What is white topping of Bengaluru roads all about? Premium

Karnataka cabinet has approved ₹1200 crore action plan for white topping of roads in the limits of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike.

The State Cabinet last week approved ₹1200 crore action plan for white topping of roads in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits. Prior to that, the BBMP had proposed white topping of 43 roads, with over 35 of them located in the Central Business District (CBD) area of Bengaluru. M.G Road and Race Course Road, both of which are in good condition, were included in the list of roads slated for a comprehensive makeover. The allocated funds for this project are ₹45 crore for M.G Road and ₹13.16 crore for Race Course Road. Though the finished white-topped roads have to an extent eased traffic and reduced frequent accidents in the city, the priority given to white topping over many other pending works has not been taken well by many commuters and citizen activists.

White-topping involves the removal of conventional black-top or bitumen-asphalted roads, replacing them with a layer of concrete. The durability of the concrete used is thought to be superior, aiming to prevent the development of potholes. Concrete roads, with a promised lifespan ranging from 15 to 20 years, offer durability compared to asphalt roads, which require re-tarring every three to four years. Advocating for white-topping, the BBMP started white-topping roads in Bengaluru in 2016 following the TenderSure model, asserting that it provides a long-term solution to the persistent pothole issues that Bengaluru has been facing for several decades.  

The concept of TenderSure roads, formulated by the non-profit Jana Urban Space in 2011, encompasses a holistic design approach for streets that includes spaces for essential utilities like power, water, sewage, drainage, telecom, and gas lines. The TenderSure initiative was conceived to tackle the prevalent issues that contribute to the notoriety of Indian roads, such as chaotic traffic, potholes, deteriorated footpaths, overflowing drainage, poorly positioned power transformers, and the intricate tangle of electrical wiring and telecom fixtures.  

In 2016, the BBMP had announced that 12 roads would be white-topped, designated for TenderSure works across two packages, with an additional 50 roads, totaling 103.60 kms, slated for elevation to TenderSure standards. As on 2019, various roads in the CBD area, including Church Street, Richmond Road (General Thimmaiah Road), Residency Road (Field Marshal Cariappa Road), Commissariat Road, Museum Road, Nrupatunga Road, and Kempegowda Road, have undergone various renovations under the TenderSure project. 

In 2016, the BBMP initiated the white-topping of a combined 94.5 kilometers of roads in Bengaluru under two separate packages, with an estimated project cost of ₹986.64 crore. The second phase of white-topping, covering a 63-kilometer stretch, incurred a cost of ₹709 crore. 

As part of Phase 3 in 2019, the then JD(S)-Congress government sanctioned the white-topping of approximately 123 kms across 89 roads in Bengaluru, amounting to ₹ 1,172 crore. However, Phase 3 encountered delays and was eventually halted, contributing to setbacks in the overall project timeline and increased expenses. In 2022, the BBMP submitted a new proposal (third phase), requesting grants and approval from the government. The project included 39 roadways, including the 19-km Outer Ring Road in K.R. Puram that runs between Central Silk Board and Lowry Junction, at a cost of ₹ 1,449 crore.  

In December 2023, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced that white-topping would be employed to develop more roads in Bengaluru and that a meeting with all city legislators will be held soon over the issue. Mr. Shivakumar had said that for the white-topping project, ₹1,000 crore was available with the State government, noting a demand to extend such roads across the city. The Deputy Chief Minister said that roads were being dug indiscriminately in the city for installing cables and other works; So, white-topping should be taken up in a planned manner. He said that the government was prioritising white-topping, as such roads have a lifespan of 25 to 40 years.