GENRE: LN

The two-day festival will have an eclectic mix of artistes both local and national. Residents of north-east Bengaluru will be treated to a classical music extravaganza with Whitefield Music Festival kicking off is first edition this Saturday, 9th July. The two day event, spread over the weekend will see a wide variety of performances from artistes at Jagriti Theatre in Whitefield. The event is being organised by Whitefield Music Circle, a group formed by residents of Whitefield. The concerts will be held between 4 - 8pm. Manoj Pai, one of the members says, "we felt that this side of the…

On 23rd June, early in the morning, Ward 179 (Shakambari Nagar) MLA B N Vijay Kumar, BBMP councillor for the ward, B Somashekhar with a group of some 15 people including engineers from BBMP, BWSSB and other civic agencies visited residents door to door. The ‘padayatre’, as it was termed was in its fourth day. They had earlier visited Jayanagar 5th block, 8th block and Shakambari Nagar 7th main previously. A resident talks about his grievances with the MLA, Councillor B Somashekhar is also present. Pic: Yogaraj Mudalgi. “Ella channagidiya antha vicharskond hogakk bandidivi” (We have come to ask if…

A 63-year old former BBMP official M B Krishnamurthy, is one of over dozen people arrested so far at the Sankey Road protests. Krishnamurthy, a diabetic patient and self-confessed tree lover, spoke to Citizen Matters from Vyalikaval Police Station where he was detained along with green activists. Ironically, Krishnamurthy is from the same BBMP engineering department that is currently felling the trees for roadwidening.  Sankey Road tree felling ongoing on July 1st. Pic: Lakshmi Sharath. For the past two days Malleswaram citizens have expressed fury against the BBMP for pushing forward with its roadwidening plan along a section of Sankey…

A visit to the slums in RT Nagar with Indulekha Vijayasarathy, an active member of ‘Ashvasan' a volunteer organisation was an eye opener. The residents of these slums are taught to make paper bags. "I deliver newspapers and glue. Also help them sell their finished paper bags to the drug stores who pay them. They need help with the marketing and paper supply," says Indulekha, pulling out bundles of newspaper from her car. Ashvasan reaches out to a thousand senior citizens and people in five slums around Bangalore. They provide newspapers to the women in the slums who in turn…

Almost every working professional dreams of finishing up work early to catch up with friends, family or do something for oneself. Tata Teleservices (TTS),  a telecommunications company ran campaign last week to get people to encourage more people to leave office early. June 24 was chosen as the day to observe the initiative. "Many a time, we have heard from employees the good times they spent with friends and family when they left the workplace early, and how these activities actually led to them being better and happier professionals in the longer run-that's one of the triggers of the Leave…

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will introduce feeder services under the name of 'Big Connect'. The service is based on the directive issued by the High Court of Karnataka and will be effective on 19 routes across Bengaluru from 26th June 2011. Services for two more routes will be announced after BWSSB has finished laying of pipelines. The service hopes to improve bus connectivity in outer areas of Bangalore. 'Big Connect' Feeder routes. Source: BMTC. (Click to enlarge) The press release issued by BMTC says that the department will assess the performance of all the routes for a period…

The South Bangalore food walk and research commenced unexpectedly over a cup of tea with a friend - Mohan Narayan, foodie and Basavanagudiphile (I'm pretty sure he made up that word). We were talking food, one thing led to another and I had roped him in to do a food walk taking in South Bangalore's legendary food joints. Not that he needed much convincing. So we undertook a few reconnaissance visits to joints like Vidyarthi Bhavan, Mahalakshmi Tiffin Rooms, et al, planned our route (MTR had to be dropped purely because of logistics) and the walk was ready. During this…

Confusion prevails among Bannerghatta road residents, after BBMP announced its road widening plans. Though notices were issued to many occupants along the road last year and markings made on walls, no work was undertaken due to compensation-related issues. Constructions galore BBMP plans to widen the 7.4 km stretch between JD Mara junction (where JP Nagar ORR intersects Bannerghatta road) to Koli Farm Gate after NICE ring road. According to BBMP's Major Roads department, the road will be widened from the existing 25-30 m to 45 m. Project is estimated to cost Rs 250-300 cr. Widening will start at Jedimara junction,…

BBMP demolished the disputed 400-metre-long compound wall of L&T South City in Mico-Arekere layout on Thursday morning (9 June) and threw open the 60-feet road going through the compound to the public, amidst protests from residents. This, even as cases are pending in the court between residents, builder L&T and original land owner Dinesh Ranka. Residents had alleged in the court cases that the builder and Ranka had relinquished the 60-feet road and area including the compound wall to the BDA, without their consent . BBMP had earlier made markings on the compound wall to acquire 30 feet of land…

While most people in Bengaluru curled up in bed on Sunday morning, 22 thousand people put on their running shoes, plugged in their I-pods and ran for the TCS World 10k 2011. As one walked towards Kanteerava Stadium from the Halasuru gate bus stop, one could see a steady stream of people marching out of Cubbon Park- some walking, some jogging and some running at what seemed like the speed of light- happy to see the finish line. Kanteerava stadium was overflowing with people who were queuing up near the refreshment stalls. While on one side there was the constant…