BDA plants 15 lakh saplings and opens S.M. Krishna Road in Bengaluru

To mark Kempegowda Jayanti, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) organized a massive green drive and marathon on June 28, 2026, planting 15 lakh native saplings across BDA layouts and flagging off a run at Challaghatta in Bengaluru. The twin events, which drew more than 50,000 citizens, also marked the official inauguration of the newly constructed 10-lane S.M. Krishna Road.

The extensive planting drive of native tree species across the BDA layouts is likely to establish a new Guinness World Record. The initiative aimed to significantly enhance Bengaluru's overall green cover. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and BDA Chairperson N.A. Haris actively participated in the drive, planting saplings alongside the thousands of residents who gathered for the event.

To sustain the green initiative, Chief Minister Shivakumar announced that every school in Bengaluru would be tasked with taking responsibility for a specific designated area. Under this plan, school children will be responsible for planting and nurturing trees in their assigned zones. To motivate the institutions, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) will organize a competition centered around these green areas. Several educational institutions had already brought their students to participate in the day's planting drive.

In addition to the plantation drive, the BDA held a marathon divided into 5 km and 10 km categories. Kannada film star Kiccha Sudeep flagged off the run at Challaghatta.

The marathon route was set along the newly built 10-kilometer stretch of the S.M. Krishna Road, which connects Magadi Road and Mysore Road. The athletic event served as the formal inauguration for the massive 10-lane road project.

According to BDA Chairperson N.A. Haris, nearly 10,000 citizens participated in the marathon. Among the runners was a 98-year-old senior citizen who completed the course alongside the thousands of other local residents.