The Bengaluru we could become | Bengaluru News

What sort of city will Bengaluru be in 2035? A place still wrestling with traffic and shrinking waterbodies, or one that puts climate, ecology, mobility, and people at the heart of its growth? The answer rests in the choices being made now, block by block and policy by policy. Urban planners, researchers, community groups, and sustainability advocates outline a path that allows the city to regain its resilience and reshape its identity. Their ideas point to how Bengaluru could move beyond its stressed tech-hub label and grow into a more balanced and liveable urban environment.Fixing our roadsA road is far more than asphalt and paint — it is a pathway to milestones, memories, livelihoods, and moments of both joy and crisis. Every day, people commute by car, bike, bus or simply on foot, spending a large part of their lives in public spaces. Yet we often forget a basic truth: our roads are not walkable, safe, or inclusive.Govts must realise that roads are not meant for cars alone. Cities must design streets for all — children, elders, persons with disabilities, cyclists, runners, and pedestrians. If Bengaluru wants to move forward, it must first ensure its roads allow everyone to move with dignity (Abdul Aleem president, changemakers of Kanakapura road).With experience managing largescale operations, I believe Bengaluru’s road infrastructure in 2035 will show significant advancement. Investments in white-topping, elevated corridors, scientific junction redesign, and integrated mobility corridors will enhance durability and streamline movement.But the city’s growth and rising vehicle numbers will demand continuous adaptation. Smarter traffic systems, better inter-agency coordination, and stronger integration with public and shared transport will be critical. If these efforts are sustained, Bengaluru can finally achieve an efficient, predictable, and commuter-friendly road ecosystem (Unni Krishnan, member, Jalahalli RWA) Sustainability of buildings, climate readinessThe city has already warmed by 2°C over three decades — clear evidence of the Urban Heat Island effect. With over 2,000 apartment complexes and 10,000 commercial buildings, Bengaluru is struggling with climate stress, and these numbers will rise sharply by 2035.The city has exceeded sustainability limits in water, roads, waste, and energy. Depleting green cover, especially in peripheral zones, is alarming. The only path forward is to build infrastructure guided by sustainability indicators rather than traditional master planning that overlooks ecological boundaries (Srinivas Ravindra researcher, centre for sustainable technologies)By 2035, Bengaluru’s built environment could transform dramatically — if climate resilience becomes a central priority. Buildings will be cooler, greener and designed for efficiency. Solar rooftops, rainwater harvesting, food forests and native gardens must become standard features. Low-carbon materials and passive design will cut energy demand, while large buildings may even generate surplus energy through intelligent facades.Neighbourhoods must integrate permeable surfaces to recharge groundwater and reduce flooding, with every locality stewarding at least one carbon sink — be it a mini-forest, lake or arboretum. With strong enforcement and political will, Bengaluru can shift from today’s chaotic, carbon-heavy urbanisation to a model of sustainable growth (Swarna Venkatraman member, change Indiranagar)Stormwater drain networkBy 2035, Bengaluru can become a global model for water-positive urbanism — but only if we treat our raja kaluves (stormwater drains) as the super-infrastructure of the future. These natural networks already form the city’s ecological backbone. Projects like the K100 waterway have shown what is possible; now we must scale this vision.Restored as green corridors, stormwater drains can hold monsoon flows, cool neighbourhoods, support biodiversity and strengthen pedestrian and cycling networks. This is how Bengaluru can turn risk into resilience and ecology into urban opportunity (Naresh Narasimhan, architect & urban planner)In 2035, Bengaluru’s stormwater drains must run purely with rainwater and serve as powerful flood-mitigation systems, doubling as vibrant public spaces. Every primary, secondary and tertiary drain must be desilted, interconnected and treated as a rainwater harvesting asset — with zero sewage flow.Feeder drains that nourish lakes must finally be respected for their ecological role. Above all, the Vrishabhavathi — the city’s only river — must be restored and honoured as a living river system, not a forgotten drain (Ram Prasad, founding member, friends of lakes)Governance & accountabilityWhat Bengaluru needs most urgently are administrative reforms that enforce accountability through citizenbased audits and performancedriven postings. Such systems can ensure data-driven decisions and build sustainable cities. Equally important are pragmatic land acquisition reforms. Nearly 90% of infrastructure projects are stalled because of legal and land conflicts, as seen in the IT Corridor where CDP 2015 projects have been delayed for decades. Without unlocking land, development cannot move (Vishnu Prasad member, save Bellandur forum)Bengaluru’s most significant recent shift has been the move away from slow, centralised governance toward specialised, mission-focused structures. The creation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) acknowledges that a city of 1.3 crore people cannot be run through fragmented departments. If empowered, GBA can finally align mobility, water, waste and land use planning.Similarly, B-Smile (Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd) marks a decisive shift toward professionalised infrastructure delivery. The real test lies ahead: by 2035, Bengaluru’s governance success will depend on whether these reforms deepen — strong metropolitan planning, dependable infrastructure execution and citizen-driven decentralisation. Together, these could mark the city’s biggest bureaucratic reset in decades (RK Misra, urban expert)Public spacesPublic spaces — parks, museums, open grounds, playgrounds, promenades and footpaths — define a city’s soul. But Bengaluru still lacks a clear master plan and zoning approach to create and preserve such spaces. Without longterm stewardship, public areas risk neglect and encroachment.To build world-class open spaces, the govt must actively involve citizens, ensuring accessibility, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging. Only continuous public engagement can turn spaces into vibrant, resilient community assets (Vinod Jacob urbanist)A city comes alive in its public spaces — they stitch together community and culture. While Bengaluru’s over-concretisation once threatened these spaces, a flourishing cultural ecosystem has revived hope. Institutions like Ranga Shankara, Jagriti, IME, MAP, Shoonya, BIC and many more, along with festivals such as the BLR Lit Fest, theatre and music festivals, Karaga, and Kadalekai Parishe, have strengthened the city’s cultural heartbeat.Going forward, Samaaj, Bazaar, and Sarkar must collaborate to enhance inclusivity and expand the social, artistic and cultural life that binds the city together (V Ravichandar, urban expert)