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News18 conducted a spot visit to not only the Prime Minister’s residence but also the roads leading to it
Contrary to Shivakumar’s claims, the route from Kautilya Marg to 7 LKM was smooth and well-maintained, a stark contrast to Bengaluru’s pothole-ridden roads. (File pic/PTI)
The politics of potholes has gone national, with Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar shifting the spotlight from Bengaluru to the national capital. Facing fierce criticism at home for failing to address the pothole issues in Bengaluru, where he also serves as the minister for development and town planning, Shivakumar deflected the blame by claiming to have found potholes near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg during his visit to Delhi two days ago. He urged Karnataka-based reporters to verify his claims by checking with their colleagues in Delhi and visiting 7 LKM.
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At CNN-News18, we took up DKS’s challenge and conducted a spot visit to not only the Prime Minister’s residence but also the roads leading to it. Our journey began at Karnataka Bhawan on Kautilya Marg, a road known for its diplomatic significance and excellent maintenance. Almost immediately, we noticed a small patch of uneven road, indicative of ongoing construction work, but not a full-fledged pothole. From there, we continued our drive, expecting to encounter the craterous landscape described by deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar.
Contrary to Shivakumar’s claims, the route from Kautilya Marg to 7 LKM was smooth and well-maintained, a stark contrast to Bengaluru’s pothole-ridden roads. The roads were devoid of the bone-jarring ruts that plague Bengaluru. Outside the PM’s residence at 7 LKM, the road was pristine, and the formidable security presence along Lok Kalyan Marg ensured its upkeep. Our search for a single verifiable pothole yielded no results.
We extended our drive to Safdarjung Road and concluded our tour at the Congress party headquarters on Akbar Road. The result was consistent: no potholes, except for the small patch we found at the beginning of our journey.
While the pothole crisis in Bengaluru is a genuine and serious issue, with reports of thousands of potholes causing daily struggles for commuters, DKS’s attempt to use Delhi as a counterargument appears to be a political manoeuvre that doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. Our ground report reveals that the situation in the mentioned areas of Delhi stands in stark opposition to his claims, indicating that the politics of potholes is more about shifting focus than addressing a shared nationwide problem.
September 23, 2025, 21:29 IST
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