**Bengaluru Residents Protest Against Bad Roads, Leading to Standoff with Police**
*By Snehil Singh | September 20, 2025, 7:12 PM*
Residents of Bengaluru took to the streets on Saturday morning to protest against the city’s deteriorating road conditions. The demonstration, however, resulted in a standoff with police officers, who warned that the protests were unauthorized and could lead to arrests.
Protesters carried placards with messages such as “Save Bengaluru Roads” and “Fix Roads” while officers attempted to disperse the crowd.
**Protest Triggered by Viral Video**
The protests were sparked by a viral video exposing the poor state of roads and footpaths outside Google’s Bengaluru office. The footage highlighted massive craters, encroached footpaths, and unsafe walking spaces.
In response, residents from housing societies along the eastern corridor formed a human chain along Varthur Road, demanding immediate repairs on a two-kilometer stretch between Gunjur and Varthur Kodi.
**Safety Concerns and Political Overtones**
Commuters have expressed frustration over what should be a five-minute journey between Vinayak Nagara and Varthur Police Station now taking over 40 minutes. Locals also raised alarms about increased accidents and health issues caused by dust clouds emanating from the broken roads.
As the protests gained momentum, political voices entered the fray. BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticized the Congress-led state government for neglecting these essential civic issues.
**Government Response**
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar attributed the pothole problem to “natural causes” and heavy rains. He stated that over 7,000 potholes have been filled so far, with more than 5,000 still remaining across Bengaluru’s roads.
Contrastingly, Poonawalla commented, “Despite paying high taxes, residents are left with potholes, dust, and mismanagement. This is nothing but a ‘Loot, Jhooth, and Phoot’ governance model.”
The ongoing protests underline the urgent need for improved infrastructure and timely government intervention to ensure safer and smoother commutes for Bengaluru’s residents.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/bengaluru-locals-confront-police-form-human-chain-to-protest/story