Bengaluru’s safe trail campaign is experiencing an unexpected push from Norway

A run along a six-kilometer section of trails in the city was organized for the delegation from the Norwegian embassy.

On Wednesday, as the ‘Safe Trail’ campaign was launched, a group of people got a taste of the trails in Bengaluru. The civic administration did not know that a run was organized for a delegation from the Norwegian embassy along a six-kilometer stretch of paths winding through the picturesque part of the Garden City.

The group was headed by May-Elin Stener, the Norwegian Ambassador to India and a strong public transport advocate who uses public transport frequently in Delhi. In March 2026, she posted on X that the Delhi Metro was “a fantastic way to get around Delhi”.

Almost one-and-a-half years ago, Ms. Stener explored Bengaluru on a walk guided by Arun Pai, founder of Bangalore Walks. Looking for a similar experience for her countrymen, she approached Mr. Pai, who in turn arranged a meeting with the city’s footpaths for a high Norwegian delegation.

The group included Bård Vegar Solhjell, former Norwegian Minister of the Environment; Jens Frølich Holte, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway; and Sindre Sættem, strategic advisor.

The run started at around 7.45am at Trinity Circle and covered parts of the Halasuru Lake frontage, St. John’s Road, Commercial Street, Shivajinagar and Cubbon Park and ended around 9 am at Vidhana Soudha.

It was something of a sightseeing tour that illuminated the diversity of Bengaluru in terms of parks, lakes, institutions, architecture and places of worship.

In a video shared with The Hindu, May-Elin Stener is heard saying that running in Bengaluru’s pleasant climate was a welcome relief from the Delhi heat. Norwegians praised the city’s air quality, weather and good trails.

Mr. Pai says he usually does extensive reconnaissance before the walk. On this occasion he had to settle for a hasty study of the route, but experience, the Norwegians reported, belied the lack of elaborate preparation. Officials have been advised of several pockets of trail that require attention.

As part of Project Walkaluru, a joint initiative of GBA and citizens to identify and promote walking trails across Bengaluru, this was one of the first stretches to be covered. Mr Pai added: “Our first walk was along the same route, covering 11km where many repairs were made. Seven months later it’s good to see that those repairs have held up and Walkaluru played a part in that.”

Published – 01 Jul 2026 22:18 IST