Copyright thehindu
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced on Sunday that the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) will release ₹5 crore to develop and maintain Cubbon Park in Central Bengaluru. Mr. Shivakumar said that while the park appears well maintained, there is room for further development. His remarks came during the ‘Walk with Bengaluru’, a public outreach programme. Acknowledging the city’s need for more green cover, he provided an update on plans to develop additional parks, similar to Lalbagh and Cubbon Park. “There are seven major forest lands in Bengaluru with the potential to be converted into lung spaces. I will meet with the Forest Department and initiate the process to transform these areas into tree parks,” he said. The Deputy Chief Minister’s announcement followed a request by a citizen, Keshavamurthy, to develop more tree parks across the city during the programme. The meeting at the Cubbon Park marked the final leg of Mr. Shivakumar’s walking spree, aimed at promoting development projects and gathering public feedback. Despite expectations of a large turnout, the walk at the Cubbon Park saw a relatively low response compared to other locations. Only 35 requests from the citizens were submitted, making it the lowest after Koramangala, which recorded 42 requests. Nevertheless, he affirmed that ‘Walk with Bengaluru’ would continue citywide, given the overwhelming support it has received. After arriving, he visited the Dog Park and the Band Stand and later offered floral tribute to Chamaraja Wadiyar before beginning the session to hear public grievances. S. Umesh of the Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association, who had earlier announced a boycott of the programme, submitted a list of issues and requested action. “Remove all leased buildings in the park and restrict vehicle movements, or charge vehicles to generate revenue for park maintenance,” he suggested. Arun Pai of BangaloreWALKS, which offers guided walks, urged Mr. Shivakumar to allow family picnics inside the park. Padma Shri awardee K.S. Rajanna, who works for the welfare of persons with disabilities, proposed naming the Pottery Town Metro Station after the late Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar, citing the film ‘Bhaktha Kumbara’ by Dr. Rajkumar, Puneeth’s father, and explaining why the tribute would be appropriate. Activist Priya Chetty-Rajagopal requested that the Cubbon Park be declared a biodiversity park, that maintenance funding be increased, and that the park be refenced for protection. A Koramangala resident, urged Mr. Shivakumar to monitor paying guest accommodations that flout building rules by constructing additional floors beyond the permitted limits. After listening to all concerns, Mr. Shivakumar assured the citizens of a holistic approach to develop the park.
