Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar inspected ongoing pothole-filling work near Bagaluru in the northeastern part of Bengaluru on August 25 night. He said that similar work is underway across the city.

The DCM said that MLAs had brought up the pothole problem frequently and added that the civic authority has employed novel measures, including monitoring potholes through a public-centred app called ‘gundi gamana’, to expedite repairs.

“Citizens can lodge complaints through the app, and the police have been directed to submit reports of potholes within their jurisdiction,” he said.

“Across Bengaluru, more than 5,000 potholes have been identified. Of these, 4,400 have been prioritised. In the last four days alone, 2,200 potholes have been filled,” he said.

Alongside the repair work, the civic body has taken up initiatives to improve cleanliness, including cleaning skywalks.

“It is not enough to simply fill potholes; the quality must be maintained. Currently, potholes are being repaired using three methods, including hot mix, cold mix, and eco-fix.”

When questioned about the poor quality of road construction, he pointed to external factors. “Heavy traffic, monsoon, and other challenges affect road durability. That is why we are gradually moving towards concrete roads (white topping), which can last up to 30 years,” he explained.