Bengaluru: The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has launched an intensive cleaning and repair drive around the Majestic area, days after a viral video by Canadian resident Caleb Friesen highlighted the poor state of pedestrian pathways.
GBA’s action
Photos of the operation — showing teams clearing garbage, removing obstructions, and repairing broken pavements — were shared on X by the authority.
“We are committed to ensuring cleaner and safer walking spaces,” the GBA wrote while posting the images.
Viral trigger
Caleb’s video, which documented his 2.4 km walk from Majestic bus stand to a Starbucks outlet, showed everyday challenges pedestrians face: blocked stretches, garbage piles, broken pavements, and even unsafe stairwells leading into open drains.
While describing the journey, Caleb remarked that it could have been “a nice little walk, if you can actually use the footpaths.”
Online reaction
After the clean-up, Caleb himself shared before-and-after images, thanking the civic body.
“No more parkour over barbed wire required by pedestrians,” he quipped.
Residents praised both Caleb and the swift action by GBA. Some joked about “nominating him as the mayor of Bengaluru,” while others stressed that the effort should not stop at one stretch. Many urged the authority to extend similar drives to areas like Bellandur–Yemalur, long criticized for poor pedestrian infrastructure.
Bigger picture
The episode has once again drawn attention to Bengaluru’s urban planning challenges and gaps in basic infrastructure. While the clean-up near Majestic was welcomed, citizens emphasised that systemic, city-wide improvements are needed rather than reactive responses to viral moments.