The Greater Bengaluru Authority has promised to begin repairs on the crater-hit Kanteerava Studio Road within two days, after commuters confronted the GBA West City commissioner during an inspection of the damaged stretch on Wednesday. The road, between Surana College and Nandini Layout, developed a large crater after heavy rain, exposing commuters to a deep, water-filled cavity along one edge of the carriageway.
A video of the confrontation involving GBA West City commissioner KV Rajendra has circulated widely. Vivek C, vice-president of Yuva Ghataka Bengaluru Urban and a regular commuter on the road, said he encountered the commissioner during the inspection and asked when the long-pending repairs would be completed.
Vivek told the Times of India that Rajendra responded rudely when questioned about the delay. He said commuters had repeatedly raised concerns about the stretch, which he described as being in poor condition for years. According to Vivek, the latest crater was the point at which residents decided to confront the authorities directly.
Rajendra said citizens’ frustration over the road was justified but objected to the conduct during the confrontation. He told the Times of India that he accepted responsibility for the road’s condition and would take action against an assistant executive engineer for failure in duty. He also said that public anger did not justify shouting at officials or falling on moving vehicles.
The commissioner said he had inspected the road after taking charge of the zone last year. However, the stretch had already been earmarked for white-topping, which, according to Rajendra, limited the scope for major interim repairs. He said the authority was assessing the most appropriate intervention and would take up work within the next two days, subject to weather conditions.
The road’s repair history has also exposed a dispute over how complaints are recorded and acted upon. Rajendra claimed that the West Zone office had not received any formal complaints about the road’s condition. Local commuters disputed that claim, saying they had repeatedly brought the problem to the attention of different authorities.
The crater appeared on a stretch that was already damaged, with the road surface caving in along one side of the carriageway after heavy rain. The cavity filled with water, making its depth and edge difficult for road users to judge. The incident has renewed concerns among commuters about the safety of roads awaiting larger projects such as white-topping while remaining in active use.
The immediate response will depend on weather conditions and the repair method selected by the GBA. Rajendra’s stated next steps are to begin work within two days and initiate action against the assistant executive engineer identified as responsible for the alleged failure in duty.
