City: Bengaluru

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…

18 post offices in Bengaluru have been identified as enrollment centres for UID. The UID or Aadhaar was launched in the last week of June. There are no jurisdictional restrictions on the post offices for enrollment. Anyone from any locality can enroll in the nearest post office, among those listed. There is also no last date fixed for the enrollments unlike voter's id. The individuals have to only take the relevant documents along.Here's the list of the 18 post offices in the cityRajajinagar HOVijayanagar POBasavanagudi HOJayanagar HOWilson Garden HONandini Layout POMahalakshmi Layout PORT nagar HOBangalore GPOHAL 2nd stage HOBasveshwaranagar MDGMalleshwaram…

With Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Farhan Akhtar takes off where he left us with Dil Chahta Hai and Rock On!!. But in this film, sister Zoya Akhtar (and not Farhan) takes the director's chair.  Source: Excel Entertainment Like previous films from Excel Entertainment (Farhan's production house), this is a film about friendship, love, life and letting go. It's a journey of self-discovery, set in that twilight zone where boys finally become men.Kabir (Abhay Deol) is engaged to marry Natasha (Kalki Koechlin). But before that, he is to have his Bachelor Party-a three-week road trip in Spain, with his buddies Imraan…

Cyclists no longer have to scramble for parking space when they visit Lalbagh through the South Gate. On Sunday, 10th July, a bicycle stand was opened to the public by Suresh Kumar, Minister for Urban Development. Speaking at the inauguration, Suresh Kumar, a supporter of bicycle for commuting, said that there is a need for a clean and green way of commuting. He added that he would make provisions to create cycling infrastructure at bus and metro stations so that commuters can make effective use of public transport. Newly installed cycle racks at lalbagh. Pic Courtesy: RAC-F The event was…

The Joy of Giving Week (JGW) is India's largest "festival of giving"! Launched in 2009, the festival is celebrated every year, in the week including Gandhi Jayanti, i.e., October 2, and brings together Indians from all walks of life, to celebrate "giving" The first event from JGW - Bangalore will be ‘The Road' event. (www.theroad.fr) A Royal Enfield Ride has been organised where three French bikers and one Indian biker will ride on their bullets from Bangalore to Paris. Purpose of the ride - JGW Awareness and fund raising for NGO - Baale Mane. The ride will be flagged off…

The Metro is becoming a reality. The first leg is getting ready. The trial run has begun. The stations are getting ready. The foot over bridge is nearing completion at many stations. The stations have been named sensibly. The glass facade is being errected at many stations. The appearance is one of class and style that every Bangalorean can feel proud of whether or not he belongs to Karnataka.Now comes the risk. Political groups and anti social elements who are used to damaging public property have another beautiful target. It is very essential that apart from the government and civic…

Resident Welfare Associations of Malleshwaram, college students, members of Malleshwaram Swabhimana, activists and volunteers from Green Peace and Hasiru Usiru, gathered on Sankey Road yesterday to protest road widening and cutting of trees. The Green Peace activists arrived early evening and climbed onto the surviving tree. This tree was saved from cutting when the stay order came on July 1. They tied banners saying ‘ No Trees No Future !'on it. Activists are camping on the rain tree till the Court decides its fate. Pic: Shailaja Varma The two activists Brikesh Singh and Shiva who climbed the rain tree will…

I had written an email to BMTC Managing Director, K R Srinivasa, IAS, regarding various issues related to BMTC buses on June 29th. On July 8th, I got a reply from CTM Operations for the same. He replied, "BMTC appreciates your concern about the matters related to its operations and thanks for your valuable suggestions". He provided a point by point reply  with details of action taken. 1.   General lack of punctuality with unreliable services: Bus timings are rarely maintained. Drivers are forced to follow the old time sheets in spite of the worsening traffic conditions and hence many drivers…