As part of the campaign, UnboxingBLR, in collaboration with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), has commenced the plantation of more than 6,000 saplings along an eight-kilometre stretch of the Major Arterial Road connecting Mysuru Road and Magadi Road in the new Kempegowda Layout. The project also includes plantation work at key roundabouts along the corridor.
Bloom Avenue has been conceptualised to revive Bengaluru's historic identity as India's Garden City by creating a flowering avenue that remains in bloom throughout the year. The initiative is inspired by the city's celebrated botanical legacy established by German landscape architect Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel, whose early twentieth-century work transformed Bengaluru's parks and tree-lined avenues. The city's green character was further strengthened during the 1980s under the leadership of former Deputy Conservator of Forests S. G. Neginhal, whose efforts significantly expanded the urban tree cover. Bloom Avenue seeks to continue this legacy by restoring aesthetically planned greenery to one of Bengaluru's major urban corridors at a time when rapid urbanisation and increasing development continue to place pressure on the city's green spaces.
The project focuses on carefully selected flowering species arranged in coordinated colour sequences so that different sections of the corridor remain in bloom during every month of the year. Along with enhancing the visual appeal of the arterial road, the plantation strategy prioritises native tree species while maintaining ecological balance. As the saplings mature into full-grown trees, the initiative is expected to create habitats that attract birds and butterflies, further strengthening the area's biodiversity.
Bloom Avenue is being implemented in partnership with the Bangalore Development Authority, which supplied the flowering saplings through its Forest Division. UnboxingBLR has funded and executed all on-ground operations, including pit excavation and plantation activities. The organisation has also committed to undertaking protective measures, regular watering, monitoring, maintenance, and replacement of failed saplings for the first three years in accordance with Bangalore Development Authority standards.
To ensure year-round flowering, the eight-kilometre corridor has been divided into eight separate one-kilometre zones. Each section features distinct complementary flowering species selected to ensure that at least one zone remains at peak bloom at any given time of the year. Species selection gives priority to indigenous trees naturally suited to Bengaluru's climatic conditions, while selected naturalised non-native species have been included because of their long-standing botanical and cultural association with the city's landscape.
The second phase of the project will extend plantation work to service roads while continuing the maintenance of saplings planted during the first phase. The long-term maintenance programme includes watering, monitoring, replacing unsuccessful plantations, and ensuring sustained growth over a three-year period.
Speaking on the initiative, Prashanth Prakash, Chairman of UnboxingBLR Foundation, said that Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel transformed Bengaluru into a city that bloomed throughout the year, and the enduring beauty of his work continues to enrich the city's natural heritage. He stated that Project Bloom draws inspiration from that legacy by combining native species with flowering aesthetics to preserve Bengaluru's environmental heritage for future generations. He added that the project represents a collaborative effort involving citizens, institutions, and government working together toward a shared vision for the city.
Major Manivannan P, Commissioner of the Bangalore Development Authority, said the authority was pleased to see Bloom Avenue become a reality. He stated that the Bangalore Development Authority facilitated the project by supplying saplings, granting approvals, and supporting a model of civic collaboration that could encourage similar partnerships across Bengaluru. He added that the Magadi Road-Mysuru Road corridor would become greener and more visually appealing through the initiative.
N. A. Haris, Chairman of the Bangalore Development Authority, described Bloom Avenue as a citizen-led, carefully planned, and long-term initiative that reflects the type of environmental intervention Bengaluru requires. He stated that the flowering green corridor along Magadi Road and Mysuru Road would benefit local residents and communities while serving as a model for transforming major arterial roads across the city. He also expressed satisfaction that the project had become part of the plantation drive organised during the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanthi celebrations.
Founded in 2023 by Prashanth Prakash and Malini Goyal, UnboxingBLR Foundation is a Bengaluru-focused not-for-profit organisation working with multiple stakeholders to develop city-scale initiatives centred on content, culture, and urban development. The organisation documents Bengaluru's evolution, contributes to civic development, and implements long-term programmes designed to strengthen the city's future.
The foundation leads several major initiatives, including BLR Hubba, a citywide festival celebrating art and culture; the Namma Bengaluru Challenge, an accelerator programme supporting startups and innovators addressing urban challenges; the WeAreCity annual report providing data-driven insights into India's eight leading cities; and Code to Culture, a podcast highlighting stories and voices from Bengaluru. In partnership with the Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Electronics, the organisation is also developing India's first Museum of Innovation, Startup and Technology in Bengaluru.
The Bloom Avenue project represents a significant example of collaboration between citizens, institutions, and government agencies to restore Bengaluru's environmental legacy. By combining scientific planning, ecological sustainability, long-term maintenance, and aesthetic urban design, the initiative reinforces the city's enduring identity as India's Garden City while contributing to one of the country's largest urban plantation campaigns.
About The Author
Comment List