Central Corporation Engineer Suspended Over Broken Streetlights in Bengaluru

Executive engineer (electrical) H.V. Ramesh of the Central Corporation has been suspended for dereliction of duty after an inspection revealed that 140 out of 222 streetlights were non-functional along a major corridor in central Bengaluru.

Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda carried out an inspection on August 28 along the key stretch between Hudson Circle and Chalukya Circle. During the visit, the Minister discovered that only 82 of the 222 streetlights installed on the route were working.

According to the suspension order, the Minister had previously convened two separate meetings concerning the upkeep and maintenance of streetlights across the city. In those meetings, strict directives had been issued to civic officials and private contractors to address maintenance lapses and rectify non-working lights.

Despite those instructions, Mr. Ramesh submitted an official report claiming that repair works along the corridor had been largely finished. His report stated that required wires and cables had been drawn and that nearly all streetlights were operational, with only 10 to 15 fixtures remaining damaged.

The findings on the ground directly contradicted the submitted report, leading to the suspension order against the executive engineer.

Following the inspection, Mr. Gowda also wrote to the Greater Bengaluru Authority Commissioner, directing the administration to initiate disciplinary proceedings against officials who failed to carry out their assigned duties.