Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: Cloudy sky with light rain.
🧐 Did you know? The Bengaluru Mysuru Expressway is 119 km long.
🛣️ Satellite town connectivity
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is nearing the inauguration of 80 km of the 288-km Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR), designed to encircle Bengaluru and enhance connectivity.
Story so far: The STRR aims to facilitate smoother travel between Bengaluru and its neighbouring towns. Once completed, long-distance commercial vehicles won’t need to enter Bengaluru, and traffic between satellite towns can bypass the city entirely. It is expected to bolster the economies of several satellite towns, including Dobbaspet, Devanahalli, Hoskote, and Ramanagara. Notably, 45 km of the road will be in Tamil Nadu, bringing towns like Hosur closer to Bengaluru.
- STRR’s integration with the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway will streamline passenger and freight traffic to the Chennai and Krishnapatnam ports.
- The road will also link to the proposed Bengaluru-Pune Expressway and provide access to the ₹1,800-crore Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) near Nelamangala.
Current status: Construction is underway or nearing completion for half of the STRR’s total length. The NHAI plans to finish 80 km of NH 648 by December 2023. The most challenging aspect of the project, obtaining environmental clearance for a section passing through the Bannerghatta forests, is being addressed.
⛐ Decline in expressway accidents
The number of fatal accidents on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway saw a decline in August.
Story so far: The Bengaluru Mysuru Expressway, which had been a hotspot for fatal accidents, has seen a significant decrease in such incidents. Karnataka’s additional director general of police (traffic and safety), Alok Kumar, highlighted this improvement and commended the police teams for their strict enforcement of traffic laws and actions against rule violators on the expressway.
- The Expressway reported 100 deaths and 335 injuries from accidents up until June this year.
- In August, there were six recorded fatalities, a decrease from eight in July. This is a substantial drop from the 29 deaths in May and 28 in June.
Safety inspection: The National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) had previously dispatched an expert committee to assess and inspect the safety features of this road. To enhance safety, the NHAI banned non-motor vehicles, two-wheelers, and auto-rickshaws on the expressway starting from August 1.
✊🏾 Transport strike on September 11
Autos, cabs, and private buses in Bengaluru will be off the roads on September 11.
Story so far: The Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Associations has announced this strike, expressing dissatisfaction with the state government’s failure to address their primary demand. The association seeks compensation for private travel operators who have experienced revenue losses following the introduction of the Shakti scheme.
- On the day of the strike, all taxi aggregators, including those serving the airport, autos, school buses, and all private buses will cease operations.
- Additionally, a rally is planned to commence at the Kranti Veera Sangolli Rayanna station at 11 am, culminating at Freedom Park.
What they say: Nataraj Sharma, the nominated president of the federation, highlighted that Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy had promised to address the concerns of private travel operators after consulting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. However, this consultation has not taken place yet.
🚦 Traffic volunteers needed
The Bengaluru City Police Traffic Warden Organization (BCPTWO) is actively seeking more volunteers to ensure safer roads in the city.
Story so far: Despite the organization’s recruitment drives occurring twice annually, the turnout of volunteer participants remains low. Srinivas Shenoy, the Deputy Chief Traffic Warden, expressed concern over the current number of volunteers, which stands at 900, including only 62 women. He emphasized that with over 40,000 junctions in Bengaluru, the existing volunteer force is insufficient to regulate them all.
- The BCPTWO’s operations encompass three main divisions: regulation, education, and engineering. In the regulation division, each warden commits approximately 16 hours monthly to traffic duty. The organization also conducts educational programs to raise traffic safety awareness among students.
- The engineering division focuses on enhancing road infrastructure in line with the city’s growth. For instance, construction vehicles causing nighttime traffic disruptions are addressed by volunteers liaising with relevant agencies.
Safety first: Shenoy highlighted the importance of public participation, stating that adhering to safety rules can significantly reduce accidents. He emphasized the need to prioritise safety over speed and mentioned the importance of wearing helmets.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you travelled on the Bengaluru Mysuru Expressway?
- I have travelled on the Bengaluru Mysuru Expressway.
- I haven’t travelled on the Bengaluru Mysuru Expressway.
❓ Today’s Question
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What is the meaning of your name?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Former CM HD Kumaraswamy was discharged from a hospital after undergoing treatment for a couple of days.
- IndiGo Airbus A320 diverts to Bengaluru after failure to land at Hyderabad airport.
- A new policy is on the anvil to promote eco-tourism activities in Karnataka.
- Three chefs bring exciting menus to the city in September from South-East Asia, Goa and Lucknow.
- Blend Bazaar, Bengaluru’s ultimate fusion festival will be back with its second edition on the 7th and 8th of October.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!