News Desk | | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

Bengaluru Buzz: City among top COVID hubs | Buses for essential service providers | Food supply to migrants…and more

April 4, 2020 News Desk

Bengaluru has been declared as a COVID-19 hotspot, and it’s dealing with several issues – food supply to migrant labourers, vehicles on the road despite lockdown, and even abandoned animals in pet shops. Read more in our weekly roundup.

Bengaluru lockdown: Indira Canteens will serve three meals a day to low-income groups

March 28, 2020 News Desk

After much public pressure, the state government has confirmed that Indira Canteens in the city will offer three meals a day to low-income groups. The canteen staff and beneficiaries are required to take certain precautions too.

Bengaluru Buzz: Lockdown tensions | Passes for commute | Pourakarmikas under stress…and more

March 28, 2020 News Desk

As the city copes with the lockdown, there’ve been concerns about passes for commute, availability and price of essential commodities, and so on. Read more in our weekly roundup.

Police to issue passes to essential services staff, delivery personnel, media

March 25, 2020 News Desk

Amid some complaints that the police are not allowing movement of staff involved in essential services during the lockdown, Bengaluru city police commissioner Bhaskar Rao issued a memo that specified who would be allowed to travel in the city. The police would be giving passes to them, his memo says.

Precautions against corona: BBMP issues order on apartments, layouts

March 25, 2020 News Desk

BBMP has ordered that several measures be implemented in apartments and layouts to prevent corona spread. These include fumigation, thermal screening of those entering/exiting premises, and so on.

BBMP sets up ‘war room’ to contain corona

March 24, 2020 News Desk

BBMP has set up a ‘war room’ to prevent the spread of coronavirus and create awareness. The 24X7 war room will keep track of quarantined people, collect data, map affected areas, and so on.

Coronavirus advisory: For Paying Guest accommodations and hostels

March 23, 2020 News Desk

Last week, when some students were evicted from PG accommodations, BBMP clarified that this wasn’t allowed. But BBMP did issue an advisory on how these accommodations should be maintained in view of coronavirus cases. Here are the details.

Coronavirus advisory: For markets and shopping centres

March 23, 2020 News Desk

What precautions can supermarkets take, to prevent the spread of coronavirus? And how can you, as a customer, cooperate? Here’s an advisory from BBMP.

Bengaluru Buzz: Two recover from COVID-19 | Metro travel restricted | PRR project delayed…and more

March 22, 2020 News Desk

Metro travel restricted on account of COVID-19, water quality in 129 houses tested, fresh clearances needed for Peripheral Ring Road project – catch up on news from the city over the past week, in our roundup.

Coronavirus advisory: On accessing parks in Bengaluru

March 20, 2020 News Desk

Given Bengaluru’s efforts to contain coronavirus, should you be accessing parks and green spaces? In case you do, what precautions should you take? Here is an advisory from BBMP.

The Tabebuia Rosea trees in full bloom on Outer Ring Road. Pic: Naveen Thomas Prasad

Watch: Tabebuia Rosea trees in full bloom paint ORR pink

March 18, 2020 News Desk

It’s spring, and the brilliant pink bloom of Tabebuia Rosea trees are adorning Bengaluru’s streets. Here’s a video of the bloom along Outer Ring Road, and some details about this alien tree species.

Bengaluru Buzz: Five corona cases | City shuts down for a week | Bannerghatta park’s eco-sensitive zone cut down…and more

March 14, 2020 News Desk

Corona and cholera cases reported, Bannerghatta National Park’s eco-sensitive zone cut by 100 sq km, court orders removal of hazardous transformers – catch up on news from the city this week, in our roundup.

Bengaluru Buzz: Preparations against corona spread | Rs 8,700 cr budget announcement | Tree census begins…and more

March 9, 2020 News Desk

As more COVID-19 cases were suspected, BBMP held meetings with IT company representatives and mall operators last week to discuss protocols. Catch up on other news from the city over the past week, in our roundup.

Bengaluru Buzz: Pet dog licensing bylaw | Deadline to remove hoarding frames | Police programme for women’s safety…and more

March 2, 2020 News Desk

BBMP has again drafted bylaws on pet dog licensing, which restricts the number of dogs a household can rear. Read more on this in our roundup of news from the city over the past week.

Pollution watchdog’s penalty spree: Apartments get stay from court

March 1, 2020 News Desk

KSPCB has sent notices to hundreds of apartments in the city, alleging they are discharging untreated sewage. Apartments have gone to court against what they call an arbitrary action.

Bengaluru Buzz: H1N1 virus scare | Elevated corridor plan revived | Vacuum cleaner for roads…and more

February 22, 2020 News Desk

With state government seeming to revive the elevated corridors proposal, activists are threatening to restart protests. Read more on this, and other news from the city this week, in our roundup.

Bengaluru Buzz: Road-cum-rail flyover in progress | Coronavirus screening continues | Railways reduce bike parking tariff…and more

February 15, 2020 News Desk

Bengaluru’s first road-cum-Metro rail flyover in progress, over 17,000 people screened for coronavirus in Kempegowda International Airport so far – read more on this and other news from the city this week, in our roundup

Bellandur-Varthur lake rejuvenation is causing irreversible damage, need course correction, say environmentalists

February 12, 2020 News Desk

Environmentalists, in an open letter to the government, pointed out that draining and desilting the toxic Bellandur and Varthur lakes would have severe impacts. They urge the government to hold an Environment Impact Assessment beforehand

Bengaluru Buzz: BESCOM slammed for tariff hike | Restaurants hike prices | Waste bins imported at Rs 3 lakh each…and more

February 10, 2020 News Desk

Restaurants hike food prices by 20 per cent, citizens slam move to increase electricity tariff, garbage marshals collect over Rs 22 lakh as fines in January – read more on news from the city over the past week, in our roundup.

Bengaluru Buzz: Common Mobility Card in Metro | HC pulls up BBMP on waste management | Cess doesn’t reach migrant workers…and more

February 1, 2020 News Desk

Namma Metro is updating its systems to facilitate the National Common Mobility Card which can be used to travel in multiple modes, pay parking fee, and purchase at retail stores. Catch up on news from the city this week, in our roundup