Bengaluru South · Citizens’ consortium
ChangeMakers of Kanakapura Road
A consortium of 80+ resident welfare associations on Kanakapura Road, working together to make our locality a better place.
CMKR volunteers. Photo: @_kanakapuraroad
A consortium of 80+ resident welfare associations on Kanakapura Road, working together to make our locality a better place.
ChangeMakers of Kanakapura Road (CMKR), also known as the Changemakers of Kanakapura Road Association (CMKRA), is an umbrella body of apartment and layout associations along Kanakapura Road in Bengaluru South. Its heads of RWAs share ideas, take local problems to the authorities and work with them on solutions.
The group began as a federation of 37 RWAs and apartments serving about 3,700 families in 2020, and grew to 60+ RWAs by early 2021 and 80+ RWAs representing around 30,000 residents since.
Our work covers roads and footpaths, traffic and public transport, public safety, waste management, lakes and forests, and community health. We also bring residents together through cycle rides, cricket and public meetings.
Kanakapura Road from Sarakki signal towards NICE Road and beyond, including Yelachenahalli, Konanakunte, Thalaghattapura and Anjanapura.
From pothole protests that made national news to a police CCTV command centre paid for by residents, these are some of CMKR's campaigns.
Residents, businesses and the police set up a CCTV network across the Thalaghattapura police station limits. The first 101 high-definition cameras went live with a command centre in January 2024, and more than 300 are planned. RWAs raised most of the money.
CMKR has campaigned for years to fix the Anjanapura road. It started a petition, planted paddy in potholes, gave coracle rides (2021) and staged a "Yamaraja" protest (2022). It has also pushed for rumble strips and safe crossings on Kanakapura Road.
CMKR has called for a full 1.2-km flyover at the ORR to Kanakapura Road junction and asked BBMP and BMRCL to work together on it. In 2023 it surveyed about 400 commuters and helped get the right turn at Sarakki signal reopened.
Residents opposed the 2024 Kanakapura Road "makeover" because it narrowed the main carriageway. They have also raised showroom parking on new pedestrian lanes and the unfinished revamp.
CMKR started a petition to restore the lost Jaraganahalli/Yelachenahalli lake near JP Nagar metro station. It also joined the campaign to save Turahalli Minor Forest from a "tree park" project.
CMKR has raised garbage black spots, poor segregation in Yelachenahalli ward and the lack of household and commercial collection. It has also pointed out that apartments handle their own waste and get no tax rebate for it.
In 2020 CMKR rented a fully equipped ambulance with ICU-trained staff for its residents. In 2021 it added a free car to take people for treatment and ran vaccination drives.
As a partner in the #Personal2Public campaign, CMKR held a freeze mob outside JP Nagar metro station in 2023. It also organised a "Cycle for Better Bengaluru" ride with SMITAM in 2022.
CMKR helped bring new lights to Balaji Layout park through a hospital's CSR funding. It also brings residents together through a cricket league of 30+ teams and through public meetings with officials.
Each entry links to a public source.
The group's public channel for raising local issues with the authorities. X
A federation of 37 RWAs rented a fully equipped ambulance with ICU-trained nurses for the stretch from Sarakki signal to NICE Road junction. Families shared the cost. New Indian Express
CMKR asked for rumble strips and crossings after accidents rose on the newly resurfaced Kanakapura Road. New Indian Express
Residents raised the alarm over work in Turahalli forest. 40+ CMKR RWAs asked BBMP for a full 1.2-km flyover at Sarakki. Citizen Matters · Bangalore Mirror
Held with Smitam on 7 March 2021. Video
During the second wave, CMKR offered a free car to take residents for treatment, brought back its ambulance and helped arrange more than 7,000 vaccinations. New Indian Express · Video
An online petition got 2,000 signatures overnight. On 4 September, residents planted paddy in the potholes and gave coracle rides for ₹20. The News Minute · Hans India
A Change.org petition to the Chief Minister to restore a lake that has been built over and used as a dump. Indian Express
On 23 July 2022, a volunteer dressed as Yama rode the potholed Anjanapura road. The same day, CMKR received the "Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Award" from the Bruhat Bengaluru Pratishtana. The News Minute · CMKR on X
A public meeting held with Deccan Herald and Prajavani. Video
CMKR met the DCP Traffic (South) and surveyed about 400 commuters, 93% of whom were unhappy with the closure. The right turn was reopened on 16 June. Citizen Matters
About 20 volunteers held a freeze mob at JP Nagar metro station as part of #Personal2Public. Deccan Herald
On 27 January 2024, Police Commissioner B Dayananda opened the command centre at Thalaghattapura police station, with 101 cameras in phase 1 and 300+ planned. New Indian Express · Bangalore Mirror
CMKR coordinated the effort, funded by a local hospital’s CSR programme, that brought eight new lights to the park after five years of darkness. Bangalore Mirror
Residents protested against the redesign that narrows the main carriageway. Deccan Herald
CMKR has kept speaking up on potholes, garbage, the water tariff, the unfinished road revamp, new waste rules and parking policy. See the news
Articles that quote or feature ChangeMakers of Kanakapura Road.
From our YouTube channel. Videos open on YouTube.
Abdul Aleem founded ChangeMakers of Kanakapura Road and leads it as President. He speaks for its residents in the city's newspapers on roads, traffic, safety, waste and governance.
Live on or near Kanakapura Road? If your RWA or apartment association wants to join CMKR, or you want to volunteer or report a local issue, contact us.
Updates, campaigns and civic alerts. Message us to get involved.
@_kanakapuraroadAsk your association's office bearers to get in touch with CMKR through X.
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