Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌫️ Today’s weather: High: 29 ℃ | Low: 15 ℃ | Mist.
🧐 Did you know? Bengaluru Metro fares have remained constant for the past eight years.
🚨 ED raids BBMP
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on multiple offices linked to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) as part of a money laundering investigation.
What’s it about? The probe pertains to alleged irregularities in civic projects, including the digging of borewells and installation of Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants, with a total project value exceeding ₹827 crore.
- The raids, which targeted six BBMP-linked offices, stem from a complaint filed by former BBMP councillor and BJP leader NR Ramesh.
- Ramesh had alleged a multi-crore scam involving embezzlement of ₹400 crore in 50 out of 66 BBMP zones between 2016 and 2019.
BBMP cooperative: During the raids, the ED collected numerous documents and electronic devices, marking the start of its preliminary investigation. BBMP Engineer-in-Chief BS Prahlad has confirmed that the civic body is cooperating with the investigation by providing the requested records related to the borewell and RO projects.
🚇 Yellow Line in April
Namma Metro is set to open the 19.15-km Yellow Line connecting RV Road and Bommasandra by April 2025.
What’s it about? The line includes 16 stations and is projected to serve 2.5 lakh daily passengers. However, initial operations may face challenges due to a limited fleet of trains and high headway times.
- Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL) has handed over the first India-made driverless train for the Yellow Line at its Uttarpara, West Bengal plant.
- TRSL plans to deliver two more trains by April, ramping up production to two trains per month starting in September.
Driverless: These six-coach trains utilise Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) for driverless operations. A prototype train imported from China in February 2024 is undergoing trial runs for the same, while the newly delivered train will arrive in Bengaluru by January 20 for additional testing. Statutory inspections by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) will follow these tests.
🏢 Office leasing topper
Bengaluru led India’s office space market in 2024, achieving a record gross leasing of nearly 21.8 million sq ft.
What’s it about? The city accounted for 28% of the total office leasing across nine major cities, making it the top performer, followed by Hyderabad (16%) and Mumbai (15%). Overall, India’s office leasing activity reached an all-time high of 79 million sq ft in 2024, marking a 16% year-on-year growth.
- 2024 also witnessed the completion of 52.3 million sq ft of new office space, with Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune contributing 67% of the total supply.
- Bengaluru’s dominance was driven by sustained demand across technology, BFSI, and engineering sectors, as well as the expansion of Global Capability Centres (GCCs).
Domestic absorption: Domestic firms led the absorption of office spaces, taking up 45%, driven by technology, BFSI, and flexible space operators. Companies from the Americas followed at 34%, with Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at 16%, and Asia Pacific at 5%.
📁 Ctrl C, Ctrl V
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has come under scrutiny after the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a ₹9.5 crore underground tunnel project was found riddled with copy-paste errors.
What’s it about? Prepared by New Delhi-based Rodic Consultants Private Limited, the DPR outlines plans for a tunnel connecting Hebbal Esteem Mall Junction to Silk Board Junction, aimed at alleviating traffic congestion and reducing travel time.
- The DPR was completed in just three months but included glaring mistakes, such as traffic data from cities in Maharashtra (Malegaon and Nashik) being erroneously used instead of Bengaluru locations.
- Despite these issues, the DPR outlines an ambitious plan to reduce travel time between Hebbal and Silk Board Junction from 90 minutes to just 20 minutes via an underground tunnel featuring three entry and exit ramps.
Investigation on: The BBMP is investigating the errors and has hired a second consultant, Altinok Consulting, to conduct a separate feasibility study of the same corridor at an additional cost of ₹4.7 crore.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Between the ED and the BBMP, which entity do you believe to be more corrupt?
- I believe the BBMP to be more corrupt than the ED.
- I believe the ED to be more corrupt than the BBMP.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
After loco pilots, what other jobs in the BMRCL can be automated?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Tim Hortons has announced its expansion in India with another store coming up in the city.
- NESCO shares jumped 4.80% to ₹1,043 after the company emerged as the highest bidder for the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway Corridor.
- Over 1,000 ASHA workers have initiated an indefinite strike at Freedom Park demanding fair pay.
- 6.5 tonnes of the city’s gutkha was seized from smugglers in Avadi.
- The state government is planning a ₹145 crore tourism project near Manchanabele Dam.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- Another lockdown is likely over HMPV concerns: 0.0%
- Another lockdown is not likely over HMPV concerns: 100.0% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great day!