Vaidya R | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

Will this year’s rains ease Bengaluru out of water scarcity?

August 20, 2019 Vaidya R

Till July end, Karnataka faced severe rainfall deficit, and water levels in Cauvery reservoirs were plummeting. But in just two weeks, the situation has turned around completely. What does this mean for Bengaluru’s water crisis?

Seven reasons why I decided to ditch BMTC buses!

July 30, 2018 Vaidya R

While steps like bus lanes and flyovers mess up the traffic flow for buses, revenue targets set for BMTC staff end up disrupting the convenience of the commuters. BMTC never seems to get it right!

What’s in a bus stop name?

April 9, 2017 Vaidya R

As the city loses each of its popular landmarks to new buildings and businesses, what happens to the old bus stands named after those landmarks?

Saga of waterlogging on Outer Ring Road

March 21, 2017 Vaidya R

There is no respite from traffic pile ups on Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road. Sometimes it’s rain, sometimes it’s bus breakdown. Does the government have the will to to fix it?

Dear government, why did you choose Metro over BRTS on ORR?

September 19, 2016 Vaidya R

Karnakata State government bid unceremonious goodbye to the BRTS plan on Outer Ring Road and instead chose metro. But many questions remain unanswered.

Kaveri and the years of drought

September 14, 2016 Vaidya R

As long as we keep looking farther for our solutions the solutions might keep moving farther away. What direction will we choose? Business as usual or the “difficult” one? asks Vaidya.

Going to work by Bengaluru Metro: the pleasure and the pitfalls!

May 22, 2016 Vaidya R

It’s been three weeks since Metro East-West corridor has been functional. And it’s already a success story of public transport, with over a lakh footfalls a day. What can improve the system? Here’s what a commuter feels.

Environment

In pictures: Ganesha, after the Habba

October 26, 2015 Vaidya R

During Ganesha Habba, there are grand processions to neighbourhood lakes to immerse the idols. But what happens to them once the festival is over?

Traffic on ORR is likely to worsen. Here’s why!

August 11, 2015 Vaidya R

Vaidya talks about the major traffic jams that citizens of Bengaluru traverse through, and likens the ones on ORR to Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guards the underworld.

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Memories of a riot, a bedding house, paper mart and more

March 27, 2015 Vaidya R

Vaidya R shares his memories of growing up in the Chamrajpet area in the 80s and 90s.

The mythical BMTC bus that never reaches platform no. 29

February 9, 2015 Vaidya R

Commuting to Whitefield via bus is a nightmare. The push for commuter trains to Whitefield is gaining strength, but Vaidya wonders whether the trains could be punctual.

Society

Did UR Ananthamurthy think about the danger of having to deal with “Brahmin Lizards”?

November 13, 2014 Vaidya R

Implications of Bangalore changing to Bengaluru are several: Oorus and petes have started becoming familiar to everyone, but it is not just that – it is much more! Read on.

Society

The vataaras in South Bengaluru’s petes and gudis: a retro-journey

July 24, 2014 Vaidya R

Old South Bengaluru had its own charm, with well-planned spacious sites which became ‘vataara’s, with multiple families living in one compound. Slowly vataaras are making way for big apartments.

BMTC: A saga of no profit, hiked fares and troubled commuters

July 23, 2013 Vaidya R

With no ideas to increase revenue, nothing to streamline schedules of buses, no plan to provide enough bus shelters, public transport in Bangalore has been trapped in its own web of mismanagement. Here is an open letter to BMTC MD, which reflects a commuters’ mindset.

Commute

ORR at Bellandur: Signal free corridor adds to commuters’ stress

July 8, 2013 Vaidya R

The ORR underpasses are badly designed, and don’t consider pedestrians’ needs. Its medians and service roads remain a mess. A frustrated commuter offers solutions. Will the authorities listen?