Garudacharpalya residents protest as cycle lane becomes garbage transfer point

Residents of Garudacharpalya and Hoodi in east Bengaluru have raised alarms after a dedicated cycle lane on Krishna Temple Road was converted into an unauthorized garbage-transfer station. The blockage has rendered the lane and adjoining footpath unusable, sparking sanitation concerns and daily traffic disruptions.

The affected stretch, which runs behind major technology parks housing companies such as Amazon, Google, and ABB, is now used to park around a dozen auto-tippers and two garbage compactors. Residents noted that the cycle lane was actively used by school children and office-goers between 2022 and early 2025, before waste-collection contractors took over the space. The triangular barriers that separated the cycle track from the main road have reportedly been removed or damaged to accommodate the waste vehicles.

Local resident Ashok Kumar highlighted the safety risks, noting that about 50 children walk to nearby schools along this route. He explained that the blocked footpath forces pedestrians onto the road, while parked compactors cause traffic congestion between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. for commuters walking from the Garudacharpalya Metro station.

Wing Commander Madhusudan T (retd), a resident of Gopalan Urban Woods, stated that contractors have ignored requests to clear the lane despite being allotted an alternative plot. He also expressed concern over waste from sewage pits being dumped along the road, warning that it could flow into stormwater drains and pollute nearby lakes. Rajesh Seth, a retired ISRO scientist, added that the lane was once a safe space for neighborhood children to cycle, but has now been overtaken by rashly driven waste vehicles.

While residents stated that their complaints on the Sahaya app were closed without being resolved, local authorities cited a lack of infrastructure. Jyothi C, Assistant General Manager for the Mahadevapura division of Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML), admitted there is no designated plot for transferring waste from auto-tippers to compactors. She stated that while contractors were asked to use land near a government library, the space is insufficient, and BSWML will instruct them to rotate locations.