BBMP plans to develop 20 new parks on the outskirts

Bengaluru: The horticulture department of the Bruhat Bengaluru Municipal Corporation (BBMP) plans to develop twenty new parks in the city during 2024-25.

The parks will be built on the outskirts of the city, especially in the 110 villages that have been added to the BBMP limits and spread across Mahadevapura, Yelahanka, Dasarahalli, Bommanahalli and RR Nagar areas.

According to BBMP officials, the parks will be built on municipal properties that have been fenced and are lying unused.

The parks are being developed as part of BBMP’s efforts to keep Bengaluru green. The project division will look after fencing, pathways and other civil works, while the horticulture division will look after the plants including medicinal plants like lemon.
An official of the horticulture department said many properties owned by the civic body were lying vacant and had been fenced to prevent encroachment. “We have submitted a proposal to the BBMP headquarters and are expecting fund allocation in the upcoming 2024-25 BBMP budget. We will prepare a detailed project report once we get the fund allocation,” an official said. BBMP officials said there are currently 1,146 parks in the BBMP limits.

Neem and apple trees will be planted
Meanwhile, the BBMP forest branch has decided to plant neem, apple, mango and other saplings in the city, especially in BBMP parks.
“We know that ornamental plants may attract people, but they are not useful. So, we have decided to grow neem, mango, lemon, apple and other trees. Children can enjoy the fruits and the local people can grow neem. And can take mango leaves during the festival season. Therefore, we will grow fruits and other trees which will be useful to the public in the city,” said an official. He said that as part of the ‘Green Bengaluru’ initiative, Palike will plant more than one lakh saplings across the city. Most of these will be of vine and neem.