CITIZEN JOURNALISM

Despite a government order directing State Road Transport Offices (RTO) across India to issue Driving Licences to the hearing-impaired, and court orders to the effect, the ground reality seems to be the exact opposite. RTOs still follow age-old rules to grant (or not grant, in this case) an opportunity to obtain the learners' Licence (LLR) and eventually, a driver's licence to people with hearing challenges. At least that's what my recent experience has shown. RTO apathy I recently accompanied a hearing-impaired person to an RTO in Chennai, hoping for him to obtain a Learner's License (LLR). Here is a brief overview…

Today we have with us one of the most intriguing gods ever. He comes from a solid lineage. His father, Mahadev, is known to have caused the big bang. His mother, an excellent chef as Annapoorna, is a formidable Goddess. Well, she has a lion for her pet. His elder brother Kartikeya is the athletic types, the military commander-in –chief to be precise. Whereas he is more of a nerd. Apart from the popular stories about his legendary wisdom, he is best known for his assistance in writing the Mahabharata. Naturally, blessed are we Mumbaikars to have such an illustrious…

Today we have with us one of the most intriguing gods ever. He comes from a solid lineage. His father, Mahadev, is known to have caused the big bang. His mother, an excellent chef as Annapoorna, is a formidable Goddess. Well, she has a lion for her pet. His elder brother Kartikeya is the athletic types, the military commander-in –chief to be precise. Whereas he is more of a nerd. Apart from the popular stories about his legendary wisdom, he is best known for his assistance in writing the Mahabharata. Naturally, blessed are we Mumbaikars to have such an illustrious…

The aftermath of any festival leads to a lot of waste. Disposal management becomes an issue, not to mention the toll it takes on the environment. E-City Habba, a completely green event conducted at Electronic City with over 2000 audience, broke barriers by being one of the most unique festivals in Bengaluru. This extravaganza was organised by Electronic City Industrial Township Authority (ELCITA) the administrative body of Electronic City. They vouched to go green and upheld this promise in full spirit. This was one of the cleanest festivals; achieved by an initiative taken by ELCITA and graced by Infosys. The…

In Bangalore, we see epic traffic jams on a daily basis. According the estimate in Revised Master Plan - 2031, Bengaluru's economy suffered a loss of Rs 3700 crore in 2016 due to traffic jams alone! The traffic jams can be reduced drastically if Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) can attract people to ride buses, instead of using private vehicles. So how can BMTC make the bus services irresistible to the public? A passenger would gladly take the BMTC bus for his daily commute, if it meets the following conditions: It must cover the entire trip, door-to-door, with minimal walking…

During my college days in the pre-Metro rail era, travelling in the DTC buses in Delhi was a common choice. Rather, it was the only choice available for youngsters. Then came the automobile explosion in our cities, and the four-wheeler entered our lives too. We moved to Gurgaon eight years back and with almost non-existent public transport, we had to have two cars for just two of us in the family. It was only recently with the rapid metro reaching the city, about a ten-minute walk from our doorstep, that we started using it, especially on my trips to Delhi.…

Not by a long shot, but I am glad you are willing to hear me out. Undoubtedly, the Supreme Court judgement was a victory for us all - you and I. We have been declared free of an irrational and arbitrary law that has no place in our society today. Now, we regroup and get to work. The judgement has laid the groundwork for things to come -- leading everyday lives of dignity and free of discrimination outside the bedroom. It has left us with a clean slate to write upon a set of binding policies that will truly ensure…

Growing up in Bengaluru is no guarantee that you know the city. Though I have spent all my life here, there are parts of it which are still unfamiliar, and once in a while, I get to experience a facet of the city that I had not seen before. The #ModaluTrainBeku Rail Yatra, organised by Citizens for Bengaluru (CfB) on August 31st 2018, allowed me a glimpse into Bengaluru’s local train network. The Yatra, from Yeshwanthpur station to Heelalige station, was organised as part of ongoing campaigns to introduce commuter trains for local commutes. On August 31st, I joined the…

Transport is the only development sector that worsens as incomes rise. While sanitation, health, education and employment tend to improve through economic development, traffic congestion tends to worsen as pro-growth forces tend to demand and influence policies. Transport is not a technical problem, It is not an infrastructure problem, It is not even a financial problem, Most often, it is a political problem. The proponents for elevated freeways planned to be built cutting across the city claim many benefits, but the theory behind these has gaping loopholes. Let me analyse them one by one, objectively. City has just 1,500 km…

Through this article, I would like to counter a previous article by Nitin Seshadri, a resident of Koramangala, that recommends elevated roads as a solution to our traffic jams. Here are my points: 1.The debate is based on unreliable data. We do not have the accurate road capacity data, and the OD matrix. Apparently Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) has carried out some transportation forecasting, but it was never shared in public. So the entire debate is based on questionable data. Before any elevated roads are proposed, the relevant data must be shared in public domain. 2.The elevated roads are neither…