Bengaluru, Oct. 11 -- In an unusual start to his Saturday morning, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar left his official car behind and stepped out on foot, joining early risers for a brisk 7 am walk as part of his new "Walk with Bengaluru" initiative.

The initiative, designed to connect directly with citizens, saw Shivakumar engaging face-to-face with more than a hundred local walkers. Over the course of the walk, he listened attentively as residents aired a wide range of urban issues, from traffic congestion and crumbling roads to unmanaged garbage and stray animals, said a report by the Deccan Herald. Parking challenges and inadequate road resurfacing were also frequent complaints.

One of the most hotly debated topics was the propose...