The Hindu : Banning vehicles in Cubbon Park favoured

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 08, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Banning vehicles in Cubbon Park favoured

By K. Satyamurty

BANGALORE, FEB. 7. Justice M.F. Saldanha of the Karnataka High Court has set his mind on it and the Horticulture Minister, V.S. Koujalgi, is in favour of it. Making the 192.19 acres that remain of Cubbon Park free of all motor vehicles. On all seven days a week and round-the-clock.

On Saturday, Mr. Justice Saldanha inaugurated a new "security booth" at the entrance to the park close to the High Court Post Office.

Six other booths have now come up at other entry points to the park.

Like at Lalbagh, these will be manned by security guards. One task for them will be to keep vehicles out during early morning hours: between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m.

It was Mr. Justice Saldanha who gave directions to this effect some years ago so that early morning walkers and joggers were safe from "vehicles driving at breakneck speed" as he called it. An average of 61,000 vehicles pass through the park every day.

A study has been done about the traffic pattern on the roads passing through Cubbon Park and the roads around it by the Police and Horticulture departments.

Diverting traffic entirely away from the park has been found feasible, according to officers of these departments.

A beginning was made during the end of last year to keep the park free of vehicles on Sundays and holidays. It was tried out with success for three weeks and then abruptly given up. This was referred to by Mr. Justice Saldanha and by Mr. Koujalgi who spoke to presspersons soon after opening the security booths.

The judge wanted the ban restored.

Quick to appreciate anything good, Mr. Justice Saldanha was all praise for the way Cubbon Park and Lalbagh have been given a new life in recent months.

Keeping Cubbon Park vehicle-free would encourage more families, with little children in tow, come to the park in the evenings and on holidays. "The children will be able to cycle or go skating safely and it will encourage better bonding between parents and children," he remarked.

Mr. Koujalgi admitted that the area of Cubbon Park had shrunk since the time he was a Youth Affairs Minister in 1982. He feels it is time to put a stop to "authorised intruders" such as the toy train. Of course, the train will still remain to delight children but there will be no more clearing of trees for any purpose.

And the park is to be expertly landscaped with more ponds created for rainwater harvesting.

At last count, the park had 7,800 plants of 96 species.

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