Bengaluru, June 15: Tejasvi Surya, a Member of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has sharply criticized the state government and municipal authorities for the deteriorating condition of roads and footpaths in Bengaluru. In a post on the social media platform X, he expressed concern that the city is being developed solely for vehicles, neglecting the needs of its residents.
Surya highlighted that the roads are riddled with potholes, while footpaths are either broken, encroached upon, or completely absent. This situation has made walking unsafe and inconvenient, with pedestrians and cyclists continuously overlooked.
He emphasized that a great city is not defined by flyovers alone, but by the safety and accessibility it offers for walking, cycling, playing, and socializing in public spaces.
The MP outlined three key demands for the city: the establishment of pothole-free and high-quality roads, consistent and accessible footpaths throughout Bengaluru, and the development of more public spaces for citizens and communities.
Additionally, Surya proposed the ‘Open Streets Bengaluru’ initiative. He suggested that select roads and flyovers in the city be opened exclusively for pedestrians one Sunday each month for a few hours. This would allow citizens to walk, cycle, engage in sports, exercise, and participate in community activities, while also boosting local businesses.
He noted that many cities worldwide are reclaiming public spaces for their residents, and Bengaluru should follow suit. Surya clarified that his demands are not for luxury projects, but for essential urban infrastructure, safe roads, and improved quality of life.
He aims to gather at least 500,000 signatures for this campaign and has urged people to sign the petition and share it with family, friends, and colleagues. The goal is to create a public movement towards making Bengaluru a more pedestrian-friendly, livable, and citizen-centric city.
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