A meeting of legislators in Bengaluru witnessed a lack of consensus over neighbourhood park timings, with concerns raised over safety, accessibility, and misuse of public spaces.

Divided views on park timings

The discussion centred around an earlier proposal by the civic body to keep parks open from 5 am to 10 pm. While Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar initially supported extended hours to accommodate citizens unable to visit during peak times, several MLAs objected.

Legislators expressed concern that parks could become hubs for anti-social activities, particularly during afternoon hours when footfall is relatively low. The issue remains unresolved, with the Deputy CM directing corporation commissioners to consult MLAs in their respective jurisdictions and finalise suitable timings.

Budget inputs and civic priorities

The meeting was convened to gather inputs for the upcoming budgets of five newly formed city corporations. MLAs highlighted the need for better allocation of funds, particularly for infrastructure, emergency needs, and grievance redressal.

Rajajinagar MLA Suresh Kumar urged authorities to allocate additional funds to the Bengaluru West City Corporation, citing its weaker financial position. He also recommended setting up emergency funds in each ward to address urgent civic issues and organising camps to resolve pending property tax grievances.

Crackdown on illegal flexes

Another major issue discussed was the increasing number of illegal flex boards and hoardings across the city. The Deputy CM directed officials and police to impose strict penalties ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh for each unauthorised flex.

He emphasised that designated spaces for advertisements must be strictly adhered to and that no hoardings should be installed without prior permission.

Focus on governance and accountability

The meeting, attended by several MLAs and MP P C Mohan, highlighted the growing need for better urban governance, stricter enforcement of civic norms, and improved coordination between elected representatives and administrative bodies.