For Bengalureans, potholes are a daily headache. Every monsoon, roads break open, craters appear overnight, and commuters are forced to slow down, swerve, or risk accidents and vehicle damage.

Authorities often say potholes are being fixed. Recent figures even claim that around 18,000 potholes have been repaired. But anyone who travels on Bengaluru’s roads knows the truth — many of these potholes come back within weeks.

What’s more worrying is that Bengaluru has topped Indian cities for deaths caused by “negligence of civic bodies”, with potholes being a major reason. This shows that potholes are not just an inconvenience — they are a serious safety issue.

The problem is not that the GBA lacks funds or doesn’t know how to fix potholes. The real issue is poor-quality repairs and zero accountability. Most potholes are patched quickly, marked as “fixed,” and forgotten. When they reappear, no official or contractor is held responsible. Every time it rains, rain becomes the excuse — and the same cycle repeats.

BNP’s Experience Shows a Better Way

At BNP, we have seen that potholes can be fixed properly if done right. Let us share examples from the ground.

On the Outer Ring Road near the Bellandur flyover, close to the BBMP office junction and Bellandur Central (now Reliance Mall), several potholes including one large crater  were causing huge trouble for lakhs of commuters every day.

The BNP team worked with Pothole Raja to identify six potholes that needed fixing. Using good-quality cold mix, the work was completed early in the morning within just two hours, without disturbing traffic.

The total cost was just ₹22,000, and these repairs have lasted for over two years. This proves that responsible work, clear accountability, and proper execution make all the difference. BNP has fixed at least four potholes using this approach.

This clearly shows that potholes don’t have to keep coming back — if they are fixed properly.

What Needs to Change

BNP believes potholes are not just an engineering issue — they are a governance issue. Bengaluru needs:

• Quality-first road repairs
• Clear accountability for officials and contractors
• Transparency in repair claims
• Systems that track how long repairs last, not just how many are done

Fixing potholes is not about quick patchwork. It’s about fixing the system. With accountability and intent, Bengaluru can have safer, longer-lasting roads.

 When citizens speak up and systems respond, real change happens. BNP encourages Bengalureans to participate and be part of making our roads safer.

Together Let’s Rebuild Bengaluru!

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Nandini V Menasagi is a volunteer Media Co-ordinator for BNP with a background in journalism. She has managed media literacy projects and conducted sessions for diverse communities, from students and senior citizens to dry waste collection workers. Nandini joined BNP because she believes that while national parties focus on high-level politics, Bengaluru finally has a platform that truly cares for the “pothole next door” and the neighborhood drain—the issues that matter most to our daily lives.

By Nandini V Menasagi  • February 10, 2026