Bengaluru, 30 August

Around 5,000 members of citizen groups, resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and walkers from different parts of Bengaluru walked through the Lalbagh botanical garden here on Sunday against allowing portions of park and garden land in the state to be used for public infrastructure and utility projects.

The walk, titled "Walk in Lalbagh. Walk for Lalbagh," was joined by Yellappa Reddy, Chief Advisor, Lalbagh and Cubbon Park Expert Committee, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, BJP MPs Tejasvi Surya, CN Manjunath, PC Mohan, party legislators, among others.

Citizens from all age groups and walks of life, and members of several pro-Kannada organisations also joined.

The walk was organised to raise awareness against the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, passed by both houses of the state legislature, which amends the 1975 Act governing prominent Bengaluru green spaces, including Cubbon Park and Lalbagh.

Opposition BJP and JD(S) opposed the Bill and even petitioned the Governor Thawarchand Gehlot requesting him not to give his assent.

The Amendment is significant in the context of the proposed 17km tunnel road project connecting Hebbal and Central Silk Board. The project requires around six acres of Lalbagh land temporarily and one acre permanently.

Citizens warned that Lalbagh’s approximately three-billion-year-old 'Peninsular Gneiss' rock may be damaged during the drilling. 

Citizens including Surya, Karandlaje, and Mohan later lay down and hugged the iconic rock as a symbolic protest against the tunnel road.

Speaking to reporters, Surya warned that if the government doesn't withdraw the bill, agitations will be organised in every park every week. 

"If protecting Lalbagh and our parks is a crime and if you think that this is something that warrants a notice, we will commit this crime every day," he said, amid reports that authorities have served notice against the march at Lalbagh.

"The government that has the responsibility of protecting our environment is indulging in the act of acquiring parks for the sake of real estate,” he added. “Society cannot accept it. We want to tell the Chief Minister that the tunnel road project won't bring a good name to your government.”