Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌤️Today’s weather: It’s going to be very warm and partly sunny.
🧐 Did you know? Freedom Park, a Gandhi Nagar landmark, once harboured a central jail built in 1867 under Britain’s colonial rule. The park opened in 2009 and earned its moniker from the freedom fighters who were once jailed there.
🛬 KIA sees passenger boom
The airport makes an impressive post-COVID recovery.
Story so far: 27.5 million passengers travelled through the Kempegowda Internation Airport (KIA) in 2022, making a record 82% recovery of passenger traffic to the pre-COVID years. Re-introducing key routes and expanding present routes that link leading business hubs and travel destinations contributed to the airport’s gradual recovery. By adding 16 new courses, KIA expanded its connectivity to 75 termini.
- The final month of 2022 broke pre-COVID records since the airport drew in 3.13 million passengers. Air transport movement witnessed a 98% recovery while domestic travel reached the pre-pandemic levels entirely.
- In 2022, the airport ranked first in handling air-cargo perishables for the second time. It is also the third busiest airport in India, trailing behind the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai.
New destinations: Most airports restarted their operations fully in 2022. The opening up of international travel restarted Air India’s thrice-weekly BLR – San Francisco flights. KIA also introduced a direct flight between BLR and Sydney and an A380 service to Dubai.
- On the domestic destinations front, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi, and Hyderabad emerged at the top, accounting for 40% of KIA’s domestic traffic.
- On the international destinations front, Dubai, Male, Singapore, Doha, and Abu Dhabi took the lead, accounting for 47% of KIA’s international traffic.
📖 ‘Jagaliinda Jagattu’ book review
A filmmaker writes an autobiographical account of his travel exploits and globetrotting.
Story so far: Kannada Cinema Filmmaker Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar published a book titled Jagaliinda Jagattu, chronicling his nearly four decades’ worth of travel exploits. The book is replete with intimate details of the culture, people and lifestyles in the countries he visited.
- Adolescent Chandrashekhar wanted to be a lorry driver. He used to be fascinated by the giant lorries that passed through the Bengaluru-Mangaluru highway and was overcome by a desire to travel and explore faraway places.
- After growing up, his travel expeditions involved less sightseeing and more interaction with the ordinary folk who could lead him into the depths of the country’s culture.
His message: Chandrashekhar believes it to be a misconception that only the rich can be wanderlust and that the layperson cannot afford to visit new destinations. If one wants to travel and is willing to make it a priority, it is very well within their reach.
- The dynamic filmmaker also believes that travelling benefits one’s mental health and opens up new perspectives on life.
🧑🎓 Airbus is looking for talent
Aero India gives aerospace aspirants a chance to meet and work with Airbus.
Story so far: European aerospace giant Airbus plans to organise a public meet-and-greet at Aero India, which will be organised in the city from February 13th to February 17th. The event will aim at scouting IT and engineering students into the company’s fold. The upcoming talent hunt is part of its industrial ramp-up, which includes recruiting over 13,000 people globally, decarbonising, and preparing for the future of aviation.
- To explore career options in airframe design, avionics, aircraft systems simulation, data analytics, cybersecurity and cabin engineering, aspiring graduates can meet Airbus executives at stand number CR7.1 in Hall C.
- Visitors will have the opportunity to talk to senior Airbus officials and discover more about the company’s work and expansive footprint in South Asia.
Why it matters? According to Airbus’ HR director, the aerospace company is one of the best career options for aerospace aspirants from engineering and information management fields. The meet-and-greet is an opportunity even for those unsure about aerospace or making a career switch.
What’s on display? The Airbus stall will exhibit scale models of the new-generation tanker A330 MRTT and the C295 military aircraft that the aerospace pioneer plans to build under its ‘Make in India’ programme with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd in Gujarat.
- The stalls will also display the Pléiades Neo, OneAtlas, and Sirtap, a tactical unmanned aerial system (UAS).
- Other displays include the VSR700 from the UAS category, H225M from the military category, the H160 from the civil helicopter range, and A350, a commercial aircraft model.
☀️ BESCOM launches 3 solar projects
Deccan Herald’s inquiry drives the power distribution authority to implement its initiatives.
Story so far: Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will implement the first three projects under the ‘Soura Gruha Yojane’ solar rooftop scheme. Four years after the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched it and after the English language daily Deccan Herald’s reports on its poor implementation, the projects will see the light of day. Urban Development Minister Byrathi Basavaraj launched the first installation at Kalkere on Wednesday.
- BESCOM officials are rapidly inspecting the applications after the initial hiccups. Out of the 1,500 received applications, 200 were withdrawn. The authorities relaunched the application portal in December, which is still accessible for those interested.
- Reluctant vendors posed an impediment to the execution of the scheme. A meeting with the Karnataka Renewable Energy Systems Manufacturers Association (KRESMA) helped quicken the process.
About the scheme: In March 2019, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy introduced the Soura Gruha Yojana, which required city power distribution authorities to act as nodal agents. Under this scheme, consumers are awarded a 40% subsidy for solar installations up to 3kW and a 20% subsidy for installations over 3kW.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you listen to podcasts?
- Yes, I listen to podcasts.
- No, I don’t enjoy podcasts.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Who are your favourite content creators to watch on Youtube or Instagram?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Bangalore University will soon become the first campus in the city to ditch plastic.
- The Urban Development Department has turned down the BBMP’s request seeking funds to develop four lakes.
- The first G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group Meeting will be held in the city from February 9 to 11.
- Bengaluru municipal body makes a U-turn and allows the sale of non-vegetarian food within 10km of Aero India.
- RoadMetrics, a Bengaluru-based startup, has AI solutions for potholes.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I would travel to the past: 70.0% 🏆
- I would travel to the future: 30.0%
That’s it for today. Have a great day!