Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 28 ℃ | Low: 20 ℃ | Generally cloudy sky with light rain.
🧐 Did you know? At 7 pm on August 5, 1905, the kerosene street lights of the KR market in Bangalore were replaced with electric ones and the city became the first in Asia to have electric street lights.
🌱 Climate action fellowship
The Bengaluru Climate Action Cell, established nearly six months ago, has introduced a fellowship programme to bring in climate change experts to assist the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
What’s it about? The programme aims to attract young professionals passionate about climate change and civic issues to support the Climate Action Cell (CAC) with fresh perspectives, skills, and innovative solutions.
- The CAC plans to recruit eight candidates for a 12-month period.
- Selected fellows will receive a stipend between ₹40,000-60,000 which will be determined based on their assigned responsibilities.
Problem-solving: In its public notification, the CAC invited applications from experienced candidates, emphasising the need for bright-minded individuals to contribute to solving real-life problems in Bengaluru.
🛣️ ‘NICE’ offer for PRR
Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE), known for constructing a 41-kilometre, six-lane expressway over a decade ago, has proposed to build a 19-kilometre stretch of the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project.
What’s it about? A delegation led by NICE’s managing director Ashok Kheny met with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to propose constructing the 19-kilometre segment from Tumakuru Road to Ballari Road, which would connect to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).
- This proposal arrives amid challenges faced by the 74-kilometre PRR project, which has received no bids in the three tenders issued by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) over the past three years.
- The company selected the 19-kilometre stretch leading to the airport, recognising its potential for better toll collection compared to other sections of the PRR.
Controversial past: The NICE Road project has been mired in controversies, including accusations of violating the framework agreement by acquiring excess land, charging tolls without completing the project, and engaging in illegal quarrying.
🛫 100 mil capacity airport
Karnataka Infrastructure Development Minister MB Patil announced that Bengaluru’s proposed second international airport will have an annual passenger capacity of 100 million.
What’s it about? The government plans to acquire around 4,000-5,000 acres for the new airport. Before finalising the site, the government will consider passenger load and connectivity to KIA.
- The exclusivity clause with Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which restricts another airport within a 150-km radius, ends in 2032.
- KIA, with its two runways, is expected to reach passenger and cargo capacity saturation by 2035, prompting the need for a new airport.
Parameters for site selection: The site should have around 5,000 acres of land, minimal settlements, better accessibility to highways and rail, and connectivity to the existing airport within 50-60 km. The passenger load factor will also be considered.
🏘️ Real estate recovers
Bengaluru’s residential sales have shown a positive trend, recovering ground in the April-June quarter to register a net positive growth of 4% during the first half of 2024.
What’s it about? Homes priced at ₹1 crore and above witnessed a remarkable 76% annual growth, with sales in this segment reaching 13,698 units, accounting for 50% of the total sales during H1 2024.
- This recovery is driven by the luxury housing segment, according to a report by property consultancy Knight Frank India.
- Sales of houses priced below ₹50 lakh saw a significant decline, dropping by 63% compared to the first half of 2023, contributing only 7% to the total sales at 1,928 units.
New supply: The fresh supply of residential units during the January-June period of 2024 increased by 9% annually to 25,567 units, up from 23,542 units in the corresponding period last year.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Should NICE be trusted with the PRR contract?
- NICE can be trusted with the PRR contract.
- NICE cannot be trusted with the PRR contract.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Where should Bengaluru’s second airport come up?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- This year’s I-day flower show at Lalbagh will be showing the life and message of Dr BR Ambedkar.
- The Karnataka government is planning to install cameras on Bengaluru’s street light poles to monitor littering.
- The Traffic police have directed the BBMP to clear Bengaluru’s streets of stray animals.
- Trifecta Projects has launched a new housing project in the city.
- The BBMP is identifying vendors for the collection and disposal of construction and demolition waste.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have been to One8 Commune: 9.1%
- I haven’t been to One8 Commune: 90.9% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What changes would you make to BMTC if you were in charge?
Yogita: “Create enough public toilets and install dustbins on the roads. If you step out, you’ll see at least two people peeing on the side of the road (the probability is that high). It is super unhygienic and a bad site for any passerby. People are littering the city, including bus drivers, conductors, auto drivers, and shopkeepers, throwing trash on the road. Creating awareness and installing enough dustbins at every 500 to 1km radius would make a difference. The sidewalks have trash pieces stuck in the grass or on small plants. We cannot make Bangalore the next Mumbai.”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!