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Drive
CA
Civic Admin
12 Dec 2024
Chikkanayakanahalli, Bengaluru
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A Historic Win: When Citizens Threaten to Stop Tax, Leaders Pay from Their Pockets!

For nearly six years, the residents of Halanayakanahalli (off Sarjapur Road) struggled with a broken road filled with 250 potholes. Repeated pleas to the PWD and elected representatives went unheard.
But when the Citizens Movement East Bengaluru mobilized residents to threaten a Property Tax Boycott, the impact was immediate.

In an unprecedented move, 15 members of the Halanayakanahalli Panchayat paid nearly Rs 5 Lakh from their own pockets to fix the road!

Mithilesh Kumar, Founder of Civic Opposition of India, hails this as a definitive proof of concept: "This victory shows that collective bargaining works. When citizens stand united and say #NoRoadNoTax, the system is forced to respond. We applaud volunteer Arif Mudgal and the residents for holding their ground."

This is not just a road repair; it is a lesson in democracy.
#Bengaluru #CitizenPower #Halanayakanahalli #CivicOpposition #NoRoadNoTax #Accountability #SarjapurRoad

7424
Protests
CA
Civic Admin
21 Aug 2023

Doddamara Road Nightmare Persists – Potholes, Blockages, and Unfulfilled Promises in "Brand Bengaluru

Yesterday, August 27, 2023, the grim reality of Doddamara Road struck again during a ground visit by one of our volunteers. Walking from near the Ambedkar statue toward Notre Dame Academy and further along the stretch, the conditions remain unchanged and deeply troubling: deep, hazardous potholes that turn the road into a treacherous path, narrow sections barely allowing safe passage, and complete absence of proper drainage despite years of repeated complaints from residents.Just two days earlier, on August 25, 2023, a joint inspection took place involving officials from the Public Works Department, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Shantipura Gram Panchayat, police, and traffic police personnel. The inspection was coordinated through the Office of the Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister of Karnataka. Representatives from our group were present, and the authorities committed to immediate remedial actions within the next 15 days, including:
  • Relaying and restoring the road surface from the Ambedkar statue to Notre Dame Academy (to be handled by Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board).
  • Filling and repairing all major potholes with concrete and tar from Notre Dame Academy to Dinne Circle (also under Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board responsibility).
  • Regular monitoring of cleanliness by the Panchayat Development Officer.
They also stated that a Detailed Project Report for a comprehensive, permanent drainage system would be prepared by Public Works Department engineers within one to two months.We publicly appreciated Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, and the involved departments for stepping up coordination. However, yesterday's on-site check revealed no visible progress so far. The road continues to pose serious dangers, particularly for the more than 20 school buses that use this route daily, putting children, parents, and commuters at risk of accidents in these craters.Compounding the misery is the ongoing Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board pipeline work, which has caused a 15-day road blockage starting from Doddamara Junction on Hosa Road up to the 4th Cross Junction (notified around August 26, 2023). School buses and other vehicles have been advised to take alternative routes, adding yet another layer of disruption to a road that has seen almost no meaningful development in over eight years—aside from temporary patches by Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board that quickly fail.This pattern exemplifies classic Bengaluru civic neglect: high taxes are collected from residents and vehicle owners, inspections are conducted and promises are made, yet jurisdictional overlaps (between Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike limits and gram panchayats) and repeated delays allow the situation to persist. Monsoon flooding, health hazards from stagnant water, and daily commuting hardships affect families in this southern fringe area, all while "Brand Bengaluru" is promoted elsewhere.This is the core reason we continue advocating for the #NoDevelopmentNoTax principle. Citizens should not have to plead for basic infrastructure like motorable roads and functional drains—we pay taxes precisely for these services. When commitments are not honored promptly, taxpayers have every right to seek greater accountability.We once again urge:
  • Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
  • Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar
  • Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister of Karnataka
  • Chairman of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board
  • Local MLA Munirathna (and other relevant representatives)
  • Relevant Public Works Department, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, and gram panchayat officials
to deliver on the August 25, 2023, promises without further delay. Complete the road relaying, pothole repairs, and initiate the drainage Detailed Project Report immediately. Make Doddamara Road safe and usable for families, schoolchildren, and daily commuters.If your neighborhood faces similar infrastructure failures, please share your experiences, photos, or stories in the comments or reach out directly. Collective, persistent pressure remains our most effective tool for change.Bengaluru deserves infrastructure that matches its reputation as an IT hub—not endless excuses and partial fixes.
#DoddamaraRoad #NoDevelopmentNoTax #CivicOpIndia #BengaluruInfrastructure #Anekal #SarjapurRoad


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