People in Bengaluru are gathering right now, very upset about the city’s fast, uncontrolled spreading out. This rapid growth takes up too much land, makes roads very busy. puts a big strain on water for everyone. Their strong show today highlights a growing fear: Bengaluru is getting bigger too quickly, without proper care, hurting daily life and the city’s natural feel. This public anger puts the urgent problem of unmanaged city growth in the spotlight.
A City’s Call for Change
Hundreds of citizens recently gathered at Freedom Park in Bengaluru to show their strong feelings about the fast and unplanned growth of their city. This gathering saw people from many parts of Bengaluru, including areas like Whitefield, Yelahanka. Anekal. They came together under the idea of “Save Bengaluru – Our City, Our Right, Our Choice.”
The main purpose of the protest was to speak out against recent choices made by the state government regarding city services, how the city is run. safety for nature. People showed their worry about big road plans, changes to city laws. rules about protecting lakes. The gathering was a clear sign that many people in Bengaluru are not happy with how the city is changing, especially with the quick building of new structures without enough thought for the future.
Why Citizens are Worried
The people of Bengaluru are worried because the city’s fast growth has brought many serious problems. What was once known as the “Garden City” now struggles with heavy traffic, not enough water. disappearing green spaces.
- Traffic Problems
- Water Shortage
- Loss of Green Areas
Traffic jams are a daily problem, lasting many hours. Roads are often crowded. traveling even short distances takes a long time. Since 1990, the number of vehicles on the city’s roads has gone up by 6000%. Some reports say that the time it takes to travel 10 kilometers in Bengaluru is now more than 30 minutes.
Water is a major concern. The city once had many lakes. now most of them are gone or filled with dirty water. Studies show that the area covered by water has gone down by 79% in the last forty years. This has led to less water in the ground, making people depend on deep water wells and water tankers. The city uses about 2,632 million liters of water each day. only gets 1,460 million liters from the main river source.
The amount of green cover has also gone down a lot. Bengaluru has lost 66% of its forests and 74% of its lakes and rivers. An expert study found that built-up areas, meaning concrete buildings and paved surfaces, have increased by 1055% over recent years, while green spaces have shrunk. This loss of trees and plants makes the city hotter and affects the air quality.
Voice of the People
People from various community groups have spoken strongly about these issues. They say that the fast and unplanned building is making the city unlivable.
“The Bengaluru I grew up in has gone away. Today, it’s a city of mess, with green cover and lakes going away faster than we can count.”
Residents are demanding that their leaders act responsibly. They have held up signs asking for better services or a return of their tax money if basic services are not provided. Groups like Whitefield Rising have been vocal about the poor condition of roads and lack of proper services in their areas for many years. They say that despite leaders being chosen by the people, they have failed to provide basic city services.
People are also very concerned about specific new projects. For example, the proposed Tunnel Road project is seen by many as a plan that will make traffic worse and increase bad air and noise. They believe money should be put into better public transport instead.
“There is a need to quickly and greatly make public transport, walking paths. drainage systems better to make the city easier to live in, instead of wasting our vital money on a tunnel road plan that will not work,” said Rajkumar Dugar, a person who works for better public transport.
Another major point of worry is the plan to make lake buffer zones smaller. These zones are vital areas around lakes that help protect them. Citizens say lakes are the “lifeline for the city” and their protection is very vital for the city’s future.
Experts Explain the Situation
Experts in city planning and the environment agree with many of the concerns raised by the people. They point out that Bengaluru’s problems come from constant growth without proper planning. They say that city growth happened quickly at the end of the last century, leaving little time for proper planning. This led to new buildings, roads. settlements popping up everywhere without much order.
One expert noted that Bengaluru’s urban planning has not been good at fixing the city’s water shortage. the rules for planning are old and not good enough for the fast-growing population. There is often no clear connection between different government groups like the city body, the development body. the water supply board. Each group works on its own plans without a single idea for the whole city’s future.
| Problem Area | Expert Observation |
|---|---|
| Urban Growth | Unplanned growth has led to heavy traffic, not enough public transport. a shortage of homes. |
| Environmental Damage | Fast building has caused more air and water pollution. the loss of green spaces. |
| Water Resources | The lack of proper water management makes water problems worse, even though the city has many lakes. |
Some experts believe that Bengaluru needs a “service plan” instead of just a “master plan” to solve its environmental problems. This plan should focus on spreading city building into nearby areas to ease pressure on the main city.
Actions by Leaders and Challenges Faced
City leaders acknowledge the problems, with some saying the situation is very bad. There have been talks about improving infrastructure and managing water. For instance, the water supply board is looking into using modern tools like artificial intelligence to use water better and reduce waste.
But, putting plans into action faces many difficulties. Even when plans look good on paper, issues like slow government work and outside influences can stop them from being carried out. For example, the Revised Master Plan 2031 aims for city planning and making the area better. its execution has been poor.
There are also legal challenges being prepared against certain new plans, such as the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill and the Tunnel Road project. These challenges come from citizens and experts who say that some of these new laws go against the country’s rules for local self-rule.
The city’s rapid growth since the 1990s, driven by the technology boom, has made it hard for services to keep up. Roads were built without proper plans in many places.
Looking to the Future
The citizens’ gathering in Bengaluru shows a clear demand for more thoughtful and balanced city growth. People want leaders to make choices that truly help the city’s residents and protect its natural environment.
There is a strong desire for more public transport, better protection of green spaces. careful handling of water resources. The hope is that by working together, citizens, experts. leaders can find ways to manage the city’s growth so that Bengaluru can become a better place to live for everyone, balancing new building with protecting what makes the city special.
