₹6-crore high-tech parking revamp transforms Bengaluru’s KR Market experience

After 26 years of neglect, KR Market gets a modern underground parking facility with lifts, 40+ CCTV cameras, heritage décor, and space for 600 vehicles, easing congestion and boosting footfall.

After decades of inconvenience, Bengaluru’s iconic KR Market has finally received a major infrastructure upgrade with the launch of a state-of-the-art underground parking facility, built at a cost of ₹6 crore. The project aims to solve the long-standing parking crisis in one of the city’s busiest commercial hubs while improving safety, cleanliness, and visitor comfort.

For nearly 26 years, the old underground parking area remained neglected, poorly lit, foul-smelling, and often misused for unlawful activities. This created serious inconvenience for traders, shoppers, and transport operators, leading to reduced customer visits and severe traffic congestion around the market.

The newly modernised facility now offers parking for 200 cars and 400 two-wheelers, supported by two entry points, one from the market side and another from Avenue Road,  and a single exit towards the market. This design ensures smooth vehicle movement while reducing bottlenecks in surrounding roads.

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The high-tech parking system is equipped with lifts, a fully integrated CCTV surveillance network of more than 40 cameras, bright lighting, and digital monitoring, making it safer and more user-friendly. The structure also blends local heritage with modern design, featuring floral decorations, wall paintings depicting the history of KR Market, artistic pillars shaped like elephant trunks, and a central statue, creating a pleasant environment for visitors.

The project is operated by Right Parking, a private firm awarded a 10-year tender by the city corporation. The company invested approximately ₹6 crore in upgrading the space and pays a monthly operational fee to the municipal body. The operator has stressed strict hygiene measures, banning spitting, littering, and misuse of the facility to maintain cleanliness.

As part of the revamp, authorities removed 210 abandoned vehicles and cleared 260 tractor-loads of accumulated waste. Structural improvements included sealing open holes that caused waterlogging and redesigning the rainwater drainage system to prevent flooding, ensuring long-term durability.

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While the underground levels are now clean, organised, and well-maintained, the ground and first floors still reflect typical market congestion, largely due to limited space and heavy daily footfall. Traders have welcomed the upgrade but stressed that parking fees must remain affordable and access should remain simple, as high charges or restricted movement could discourage regular use.

The facility is also expected to reduce roadside parking, improve traffic flow, and increase customer visits, which had dropped due to the lack of organised parking. Visitors say the new system offers safety, convenience, and peace of mind, replacing the chaos of random roadside parking.