72% citizens want young faces in BBMP elections, says survey

72% citizens want young faces in BBMP elections, says survey 1

By Anuksha Dey People want young corporator aspirants to contest the upcoming polls to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). According to one city survey, 71.6% of respondents felt that the participation of youngsters in the government was not satisfactory. While 51% were willing to vote for young candidates, an additional 33% wanted to decisely … Read more

Citizens busting drug rackets by calling this toll-free number

Citizens busting drug rackets by calling this toll-free number 2

By Anuksha Dey The Bengaluru City police arrested two drug peddlers early this week. The arrests were made after complaints were filed over 1908, the toll-free number for drug-related offences. The peddlers are of African origin, and had 56 MDMA tablets with them. The cops are regularly cracking down on drug rackets in Bengaluru over … Read more

Carlton Towers tragedy: Is your building or business, fire-safety ready?

Carlton Towers tragedy: Is your building or business, fire-safety ready? 3

By Anuksha Dey Based on suggestions by citizens, the state government declared February 23 as a Fire Safety & Awareness Day. On this day, the fire department conducts a fire safety workshop every year to remember the fire tragedy that engulfed Carlton Towers on Old Airport Road in the city 11 years ago. This year … Read more

Citizens oppose strike by private schools

Citizens oppose strike by private schools 4

By Anuksha Dey The parents have slammed private schools in Bengaluru for going on a strike yesterday (Feb 23) to protest against a 30% fee cut ordered by the state government. The schools claim that only 70% of the current school fees is not enough for payment of staff and maintenance of the school property. … Read more

Cubbon Park: Four ways to make it more citizen-friendly

Cubbon Park: Four ways to make it more citizen-friendly 5

By Anuksha Dey Located at the heart of Bengaluru, Cubbon Park is one of the city’s largest lung spaces. The park, set up in 1870 stretches over 300 acres. Naturally, it has become a hot spot for fitness enthusiasts and a meeting ground for performance arts and social welfare groups. However, the infrastructure here is … Read more

Bus Priority Lane: BMTC driver caught flouting the rule

Bus Priority Lane: BMTC driver caught flouting the rule 7

By Qamar ZJ While there is much hue and cry over empty bus priority lanes (BPL) adding to the congestion on the rest of the road, one BMTC driver was found using the non-BPL lane. When one resident tweeted about it yesterday, BMTC promised to take prompt action.  Yesterday, Sreekanth M found an empty BPL … Read more

Bescom’s transformer rods continue to endanger citizens 6 years after redesign

Bescom's transformer rods continue to endanger citizens 6 years after redesign 8

By Anuksha Dey Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Bescom) reportedly came up with a design solution to make its transformers safer. They raised the height of the switches in 2015. However, many of these handles continue to inconvenience pedestrians to date.  What are transformers? Distribution transformers are essential electrical equipment, they convert high voltage electricity … Read more

Go on birdwatching walks this Valentine’s weekend

northern shoveler

By Anuksha Dey Bird Count India is organising a weekend full of birding adventures on February 13 and 14. Birdwatching walks are organised across lakes in Bengaluru as part of the global Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) 2021. The walks are open to all and free for participants. This is a great time of the … Read more

Parking vehicle on footpath? Cops will fine you Rs 1000

footpath parking

By Aratrika Dey & Qamar ZJ The next time you park your vehicle on the footpath, the Bengaluru Traffic Police will fine you Rs 1000 for encroaching pedestrian territory. This fine applies to the riders of two-wheelers and drivers of four-wheelers as there is no differential pricing. Before 2019, the fee stood at Rs 100, … Read more

Opinion: How about applying Delhi power supply model for efficient city bus services?

bmtc buses

By Muralidhar Rao There were old estimates that the city needed far more buses than the BMTC was operating, and it was also known that the need was being partially met by private operators. But, nobody knew that between the private operators and the schools, there were over six-times the numbers operated by BMTC. Kudos … Read more

Citizens complain about lack of Metro connectivity to upcoming Visvesvaraya rail terminal

visvesvaraya rail terminal

By Aratrika Dey Close to the inauguration date of the much-anticipated railway terminal at Baiyappanahalli, the residents are worried about Metro connectivity issues. After missing several deadlines due to varied reasons, the station named Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal Bengaluru (after Karnataka’s eminent engineer) was initially set to be launched on February 15, 2021. However, the … Read more