Bengaluru: It’s not just traffic that is leaving the city’s vehicle users frustrated. A growing rodent menace has become another major concern, with an increasing number of vehicle owners heading to workshops after rats damage wiring harnesses and other critical components, particularly in cars.The worst-affected are those parking their vehicles on garbage-strewn streets. Residents said they are making frequent trips to repair shops as the issue continues to worsen despite repeated complaints to civic authorities.SN Mishra, 54, a legal adviser, said: “The rat problem in Indiranagar area has become severe. Open drains and sewer lines seem to be providing a breeding ground for rodents. Recently, two of my cars, parked on the road, suffered extensive damage after rats chewed through the wiring. Mechanics told me the repair costs could exceed Rs 80,000, and the vehicles are still in the workshop. Despite trying sprays, metal guards and other preventive measures, nothing has worked. We’ve repeatedly complained to civic authorities, but the problem continues unabated.”Uma M, a resident of Jeevan Bima Nagar, said: “My vehicle has been affected twice recently, while my neighbour’s scooter battery wires and car were also damaged, forcing us to tow the vehicles to service centres. The rodents have also dug up gardens and destroyed plants and pots. Civic authorities must act immediately to control the infestation.”Alexy F, from Hosa Road, said: “I’ve been observing a large number of rats emerging from drains at night. I usually park my bike on the road because my apartment does not have enough parking space. To prevent rats from climbing onto the vehicle, I place large stones around the bike. However, the fear of damage remains.”Garages that TOI spoke to said they receive at least four vehicles every day with similar complaints.Stephen R, a mechanic from Shivajinagar, said: “In many cases, rodents chew through fuel pipes and electrical cables, causing significant damage. There are a few preventive measures vehicle owners can try, such as installing vibration-based rodent repellent devices with sensors or placing tobacco-based repellents near parked vehicles. Once rats damage the wiring, it is often difficult to fix because the entire wiring harness may need to be replaced. More than the repair cost, the bigger concern is the impact on the vehicle’s overall condition and reliability.” Some local mechanics charge over Rs 1,000 depending on the soldering work.Sudarshan Sahu, customer care manager at a car service company, said he sees at least one four-wheeler coming in daily with this issue. “For luxury cars, repairing damaged wiring can cost upwards of Rs 80,000. Most vehicles come in with damage to brake wiring or fuel pipes. Once such problems occur, they tend to recur. One common factor I’ve noticed is that many affected vehicles either have food stored inside them or remain unused for long periods. These days, there is a lot of marketing around rat-repellent sprays and similar products, but they may, at best, keep rats away for a week, as the smell does not last long.”Ways to avoid rodent damage* Do not store food inside the vehicle* Avoid leaving the vehicle unused for long periods* Do not park near garbage dumps or rodent-infested blackspots* Consider installing vibration-based rodent repellent devices
