The Karnataka government has decided to allow vehicular traffic inside Bengaluru’s Cubbon Park from 7 pm to 10 pm on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, citing efforts to ease congestion in the central business district. The move marks a departure from the longstanding policy of keeping the 197-acre park vehicle-free on these days and Sundays to protect its biodiversity.
The decision followed extensive deliberations involving officials from the Bengaluru Traffic Police Department, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajaneesh, members of the Cubbon Park Conservation Committee, and local legislators including Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad and Shantinagar MLA NA Haris. These discussions, held on January 21, highlighted concerns over traffic congestion in the surrounding areas.
According to reports, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) MN Anucheth said that permitting vehicular access during peak congestion hours could alleviate traffic around the CBD, facilitating smoother travel from south to north Bengaluru.
To monitor the impact on environmental conditions, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board plans to install air quality and noise pollution meters for regular assessment. The Bengaluru Traffic Police Department will conduct studies to evaluate congestion levels in the vicinity of Cubbon Park during the specified hours.