Here's how Bengaluru's Cubbon Park could become safer for women

Cubbon Park, a popular landmark and a beautiful expanse, also has a notorious image. The large canopy of trees becomes a dark and forbidding image in the evening and several instances of crime and harassment have made it a no-go for women.

'Improve Lighting in and around the Park'

Priya Chetty Rajagopal, CXO search consultant

Steps:

Improve lighting in and around the park. Authorities can consider solar lights that are self-sustaining.

Security needs to be stepped up. Security personnel of near by institutions such as Central Library, Bal Bhavan, Govern ment Aquarium and Press Club have to be involved.

Regular police patrol can go a long way in making people feel much safer. Dark spots must be identified and CCTV cameras can keep many anti-social elements at bay.These crucial needs must be met instead of needless beautification. Priya agrees that Cubbon Park is the city's jewel. And yet, she says, it has been unsafe for years on end.

"You wouldn't catch an old Bengalurean like me venture into the park late in the evening. We should be doing a lot more to change this negative image," she says.

'Women Must be Drawn Out to Visit the Park'

Jasmeen Patheja Founder, Blank Noise

Steps:

More and more women must be drawn out to visit the park so that other wom en will feel safe being there.

It needs to have more pub lic toilets. Right now, there are hardly any accessible toilets inside. This could be keeping women away. Activities to bring about public engagement are needed, such as a Meet-toSleep event where women take a nap in Cubbon Park.This allows women to trust and take ownership of it.Park caretakers and security should support such efforts instead of perceiving the presence of women as abnormal. Jasmeen Patheja Founder, Blank Noise That Cubbon Park needs to be inclusive and safe for all is imminent as it invites individuals across communities and identities, Patheja points out."Parks, lanes need be made safe by providing better lighting and infrastructure. But, they also need to be made safer through inclusive practices," she says.

Official Line

Vinay A Gaonkar, Asst Commissioner of Police, Cubbon Park We recommended to the horticultural department and our higher authorities the installation of CCTV cameras and more powerful lights inside the park. As the horticulture department is in charge of managing the park, including the security, we have suggested that ex-servicemen be employed as security staff as they would be better equipped at handling tricky situations