Hudson Skywalk affecting Cubbon Park + Stop Noise Pollution at Park

10 July 2025

Smt. Syamla Iqbal

Secretary – Horticulture

MS Building

Ambedkar Veedhi

Bangalore 560001

Dear Ms Iqbal:

Subject : Concern re proposed skywalk coming up at Cubbon/Hudson Circle as well as issue of noise pollution

SKYWALK: As this will dramatically impact  Cubbon park’s delicate biodiversity, it’s greenery, aesthetics and function, we  would earnestly request this issue is taken up by Horticulture and resolved, as it will be damaging to Cubbon Park. I am surprised that Horticultures inputs and suggestions were not incorporated in this pointless and pro-advertiser-skywalk and would request you to kindly intervene and address this at least now.

We understand  that  skywalk is proposed to be built at Hudson Circle in Bengaluru, connecting Cubbon Park to the BBMP head office. This 150-meter skywalk will be the longest in the city upon completion and is designed to apparently improve pedestrian safety and access between these two busy areas. The project is been hurriedly launched without any public consultation and executed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. It is expected to be completed within 12 months. It is unnecessary and actually blocks the existing sidewalks for pedestrians . A version was launched in 2017 and shot down, but it seems to have quietly reappeared.

Location: The skywalk will span from Raja Ram Mohan Roy Road, across Kasturba Road, linking to Vokkaligara Sangha Bhavan, and ending at the BBMP headquarters near Hudson Circle (also known as Corporation Circle). 

Purpose: The primary goal is apparently to provide a convenient way for pedestrians, particularly those moving between Cubbon Park and the BBMP office, to cross the busy roads and intersections at Hudson Circle, but it is both ugly, intrusive and does not achieve the purpose.

Design & Timeline : The structure is designed to be modular and built with a PPP model. The project is scheduled for completion within 12 months. 

Public Sentiment: While the project is intended to improve pedestrian safety, walkers at Cubbon etc and residents have expressed concerns about the need for such a structure, suggesting that traffic-calming measures and pedestrian crossings at ground level might be more effective alternatives, according to a report by Deccan Herald and Times of India

Potential Issues: Some concerns have been raised about the potential impact on the park itself, with some arguing that the skywalk could be an eyesore and disrupt the park's biodiversity, delicate ecosystem, aesthetics and tranquillity, according to an online report

We request these be taken up on priority.

NOISE POLLUTION: and Cubbon Park Biodiversity: In addition, we also have major concerns on noise pollution that affects Cubbon Park’s delicate biodiversity. As you know, Cubbon Park has been given the status of a silent zone, with no honking etc. However Bars, pubs and hotels around, are playing loud music, even fireworks  , totally crossing acceptable noise pollution levels and severely affecting flora and fauna. The Supreme Court has issued very strong warning on noise pollution and the then DGP Praveen Sood filed an affidavit to this effect. if police ignore this, it amounts to contempt of court. Recently at Kanteerva Stadium, there was loud, non-green firecrackers (illegal as per Supreme Court) explosions after some big javelin event  even causing death of some birds . We already know the impact of the IPL crowds and the stampede on Cubbon Park’s flora and fauna. Therefore,  we sincerely  urge you to please write a strong letter to the police commissioner/central ACP  to address this issue very seriously, as well as to surrounding areas like Kanteerva Stadium , KSCA, etc  in advance of celebration and noise levels. If we do not take this pre-emptive step, Cubbon Park will lose its biodiversity irrevocably and be at the mercy of these organisations and damaging illegal noise levels on an ongoing basis.

We look forward to your decisive action on this.

Thanking You

Yours Sincerely

Priya Chetty-Rajagopal

Founder , Heritage Beku

CC: Ms Kusuma DD Cubbon Park

CC: Those concerned

Hudson Cubbon BBMP Skywalk Syamla Iqbal.docx

Download DOCX • 92KB

\

Why cities like Bengaluru fail to protect heritage

Article in Citizen Matters by Priya Chetty Rajagopal January 24, 2018 Civic

What can citizens do to save heritage in the city?

What can cities like Bengaluru do to save heritage?

Bengaluru bleeds from a million unkind cuts. Any long term resident feels the steady erosion of their city, an unsightly metamorphosis that is not planned, owned or desired.

Heritage is one such. We tend to close our eyes in pain at what’s gone in our city, and try to continue keeping them squeezed shut, at the possibility of the heritage that is further going, as we speak. Ugly plastic protective sheets hang where the remnants of our identity and city heritage used to be.  So what do we do? Is now too late already? Or shall we seize the moment, detach ourselves from the losses already suffered, and attempt to create a framework to preserve not only what is left of the city, but also as a collective insurance for the future, for the next generation?

Frustrated by the sweeping damage to central heritage proposed last year during the Steel Flyover Beda campaign, I set up a change.org petition bit.ly/HeritageBeku. I was pleased to see that one aspect, i.e, focus on advocacy, framework and legislation has been given a hearing. In addition, it was a shot in the arm to see the government focus on Heritage move up from a terse single page in the Revised Master Plan of 2015 to a more broad-based and inclusive 35+ pages in the recent Revised Master Plan proposal of 2031! It impelled a few like-minded people like me, buttressed with academic and expert inputs to set up a core working group called HeritageBeku/Past Forward to flesh out the next steps for a crowd-sourced Citizen Charter on Heritage. So perhaps all is not lost and let us be optimistic that maybe there is resonance and concern on Heritage in the corridors of power.

Yes, over half our heritage in the last ten years is gone, and there is neither collective ownership of heritage nor a mechanism to tabulate and enforce it. We do know that heritage covers not only built heritage, ie buildings and areas around us, but also cultural and natural heritage – our city festivals , our lakes and trees. Cities like Mumbai, Delhi , Ahmedabad and others have created a robust process and thereby managed to conserve a fair amount.

While a good implementation and enforcement methodology is undoubtedly required, one would assume that legislation would be undertaken on a national level. However the National Commission for Heritage Sites, a bill tabled in Parliament in 2009 was withdrawn in 2015 after consultations with  concerned stakeholders, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), National Monuments Authority (NMA) as well as Ministries of Urban Development, Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Mumbai seems to be the only place with real legislation in place. as the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act was amended in 1994 to protect heritage buildings and precincts and penalize unauthorized changes to them.

So we agree heritage is important, but what ails its dissemination?

• It suffers from poor branding. Heritage is often used as a stick that prevents a city’s economic and infrastructure growth. The ‘cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs’ excuse to destroy heritage has been conveniently used and overused by vested interests against heritage conservation. This is laughable as there is no polarized either/or choice. Cities like London, Prague, Hong Kong and several others have demonstrated time and again how economy and infrastructure can grow alongside of a thriving heritage city character.

• It suffers from an elitist tag. Heritage is not something that belongs to a few, but is owned by the city and communities. So a proper mapping, comprehensively covering what is intrinsically important to all community members is important.

• The impact of heritage on tourism has not been leveraged. Heritage creates a robust and constant cash pipeline if  properly promoted. Global Heritage cities are keenly aware of the impact on employment,  growth of ancillary services & industries. The Department of Education too  needs to showcase living heritage as constant reminder of our identity , history and roots.

• Once gone, heritage can never come back in its true sense. Authorities seem to miss this in their rush to achieve economic goals and deadlines. Whether it is a lake or a building that  was obliterated, the sense of identity it gave us, is impossible to reclaim.

• Not enough has been done to familiarize children and future generations about heritage. A mall and a heritage park cannot be enjoyed in the same way.

• Incentivisation for private heritage ownership is a far more complex issue than public heritage, and needs true public discourse and participation to sensitively address. A Heritage fund, tax incentives, endowments, maintenance fund et al are required to work with the custodian, given the absolute and fundamental rights owners have to enjoy their property.

While we can talk about what needs to be done on the overall framework, let’s be appreciative that the Revised Master Plan (RMP) gives Bengaluru a small window of opportunity to properly push through, showcase and reflect citizen’s ownership and views of their own city heritage.

Cubbon Park: Air Quality & Environmental Report (Feb - June 2025)

#HeritageBekuInitiative :

Air Qualirt

Cubbon Park: Air Quality & Environmental Report (Feb - June 2025)

(Data collected from KR Circle Gate, Lotus Pond, Maharaja Statue, Corporation Gate, and State Central Library)

Overview

This report provides key weekly trends in air quality and environmental factors in Cubbon Park, Bengaluru, analyzing IoT sensor data from five locations over the period of February to June 2025.

Air Quality Index (AQI)

* Pattern: Weekly average AQI generally fluctuated between 80 and 120.

* Indication: This range suggests moderate to unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups.

* Trend: Higher variability and some of the highest AQI readings were observed in the drier, pre-summer months (February and early March).

* Insight: Urban pollution sources like traffic or construction likely influence the persistent moderate-to-unhealthy AQI.

Particulate Matter (PM2.5 & PM10)

PM2.5

* Pattern: Weekly average levels typically ranged between 30 and 60 \mu~g/m3.

* Trend: Higher levels were often present during the drier months (February and March), with values stabilizing or slightly lower as pre-monsoon and early monsoon periods began.

* Insight: Fine particulate matter, likely from vehicle emissions or industrial activities, affects the park's air.

PM10

* Pattern: Weekly average levels generally ranged between 40 and 80 \mu~g/m3.

* Trend: Higher values were noticeable in drier months (February and March), with some moderation during pre-monsoon and early monsoon periods.

* Insight: Coarse particulate matter, likely from road dust or construction, consistently impacts air quality.

Environmental Factors

Humidity

* Pattern: Weekly average humidity levels show a gradual increase.

* Trend: A clear increasing trend was observed from drier months (February and March) towards pre-monsoon (April-May) and early monsoon (June) seasons.

* Insight: This is typical for Bengaluru's climate, and rising humidity can influence pollutant dispersion.

Pressure

* Pattern: Weekly average pressure remained relatively stable, generally hovering between 800 and 950 units.

* Trend: Pressure levels remained consistent across all observed seasons.

* Insight: Stable pressure indicates typical atmospheric conditions and the absence of major extreme weather events.

Temperature

* Pattern: Weekly average temperatures showed an increasing trend from February.

* Trend: Temperatures peaked during Bengaluru's summer months (April-May) and then slightly moderated or stabilized in June with monsoon influences.

* Insight: This seasonal pattern is characteristic of Bengaluru's hot summer, and higher temperatures can influence pollutant formation

AQI Ambe Cubbon Park Report Feb June _2025.pdf

Download PDF • 2.50MB

.