Bengaluru residents protest potholes, bad roads with 'no roads, no tax' movement. Watch

Residents in Varthur, Bengaluru, staged a protest over poor infrastructure, chanting 'no roads, no tax!' in demand for better roads.

Published on: Oct 19, 2025, 12:16:21 IST

By Yamini C S, Bengaluru

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Angry and frustrated over deteriorating infrastructure, several Bengaluru residents took to the streets this week, chanting the now-viral slogan: "No roads, no tax!" The protest, captured in a widely circulated video on social media, shows citizens marching through a street full of sludge, demanding accountability from local and state authorities.

Bengaluru residents expressed frustration over deteriorating infrastructure, leading to a protest demanding better roads and accountability from the government, captured in a viral video showing citizens marching through poorly maintained streets. (X)

The video, which has garnered more than four thousand views, features residents expressing outrage over the poor state of roads, and what they describe as an “inept government.” Protesters can be heard shouting slogans like “We want better roads!”

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“No Roads, No Tax! Bangalore citizens are sick of the inept government. India needs an infrastructure revolution. Corrupt politicians need a wake-up call,” read the caption of a social media post by a Bengaluru resident, echoing the mood of the demonstrators.

According to the video, this protest happened in the Varthur area.

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What began as isolated grumblings in neighbourhood forums has now grown into a broader civic movement. The “no roads, no tax” protest is not just about potholes, say organizers, but about years of systemic neglect.

Several residents responded to the video on X, saying, “Unless citizens see themselves as a check on politicians on both sides instead of taking sides, they'll be taken for granted.”

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“Never going to happen under the current system, which is the heir to the "spoils" system of Americain the 1870s. To wit, politics only determines which set of brigands gets to loot public money until the next election,” another wrote in response.

Bengaluru, once celebrated as India’s tech capital, is now grappling with mounting civic issues that have left residents increasingly frustrated.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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