Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 28 ℃ | Low: 21 ℃ | Generally cloudy sky with light rain.
🧐 Did you know? The Bangalore to Bengaluru renaming happened on November 1, 2014.
🐝 BHIVE’s new hive
BHIVE Workspace, the Bengaluru-based managed office space provider, has expanded its presence by leasing 77,000 square feet of space from Address Maker on CMH Road, Indiranagar.
What’s it about? The new lease comes at an annual rental cost of ₹8.5 crore and will offer over 1,500 seats across a B+G+3 structure. The space will include modern amenities such as boardrooms, private phone booths, recreational zones, designer studios, and dedicated parking facilities.
- This acquisition strengthens BHIVE’s foothold in Bengaluru’s Central Business District, a prime location near metro access.
- The company now aims to expand its portfolio by 3 million square feet over the next two years, with 7-8 lakh square feet to be added in Bengaluru alone during the current financial year.
IPO plans: BHIVE is targeting ₹350 crore in revenue for FY24, a significant increase from ₹170 crore in revenue last fiscal year, during which it also posted a net profit of ₹7 crore. BHIVE plans to further scale its operations, with a goal of launching an initial public offering (IPO) by FY26.
🛣️ STRR on track
The 280-km Bengaluru Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR, NH-948A) project aimed at reducing freight traffic and decongesting Bengaluru is advancing per the set pace.
What’s it about? The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has floated tenders for five packages of STRR’s West section, costing ₹4,750 crore. STRR will connect suburban areas around Bengaluru and provide an alternative to NICE Road for truck traffic, easing travel to Kempegowda International Airport and major highways.
- Key sections of the project include elevated highways through Bannerghatta National Park, pending forest clearance.
- Noise barriers will be in place for the construction to minimise wildlife disruption, with construction scheduled only for dawn and dusk.
Project history: Proposed in 2005, STRR gained momentum in 2017 under the Bharatmala Pariyojana and saw its foundation laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022. The first 80 km were inaugurated in March 2024.
🛣️ Land acquisition begins
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has launched a land acquisition process for a major road widening project.
What’s it about? Aimed at reducing traffic congestion and enhancing road infrastructure, the project focuses on expanding key roads to handle the increasing volume of vehicles and improve connectivity across the city.
- BBMP has started notifying property owners and conducting assessments to facilitate the acquisition process.
- Officials believe that this road widening will significantly benefit commuters by reducing travel time and easing traffic bottlenecks.
Areas benefitting: Incoming traffic from KR Puram and Hoskote are the main targets for the expansion. In addition, delayed projects like the Kothanur-Avalahalli Road and Kalkere Road will also be expanded.
🪧 Protests against protest curbs
A coalition of over 40 progressive and democratic groups conducted a signature campaign to oppose the Licensing and Regulation of Protests, Demonstrations, and Protest Marches (Bengaluru City) Order, 2021.
What’s it about? This order restricts all protests to Freedom Park and bans protest processions in the city. The ‘Campaign for the Right to Protest’ collected 451 signatures in support of an open letter addressed to the Chief Minister, demanding the right to freedom of assembly.
- Activists engaged with metro and bus commuters to raise awareness about the order, which they argue unconstitutionally limits citizens’ ability to protest and censors the topics they can address.
- The open letter challenges the police’s claim that the restrictions were based on a Karnataka High Court mandate, clarifying that the court merely recorded the government’s statement regarding the police commissioner’s issuance of the order.
Activists’ demands: The activists call for the withdrawal of the 2021 order and the reinstatement of the 2009 Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Public Processions (Bengaluru City) Order, which allowed protests across the city. They also urge the Chief Minister to reaffirm the government’s commitment to democracy on September 15, International Day of Democracy, by revoking the restrictions.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you ever worked in a co-working space?
- I have worked in a co-working space.
- I have not worked in a co-working space.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s a cause you are passionate about?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- NIA’s chargesheet claims that the Rameshwaram Cafe blast accused were funded by cryptocurrency.
- Incuspaze has leased 3,25,000 square feet of office space in the city to expand its business.
- Nalini George has joined BIAL as their CHRO.
- Delta has inaugurated its Indian HQ and global R&D centre in the city.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I am an introvert: 63.2% 🏆
- I am an extrovert: 36.8%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s the longest car ride you have ever taken and on what route?
Santhosh: “In Karnataka, longest is Bengaluru to Goa 700km, and Vegas to San Francisco”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!