By News Karnataka
Copyright newskarnataka
Escalating the political battle over Karnataka’s crumbling road infrastructure, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday announced a state-wide protest against the Congress government. The party said it will block roads across all 224 Assembly constituencies on September 24, citing growing public anger over potholes and deteriorating road conditions, particularly in Bengaluru.
BJP blames Congress for road crisis
State BJP President B Y Vijayendra said the ‘rasta roko’ protest will be staged for one hour from 11 am in cities including Bengaluru, Shivamogga, Vijayapura, and Kalaburagi. “People are deeply frustrated with the poor state of roads. Our protest will reflect that anger,” Vijayendra told reporters.
He accused the Congress government of negligence, pointing to the alarming condition of roads in the state capital. “We have given a call that party workers will stage a protest against the condition of roads filled with potholes in all 224 constituencies,” he said.
Congress under pressure
The protest call comes amid mounting criticism of the Congress-led government from citizens, civic groups, and business leaders. Earlier this week, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directed officials to repair potholes within a month, sanctioning additional funds for the drive. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, however, dismissed the criticism as “politically motivated” and claimed potholes exist in every city across the country.
Business voices join chorus
The demand for immediate action has also come from Bengaluru’s influential business community. Industry leaders such as former Infosys CFO T V Mohandas Pai and Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw have publicly urged the government to take urgent steps to address the city’s infrastructure woes.
Meanwhile, the deteriorating condition of Bengaluru’s roads has begun to impact businesses directly. Blackbuck, a leading logistics tech company, recently decided to relocate from its office in Bellandur, citing severe traffic congestion and broken roads on the Outer Ring Road.
Growing civic frustration
From truck accidents on cratered stretches to viral videos of commuters navigating flooded, pothole-ridden roads, Bengaluru’s infrastructure problems have become a flashpoint for both citizens and opposition parties. With the BJP announcing statewide protests, the road crisis has now turned into a political showdown that could intensify in the coming weeks.
