B.S. Prahlad has a poor track record in the BBMP and is also facing allegations of corruption
BBMP’s B S Prahlad appointed to B.SMILE despite track record of failures
Bengaluru
In a surprising decision, the State Government has appointed B S Prahlad—Engineer-in-Chief of the BBMP—as Director (Technical) of Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B.SMILE), a move that has sparked criticism among civic activists and BBMP insiders.
Tasked with overseeing the technical execution of the city’s ₹7,000 crore infrastructure overhaul—including marquee projects like tunnel roads and sky decks—Prahlad’s appointment has raised eyebrows given his checkered track record which saw project delays, cost overruns etc.
In late 2022, Prahlad—then Chief Engineer for Road Infrastructure—hailed Rapid Road technology as a game-changer, claiming it would produce roads that last a century. But the pilot stretch at Binnamangala Junction in Indiranagar began cracking within just 40 days. The project was quietly shelved. Undeterred, Prahlad proposed reviving the initiative in 2023 with “corrective measures”—a claim that was met with public and internal skepticism.
BBMP insiders suggest that Prahlad’s ascent owes more to his proximity to Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D K Shivakumar than to any engineering merit. His placement in a pivotal B.SMILE role has alarmed urban planners who question the lack of scrutiny and performance-based evaluation in such critical appointments as the task requires executing highly complex tunnel road projects.
In March 2024, RTI activist S. Bhaskaran filed a complaint with the Enforcement Directorate accusing Prahlad of receiving ₹70 lakh in kickbacks via his wife’s bank account. The alleged bribe was tied to payment clearance for contracts awarded to Sri Lakshmi Constructions. The complaint included bank transaction records, yet BBMP has not launched an internal inquiry—raising concerns over institutional transparency and oversight.
Under Prahlad’s leadership, core civic issues—potholes, flooding, and road safety—have seen little progress. Despite successive governments, arterial roads remain cratered. Pothole-filling using wet-mix continues to fail, often unraveling after a single downpour. Several fatal accidents have been linked to unrepaired potholes, particularly during monsoons.
As former Chief Engineer of the Stormwater Drain (SWD) division, Prahlad also failed to mitigate chronic urban flooding. A recent review chaired by the Chief Minister highlighted that many flood-prone areas, flagged years ago, still await action. In several zones, desilting has been skipped altogether, leading to clogged drains and waterlogging. BLR.POST has accessed data showing a significant backlog of unresolved complaints relating to SWDs and potholes.