Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: Cloudy with some rain.
🧐 Did you know? The Presidential Tower in Yeshwantpur is the tallest building in Bengaluru. It is 161 metres (528 ft) tall and has 50 floors.
🛣️ Longest flyover on OMR
Bengaluru is set to build its longest flyover on OMR.
What’s it about? Bengaluru’s traffic woes on Old Madras Road (OMR) are set to be addressed with the construction of the city’s longest flyover, as announced by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). This 15-kilometre-long structure, starting near KR Puram police station and extending to Kolathur Junction, aims to decongest the heavily trafficked OMR, notorious for its peak-hour gridlocks.
- The NHAI’s project also includes integrating existing underbridges into the new flyover for smoother transit.
- Estimated to cost Rs 1,500 crore, the flyover will be funded through a Hybrid Annuity Model, combining resources from NHAI and the contractor.
Toll: This extensive infrastructure project, expected to be detailed in a report by March 2024, is poised to significantly improve traffic flow and connectivity in eastern Bengaluru, offering a toll-free surface road for city travellers while the flyover will be tolled.
🤝🏽 Adobe acquires Rephrase.ai
Adobe enhances its AI capabilities with the acquisition of Bengaluru-based startup Rephrase.ai.
What happened? Adobe, a leading US tech company, has acquired Rephrase.ai, a Bengaluru-based AI video creation startup. This acquisition, Adobe’s first in the Indian startup ecosystem, particularly in generative AI, is set to enhance its AI-powered video content tools.
- Rephrase.ai’s team will largely be retained, and its investors are to receive a complete cash exit.
- Founders of Rephrase.ai will be compensated with cash and Adobe stock.
The team: Founded by Ashray Malhotra, Nisheeth Lahoti, and Shivam Mangla, Rephrase.ai has raised $13.9 million to date. Adobe is actively developing generative AI products, including within its Creative Cloud suite.
🚌 School transport crackdown
Bengaluru police book nearly 1,000 vehicles for overloading schoolchildren.
What’s it about? In a targeted drive, the Bengaluru police have booked 994 cases against private vehicles, including buses and autorickshaws, for overloading schoolchildren. This enforcement action, conducted between 2.30 pm and 4.30 pm on Tuesday, is in compliance with government norms and a Karnataka High Court order.
- Vehicles were found carrying 50-60% more children than their prescribed capacity.
- Offences were registered under section 177 of the Indian Motor Vehicle Act.
More on this: The drive, which inspected 2,050 vehicles, revealed that many school buses and white-board vans were exceeding their seating capacities, violating Supreme Court guidelines. Traffic divisions across the city actively participated in the operation, with the highest number of cases booked in the traffic east division.
🎞️ International Kids Film Festival 2023
The 6th International Kids Film Festival is happening in Bengaluru today.
What’s it about? The 6th edition of the International Kids Film Festival (IKFF) is set to be held in Bengaluru at the ASC Centre and College today. Organized by LXL Ideas and presented by School Cinema, IKFF is a unique global film festival showcasing 75 award-winning children’s films from 20 countries in 15 languages. The festival, running from November 14 to November 30, will be hosted by schools across India.
- IKFF includes online filmmaking workshops and the world’s largest student filmmaking competition.
- It partners with prestigious international festivals and features a diverse jury, including global film industry figures.
Storytelling as education: The festival’s goal is to introduce children to the world of visual storytelling and film as educational tools. With its philosophy of bringing the film festival experience to children, IKFF saw significant participation in 2019, with 7.5 million students from 26,000 schools in India engaging in the festival.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you believe in Ayurvedic health treatments?
- I believe in Ayurvedic health treatments.
- I don’t believe in Ayurvedic health treatments.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
How often do you go to watch a movie in theatres?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- The Richmond Circle flyover’s pillars feature murals of ten cricket legends from Karnataka.
- Reebok opened its new flagship store in Kammanahalli, Bengaluru.
- BMTC seeks exemption from paying toll fees on NICE road.
- 3,553 ticketless passengers were booked by KSRTC in the month of October.
- Brigade Road and Vittal Mallya Road feature among the most expensive markets in India for 2023.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I like Lalbagh more than Cubbon Park: 25.0%
- I like Cubbon Park more than Lalbagh: 75.0% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
Which state in India would you like to visit for a vacation?
Himanshu: “Kashmir”
Simon: “Meghalaya”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!