Bengaluru man sends BBMP Rs 50 lakh notice after multiple hospital visits over poor roads

Waterlogging at Yelahanka on Airport Road in Bengaluru.

A 43-year-old Bengaluru resident has sent a legal notice to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), demanding Rs 50 lakh as compensation for the pain and stress he claims were caused by the city's badly maintained roads, according to a report by NDTV.

Dhivya Kiran, a resident of Richmond Town, asserted that despite paying his taxes, he has suffered serious physical and emotional problems due to the poor condition of the roads. He alleged that the BBMP has failed in its basic duty to provide proper infrastructure.

According to the legal notice, Kiran has had to visit orthopaedic doctors five times and has gone to the emergency room four times because of severe neck and back pain. His lawyer, K V Laveen, said these health issues are directly linked to the jerks and strain caused by riding on badly damaged and uneven roads in Bengaluru.

The lawyer added that his client, Kiran, has had to undergo injections and procedures for pain relief and has been relying on painkillers regularly. He has also experienced sleep loss, anxiety, and emotional distress, all of which have deeply affected his day-to-day life, according to the report.

Kiran also said he is unable to travel by auto or on two-wheelers, as the uneven and damaged roads have severely worsened his spinal and neck condition. "Even cab rides are difficult, though marginally more tolerable than autos or bikes. This severely limits his mobility and independence, affecting both his personal and professional commitments," his lawyer told NDTV.

The notice accuses BBMP of "gross negligence and failure in discharging its public duty" and that Kiran is facing "physical agony, emotional trauma, and financial burden.”

Kiran has asked BBMP to pay Rs 50 lakh for his pain, emotional distress, and medical expenses, including travel for treatment, within 15 days. He also demanded Rs 10,000 for legal fees. If BBMP fails to respond, he said he will take legal action.

Speaking to NDTV, Kiran said, "Bengaluru roads are a mess. Even the smallest pothole can cause so much distress. It is very sad that the city does not care for good infrastructure. That is why I have sent a notice to the authorities. If need be, I will file a PIL (Public Interest Litigation). Why should I suffer? The least the state can do is provide us with good roads.”