Fri Jan 24 08:32:22 UTC 2025: **Cubbon Park Traffic Compromise: Trial Run for Evening Access**
Bengaluru, January 24, 2025 – Following weeks of debate, a compromise has been reached regarding traffic access to Cubbon Park. After a meeting chaired by Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajaneesh, it was decided that vehicular traffic will be permitted inside the park from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on alternate Saturdays for a three-month trial period.
The decision comes after a proposal by the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) to allow vehicles into the park on weekends and holidays to alleviate CBD congestion. This proposal faced strong opposition from regular park visitors and the Cubbon Park Conservation Committee, who launched a campaign, “Pradakshiney Haaki,” including an online petition, to maintain the park’s traffic-free status on weekends and holidays. Concerns centered on pollution and ecological damage.
The January 23rd meeting included representatives from the Horticulture Department, BTP, local MLAs, and environmentalists. A senior official stated that the three-hour evening trial on alternate Saturdays aims to assess the impact on both traffic and the park’s environment, noting low visitor numbers during those times. The results will be reviewed after three months to determine future access policies.
Despite the compromise, many regular park visitors remain unsatisfied and intend to continue their advocacy for a traffic-free Cubbon Park on weekends and holidays.
First Piper 