Benson Town Residents Protest Delayed Restoration of Damaged Nandi Durga Road

Residents and commuters on Nandi Durga Road in Benson Town, Bengaluru, are facing severe dust pollution and traffic disruptions due to repeated road excavations and delayed pipeline restoration works. Despite the 1.5-kilometre stretch being developed four years ago at an estimated cost of over Rs 2 crore, continuous digging for underground drainage (UGD) and Cauvery water pipe projects has left the road in front of Indian Bank heavily damaged.

Local residents have questioned the coordination between civic authorities, pointing out that the road is being dug up repeatedly after crores of rupees were spent on its development. The ongoing work has disrupted traffic, pedestrian movement, and access to nearby schools, forcing schoolchildren, parents, and daily commuters to battle heavy dust and damaged road stretches.

Zubair Ali Burhan, a local resident, stated that while authorities took measures to asphalt other dug-up roads in Benson Town, they have yet to fix the issues on Nandi Durga Road. He noted that many school-going children and their parents are suffering due to the dust generated by moving vehicles, and urged authorities to speed up the pending infrastructure work.

AAP activist Maria Hussain also expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the road, calling the digging indiscriminate. She highlighted that a major portion of the road dug up for laying UGD and Cauvery water pipes is yet to be restored, making commuting a difficult task.

An anonymous resident criticized the lack of foresight, noting that the authorities spent Rs 2 crore on asphalting and developing footpaths, only to dig them up again. The resident described the situation as a waste of taxpayers' money, stating that the pipeline work should have been completed before the road was developed.

Selvamani S, a pedestrian, blamed poor coordination between Bengaluru Central City Corporation (BCCC) and Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) engineers for the slow progress. He noted that the dust makes it difficult for pedestrians to walk on the footpaths.

In response to the complaints, the BCCC Executive Engineer for Shivaji Nagar stated that the BWSSB is yet to complete laying the UGD pipes. According to the executive engineer, the road will only be restored once the ongoing pipe-laying works are fully completed.