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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
'45 acres for sky deck, only 9 for transport hub': Bengaluru MP PC Mohan slams government priorities
Bengaluru Central MP and BJP leader PC Mohan has accused the Karnataka state government of prioritising "vanity projects" over critical public infrastructure, alleging that it has allocated 45 acres of land for a proposed Sky Deck while sanctioning only 9 acres, far less than the required 45 acres, for a crucial multi-modal transport hub at Hebbal. The multi-modal transport hub at Hebbal is envisioned as a key node in Bengaluru's long-term public mobility plan. In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter), the Bengaluru Central MP claimed the government was bowing to the real estate mafia, allowing private interests to dictate public policy at the cost of the city's commuters. (Also Read: 'ORR on Wednesdays, CBD on Tuesdays': Bengaluru man breaks down city's weekly traffic madness) Check out his post: 'State Govt allots 45 acres for a vanity Sky Deck but allocates just 9 acres, instead of the required 45 in Hebbal, for a crucial multi-modal transport hub meant to integrate 3 Metro stations, a Suburban Railway station, and a BMTC terminus, bowing to the real estate mafia,' Mohan wrote. The multi-modal transport hub at Hebbal is envisioned as a key node in Bengaluru's long-term public mobility plan. The proposed facility is intended to seamlessly integrate three upcoming Namma Metro corridors, ORR-Airport Line (Blue Line), Airport-Central Silk Board Line (Orange Line), and Hebbal-JP Nagar Line, with a Suburban Railway station and a BMTC bus terminus. However, Mohan alleged that the government's reluctance to allocate adequate land, only 9 acres instead of the proposed 45, threatens to undermine the very feasibility of the integrated transit hub. 'While Bengalureans struggle with traffic and poor connectivity, the government bends over backwards for vanity projects. When private interests outweigh public good, it's the people who pay the price. Public transport loses, real estate wins,' he added. (Also Read: 'Jayanagar gave a different perspective on Bangalore': Viral post blames voter apathy for city's decline)
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
The troubling takeover of Bengaluru's open playgrounds
Blatant attempts to take over the city's open playgrounds have left Bengalureans scrambling to take the legal route. A recent court stay might have temporarily halted the controversial upgrade and proposed expansion of a basketball court in Indiranagar. But the spotlight is right back on a system that has been swallowing up the city's limited open spaces for infrastructure projects, denying children the right to access and freedom to play. For the collective, I Change Indiranagar (ICIN) and local residents around Victory Grounds in Indiranagar 1st Stage, the protracted legal battle to save the ground has been propelled by a fear: apprehension that the proposed upgrade and development of the basketball court could be a cover to eventually deny access to local children. This trend has been visible in many parts of the city, and the residents are determined not to let it repeat here. On its part, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) maintains that the upgraded court will remain accessible to the public and will not be privatised as feared. But both ICIN and the residents around the ground are not convinced. Several playgrounds that were once thriving, energetic hotspots of organic multi-sport activities have disappeared, replaced by flashy, access-controlled sporting facilities. Disregard for open spaces But more troubling is the disregard for open spaces in the land acquisition process for mega infrastructure projects. In a telling example, anthropologist and seasoned rights campaigner Usha Rao draws attention to three playgrounds taken over for the Namma Metro Line along a three-kilometre stretch: The Chhota Maidan in Shivajinagar, the Bamboo Bazaar Banda Ground and the Pottery Town playground. The Banda Ground has been Usha's research focus for long. 'I have been studying it personally over so many years. It was a free space for very low income communities in an area where there are no large plots, and the roads are narrow and dangerous for children to play. It was also a community space. It was an Idgah ground with prayers and a place of celebration for Christmas, Ganapathy, Deepavali and other festivals. There is a mixed community around. Plus, at any point of time, one could see some 12 games going on,' she recalls. In the original plan, Banda Ground was not the location for the Namma Metro station on the Gottigere-Nagawara Line. The station was to come up near the Cantonment Railway Station, aiding seamless shifts for passengers from one mode of transport to another. However, despite opposition from citizens and public transport experts, the location was shifted disrupting community life in and around the ground. Barely a kilometre away is the site of the Metro's Pottery Town Station, once a dynamic community space and the only playground within a 3 km radius. Although part of the Pottery Town Government High School, this ground was open to children from Benson Town, Jayamahal and Williams Town to play football, cricket and other games. Today, the place is abuzz with construction activity. Livability challenged The takeover of playgrounds strikes at the very heart of Bengaluru's livability. Beyond traffic, this too has been a factor in lowering the city's score in global livability indices. As Usha points out, these open spaces go beyond games and double up as spots where children socialise, mix with people from different strata of society. Youngsters develop social skills through play, building friendships, learning to collaborate and resolve conflicts. These accessible play areas often nurture community cohesion while promoting mental health through physical activity. Advocates for accessible public spaces wonder whether these factors are considered at all in the land acquisition process for big projects. To make way for a Metro Line, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) had earlier taken over the Jakkarayanakere playground, once a popular hangout for children in and around Seshadripuram. It is now only a nostalgic memory. 'Pay and play' exclusivity The mushrooming of 'pay and play' sporting arenas across the city have indeed increased options for those who can afford them. Mobile apps allow people to book slots, the rates of which are inevitably out of reach of children from lower income groups. 'Kids from the neighbouring Binnamangala slum at the intersection of Indiranagar 100ft Road and Old Madras Road use the Victory Ground. Even the basketball court was used by these children,' says Sneha Nandihal from ICIN. Active resistance from local residents have achieved success in the past in a few cases. An attempt to take over a shared playground in Thippasandra had met with vocal, multi-pronged protests by residents of the nearby Geethanjali Layout five years ago. As civic activist Jagadeesh Babu recalls, the move to put up a private cricket academy was challenged by citizens, who flooded the Palike Joint Commissioner with hundreds of SMSes and WhatsApp messages seeking action. Mounting protests eventually led to scrapping of the project. Rising development pressure in the city's Central Business District (CBD) has reduced open spaces, with institutions prioritising infrastructure over play, says Rajeev G. Malagi, Programme Manager, Sustainable Cities and Transport at the World Resources Institute (WRI) India. 'Lifestyle shifts and mobile usage have further contributed to declining physical activity and youth well-being,' he explains. URDPFI guidelines The Centre's URDPFI (Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation) guidelines recommend 10 to 12 sqm of open space per person, he points out. 'However, Bengaluru is working towards achieving this. There is an urgent need to revive and strengthen Bengaluru's school playgrounds and open spaces to re-engage youth with the outdoors, supporting their holistic development while also enhancing the city's climate resilience and creating livable environments.' Rajeev's recommendations to re-establish open spaces are these: Mandate all new schools to provide open play areas proportionate to student strength; transform school playgrounds into sports training centres accessible to youth and local communities; and create an interconnected network of open spaces including parks, playgrounds and public facilities. This network could be integrated with accessible public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure to support active urban living. While decades-old playgrounds are being acquired for multiple projects, new open spaces are not being created. Usha warns that this will have large repercussions on generations to come. 'If an underground Metro station is built in place of a playground, will the space above become available for the children? No. Such places will be completely under security cameras with shops. It is a complete loss,' says the anthropologist, indicating the need for a total policy rethink on open spaces in the city.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
I question my intentions when I'm writing: Aiyyo Shraddha
The world of comedy is often a space where laughter knows no boundaries, and people from all walks of life join in to share a moment of elation. Shraddha Jain, popularly known as 'Aiyyo Shraddha', is one such standup comedian who does just that – creating a space that transcends cultures, ages and backgrounds, bound by the power of humour. Now touring around the nation with her latest Aiyyo So Mini Things!, Jain is set to bring her humour to the city, where she performed her first show. 'Bengalureans were my first audience and Bengaluru is my karmabhoomi – it gave me the opportunity to perform, ' she says, adding, 'My first stint as a performer was as a radio jockey because I could speak Kannada. I learned to speak Kannada only when I was doing my engineering here. So I feel, if not for Kannada, if not for Bengaluru, I probably would have been struggling in this space right now.' Jain loved the anonymity of being a voice on the radio. 'People would imagine me in their own way, which was beautiful,' she shares. However, with the shift to social media, she was compelled to establish her online presence, marking the beginning of her journey as 'Aiyyo Shraddha', a name that was born when she decided to break the image everyone had of her. Her upcoming show is deeply rooted in her personal experiences and observations, and touches topics including politics, religion, and society, of course with a lot of humour. Jain approaches these subjects with sensitivity and wit, aiming to make her audience laugh while also prompting them to think. 'I question my intentions when I'm writing,' she explains, adding, 'I want to make people laugh, but I also want to make them think. It's a delicate balance, but it's one that I enjoy navigating.' For Jain, experiencing life and going about it is an important part of her writing process. 'I don't sit down to write; I let life happen, and then I reflect on it. Because if you sit down to write, there could be a little bit of pretence that can creep in, that could be a little bit of acting that can creep in. It's not 100 per cent honest, because you are also in a hurry to complete things. When you're not in a hurry, you let it flow like a river and take natural turns,' she explains. What keeps her going? Her connection with the audience. 'I've had audience members come up to me and say that they were nervous before the show, but I made them feel proud,' she shares, adding, 'That's a beautiful feeling, knowing that I've connected with someone on a deeper level.' In a world that often seems divided, she believes that comedy can be a powerful tool for unity. 'I want to remind people that our biggest superpower is to love each other,' she says. 'If I can bring joy to someone's life, even if it's just for a few minutes, that's all the motivation I need,' Jain signs off. (Catch Shraddha Jain live at Dr BR Ambedkar Bhavan, Millers Road, on Aug 2; at MLR Convention Centre, Whitefield, on Aug 3 and at Prestige Centre for Performing Arts, Konanakunte, on Aug 9; all shows starting at 4pm. For details, visit
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Bengaluru will always reflect in the films I make: Sindhu Murthy
For actor and filmmaker Sindhu Murthy, Bengaluru is more than her home; it's the foundation of her creative vision. 'The city has shaped my values & sensibilities; it reflects in the way I make films,' she says. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now ' Aachar and Co. is my love letter to old Bengaluru' 'When I first began working on Aachar and Co., I created a group just to collect photographs of Bengaluru from the 1960s and '70s,' Sindhu recalls. 'Friends, family, even distant relatives shared old pictures. My mother told me how land once cost just ` 20,000.'From pastel-shaded homes to the colonial influence on language, every detail in the film was a nod to the city's past. 'These tiny elements helped bring Aachar and Co. to life,' she says. One of my fondest memories while growing up in Bengaluru was ordering American Chopsuey at a restaurant that had just introduced it, and it felt so hip back then. Life was simple, the weather was perfect, and people genuinely cared about the city - Sindhu Murthy 'The Bengaluru I grew up in was simple and beautiful' 'I grew up in BTM Layout, which was practically forestland at the time,' Sindhu says. 'In the '90s, there were only a handful of houses, and we could see the lake from our home. Our outings were mostly to relatives' homes around Gandhi Bazar and Jayanagar. I didn't see Brigade Road or MG Road until high school. Life was simple, the weather was perfect, and people genuinely cared about the city.' 'Bengalureans are not aggressive, we are ambitious' 'The Bengaluru way of life is an ideology,' Sindhu reflects. 'We're ambitious, but not aggressive. We love our art, music, and culture. We're logical and warm, and we adapt while preserving the city's classic charm,' she says. It gives me joy when old landmarks find new life, like the Opera House is now a corporate space, and an old school on Kamraj Road turned into a performance centre. These are the little things that make Bengaluru unique - Sindhu Murthy 'The lack of civic sense in Bengaluru is disheartening' The one thing that concerns Sindhu about Bengaluru is how people don't seem to care for the city. 'People dump garbage on street corners at night. We need better governance and infrastructure. Trees are a highlight of this city, but we keep cutting them down to widen roads. Can't we think of better ways to grow without destroying what makes Bengaluru special?' she asks.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Private expressway for privileged': tunnel road project in Bengaluru draws criticism for ‘dropping dedicated bus lanes'
Even as public transport advocates have been campaigning for dedicated bus lanes across the city, the Hebbal-Silk Board Tunnel Road project in Bengaluru has come under the scanner for allegedly dropping such a lane in a bid to improve traffic flow. Mobility experts as well as Opposition BJP leaders have pointed out that the final Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the 16.75-km twin tube tunnel road project appears to have dropped the dedicated bus lane mentioned in the draft DPR. Criticising the Congress-led Karnataka government on the issue on Monday, Bangalore Central MP and BJP leader PC Mohan said, 'Tunnel road final DPR quietly drops bus lanes, once again making it clear that the tunnel is only for those rich people who can afford ₹660 toll, not for the common Bengalurean. On one hand, they talk of free bus rides; on the other, they erase bus infrastructure itself,' he posted on X. 'How many Bengalureans can actually afford ₹660 a day? That's nearly ₹20,000 a month just to use this tunnel. This is not public infrastructure but a private expressway for the privileged, funded by taxpayers. It is a discriminatory, exclusionary, and anti–public transport move,' Mohan added. According to page 195 in the final DPR, a diagram showing the 'lane open cut section' of the tunnel road indicates three lanes, including two driving lanes (for cars) and one emergency lane (for emergency vehicles) in the twin tube tunnels. However, in the draft DPR of the project, on page 171, the diagram shows two lanes (for cars) and another lane for buses/emergency vehicle services. A dedicated bus priority lane has been a long-pending demand of public transport enthusiasts in Bengaluru. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) launched a bus priority lane (BPL) in November 2019 as part of a pilot phase that aimed to reduce traffic congestion and enhance the efficiency of public transport. It also aimed to cut down travel time on BMTC buses from 70 minutes to 50-55 minutes, saving close to 20 minutes for commuters along Outer Ring Road (ORR). Proposal for bi-articulated trolleybuses Further, the draft DPR also mentions the proposal of bi-articulated trolleybuses – an electric bus that operates by drawing power from overhead wires using two trolley poles, allowing it to move without the need for traditional fuel sources, like diesel. However, the report does not clarify who operates these trolley buses and whether BMTC was consulted before the option was proposed. Interestingly, the bi-articulated trolleybuses are not part of the final DPR. Speaking to The Indian Express, B S Prahallad, technical director of Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE), said public transport will be prioritised under the tunnel road project. 'A dedicated bus lane infrastructure is part of the plan. However, we will still conduct a few studies, including traffic analysis, to design and finalise the bus lane in the tunnel road project.' Satya Arikutharam, an urban mobility expert, said there seems to be no clarity at all regarding the scope of the tunnel road project. 'The draft DPR had proposed an electric trolley bus-based system which the final DPR has dropped. A patently bad proposal has now become worse. The DPR has numerous flaws and is unreliable and unviable. It's a costly distraction that hurts Bengaluru's public transport-based sustainable mobility goals,' he said. Arikutharam pointed out that in the draft DPR, 'the level of service was stated as D (meaning more congestion) with a dedicated bus lane and providing only two lanes for cars. Now, in the final DPR, by dropping the dedicated bus lane from the design, all three lanes can be occupied by cars, which will improve the level of service to B (meaning less congestion). I urge the government to drop the car-only tunnel road proposal and focus on completing the Metro and suburban rail network.' Sanath Prasad is a senior sub-editor and reporter with the Bengaluru bureau of Indian Express. He covers education, transport, infrastructure and trends and issues integral to Bengaluru. He holds more than two years of reporting experience in Karnataka. His major works include the impact of Hijab ban on Muslim girls in Karnataka, tracing the lives of the victims of Kerala cannibalism, exploring the trends in dairy market of Karnataka in the aftermath of Amul-Nandini controversy, and Karnataka State Elections among others. If he is not writing, he keeps himself engaged with badminton, swimming, and loves exploring. ... Read More
