Delhi and Bengaluru have both begun major pothole repair work. Here's why that's probably a bad idea

In Delhi, Chief Minister Atishi has spearheaded a city-wide initiative to make the capital pothole-free before Diwali. Along with her team, she has conducted inspections across the city, with a plan to repair or rebuild about 1,400 km of roads. This is a response to long-standing complaints about damaged roads that have deteriorated further due to utility work left unfinished.

Similarly, after strict orders from Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has begun a war effort to repair over 12,000 km of roads using this new technology. Bengaluru has also rolled out its "Fix Pothole" app, aiming for a transparent and efficient process to address the city’s road woes.

But while these efforts sound like a solution, there are compelling reasons to argue that rapid pothole repair may be more problematic than helpful.

A band-aid that is also a safety hazard

One of the key issues is that filling potholes is essentially a "band-aid" solution. Roads often degrade due to structural problems, poor-quality materials, or heavy utility work beneath the surface. For example, in Delhi, much of the road damage is attributed to unfinished work by power companies and the Delhi Jal Board.

Merely filling potholes without addressing these underlying issues means the repairs are temporary, and potholes will likely reappear — especially if the city does not use good-quality materials for the work. Bengaluru faces similar concerns, where underground utility work is a major cause of road deterioration, leading to a recurring cycle of damage and repair.
Further, a quick pothole patch usually doesn’t integrate well with the surrounding road material, leading to uneven surfaces. This inconsistency can make the repaired section more susceptible to further damage. Continuous patchwork repairs degrade the overall quality of the road, reducing its lifespan and necessitating more frequent repairs.

Uneven patchwork can also create safety issues for drivers and pedestrians. These bumpy roads can cause accidents, especially in areas with high-speed traffic. Motorists might swerve to avoid patches, increasing the risk of collisions. Poorly done repairs can also create loose gravel or uneven surfaces that may endanger two-wheeler riders.

Ignored drainage issues

Neither city has thoroughly addressed drainage problems. Poor drainage systems contribute heavily to the formation of potholes, especially during monsoon seasons. In Bengaluru — a city that has recently gained notoriety for its famous monsoon flooding — the continuous accumulation of water, combined with the wear and tear from underground cables and pipes, creates the perfect conditions for potholes to form. Delhi, too, is no stranger to drainage issues, particularly in low-lying areas like Ashram Chowk and Okhla. Repairing roads without fixing drainage will result in recurring damage, especially with heavy rains.

During the rainy season (and sometimes even otherwise) many of these potholes hazardously fill up with water, making it difficult for motorists to ascertain the depth of the holes. This often leads to accidents where the vehicles and their drivers fall into larger-than-expected potholes, creating an issue that can only be solved once the road’s drainage issues are properly addressed.

Further, most Bengalureans understand the joy and fear of a new metro line being announced in their areas. Wherever these lines go, there often follow a trail of roadwork and traffic congestion that strain these roads beyond repair. As BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Guru Nath explains, “Wherever BMRCL is constructing metro stations, they are acquiring more land and installing pillars, which are damaging our drains. Mud is filling it up, and the entire drainage system needs to be redesigned.”

Misallocation of funds

According to official data, BBMP had spent Rs 7,121 crores over the course of 2019-2022 to fill approximately 24,000 potholes in the city. If you explain this figure to any resident, there is a good chance they would, quite understandably, laugh at you. When asked about these funds, even Tushar Guru Nath seemed confused, noting that there may have been “something wrong in data augmentation”.

In Bengaluru, about Rs 33.75 crore has been allocated for pothole repairs across 225 wards the city. While this may seem like a significant investment, it’s arguably a misallocation. Rather than addressing the root causes of road damage — like poor construction standards and lack of oversight — cities are pouring money into short-term fixes. This is a whole lot of money that is going into the exhaustingly non-transparent pipeline, with little coming out the other end.
As a result, this repeated “fixing” of the same sections of the road can be a massive and utter waste of public funds. While patchwork repairs may be relatively inexpensive, they can certainly add up over time, as the same areas need to be fixed repeatedly. A proper long-term solution would involve overhauling road-building processes, improving drainage, and ensuring that utility work is completed before road resurfacing.

Poor oversight and longer-term accountability

Citizens have little faith in the work that will be carried out to address the pothole problem, even if it may seem like the urgency has been dialled up this time around. Civic activist and road expert Nagesh Aras even alleged that the system has been designed in such an inefficient way that favours the formation of new potholes.

“The BBMP always blames the rains, but though the civic body has adopted the Indian Road Congress (IRS) guidelines, it has only remained on paper,” Aras told the media. “The civic body is guilty of approving road works of bad quality. Even pothole filling is done unscientifically.”

Both cities have introduced technological solutions to track potholes and repairs, but the effectiveness of such measures remains in question. Bengaluru’s previous app, "Fix My Street," was largely ineffective due to poor oversight, and there’s scepticism about whether the new "Fix Pothole" app will be any different. Similarly, while Delhi’s repair drive has a detailed plan, it’s unclear whether there will be robust monitoring of quality and whether repairs will last beyond a single season.

While the ambition to fix potholes in Delhi and Bengaluru is commendable, these efforts are likely to fall short without addressing deeper structural and infrastructural problems. Instead of focusing on short-term fixes, a more sustainable solution would be to invest in better road construction, drainage systems, and long-term planning to prevent potholes from forming in the first place. Otherwise, these cities might find themselves caught in a cycle of perpetual repair.