Airport road flyover nearing completion

Yes, I can see that the flyover is fairly close to an inauguration. The main bridge is definitely complete. But there is no way all of it is going to be ready by July 15 as Times of India told us today (See scanned picture from the same article).

I can predict we will witness the [...]

The Koramangala demolitions

There is this strange story behind Koramangala demolitions. It all started with a PIL from a few residents who complained that rampant construction and zoning norm violations had killed Koramangala. And when the court agreed with them and ordered punitive action, the other set of residents put pressure on these guys who had filed the [...]

Improving city infrastructure – an idea

A key reason for poor infrastructure around us in the cities is – citizens just don’t participate or take interest in local governance.
There are ways to participate. Most think there are only two ways here. One, to vote in local elections. Two, contest local elections. Many people vote. The problem is lack of participation and [...]

Authorised hoardings?

Why does the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) even talk on the subject? We have heard time and again how much money BMP can make from these hoardings. But BMP neither has teeth nor will power or both to clamp down on unauthorised hoardings.
Want to see unauthorised hoardings, pick any road in slightly peripheral areas of [...]

Traffic terms – enjoy some more

Let me tell you a few more things about Bangalore (Indian City) traffic before Dr Manmohan Singh vents again. I hope you have been following the “traffic terms” series thus far: one, two and three.
Drive in our cities in the night and you are sure to hit into one eyed jacks. These folks – must [...]

Bangalore Metro – jostling begins

Traders on CMH road don’t like the present route of Metro. They have been talked to and have protested for some time, but we are yet to see the end of it. They staged another protest this week.
While they may say the worry is about “unnecessary demolition of infrastructure”, I am inclined to think their [...]

Beer sales slide in Bangalore

There was this piece I spotted in Monday’s Bangalore edition of Economic Times:
THE country’s beer capital, Bangalore, isn’t exactly frothy this summer, as sales in Karnataka nose-dived 6% in the peak consumption months of April-May. Interestingly, the national beer belly swelled over 20% in the same period. A price hike of Rs 4-Rs 7 on [...]

Democracy – its about thrashing!

On DH editorial page today, I found this interesting quote credited to Uma Bharati
“It’s a democracy and if they (Rajasthan BJP) beat any of our people, we will thrash two of theirs.” – UMA BHARTI, Bharatiya Janshakti Party
Its as if Uma madam is redefining democracy – “thrashing of people, by the people and for the [...]

RTI – the big hope !

We have been through numerous coffee table debates on whether India is a "real" democracy or not. Aware voters are the foundations of any democracy. And awareness comes by way of acquiring information. But acquiring information about public bodies and services provided by them hasn't been easy in our country.
So while we crib and fuss [...]

Road manners – walk the talk

Sorry Mr Manmohan Singh, but mere lectures and appeals wont work. I thought issuing appeals is the job of powerless President of India, not a resourceful person like you. There is only one way road manners can improve in Bangalore and elsewhere in India. Hard punishments.
Indiscipline and bad manners exist on our roads solely because [...]