Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya recently participated in the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) World 10K marathon, which attracted nearly 40,000 participants from around the world. However, the MP was disappointed with the condition of the city’s roads, stating that not a single stretch of road used by participants was free of potholes. He expressed his concerns in an open letter, highlighting the poor condition of roads in the Central Business District (CBD) and how it affected the runners, including senior citizens and participants in wheelchairs.
Tejasvi’s allegations were soon confirmed by other participants on social media, who shared their own experiences of navigating the city’s potholed roads. One user highlighted the damaged stretches between PES University and RR Nagar, while another mentioned the poor condition of Borewell Road in Whitefield. The users blamed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for the situation.
However, the BBMP responded by citing the example of a marathoner who broke a record by completing the marathon in a short time, claiming that this was proof that the route was in good condition. The response was met with sarcasm from Tejasvi, who questioned the BBMP’s claim and reiterated that the city’s roads were in a deplorable state.
The incident has sparked a debate about the city’s infrastructure, with some residents accusing the state government of prioritizing large projects over basic infrastructure. The BBMP has allocated Rs 19,930 crore for road upgrades, including tunnel roads, flyovers, and road concreting, with an additional Rs 700 crore set aside for micro surfacing minor cracks. However, the repairs are yet to begin, and the city’s residents continue to suffer due to the poor condition of the roads.
The issue has also brought attention to the contrast between Bengaluru’s reputation as a thriving tech hub and the reality of its crumbling infrastructure. As one resident commented, it would be better to have a marathon on the surface of the Moon than on Bengaluru’s roads. The city’s residents are eagerly waiting for the authorities to take concrete steps to address the issue and improve the condition of the roads.