Cycle lane behind Bengaluru tech park turns garbage-transfer station, residents raise alarm

Bengaluru: A cycle lane off ITPL Road along the IT corridor that was once used by schoolchildren and office-goers has been converted into a garbage-transfer point, sparking concerns among residents.

The affected stretch on Krishna Temple Road, connecting Garudacharpalya and Hoodi in east Bengaluru, lies behind several technology parks housing companies such as Amazon, Google and ABB. The road is now being used to park around a dozen auto-tippers and two garbage compactors, making the adjoining footpath unusable and leaving the area reeking of waste.

According to residents, the cycle lane remained operational between 2022 and early 2025 before waste-collection contractors began using it. They allege that the triangular barriers installed to separate the cycle track from the main carriageway were removed or damaged to make way for the larger vehicles.

Ashok Kumar, a resident of the area, said the situation has made daily commuting difficult and unsafe. “Around 50 children from the neighbourhood walk to schools located nearby. It has become impossible for them to use the footpath and unsafe to walk on the road. Many office-goers use the same stretch from Garudacharpalya Metro station to reach their offices. Due to the parked compactors and auto-tippers, the entire stretch witnesses traffic congestion, especially between 9am and 11am,” he said.

Wing commander Madhusudan T (retd), another resident, said they urged contractors multiple times to clear out even previously. “We were told the contractors had been allotted a different plot for the transfer activity, but they continue to use this stretch,” he said.

The Air Force veteran who lives in Gopalan Urban Woods alleged that waste collected from sewage pits in nearby layouts is also being dumped along the road. “This will eventually flow into stormwater drains and pollute nearby lakes. It poses a serious hazard and could contaminate groundwater in the area,” he pointed out.

Rajesh Seth, a retired Isro scientist and resident of the locality, recalled how the cycle lane was once actively used by children. “Kids from our society used to cycle happily on the dedicated lane. The space has now been taken over by auto-tippers, which are driven rashly,” he rued.

Residents said their attempts to secure immediate action have met with little response. They added their complaints raised on GBA’s Sahaya app were closed without redressal.

Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) assistant general manager Jyothi C, who is in charge of Mahadevapura division, pointed to the lack of a designated transfer site. “We have asked contractors to use land next to the govt library, but the space is insufficient. We will instruct them to use different spots on a rotational basis. We do not have a designated plot for transferring waste from auto-tippers to compactors,” she said.