Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 30 ℃ | Low: 21 ℃ | Generally cloudy sky with light rain.
🧐 Did you know? Bangalore Herald was the city’s first English language newspaper starting in 1859.
🩺 Public health conference
The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) is hosting the fourth National Conference on Bringing Evidence into Public Health Policy from September 5 to 7.
What’s it about? The event is gathering more than 200 delegates, including healthcare professionals, state and national policymakers, and international experts from countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, and Bangladesh.
- Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research and representatives from the Government of Karnataka have also been present.
- Presentation of previously unreleased, peer-reviewed research by 41 researchers from 14 Indian states and five Asia-Pacific countries is also taking place at the conference.
Event focus: The event will emphasise evidence-based public health policymaking and will feature a wide range of discussions under the theme “Health Governance, Policy, and Institutional Frameworks for Just and Sustainable Health Systems”.
🛣️ PRR’s progress
The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is nearing completion of land acquisition for the long-pending 74-km Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project.
What’s it about? Following a 2020 notification to acquire around 750 acres, the BDA is set to finalise the process soon. The project, designed to ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity, will include 16 flyovers, 10 overpasses, and 12 underpasses, crossing key areas like Yelahanka, KR Puram, and Sarjapur.
- The PRR will feature bridges over seven water bodies and greenfield expressways with eight-lane carriageways, footpaths, and cycle tracks.
- While the project advances, land compensation remains unresolved.
Compensation issues: Property owners affected by the acquisition are pushing for compensation under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, which offers three times the market rate, compared to the BDA’s proposed compensation under its Act.
🌆 Replicating Bengaluru
The state government aims to develop 4-5 regions similar to Bengaluru in the state according to Priyank Kharge.
What’s it about? Speaking at a Nasscom event, the state’s Minister for Electronics, IT, and Biotechnology emphasised positioning Karnataka as a hub for knowledge and skills, especially in artificial intelligence (AI), which would require several Bengalurus.
- India ranks third in AI skill penetration globally, and the state plans to supply highly trained talent in this sector.
- Kharge said that he is collaborating with companies and global capability centres to provide this training.
Infosys’ input: Infosys cofounder Senapathy Gopalakrishnan, weighing in at the event, highlighted the need for academic institutions to foster innovation by co-locating industry R&D facilities. This setup would facilitate internships and apprenticeships, merging academia and industry.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Brace yourselves for a night of pure techno bliss with DJ SCRIPT.
- Meet new people on a blind date with blindfolded conversations.
- Discover connections at a strangers’ gaming meet.
- Craving adrenaline? Find thrills and splashes at the Wonderla Amusement Park.
- Laugh spontaneously at the improv comedy show MAESTRO by Improv Lore.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I prefer to fly via Air India: 36.4%
- I do not prefer to fly via Air India: 63.6% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What has been the longest BMTC ride you have taken?
Sriranga: “401K, from Chord Road to NES. Almost 1.5 hours.”
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!