Satellite towns and Radial roads

We have been hearing a lot about the various ring roads – intermediate, peripheral and satellite. But I have been looking around for plans for developing radial roads, and can’t find any concrete ones.
Did you see this new pdf they put up on BMRDA website? Its a presentation called “PreProject Meeting” (huge file, be warned!) [...]

Lip service?

[UPDATE, Dec 1: As expected, ToI apologized this morning saying this agency photo was a result of bad camera angle. And that they didn't want to hurt anyone's sentiments by publishing it. Well, we knew that, it had to be a bad angle or a moment of confusion. But ToI shouldn't have published it in [...]

Capitalist mind, socialist heart

Act 1. An unusually heavy work day leaves us with neither enough time nor energy to cook. So I am asked to dial a Pizza place for delivery.
Overly complicated nerd that I am, I feel good after ordering Rs 300 worth of this cheesy import. I used the phone to place my order, that should [...]

Part Silicon Valley part Stone Age

Somewhere in Jharkhand. At this place the marketing types would classify as a Tier III or Grade C town. Late morning. I am sitting outside my house waiting for the power black-out to end so that I can manage some hot water for a quick shower. While I wait, I kill time by reading news [...]

Pune vs Bangalore 5: Parks and walks by the river?

Each time I descend on Pune, I imagine and dream things. That I am playing tourist in a city of rivers. There are nice walks by the water. There are parks and nice restaurants right on the river. There are beautiful and numerous bridges throughout the city. And the rivers have clean silvery water flowing [...]

‘Spot the footpath’ contest!

After those Google Earth quizzes, how about a new game!? Try these photos from Gandhi Bazaar, Bangalore, and we will play ’spot the footpath’.

Veggies and flowers all over the pavement. I didn’t mind the flowers though, welcome break from pollution from the road. Wish they encroach the road itself some day. It would then be [...]

Sealings in Bangalore – welcome development?

City newspapers have been reporting this week that BMP (Bangalore Mahanagar Palike) may have quietly begun with sealing operations of its own. As per this report in The Hindu:
The operation was carried out as the BMP had received a notice from the High Court to close down commercial establishments in residential areas … High Court [...]

When I met Amitabh Bachchan

I was at Madame Tussuad’s, London a few weeks ago. There is a certain irony about that place. And interestingly enough, the museum makes a very good effort to hide that via two most important scheduled stops for visitors.
I was a bit surprised by the props they put up at the entrance itself. Its like [...]

In the name of religion alone

After Chacko pointed out on Mutiny, I read around to find more about the P C Thomas case. Along with other things, Kerala High Court may have passed a judgment that Mr Thomas asked for votes in the name of religion. That point alone – mixing politics and religion – makes me raise a question.

Unveiling myself

I know anonymity is one of the thrills on the Internet. But wanting to be addressed as a handle as vague as silkboard did feel childish at times. And recently, a few emails asked for a bit of unveiling. So I have literally turned this bit of hallucination back on myself, and now have an [...]