Mysuru: In a demonstration of community participation in urban planning, civil society groups, residents, caregivers, students, and Greenpeace India joined hands on Sunday to symbolically reclaim the Bogadi Road Junction abutting the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) as a safer and more inclusive public space.As part of the community action, participants painted a zebra crossing and an “empathy line” along the Bogadi Road stretch and the road leading towards SJCE—symbolically reclaiming the street as a shared public space. The empathy line highlights the space required for pedestrians and persons with disabilities to move safely and comfortably.Citizen groups also formally submitted their design recommendations to the authorities at a time when the city administration is preparing to undertake white-topping work on the Bogadi Road stretch.Selomi Garnaik of Greenpeace India noted that the upcoming infrastructure work presents a vital opportunity to integrate people-led ideas like safe crossings, accessible footpaths, and clear signage into the engineering plans.Champa, director of Mysuru School of Architecture, said the initiative demonstrates how urban planning can meaningfully respond to every day needs when communities are involved in the design process. She also requested the authorities to provide a 20-second stoppage of vehicles on all four sides at a time so that pedestrians feel comfortable and can cross the road without much hassle.Speaking on behalf of various civic groups, Roy Joseph of Mysore Grahakara Parishat requested the authorities concerned to immediately come out with solutions or measures that are simple, low cost, and can be implemented quickly, bringing immediate relief to parents and disabled children who struggle daily at this junction.Local users, including Rathna, who visits AIISH for her daughter’s treatment, emphasised the urgent need for safe road-crossing arrangements during peak hours.
