Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, accused the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) of widespread corruption, particularly in road maintenance and waste management. Narayanaswamy claimed that the GBA, divided into five zones, had turned into a “den of corruption.” He highlighted irregularities in pothole repairs and waste management, criticizing the state government for misleading the public.
Referring to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s statements in the Assembly, Narayanaswamy disputed the government’s claim of filling potholes across Bengaluru. He mentioned areas like Yeshwanthpur and Mahadevapura where potholes were either neglected or had conflicting reports. Narayanaswamy emphasized the poor road conditions in Mahadevapura, known as Bengaluru’s IT hub.
Official data showed 41,150 reported potholes in the city, with 38,000 allegedly filled at a cost of Rs 33.8 crore. Narayanaswamy questioned the expenditure, citing instances like Chamarajpet where each pothole’s repair cost averaged nearly Rs 1 lakh. He criticized the government’s data on pothole-related incidents, contrasting it with a study reporting 891 deaths and 86 injuries this year in Bengaluru due to potholes.
