BENGALURU: Every time 58-year-old Padmaja Mohan visited her friend Savitri Krishnareddy at her home in Jaraganahalli, JP Nagar 6th Phase, they would crib about the garbage-strewn stretch across the road. For more than five years, the duo watched in frustration as garbage piled up and vehicles were abandoned along the footpath.But everything changed this Jan, when the friends of 15 years decided to take the matter into their own hands. The tipping point came when they focused on an abandoned truck that had been left on the stretch for nearly three years. With support from an inspector at JP Nagar police station, the vehicle was finally removed, revealing heaps of trash beneath it. Savitri told TOI: “This is a busy stretch of road. There are schools nearby, and people travelling from Bannerghata Road to Kanakapura Road often use it. Accidents are common because of speeding vehicles. We filed multiple complaints to all officials, but nothing yielded results.”What disturbed them most was seeing schoolchildren being forced to walk on the road as the pavements were encroached. Determined to bring about change, the two friends got to work. Over nearly two months, they personally supervised the transformation of the stretch, spending about Rs 1.4 lakh from their own savings.The initiative went beyond a basic clean-up drive. They hired civic workers, cleared accumulated waste, and restored the area. Benches were installed to encourage proper public use of the space and prevent further dumping.Padmaja Mohan, who lives in Konanakunte Cross, said: “After years of merely complaining, one day we decided to stop waiting and do it ourselves. Today, when I see the stretch clean and welcoming, I feel extremely happy and satisfied. My husband and three children were fully supportive of the effort.”To discourage further dumping of waste and create a sense of ownership, the duo approached Smitam, an NGO, to transform the long compound wall with a social message. After obtaining permission from the apartment association, a mural was painted on it. Last Sunday, about 50 volunteers started work on the mural at 7.30 am. In around five hours, they painted over 200 metres of wall. The apartment association contributed to buying some of the paint. The mural carries messages around menstrual hygiene and women’s empowerment.Meghana Murthy, founder of Smitam, said: “We chose menstrual hygiene and women’s empowerment as the mural theme because the stigma around periods still persists in many communities. Public art in busy neighbourhoods helps start conversations, normalise the subject, and raise awareness.”
