Bengaluru is known for being the IT hub of India. The growth of IT sector in the region has made the city an attractive place for corporates of many other sectors, to set up their headquarters in and around Bengaluru. Presence of such major conglomerates has also led Bengaluru and regions around it to be a destination for CSR initiatives of these businesses.
Bengaluru rural with Rs 149.7 crore was the second largest recipient of CSR funds in FY 2023-24 in the state of Karnataka after Mysuru with Rs 155.96 crore. The district of Bengaluru Urban received a total of Rs.2.98 crore of CSR funds.
In FY24, the top three areas of CSR focus in Karnataka were Education, Healthcare and Environment which received CSR funds worth Rs 1162.29 cr, Rs 427.57 cr and Rs 406.89 cr respectively.
Let’s take a look at the top CSR projects in and around Bengaluru.
Top CSR initiatives in Bengaluru
‘OnBoard’ Technology launched with CSR support to make Public Transport convenient for the Visually Impaired in Bengaluru
Technology company Continental in partnership with the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has joined hands to expand OnBoard, a technology solution to make mobility inclusive for the visually impaired. This initiative was started back in 2023 under Continental‘s CSR wing, Conscience, in collaboration with IIT Delhi and Raised Lines Foundation (RLF). This solution is designed to support visually impaired individuals in safely boarding public transport buses.
Following a successful pilot implementation on 25 BMTC buses, the initiative has now expanded to 100 more buses with a plan to install in total 500 buses in the city. The aim is to make mobility available for all. OnBoard was developed at IIT Delhi with the support of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt of India and the technology was transfered to Raised Lines Foundation, an IIT Delhi incubated not- for-profit organisation.
The device allows the individuals with visual impairment to identify bus route numbers and locate the entry door positions using audio cues from a bus-mounted speaker, enabling boarding to be both smoother and accessible.
CSR initiative revives Choodasandra Lake in Bengaluru
Bosch Global Software Technologies (BGSW) and SayTrees have restored the 26-acre Choodasandra Lake in Bengaluru, transforming it from encroachments, overgrowth of weeds and deterioration of water quality into a thriving hub for biodiversity and community engagement. Launched in December 2022, the two-year conservation project was commemorated at the lake in March-April 2025.
Choodasandra Lake was selected for restoration due to its pivotal role in a network of interconnected lakes and its challenges caused by encroachments, untreated sewage, and overgrowth of weeds. These issues had deteriorated the water quality, putting pressure on Bengaluru’s dwindling groundwater resources and impacting an estimated 3,000 households in the vicinity.
The Choodasandra Lake restoration project is a collaboration of corporate social responsibility, technical expertise, and grassroots participation. The initiative addressed critical challenges such as desilting, bund construction, sewage diversion, and biodiversity restoration, setting a benchmark for sustainable urban water conservation.
International Volunteers Build Homes with Tribal Families in Bengaluru
Business leaders and international students joined hands with three tribal families in the Hakki-Pikki colony in Anekal, Bangalore, Karnataka to build safe, permanent homes in a 5-day Legacy Build. The volunteers collaborated with housing nonprofit organisation Habitat for Humanity India to advance its vision of creating a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Led by Anthony Miller, a volunteer leader of Habitat for Humanity’s Asia-Pacific Development Council, and Cecilia Melin, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Japan —volunteering in India for the third time—the volunteers consisted of a few of their family members and friends as well as students from Habitat Japan’s campus chapters.
Since 2003, Habitat for Humanity India’s volunteer build programme has brought together over 56,000 individuals to build strength, stability and self-reliance and shelter. Volunteers work alongside homeowner families, addressing local housing needs and contributing to sustainable housing solutions. They also inspire action for housing and serve as catalysts for change in communities in India and around the world.
Over 500 water bowls placed across Bengaluru for stray animals with CSR support
With Bengaluru experiencing one of the hottest summers this year, Pet Care App Supertails launched ‘Water It Up’, a compassionate initiative to support stray animals across Bengaluru. The campaign involved placing 500+ water bowls in key neighborhoods to ensure animals on the streets have consistent access to clean drinking water.
The drive kicked off on April 8, with 200 bowls placed across high-footfall areas including Banashankari, Koramangala, HSR Layout, Cubbon Park, Ulsoor Lake, and Indiranagar. The rollout continued through April placing 500 bowls across the city.
CSR initiative to equip Bengaluru’s women drivers with E-rickshaws
GE Aerospace in India, in partnership with United Way Bengaluru (UWBe), distributed 53 e-rickshaws to empower women with sustainable livelihood opportunities. The event, held at GE Aerospace’s Bengaluru research and engineering campus, was attended by Bengaluru Police Commissioner Shri B. Dayananda, IPS.
Supported by Parihar, an initiative of the Bengaluru Police Commissioner’s office, the ‘E-auto’ program also offers training to equip these new drivers with the skills needed to operate the eco-friendly vehicles and partner with cab aggregators via a pre-fitted smartphone.
What began as a modest initiative with just six e-rickshaws has now grown to 69 e-rickshaw.
Educational Infrastructure and Green Transport at Ramakrishna Mission, Bengaluru with CSR support
