264 Potholes Are 'Irrepairable', Says Bengaluru's Civic Body BBMP: We Explain
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has officially declared 264 potholes in the city as “irreparable.” This classification means the damage is too severe for regular patching work. According to the civic body’s survey, some potholes have expanded to nearly 10 metres, turning into craters that compromise entire stretches of road. These are no longer small defects but full-scale road failures.
For most potholes, BBMP typically relies on quick-fix methods like bitumen patches or, more recently, the Eco-fix solution. But in the case of these 264 sites, officials admit that such measures are inadequate. Engineers explain that the surrounding road base has deteriorated to such an extent that surface-level repairs will not last. Full road reconstruction is the only viable solution.
The latest classification highlights a bigger issue: pothole repairs in the city have surged. In 2024-25, BBMP repaired 1.78 lakh square metres of potholes, compared to 1.07 lakh square metres in 2023-24. The cost also went up, from ₹7 crore last year to ₹12.25 crore this year. Despite the additional work and spending, many residents report that freshly repaired roads develop new potholes within weeks.
The monsoon has made matters worse. Water seeping into the road surface weakens the foundation, leading to collapses. Poorly maintained drainage systems allow water to stagnate, creating the perfect conditions for potholes. Civic engineers point out that repairing potholes during heavy rain is rarely effective because the underlying damage cannot be addressed.
Frequent excavation work by utility agencies adds another layer to the problem. Agencies like the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company, and Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation regularly dig up roads. Even when restored, the work often weakens nearby stretches, creating new potholes.
In response, the government has stepped up its focus on road conditions. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar recently inspected roads at night to monitor progress. The administration has identified over 5,000 potholes, with instructions to prioritise repairs on 4,400 key stretches. BBMP teams now work round the clock, supported by a digital monitoring system that allows citizens to report potholes through a mobile app.
The civic body has also introduced Eco-fix technology for repairs. Developed by the Central Road Research Institute, the solution uses industrial waste like iron and steel slag. It can be applied in water-filled potholes and is considered more durable than conventional bitumen. However, even this technology cannot address the 264 irreparable potholes, which demand full reconstruction.
The scale of the problem points to larger structural issues. Experts argue that the city needs to move from reactive patchwork to proactive road management. Better drainage systems, stricter supervision of utility works, and stronger accountability for road restoration are all seen as essential. Without these measures, Bengaluru risks repeating the same cycle year after year.
The state of the roads has triggered visible frustration among residents. On Independence Day, residents of BM Pristine Apartments in the Gunjur-Varthur-Balagere belt repaired potholes themselves using shovels and gravel after months of unaddressed complaints to BBMP. Their action underlined how civic inaction has left communities to fend for themselves.
Legal challenges are also emerging. Professor Dhivya Kiran Jeevan has served a legal notice on BBMP demanding ₹50 lakh in compensation for health problems caused by repeated pothole-related trauma. He claims years of neck and back pain from navigating damaged roads. If successful, the case could establish new standards of civic accountability.