Private Walking Tours Banned in Bengaluru’s Cubbon Park: Horticulture Dept

Quick Summary

• The Horticulture Department has halted private guided walking tours inside Cubbon Park,Bengaluru. This restriction follows the launch of its own tour initiative, Cubbon Walks, a week ago.
• Private groups have historically organized heritage walks and other activities in the park; tho,a recent government order mandates prior permission for activities involving more than 20 participants.
• Raksha Nagaraj (founder of bengaluru Prayana) was asked by officials to cancel a scheduled heritage walk at Cubbon Park, refund participants’ fees, and remove promotional content from social media and blogs as permission had not been granted.
• Officials stated that while commercial activities within the park are prohibited, free or non-commercial initiatives can continue with no objections.
• Deputy Director G. Kusuma clarified that discussions are ongoing with higher authorities and the Cubbon Park Conservation Committee regarding policy updates on private events.
• Organizers pointed out concerns over monopolization since the department’s Cubbon Walks charges ₹200 per participant.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The halt on private commercial walking tours in Cubbon Park represents an effort by local authorities to maintain control over public spaces while respecting conservation priorities laid out in existing guidelines. By prohibiting monetary gain from such programs without authorization, officials aim to preserve the integrity of these shared resources amidst growing urban commercialization pressures.

This decision may spark concerns about equity as it grants exclusive operational rights to government-organized tours like Cubbon Walks-which also charge fees-while restricting independent organizations from charging for similar services. Authorities should ensure openness during policy reviews to address grievances raised regarding potential monopolization and encourage collaboration between public initiatives and experienced independent organizers.

Additionally, any move toward integrating knowledgeable guides into official tours could enhance visitor experience while serving conservation goals effectively-an area that merits further exploration given local engagement levels with community-led heritage projects.

Read more: August 03 2025 – Indian Express