Articles by News Desk

Bengaluru's AI signals reduce traffic flow New AI-powered signals, as part of the Bengaluru Adaptive Traffic Control System (or BATCS) scheme have enabled Hudson Circle junction, in the heart of the city, show a 33% reduction in travel time, according to the traffic police. It utilises the Composite Signal Control Strategy (CoSiCoSt), developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), to measure dynamic traffic flow, using camera sensors to change signal timings. The BATCS covers 60 junctions, including National College, Town Hall and Halasuru Gate junctions. Its aim is to cover 165 junctions by January and 500 by…

According to the 2016 Comprehensive Mobility Plan by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, 51% of trips in Mumbai are by walking. Notably, 72.5% of trips to educational institutions and 60% of trips involving public transport start and end with walking. Despite these figures, Mumbai's infrastructure is not pedestrian-friendly, and road safety remains a significant concern. Recent projects like the coastal road and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link prioritise cars over pedestrians. Elections and pedestrians' needs With the assembly elections approaching, the Walking Project, an NGO that works towards creating a safe, convenient, and enjoyable walking experience, has released its…

Namma City most congested Bengaluru is the most congested city in India, says the Traffic Quality Index (TQI), which gives a snapshot of road conditions. Bengaluru scores high above 800 in the extreme congestion category. It is followed by Mumbai (787), Delhi (747) and Hyderabad (718). Even 9,000 AI-powered CCTV cameras, from which data collected feeds into map-based services, find it difficult to develop solutions. Traffic management is daunting, especially during rush hour and the monsoons. Score: Deccan Herald Green War Room to fight Delhi air pollution A 24×7 ‘Green War Room’ to control air pollution was launched by Delhi…

Mumbai masterplan for roads Mumbai’s development authority has drafted a Rs 58,000 masterplan to build a network of ring roads that are supposed to connect all corners of the city by 2029, cutting travel time significantly.  Mumbai’s Ring Road masterplan prepared by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) outlines mega road connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) — from Vadodara, Gujarat border in the north to Alibaug in the Konkan belt of Maharashtra down South, and towards Navi Mumbai/Thane. It will set up a complex network of roads, flyovers, reclaimed coastal roads, bridges and underwater tunnels, planning to declutter and…

New scheme for electric vehicles to replace FAME A new scheme for EVs, called the PM Electric Drive Revolution In Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE), is all set to replace the erstwhile FAME scheme, that had been in effect for nine years till this March. The PM E-DRIVE scheme enjoys a central allocation of Rs 10,900 crore for a period of two years, which will subsidise electric two-wheelers, three wheelers, e-buses, electric trucks and hybrid ambulances. However, there is no mention of any subsidy for electric cars or personal hybrid vehicles. Source: The Economic Times Over 1000 e-buses for Bengaluru…

Heavy rains affect lives pan India Heavy rains made the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issue an orange alert in four states - Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa on September 7. A yellow alert was earlier issued for Punjab, Delhi-NCR, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, western Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and northeastern India, Since August 25, there were at least 40 deaths and 55,000 displaced across 25 Gujarat districts. On September 3, the highest rainfall of 156 mm from 6 am to 6 pm was recorded in Valia, Bharuch. About 29 lost their lives in floods in Telangana. Heavy rains also hit parts of…

Rains batter Gujarat and Delhi The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Gujarat on August 26th because of heavy rains in the state. The rains are expected to continue till August 29th, with the IMD marking the state as a ‘flash flood risk’ zone. Baroda recorded 26 cm of rainfall, the highest in the state, from 8.30 am to 8.30 pm on the August 24. Ahmedabad recorded a rainfall of 10 cm, while the state average was 63.36 mm. Since August 24th, low-lying areas have experienced waterlogging, prompting the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to conduct rescue…

Civil society organisations and concerned citizens have united to protest the construction of a new airport in Parandur, in the outskirts of Chennai. The Rs 30,000-crore project is slated to come up in more than 5,000 acres of land, according to the State government. A majority of this land is agricultural and also includes many waterbodies. According to civic and environmental activists, if the construction of the greenfield airport in Parandur goes ahead as per plan, it will have significant ecological and social repercussions — loss of natural habitats, potential flooding and a loss of livelihood for communities dependent on…

Cops push back protestors of Badlapur rape case The police custody of a 23-year-old school janitor, arrested for allegedly sexually abusing two kindergarten girls in a school's toilet at Badlapur town was extended till August 26. A special investigation team (SIT) has registered an FIR against the school authorities, for not complying with the provisions of Section 19 of the POCSO Act. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has announced a Maharashtra bandh for August 24. Meanwhile, the police said that many WhatsApp groups were created and appeals to join the Badlapur railway station protest on August 20th were circulated. Protestors gathered…

National outrage over doctor's rape and murder The midnight hour on the eve of the 78th Independence Day saw massive protests by lakhs of people, demanding justice for a young Kolkata doctor, brutally raped and murdered in the state run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, while on duty, on August 9th. Demonstrations spread not just across the cities and towns of West Bengal, but also to Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Patna, Silchar and even global cities like Poland, Scotland, Munich, London, Leeds and Atlanta. There were slogans on reclaiming women's right to safety and security, and safety…