Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 33 ℃ | Low: 24 ℃ | Partly cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers.
🧐 Did you know? Bengaluru has about 1.45 lakh auto drivers, out of which only around 200 are women, per some estimates.
📢 A mixed noise report
Bengaluru’s latest noise pollution data reveals significant improvements in certain areas, while others continue to struggle with escalating noise levels.
What’s it about? Recent data from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) shows a substantial decrease in noise around NIMHANS, with daytime noise levels dropping by 35% and nighttime by 37% over the past five years.
- However, residential zones like BTM Layout and Teri Office in Domlur are experiencing rising noise levels, exceeding permissible limits set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
- Despite stringent regulations on noise levels, enforcement remains a significant challenge. High noise levels, primarily from vehicular traffic, continue to affect the quality of life in several residential areas.
Regulatory gap: KSPCB is tasked with the prevention and control of noise pollution, including regular inspections and enforcing penalties for violations. However, activists highlight a gap between regulations and their practical implementation.
🚕 Namma Yatri drives change
Namma Yatri, India’s first open mobility app, has significantly boosted earnings for cab drivers in Bengaluru, fetching ₹5.4 crore within a month of its launch.
What’s it about? Launched on April 16, Namma Yatri has completed over 1.7 lakh trips and registered 38,000 cab drivers, offering a direct-to-driver zero commission model that increases drivers’ daily income by an average of ₹800. This model contrasts sharply with traditional platforms where drivers typically lose 25-30% of their earnings to commissions.
- Namma Yatri, designed to optimize operational costs and enhance driver earnings, uses open-source maps and cloud optimization.
- The app includes diverse cab categories such as non-AC mini, AC mini, sedan, and XL, with a unique pricing structure that starts at ₹100 for up to 4 km for an AC mini ride.
Community and safety focus: The app encourages community participation and features safety initiatives like real-time ride tracking by trusted contacts and thorough background checks of drivers in collaboration with Bengaluru city police. From October, drivers will pay a subscription of ₹25 per day for unlimited rides, further aligning with the platform’s innovative approach to urban mobility.
🗑️ Combining cleanliness with fun
Bengaluru witnessed a unique “mango plog” event in Jayanagar, where volunteers combined trash collection with mango enjoyment, adding a fruity twist to their environmental efforts.
What’s it about? Organised by the Indian Ploggers’ Army and Helping Heroes Foundation, this special event saw over 30 participants, including children from a nearby slum, collecting approximately 30 kg of waste. Participants, adorned in various shades of yellow, contributed to the effort by bringing mangoes, which were shared among them after the cleaning session.
- G Nagaraj, the founder of the Indian Ploggers’ Army, emphasized the initiative’s dual purpose: to clean up the city and to instil responsible waste management practices among young participants.
- The children were instructed not only to enjoy the mangoes but also to save and plant the seeds or compost them, promoting a cycle of sustainability.
Community engagement: Described by volunteers as an effort to “paint the city yellow with a green touch,” the mango plog is part of a series of similar events that have historically garnered positive feedback from the community, reflecting a growing public interest in combining environmental activism with community fun.
🌲 Tree falls raise safety concerns
The recent spate of tree falls in Bengaluru due to gusty winds and heavy rains has heightened safety concerns among citizens and sparked debate over the city’s preparedness and urban planning.
What’s it about? Over 200 trees have fallen in the last week alone, posing serious risks to commuters, particularly those on two-wheelers. Residents are questioning the effectiveness of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) measures to prevent such hazards. The issue gained further attention after a distressing incident last year where a young man was severely injured by a falling tree, leading to multiple surgeries.
- BBMP officials attribute the frequent tree falls to several factors, including increased vertical development which affects trees’ root systems and overall stability.
- Despite efforts to manage the situation through the removal of dry trees and pruning, green trees, which are visually healthy but structurally weak, continue to pose challenges.
Preventive measures: In response to the growing concerns, BBMP has increased its emergency response teams to 11, comprising 88 members, to address tree fall incidents more promptly. Additionally, two months ago, BBMP established a helpline to manage reports of weak trees, receiving requests to cut down 1,200 trees.
- However, after assessments, only 300 trees were removed, and 600 were pruned to maintain the city’s green cover while ensuring public safety.
📊 Today’s Poll
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Do you listen to K-pop bands?
- I listen to K-pop bands.
- I don’t listen to K-pop bands.
❓ Today’s Question
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Which is your favourite K-pop band?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- The IMD has forecasted rain in Bengaluru for the next five days and issued a yellow alert.
- Bengaluru’s first suburban rail section is expected to be operational by the end of 2025.
- TOI is hosting Mission Admission 2024 in Bengaluru, the largest seminar-cum-expo for higher education.
- RVS College of Engineering successfully hosted its first alumni meet in Bengaluru.
- Women auto drivers in Bengaluru are challenging traditional gender roles.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!