Call to open Cubbon Park to vehicles on weekends draws flak

Call to open Cubbon Park – one of the largest lung spaces in the city – to traffic on weekends and holidays met with resistance in Legislative Council on Thursday.

BJP member D.S. Arun said that the roads cutting through Cubbon Park connects to many traffic choked important roads such as M.G. Road, Kasturba Road, Cubbon Road and Queens Road. “Traffic police should conduct an evaluation and allow traffic inside the park post 10 a.m.,” he suggested.

Currently, park is closed for vehicular traffic on weekends and public holidays. On other days, traffic is allowed between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

However, Congress member B.K. Hariprasad took objection and said that the park is home to several species of birds, snakes and frogs. “They cannot speak and who will speak on their behalf? Park closure is a good decision to help them. Let us be sympathetic,” he said.

Meanwhile, the House Leader and Minor Irrigation Minister N.S. Bose Raju, who responded on behalf of Horticulture Minister S.S. Mallikarjun, said that at a meeting on January 23 this year chaired by Chief Secretary, a decision has been taken to allow only emergency services vehicles such as fire engine and ambulance to pass through the park on public holidays and weekends.

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