On June 27, as part of the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanthi celebration, the Karnataka government organized a single-day plantation drive with over 50,000 volunteers planting 1.5 million saplings in Bengaluru, aiming for a Guinness World Record. The city-focused not-for-profit UnboxingBLR (UBLR) participated with its Bloom Avenue project, planting 6000+ saplings across 8 kilometers along the major arterial road in Kempegowda Layout and roundabouts, connecting Mysuru Road and Magadi Road.
Inspired by Bengaluru's Garden City Legacy
UBLR's plantation drive draws inspiration from Bengaluru's historical green identity. The city's botanical legacy traces to Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel, the landscape architect who shaped its parks and avenues in the early twentieth century, and later to S. G. Neginhal, Deputy Conservator of Forests in the 1980s, who expanded urban tree cover. Bloom Avenue consciously continues this tradition by restoring intentional greenery to a major corridor amid pressure from rapid growth.
Year-Round Blooming with Native Species
Bloom Avenue focuses on flowering species that are color-sequenced and coordinated so that some part of the corridor blooms every month. The initiative balances aesthetics and native species, designed to attract birds and butterflies when saplings mature. The corridor is divided into eight one-kilometer sub-zones, each with a distinct color pairing from complementary species, ensuring at least one sub-zone is in full bloom at any time. Species selection prioritizes indigenous varieties adapted to Bengaluru's climate; naturalized non-native species with cultural ties to the city are also included.
Partnership with BDA and Maintenance Plan
The project is executed in partnership with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), which supplied flowering saplings through its Forest Division. UBLR funded and executed ground-level operations, including pit digging and planting, and will undertake protective measures, watering, and maintenance for the first three years. Phase 2 will extend planting to service roads alongside ongoing maintenance of Phase 1 saplings, covering watering, monitoring, replacement of failed saplings, and upkeep to BDA standards.
Quotes from Key Stakeholders
Prashanth Prakash, Chairman of UnboxingBLR Foundation, said: "Long back, German botanist Krumbiegel made Bengaluru bloom all through the year. Decades later, the beauty of his work endures. Taking inspiration, Project Bloom focuses on both native species and flowering aesthetics to boost Bengaluru's natural heritage for future generations. What makes this project special is the coming together of citizens, institutions, and government around a shared vision for the city."
Major Manivannan P, Commissioner of BDA, added: "We are very pleased to see Bloom Avenue move from concept to ground reality. The BDA has been glad to facilitate this, from providing the saplings and granting the necessary approvals, to supporting a model of civic collaboration that we hope will inspire many more such partnerships across the city."
N. A. Haris, Chairman of BDA, stated: "Bloom Avenue is exactly the kind of initiative Bengaluru needs—citizen-led, rigorously planned, and built for the long term. A green, blooming corridor along Magadi Road and Mysuru Road will benefit residents and communities and serve as a model for how our arterial roads can be transformed."
About UnboxingBLR Foundation
UnboxingBLR (UBLR) is a Bengaluru-focused not-for-profit platform working with multiple stakeholders to envision and execute city-scale projects. Founded in 2023 by Prashanth Prakash and Malini Goyal, UBLR operates at the intersection of content, culture, and city-building. It drives initiatives such as BLR Hubba (a city-wide festival), Namma Bengaluru Challenge (an accelerator for urban challenges), WeAreCity annual data report, and Code to Culture podcast. UBLR is also building India's first Museum of Innovation, Startup and Technology in Bengaluru in partnership with the Department of IT/BT/DoE.
