Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 28 ℃ | Low: 20 ℃ | Generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers.
🧐 Did you know? Bengaluru had its own stock exchange from 1963 to 2014.
📒 Accessible e-khatas
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has introduced e-khata services at all BangaloreOne centres, providing residents with affordable and accessible access to property records.
What’s it about? This initiative aims to prevent exploitation by private cyber centres, which often charge as much as ₹5,000 for these services. Now, citizens can obtain e-khata services at any BangaloreOne centre for a nominal fee of ₹45, as confirmed by BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath.
- The process at BangaloreOne centres is straightforward. Citizens can upload required documents and complete their applications for the final e-khata copy with assistance from trained staff, ensuring ease of access for those without digital skills.
- Additionally, draft e-khatas for about 22 lakh properties are available on the BBMP website, enabling residents to review their property details without visiting BBMP’s revenue department.
Complaint process: For any issues during the e-khata application process, residents can fill out a simple one-page complaint form at the BangaloreOne help desk. This new, streamlined complaint form includes necessary applicant and property details, facilitating faster issue resolution.
🛣️ New Bengaluru-Mangaluru highway
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has initiated plans to construct a high-speed expressway connecting Bengaluru and Mangaluru to improve connectivity between Karnataka’s southern and coastal regions.
What’s it about? In July, MoRTH invited bids to find a consultant for the project’s detailed report, and as of date, nine firms have submitted their technical proposals. The ministry plans to award the contract in 2025, allowing the selected consultant 540 days to complete the detailed project report (DPR), with construction expected to start by 2028.
- The proposed expressway will span approximately 335 kilometres, linking Bengaluru with Mangaluru through a faster, more direct route that passes through Hassan.
- The Karnataka Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will coordinate on land acquisition and route alignment.
Travel time reduction: Once complete, this new expressway is anticipated to drastically reduce travel time between the two cities making it a significant boost to the region’s transportation infrastructure.
🤖 Amazon for students
Amazon India has launched the Amazon Future Engineer Makerspace facility in Bengaluru to offer free, hands-on training in technology for underserved school students.
What’s it about? The new facility aims to empower over 4,000 young learners by 2025 by providing immersive learning experiences in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), computing, and 3D printing.
- The program will engage students from Classes 5 to 12 in partnership with the educational group The Innovation Story.
- The Makerspace will offer various learning tracks: beginner sessions of three to four hours to introduce students to basic robotics and coding, while advanced six-hour programs will dive deeper into robotics, programming, and design over two days.
Well equipped: Equipped with 3D printers, lathes, electronics kits, and tools for international competitions, Makerspace will provide a robust environment where students will be able to develop practical skills.
🚕 Taxi troubles
Passengers at the Kempegowda International Airport are facing lengthy waits, often exceeding an hour, for rides from cab aggregators like Ola and Uber.
What’s it about? The long lines at dedicated taxi stands have frustrated travellers, as a shortage of drivers willing to do airport duty has led to extended waiting times with several factors contributing to the shortage of drivers at the airport.
- The airport’s distance from the city, about 50 kilometres from central Bengaluru, requires drivers to commit to long, time-consuming trips, often lasting one to two hours.
- Drivers also face hefty toll fees, increased pick-up tariffs, and uncertainty about return fares, making airport trips less financially viable than city rides.
Better alternatives: Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses also offer stiff competition to the taxi business by offering frequent services between the airport and various city areas. Many travellers prefer these buses, as they provide a convenient and cost-effective alternative to taxis.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you been to a BangaloreOne centre?
- I have been to a BangaloreOne centre.
- I have not been to a BangaloreOne centre.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Which of Karnataka’s coastal towns is the best?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- The Forest Department has filed a case against the producers of Yash’s ‘Toxic’ for allegedly axing trees on forest land.
- Bengaluru’s Regional Passport Office issued a landmark passport to the son of a transgender human rights activist without listing the father’s name.
- Former vice-chancellor of Bangalore University Prof. M.S. Thimmappa passed away from a brain injury.
- Haveus AeroTech India has commissioned a new warehousing facility near the Bengaluru International Airport.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated BPL MedTech’s second Manufacturing facility in the city.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have purchased/sold land: 26.7%
- I have not purchased/sold land: 73.3% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great day!