Church Street, Bengaluru
Church Street is a busy street in the Central Business District of Bengaluru, India.[1] It is a 750-metre stretch[2] from Brigade Road to St. Mark's Road, running parallel to M G Road. The street is named for St. Mark's Cathedral to which it leads.[3]
A tourist hotspot,[4] Church Street is a major shopping and nightlife area.[1] It is also a popular New Year's Eve celebration centre.[5]
In 2017, redevelopment work began on Church Street at a cost of ₹9 crore, which made it the first street in the city to be paved from granite cobblestones.[6] The cobblestones were laid in a Kasuti pattern to reflect Karnataka's cultural heritage.[7]
In 2020, Church Street ran a pilot project called Clean Air Street during which the street was converted into a pedestrian zone with a complete ban on automobile traffic.[8]
The pedestrian zone was a trial conducted with many interested stakeholders and academic research organisations as a 'test-bed' for sustainable urban redesign and community wellness. [9]
The experiment included open air seating, cultural events, and mobility support in the form of buggies and e-rickshaws for the disables and senior citizens. [10]
The trial was closely monitored by Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to evaluate the social, environmental and economic impacts. Avg. daily footfall increased 92%, in peak hours 117% increase in footfall was recorded. Over 50% of establishments reported increased revenue. Air quality also improved measurably. 98% of those surveyed enjoyed the new church st. [11]
The experiment was ended on May 31,2021. The official reason given was that the project was handed over to the BBMP. The BBMP denied they had received instructions to continue the project.[12] This decision was widely seen as politically motivated.
See also
- 2014 Bangalore bombing – an IED blast on Church Street that caused one death and injuries to four others. The attack was suspected to have been carried out by the terrorist organisation Indian Mujahideen.[13]
References
- 1 2 Chaturvedi, Atul (17 January 2017). "Finally, Church Street to get Rs 9-crore facelift". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ↑ "Church Street to host carnival on weekends". Bangalore Mirror. 2 October 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ↑ Shekhar, Divya (11 June 2018). "How Bengaluru's Church Street transformed from a residential locality to a commercial hub". Economic Times. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ↑ "Church Street will wear a new look in six months". The Times of India. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ↑ "Bengaluru cops ready for New Year revellers". Business Standard. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ↑ Raj, Arpita (27 September 2017). "Church Street being covered with cobblestones, may be ready by December". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ↑ "Church Street to open only in December?". Deccan Chronicle. No. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ↑ "Bengaluru: Church Street comes alive". Bangalore Mirror. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ↑ "After weekend traffic ban on Church Street, DULT to extend initiative to other roads". The Indian Express. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ "Bengaluru: Church Street comes alive". Bangalore Mirror. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ James (29 November 2021). "Pedestrianised Streets & Urban Wellbeing: the Case of Church Street, Bengaluru". BYCS. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ "Weekend traffic ban on Church Street goes, for now". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ Johnson, TA (29 December 2014). "One woman killed, 3 injured in IED blast on Bangalore's Church Street". The Indian Express. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
