Decision maker:
Shri. Tushar Giri Nath, IAS, Chief Commissioner - BBMP
Shri Siddaramaiah - Chief Minister - Government of Karnataka
Demands : Stop white-topping MG Road with immediate effect
Bengaluru's iconic MG Road, known for its well-maintained status, is now facing an inexplicable fate. The BBMP proposes to dig up the 2.2 km stretch and undergo the white-topping process, between Trinity Circle and Mahatma Gandhi statue, costing an astonishing Rs 44 crore.
Why citizens are opposing:
Several citizens expressed concerns about whitetopping MG Road, which is already in a good condition. There is also fear that whitetopping in the Central Business District area could lead to traffic gridlocks, given that Kamaraj Road is already shut down due to the ongoing Metro work.
What is White topping?
White topping is a road construction technique where concrete is applied over asphalt or bitumen surfaces. It is seen as a supposed cure for potholes and durability issues of roads as it lasts longer than tar roads. Approximately 190km of roads in Bengaluru have been converted to white-topped roads.
Downsides of White topping:
The downsides of white topping far outweigh the benefits with experts highlighting several issues with the reasoning for the project as well as its implementation. One of the most pressing concerns due to the white topping is the exacerbation of waterlogging and potential flooding of roads. One of the key reasons for the flooding of the Outer Ring Road in 2022 was the white topping affecting and blocking the drainage systems. White topping also causes road levels to be raised to higher (often dangerous) levels, causing water to seep into the adjacent properties. In areas with tree cover on the sides of the road, the white topping process has damaged the roots of trees due to a reduction in percolation thanks to the additional layer of concrete. Damaging the root system of trees would lead to a further strain on the city's water resources due to wells drying out.
Why it matters:
Allocating such a substantial amount to revamp an already impeccable road while neglected areas cry out for attention is nothing short of an injustice. Many roads, particularly on the city outskirts now under BBMP jurisdiction, urgently demand attention and repairs. The proposed white-topping project on M G Road raises questions about misplaced priorities and inefficient resource allocation.
We are asking the Chief Minister of Karnataka and the BBMP to scrap the MG Road white topping project with immediate effect.
Sign this petition to make your voice heard! #StopWhiteTopping
Sources:
https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/editorial/no-need-to-white-top-perfectly-good-m-g-road-2848798
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/backlash-from-citizens-bbmp-defends-plan-to-whitetop-bengaluru-mg-road-9112040/
Decision maker:
Shri. Tushar Giri Nath, IAS, Chief Commissioner - BBMP
Shri Siddaramaiah - Chief Minister - Government of Karnataka
Demands : Stop white-topping MG Road with immediate effect
Bengaluru's iconic MG Road, known for its well-maintained status, is now facing an inexplicable fate. The BBMP proposes to dig up the 2.2 km stretch and undergo the white-topping process, between Trinity Circle and Mahatma Gandhi statue, costing an astonishing Rs 44 crore.
Why citizens are opposing:
Several citizens expressed concerns about whitetopping MG Road, which is already in a good condition. There is also fear that whitetopping in the Central Business District area could lead to traffic gridlocks, given that Kamaraj Road is already shut down due to the ongoing Metro work.
What is White topping?
White topping is a road construction technique where concrete is applied over asphalt or bitumen surfaces. It is seen as a supposed cure for potholes and durability issues of roads as it lasts longer than tar roads. Approximately 190km of roads in Bengaluru have been converted to white-topped roads.
Downsides of White topping:
The downsides of white topping far outweigh the benefits with experts highlighting several issues with the reasoning for the project as well as its implementation. One of the most pressing concerns due to the white topping is the exacerbation of waterlogging and potential flooding of roads. One of the key reasons for the flooding of the Outer Ring Road in 2022 was the white topping affecting and blocking the drainage systems. White topping also causes road levels to be raised to higher (often dangerous) levels, causing water to seep into the adjacent properties. In areas with tree cover on the sides of the road, the white topping process has damaged the roots of trees due to a reduction in percolation thanks to the additional layer of concrete. Damaging the root system of trees would lead to a further strain on the city's water resources due to wells drying out.
Why it matters:
Allocating such a substantial amount to revamp an already impeccable road while neglected areas cry out for attention is nothing short of an injustice. Many roads, particularly on the city outskirts now under BBMP jurisdiction, urgently demand attention and repairs. The proposed white-topping project on M G Road raises questions about misplaced priorities and inefficient resource allocation.
We are asking the Chief Minister of Karnataka and the BBMP to scrap the MG Road white topping project with immediate effect.
Sign this petition to make your voice heard! #StopWhiteTopping
Sources:
https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/editorial/no-need-to-white-top-perfectly-good-m-g-road-2848798
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/backlash-from-citizens-bbmp-defends-plan-to-whitetop-bengaluru-mg-road-9112040/