Good morning, Bengaluru!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 36 ℃ | Low: 21 ℃ | Mainly clear sky.
🧐 Did you know? To date, Karnataka has elected only three Independent MPs: SM Siddappa from Bijapur North in 1957, Dinakara Desai from the Canara Lok Sabha constituency in 1967, and Sumalatha Ambareesh from Mandya in 2019.
🗳️ Educated independent candidates
Bengaluru’s high-calibre independents enter Lok Sabha polls.
Educated independents: This election season, Bengaluru is witnessing an interesting trend where at least eight highly educated Independent candidates, some with international degrees, are vying for seats. These individuals, campaigning on distinct issues, view this participation as potentially opening doors to mainstream politics in the future.
- Candidates like Harisha Gowda and Tintisha Hemachandra Sagar from Bengaluru South emphasize on reforming public healthcare and reaching out to the masses respectively.
- Independents contesting from Bengaluru North and Central include Sudha V, a school principal, and Vasanth Kumar E, an HR professional, each bringing unique concerns and goals to their campaigns.
Challenges: Despite their qualifications and passion, these Independents face significant challenges in gaining visibility and voter awareness due to the dominant focus on major political parties. With a historical backdrop of only three Independent MPs ever elected in Karnataka, their journey is fraught with hurdles, yet they remain hopeful of making a significant impact.
🚖 Discounted rides for startups
viaDOTS offers cab fare relief for Bengaluru startups.
Startup discounts: In Bengaluru, viaDOTS, a digital meter taxi service, is launching a partnership initiative that allows startups to offer their employees discounted cab rides during surge pricing periods. This move aims to make commuting more affordable for thousands of startup employees in the city.
- Exclusive employee discount codes will be provided to startups partnering with viaDOTS, enhancing affordability during peak traffic hours.
- The Digital Meter Taxi model of viaDOTS ensures fair pricing for both drivers and riders, contributing to equitable commute costs.
Avoiding surge pricing: A viaDOTS spokesperson highlighted the challenges faced by Bengaluru’s workforce during peak hours, including delayed commutes and higher costs, which impact their well-being. This new feature intends to alleviate these issues by enabling employees to access lower fares and the option to ride with preferred drivers, fostering a more pleasant and efficient commuting experience.
🛤️ Land for suburban rail
SWR allocates land for new suburban rail.
Land transferred: The South Western Railway (SWR) has successfully allocated 115 acres for the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project, which includes a 46.88-km line connecting Heelalige to Rajanukunte. The land transfer to K-RIDE marks a significant step forward in addressing Bengaluru’s transportation needs.
- The agreement for the transfer involved a reduction of land for Corridor 2, decreasing from 157.07 acres to 85.707 acres.
- K-RIDE has also begun groundwork on Corridor 4 after delays, aiming for completion by December 2026.
A critical initiative: This project, valued at ₹15,767 crore, has faced challenges, including coordination issues and delays in alignment approvals. With deadlines set for 2026 and 2027 for different phases, the initiative is critical for improving connectivity, particularly to Bengaluru’s airport.
🚕 Namma Yatri’s cab-hailing service launched
Namma Yatri broadens its transport offerings in Bengaluru.
What’s it about? Namma Yatri, initially focused on auto rides, has introduced a cab booking feature in its app for Bengaluru users, marking a significant expansion in its service range. This development is part of the platform’s broader growth strategy across Indian cities.
- The platform has recently entered the Chennai and Delhi markets, and its parent company launched a new app in Hyderabad.
- Namma Yatri has successfully hived off into a separate entity, Moving Tech Innovations, to streamline its operations.
Competing with the rest: With over 2.1 lakh drivers and 50 lakh customers, Namma Yatri is making a strong impact in the competitive Indian ride-hailing market, projected to reach $7.36 billion by 2028. The company’s strategic partnerships with Google Maps and ONDC aim to enhance public transport services further.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Are you planning to vote this time?
- I am planning to vote this time.
- I’m not planning to vote this time.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
If you were the MP of your area, what would be your first intervention?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Sporting Club Bengaluru has been crowned the champion of I-League 2 and earned promotion to the I-League.
- Noventiq is set to hire about 500 people this fiscal year and has opened a new office in Bengaluru.
- Honda has begun construction on a new spare parts warehouse facility in Bengaluru.
- Read the story about Suchitra Film Society’s contribution to Bengaluru’s film culture.
- JJG Aero, an aerospace components manufacturer based in Bengaluru, secured US$12 million in its first round of funding from CX Partners.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I prefer wearing a cap while stepping out: 30.0%
- I don’t prefer wearing a cap while stepping out: 70.0% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
Which electronics brand do you trust the most?
Arushi: “Sony”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!