Blogs

Around the city, it's easy to see that a number of localities are struggling to manage their waste. Heaps of trash lie around on the sides of roads, and are cleared only occasionally. The BBMP has tried various things to stop this - from warning signs to pleas to decorating a few places hoping that people will be reluctant to dirty them. None of this has worked. Now comes a different explanation. Some communities want to bring back the old bins. Until about a decade ago, the municipality used to have bins at street corners and people would dump their…

All of us would agree there is a growing need for last mile connectivity in our public transport system. With the introduction of the Metro Rail and expansion of MRTS, the idea of a multi modal transport system is definitely a welcome move. Given the popularity and  large scale acceptance for shared public transport systems worldwide, is this not the right time for the administration to introduce clear guidelines and a set of rules for the privately operated share autos ? Over the last several weeks diesel share autos which ply between Retteri and Perambur have been taking a detour from…

Dear Deputy CM, DG Parameshwara Avare! You have said: "Zero traffic is my privilege. I won't give it up!" “I regret the inconvenience caused to common citizens due to zero traffic. However, managing time is crucial because of many government programmes and meetings." 1. Zero traffic is our privilege too. We elected you to do our work, to fix it for us. We pay you only so our lives in Bengaluru are better, for no other reason. 2. You don't need to give it up. You need to ensure we can all avail it. Invest in mass transit - train,…

I was at the launch of the Cycle to Work campaign along with the Mayor and the Bicycle Mayor last week. It was very nice to see many cyclists come together, hopeful of renewed efforts to make their commutes and other rides easier and safer. The program is designed to enroll corporates in supporting their employees who cycle to work, and a template for that is being put together. Looking back at lake revival efforts over the last decade, I feel the push for cycling can also work, if I we adopt the key learnings. I offered a few thoughts…

For several years now, I've had one theme around which I felt we could push for change - "rather than try to solve problems, we should focus on increasing the number of problem solving people". In different spheres, that is now happening in the city, and that gives me hope. A few examples ... The BCLIP initiative of B.PAC trains 100 people a year in understanding local governance, so that they can be better prepared to contest BBMP elections. In a 5-year term that is 500 graduates, with more than half of them also doing projects in their wards after…

Thanks to the Chief Minister, (the proposed 18%) bus fare hike has been put on hold, temporarily, we are told. This is good news but not good enough. Increasing bus fares is the absolutely last thing we need in our city. It is true that diesel prices have gone up and the transport company (BMTC) needs to deal with that, but I appeal to the CM to find the money to actually reduce the fares for the following reasons. BMTC is the lifeline of Bengaluru. We have 60 lakh two-wheelers, 15 lakh cars but just 6500 buses and they carry…

I was very happy to participate in the gathering to mark Citizen Matters' turning 10. Though on the fringe, I have followed "CitMat"'s (as I call it) fortunes, and it's not an easy "matter" to be uncompromising about one's principles while trying to survive as an e-magazine. We enjoyed the team talking about various incidents in the past, and what I liked was that the journey was depicted as it was...with the highs and the lows. The CitMat team celebrated in a heritage building, beautifully restored and maintained, and posed for a group photo. A radiant Meera with some of…

Instead of the stock Ganesha Puja photo, I thought I'd click some of the beautiful rangolis that I saw on my morning walk. So much art on our roads and footpaths, I felt like documenting and preserving these transient works.

On behalf of thousands of Bengalureans and more than 40 different organizations that took part in #ModaluTrainBeku on 31st August, we humbly present the following for your immediate action. The yatra revealed the great potential of suburban trains and lakhs of Bengalureans are now aware of the option thanks to the media coverage. We cannot afford to lose one more day of delay in commissioning suburban train services. We appreciate your willingness to address these issues in a timely manner by ensuring various departments work together in close coordination to help the people of Bengaluru, stuck in traffic. Immediately actionable…

Mass public transit: 5 mantras to learn by rote - Or, how to answer other people's questions 1. Why do we need suburban rail in Bengaluru? #ModaluTrainBeku because suburban train connects the suburbs around the core of the city without needing to pass through the city. Circular commute, similar to a ring road. Suburban trains in India are also much cheaper than the Metro. This enables people who may be lower income earners with no choice but to live farther away from the core & commute, to do so efficiently, effectively, affordably & without causing congestion & pollution. 2. Why…