Open Street on MG Road deferred

The proposed ‘Open Street’ on MG Road scheduled for February 14 has been postponed. “The open street will not happen on February 14. The MG Road might see the event tentatively on February 21,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) MA Saleem told Deccan Herald.

Though Saleem did not clarify the reasons for the postponement, sources in the police said that there was pressure on the police and other agencies for deferring the event as it was scheduled for Valentine’s Day. Owners of a few commercial establishments and eating joints had requested the police to postpone the event as it might affect their business, said the police.

The second reason is the possibility of a controversy. “ We suspected that a few elements might unnecessarily create controversy claiming that the move might affect their freedom. The department did not want to invite any controversy or wrath of any groups and hence it was decided to postpone the event,” said a senior police officer.

However, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), which manages Rangoli Metro Art Centre on MG Road boulevard had a different version. The BMRCL had invited about 100 handicraft manufacturers for exhibition of their products, but the manufacturers sought more time, said BMRCL spokesperson U A Vasanth Rao said.

The Department of Urban Land Transport had announced the Open Street on MG Road a week ago on February 14. They had also claimed that the vehicular movement would be banned on the identified stretch on that day between 9 am and 9 pm.

Under the Open Street initiative streets are closed for traffic and various activities such as walking, biking, skating, music and art activities are allowed on the street. The first ever open street experiment in HSR Layout received an overwhelming response from citizens last year.