Broken Roads, Rains and Bannerghatta Road: Not a Good Combo, Say Commuters

Bengaluru: Bannerghatta Road is not just another city artery; it is the road that houses one of India’s most prestigious management institutes — Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB). It is also the gateway to the city’s famed national park and zoo, which draws thousands of families and children every week. It connects major educational institutions, hospitals, and residential neighbourhoods. Yet, for all its importance, this road in south Bengaluru stands as a monument to civic failure.Political apathy and bureaucratic complacency have reduced this crucial road to a battered and dust-choked stretch that symbolises everything that is wrong with the city’s infrastructure planning and execution. The nearly 7km stretch between Jayadeva Hospital Junction and beyond Royal Meenakshi Mall is now riddled with potholes, slush-filled craters, waterlogged sections, and clogged drains. Bannerghatta Road carries traffic from JP Nagar, Hulimavu, BTM Layout, Arekere, and even Electronics City, serving as a vital connector to the city’s core. What was already a difficult commute has become an exhausting daily ordeal, especially in front of the IIMB campus, after the recent spell of rain.On Monday, many netizens highlighted the condition of the road and pointed out how multiple appeals to the brass of Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and Bengaluru South City Corporation (BSCC) to improve the road conditions have fallen on deaf ears. With schools reopening, concerns among parents have intensified. Residents said the road’s decline is no accident. Frequent digging by Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and ongoing Metro construction activities have left the corridor scarred. Adding to the frustration is the mystery surrounding the promised road makeover. Authorities had announced a comprehensive upgrade worth nearly Rs 12 crore, raising hopes that the corridor would finally receive the attention it deserved. But commuters say there is little evidence of meaningful progress on the ground.Patchwork disintegratesA recent pothole-filling exercise briefly offered hope, but much of the patchwork has already disintegrated following rain. The road is marked by loose gravel and dangerous uneven surfaces. When it rains, motorists struggle to gauge the depth of water-filled craters, often slowing abruptly or swerving at the last moment. Pedestrians have been left to fend for themselves. In many locations, footpaths are damaged, incomplete, or entirely absent, forcing people to walk alongside speeding traffic. Open drains, left exposed in some stretches as a makeshift solution to flooding, have created additional safety risks, particularly during the monsoon.Dust presents another serious concern. Ongoing construction activities and deteriorating road surfaces generate thick clouds of dust that reduce visibility and make daily commuting uncomfortable. Residents complain of respiratory issues, while two-wheeler riders bear the brunt of the pollution.When contacted, a senior GBA official threw up his hands in despair. “No one knows what the exact plan is and who will repair. Now, with Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-Smile) proposing to take up concretisation, we are not sure if the road will be restored anytime soon. Things might change if new chief minister DK Shivakumar shows some interest in the road,” the official said.Residents speakAnish Kasetty | 20, BE studentI regularly travel from Akshaya Nagar to Basavanagudi for college, but travelling on this road is the most exhausting part of my commute. Though officials recently inspected the area and promised repairs, there has been no visible progress. I’m so scared of travelling on this road now that I often take a route that is nearly 3km longer, just to avoid this oneAmirthalakshmi R | Bilekehalli resident and regular commuterRainy season is fun for many but not for people who have to travel on these broken roads full of craters. The temporary patchwork has been wiped out already. I find travelling on this road extremely uncomfortable, but I have no alternative as it is a key route for both my work and hospital visitsSri Vidhya Murali | 45, homemakerIt was great back when the roads were not dug up and widened for Metro construction. Now everything is a mess. There are no proper footpaths on many stretches. Potholes began appearing within a single monsoon. Metro services are expected soon, traffic will only increase. We are managing for now, but the road is in a terrible state. Authorities should fix it before the additional Metro-related traffic adds to the problemSuresh Kandy | 51, photographerI travel regularly from Meenakshi Mall to MG Road to meet clients, and the road’s condition is terrible. Nobody wants to start or end their day navigating such roads, especially with heavy traffic. Having lived in Bengaluru for 15 years, we have become used to poor roads, but the situation here is particularly bad. After the recent rains, driving became even more difficult as motorists cannot judge how deep the potholes are. I have seen several two-wheeler riders lose balance while trying to avoid themMumtaz Shafiq | 39, cybersecurity specialistI have lived in BTM Layout for years and frequently travel towards JP Nagar and Jigani. It seems like potholes are native to this stretch. My blood pressure rises at the very thought of driving on this road, and just thinking about it makes me feel tired. Adding to the problem is the lack of proper traffic management