Pole on newly-resurfaced Prof UR Rao Road in Bengaluru relocated after public outrage

Bengaluru: A high-mast light pole that stood in the middle of a newly-resurfaced road in Domlur and triggered widespread criticism on social media was relocated by authorities Tuesday.

The pole on Prof UR Rao Road in Domlur was shifted by a Bescom team along with staff of the Bengaluru Central City Corporation (BCCC). The pole will be fitted later in a corner or on the centre of the median.

According to Atif Mohammed, BCCC’s executive engineer of the Shanthinagar division, the road was closed for traffic as it was being redeveloped. “We have opened the road today after closing it for 15 days. The road was in a very bad condition. It has now been resurfaced with concrete as it is a low-lying area prone to water stagnation during rain,” he said.

Mohammed maintained that the pole was not exactly at the centre of the road, noting that part of the carriageway was earlier occupied by abandoned vehicles and garbage dumping. “The 350m road next to a stormwater drain is now in a great condition. The public is appreciating the work,” he said.

However, he acknowledged that better coordination between departments was required to ensure such infrastructure conflicts are resolved in time.

The image of the pole, shared on X Sunday, drew sharp reactions from users, who criticised the poor planning and flagged the potential safety hazard posed to motorists.