Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 29 ℃ | Low: 21 ℃ | Generally cloudy sky with light rain.
🧐 Did you know? Crows tend to mistake golf balls as their eggs. As a nod to this, the Karnataka Golf Association has a crow and two eggs as its logo.
🚓 Cops’ new campaign
To address the severe traffic congestion in Bengaluru, the city’s traffic police have launched a unique campaign called “Join the Commute”.
What’s it about? Commuters can register online at jointhecommutebstp.in, providing details about their daily commutes and preferred modes of transport to help the police understand their concerns better. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for Bengaluru South Traffic will personally join commuters also on their daily routes to understand their challenges firsthand.
- Selected campaign participants will be informed and accompanied by the DCP (and possibly Assistant Commissioner) during peak hours.
- The police’s experience will be documented using a body-worn camera.
Campaign objective: By gathering insights from commuters and observing traffic conditions firsthand, the traffic police aim to identify and address issues like parking violations, footpath riding, and traffic signal timings. This will help them create real-time solutions to improve traffic flow and enhance road safety in Bengaluru.
💡 LED streetlights approved
The Karnataka government has approved a ₹684-crore plan to replace all streetlights in Bengaluru with energy-efficient LED lights.
What’s it about? The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will implement the project in four packages across the city’s seven zones. The LED lights are expected to save up to 50% of the annual power consumption compared to the older sodium-vapor streetlights.
- The government will use funds deposited with the Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) to cover the cost of the project.
- This move aligns with the trend of other urban local bodies in Karnataka that have already switched to LED streetlights.
Project details: The BBMP aims to replace around 3 lakh streetlights, with nearly 1.6 lakh LED lights already installed in certain zones. The project is expected to improve energy efficiency, reduce maintenance costs, and enhance the city’s overall lighting infrastructure.
🚆 Vande Bharat’s sleeper coaches
The Vande Bharat Express is set to launch with its first sleeper coaches by December 2024, with the initial set being dispatched from Bengaluru’s Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) on September 20.
What’s it about? Currently, Vande Bharat trains offer only seating, but the new sleeper coaches will allow passengers to travel long distances overnight, enhancing the overall travel experience. The sleeper coaches, manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and BEML, will feature wider berths, brighter interiors, and more spacious toilets.
- This development is part of the broader initiative by Indian Railways to upgrade and diversify its fleet with modern, high-speed options.
- In addition to the sleeper version, the ICF is also working on the ‘Vande Metro,’ a 12-coach train designed for short-distance travel.
Export readiness: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has highlighted the transformative impact of the Vande Bharat Sleeper, Amrit Bharat, and Namo Bharat trains on the passenger experience, noting their potential for export due to their advanced, ‘Made in India’ design.
🏗️ ASK exits Shriram
ASK Property Fund, the real estate private equity arm of Blackstone-backed ASK Asset & Wealth Management Group, has made an early and successful exit from Shriram Pristine Estates, a 49-acre plotted development project in Doddaballapura.
What’s it about? Launched in 2022, this project marked the first under the SPL-ASK co-investment platform, with an investment of ₹85 crore. ASK Property Fund achieved a 20% internal rate of return (IRR) and a 1.24x investment multiple in less than 18 months.
- The profitable exit was facilitated by strong sales.
- ASK Property Fund has since expressed its intent to continue participating in Shriram Properties’ future growth and expansion.
Shriram’s plans: Shriram Properties, the Bengaluru-based developer, has ambitious plans for future growth. The company aims to double its sales to ₹5,000 crore, triple revenue to ₹3,000 crore, and quadruple profits to over ₹250 crore in the next three years.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Are all of the lights in your house LEDs?
- All of the lights in my house are LEDs.
- Not all of the lights in my house are LEDs.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What are the worst two points to commute between in the city?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Bengaluru police have sought to shift Actor Darshan and other accused from the Bengaluru prison.
- Legacy market hub sellers of the city are concerned over Brand Bengaluru construction works impacting their festive sales.
- MRPL has commissioned the construction of a new marketing terminal in the city.
- Janaagraha played host to a NITI Aayog roundtable meeting over Bengaluru’s urban development.
- Manika Batra shined as PBG Bengaluru Smashers beat Puneri Paltan TT 10-5.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have watched Darshan’s films: 16.7%
- I have not watched Darshan’s films: 83.3% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
For how much would you sell the land your house is on if it is needed for a project in national/public interest?
Santhosh: “Since the land is being acquired for a nation building initiative, I would sell it to govt at 50% premium relative to current ongoing price.”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!