New Year, new steps: Bengalureans hit the pavements for 26km footpath test | Bengaluru News
Bengaluru; While some Bengalureans began the New Year at temples and others were still shaking off party hangovers, over 300 citizens chose a different way to welcome 2026: By walking nearly 26km across the city, clocking close to 30,000 steps, to test Bengaluru’s footpaths and push for safer pedestrian infrastructure.The daylong footpath walk, organised by Walkaluru, began at RV Road Metro Station around 7am and ended at Orion Mall in Rajajinagar by 6.30pm. Participants walked on footpaths, without stepping onto the carriageway, making the initiative distinct from regular walkathons. The aim was to assess walkability, identify obstructions, and encourage walking as a sustainable mode of urban mobility. According to organisers, around 300-plus citizens participated, and 160 of them managed to finish 26km.
The route passed through key parts of the city, including Lalbagh, Cubbon Park, Richmond Road, Ulsoor Lake, Mehkri Circle, and Yeshwanthapur. While many participants completed the entire stretch, several others joined the walk midway from their neighbourhoods, making it a flexible and citizen-driven event.Led by Walkaluru founder Arun Pai, the walk encouraged participants to observe the quality of footpaths, count encroachments, and rediscover the city on foot. The initiative also drew participation from senior officials, with Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) chief commissioner Maheshwar Rao, the South City Corporation commissioner, and staff joining the walk for a distance. Karnataka chief secretary Shalini Rajanish also walked alongside citizens, lending official support to the initiative.Arun Pai, the organiser of the Bengaluru Walkathon, told TOI: “The route we passed by was mostly walkable. This walk aimed at showing people that good footpaths exist and how it feels to have such walkable footpaths in the city. Many said they were not aware that our city had such good footpaths, and that all other places also deserve similar ones.” Srivinas Alavilli, a member from WRI and a citizen who promotes sustainable mobility, said: “Our city is naturally beautiful, and our people make it even more so! With civic authorities focusing on walkability, bright days lie ahead for pedestrians. When people on foot are treated with respect, the city becomes liveable for all. Let’s keep at it!” For many participants, the experience was an eye-opener. “I’m a marathon runner, but this was completely different,” said N Someshwar, a chartered accountant from KR Puram, who left home at 5am to join the walk. “Here, we were forced to use only footpaths. I usually travel by bike and rarely take the Metro, so it was a shock to see such good, clean, and largely encroachment-free footpaths in parts of the city.”Vidya Goggi, a resident of RT Nagar who joined the walk between Jayamahal and Mehkri Circle, said the initiative created a rare platform for dialogue between citizens and officials. “The idea was to walk together, talk, and discuss what works and what doesn’t. I raised issues that need engineering solutions, and officials were open to listening. Some problems can only be fixed by authorities, and this walk gave us a chance to flag them on the ground,” she said.Organisers said the walk was intended to demonstrate that walkable footpaths are not a luxury but a basic civic necessity. By choosing to walk through the city on New Year’s Day, participants hoped to send a clear message that pedestrian lives matter and that Bengaluru’s future mobility must begin from the footpath.
