Has the K'taka government finally set a deadline to fix Bengaluru's potholes?

Bengaluru, Sep 18 (NationPress) Following significant criticism from IT industry leaders regarding the deteriorating road conditions in Bengaluru, the Congress-led government of Karnataka has announced a deadline for the repair of potholes in the tech hub.

In response to the Co-Founder and CEO of a prominent company threatening to relocate from Bengaluru due to the inadequate road infrastructure, IT leaders expressed their concerns and urged the Karnataka government to take decisive action.

While addressing reporters at Vidhana Soudha, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar confirmed that a deadline has been established for filling potholes, insisting that he would not shy away from accountability.

Shivakumar remarked, "Potholes are a natural occurrence during the rainy season, and we have set a deadline for their repair. We have also directed MLAs to allocate funds for this purpose."

When questioned about the persistent pothole issue despite significant expenditures, he stated, "We have assigned responsibilities to officials and set a deadline. Recent rains have caused numerous potholes around Vidhana Soudha, which is to be expected. We are actively working to resolve this issue. It won't be fixed merely by social media posts or press statements."

In response to Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's social media comments suggesting that the Deputy Chief Minister is scaring IT companies away from Bengaluru, Shivakumar countered, "What has Kumaraswamy contributed to Bengaluru as a Union Minister? The UPA government allocated substantial funds for Bengaluru under the Jawaharalal urban renewal mission. As a close ally of the PM, why hasn't he secured Rs 10,000 crores for the city?"

Shivakumar further questioned Kumaraswamy's claims about quick approvals for the Mekedatu project, asking, "Why hasn't he received approval for the Mahadayi project? He professes to be a local advocate, yet he remains silent on Maharashtra's threats to challenge the Upper Krishna Project in the Supreme Court. Issues won't be resolved through tweets."

When asked about Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh's attempt to lure companies to Andhra Pradesh, Shivakumar replied, "They lack businesses there, which is why they are making such calls. Why did the PM label Bengaluru a global city? Those who benefit from Bengaluru will continue to stay. Global companies choose Bengaluru due to its talent pool of 2.5 million engineers, compared to California's 1.3 million. Over 200,000 foreigners work here, making Bengaluru an attractive destination for talent and opportunities."

Addressing concerns about potential neglect from the Union government, he asserted, "It is evident that the Union government has not contributed a single rupee for Bengaluru's development."

When asked if the allocation of funds to the Upper Krishna project would lead to financial issues for other departments, he clarified, "This is entirely inaccurate; there are no such proposals. We are committed to completing this project and the Centre should not yield to pressure from any state regarding the Upper Krishna project."