agency Response
Bengaluru West City Corporation executive engineer Dharanendra Kumar stated that the civic body has been pressing BWSSB to restore stretches as work progresses. "Once all the work is complete, the corporation will take up resurfacing of the roads. BWSSB is expected to finish work in about two weeks," he said. Kumar added that GAIL began work in Ashoka Nagar ward and its piped natural gas network may take longer to complete, but assured that roads across the area would be fully asphalted once the utility works end.
