City: Bengaluru

Residents of a few Sobha apartments in Bellandur have challenged the imposition of annual fees on apartments that operate STPs (Sewage Treatment Plants). According to rules of the state pollution control board (KSPCB), apartments that own STPs have to pay an annual CFO (Consent for Operation) fee.STPs are mandatory for apartments with area more than 20,000 sq mt in non-UGD areas. These apartments are treated on par with the most polluting industries, categorised as ‘Red' industries (Orange and green are the less polluting industries). The CFO fees for these industries depend on the capital investment in the project. Depending on…

The Karnataka state government's deadlines to launch mega transport projects continue to be paper statements of intent. Namma Metro's persistent delay is now virtually taken for granted. In the meantime, despite the deadline of 2013-14, Bangalore's Rs.6700 crores High Speed Rail Link (HSRL between city centre and the airport) is still stuck at the preliminary stage. A concessionaire, the firm that will fund, build and operate the PPP, is yet to be selected through tender process; construction will start only after the concessionaire awards tenders to other parties. Currently, only prequalification of concessionaires is completed. Prequalification is the process of…

A recent report by state government's Department of Urban Land Transport (DULT) has exposed several problems with BMTC's massive Traffic and Transit Management Centre (TTMC) project. TTMCs are jargon for the swanky new terminals BMTC is building around the city, 45 in all, of which 10 are completed. The cost of these 10 terminals is over Rs 450 cr. DULT comes under the Urban Development Department (UDD) of the state government. For instance, only 15 buses can park in the Banashankari terminal at a time, giving each bus only 31 seconds in the bay during peak hours. This is considered…

There was quite a news in all the papers regarding the new feeder routes launched by BMTC last month-but unknown to many, there were lot more unannounced routes that were too introduced. Some of the recently introduced routes are as follows:Volvo 500KG: Gottigere-JD Mara-Jayadeva-BTM-Agara-Marathahalli-ITPLVolvo 500DF: Hebbal-Kalyan Nagar-KR Puram-Hoodi-Vydehi Hospital-ITPLVolvo 600B: Byrasandra-Jayanagar(4th and 9th block)-BTM-silk board-Bommanhalli-Electronic city-Attibelle AC Marcopolo 343K: Majestic-Corporation-Jayanagar-BTM-Silk board-Begur Vishwapriya Layout410E: HSR Layout-Silk board-Banashankari-Kathriguppe-Nayandahalli-Vijayanagar-sunakdgatte-Jalahalli Cross340T: Agara-Silk Board-BTM-Jayanagar-South End-Corporation-Majestic364E (Reintroduced): Devarachikkanhalli-JP Nagar 3rd phase-East End-Jayanagar-Shantinagar-Shivajinagar-Mekhri Circle-Bhoopsandra366MA: Kaggalipura-Bannerghatta circle-Gottigere-J.P.Nagar 3rd phase-Jayanagar-South End- KR Market372H: Nisarga Layout-Bannerghatta circle-Gottigere-Jambusavari Dinne- Puutenhalli-JP Nagar 15th cross-Jayanagar TTMC500DA: Yelahanka-Hebbal-KR Puram-Marathahalli-Silk board-Bommanahalli-Electronic City Wipro500DC: Hebbal-KR Puram-Marathahalli-Silk…

Non-compliance is being captured live in Bangalore by netizens logging on the traffic police's facebook pages. Grab from BTP's Facebook page, pics posted by citizens.   Another grab from BTP's facebook page.   And another...   For more photos posted by citizens on Bangalore Traffic Police's Facebook page, go here ⊕

Having known Sarita Kotagiri for the past few years, I have reached a conclusion that philanthropists do not necessarily have to be celebrities or famous personalities. Anyone who really cares for others can always find opportunities to help in many different ways. All that one needs is a big heart. Sarita Kotagiri. Pic courtesy: Trupti Godbole Sarita Kotagiri is a home maker in her late 30s. This pharmacy post graduate, a top scorer in from Al Ameen College of Pharmacy has been helping innumerable people in all walks of life. A busy homemaker like many women in the city, Sarita…

There has been some issues regarding understanding BMTC routes, the main reason being too many routes in the system - Here is a gist of some common BMTC routes Kanakapura road: 211-217 going atleast upto Jaraganahalli/Yechanahalli (G-5 corporation to Kaggalipura) (215C,D,E,H,M,Y,CA via Jayanagar 4th block and J.P.Nagar 1st phase) Mysore Road: 218-234 going atleast upto Rajarajeshwari nagar gate(G-6 Shantinagar bus stand to Kengeri Satellite Town) (222D,M via Banashankari and Uttarahalli) Between Mysore road and Magadi road: 235-239 will go atleast to chandra layout via MCTC Magadi road: 240-249 series go atleast to Sunkadgatte(248 via Vijayanagar to sunkadgatte)(G-7 Majestic to Gollarahatti)…

R Ashok, Transport and Home Minister, and minister-in-charge of Bangalore, recently announced that BBMP would try to create new playgrounds. While this is a welcome statement, it is unfortunate that BBMP is threatening to take away a portion of a century-old playground. Protests at Malleswaram grounds. Pic: Vani Murthy BBMP's ill-advised Road-Widening plan will not only impact trees, homes and pedestrians but the century old Malleswaram 18th cross playground as well. Around 7 m – 12 m of the ground and the trees on one side of the ground will need to be given up if the road is widened.…

Ripples of excitement ran through the assembled gathering when Margaret Alva, the governor of Uttarakhand came to inaugurate a little plant fair in Bangalore. Simple and unassuming in her trademark silk saree and bindi, the governor who has been associated with The Association of people with Disability (APD) for years, inaugurated the sale without any fanfare. Sale: The Association of People with Disability,  6th Cross, Hutchins Road, Off Hennur Road,  Lingarajapuram, St. Thomas Town Post, Bengaluru 560 084. Ph:  25470390, 25475165 "Margaret Alva is on a visit to Bangalore and supports anything that can help people with disability, as well as the environment of Bangalore,” says…

Hasiru Usiru a citizen's group kicked off a weekly event to identify problem spots for pedestrians in the city on July 11. The group invited citizens to participate in the 'come, cross the road' event at various city junctions and collected data on problems. Broken footpath makes it even more harder. Pic courtesy : Kilikili Here's the report Why the event? In Bangalore, the majority of commute happens through public transport/cycle or walk.  This means that more than 50% of the people are pedestrians. But unfortunately, the projects touted by our authorities are aimed at the vehicle users.  We wanted…