Parks out of bounds for people during the day

Parks out of bounds for people during the day

The Hindu

319 parks maintained by BMP are closed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.


Bangalore: Lung spaces are out of bounds for the better part of the day for residents of the Garden City.

For a long time now, the 319 parks maintained by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) have been kept shut for the public between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Senior citizens, women and children can visit these parks only between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. and again between 4 p.m. and 8.30 p.m.

Opinion is divided on the issue. Some were indignant about the restriction, while others supported the move.

"We cannot play in the park during the weekend. We usually play on the road," said Amar J., a fifth standard student and resident of Kumara Park (East). A few brave ones dare to jump over the railing and play inside the park, flouting the rule.

"The parks are now out of bounds for anti-social elements. The only disadvantage is that is the same for the others too," said Ravi Sharma, a resident of the area.

Krishna Udupudi, Deputy Conservator of Forests, BMP, said it is unreasonable to expect the parks to be open throughout the day. "The BMP staff close the park for maintenance. They take up cleaning of the park, pruning of the shrubs and other such work during the time when the parks are closed for the public," he said.

P. Suryanarayan, a bank official, said the timings are not unjust. "Most people will be at work between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.; children will be at school. The number of people using the parks at that time is minimal. Why should not the parks be closed at such time," he said. He also said that students abstain from college and sit in the parks with their friends, and a few people go to parks to sleep. "Such activity can be stopped if the parks remain closed. The BMP's decision to maintain the timings is justified in such a scenario," he added.