Bengaluru: Its been two years since a woman was raped in Cubbon Park in the heart of the city, but little has changed in terms of its security. Shockingly, since the contract of the old batch of security guards expired two years ago, no fresh batch has been appointed , leaving the park completely unguarded, except for 10 CCTV cameras installed at various spots. Also two of its nine entrances have no gates, leaving the park wide open to all sorts of unsavoury elements.
Although a year ago, tenders were called for a fresh batch of security guards and a 100 CCTV cameras were announced for the park, its security remains as lax as ever, complains Mr Umesh Kumar, advocate and president of the Walkers' Association.
"Tenders were floated for security guards , but we don't see any around the park and only two of the CCTV cameras seem to be working near the Central Library and Maharaja statue. Wouldn't it make more sense to have the cameras at the gates? " he asks.
The walkers would also like to see a wall, similar to the one around Lalbagh, built around Cubbon Park. " Even if it's not a brick wall, there should be high fencing like around the Vidhana Soudha and the High Court," Mr Umesh insists.
Meanwhile, the repair of the nearby Nrupathunga Road and rerouting of much of its traffic through the park has delayed the installation of two of its gates.
It was in August/ September 2016 that the gates of the park at Hudson Circle and the High Court side were removed. In December 2016 deputy director of the park, Mahantesh Murgod, had assured that they would be ready in four months, but there is no sign of them yet.
"The gate on the High Court side is 40 to 60 per cent ready. We were not able to finish work on it due to the increased traffic. We have not yet started work on the Hudson Circle gate and will do so after Nrupathunga Road is repaired," Mr. Mahantesh said when contacted.
Asked about the lack of security guards, he promised they would be appointed in a week. But he dismissed the need for a compound wall.
"The park needs to be kept open, so everything is visible from the outside. A compound wall will not help improve security," he maintained.
Fault lines
- Even two years after the expiry of contract for security guards, no fresh batch has been appointed
- Two of its nine entrances have no gates
- Walkers want a boundary wall or a fence around the park
- Out of 10 CCTV cameras in park only two are reportedly functioning
