Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has said that the Chief Minister has set a strict deadline of 31 October for officials to repair all roads in Bengaluru and has sanctioned an additional Rs 7.5 billion to address the city’s pothole issue.

Following a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence, Cauveri, on Saturday regarding road improvements and smoother traffic management, Shivakumar, who is also the Minister for Urban Development, Bengaluru, stated: “The Chief Minister has given officials a deadline to fix all roads in Bengaluru by 31 October. He has also promised an additional Rs 7.5 billion grant for closing potholes.”

He added that with the cooperation of officials, police, and the public, 10,000 potholes have been identified across the city. Strict action will be taken against officials if these are not repaired on time. Police have been instructed to list potholes and provide information, while the public has been encouraged to report them for swift action. A separate plan is to be formulated after the monsoon season ends.

Acknowledging the impact of recent rains, Shivakumar said the pothole problem has worsened but stressed that only Bengaluru’s issues are drawing national attention. “There are potholes in all cities of the country. But only Bangalore is making news. The media is being controlled in other places. The media has been given more freedom in our state, and this problem is being widely publicised,” he remarked.