Bengaluru needs unified master plan for infrastructure, says official

Bengaluru requires a coordinated long-term master plan to address its critical infrastructure challenges spanning water management, road maintenance and sewerage systems, officials said. The sprawling city's fragmented approach to these essential services has created inefficiencies that need to be resolved through integrated planning and governance.

A key proposal involves implementing a uniform policy that would hold all agencies responsible for road excavation accountable to strict restoration standards. Under this framework, agencies conducting work on roads would face clear cost recovery mechanisms and penalties for failing to meet restoration benchmarks.

The standardized approach aims to prevent the recurring problem of roads being dug up repeatedly by different utility providers without proper coordination or restoration. By establishing consistent requirements across all agencies, authorities hope to reduce disruptions to traffic and citizens while ensuring infrastructure work is completed to uniform quality standards.

Office holders emphasized that such a coordinated policy would not only improve accountability but also optimize resource allocation across multiple agencies managing different aspects of urban infrastructure. The framework would require buy-in from water boards, municipal authorities, electricity providers and telecommunications companies that regularly excavate roads for maintenance and expansion work.

The proposal forms part of broader efforts to modernize Bengaluru's infrastructure management as the city grapples with rapid urbanization and growing demands on its systems.