Vaishnavi Vittal Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

Civic

BBMP budget: bombaat or bogus?

September 7, 2010 Vaishnavi Vittal

For four days, corporators spoke about the 2010-11 city corporation budget. Here are the highlights of what ensued during this budget session.

Commute

The other 23 roads BBMP is widening

August 30, 2010 Vaishnavi Vittal

Court cases and unrest apart, BBMP is widening 23 roads in areas that were formerly BDA layouts. Work has begun and is expected to finish in a year.

Commute

Finally, JP Nagar underpass nears completion

August 29, 2010 Vaishnavi Vittal

After a delay of nearly 1.5 years, the underpass at the intersection of JP Nagar’s 15th cross Ring Road and 24th Main may be completed in a month’s time. Still, both the BBMP and the area MLA are not categorical about D-day.

Commute

Roadwidening stuck at the High Court

August 25, 2010 Vaishnavi Vittal

Even as the BBMP and state government are going back and forth on roadwidening, there is little that either can do. This mega project is stuck with other infrastructure projects in an ongoing case in the High Court.

Governance

Now, 3-hour scheduled power cuts daily

August 16, 2010 Vaishnavi Vittal

After ten days of erratic power cuts in Bengaluru, BESCOM’s return to ‘normalcy’ means this: three-hours of scheduled load-shedding, at one hour per cut, in residential areas everyday.

“Government ignores us because we aren’t educated and rich”

July 22, 2010 Vaishnavi Vittal

They are the ones who go out in a majority on election day and vote. But very little has been done for Bengaluru’s poor. Second in a series of two articles, Citizen Matters gets down to brass tracks.

Society

Poverty no barrier for their aspirations

July 21, 2010 Vaishnavi Vittal

Despite a difficult background, many youngsters from the city’s low-income neighbourhoods are fighting their way out of poverty to get an education and make a life for themselves. Meet Gayathri, Chinnaya and Sangeetha.

Commute

ORR association demands written order on suspending road-widening

July 15, 2010 Vaishnavi Vittal

An oral order won’t do, says Outer Ring Road Association, refusing to believe the BBMP’s and state government’s verbal announcement on halting road widening plans.

Ever-changing Bengaluru is backdrop for new film

July 12, 2010 Vaishnavi Vittal

In the latest feature film ‘Bengaloored’, city-based independent filmmaker Swaroop Kanchi uses the transforming face of Bengaluru to tell the personal story of an author.

Commute

Silkboard-Mysore Road widening suspended, says Mayor Nataraj

July 4, 2010 Vaishnavi Vittal

In an interview with Citizen Matters, Mayor S K Nataraj says the public will be consulted on road widening. He also talks about BDA being ‘richer’ than the BBMP and the implications.

“There are three and a half honest ministers in the cabinet”

July 1, 2010 Vaishnavi Vittal

A week after resigning, Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde speaks his heart and mind in an exclusive and insightful interview with Citizen Matters. He says he quit only for the better.

Governance

“People can get khata without paying bribes”

June 30, 2010 Vaishnavi Vittal

It’s a tried and tested method. Residents of Suncity Apartments on Sarjapur Road took the ‘clean’ route to get khatas and encourage other Bengalureans to try it as well.

UNCATEGORIZED

Resentment echoes in meek council session

June 29, 2010 Vaishnavi Vittal

As the rising wave of protests on roadwidening lapped into the council hall, one corporator sprung a surprise making a demand for himself and other members. Find out more.

“I always knew I would get the lake”

June 28, 2010 Vaishnavi Vittal

And she finally did! It is thanks to her passion and legal expertise that Koramangala today boasts of an 11-acre lung space – the Meistripalya kere. Meet Laila Ollapally, a Koramangalite and practicing advocate.

Governance

Getting your Khata in Bengaluru

June 25, 2010 Vaishnavi Vittal

It is known to be a herculean task to register your property with the BBMP to that all-important ‘khata’. Here’s a detailed guide on how you can apply for and get a khata, with no ‘extra’ money involved.