Bengaluru: After years of driving over potholes and broken stretches, and repeatedly watching freshly repaired roads fall apart, a north Bengaluru motorist says he has had enough. His latest demand to govt is as blunt as it is unusual: if you can’t build roads, give citizens permission to do the job.Deepak Gowda, a private firm employee, has taken to social media to highlight the poor condition of 100 Feet Road near Kanteerava Studio in Yeshwantpur. He has appealed to Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to allow motorists to crowdfund and repair the damaged stretch, saying years of official inaction have left them with little choice.“If you can’t build the road, just give us permission. We’ll fund it and build it ourselves. Just as we raise funds for Ganesha festival, we’ll collect money for road repairs. I’ll sponsor a tractor-load of gravel and the rental cost for an excavator (JCB machine),” he said in the video, which has struck a chord with frustrated commuters.He said the road has been in poor condition for more than five years and deteriorated further after utility works dug up the stretch around three years ago. Repeated representations eventually led to the road being asphalted after the issue was taken up with the chief minister’s office. However, the relief was short-lived.Within a few months, the newly laid road began deteriorating, leaving motorists back where they started — negotiating potholes and damaged stretches despite repeated complaints and repairs.Large sections of the road now resemble a construction site rather than a city road, with open drains running alongside broken carriageways and leaving little safe space for pedestrians. Deep craters dot the stretch, forcing motorists to constantly swerve to avoid damaging their vehicles. Several potholes have been filled with construction debris instead of being properly repaired, making the surface even more uneven.“So much tax is collected from people, and you cannot provide something as basic as a road. What are you there for?” he asked, slamming the civic authorities.
Large sections of 100 Feet Road near Kanteerava Studio in Yeshwantpur are riddled with craters, dust and open drains, making the stretch hazardous for motorists and pedestrians
During dry weather, thick clouds of dust engulf the stretch, reducing visibility and making every commute uncomfortable. Residents say the uneven surface, exposed drains, debris-filled potholes and dust have turned what should be a key arterial road into one of the area’s most hazardous stretches.‘Tired of waiting’What surprises him most is the response from fellow commuters. “Whenever I stop to click pictures of the road, people come up to me just to vent their frustration,” he told TOI. “I have asked some if they would contribute money to fix the road, and almost everyone says yes. People are tired of waiting.”Despite repeatedly writing to the CM’s office, elected representatives and officials, Deepak says his complaints are routinely closed without explanation. “We are in 2026 and still fighting for something as basic as a road in India’s technology capital. Why should citizens who pay taxes have to beg for basic infrastructure?” he asked.For Deepak, the issue goes beyond potholes. He switched from a two-wheeler to a car to avoid the dust and diversions, but says he worries about pedestrians and bikers who continue to endure the daily ordeal. “At least level the road properly until it is asphalted. Instead, debris is dumped into potholes, making the road worse. We’re done. We’re simply done putting up with this kind of infrastructure,” he said.His words may be directed at one road, but the sentiment extends far beyond Yeshwantpur, capturing the growing frustration of countless Bengaluru residents who feel abandoned by a system they believe has stopped listening.
