Bengaluru: Around hundred enth­us­­ia­stic citizens gathered at Ejipura on Sunday morning to kickstart a drive to clean up the stretch from Ejipura junction to Domlur junction.

Also present was BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah along with the BBMP zonal commissioner, environment activists, students and Resident’s Welfare Association members.

This was the first in a series of campaigns by the BBMP and citizens to clean up the city and repair civic infrastructure. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike began the initiative in Ejipura and plans to target specific areas every alternate day until the monsoon sets in.

On Tuesday, the destination for the cleaning drive will be the stretch between Rajalakshmi Kalyan Mantap to the Silk Board junction. The citizens and BBMP cleared garbage, fixed potholes, painted walls, cleaned and painted the footpaths. All other odd works along the stretch too were completed.

“Taking up this drive has resulted in so much visibility. This is the first time that the Army offered to help us in cleaning the city and a large contingent was present doing a lot of work,” said Kalpana Kar, member, BATF, who was also part of the cleaning drive. “Army Deputy Commander, Col. Shrivastav, has offered to extend full support for the cleaning drive,” she said.

“The idea behind the drive was to maintain and repair the roads before the monsoon season sets in,” said Mr Sidde Gowda, Chief Engineer, BBMP. “Garbage that was collected from the drive has been segregated and will be sent for composting, shredding and to the landfills in Mandur. Sunday’s drive will set a precedent and the same procedure will be followed in all the areas, across the city,” he said.