Good morning, Bengaluru!
⛅ Today’s weather: High: 35 ℃ | Low: 23 ℃ | Partly cloudy sky.
🧐 Did you know? The HAL Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum was established in 2001.
📄 New advertisement policy
The Government of Karnataka announces plans to adopt a revised advertisement policy for Bengaluru, aiming to balance revenue generation and urban welfare.
What’s it about? The policy comes in response to ongoing litigation in the Karnataka High Court regarding unauthorised billboards in the city. It seeks to regulate outdoor advertising, a significant source of municipal revenue, while addressing concerns related to road safety, environmental sustainability, and urban aesthetics.
- The new policy will focus on a hassle-free licensing procedure, restrictions for road safety and environmental considerations, and an effective enforcement mechanism.
- It aims to digitise and transparently streamline the licensing process, with a single-window system and competitive bidding for advertising rights.
More details: The policy will include content regulations and restrictions on materials used for hoardings to minimise visual clutter and plastic pollution. A robust monitoring and enforcement mechanism, including QR codes on authorised billboards, is proposed to ensure compliance.
🌳 Turahalli forest: Bengaluru’s green challenge
Turahalli Forest, one of Bengaluru’s last true forests, faces threats from encroachment, stray animals, and forest fires.
What’s it about? The forest, a deciduous shrub area, is home to wildlife like leopards and spotted deer. However, its natural habitat is under threat from human activities and invasive species like eucalyptus and acacia. Activities like rock climbing and cycling have been restricted to protect the forest.
- Wildlife activist Joseph Hoover highlights issues like illegal encroachment, garbage dumping, and forest fires, exacerbated by practices like burning dry grass for fresh grazing areas.
- Enforcement by the Forest Department is challenging due to understaffing.
A priority: Local residents and activists have raised awareness and successfully protested against plans for a tree park, which could have increased human and commercial activity in the forest. The preservation of Turahalli Forest remains a priority for both environmental and wildlife conservation.
👓 Rising eye issues in schoolchildren
A survey by the National Health Mission reveals that 3.1% of Karnataka’s government and aided schoolchildren have refractive disorders.
What’s it about? Out of 59 lakh children tested in the academic year 2023-24, 1.8 lakh were found to have eyesight problems. This is an increase from 2.7% in the previous year. The rise in refractive disorders is attributed to increased screen time and reduced outdoor activities among children.
- The Health and Family Welfare Department is distributing free spectacles to affected children, with 52,351 receiving them so far this year.
- No regional variations were observed in the survey results.
More children may be affected: Private practitioners believe the survey numbers are too low, with many classrooms having at least 50% of children with refractive errors, especially post-Covid.
🏥 Sakra World Hospital’s expansion
Sakra World Hospital announces a ₹1,000 crore investment to establish a new 500-bed facility in Banaswadi, Bengaluru North, set to open in 2026.
What’s it about? The upcoming hospital will span 600,000 sqft and offer advanced oncology treatments and rehabilitation programmes. This expansion is a collaboration between Secom Medical System and Toyota Tsusho, aiming to provide world-class healthcare solutions.
- Sakra World Hospital, a joint venture between Secom and Toyota Tsusho Corporation, currently operates a 350-bed hospital in Marathahalli and plans to reach a 1,000-bed capacity in the next 3-4 years.
- The hospital is exploring additional facilities in Sarjapur and Old Madras Road.
Bottom line: With 50% of its business coming from insured patients, Sakra World Hospital reported a revenue of ₹500 crore in the 2023 financial year and anticipates a 10% growth this year. The hospital is NABH accredited and employs the Kaizen approach for safety protocols and quality care.
📊 Today’s Poll
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Have you been on a food walk in Bengaluru?
- I have been on a food walk in Bengaluru.
- I’ve not been on a food walk in Bengaluru.
❓ Today’s Question
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Which luxury vehicle would you like to buy?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Royal Challengers Bangalore win the Women’s Premier League title.
- The 7th Pay Commission has recommended a substantial 27.5% hike in basic pay for Karnataka government employees.
- MTR has set a Guinness World Record by making the longest dosa at 123 feet.
- Under the ‘Naanu Kooda Raitha’ project, 600 women fruit farmers have been upskilled.
- The first section of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project is expected to be completed by December 2025.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!