‘Has Pothole Filling Become a Business?’: Krishna Byre Gowda Questions Engineers in First GBA Review Meeting
Bengaluru, June 16: Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda came down heavily on civic engineers during his first review meeting with Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) officials, questioning the recurring pothole problem across the city and asking whether pothole filling had effectively become a year-round business.
Chairing a meeting with senior officials shortly after formally assuming charge of the Bengaluru Development portfolio, the minister expressed frustration over the repeated cycle of road construction followed by continuous pothole repairs.
Addressing engineers and civic officials, Krishna Byre Gowda questioned why roads continue to develop potholes despite technical expertise, planning and substantial public expenditure.
“Why do potholes emerge in the first place? We know that Bengaluru receives rain every year. We know how long a road is expected to last. If estimates and engineering standards are already in place, why should roads deteriorate so quickly?” he asked.
The minister observed that pothole filling appears to have become a permanent activity in Bengaluru, with authorities spending much of the year carrying out repairs rather than preventing road damage in the first place.
“Roads are laid, potholes appear, and then pothole-filling begins. The entire year seems to revolve around pothole repairs. My simple question is: why are potholes occurring at all? Has pothole filling become a business in itself?” he remarked.
Krishna Byre Gowda also rejected the notion that maintaining durable roads is an impossible task, telling officials that road construction is a basic engineering responsibility and not a highly complex scientific exercise.
“Is building a proper road rocket science? It is not. If the work is executed correctly at the beginning, many of these problems can be avoided altogether,” he said.
Drawing comparisons with other states, the minister noted that regions receiving heavier rainfall often maintain better road quality because damaged stretches are repaired immediately and accountability mechanisms are enforced.
“Go to states where rainfall is much higher than Bengaluru. Their roads remain in better condition because officials respond quickly and take responsibility. Here, everyone shifts accountability from one department to another,” he said.
Emphasising the principle that prevention is better than cure, Krishna Byre Gowda said civic agencies must focus on improving construction quality, supervision and maintenance standards rather than repeatedly spending public money on temporary fixes.
He instructed engineers to identify the root causes behind recurring road failures and ensure that future projects are executed to higher quality standards.
The minister’s remarks came during his first official interaction with GBA officials after assuming charge of the Bengaluru Development Department, where road infrastructure, maintenance works and urban civic issues were reviewed.
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