If you’ve spent a considerable amount of time living in Bengaluru, you must have heard of the popular Sri Chamarajendra Udyanavana AKA Cubbon Park. Since the green spot is situated in the heart of the silicon valley of India, it’s also regarded as the ‘lung space’ of Bengaluru.
The park is frequented by the young and old, families and couples, especially in the evenings to embrace the green space. It’s not just rich in a variety of flora and greenery, the public park also has many aesthetically located buildings in its precincts like the State Library.
But, these days, people have been having a hard time unwinding at this park due to the blaring whistles and annoying loudspeakers that the security guards have been using to alert the visitors.
According to the Times Of India, a new set of guidelines have been publically issued for the visitors of the most sought-after park of Bengaluru. Now, eating food is not allowed in the 300-acre park. Taking videos and pictures is banned. Couples indulging in PDA will be summoned and people who play sports or climb trees in the greens will also be prosecuted.
Karnataka govt cracked down against PDA in Cubbon Park. New rules include no food, no games and no PDA. Security guards patrol the 300-acre park with megaphones and blare out warnings when someone breaks the rules. Watch here#cubbonpark #karnatakapolls #assemblyelections pic.twitter.com/Sn2Vpt6vH6
— Mirror Now (@MirrorNow) April 13, 2023
According to reports, such strict measures have been put in place after the park authorities received complaints that some couples are spoiling the atmosphere in Cubbon Park.
“We’ve been receiving complaints by families (about public displays of affection by couples). The issue is not just decorum. It’s also for safety as couples hide behind bushes, where snakes and insects could harm them,” said Rajendra Kataria, principal secretary, horticulture and sericulture department.
Adding that they don’t have any intention to practice moral policing, the officer said:
“The loudspeakers are not at all meant to practice moral policing but to alert the people who are breaking the rules inside the public place. It might spoil the ambiance of Cubbon Park.”
People online weren’t happy with the new guidelines for people frequenting the public space. This is how Twitter reacted:
This Cubbon Park thing is just a symptom of how India treats public spaces.
We treat public spaces as government spaces, not people spaces.
So, any bureaucrat can make any random rule.
Which fundamentally screws poorer people who don't have private spaces.— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) April 13, 2023
Moral policing is disgusting. People who engage in it consider themselves as off-brand superheroes, supposedly protecting the morality of the world. Instead, they are idiots who stand in the way of happiness and progress. #LiveAndLetLive #CubbonPark
— Sree Krishna Raja (@sreekrishnaraja) April 13, 2023
No food and no games? It's a public park & belongs to everyone. This reeks of elitism & privilege.
The most affordable place for not-so-well-to do families to take their kids have been Lal bagh & Cubbon park.
No food, no games makes no sense. https://t.co/z99FMSDRfU
— Anusha Ravi Sood (@anusharavi10) April 13, 2023
Happiness is Banned here …. Kush hona mana hai
New rules at Bengaluru's Cubbon Park: No food, no games, lovers can't get too close https://t.co/JoZqMu7bCx via @timesofindia
— Harini Calamur (@calamur) April 13, 2023
If public spaces are not public friendly what do they exist for?
If kids can’t play and climb trees in the cubbon park, which is the other affordable safe space for parents in Bangalore?
Who makes these insane rules? https://t.co/GdpkfWMwH8— Lavanya Ballal Jain (@LavanyaBallal) April 13, 2023
I've been visiting Cubbon Park with friends every week for some time now. It's the only space where we can play frisbee, have a picnic and spend time together.
I don't want to go to a mall where everything is artificial and closed. Please don't do this.https://t.co/Zwq7Tb7sb5
— Nihar Thakkar (@nihart1024) April 13, 2023
iTWEET:#CubbonPark is a park!Please don't make it a policed-park!With rigid rules!The moment you empower a guard with a lathi& a whistle, you are destroying it all!We don't need a policed-park!We need a freedom-park(within bounds of decency)!A park that belongs to all!#Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/RKlJRoUx1U
— Harish Bijoor (@harishbijoor) April 13, 2023
Terrible! Cubbon Park is a perfect place for families to get together and have a picnic. So many bring badminton racquets and balls and frisbees to play with.
Why are we always trying to control everything. Increase the food waste bins and ensure people follow. Why stop?! https://t.co/ZdT6lCKGM1
— zibi (@zibijamal) April 13, 2023
no food, no games, no romance. the park is for old uncles laughter club only HAAHAHAHAHA https://t.co/bH7Q6X7KG5
— chuckles the clown (@amrtsh) April 13, 2023
This is lockdown boy with new name https://t.co/DpouPn68gE
— Entharo Mahanubhavulu (@IyerSabarish) April 13, 2023
when a single dude is made incharge https://t.co/nlTxu7RAxT
— sachuration (@sachuration) April 13, 2023
Cubbon Park caretaker be like https://t.co/cAABzG9pFj pic.twitter.com/v9c7GGJIM5
— Sahil Rizwan (@SahilRiz) April 13, 2023
What's the point of 'park' https://t.co/9dQda6w4E8
— alphonse elric's soul (@BandaBhaukal) April 13, 2023
No games, no food is not done. But the couples thing seems valid. Me and my friends have seen more condoms lying around in that park than any other plastic item! The park where kids also play around mostly, is not your place to have sex! Get a room!!! https://t.co/ljsIyuF2Zb
— K 💫🤍 (@kaveri__19) April 13, 2023
No food and playing games? Isn’t that what makes a park day fun and relaxing? What do you think?