Residents and commuters in Bengaluru, Gurugram, and Karachi are reporting hazardous road conditions after newly built or repaired sections were dug up [1].
These infrastructure failures create significant safety risks for drivers and pedestrians. The resulting loose gravel, open pits, and dust clouds impede daily traffic flow and suggest a lack of coordination between municipal planning and construction execution.
In Bengaluru, India, residents on State Highway 9, known as Doddaballapur Road in Yelahanka, are seeking answers regarding the state of the thoroughfare [1]. The area is currently plagued by dug-up sections that have left behind clouds of dust and unstable surfaces [1].
Similar issues have surfaced in Gurugram, India. A 2.5 km stretch [2] located between Old MG Road and the IDC premises in Sector 16 is currently filled with open pits and widening potholes [2]. These conditions have become a primary concern for those navigating the industrial corridor.
In Pakistan, a newly constructed road in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of Karachi was dug up months after its completion [3]. The project had a construction cost of Rs 90 million [3]. Local reports said the excavation may be the result of poor construction practices or the premature reopening of the road to traffic [3].
Authorities in these regions have not provided clear explanations for why these specific stretches were excavated so shortly after completion [1]. Reports said that inadequate supervision and poor construction practices may be the primary drivers of the current state of the roads [1], [2], [3].
“Newly built or recently repaired roads have been dug up, leaving loose gravel, dust clouds, and open pits.”
The recurrence of these infrastructure failures across different cities suggests a systemic issue with urban planning and inter-departmental coordination. When roads are excavated immediately after being paved, it indicates that utility installations or repairs were not synchronized with the paving schedule, leading to wasted public funds and increased public safety hazards.
