URBAN PLANNING | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

How public spaces can be redesigned to make ‘unlocking’ safe in Bengaluru

June 30, 2020 Ruchi Agarwal

As COVID cases rise in Bengaluru, the dilemma is between ensuring citizens’ safety and opening up the economy. Redesigning our public spaces may be the best way to ensure both these.

“Policy changes can help make Bengaluru an equal city for women”

June 11, 2020 Sneha Visakha

Bengaluru lacks the infrastructure required for women to move around freely and participate in the public sphere. To change this, the city needs to be planned and designed differently.

Isn’t looking beyond Cubbon Park a Smarter Plan?

February 26, 2020 Bindu Gopal Rao

Authorities have come up with a Rs 40 crore plan to redevelop Cubbon Park under the smart city project. The question is whether it is prudent to splurge on an already-thriving ecosystem rather than redirect scare resources towards creating more such spaces.

MP Tejasvi Surya helps fix Bannerghatta Road, but is it his job?

November 27, 2019 Manasi Paresh Kumar

Bengaluru already has a Metropolitan Planning Committee to plan and coordinate infrastructure works. Then why are our MPs and MLAs fixing roads?

Govt response after #MahadevapuraDemands protest: Nothing new, residents say

October 24, 2019 Kedar Koushik

The #MahadevapuraDemands protest against elected representatives last Friday seems to have had some positive impact. But residents of the constituency are not yet ready to celebrate.

BBMP’s flawed delimitation plan: Why Mahadevapura residents are demanding a separate municipality

October 18, 2019 Kedar Koushik

This week, Mahadevapura residents submitted their objection to the state’s Chief Secretary on BBMP’s ward delimitation proposal. Here is our detailed analysis on why BBMP’s proposal is flawed, and why it’s rattling Mahadevapura residents

Mahadevapura citizens to protest Friday against “filth, traffic jams and pollution”, demand MP, MLA, corporators resign

October 17, 2019 Kedar Koushik

Fed up with crumbling infrastructure in their constituency, residents of Mahadevapura are holding a protest tomorrow at Marathahalli. They are demanding the resignation of all their elected representatives, including MLA Aravind Limbavali and MP P C Mohan

Nine pointers to ensure Bengaluru’s upcoming bus lanes are a success

October 13, 2019 Sonal Kulkarni

Bengaluru is soon to get dedicated bus lanes that are intended to make commute easy for bus users. But will the project succeed amidst the city’s chaotic traffic? Here are nine pointers to ensure it does

“Bus lanes welcome, but govt must plan effectively to ensure they don’t fail”

October 1, 2019 Vinay Sreenivasa

Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike (BBPV) welcomes the government decision to introduce dedicated bus lanes in Bengaluru. Authorities should study BRTS in other cities and also hold public consultations before implementing the project, the group says

Lifts on skywalks: How well do they work in Bengaluru?

September 24, 2019 Kedar Koushik

In 2012, Bengaluru got its first skywalk with an elevator. Now there are 21 skywalks with elevators, and 15 more coming up by the end of this year. How well are these maintained and what facilities do they offer?

Am I paying taxes to get killed?

September 17, 2019 Sakuntala Narasimhan

Bengaluru is beset with rotting garbage, killer potholes and increasing dengue cases. Yet the BBMP is planning a steep hike in property taxes. So should we pay?

Panathur road: Where traffic jams never end, even at midnight

August 27, 2019 Neeraj

It takes hours to cross Panathur road, a 6-km ‘shortcut’ connecting ORR with ITPL. At several stretches here, two cars can’t pass by at the same time. Yet, huge apartments are approved along this road, and restricted heavy vehicles allowed to ply

Why Koramangala looks like a war zone: Five ongoing projects in 4 sq km

August 19, 2019 Muralidhar Rao

With five major infrastructure projects, and several smaller ones, Koramangala resembles a massive construction site these days. Neither the hapless residents nor the authorities are clear about the details of these projects, or why they are needed at all

Are cases of wrong-side driving increasing on Bengaluru’s roads?

August 15, 2019 Kedar Koushik

Melissa Arulappan recently counted 13 bikers driving on the wrong side on a one-way street, all within two seconds. This is not a one-off incident. Citizens across Bengaluru have been noticing an increasing number of such violations in the recent past. What’s going on?

Thirsty city tantrums: How Bengaluru’s thirst for water is felt 400 km away

August 9, 2019 Kedar Koushik

To satiate Bengaluru’s unending thirst, water has been diverted from many rivers, including those from the Western Ghats. But these projects are starving local populations of water, and destroying ecosystems