Sidewalks double up as parks

Sidewalks double up as parks
DH News Service,Bangalore:
Flamed granite stones, red tiles, attractive lights, chairs to take rest, well maintained plants and green lawn have added beauty to sidewalks in Basavanagudi...

“Earlier I used to go to a park for my morning walk. But now park has come near my house. Sidewalks in our locality serve as parks. Moreover it is a pleasant experience to go for a walk on these sidewalks,” Madhukar, a resident of Basavanagudi police station road said.
Flamed granite stones, red tiles, attractive lights, chairs to take rest, well maintained plants and green lawn have added beauty to sidewalks in Basavanagudi. MLA K Chandrashekhar has developed sidewalks at a cost of Rs 5 crore. Unlike in other areas of the city, cobble stones have not been used for sidewalks in Basavanagudi. Instead, granite stones have been used along with red tiles with button like structures on them.
“We have used granite stones of Sadarahalli and Sira. After granite slabs are placed pores will be made on them using machines to prevent people from slipping. It costs around Rs 800 per sqft to have this type of sidewalks. Though cost is higher than other methods, durability is more,” he said. The MLA claims that he first constructed similar sidewalks in his ward Hanumanthanagar thirteen years ago, when he was a corporator. Even today sidewalks are intact.
“Whereas life of cobble stones is only three years, you can expect 100 years life time with granite tiles,” he said.
Mr Chandrashekhar got the idea of modern sidewalks during his visit to European countries in early 1990s. Sufficient space has been earmarked for plants within sidewalks, he added.