Bengaluru's Cubbon Park Opens Doors To Traffic For 3 Hours On Every Other Saturday

In a move aimed at easing congestion in Bengaluru's Central Business District (CBD), authorities have adjusted the traffic regulations within Cubbon Park following a thorough review. Starting on alternate Saturdays, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., vehicles will be allowed to pass through the park during a three-month trial period. This decision was made after a meeting held on January 23, led by Karnataka's Chief Secretary, Shalini Rajaneesh, in response to a suggestion by the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) to open the park to vehicles on weekends and public holidays.

The proposal to permit vehicular traffic has sparked considerable debate. While the intention is to reduce traffic congestion, it has faced significant opposition from regular visitors to the park and environmental advocates who argue that the increased traffic could lead to pollution and harm the park's ecological balance.

Environmentalists and citizens concerned about the park's preservation have voiced their objections. In response, the Cubbon Park Conservation Committee initiated the 'Pradakshiney Haaki' campaign, which included an online petition calling for a ban on vehicle movement inside the park during weekends and holidays. The campaign emphasizes the need to maintain the park's tranquility and safeguard its natural habitat from pollution caused by vehicular emissions.

The meeting held on January 23 included discussions with various stakeholders, including officials from the Horticulture Department, BTP, and local MLAs Rizwan Arshad and N.A. Harris, as well as environmentalist A.N. Yellappa Reddy. According to a senior official present at the meeting, "It was decided that traffic would be allowed for three hours on alternate Saturdays to assess its impact on both the traffic and the park. The traffic is very heavy on Saturdays, and the park sees little to no visitors during that time. The situation will be reviewed after three months, before any further decision is made."

This trial period is seen as a way to balance the city's need for better traffic management with the need to protect the park's ecological integrity. The data gathered will help determine whether similar changes could be made on public holidays or weekends in the future.

Despite the decision, many regular park-goers remain dissatisfied. They continue to advocate for a park free from vehicular traffic, believing that such changes would disrupt the peaceful environment that Cubbon Park provides. Their efforts reflect a broader concern about the encroachment of urban development and traffic on precious green spaces in the city.