Good morning, Bengaluru!
☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny skies and some breeze.
🧐 Did you know? The first-ever Test played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, between 22 – 29 November 1974, was the debut of batting giants Viv Richards and Gordon Greenidge.
💸 ₹11,163 crore budget
The BBMP has announced a budget with surplus of at least ₹6 crore.
Story so far: On Thursday, the BBMP announced its annual budget for 2023-24 with an outlay of ₹11,163 crore. Its estimates reveal that centre-state grants could go up to ₹4,093 crore and the expenditure is estimated to be ₹11,157 crore, displaying a surplus of around ₹6 crore.
- The civic body has announced a few new flyovers, including one near Gokula road, Mathikere, ORR-pipeline junction at Jalahalli, over Mekhri circle underpass on Jayamahal road, and Sadashivanagar police station circle.
- It has earmarked ₹1,410 crore for the white-topping of 150 km of roads. It has allotted ₹450 crore for the development of 350 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads.
Other work: Smaller allocations have been made for widening the Bannerghatta road and grade separation at the Wilson garden and Yelahanka flyover.
🧓 Senior living space
A new senior living space offers exclusive residences and community engagement.
Story so far: On March 1, Columbia Pacific Communities (CPC) and Embassy Group launched Serene Amara by Columbia Pacific, a senior living space, at Embassy Springs, Bengaluru. Embassy Springs is a 288-acre integrated township at Devanahalli, near the Kempegowda International Airport.
- Serene Amara comprises 239 exclusive residences and 17 floors spread over 2.44 acres.
- The residences in 1, 2, and 3 BHK configurations are priced between ₹60 lakh and ₹1.48 crore.
Why it matters? The developers have infused ₹165 crore in building the community space for seniors. It proposes to host resident engagement events like book readings, yoga and mindfulness sessions, drums class, pottery, and storytelling workshops.
🏥 Upgraded beds at Victoria Hospital
Mahabodhi burns centre introduces new facilities for patients’ convenience.
Story so far: Under a new initiative, ‘Single Bed Single Patient’, Victoria Hospital will offer separate rooms and remote-operated beds to all burns victims. Now, patients admitted to the Mahabodhi burns ward can avail of quality treatment, free from cross-infection.
- The HoD for Plastic Surgery and Burns reveals that the ward receives around 200 burn patients per month. Patients from different parts of the state visit the hospital for its specialised care. During their stay, cross-infection is of vital concern to the staff.
- The beds are similar to the ones in advanced intensive care units (ICU) that are operated in the least inconvenient way for the patients.
Why it matters? Doctors reveal that the burns ward’s upgraded facilities have helped them treat patients with dignity and care. The remote-controlled bed helps them attend to burns without moving or lifting the patients. Besides the new changes, the Mahabodhi burns centre is equipped to treat third-degree burns, and the hospital has a skin bank.
📽️ Samabhav Film Festival
The film festival will screen critically acclaimed movies and foster a healthy discussion.
Story so far: A travelling film festival offers a first-of-its-kind two-day screening of films based on gender, masculinity, sexuality, diversity, and inclusion. The film festival is scheduled for March 3 and 4 in Bengaluru. The Centre for Social Action, Christ University, JAIN University, Bengaluru, in collaboration with Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA), a Mumbai-based voluntary organisation, have organised the event.
- Samabhav features 24 national and international short films, documentaries and feature films like Hasina, Naanu Ladies, Gandi Baat, We Need to Talk, Gair, From the Shadows, Ujjhyo, Counterfeit Kunkoo, Footprints, and Binary Error.
- The festival runs from 10 am to 7 pm. On day one, the screenings will happen at Christ University’s Central Campus on Hosur Road. On the second day, films will be screened at the School of Sciences Auditorium on the JC Road Campus.
Why it matters? Samabhav, which means equanimity, will travel to 15 locations across India, including Bengaluru, Pune, Guwahati, Chennai, Kochi, Srinagar, Gorakhpur, Bilaspur, Kohima, and four rural districts in Maharashtra. It aims to engage young minds and elicit conversations on contemporary gender issues.
- The festival seeks to create a safe, non-threatening space that’s conducive to celebrating diversity.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Sing along with Arijit Singh at the Nice Ground on Saturday.
- The Under 25 Summit 2023 is a transformational experience created for students.
- Art and Flea Project is back in Bengaluru with a showcase of fashion brands.
- Join the UCB Vol 2 Holi Festival on Sunday at the Koramangala Club.
- ‘One Day at IIM Bangalore’ is Vikasana’s flagship event for aspiring students.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I like watching anime: 33.3%
- I don’t watch anime: 66.7% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!