Bengalureans, rejoice! MG Road will be all yours on February 21! With the city closing down the upscale road — from Anil Kumble Circle to Cauvery Emporium, to vehicles and embracing the concept of an Open Street, city folk are kicked about choke-free roads from 7 am to 8 pm.
A Western concept that’s hugely popular the world over, this was first embraced in the city at HSR Layout – an area that was packed with cycle rides, zumba, yoga sessions, street music and performance art all day, last year. And now, it’s MG Road’s turn. “There’s a massive participation of food trucks, street performances and local artisans who will put up stalls. Handicrafts are always the most popular,” says Zohaib Sharif of the Rangoli Metro Art Centre on MG Road’s boulevard. A means to not just boost local businesses, offer greater civic participation and support public transport, people can choose to walk, skate or cycle down the roads. What’s more? You can also bask in the old school, carnivalesque atmosphere that the street will wear, thanks to stalls for shopping, snacks and knick-knacks, artists and performances by dancers, street artistes and buskers!
“This is something that Bengaluru desperately needs,” says Mona DSilva, founder of Pretty Patio. The lass who loves to champion green causes says, “Environmentally, I think it’s important to have at least one day in a week where people ditch their personal vehicles to use public transport. But since the condition of our buses need improvement and the metro is still inaccessible to most areas, having such events to raise awareness is the need of the hour.”
Aside of its environmental implications, peeps from other cities who’ve made Bengaluru their home, are kicked too. “The Open Streets at Cape Town (South Africa) aim to actively create spaces where everyone who uses its streets are respected. They use it as a means to bridge social divides. This initiative in Bengaluru would be a great way to savour local culture and learn about the city and its people. Such events bring the community together,” smiles Ronak Jain, a marketing exec.
A smart move by the city just before the Global Investor’s Meet, this initiative is looking to encourage public transportation. “This will give me a chance to ditch my car and hop on a Volvo. The BMTC buses are even coming up with a new bus route plan and drop/pick up locations, giving away tickets at discounted prices – all the more reason to try this,” says Ramya Jayprakash, a software engineer who takes a good 20 minutes to get past MG road on any given day. Mark your calendars, Bengaluru!
