Bengaluru Launches Corporate Active Mobility Challenge
The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has introduced a new initiative called Hejje-Gala. This three-month corporate challenge aims to shift daily commuting habits in the city's major employment hubs. The program encourages employees to walk and cycle more often.
Official Launch and Corporate Participation
Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao officially flagged off the initiative on Thursday. A group of people walked from Vidhana Soudha to the GBA headquarters during the launch event. Manivannan P, Commissioner of the Bangalore Development Authority, joined the walk and pledged full support from BDA.
He promised better footpaths and more encouragement for walking and cycling across the city. Around thirty-five companies have already signed up for the challenge. These organizations span across all five city corporations in Bengaluru.
How the Challenge Works
Participating companies will ask their employees to record walking and cycling trips during the three-month period. This includes trips used to access buses and Metro services. The program focuses on making active travel a practical alternative for short commutes.
It also aims to strengthen first- and last-mile connections to public transport. Corporate leaders see this as a behavioral nudge rather than a strict mandate. They want to encourage healthier and more sustainable choices without forcing employees.
Data Collection and Future Planning
The initiative will collect valuable data about real commuting patterns. User feedback will help city planners prioritize infrastructure improvements. Planners can use this information to create safer pedestrian crossings.
They can also build better-quality footpaths and more comfortable cycling routes in high-demand corridors. Ashwin Sekar, Chief Product and Technology Officer at InCred Finance, explained the importance of this data.
"We all complain about traffic, but we are also part of traffic," Sekar said. "Walking and cycling often remain invisible in policy discussions, even though many people rely on them. When this data is captured and aggregated, it becomes evidence that can influence how cities invest in footpaths and cycling infrastructure."
Long-Term Benefits for Bengaluru
Shekhar added that Bengaluru's Metro network is expected to expand significantly in coming years. Strengthening first- and last-mile connectivity could help reduce private vehicle usage. This would decrease congestion, dust, and pollution across the city.
The initiative has received support from several organizations. WRI India, Urban Morph, and Walkaluru have collaborated with GBA on this project. Companies interested in joining can register through the official website hejjegala.in.
This corporate challenge represents a fresh approach to urban mobility problems. By focusing on behavioral change rather than infrastructure alone, Bengaluru hopes to create lasting improvements in how people move through the city.
