As the 1800s came to a close, Bengaluru found itself in the grip of a deadly resurgence—the plague had returned. First reported in 1898, the disease ravaged the city for years, killing hundreds. Though the old “pete” town and the British Cantonment were physically apart, the colonial rulers, worried for their own safety, began intervening in the overcrowded, unsanitary Indian quarters.

Their concern wasn’t purely humanitarian. British soldiers mingled beyond their barracks, and many Anglo-Indian families relied on Indian domestic workers. Even a young Winston Churchill once borrowed from local lenders to maintain his lifestyle.

In response, the British administration initiated new layouts for Indian residents—Malleswaram, Basavanagudi, Fraser Town, and Richards Town. These neighbourhoods were not designed for the poorest, but catered to India’s emerging elite—senior bureaucrats and businessmen. Fraser Town, for instance, offered smaller plots for the middle class, while larger plots went to wealthier families.

Driven partly by outdated “miasma theory,” planners prioritized airflow, spaciousness, and elevated homes. Yet, sanitation remained primitive. Without modern sewage, manual waste removal was the norm. Narrow “conservancy lanes” allowed night soil workers discreet access behind homes.

Historian Meera Iyer notes that these lanes were legally mandated by the 1880s and ranged from 12 to 15 feet wide. Though invisible to most, these lanes played a crucial role in public health.

Today, many conservancy lanes are forgotten or overbuilt. But efforts like the Walkable Malleswaram project have revived them—transforming old waste paths into vibrant public spaces with greenery, art, benches, and exercise equipment.