GENRE: Voices Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

Opinion: “Use technology, repurpose Volvos to boost bus services in Bengaluru”

August 12, 2020 Shraddha Goled

BMTC’s services and ridership have reduced drastically during COVID. How can these be brought back to pre-COVID levels while also ensuring passengers’ safety?

Opinion: How BMTC bus services can be cheap, clean and safe during COVID

August 11, 2020 Sanjay Vijayaraghavan

While BMTC needs to adopt short-term measures like plexiglass partitions and simpler fare structures, it should also evolve long-term measures for safe travel.

Arrangements made by BMTC in collaboration with various other agencies to ply migrant workers from Orissa to Chikkabanavara Railway Station during COVID-19 lockdown in Bengaluru. Pic: Twitter handle of BBMP Commissioner BH Anil Kumar

Can BMTC get Bengalureans to use the bus during COVID?

August 7, 2020 Nagesh Aras

BMTC, which already wasn’t quite popular with Bengalureans, is running skeletal services now. Can sanitation measures, support of private operators, help?

“COVID response: Bengaluru is overlooking every management lesson from history”

August 3, 2020 Manasi Paresh Kumar

History shows that Bengaluru has reined in pandemics before. But now, with turf wars and bureaucrat transfers, even basic principles of management are missing from the city’s COVID response.

E-learning policy: Govt can’t have one solution for all types of schools, says expert

July 29, 2020 Manasi Paresh Kumar

Earlier this month, a government-appointed committee submitted guidelines on school education during COVID. In this interview, Dr Niranjanaradhya, a committee member, explains how they tried to tackle the issue.

Remember Bengaluru’s minimal traffic during lockdown? Here are nine pointers to sustain it

July 28, 2020 Ashish Verma

During COVID lockdown, we got a glimpse of a liveable Bengaluru where traffic and pollution levels were extremely low. This can be sustained post COVID too, if the city follows some core transport principles.

“Online classes are critical for underprivileged children during COVID”

July 21, 2020 Rishabh Shrivastava

Many believe that online classes are not feasible given the digital divide. In this interview, Shukla Bose, founder of Parikma schools that cater to children from slums, discusses why learning is in fact critical for marginalised children now and how Parikrma has dealt with the situation.

A resident of a containment area being tested for COVID-19 in a fever clinic. Pic: BBMP Commissioner/Facebook

Civic group to CM: Need transparent COVID policy and info, oversight of pvt hospitals

July 7, 2020 Dr Sylvia Karpagam

The civic group Naavu Bharatiyaru has written to the Chief Minister, demanding a coherent COVID policy to alleviate panic amid rising COVID cases. The group has also demanded that information about healthcare facilities be in the public domain, and that government should oversee hospitals that treat COVID.

Why e-vehicles aren’t popular in Bengaluru, and how this can change

July 3, 2020 Trupti P Deshpande

E-vehicles can steeply reduce air pollution in Bengaluru, but consumers have avoided this segment due to several barriers. This scenario can easily change with some policy decisions.

Shut in at home during COVID? Rooftop gardening can give you some respite

July 1, 2020 Sudha Narasimhachar

Most of us are now staying home all the time, but this could be frustrating. Rooftop gardening is a good option for being close to nature without having to go out. Here’s a Bengaluru couple who are doing exactly that.

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.

a domestic help preparing food in the kitchen

Call them back to work; They’re waiting

June 24, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty and Manasi Paresh Kumar

In earlier articles in the Ground Reality series, we looked at cash shortage, food insecurity and domestic conflict in poor urban households during the lockdown. They are now trying to rebuild their lives. This is about how we can help.

A solution to the traffic mess at Marathahalli junction

June 14, 2020 Subramanya Sheshadri

Marathahalli junction is often riddled with traffic jams, thanks to the convoluted U-turns on the bridge here. Just introducing two traffic signals at the bridge could help solve the problem.

“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.

How Bengaluru’s notorious ‘water tankers’ can be regulated

June 8, 2020 Akhileshwari Reddy

Private tanker operators in Bengaluru often draw water from dubious sources and charge predatory prices during summer. Here are some suggestions on how they can be reined in.