As Bengaluru ushered in the year 2026, a dedicated group of over 300 residents chose a unique and impactful way to celebrate: by embarking on a demanding 26-kilometer walk across the city. Their mission was to physically test the state of the city's footpaths and champion the urgent need for safer pedestrian infrastructure.
A Walk With a Purpose: Auditing Bengaluru's Walkability
The day-long event, organized by the citizen group Walkaluru, commenced at 7 am from the RV Road Metro Station and concluded at Orion Mall in Rajajinagar by 6:30 pm. Unlike typical walkathons, participants strictly used footpaths, avoiding the carriageway entirely. This rule was central to the initiative's goal of assessing real-world walkability, identifying obstructions, and promoting walking as a sustainable urban transport mode.
The route was strategically planned to pass through key city landmarks including Lalbagh, Cubbon Park, Richmond Road, Ulsoor Lake, Mehkri Circle, and Yeshwanthapur. While 160 participants completed the full 26km stretch, clocking nearly 30,000 steps, many others joined from their neighbourhoods mid-way, making it a flexible, citizen-powered movement.
Citizens and Officials Walk & Talk for Change
The walk was led by Walkaluru founder Arun Pai and gained significant traction with the participation of senior civic officials. Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) chief commissioner Maheshwar Rao, the South City Corporation commissioner, and their staff joined for parts of the journey. In a strong show of support, Karnataka chief secretary Shalini Rajanish also walked alongside citizens.
This created a rare, direct platform for dialogue. Vidya Goggi, a resident of RT Nagar, highlighted this aspect, stating the walk allowed her to raise issues requiring engineering solutions directly with listening officials. Organizer Arun Pai told TOI that a key aim was to showcase existing good footpaths and build public demand for replicating them across Bengaluru.
An Eye-Opening Experience for Participants
For many walkers, the experience was revealing. N Someshwar, a chartered accountant and marathon runner from KR Puram, noted the stark difference. Accustomed to bike travel, he was surprised to find stretches of good, clean, and largely encroachment-free footpaths, a sight often missed by those not on foot.
Srivinas Alavilli from WRI, an advocate for sustainable mobility, expressed optimism, stating that with civic focus on walkability, bright days lie ahead for pedestrians. He emphasized that a city becomes livable for all when people on foot are treated with respect.
The overarching message from the New Year's Day walk was clear: walkable footpaths are not a luxury but a basic civic necessity. By dedicating their holiday to this cause, participants sent a powerful signal that pedestrian safety is paramount and that the vision for Bengaluru's future mobility must be built from the ground up—starting with its footpaths.
