Good morning, Bengaluru!
⛈️ Today’s weather: Don’t forget your umbrellas; it’s going to be cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms.
🧐 Did you know? Today, at 12.17 pm, the sun will be directly overhead, leaving vertical objects unaccompanied by a shadow. That’s why it’s Zero Shadow Day in Bengaluru!
🚇 WhatsApp tickets slow on the uptake
Metro rides facilitated through WhatsApp QR code tickets are way below ridership numbers.
Story so far: The Hindu, through Right to Information responses, found that the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited’s (BMRCL) WhatsApp Chatbot facilitated 2,96,765 trips for commuters last month. In February, the number was 2,45,219. This month, the bot is expected to help over 3 lakh commuters.
- From April 1 – April 15, 1,76,061 trips were taken through WhatsApp QR code tickets. Monthly ridership, however, is way higher at approximately 1.5 crore.
- Reloadable smart cards facilitate 60% of trips, while 39.5% of them happen through one-time tokens purchased at stands.
What’s the issue? The WhatsApp feature was launched in November 2022. When one compares the daily ridership numbers with the rides the feature has facilitated, it becomes clear that the feature hasn’t made a dent yet.
🕳️ BBMP’s cement lament
Cemented pits next to the trees on footpaths are damaging the trees’ roots.
Story so far: Development projects would have you believe that growth and trees are antithetical. On RV Road in Jayanagar and KR Road in Basavanagudi, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is digging pits to erect electric poles next to the trees that line footpaths. It’s damaging the trees’ roots.
- Once dug up, the 5-inch pits are cemented. Placed dangerously close to the trees, the cement pits will encroach on the space needed for new roots to emerge.
- Cementing close to the roots will prevent water from reaching the lateral roots. Residents are complaining of the Palike’s negligence.
Why it matters? Lateral roots are the smaller roots that sprout from the tree’s taproot. Healthy lateral roots are critical for the tree’s growth. They stabilise the crown area and prevent the tree from tipping over.
💉 The success of TB Preventive Therapy
The state’s TB Preventive Therapy initiative has benefitted many people with latent tuberculosis (TB).
Story so far: In Karnataka, more than 13,000 people have benefited from the new Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy (TBT) initiated by the state’s health department for the household contacts of TB patients. TBT for children began seven years ago.
- The initiative is guided by the directions in the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) of 2021.
- It addresses latent TB infections, where a person is infected with the bacteria without being sick. Around 40-70% of Indians have it.
Any hurdles? The state identified 1.3 lakh household contacts, but only 2% were given the blood test. 1,509, or half of them, were found to be infected. Tracing and testing measures have only been set up in 14 districts.
🥘 Karnataka on a platter
Several restaurants in the city offer a decadent experience of regional flavours from Karnataka.
Story so far: The South Indian cuisine is peppered, nay, loaded in Bengaluru’s culinary landscape. Several restaurants in the city not only take your taste buds for a ride but are also reminiscent of cherished homemade meals.
- Malgudi Mylari Mane, a popular restaurant on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru highway, reached the city with a new outlet serving Karnataka-style cuisine. It’s got the famous Mylari dosae from Mysuru, served with coconut chutney, saagu, and butter.
- Mama Mangaalore offers Mangalurean cuisine at a bargain. It has bellada cha or filter coffee with biscuit roti, Mangaluru buns, and desserts like kappu sheera.
A melting pot: The Park Bangalore’s all-day diner, Monsoon, has flavours from all over the state. Kundapura koli saaru, Mangalurean fish curry, Bijapur mutton ghee roast, and pork pandi curry are some of the classics they offer.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
When do you like to have coffee?
- I have coffee in the morning.
- I have coffee in the evening.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
How do you plan to stay cool this summer?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- The Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway ramp is a major risk to pedestrians in front of Challaghatta Metro.
- Karnataka’s second PUC arts topper from Bengaluru regrets not being able to wear a hijab.
- Forest brigand Veerappan’s daughter distributed books to 300 schoolchildren.
- The businessperson accused in the Bengaluru voter data theft case obtained a media gag order.
- Akshaya Tritiya buys dip even as gold price drops.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I think chess is a sport: 61.5% 🏆
- I don’t consider chess a sport: 38.5%
That’s it for today. Have a great day!