Claiming that people’s expectations were running high after the new Cabinet assumed office, Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Thursday said the estimate preparation and tender process for the repair and development of internal and ward roads would be completed within the next two months, with the road works expected to be completed within four to six months.

Addressing the media after a meeting on solid waste management, Mr. Gowda said the government had introduced several initiatives to meet public expectations and had now decided to prioritise the improvement of deteriorating ward roads across Bengaluru. A special grant of ₹2,000 crore has been released for the development of the roads in the five corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), as announced earlier, he said.

“I have directed the GBA Chief Commissioner and commissioners of the five corporations to identify damaged roads in their jurisdictions, prepare estimates, complete the short-term tender process and begin the works at the earliest,” he said, adding that officials have been instructed to accord priority to the project and ensure that implementation is not delayed.

Stating that improving road conditions remains one of the key demands of the Bengaluru residents, the Minister said the grant would also be used to upgrade deteriorated ward roads in addition to the ongoing works on arterial and sub-arterial roads.

“I am aware that these timelines fall during the monsoon season. However, the works will be taken up whenever weather conditions permit, and there will be no compromise on quality,” Mr. Gowda said.

The Minister also took a swipe at Bengaluru’s civic agencies over the frequent digging up of roads, attributing it to poor coordination among departments. “This has been happening since the days of Ramakrishna Hegde, when I was a school boy. Roads are repaired, but within a few months agencies such as the Bescom and BWSSB start digging them up again. The problem is the lack of coordination,” he argued.

“Road asphalting works would be taken up in coordination with all agencies concerned and in accordance with a Standard Operating Procedure,” he said, adding that strict action would be taken if roads are dug up without prior permission.