Bengaluru Civic Body Begins Accountability Campaign For Engineers As Govt Bats For White-Topped Roads | Exclusive

Last Updated:February 18, 2025, 14:32 IST

The campaign ‘Namma Raste, Namma Hemme’ (Our Roads, Our Pride) is aimed at making engineers proud of the roads they construct to ensure top quality as the city plans a major infrastructural overhaul

White-topped roads are being promoted as a cleaner, better looking, and more durable alternative to black-topped roads. (News18)

When one talks of Bengaluru’s roads, people often visualise traffic congestions, pot-holed arterial roads, and haunting images of severe waterlogging across the city. However, all this is set to change.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is trying to make engineers working on building roads accountable with the campaign ‘Namma Raste, Namma Hemme’ (Our Roads, Our Pride).

Bengaluru’s road infrastructure is set for a major overhaul with an aggressive push for white-topping, touted as a long-term, low-maintenance solution for handling the city’s ever-growing traffic, say BBMP engineers.

What is white-topping?

BBMP chief engineer Dr BS Prahalad, speaking exclusively to News18, explained that white-topping is the best solution for Bengaluru’s road infrastructural issues and will not only improve road durability but also reduce potholes, enhance commuting comfort, and lower air pollution.

“We are telling our officers that don’t just build roads, build them with accountability, with the right sense of engineering, and be proud of it. We are instilling an emotional connect by making those involved in building the road feel proud of their work. ‘Namma Raste, Namma Hemme (Our Roads, Our Pride). If an engineer who has constructed the roads is not proud of his work, the work will be futile. We are instilling a sense of accountability and pride, and that way, it will also connect with him and the people," said senior official Dr Prahlad Rao.

Rao pointed out how during the global investors’ meet, BBMP was able to showcase how white-topping roads ticks all the boxes of durability, longevity, visibility, cleanliness, and beauty with ticketing along the roads.

“An engineer should feel proud of his work, one that lasts at least three decades. That will instil confidence in people as well," said the senior official.

Here is how the city’s civic body plans to improve the IT capital’s road infrastructure.

The white-topping drive began in 2015-16 under the previous Congress government with an allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the first two phases. The project is being promoted as a sustainable alternative, with officials highlighting its durability and reduced maintenance costs.

He explained that between 2015-16 and 2017-18, a total of 196 kilometres of roads were white-topped in Bengaluru. In 2022-23, another 10 km were completed. The government has now decided to further expand white-topping, with 154 km currently under process.

Bengaluru’s arterial and sub-arterial roads, where 70 per cent traffic flows, span a total of 1,682 km. This year, by August-September, white-topping will cross 360 km, with a target to complete an additional 450 km by 2025-26. “This will give commuters a seamless, robust and ease-of-travel experience," Dr Rao said.

White-topped roads are being promoted as a cleaner, more durable alternative to black-topped roads. White-topped roads provide better visual cleanliness as they appear neater and are easier to maintain. Whether it is sweeping, green hedging, or water collection, white-topping makes maintenance more efficient.

Dr Rao also dismissed concerns that white-topping would dry up the area, saying a systematic procedure for collecting fresh rainwater and allowing it to percolate at intervals could be implemented.

One of the key advantages of white-topping, according to the BBMP expert, is its longevity. The roads last for more than 25 years, making them a cost-effective solution. Another advantage is low maintenance as white-topped roads do not develop potholes and require fewer repairs compared to black-topped roads. Riding comfort is also a major factor as smoother roads improve the commuting experience. Inside the city, all departments—including water supply, BESCOM, and KPTCL—have been instructed to plan long-term solutions so that infrastructure work is completed efficiently before white-topping is laid.

“People will get long-term unmatched services which black-topped roads, which are frequently damaged or dug up for repairs, can’t provide. Over the decade we have seen through trials and implementation that white-topped roads ensure a smart city solution," the official said.

Bengaluru’s growing vehicle population and heavy traffic stress have also been a key reason for the shift towards white-topping, explained Dr Rao.

He pointed out that black-topped roads are unable to withstand the constant, high-intensity vehicle load, leading to faster wear and tear. He said this is not just an issue of quality but a fundamental problem with the material itself, which is not designed to handle such heavy traffic stress. White-topped roads, on the other hand, can efficiently sustain repeated load cycles, making them a more sustainable solution for the city’s infrastructure needs.

Bengaluru’s urban development must be holistic and white-topped roads, combined with good footpaths made of cobblestones and seamless pedestrian pathways, would benefit both motorists and pedestrians. Dr Rao also said wear and tear on white-topped roads is negligible, leading to reduced air pollution and improved air quality across the city.

“Our endeavour is to ensure that with better roads, which have such long-term sustaining ability, traffic congestion will also be reduced," Dr Rao said. He added that contractors are responsible for maintaining both the quality and quantity of work, ensuring the roads last for decades. He pointed out that while the standard concrete thickness for white-topped roads is 160 mm, contractors often provide 165-175 mm as a safeguard. This, he said, reflects the higher responsibility and value for money that comes with the project. Instead of asphalting roads every three years, white-topping provides a solution that can last for 30 years if built with accountability.

The cost-effectiveness of white-topping is another advantage. Dr Rao said while more money is being spent upfront, the nearly zero-maintenance costs mean resources can be saved and reallocated for future projects. The money that would have gone into frequent road repairs can instead be used to plan and implement new infrastructure.

Another often-overlooked benefit of white-topping is its impact on the city’s aesthetics. Officials believe it adds to Bengaluru’s cleanliness and visual appeal. They argue that bitumen roads tend to hold water under the layers, which later forms craters, leading to potholes. On the other hand, white-topped roads allow the water to be drained into nearby water channels, solving the issue of waterlogging or potholes.

Washing of white-toppled roads will give the city a cleaner look, helping the city climb the ladder to becoming one of the best in the world in terms of infrastructure.

“That’s our aim. We must become like global cities and compete in who can provide better quality infra," said an official.

“The ability to keep roads dust-free by washing them or cleaning them regularity is also expected to provide relief to people who suffer from allergies and bring down the AQI level, making Bengaluru a breathe-easy city."

Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, who also oversees Bengaluru’s development, had recently inspected ongoing white-topping works in several parts of the city, noting that work was underway on 97 roads, covering a 150-km network.

Shivakumar said the project has an 11-month deadline, with a second phase planned to white-top an additional 450 km, bringing the total upgraded road network to 1,700 km. Speaking on the purpose of his inspection, he said: “I am here to ensure proper coordination among different agencies and to oversee the timely utilisation of the budget, while achieving set targets."

Bangalore, India, India

News india Bengaluru Civic Body Begins Accountability Campaign For Engineers As Govt Bats For White-Topped Roads | Exclusive