Bengaluru — a pothole-riddled city where commuters seek balms for persistent backaches
The roads in Pensioners’ Paradise have become inimical to seniors, with potholes posing a threat to citizens’ health and their vehicles.
Synopsis: Potholes dot Bengaluru roads, causing accidents and leaving commuters with a lingering backache. Authorities, however, have yet to act and repair the roads to allow smooth rides in India’s Silicon Valley.
Is it possible to travel from one point to another in Bengaluru city without being shaken out of your wits? Hardly, it seems.
No, this is not about Bengaluru’s nightmarish traffic snarls that allow commuters to even order pizzas from their stuck vehicles. This is about the city’s all-season potholes that jolt and throw you around in your rattling vehicle — if you are lucky enough not to find yourself sprawling on the road.
Sobriquets are many for this once-quaint city, and most names, ironically, have become misnomers, thanks to the condition of present-day Bengaluru. The roads, in particular, of this Pensioners’ Paradise have become inimical to seniors, with potholes posing a threat to citizens’ health and their vehicles. Additionally, the potholed roads have been causing accidents, which are avoidable if the city’s throughfares are better maintained.
From the bustling streets of Rajajinagar to the tech corridors of Whitefield, commuters across Bengaluru are navigating roads riddled with potholes and long-standing neglect.
“I travel two hours both ways to the office. It’s a headache to think about being on the road, let alone driving. The condition of the road exacerbates the situation. After I reach home, I’m too tired, and my back aches,” a commuter said.
On Chord Road, Rajajinagar, a frequent visitor to a nearby shop, recounted witnessing an accident. “A two-wheeler crashed into another vehicle. The rider had minor injuries and was taken to the hospital. As of now, it’s been 15 days since the accident,” the two-wheeler rider was trying to avoid a deep pothole.
Related: Bengaluru resident demands compensation for poor road maintenance
Threat to life
An auto-rickshaw driver at 1st Block, Rajajinagar, said accidents are now common. “The bad condition of the roads causes these accidents.”
A plethora of potholes, like the sky on a starry night, dot the junction. These potholes are dangerous because commuters don’t expect them in such high-traffic areas. Hitting one can cause serious damage to vehicles, especially two-wheelers.
Over at Post Office Road, which leads to Palace Road and is frequently used by metro commuters. A combination of water-filled potholes, dug-up footpaths, and ongoing construction has made daily travel an off-road trip for both drivers and pedestrians.
Right next to Sir M. Visvesvaraya Metro Station is the Palace Road—home to a large, deep pothole surrounded by several dents and cracks. A two-wheeler rider expressed concern about the long-term impact of driving over such surfaces. The road sees hundreds of daily users, from students to employees commuting to Bangalore University and the Civil Court Complex.
“The condition of the road is terrible. People struggle to take a turn here, and even pedestrians can’t walk properly because of the potholes. I couldn’t drive properly through this stretch. Riding here daily gives me back pain,” a woman shared.
And these are just a few incidents from across the city. While many residents continue to hope for change, there is little evidence of any immediate or sustained action being taken.
Fixing roads isn’t just a matter of convenience—it’s a basic necessity. Timely maintenance can prevent accidents, ease daily commutes, and improve overall quality of life. It’s time road repairs stopped being treated as an afterthought.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).