Restriction of vehicles on Church Street to continue till May 31

Bengaluru: The department of urban land transport (DULT) and traffic police have set out to continue with the restriction of vehicles on Church Street during weekends for another two months.

The street in Central Business District(CBD) were closed on weekends for nearly four months. As the business established projects saw an increase in the number of pedestrians. The pedestrian-only project started to receive opposition from the residents of the street due to overcrowding, violation of Covid protocols and rise in the pollution levels.

The residents had written letters to the officials stating that the business matters should not be given priority and health should be of primary concern. Therefore, the project should be terminated.

“We are extending the project till May 31 following a request from DULT”, the Police Commissioner said. In the meantime, DULT affirmed that it was making the city more sustainable by promoting public transport, walking and cycling.

The residents continued to object that the decisions were taken without discussing with them.

Samira Fernandez, a resident of Church Street started, ” We were not consulted before they took such a decision. The last time we met them, we informed them about some issues the residents faced, but they blatantly said they were false claims”. She also added that if DULT does not look into their problems, then they will have to take legal action.

“DULT has to stop ruling our lives. They sent an e-mail on Thursday, at a short notice. All out plans had to be changed or cancelled. Every time we order something from the e-commerce website, we have to think so much. If it gets delivered during the weekend, it gets returned”, Minati Ambarish, member of, Church Street Welfare Association said.