City: Bengaluru

On October 1st, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) launched the process of issuing e-khata on the e-AASTHI website and published the application procedure. The BBMP states that 21 lakh out of 22 lakh properties with khata in Bengaluru have their draft e-khatas listed on the site. Property owners can view their draft e-khata and apply for the final version by uploading additional information. However, many Bengalureans are confused about the process or are unable to access their property listings on the website. Here is a simplified guide on e-khata, how to apply, BBMP’s approval process and some common challenges.…

For anyone who has to cross the Iblur Junction on foot — the critical intersection connecting Sarjapur Road and Outer Ring Road, the heart of Bengaluru’s bustling IT corridor, to the rest of the city — the experience is unforgettable. And certainly not for the right reasons. Iblur is currently infamous not just for traffic congestion, but also the risks and challenges it poses for pedestrians frequenting the area. On Saturday, October 5 2024, Oorvani Foundation, as part of its Civic Learning Hub organised a workshop titled “Urban Street Design: Fixing Iblur Junction” in the neighbourhood. Organised in collaboration with WRI…

As co-founders of Bangalore Cat Squad(BCS), started in 2014 — one of India’s only dedicated feline rescue networks and cloud shelters, we annually rescue, rehome and rehabilitate more than 2,000 felines and canines in need. We thrive on the dedication of our volunteer fosters, who provide over 50 safe havens across Bengaluru for distressed animals. We manage urban stray animal populations, offer medical care, and find homes for disabled, sick, elderly, or incapacitated animals that can no longer survive on their own. BCS's essence lies in the altruism of its volunteers — a diverse group ranging from CEOs to students,…

In the OpenCity Bengaluru Design Jam on BBMP, our team analysed and debated the bylaws and zoning rules governing civic amenities, parks and open spaces in the city. As a diverse group of spatial thinkers and design creatives, we sought to understand what liveability meant for citizens navigating the urban landscape, and how building and zoning laws address our needs and the city’s densifying future. Urbanisation is transforming cities worldwide, significantly impacting the quality of life both socio-economically and environmentally. In democratic societies, livability crises affect and are affected by the different levels of urban growth and how cities are…

A lake is not just a body of water, it is an ecosystem. Action Aid Association India organised a survey to document the biodiversity of Dorekere, a lake in South Bengaluru. The biodiversity survey was funded by the Australian Consulate in Chennai. It not only documented several species but highlighted the importance of such an activity in understanding whether Bengaluru lakes are being developed in an ecologically sound manner. Dorekere is a 28-acre lake in the Uttarahalli suburb of South Bengaluru. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) currently manages the lake. Earlier, it came under the purview of the Karnataka…

It's wonderful to come back to Bengaluru. When you land in Terminal 2, you feel you are in one of the world's best airports, one that's aesthetically pleasing, modern, but in line with our cultural ethos. The weather is amazing and I always love the warmth of India when I am back here. However, once you make that road trip from Devanahalli airport to Sarjapur, your back tells you that something is not right. Especially if you do the last leg from Sarjapur road  — Dommasandra to Chambenahalli stretch. Whitefield and Marathahalli are fully built up and techies are now…

Peenya Industrial Area, one of Bengaluru's oldest industrial hubs, is facing a significant challenge — rising urban temperatures exacerbated by the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. The aggregated maximum Land Surface Temperature for the first 8 months increased from 43 ℃ in 2023 to 46 ℃ in 2024, as derived from the ECOSTRESS sensor. This phenomenon, in which urban areas experience higher temperatures than their rural counterparts, is particularly pronounced in Peenya. The area’s industrial growth, coupled with a lack of green cover and the prevalent use of heat-absorbing materials, has made it one of the hottest zones in the…

Bengaluru generates about 6,000 tonnes of solid waste everyday. As the city has grown, so have the challenges of solid waste management (SWM). As per this report from The New Indian Express, the city has seven landfills and six waste-processing units, which have not been upgraded for close to a decade now. With no BBMP elections since 2020 and general attitude of the people that their garbage ought to be someone else's problem, SWM has hit a black spot. Administrative flip flops In 2023, the BBMP floated 89 tenders for the collection and transportation (C&T) of municipal solid waste from…

In July 2024, the Bengaluru Film Forum, in collaboration with Goethe Institute, commemorated the birth anniversary of the Indo-German filmmaker Harun Farocki, with a three-day festival. Harun Farocki was a celebrated filmmaker with an expansive body of work. With a career spanning over five decades, Farocki made intellectually stimulating thematic films on labour, war, and cityscapes in modern, post-industrial environments. His filmmaking style ranged from "fly on the wall" to "observational" to "direct." The festival showcased over 15 of his films, many from Goethe's film archives and a few directly sourced from the Harun Farocki estate in Germany. This is indeed…

Garbage has a locality. On any given street in Bengaluru, certain spots are unofficially designated as waste spaces by the public. These areas, marked by piles of trash bags, walls with peeling plaster, and litter strewn about, reflect a broader issue. With a population of 1.4 crores, according to the World Population Review, waste management issues in Bengaluru are of growing importance.  Despite awareness campaigns, the problem of littering has become worse over the years. In this scenario, community organisations take to the streets to address the problem of waste, playing a crucial role in cleaning up the city. Tackling…