For fixing the bad roads in the city, the residents filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Karnataka High Court. In the proceedings, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has told the court that the roads can WhatsApp the agency on 94806-85700 for any problem related to bad roads, potholes, footpath encroachments, and so on.
A background check revealed that this number is the general WhatsApp number of the BBMP and not a specific number created to tackle only road-related complaints. Vijayan Menon, the principal petitioner of the PIL had this to say to that: “We will let the court know. But at least the court wants to monitor it’s functioining.”
From our experience, while we have regularly been sending news clips with the people’s complaints to this WhatsApp number, we have never got any acknowledgement from them. All we get to see are the two tick marks that someone has seen our message.
Therefore, Menon wants residents to complain about road conditions in their neighbourhoods by WhatsApping the civic agency. He is particularly interested to know if there is an “acknowledgement or response” after the complaint is made. In either case, Menon wants you to take screenshots of your complaints and also remember that roads include footpaths as well. In other words, you can write about potholes, footpath encroachments, and even roads that were not fixed after any repair works carried out by various public agencies.
So go ahead, and WhatsApp the BBMP at this number: 94806-85700 and let Menon know with screenshots at: menonvij@gmail.com.
