The order that all BBMP parks should be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. has received mixed reactions from citizens. However, although the Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar made an announcement on these new timings on June 11, many parks in Bangalore have still not implemented it yet.
Citizen Park of R.T Nagar, Sir M Vishveshwaraiah Park at Domlur, Richmond park in Richmond town and M.S Ramaiah Park at ITI Layout are some of those that were yet to open when Hindu visited them.
Even staff members responsible for overseeing security in the parks would be affected by this directive. The BBMP parks of Bangalore operate under a ‘watch and ward system’ where guards live within the precincts. In one such case at citizen park wherein families stay with their children in ward accommodation, she says that no official notice was issued about keeping the park open around the clock though someone who attends there spoke of this new development regarding changes in timeings.” Instead they welcome it because they won’t have to repeatedly open and close gates which eases their workloads.” Sandeep Anirudhan, Founder of Citizens’ Agenda for Bengaluru comments on delays in communication and implementation: “BBMP is highly unorganised…. Not all Parks are opened yet.”
Some residents of R.T Nagar feel more security measures are need. Deepa and Swarna, housewives who have been coming here for over a year said, “The watchman at the park should also make sure that people don’t come and sleep here and stay here for long hours.” The enforcement of such an order could be advantageous or disadvantageous depending on their perspective. “I feel that it should be open during noon because we housewives finish our work and come here once everything is over to relax.” Couples from coaching institutes and colleges nearby will flock Citizen Park more is what they suspect.
“Same thing we are saying here in Richmond Town” says one of the residents. Krithika who used to live by that park and has been frequenting it since she was young says, “I don’t think it’s a good thing that the park is open all day because after 7 p.m. you don’t really find a good crowd coming in. It’s usually couples which isn’t a sight you’d want to see with a child.There would be at least 10-20 couples sitting here each time.”
Two old men from the town are also insinuating that college lovebirds and the ones who sleep on park benches between noon and four are causing them so many problems as possible. On the other hand, youth in the city seems to support these changes more than other groups. St. Joseph’s University students around Richmond Park claim: “It’s great for us because we practice dance here thus if they had not opened all day long.” The place also holds music sessions, taekwondo classes and theatre practices.
Moreover, many drivers and deliverers (most of whom cover up to 200 km every day) usually rest at parks between outings or orders. “Normally between eleven o’clock in morning till about one o’clock afternoon,” explained Vinay Sarathi, President for United Food Delivery Partners’ Union, pointing out lunch hours as peak periods when majority of parks in Bangalore remain closed. He adds: “Citizen welfare associations have some say about park timings at some places. However if authorities consider that it does well for most people they will not yield under any sort of pressure.”
“And why do they close it? Whenever I came, I found it closed.” – Kiran (name changed). It sounds strange; I mean a closed park! Parks should always be open.”
