Action Ordered Over 140 Broken Streetlights on Hudson Circle-Chalukya Circle Stretch

Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has directed officials of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to initiate disciplinary action against those responsible for lapses in streetlight maintenance along a major central Bengaluru corridor.

The directive follows an inspection conducted by the Minister on August 28 along the key stretch between Hudson Circle and Chalukya Circle. The inspection revealed that out of 222 streetlight poles on the route, only 82 had functioning lights, leaving more than 140 streetlights non-operational.

Following the inspection, Mr. Gowda issued written directions to GBA Chief Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao, instructing him to take disciplinary action against officials who failed to discharge their duties and did not adhere to maintenance instructions.

According to the Minister, the GBA had previously conducted two separate meetings focusing on the upkeep and maintenance of streetlights across the city. During a meeting held on August 4, civic officials and contractors were specifically instructed to prevent maintenance lapses and were provided time to rectify existing shortcomings.

Mr. Gowda noted that despite these explicit instructions, the large number of non-functional streetlights found on the stretch demonstrated a clear failure in maintenance on the part of the responsible personnel.

The Minister highlighted the critical importance of the road, pointing out that it serves as a major arterial stretch in the heart of Bengaluru that connects commuters to Kempegowda Bus Station. The road also runs alongside the court complex and the residence of the Chief Justice of the High Court, witnessing traffic volumes of hundreds of vehicles every minute.

Taking note of the heavy vehicular movement and the sensitivity of the administrative zone, Mr. Gowda emphasized that such lapses in basic civic infrastructure were unacceptable and demanded immediate accountability from the administration.