Bengaluru Citizens Threaten Tax Boycott Over Infrastructure Failures, Shivakumar Vows Action
Residents demand accountability as minister pledges urgent road repairs.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, responsible for Bengaluru's development, announced accelerated efforts to address the city's deteriorating infrastructure, stating that pothole-filling and road asphalting operations are advancing rapidly. This response follows a public outcry from the Individual Tax Payers Forum, which, in a letter dated October 13, 2025, to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, threatened to withhold property tax payments to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) until civic infrastructure improves. The forum cited "unscientific and poorly coordinated" road white-topping and incomplete stormwater drainage in areas like Varthur-Balagere-Panathur, exacerbating recent severe flooding and undermining Bengaluru’s reputation as India’s IT hub.
The controversy intensified after Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw shared an overseas executive’s critical remarks on X about Bengaluru’s pothole-ridden roads and garbage accumulation, sparking widespread debate. On October 15, Shaw reiterated the "dire situation," attributing it to decades of neglect by prior governments and urging immediate action. The forum’s letter, accessed by NDTV, emphasized that hasty road repairs without proper drainage systems lead to rapid deterioration, wasting taxpayer funds. It warned that continued civic negligence threatens "Brand Bengaluru," with labels like "Pothole City" and "Garbage Capital" eroding global credibility.
Shivakumar, addressing concerns on X in Kannada, confirmed that 13,000 potholes have been filled since September 2025 and outlined a ₹1,100 crore plan to upgrade 550 km of arterial roads, including projects like the Central Silk Board–KR Pura elevated corridor. He refuted congestion tax proposals and highlighted plans for peripheral ring roads, tunnels, and double-decker flyovers to manage Bengaluru’s 1.2 crore vehicles. Additionally, ₹1,673 crore in BBMP East Zone revenues will fund infrastructure enhancements across 50 wards, prioritizing IT corridors.
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State ministers Priyank Kharge (IT-BT) and MB Patil (Large Industries) acknowledged the challenges, stressing the need for time and collective effort. A 2025 Karnataka High Court report notes 40% of Bengaluru’s roads are in disrepair due to monsoons and urban sprawl, with BBMP logging 10,000 monthly complaints on flooding and encroachments. Property tax collections, now at ₹5,000 crore annually, face scrutiny, as citizens argue funds are misallocated to temporary fixes. A 5% dip in IT exports in Q3 2025 signals economic risks, with firms citing infrastructure as a relocation factor.
With #FixBengaluruNow trending at 1.2 million posts, Shivakumar has scheduled town halls with residents and industry leaders to refine the infrastructure plan, promising transparency via a project-tracking app. The government faces intense pressure to deliver sustainable solutions before the 2026 civic elections, as the threatened tax boycott underscores deep public frustration with Bengaluru’s crumbling civic framework.
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