Articles by News Desk

This article is part of our special series on Delhi Elections 2020 Elections to Delhi's legislative assembly are just around the corner with voting scheduled to take place on February 8th. Results will be announced on February 11th. The highly charged elections are a three-way contest between the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC). The assembly has 70 seats in total. If you are preparing to case your vote this Saturday, the 8th, here is a quick guide for you that will answer most of the questions that you may be…

Coronavirus testing centre to be established in the city With Kerala reporting the country’s first case of Novel Coronavirus (nCoV), Tamil Nadu is continuing its surveillance measures.  A Coronavirus testing centre will be established at the King Institute of Preventive Medicine, Guindy, in two days. Director of Public Health K Kolandaswamy said that this forms a part of the plan of the Union Health Ministry to set up 10 more Coronavirus testing facilities in the country. While screening measures are in place at the Chennai airport, the Chennai port has procured thermal scanners, personal protective equipment and N95 masks. The…

National Common Mobility Card in Metro from March The BMRCL (Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited) is installing AFC (Automatic Fare Collection) systems on trial basis at Baiyappanahalli, Mysuru Road and Majestic stations, to facilitate the central government’s ambitious ‘One Nation One Card’ policy. The National Common Mobility Card will enable people to use multiple modes of transport like Metro and BMTC buses, pay parking fees and toll, and purchase at retail stores. BMRCL Managing Director Ajay Seth said the facility will be available for commuters from Mysuru Road to Baiyappanahalli on Purple Line, by March end. The AFC systems are…

A compilation of articles that critically examine the performance of the incumbent Delhi government and expectations from the government-to-be New Delhi will see a three way fight between the BJP, Congress and AAP. Pic: Bruno Corpet/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY:SA 2.0) In one of the most closely watched contests in recent times, elections will be held on February 8 2020, to elect 70 members of the Delhi Legislative Assembly. As the national capital prepares to vote, here's our special series that takes an incisive look at the performance of the incumbent government on issues most closely linked to the quality of…

In the last few years, from Nirbhaya to Disha, from Delhi to Hyderabad — with Kathua, Unnao, Chennai, Jaipur and countless others in between — the spate of gender crimes seems to continue unabated. What, and who, then, can we rely on for long-term solutions to this huge threat to the security and safety of women, that we seem to be unable to eliminate or even reduce? Earlier this month, we focused on ‘Safety of women in Indian cities’ as part of our special project. We explored the topic in depth through reportage, data, interactions and op-eds.  We looked at…

Corporation raids commercial units for plastic usage The corporation has seized over 11.6 tonnes of plastic bags, primarily from shops in Alandur, Adyar, Valasaravakkam and Kodambakkam. The civic body also collected ₹19.45 lakh as fine from the violators of the ban, in the 15 zones of the city. Raids were conducted in various locations, covering 20,423 commercial establishments. The civic body seized 72.76 tonnes of banned plastic from commercial units during the period from January 1 2019 to January 22 2020. Source: The Hindu Corporation to levy fee for garbage collection Residents, commercial establishments and event companies will have to…

KRDCL may axe thousands of trees The KRDCL (Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited) may soon axe 8,561 old, mature trees in the city outskirts. The trees are to be cut for widening six roads: the 20-km stretch from Hoskote/Budigere Cross to airport (1,758 trees), 15-km stretch from Nelamangala to  Madhure (869 trees), 23-km stretch from Madhure to Devanahalli road (1,593 trees), 33-km stretch from Bidadi to Jigani (184 trees), Bannerghatta to Anekal (520 trees), and the 39-km stretch from Anekal to Hoskote (3,637 trees). An expert committee set up to examine applications for tree felling said early this week, that…

Traffic diversions announced for Republic Day rehearsals Chennai traffic police have released a directive with the details of traffic diversion on certain routes between January 20th-23rd and on the 26th. Vehicular movement will be completely prohibited from Santhome church to the War Memorial on Kamarajar Salai from 6 am to 10 pm on all the above four days. Besides the change in the bus routes plying on these routes, the bus stand at Anna Square will be temporarily shifted near Walajah road guest house. Source: The News Minute Three bridges in North Chennai to be retrofitted Plans are underway to…

Double property tax for building law violation Double the property tax will now be applicable to buildings constructed in violation of bylaws. State cabinet has approved an amendment to the Karnataka Municipalities Act to affect the change. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said the tax doubling would apply only to the portion of the built-up area that violates bylaws. BBMP will be able to levy the additional tax as soon as a notification is issued in tune with the cabinet's decision. However, the double property tax does not absolve violators, Madhuswamy clarified; they would have to pay…

This article is part of a special series: Safety of women in Indian cities On January 7 2020, more than seven years after the brutal gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student in a moving public vehicle in Delhi, a death warrant was issued against the four convicted. The death sentence in the ‘Nirbhaya’ case as we have come to call it, ordered by the court to be carried out on January 22nd, has been hailed by many who see it as the final delivery of justice in a case that had shocked the nation and led to huge public…