Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Chief Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao on Friday urged citizens to actively participate in revitalizing unused public spaces across the city, stressing that a more livable Bengaluru can only be built through collective collaboration between the government and the public.
Speaking during an Open House meeting at City Hall, Mr. Rao encouraged citizens to get involved in the revitalization of public spaces within the limits of the GBA.
Based on the initiatives and public surveys conducted, the GBA has identified 194 sites that can be revitalized and a phased implementation plan has been prepared in the five city corporations. Of these, 43 branches are in the Central Corporation, 49 in the North, 21 in the East, 31 in the West and 50 in the South.
The GBA chief said there is a need to replicate such measures – where public spaces can be used effectively – across all areas of the city corporations and ask citizens to reduce dependence on private vehicles and adopt public transport. According to him, when developing local public spaces, safety must be a priority, especially for women, and an environment should be created where women can move freely and safely even at night.
Mr. Rao directed officials to organize similar programs in all the five city corporations to gather inputs from citizens, startups and institutions. He said unused public spaces should be transformed into safe, citizen-friendly community areas by facilitating corporate CSR partnerships and urban development pilot projects. Public participation, he added, is key to building a better and more inclusive city.
Published – 06 Feb 2026 20:58 IST
