Residents take charge, transform littered Koramangala streets in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Frustrated by littering and the absence of public dustbins, residents of Koramangala launched a community-led cleanliness initiative that has transformed parts of the neighbourhood.

The drive, involving Siddharth Dialani and other local residents, saw installation of multiple dustbins across four streets, putting up awareness banners and clearing debris from footpaths.

Posting on X, Dialani said around Rs 15,000 was spent on procuring dustbins, lock-chains and awareness material. Other local residents also took responsibility for replacing garbage bags and emptying the bins every alternate day. Separate bins were installed for dog waste, while collected garbage is handed over to the civic authority’s trucks.

The initiative also saw the authorities deploy trucks and earthmovers to clear heavy construction debris such as pipes, bricks and cement blocks from footpaths. The residents additionally contributed funds to paint footpath walls, with plans to add plants in the area and expand the drive to more streets, Dialani said in the post.

The initiative triggered a wider debate online on citizen participation and civic responsibility.

Caleb Friesen, a Canadian who previously lived in Bengaluru and frequently posted about civic issues in the city, supported the initiative. “If city govts do not do their job, citizens must pick up the slack,” Friesen wrote, praising the residents for spending their own money to improve the neighbourhood.

“If citizens are forced to do the jobs of govt servants — who are paid salaries from our tax money — what exactly are those officials being appointed and paid for?” another social media user wrote on X.

Another user commented that while citizen participation was welcome, govts should not become dependent on residents stepping in to fill civic gaps. “But having said that, no one should knowingly litter and should carry their trash home,” the user added.