Commute

The Lokayukta Court has reserved its orders for 4th October regarding a complaint filed by T J Abraham against the consortium of NICE (Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise) and various ministers and bureaucrats. Abraham has alleged various irregularities in the execution of Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corrdiror (BMIC) project. Allegations of a massive ‘land grab' and financial fraud with the connivance of ministers, bureaucrats and NICE, form the core of his petition. Abraham, a businessman in his mid-forties, is the President of Karnataka Anti-Graft and Environmental Forum. The main petition runs to 147 pages. One annexure alone runs to 3,368 pages. The…

An interesting way to urge four-wheeler users to burn more calories and less fuel. And of course reduce emissions, traffic, noise et al. Evangelical Social Action Forum, a Bangalore based NGO in association with Healthbridge Foundation of Canada launched their annual campaign to urge car passengers to rest their vehicles for a day at least. Between22nd September (International Car Free Day) and 4th October, 2012, the organizations are having awareness and signature campaigns at different colleges, private firms, malls, apartment complexes, bookstores and other places in Bangalore to approach those who travel by car to consider going by public transport…

 It is a narrow gap in the Mini Forest, and any cars parked in that area causes a blockage for the passage of other vehicles. So, at this spot, having a "No Parking" sign is logical. But some people seem not to read the "No" in that sign.... What's the use of complaining about indiscipline when we are all equally guilty? ⊕

The Joint Committee of the union supporting the strike, called it off yesterday late night after R Ashoka, along with other officials, announced to come to an amicable settlement. They included 86% dearness allowance in the salary. Also the trainees’ salaries were raised from Rs 7000 to Rs 8000 per month. BMTC, KSRTC call off strike. Pic: Anisha Nair The drivers were also unhappy about the training period. They believed that a period of four to four and a half years was too long for training purpose. They had demanded that the training period be only for six months. The…

In 2011, I moved back to Bangalore from Seattle. I was conscious that I was not moving back to the city that I knew.For starters, I was moving to a part of the city that I needed getting used to. I had spent all my earlier Bangalore life around Chamarajpet and Srinagar, bang in the middle of the city. But now I had to negotiate Mallathahalli (which gets increasingly confused with the more famous Marathahalli), near Nagarabhavi. And it lay on the wrong side of Mysore Road and far off from anything and everything that mattered.Around 2005-2007 there was a…

With BMTC and KSRTC buses off the road, city commuters had a tough time today. Though BMTC said there will be adequate bus services, the scene on the ground was quite different. Nagaraj C, Chief Traffic Manager (Operations) BMTC, said, "The drivers are protesting to get their list of around 40 demands fulfilled including a hike in salary. The strike will be on for the whole day. But there are a few other drivers who are loyal and carrying on with their routine services so a few buses are functioning." Autos dominate the roads in absence of BMTC. Pic: Anisha…

 The Government has declared many cycling lanes and Jayanagar ought to be a pleaurable place for cyclists. But the reality? Ah, that's different. Lots of motorists happily use the space as "free parking", and even the police sometimes put their metal barricades here. People pile their trash in the lanes, or store construction material there.So...in actual practice...the cycling lanes are sometimes more dangerous than just keeping on the road...because one is suddenly forced into the traffic, and exposed to the hazards of the motorized traffic behind one. ⊕

After the High Court ordered the stay on signal-free corridor work in Koramangala, citizens have now formally been asked to suggest alternatives. A sub-committee, comprising six citizen representatives and a few government representatives, have been asked to submit alternate plans by August 25th.This sub-committee was formed by, and has to report to, a government-appointed committee. According to the court order, the government-appointed committee should hear concerns of citizens and submit a report to the court on September 15th. Court will then make a final decision on the project on October 5th.The first hearing of the government's committee - headed by…

On July 31st, Seema (name changed) was attacked by the driver of the auto in which she was travelling. Seema's fault was that she took a picture of the number plate of the auto so as to file a complaint against the overcharging driver. The incident occurred in front of Eva Mall in Brigade road.In the Facebook page of Bangalore Traffic Police (BTP), Seema wrote that the driver had asked for Rs 60 to travel from Eva Mall to Austin Town, while the actual fare would be around Rs 20. The incident happened at 7 pm. Soon after, she called…

It was great to see this image:  But we hope something like this will not happen:  Or something like this...!  Thanks to  Chidambaram Subrmanian for the photos and the link to the video.  ⊕