October 1, 2025

Hold tight, Bengaluru lovers! The Karnataka government has just approved a massive Rs 124.5 crore to transform the city’s streets and footpaths. This money comes from the powerful 15th Finance Commission grants, and it’s a game changer for how Bengaluru moves and breathes. The exciting news? For the first time ever, a big chunk of this cash is reserved for the super-cool ‘Nagara Nade’ initiative, which promises fully paved, pedestrian-friendly footpaths from start to finish. Over the past two years, Bengaluru had already grabbed huge funds—Rs 115.5 crore in 2023-24 and Rs 122.3 crore in 2024-25. Now, with this fresh Rs 124.5 crore for 2025-26, the total tied grants cross a whopping Rs 362 crore in just three years! So, where will this treasure chest go? Picture this: traffic junctions getting a total makeover in lively areas like BTM Layout, Basavanagudi, Vijayanagar, and Shivajinagar to cut jams and add green spaces. Footpaths will stretch and shine on busy roads like Tumkuru and Bannerghatta, making safer walks a reality. Cycling lovers, your joyride is covered too with new dedicated cycle lanes around KR Circle, Raj Bhavan, and Racecourse Road. And here’s the cherry on top — last-mile connectivity near Metro stations like Nayandahalli and Mysuru Road will get footpath upgrades, making your daily travel smoother than ever. The plan even tackles air pollution with Rs 5 crore set aside to clean up smoke from seven crematoriums scattered across the city. Green thumbs will love new parks in Upakar Nagar and Jalahalli, adding fresh lungs to the urban jungle. Officials are serious too: they want detailed project reports and third-party inspections for full transparency. Arun Pai, who’s been championing better footpaths for a year, beams, “For the first time, footpaths have received separate funding — earlier they were always an afterthought in road projects. This shift to a ‘pedestrian first’ policy is a big change.” The government’s order is strict — no slip-ups allowed. Agencies must stick to plans from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Ministry of Environment. Progress reports and fund-use tracking are mandatory, with penalties for any faltering. Here’s a quick breakdown of the Rs 124.5 crore cash flow: - Traffic junction improvements – Rs 57.6 Cr - Nagara Nade footpaths – Rs 28.3 Cr - Metro connectivity footpaths – Rs 18.1 Cr - Cycle lanes – Rs 14.2 Cr - Pollution control at crematoriums – Rs 5 Cr - Parks and greening – Rs 1.3 Cr In short, Bengaluru is ready to step up with cleaner air, safer walks, and smoother rides, painting a fresh picture of city life where pedestrians rule and greenery blooms everywhere. Isn’t this just the city upgrade we all have been waiting for?

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Tags: Bengaluru, 15th finance commission, Nagara nade, Footpaths, Urban infrastructure, Pollution control,