EDITORS' PICK

“Even God himself cannot do anything within the next one, two, or three years," to solve the traffic problem in Bengaluru, said Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar recently. God can't save Bengaluru because he did not create the problems Bengaluru is facing. These are human-made problems, so humans alone have to solve them. The Deputy CM assured that traffic conditions would improve once projects like tunnel roads and elevated corridors took shape. His plans include tunnel roads costing ₹40,000 crore for just 50 km; Sanchara Yukta at a cost of ₹3,000 crore; elevated corridors at ₹15,000 crore; a double-decker metro and road…

Malar, a widowed pensioner resettled to Perumbakkam by the State government, had to reapply for her benefits after they were discontinued due to her address change. Despite gathering the necessary documents and reapplying for the National Social Assistance Pension Scheme (NSAP), her application was rejected because the eligibility criteria had changed since she first enrolled. The NSAP, implemented by the Revenue Department, provides monetary support to elderly, differently-abled, and widowed individuals below the poverty line. Funds are allocated at the taluk level, and recipients must reside within the same jurisdiction to access benefits. The Revenue Department ensures that pensions are…

A massive facelift of railway stations is underway in Mumbai and its extended suburbs. As part of this exercise, seventeen local suburban railway stations including that of Khar, Ghatkopar, Kandivli, Borivali, Goregaon etc  have been taken up for commercial redevelopment at a cost of over Rs 900 crores. More than 6.43 lakh sq ft or 147 acres of elevated commercial spaces are being created across railway stations as part of this exercise.  This project, which has been undertaken as part of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP- 3A) is unlike earlier rail station developments in that the exercise is not…

The Tunnel Roads Project (TRP) was cleared by the Karnataka Cabinet on August 22, 2024.  On December 20th the same year, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) unveiled the 628-page report titled “Comprehensive Bengaluru City Traffic Management  Infrastructure Plan – proposals for vehicular tunnel / grade separator / road  widening in selected corridors- final feasibility report, December 2024”, prepared by Altinok Consulting Engineers Inc.  The report has clubbed together proposals for tunnel roads, double deckers and grade separators (Flyovers/Elevated Corridors), with one of its key objectives being “...developing a plan to support mobility of public transport users, pedestrians and  cyclists”. One of…

A long weekend drive on the highway sounds like a good way to unwind, but the massive, often overloaded trucks and other commercial vehicles belching black-grey smoke can make city roads less pleasant.  While commercial vehicles are crucial for the supply of essential goods across cities, they also cause major pollution. In Bengaluru, commercial vehicles make up just 4% of the total vehicle population but contribute a staggering 49% of the city's PM2.5 vehicular emissions. A recent study published by the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) revealed this fact.  Particulate matter from vehicle emissions penetrates deep into the lungs…

Air pollution is a silent epidemic killing people and chipping away at the quality of life the world over. “Not only long-term exposure, but short-term exposure to large quantities of particulate matter can cause an increase in mortality rate. Globally, the death rate due to air pollution is as high as 65 lakhs because of multiple causes, including pollution-related respiratory, cardiac and neuropsychiatric illnesses. Overall they are the outcomes of poor AQI,” explains Dr Snehal Jadhav, the Head of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at R. N Cooper Hospital, Mumbai. This is more than evident in a study published in…

As the first light of dawn paints the sky in hues of orange and gold, 17-year-old Ravi steps out of his home. The cool breeze brushes his face as he walks towards the expansive, 150-acre Sembakkam Lake for his morning bath. Millipedes and blanket worms scuttle across the road, their movements as steady as a train on its tracks. A flock of white pelicans glides across the sky as he nears the lake, where a few people fish in the serene waters. After his bath, Ravi returns home to prepare for college. This was M Ravi's experience as a young…

The metropolis of Bengaluru, once celebrated as a garden city, is now grappling with the loss of its green spaces, leaving its dwindling lakes as the last line of defence against urban heat. Citizen groups deeply committed to preserving these lakes, have actively engaged in restoration efforts despite challenges like conflicting stakeholder priorities. This is Part 3 of a three-part Citizen Matters explainer series on Bengaluru's lake systems. Part 1 explores Bengaluru's lake system, highlighting its functions and features.  Part 2 focuses on the assets of a lake, including core zone assets (ecological assets) and social zone assets (recreational assets). …

For Emil Vinayaraj, a resident of Jayamahal, regular commute has changed. “I have to take a different route now, avoiding Pottery Road where Namma Metro construction is happening. The situation in the area is far from livable right now for residents, as the dust and pollution is just too much,” he says. Emil’s house is close to three new metro stations along the Pink Line — Shivaji Nagar, Cantonment Station and Pottery Town — and residents of this entire area have been facing the brunt of the ongoing work. Similarly, Sri Shanthini, who lives near the Electronic City metro construction…

In August this year, the Karnataka cabinet approved the construction of a 250-metre high sky deck at Rs 500 crore. The state government claims that this would be the tallest structure in South Asia. The proposed sky deck will give tourism a boost as it will offer a 360-degree view of Bengaluru. The sky deck, as per the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), will offer “breathtaking views of Bengaluru city”. However, in this city struggling with traffic and myriad infrastructural issues, this seems to have aroused excitement among very few. In general, the question on most minds seems to be,…