Good morning, Bengaluru!
⛅ Today’s weather: Sunny temperatures and patchy clouds.
🧐 Did you know? The Hebbal-Kittayya Inscription Stone is the oldest known Kannada inscription stone found in Bengaluru. It dates back to the Ganga dynasty in Karnataka and pays homage to Kittayya, who died in a battle during Sripurusha’s reign.
🛤️ Suburban Rail Project moves slow
New developments in the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project highlight its sluggish pace.
Story so far: The cast of the test pile for the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) on the Outer Ring Road has reportedly wrapped up. Two tranches on the 25 km Mallige Line saw a push last month. The first test pile was cast near the Hebbal Railway station last month. The foundation stone to mark the demise of a Railway Level Crossing (LC) gate at Nagawara was hastily accomplished too.
- The freshly cast pile will be tested soon. It’s a skeletal scaffolding surrounded by a reinforcement cage.
- While the Railway land has been handed over to Larsen & Toubro, the project contractors, the conglomerate is yet to acquire private lands. It’s stalling the project’s progress.
Why it matters? Work on the Chikkabanavar-Baiyappanahalli Line (Corridor-2), a ₹15,767 crore project, has been undeniably sluggish. It’s unlikely to meet the 2026 deadline. The BSRP’s KSR Bengaluru-Devanahalli and Kengeri-Cantonment-Whitefield lines are still awaiting tenders.
🚍 What happened to free bus passes for women?
The free bus travel initiative for working women remains on paper, despite promises to the contrary.
Story so far: A Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) official has revealed that free bus passes for women will be issued after the elections are over, on an uncertain date. Earlier, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had announced free travel for women working in the organised sector on BMTC buses.
- In his budget speech, Bommai allocated ₹1,000 crore to the initiative. He later directed the BMTC to ensure its implementation from April 1. However, the promise remains unfulfilled.
- A woman working in a private firm was confused over the application process for the free bus pass initiative. It would have alleviated a significant portion of their financial burden.
Why it matters? On March 8, when the BMTC announced free travel for all women to mark International Women’s Day, it received an immensely positive response. 21.97 lakh women availed it, surpassing the corporation’s expectation of 20 lakh commuters.
🪧 Retired IIT professor campaigns
A former professor at IIT Delhi aims to build a grassroots resistance against communalism.
Story so far: From a group of concerned Bengalureans gathered at Cubbon Park in the wee hours of Sunday morning emerged Vipin Kumar Tripathi, a physicist and former professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. While addressing the group, he remarked that hatred is inherently evil because it fuzzies clarity, sensitivity, and the ability to uphold the truth.
- Keeping the upcoming Karnataka elections in mind, Tripathi handed out flyers and led a discussion on the ramifications of hate speech.
- He was primarily concerned about the marginalised groups’ exploitation by people running India’s democracy.
Tell me more? The former professor is building a grassroots, non-violent resistance against communalism. He conceived the idea while reflecting on the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the 1989 Bhagalpur riots, and the 2002 Godhra pogrom.
🎾 Youngest World Transplant Games contestant
A 13-year-old Bengalurean child will be the youngest Indian to contest in the World Transplant Games.
Story so far: In 2019, when 9-year-old Varun Anand was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), his life turned upside down. Now, the 13-year-old Bengalurean will be the youngest Indian player to compete in the World Transplant Games (WTG) 2023 in Perth, Australia.
- Varun will compete in the racquet sports category. His mother, Deepa, will also compete in the WTG games’ donor category.
- Varun attributes his successful conquest of an uphill climb to Deepa, who donated one of her kidneys to him.
Tell me more? CKD is a condition in which the kidneys gradually become permanently damaged and can’t filter blood for over three months. For some late-stage patients, the only solution is a kidney transplant.
- The WTG games aim to inform the global public about the importance of organ donation. It also showcases the positive outcomes of transplantation.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you ever travelled abroad?
- Yes, I’ve travelled abroad.
- No, I haven’t travelled abroad.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s that one thing you think can solve most of your problems?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Here’s a piece on suggestions for the Ejipura flyover to be repurposed into a tramway.
- Upstream lakes are being polluted by sewage from Doddaballapur and Bashettihalli.
- Over 10,000 madrasa students will receive mainstream education.
- Bengaluru college students visit camps in hordes to get their voter cards.
- Watch RCB fans cheer inside the Bengaluru metro while returning from the game.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I’ve read Harry Potter: 38.9%
- I haven’t read Harry Potter: 61.1% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great day!