Articles by News Desk

The ZipGo app says no services are operating at the moment. On demand AC shuttle maxicab aggregator ZipGo has launched a change.org petition asking people to support its services, which have been suspended citing the lack of licence due to technical reasons. Citizen Matters had earlier reported that the ZipGo has started plying its maxicabs in some routes. Through the ZipGo app, users could search for routes, book seats, pay beforehand, spot the location of the bus etc. We had also reported that the Transport Department was not in favour of ZipGo’s operations, as the rules of the government do…

  Bengaluru this week February 4th 2016     CITIZEN MATTERS Bangalore's own interactive newsmagazine Speak up, it's your city!     We have lots in store for you this week! No more gas cylinders? GAIL’s plans for Bengaluru will get piped gas to your kitchen as they plan to connect the entire city, over the next few years. Do check out two important campaigns that you can easily get involved in - Green Spot Challenge and My City My Budget. We also have the first article in our series on Disappearing Professions. All this and more. This week’s highlight: GAIL…

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reached out to Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu and MPs from Bengaluru in order to garner support for commuter railway in Bengaluru, by means of various letters, ahead of Railway Budget 2016-17. A letter dated January 6th, 2016, draws the attention of the Railway Minister towards the importance of commuter railway network for the city of Bengaluru. It says the process of preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the phase - I of the commuter railway is underway, and points to an earlier letter from the government of Karnataka to…

Many government officials invited to attend the state’s first ever public discussion on slum evictions chose not to attend the event. The Karnataka Slum Janara Sanghatanegala Okkoota, a federation of slum resident organisations, organised the hearing in light of the increasing number of slum evictions in Bengaluru. The federation invited officials from the departments of Housing Urban Development, Revenue, Women and Child Welfare, SC/ST Commission, Backward Classes Commission, Minorities Commission, Child Rights Commission and the Karnataka Slum Board. The discussion was held to examine citizenship, urban deprivation and future policy direction. A jury of eight was present to preside over…

“Compost, grow and cook” is the new slogan of Solid Waste Management Round Table (SWMRT). The voluntary organisation from Bengaluru has invited people to take a pledge to keep one week’s wet waste away from the landfills by taking part in Green spot challenge. To be a part of the campaign, all you have to do is simple. Start a green spot in the house premises and compost the wet waste generated at home. A website swachagraha.in was launched on the Republic Day, January 26th, 2016, to share information with people who are interested to take up the initiative. The…

High Court Order on Segregation and Penalties 17 Dec 2015 Text version of 2 bin- 1bag court order: These writ petitions are filed in public interest, complaining of inefficient Solid Waste Management by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP for short). We have already issued several directions for proper solid waste management in Bengaluru City. We have been monitoring the same. In the course of this monitoring, we have noticed that the garbage crisis in Bengaluru was caused due to indiscriminate dumping of mixed waste to the landfill with no processing or any treatment of the leachate to prevent ground…

  Bengaluru this week January 28th 2016     CITIZEN MATTERS Bangalore's own interactive newsmagazine Speak up, it's your city!     This week, we present to you several stories that will make you think about the time we spend on the road - What is the toll that bad roads take on the economy? Should Bengaluru adopt the odd-even policy? Does the city really need dedicated lanes for cyclists? How a new railway track to Tirupathi could possibly decongest traffic on Old Madras Road. We also invite you to collaborate with us to document Bengaluru for a new series. This…

For 11,595 lake encroachers in Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts, February 29th is the deadline. They can submit their grievances or objections in response to the notices served to them by revenue officials, on encroachment. Though this date may be extended for a few more days, not much time is left for those who wish to communicate their version to the committees headed by tahsildars of respective taluks. This also gives a chance to those who have information on encroachments to share it with the committee. A 11-member Committee of the Legislative Assembly headed by K B Koliwad, Ranebennur MLA…

Tinsheds at the EWS quarters in Ejipura were razed to the ground in January 2013. Pic: Karthik Ranganathan The Karnataka Slum Janara Sanghatanegala Okkoota has organised a public hearing on the 28th of January. 12 slums from six districts across the state have been identified to highlight the socio-economic and cultural antecedents of slum evictions, and the untold human cost of evictions especially on children, women and the aged.  Date: January 28th 2016 Time: 10 am to 5.30 pm Venue: Gandhi Bhavan, Shivananda Circle Overall, there will be cases of 12 slums, each with a slum profile, the life experience of…

A screen-grab of the Republic Day Parade 2015. Pic: YouTube The Republic Day 2016 ceremonial parade will be held at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Grounds on Cubbon road on January 26th at 9 am. His Excellency, the Governor of Karnataka will receive the salute. The City Traffic Police has made the following traffic arrangements in and around the area. Parking and entry into Parade Ground Invitees with Yellow Car Passes are requested to come on to Cubbon road and enter Gate No.1 facing the northern side of the parade ground, and park their vehicles on the western side of…