Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 30 ℃ | Low: 21 ℃ | Generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers.
🧐 Did you know? The official name of the Outer Ring Road is Dr Puneeth Rajkumar Vartula Raste.
🍆 HOPCOMS’ downfall
Horticultural Producers Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society Limited (HOPCOMS), the city’s state-run supplier of fresh produce, has seen a decline in its operations, with its outlets dropping from 316 to 200.
What’s it about? The decrease is attributed to financial losses, infrastructure issues, and staffing shortages. Many outlets closed due to ongoing construction projects and a lack of new staff hires, as HOPCOMS now operates with only 360 employees, down from 900.
- To address these issues, the Horticulture Department has approved the hiring of 50 contract workers to help revive the organisation.
- Plans are underway to reopen closed outlets and potentially establish new ones in high-demand areas.
Suggestions galore: The decline has impacted both farmers and consumers, as HOPCOMS was originally established to bypass middlemen and provide farm-fresh produce directly to the public. Customers and officials suggest modernising operations, including digital platforms for home delivery and supply chain improvements, as potential strategies to restore HOPCOMS’ former prominence.
✈️ Goa flight forced to return
An IndiGo flight from Bengaluru to Goa was forced to return to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) due to severe weather and fuel shortage.
What’s it about? The flight, an Airbus A321 carrying 222 passengers, departed Bengaluru at 5:50 pm and was scheduled to land in Goa at 6:45 pm. However, intense thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in Goa made landing impossible, prompting the aircraft to return to Bengaluru.
- The flight landed back at KIA at 7:45 pm, avoiding critically low fuel levels.
- Passengers experienced significant delays, with the flight only reaching Goa around 11:00 pm.
Other affected: Severe weather not only affected this flight but also led to the diversion of five other aircraft, two to Hyderabad and three back to Bengaluru. Normal operations at Goa’s Dabolim Airport resumed around midnight.
🛵 Resting points for gig workers
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya highlighted Vega City Mall’s initiative of providing resting points for gig workers.
What’s it about? The callout came in the context of Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal’s criticism of discriminatory practices at shopping malls against delivery partners. In response to Goyal calling out Gurgaon’s Ambience Mall, Surya shared that since June 2023, Vega City Mall has offered delivery workers a resting area with essential amenities like first aid, drinking water, and clean restrooms.
- These spaces allow gig workers to relax while waiting for orders.
- Surya also mentioned that special facilities have been set up outside his office in Jayanagar for wheelchair-bound delivery partners, providing water, restrooms, and mobile charging points.
MP thanked: Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, who recently worked as a delivery agent to better understand their challenges, thanked Surya for his efforts to improve the delivery partners’ working environment.
💰 ₹999 crore deposit
Prabhakar S, a city coffee shop owner, discovered ₹999 crore unexpectedly deposited into his wife’s savings account at the Central Bank of India.
What’s it about? Initially thinking it was a simple mistake, Prabhakar’s ordeal began when his account was frozen within 48 hours, preventing him from conducting basic transactions for his business.
- Despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue with the bank, including visits and emails, Prabhakar has received no clear answers.
- His inability to pay vendors now puts his livelihood at risk.
Indifferent bank: Prabhakar has expressed frustration over the bank’s indifference and lack of communication regarding when the issue would be resolved. Financial experts believe the massive deposit was likely a technical glitch requiring further investigation.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Feeling existential lately? Perhaps you’ll get some laughs at Rahul Subramanian’s show ‘Who are you?’
- Beat it out at the Big Bollywood Night with DJ Reonn.
- Catch the legendary Hilight Tribe, back in the city after five years.
- Discover connections at a strangers’ meet only for Gen-Z.
- Try your luck and go on a blind date.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- AI’s traffic control will be better than that of human controllers: 100.0% 🏆
- AI’s traffic control will not be better than that of human controllers: 0.0%
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!