Citizens for Bengaluru

Nothing will change in India, what is the point in protesting? WRONG. Let me tell you a success story from today. Around August of last year, #CitizensForBengaluru, my favourite (and my own :)) citizens movement started a campaign to establish Ward Committees in all 198 wards of Bengaluru. Sounds like Greek? Every ward in every city of India is meant to have a committee to help administer it, deliver ward works like street lights, good roads, garbage management and the like, and create and manage it's budget. This is mandated by the 74th Amendment of the Constitution. This committee, consisting…

Two years ago on this day 8000 Bengalureans formed a human chain saying #SteelFlyoverBeda. The unprecedented public opposition forced the government to scrap the controversial 6.7 km ₹2000 crore steel flyover. CfB was born out of this citizen movement. To mark the second anniversary of citizens coming together, today CfB met the Mayor of Bengaluru and urged her to institute monthly ward committee meetings starting Nov 1st. Attached the letter submitted to the Mayor. Srinivas Alavilli, one of the founders of CfB said “I always look at #SteelFlyoverBeda as a tipping point - that infused fresh energy into citizen activism…

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,…

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…

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…

One may not know Lalbagh or Cubbon Park. They may not have heard of Malleswaram or Basavanagudi. Bull temple, Commercial Street, City Market alien words. You can be sure they never heard 'pete', 'kote' and 'kere' But we can be pretty sure everyone heard about the burning, frothing lake - "Bellandur" is as famous as our traffic. I can safely bet you did not know there is also a Railway Station at Bellandur. Yes, Bellandur Road (BLRR) station is a functional railway station with single platform. As the picture indicates, it is quite a sight and photographer's delight. Bellandur Road…

Why should you demand trains in Bengaluru? 1. Building the Suburban train network is the least disruptive on Bengaluru. It won't affect the existing roads with diversions and bottlenecks while tracks are expanded, more trains run & stations fixed. Ride to demand the suburban train network! 2. It is most beneficial for Bengaluru. Like Chennai, up to 20 lakh people per day can commute if commissioned properly. Not 5-10 lakh like the Metro or a fraction of that by roads but upto 20 lakh daily! Banni! Jothege Hogona! 3. It is the lowest hanging mass transit for Bengaluru. Since ~180…

From Davanagere to Denmark, they discuss namma traffic. From Shivamogga to Sunnyvale, silk board has a reputation. But how did we get here? Could it have been avoided? We believe so. Unlike any other metro, Bengaluru did not get the benefits of a mass public transport system in all these years. Bus is our only lifeline carrying nearly 45 lakh passengers every day - with hardly 6500 buses and no attention given to it. We have the highest bus fares in the country! Metro is being built now and it will take another six years before it connects most of…

Here are my responses to the most frequently asked six questions from people who watched our videos on elevated corridors. Please feel free to add your points so we can strengthen the argument and keep it to the merits of the case without getting personal, no matter what the others say. You can catch the video here if you missed it : https://www.facebook.com/tara.krishnaswamy.7/videos/10216165669396468 Q1: What is the problem with elevated roads? Why do you oppose it? A: The problem with elevated roads is that they are built for private vehicles. Bikes & cars carry people very inefficiently. When a city…