Can Bengaluru learn from Mexico city?; How Ola, Uber changed your commute; Cost of a well

Dear all,

While the rains have been welcome, you must be noting the potholes appearing in its wake. We are inviting the #mostdangerouspothole pictures from you – You can post it on twitter and tag us at @citizenmatters, post it on our FB page or mail us at edit@citizenmatter.in.

Have you tried drawing the attention of your local officials? HSR residents recently did a pothole puja which seems to have nudged BBMP into fixing the road. Remember the famous crocodile painted by artist Badal Nanjundaswamy? What is your approach of getting pothole issue fixed? Write to us!

Special note for citizen volunteers

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Moving on to the stories:

The week’s highlight

Can Bengaluru learn from Mexico City?

Since implementing the BRT system in Mexico City, travelers have enjoyed shortened commutes. Pic courtesy: Wikipedia

When Mexico city quadrupled in size from 1940 to 1970, the city experienced unending gridlock – something any Bengalurean can relate to. While Mexico has a happy story to tell about its transportation, what is stopping Bengaluru from solving our congestion problems?

Also read: Conference discusses sustainable ways of developing Bengaluru

Ola, Uber may have changed city commute, but…

Taxi aggregators have changed the lives of cab drivers in Bengaluru. But how has it affected commuters? The second part in the series: But all is not well.

Getting Sustainable

Save electricity smartly

A guide on why and how to save electricity, including the best practices for electricity savings. How to save electricity intelligently and smartly?

How much does it cost to dig a well?

Planning to dig a well, but don’t know how much it costs? Groundwater stories blog has details on how to estimate the cost. Read: Making of groundwater recharge well: the costs involved.

Grassroot PoV

Why Indiranagar does not want a stadium

Indira Nagar residents have come together to oppose the authority’s plan to convert a playground in their area to an indoor stadium. Swarna Venkataraman, a resident of Indiranagar writes an open letter to the Bengaluru Development Minister on why the residents are opposing the plan.

Citizen Initiative to feed the hungry

Where the needy could go to an outlet, get a coupon from a volunteer, go to a nearby hotel and exchange it for a good meal? Sounds too good? Amruthavarshini exhorts you to Join hands with Bengaluru Meals team!

From our bloggers

“Today marks my 12th day in Bengaluru and I am proud to say my desire to take pictures of every single passing cow has subsided,” declares Kate Clark, our new intern who calls Bengaluru the ‘multiple city‘!

Deepa Mohan captures the beauty of night blooming Bramhakamalam that has a heavy, heady fragrance. A flower from abroad that delights our senses.

Ritwik mandyam, our young blogger uses his NCC experience to say it’s time we stopped being cynical about policemen and firemen and everyone else, in A cynic’s tale

News that you can use

  • With the new garbage contract system failing to get response from contractors, the BBMP is all set to form a Labour Society of pourakarmikas. These will be started on a pilot basis in Byatarayanapura and Sarvajna Nagar, according to Solid Waste Management Joint Commissioner Sarafaraz Khan.

  • Deadline of pubs and bars in Bengaluru are expected to be extended on weekdays too from the existing 11.30 pm to 1 am, soon. The Home and Excise departments have reportedly cleared the proposal sent to them by the Police Commissioner, proposing to extend the timing.

  • BBMP has cancelled 590 bogus khatas in Bommanahalli zone following complaints of large-scale irregularities. A team comprising of BBMP officials and Taxation and Finance Committee Chairperson inspected the revenue documents and cancelled bogus khatas.

  • As many as 35 students at Government Lower Primary School at Manchegowdana Palya fell ill after drinking milk served under Ksheera Bhagya Scheme. The milk powder used to prepare the milk was manufactured in February 2016.

  • The Department of Survey, Settlement and Land Records will take up the work of surveying each property, road, open space etc in Bengaluru after a gap of over five decades. The team of surveyors will kickstart the survey work at Jayanagar 9th Block next week.

Take a look at some upcoming events in the city here.

Here’s how you can interact with your fellow citizens and our editorial team.

Until next week,

Shree D N

Associate Editor

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The News Desk at Citizen Matters puts out Press Releases, notifications and curated information useful to the urban reader.