Civic

For several years now, I've had one theme around which I felt we could push for change - "rather than try to solve problems, we should focus on increasing the number of problem solving people". In different spheres, that is now happening in the city, and that gives me hope. A few examples ... The BCLIP initiative of B.PAC trains 100 people a year in understanding local governance, so that they can be better prepared to contest BBMP elections. In a 5-year term that is 500 graduates, with more than half of them also doing projects in their wards after…

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…

'Opportunity cost' is defined as "cost of a missed opportunity". We may never know the opportunity cost of missing out on suburban train in Bengaluru. The amazing video about Mumbai local aka suburban train is now going viral. People heard about Mumbai local and many experienced it, but the video shows what a powerful system they have built over decades. I remember watching those old Hindi movies where the actors are seen cutting vegetables on their briefcases while commuting! Our campaign #ModaluTrainBeku #ElevatedCorridorBeda this past weekend and that viral video resulted in renewed interest in suburban trains - what Citizens…

“Why don't you leave the government alone? Let them do what they want. Why interfere?" Engaging with public sentiment on the proposed elevated corridors in Bangalore recently, some people asked such questions. Let *them* do what *they* want? Why *interfere?* *Leave them alone?* This reveals an elementary misunderstanding with who we are and what India is. The elected are supposed to execute what *we* want, not what they want. 1. How do they know what we want? Due process. India and it's states have established processes for input & feedback gathering from the public for planning, decision making on large…

For my second blog, I would like to write about retro reflective sign boards.  The local administration during the erstwhile DMK regime had, in the final months of their tenure, decided to change the existing concrete street signs to  retro-reflective stainless steel sign boards. In the first phase in 2011,  over 1000 important roads across Chennai  sported these boards. Months later, there was a change in the administration, when the AIADMK came to power. They suspected corruption in the  retro reflective sign boards project, and decided to paint the sign boards on the walls of houses as illustrated in the…

For my second blog, I would like to write about retro reflective sign boards.  The local administration during the erstwhile DMK regime had, in the final months of their tenure, decided to change the existing concrete street signs to  retro-reflective stainless steel sign boards. In the first phase in 2011,  over 1000 important roads across Chennai  sported these boards. Months later, there was a change in the administration, when the AIADMK came to power. They suspected corruption in the  retro reflective sign boards project, and decided to paint the sign boards on the walls of houses as illustrated in the…

In some neighburhoods, citizens are vexed by an increasing number of bars and pubs, and the dramatic change in the surroundings as a result. There have been various instances of conflict between residents and these establishments, and also a demand that BBMP should address this properly. This is doable, but only if we correctly identify the problems. (a) The first challenge is that people who want to set up the establishments are themselves property owners in the area, which causes discord between the neighbours in terms of what they themselves want. (b) The second is that often those letting their…

In some neighburhoods, citizens are vexed by an increasing number of bars and pubs, and the dramatic change in the surroundings as a result. There have been various instances of conflict between residents and these establishments, and also a demand that BBMP should address this properly. This is doable, but only if we correctly identify the problems. (a) The first challenge is that people who want to set up the establishments are themselves property owners in the area, which causes discord between the neighbours in terms of what they themselves want. (b) The second is that often those letting their…

On a sunny-cool afternoon, joining more than a 100 “orange” rallyists to protest violence on women sounds a bit violent. However, it really can’t get more peaceful when you are standing in silence. At the Gandhi Square. With placards that shout out a word that may strike many men as some breaking news: NO! No to violence, No to tyranny and No to No. Does it spring a surprise to the guys who think it is witty and macho to attack women? Yes. Surprisingly. It does. Saying ‘No’ is a rule that men only recently discovered women can say. Even…