Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 28 ℃ | Low: 21 ℃ | Generally cloudy sky with a few spells of rain or thundershowers.
🧐 Did you know? The inspiration for the nomenclature of ‘Malgudi Days’ came from RK Narayan combining the names of Malleshwaram and Basavanagudi.
📇 Parivar Card for BBMP workers
BBMP workers will now benefit from the newly launched ‘Parivar Card,’ providing access to diagnostic services.
What’s it about? Unveiled by Yelahanka MLA SR Vishwanath in the presence of BBMP Commissioner Kari Gowda and Neuberg Diagnostics Group COO Aishwarya Vasudevan, the card aims to improve the health and well-being of BBMP workers by offering a range of diagnostic services at discounted rates.
- The benefits of the Parivar Card extend to the immediate family members of the BBMP workers.
- Neuberg Diagnostics said that this initiative underscores their commitment to giving back to the dedicated municipal workforce of the city.
Promoting community health: The card aims to ensure the municipal workforce receives timely and affordable medical care, thereby promoting a healthier community.
🚂 Bengaluru-Chennai Mail cancellations
The KSR Bengaluru-MGR Chennai Central Mail train will be non-operational on specific dates in July and August.
What’s it about? Due to ongoing work at the Bengaluru yard, South Western Railway has announced the cancellation of the KSR Bengaluru-MGR Chennai Central Mail train on several dates. Specifically, train No. 12658, departing from KSR Bengaluru at 10:40 PM, will be cancelled on July 30, August 6, and August 13.
- Similarly, train No. 12657, departing from MGR Chennai Central at 10:50 PM, will not operate on July 31, August 7, and August 14.
- The Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Coimbatore Express (No. 11013) will bypass certain stops and take an alternate route on July 29, August 5, and August 12.
Other changes: The Mysuru-MGR Chennai Central Kaveri Express (No. 16022) and the MGR Chennai Central-Mysuru Kaveri Express (No. 16021) will also follow different routes on July 30, August 6, and August 13, with additional stoppages provided at specific stations to accommodate passengers.
🏛️ Property tax settlement
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has announced a one-time settlement scheme for overdue property taxes.
What’s it about? The scheme for clearing overdue property tax in the city will be available until July 31. The scheme offers a 50% concession on penalties and a 100% concession on interest payments, urging residents to clear their outstanding taxes before the deadline.
- Due to elections, the BBMP had not actively pursued property tax collections, leading to the introduction of this scheme.
- Over 50,000 people have already taken advantage of the OTS scheme, with another 4 lakh yet to pay.
Digitised taxation: Properties within the tax bracket are being digitised, with 8 lakh already completed and the rest expected within three months.
🎓 Management quota overbooked
Engineering seats in Bengaluru under the management quota in top colleges are selling for as much as ₹64 lakh.
What’s it about? The majority of private engineering colleges in the city have increased their management quota fees by at least ₹10 lakh this academic year from around ₹54 lakh last year to ₹64 lakh this year, requiring ₹32 lakh to be paid in the first year and the remaining amount over the next three years.
- Despite the steep price, these seats, especially in computer science and related fields, have already been filled.
- Experts attribute this high demand to the perceived prestige of certain institutions and the affordability among affluent families.
AICTE’s fallout: The increase in management quota seats follows AICTE’s removal of the cap on intake enhancement, with some colleges now offering up to 1,000 seats, 20% of which are reserved for management quota.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Are you liable to pay the property tax?
- I am liable to pay property tax.
- I am not liable to pay property tax.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s your take on management quotas being allowed in colleges?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- The state government is drafting a bill which could split BBMP into smaller corporations.
- The Maharashtra government held a roadshow in the city to attract investments for its IT sector.
- Vinod Jaiswal has been appointed as the CGM of the SBI’s Bengaluru Circle.
- HD Kumaraswamy has proposed a Steel Research Centre in the city after taking over as the Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries.
- ‘Theatre Prepares’ is holding a 20-day theatre boot camp in the city.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I visit BBMP parks frequently: 63.6% 🏆
- I am not a frequent BBMP park visitor: 36.4%
That’s it for today. Have a great day!