Why are residents in Bengaluru’s tech corridors not using their two-wheelers? | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: In the tech corridors of Whitefield and Mahadevapura, residents and daily commuters are raising alarm over the poor condition of critical internal roads such as Nallurahalli Main Road and Borewell Road. These routes, used daily by lakhs of IT professionals, gig workers, and small vendors, have allegedly become nearly unmotorable.A recent citizen-led video campaign has brought the spotlight on to the shocking state of these roads, featuring broken manholes, dangerous patchwork, and deeply cratered stretches.“One early morning, my friend and I saw a Rapido driver covering an open manhole with plant branches in the middle of Nallurahalli road,” said Varun, a commuter. “When we enquired with the Rapido driver, he said he fell because of the open manhole and was covering it so others wouldn’t suffer the same fate. That’s when it hit us how badly these roads are affecting people commuting without cars.”Though not on the main arterial network, Nallurahalli and Borewell roads are vital links. They connect key areas such as ITPB, Whitefield, Old Airport Road, Varthur Kodi, and Varthur, acting as critical feeder roads for thousands of daily users. However, the roads are riddled with potholes and uneven surfaces caused by poor-quality work, posing constant danger to commuters. While SUVs may handle the roads better, two-wheeler riders suffer most.“About 90% of the IT crowd takes cars out only because of the road condition,” said Murugan, another commuter. “I never want to take my scooter out as it is unsafe for me to travel here. So I, like many others, prefer a car.”Murugan pointed out that the issue affects not just the tech crowd but also gig workers, small business owners, and low-income families who can’t afford a car. “People assume this is just an IT issue, but in reality, it’s the poor who suffer the most. A broken road is an equal-opportunity threat, but it hits the weakest hardest,” he said.Despite having a WhatsApp group that includes top zonal officials and engineers, locals said there has been little to no action by BBMP. Varun Rangarajan, another Whitefield resident who filmed road conditions to alert officials, didn’t hold back: “This stretch is the worst I’ve seen. The road is never ever in even a minimum acceptable shape. I take the bike on this road to the Metro because I don’t want to drive to my work and add another car to the road. But the potholes there make it so dangerous to navigate, and are also injurious to my already damaged back. I don’t think lack of money in BBMP is an excuse for this road… show me the money you have, I’ll ensure it is done decently.”Adding to the frustration is the fact that Mahadevapura zone is one of the highest contributors to BBMP’s revenue — generating Rs 1,310 crore in property tax in 2024-25, about 26% of the total collection. Yet, residents are left begging for something as basic as a motorable road.BOXResident write letter to BBMP In a letter to the new BBMP commissioner, Inish Menezes, a Whitefield resident, has raised strong concerns about the crumbling civic infrastructure in the area. She indicated how roads remain broken and poorly maintained despite the area being considered a developed zone. Footpaths, where they exist, are either damaged or taken over by encroachments, leaving pedestrians to walk on unsafe roads. Garbage management too, she wrote, is in complete disarray, with trash being dumped out in the open and no proper disposal mechanism in place.The resident also expressed frustration over how citizen complaints are routinely ignored, even if posted in ward-level WhatsApp groups or on official portals. Her final appeal to the commissioner was simple but urgent: To listen, act, and finally give Whitefield the attention it was denied for too long.