Bengaluru: Thousands of residents living in the city’s rapidly urbanising outskirts could finally see some long-awaited infrastructure improvements, with Bengaluru development minister Krishna Byre Gowda directing officials to identify critical road stretches in peripheral areas that have remained neglected despite witnessing significant growth.Gowda said the public works department (PWD), Bengaluru Urban district administration, and Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) have been given 15 days to prepare a list of roads in poor condition outside the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) limits, particularly those bordering GBA, so they can be taken up on priority.The move comes amid growing concerns over infrastructure in several developing corridors where residential layouts, apartment complexes and commercial establishments have mushroomed over the years, but road infrastructure has failed to keep pace.The issue has been a long-standing concern in several fringe areas. A couple of days ago, TOI reported on the condition of Doddamara Road, which has remained non-motorable for nearly a decade, with residents alleging that repeated appeals to authorities yielded little response. Similar concerns have been raised from rapidly developing localities in Sarjapur, Mullur, Anekal and other peripheral areas struggling with inadequate road infrastructure.Many of these localities, though closely linked to Bengaluru’s urban growth, fall outside GBA limits and are often caught between multiple agencies, resulting in delayed infrastructure works and poor maintenance. Residents have frequently complained that civic amenities have failed to keep pace with the speed of development.Acknowledging the challenge, Gowda said authorities have been tasked with conducting a ground-level assessment to identify road stretches where deteriorating conditions are affecting mobility and daily life.“From the current 740sqkm GBA area, urbanisation has already spread to nearly 1,200sqkm around Bengaluru. The growth has been so rapid that providing adequate infrastructure has become a challenge. We agree that govts shouldn’t match up to the rapid urbanisation…now that I’ve taken PWD also on board, we will try to fix these infrastructure gaps at the earliest,” Gowda said.According to the minister, the exercise is intended as an immediate intervention to identify roads that require urgent attention and prepare them for priority repairs and upgrades.Officials said the assessment is expected to cover several growth corridors surrounding Bengaluru that have witnessed rapid urbanisation in recent years. Once the survey is completed, a priority list will be prepared for infrastructure improvements, offering relief to residents who have long argued that road development has lagged behind the city’s expansion.Officials said the assessment is expected to cover several growth corridors surrounding Bengaluru that have witnessed rapid urbanisation in recent years. Once the survey is completed, a priority list will be prepared for infrastructure improvements, offering relief to residents who have long argued that road development has lagged behind the city’s expansion.
