Good morning, Bengaluru!
☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny with some wind.
🧐 Did you know? The Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, near Cubbon Park, is built on one of Bengaluru’s largest and most prominent lakes, Sampangi. In the early 20th century, it was drained to make way for polo games.
🚶 Make Malleswaram walkable again
A new initiative aims to make Malleswaram roads people-friendly through signs and leisure spots.
Story so far: Under ‘Walkable Malleswaram’, the Malleswaram Urban Living Lab (MULL) will place sign boards in the area to ease navigation and help people spot currently overlooked historical and cultural landmarks – including Janatha Hotel, Planter Coffee Home, Krishna Temple, KC General Hospital, Sankey Tank, and MLA High School.
- The group will add recreational equipment like stone benches and hand railings for pedestrians’ leisure.
- It will improve the overall connectivity of footpaths and conservancy lanes in Malleswaram. Making roads hospitable to walking and resting will increase the meagre footfall the area currently receives.
Behind the scenes: The project to make the roads people-friendly began in 2021 and received an infusion from the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT). Members of MULL met with Malleswaram residents to understand the area and its historical sites.
🪧 Citizens oppose FIR against Sankey protestors
Over 500 citizens have endorsed a letter demanding the case against peaceful protestors of the Sankey Road flyover be closed.
Story so far: Members of Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs) and other civic organisations, along with residents, wrote to the Bengaluru Police Commissioner CH Pratap Reddy to officially demand the withdrawal of “baseless allegations against the citizens”.
- Over 500 citizens and around 100 organisations endorsed the letter. Representatives who met the commissioner explained their position to him.
- One of the protestors was overwhelmed by the support from other residents and civic organisations. The police commissioner was also receptive to their arguments.
Why it matters? The Sadashivanagar police lodged an FIR against 70 people who, on February 19, peacefully demonstrated against the Sankey Road flyover project. Last month, it was put on hold to be reviewed by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority.
🏥 Drones for medical logistics
A new partnership will place Bengaluru on the country’s drone-delivery map soon.
Story so far: On Wednesday, Hyderabad-based Scandron Private Ltd signed a partnership with Bengaluru-based logistics company CriticaLog India Private Ltd worth ₹600 crore to bring drone-based delivery services to 160 cities across India. In three months, drones in Bengaluru will deliver critical medical supplies like organs and equipment.
- The number of drones deployed in Bengaluru will range from 20 to 25. They can handle a payload of up to 20 kg each.
- The drones will facilitate intra-city organ deliveries. Further technological advancement will bring inter-city deliveries to the horizon.
Preparations underway: The companies expect aircraft movement certifications like those issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) soon. Command centres are also being set up.
🚺 Facilities missing at Terminal 2
A passenger sheds light on how the Kempegowda airport’s Terminal-2 lacks pharmacies and properly marked sanitary pads.
Story so far: Padmini Chennapragada, a disability researcher working with the Indian Wheelchair Tennis Tour (IWTT), recently revealed that the much-hyped Kempegowda International Airport’s Terminal-2 neither has a pharmacy nor a disability-friendly layout.
- The researcher pointed out that the washrooms were almost hidden, the medical rooms were vacant, and the bathrooms lacked enough labels to identify sanitary napkins.
- After Chennapragada’s complaints, the officials expressed their regret at her discomfort and clarified that construction for a pharmacy and clinic would begin soon.
Why it matters? Amidst much fanfare, T2, or the Terminal in a Garden, was inaugurated last year. It was a nearly ₹5,000 crore project. The traveller was surprised that it lacked basic amenities.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Immerse yourself in a world of innovation, creativity, and flavour at the Sauce Festival on Saturday.
- Shake a leg at ShArA’s early morning Salsa classes this weekend.
- Talk about your favourite book at the Lahe Lahe Reading Club, on Saturday.
- Watch ‘The Note’, a murder mystery, at the Bangalore International Centre on Sunday.
- Relax while moving as you enter into the world of Qi Gong at Shoonya Mari.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I know how to drive a car: 81.3% 🏆
- I don’t know how to drive a car: 18.7%
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!