In Bengaluru's latest twist, 'Safe Footpath' campaign drew unexpected eyes — senior officials from Norwegian Embassy took notice. On Wednesday,they set off on a six-kilometer run along city's footpaths,catching local civic authorities off guard .
Leading the pack was May-Elin Stener,Norway’s Ambassador to India and public transport enthusiast . Known for riding Delhi Metro,she's praised it online as top way to get around. About a year and a half ago,Stener explored Bengaluru on foot with Arun Pai,founder of Bangalore Walks. Inspired,she reached out to Pai again to set up this outing for her team.
Norwegian delegation included big names like Bård Vegar Solhjell,former Minister of Environment, and Jens Frølich Holte, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Run kicked off at 7:45 a.m. at Trinity Circle, weaving through spots like Halasuru Lake,St. John’s Road,and Cubbon Park, wrapping up at Vidhana Soudha around 9 a.m . It was workout and sightseeing rolled into one, showcasing Bengaluru’s parks,architecture, and culture.
In a video shared locally,Ambassador Stener praised Bengaluru's pleasant climate,contrasting it with Delhi's heat. Group commended city's air quality and footpath conditions. Pai usually does detailed route checks before walks . This time, he had to quickly assess. Despite rushed prep,they gained insights,prompting officials to consider footpath improvements.
This run was part of Project Walkaluru — joint effort between Greater Bengaluru Authority and locals to boost walkable footpaths citywide. Pai noted progress since their first 11 km walk on same route,which had several repairs. Seven months later,he was glad to see many repairs held up,showing Walkaluru's impact. But more work ahead…
