South Bengaluru Resident Petitions GBA for 5 am to 10 pm Park Hours
A South Bengaluru resident has formally written to the Greater Bengaluru Authority demanding that public parks remain open continuously from 5 am to 10 pm. The resident pointed out that current split timings prevent working citizens who return home late in the evening from utilising neighbourhood green spaces.
Under the existing schedule, several parks across the city open early in the morning, shut by mid-morning, reopen around 4 pm, and close again by 8 pm. The resident noted that individuals reaching home at 8 pm or 9 pm are left with virtually no window to access these spaces, prompting the call for expanded operational hours.
The push for longer operating schedules also coincides with serious questions surrounding accessibility for persons with disabilities. An October 2023 study by Bengaluru-based think tank Pacta revealed severe infrastructure deficits across 32 surveyed parks in the city, where only three facilities were found to be open throughout the day.
According to the Pacta study, surveyed parks averaged an accessibility score of just 36.47 out of 100, while inclusion scored 56.49. No park scored above 75 for accessibility, and only five scored between 50 and 75. The findings highlighted that 25 of the 32 parks had no toilets, 31 lacked maps, and only 16 had any signage. While 55 percent of external features like wide gates and paved footpaths were present, only 38 percent of internal features, such as ramps leading into play zones, were available.
Disability rights activist Anita Narayan Iyer stressed that authorities must address access from the parking lot onward and cater to all forms of disability. She noted that adults often use swings intended for children in wheelchairs, which damages specialized equipment and discourages civic departments from installing more. Iyer called for visual signage to prevent misuse, designated adult play areas, and genuine play environments rather than sensory therapy spaces.
Previous municipal efforts have struggled with continuity. Four parks made inclusive through BBMP's work with Kilikili by 2012 subsequently suffered from poor maintenance. Meanwhile, a disability-friendly facility opened in 2022 at Jawahar Bal Bhavan in Cubbon Park restricted entry solely to children with disabilities and their guardians, a segregated model that drew criticism from advocates and experienced lower-than-expected footfall.
