Residents of Bengaluru are set to embark on a unique urban journey on the first day of the new year. On January 1, the city will host Walkaluru, a 26-kilometer footpath walk designed to put the city's pedestrian infrastructure to the test. This citizen-led initiative aims to spotlight the urgent need for safe, continuous, and walkable footpaths across India's tech capital.
The Route and Event Details
The day-long walkathon will commence at 7 am from the RV Road Metro station in south Bengaluru. It will conclude around 4 pm near the Sandal Soap Factory station, located close to Orion Mall in the north. Organizers have charted a route that promises a largely uninterrupted pedestrian-friendly path, allowing participants to experience the city from a walker's perspective.
The walk will proceed at a relaxed pace, passing through several iconic city landmarks. Participants will traverse areas including Lalbagh, Jayanagar, Cubbon Park, Ulsoor Lake, Shivajinagar, and Mehkri Circle. To ensure comfort and sustainability, planned breaks for refreshments are scheduled every 5 kilometers. Importantly, the event is designed to be flexible, with participants free to join or leave the walk at any point along the designated route.
Organizers and On-Ground Observations
The event is a joint effort by the citizen group Walkaluru and the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). A key feature of the walk is the participation of civic officials and trained volunteer marshals. These officials will walk alongside citizens at different stretches, serving a dual purpose: managing the movement for safety and directly observing on-ground footpath conditions. This hands-on audit by both citizens and authorities is expected to provide valuable, real-time insights into the state of Bengaluru's walkways.
How to Participate and Public Interest
There is no formal registration process for Walkaluru. Instead, the organizers have created a dedicated WhatsApp group to coordinate logistics and share live updates. The public response has been notably strong, with more than 300 people already joining the group. This significant early interest suggests that the actual participation on the day of the event could be much higher, indicating a growing citizen movement for better urban walkability.
This initiative represents a powerful, collective step towards advocating for a more pedestrian-friendly Bengaluru. By physically tracing a 26-km path, citizens and officials alike will gather firsthand evidence of the challenges and opportunities in creating a city where walking is a safe and viable option for all.
