Like thousands of others, I have watched this area grow into one of Bengaluru's busiest residential and IT hubs.
With this growth has come a challenge that many of us experience every day but have slowly begun to accept as normal the struggle of walking safely on our roads.
Every day, hundreds of people get down at the Thogur Cross bus stop and walk towards nearby communities like Coconut Grove Villas, Celebrity Signature, Celebrity Paradise Layout and several other layouts opposite to Celebrity Signature. I believe there are well over 2,000 homes, which means thousands of pedestrians must use this stretch every single day. But today vey few walk because it is dangerous.
They are school children carrying heavy bags, college students, senior citizens, women returning from work, domestic helpers, drivers, delivery people, and parents walking with young children.
Unfortunately, the footpath is not there.
In some places it is occupied by shopkeepers. In other places vehicles are parked. Where there is still space, it is covered with shrubs, mud, construction waste or has become a place where people dump garbage or even urinate. As a result, pedestrians are forced to walk on the road.
When traffic builds up, two wheelers squeeze into every available gap, leaving no safe space for people to walk. Even when motorists want to give way to pedestrians, they often cannot because the road is completely packed. It is a situation that puts everyone at risk.
The Moment That Changed My Thinking
There wasn't one single incident that motivated me. There were many.
One day I saw a young mother walking out of the daycare centre next to our layout. She was carrying one child in her arms while another small child walked beside her. She was struggling to find space to walk towards Celebrity Signature. The vehicles around her were almost stationary because of the traffic, yet there was still no safe place for her to walk.
Another day, my own wife was walking towards Coconut Grove when a two-wheeler tried to squeeze through the left side of the traffic and hit her.
A few days later, another lady from our layout was struck by a delivery rider who was rushing through the same stretch.
Sadly, these are no longer isolated incidents.
They have become a common sight. That was when I realised something. We may not be able to control the traffic. We may not be able to stop every vehicle from parking illegally. But perhaps we can create a safer space for people to walk.
Taking the First Step
The first step was simple. With the help of our gardener, I arranged concrete blocks to discourage vehicles from parking on the edge of the road and to improve visibility.
It helped, but it wasn't enough. After observing the situation for some time, I felt we could do more. Fortunately, a builder opposite our layout was willing to give us construction debris that would otherwise have gone to waste. He also offered red soil that had been excavated from his site.
Using this material, we started creating a proper kerb along the roadside.
The inside was filled with construction debris, followed by crushed stone (jelly), making it easier and safer for pedestrians to walk.
Our enthusiastic new gardener joined the effort. Our housekeeping staff also came forward to help. Over a couple of Saturdays, we worked together to gradually extend the walkway.
Our Garden Committee member also contributed plants from our own community and arranged additional saplings to make the area greener.
What was once an unused strip of land slowly started becoming a footpath.
The Best Reward
The greatest satisfaction did not come from seeing the completed work.
It came from seeing people use it.
Children coming out of the daycare now naturally choose the footpath and even encourage their mothers to walk with them.
Senior citizens, women and children have started using it whenever possible.
Each passing day, the walkway looks a little better, becomes a little longer, and is used by a few more people. That is incredibly encouraging.
A Wish Beyond Coconut Grove
My wish is much bigger than the stretch outside our gate.
I hope one day this safe walkway can continue all the way to Celebrity Signature and beyond.
If that happens, thousands of people will have a safe place to walk every day.
Perhaps more people will choose to walk the 1.5 kilometres to the Electronics City shopping area instead of taking an auto, bike or car—not because they have to, but because they finally can.
Safe walkways encourage walking. Walking improves health. Healthy streets build stronger communities.
A Community Effort
This has never been about one person. It has only been possible because many people quietly supported the effort. The builder who donated debris and soil. Our gardener who willingly took up the work. Our housekeeping staff who spent their Saturdays helping. Our Garden Committee member Anand who arranged plants. Every contribution mattered.
Imagine what we could achieve if many more people came together. If every layout adopted just a small stretch outside their gate. If every resident protected the footpath instead of parking on it. If every vendor respected pedestrian space.
Electronics City could become a place where walking is not an act of courage but a natural choice. Sometimes meaningful change does not begin with a large project. It begins with someone deciding that the problem is worth solving.
I hope this is one such beginning.
