Good morning, Bengaluru!
⛈️ Today’s weather: Expect a couple of spells of thundershowers.
🧐 Did you know? Indian cricketer KL Rahul studied B.Com from JAIN (Deemed-to-be-University) in Bengaluru.
🏏 Kiwi cricketer’s Bengaluru roots
New Zealand cricket team’s opening batsman Rachin Ravindra, fresh from his World Cup debut century, has a deep connection with Bengaluru, including a love for dosas and a history with local cricket clubs.
Roots in the city: Rachin Ravindra has been in the spotlight not just for his cricketing prowess but also for his Bengaluru ties. His grandfather, Balakrishna Adiga, a former principal of Vijaya College, shared insights about Rachin’s Bengaluru connection and his love for dosas with Bangalore Mirror. Rachin’s cricketing journey was influenced by his father, an aspiring cricketer who moved to New Zealand in 1997 and coached Rachin from a young age.
- The name ‘Rachin’ is a blend of cricket legends Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, showcasing the family’s admiration for the sport.
- Rachin’s annual trips to Bengaluru involved playing with local clubs and indulging in his favourite South Indian dishes, especially dosas.
Past and future: Rachin, who identifies as a Kiwi but is proud of his Indian roots, had watched New Zealand’s dramatic loss to England in the 2019 ODI World Cup final from a Bengaluru pub. As New Zealand gears up to face Pakistan in Bengaluru on November 4, he expressed hope for strong local support and plans to book tickets for his extended family.
🎨 Artistic revamp for stations
Bengaluru’s railway stations are undergoing an aesthetic overhaul as part of a collaboration between the Railways and Hubballi-based startup Artwaley.
What’s it about? The beautification initiative envisages the adornment of various stations with sculptures, paintings, murals, and other art pieces. Additional Divisional Railway Manager Kusuma Hariprasad mentioned a five-year agreement with Art Street International Solutions Pvt Ltd (Artwaley) aimed at enhancing the commuting experience.
- The project, which is a part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the division, is being executed in phases across multiple stations including KSR Bengaluru, Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal, Krishnaraja Pura, Yelahanka, and Malleswaram.
- The first phase has already seen the introduction of eye-catching installations at KSR, Yelahanka, and SMVT stations, with more artistic installations like a massive Garden City Pot and an artistic Gandaberunda slated for future unveiling.
Improving ambience: This initiative is not just confined to aesthetic enhancement but aims at improving the overall ambience and commuter satisfaction. The project also signifies a broader engagement with local startups and reflects a meld of corporate social responsibility and public infrastructure enhancement.
🗳️ No to private entities in voter roll revision
Following an exposé on voter data theft by NGO Chilume, the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Rajiv Kumar, announced that no electoral roll-related activities will be outsourced to external entities.
What’s it about? This decision comes as a response to a scandal uncovered by The News Minute and Kannada digital platform Pratidhvani, where Chilume Trust, under the guise of raising voter awareness, covertly collected voter data by having field agents pose as election officials. This breach was facilitated by governmental orders and involved a significant number of young workers, creating a large-scale operation whose funding source remains unclear.
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) reacted by ordering a thorough verification of all deletions and additions to the electoral rolls in affected constituencies.
- The announcement was made while unveiling the polling timetable for upcoming assembly polls in Telangana, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh.
Avoiding external interference: The ECI’s stance is a move towards securing the electoral process from external interferences, thereby ensuring that only authorized government officials and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are engaged in electoral roll-related work.
🏠 Stressed assets garner attention
Amid the IT sector’s employment challenges, Bengaluru’s real estate sector sees a surge, with stressed assets worth over ₹1,000 crore gaining investor interest.
What’s it about? Approximately 170 projects in Bengaluru, primarily in the mid and luxury segments, are either on hold or categorized as stressed assets. These projects are scattered across various micro-markets in the city. While apartments constitute 80% of these projects, villas make up the remaining 20%. The current market value of these projects is around ₹90 crore.
- Angad Bedi, MD of BCD Group, highlighted that the share of stressed assets in India’s real estate has decreased post-COVID. In Bengaluru, mid and luxury segment assets are being eyed for redevelopment.
- Navin Dhanuka, MD and CEO of ArisUnitern, mentioned that over 5 million sq ft of projects in Bengaluru fall under distressed categories. The emergence of distressed asset funds and the development management model are changing the dynamics.
Favourable buying conditions: The Centre’s Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) investment fund, introduced in 2019, has successfully revived several projects, providing a boost to the stressed assets in Bengaluru. This revival is expected to increase inventory supply, leading to favourable buying conditions.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Will India win this year’s ODI Cricket World Cup?
- India will win this year’s ODI Cricket World Cup.
- India will not win this year’s ODI Cricket World Cup.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Which is the one thing from your school life that you will never forget?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- A new roadmap to address traffic congestion in Bengaluru and New Delhi by creating a multi-modal transport infrastructure is in the works.
- Bengaluru Bird Day was celebrated on Saturday where nature lovers and bird watchers participated.
- The Whitefield-Challaghatta Purple Line metro corridor commenced its operations yesterday.
- 37 feeder buses have been introduced by the BMTC to connect the KR Pura metro station.
- A pro-Kannada organisation plans to block the National Highway near Hoskote toll over the Cauvery water issue today.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have been to the new Terminal 2 at the airport: 80.0% 🏆
- I haven’t been to the new Terminal 2 at the airport: 20.0%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What area of the city do you think needs a metro line?
Simon: “Every area, in the BBMP limits, needs a metro line.”
Sriranga: “Hebbal to Vidhana Soudha metro would be beneficial for most people & if they somehow complete the ORR stretch soon, it will be really good.”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!