Greater Bengaluru Authority Suspends Executive Engineer Over 140 Non-Functional Streetlights in Central Bengaluru

Following a personal inspection by Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has suspended H.V. Ramesh, Executive Engineer (Electrical) of the Bengaluru Central City Corporation, for dereliction of duty. During a late-evening walkthrough on August 28, 2026, the minister found that out of 222 streetlight poles along the key arterial corridor connecting Hudson Circle and Chalukya Circle, 140 were non-functional. The affected stretch is one of the busiest and most high-profile routes in central Bengaluru, connecting Vidhana Soudha, the High Court, City Civil Court, and the Kempegowda Bus Station. Prior to the inspection, Minister Krishna Byre Gowda had held review meetings, including one on August 4, directing officials and contractors to fix lighting defects promptly. However, the engineer reportedly failed to implement these directions and provided incorrect reports regarding the status of the repairs. In addition to suspending the officer, the civic authority imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on Efflium Pvt Ltd, the private agency contracted to maintain the LED lighting network. For local commuters and residents, the strict administrative action highlights an increased focus on civic accountability and public safety on key city roads.