Horticulture dept lays running track in Cubbon Park

Joggers paradise

Those who crave for a hassle-free morning walk or a jog in this busy City can now consider Cubbon Park as their destination of choice. The Department of Horticulture has laid a  2.2-km running track to develop the State’s first full-fledged joggers’ park here.

The path, which may be the longest jogging path thus far in the State, is now ready for use. It starts from Siddalingiah Circle (opposite Coffee Day Square) Junction within the park and connects to Hudson Circle Junction before ending at the Century Club Junction. “From the Coffee Day Square to Hudson Circle, it is a 1.2-kilometre stretch.

The distance between Hudson Circle and Century Club will add another kilometre, giving the track a total length of 2.2 kilometre,” said Dr M Jagadish, Joint Director, Department of Horticulture. In comparison, the Lalbagh has just one kilometre of walking space along the lake bund. 

The idea behind laying the path is not just to ensure space for fitness freaks, but also to afford Bangloreans a chance to stroll amid aromatic plants and rich greenery. 

But there were also practical reasons for developing the track. The space connecting Century Club to Hudson Circle had been unused for years and was fast turning into dump yard for the nearby State and Central government offices - Yavanika,  Reserve Bank of India, Government Treasury and the Century club. The stretch was reclaimed to prevent conditions from worsening. 

“The stretch was used for debris or waste and had become a open toilet. It had also turned into a hunting ground for beggars and other illegal activities. So we decided that the place badly needed a facelift,” said Horticulture Department officials.

Track details

As the pathway already had good tree cover, the department spent Rs 25 lakh to develop the track. The 12-foot wide path has kerbs on either side and is coated with five inch of Hoskote gravel or murram, a soil brought from some villages around Hoskote. 

 The speciality of this soil is that it is non-slippery and absorbs water immediately. We retained the muddy path because naturotherapy and yoga advocate a walk on mud for a heathier and better life,” said Dr Jagadish. 

Far from the maddening traffic, the aromatic plant-lined track has been made more attractive for joggers with the installation of distance stones every hundred metres and at every kilometre so that the users will be aware of the distance they have walked.

To prevent the danger of falling branches and trees on windy days, the department has already conducted tree surgery on several old trees. 

Added to this, the department says that security guards and policemen on beat can use the path for patrolling, as it gives them a complete view of the park.

Cable-stayed bridges

To ensure that the water bodies in the park are not affected, the department has constructed underground drainages. 

Assistance has also been sought from the defence industry to help  construct cable-stayed bridges over two streams —one near Century Club and another near the park’s treatment plant opposite Kanteerava stadium. The plan will be finalised this week, said Dr Jagadish. 

As part of a phase two project, it has been decided to extend the track towards Bal Bhavan connecting the High Court, the Press Club, KGID Building and Gopalgowda Circle, which will add another two kilometres.

According to horticulture officials, over a 10,000 people use the park every day for morning and evening exercises.