The conservancy lanes of Malleswaram are now being redesigned to cater to the needs of senior citizens out on their daily strolls.
- What are they: Conservancy lanes are lanes, usually running parallel to the main roads, that were supposed to be used for scavenging purposes. Considering the plans for Malleswaram were laid out back in 1898, the place is full of them! After decades of disuse, most of the lanes serve as ad-hoc parking lots.
New plans: The Malleswaram Urban Living Lab (M-ULL) is currently in the process of transforming those neglected lanes into walkable streets for the elderly. They would feature benches, adequate lighting and proper road safety to make them suitable for regular use.
Initial push: For now, 1.24 sq km area in Ward 45, 0.87 sq km in Ward 65, and 0.12 sq km in Ward 35 will be renovated and opened up to the public. Ideally, the lanes would connect parks, schools and hospitals in the area.