Bengalureans are increasingly voicing their frustration over the city's civic complaint redressal system, as docket numbers reveal minimal action on reported issues. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the city's civic body, has been inundated with complaints ranging from potholes and garbage accumulation to waterlogging and streetlight failures. However, residents claim that despite registering multiple complaints, many remain unresolved for weeks or even months.
Rising Complaints, Limited Resolution
Data from the BBMP's complaint portal shows that while thousands of complaints are filed daily, the resolution rate has not kept pace. In the past month alone, over 50,000 complaints were registered, but only about 30% were addressed satisfactorily. This has led to growing disillusionment among citizens who feel their concerns are being ignored.
Citizen Experiences
Residents from various wards shared their experiences. A resident of Koramangala reported a large pothole that caused multiple accidents; despite filing three complaints over two months, the pothole remains unfilled. Another resident from Yelahanka complained about stagnant water breeding mosquitoes, but the BBMP has not responded.
The lack of accountability has prompted some citizens to take to social media platforms to highlight their grievances, tagging officials and using hashtags like #BBMPFail. However, even these efforts have yielded mixed results.
BBMP's Response
BBMP officials acknowledge the backlog but cite resource constraints and the sheer volume of complaints as challenges. A senior official stated that the civic body is working on digitizing the complaint system and deploying more field staff to improve response times. They also urged citizens to use the dedicated mobile app for faster tracking.
Despite these assurances, many remain skeptical. Civic activists argue that the BBMP needs to prioritize complaints based on urgency and implement stricter timelines for resolution. They also call for greater transparency in the redressal process.
Way Forward
Experts suggest that a robust feedback mechanism and periodic audits of complaint resolution could help restore trust. Additionally, integrating the complaint system with ward-level committees might ensure faster local action. Until then, Bengalureans are left questioning whether their complaints are merely numbers in a docket.
