Good morning, Bengaluru!
☁️ Today’s weather: High: 28 ℃ | Low: 20 ℃ | Cloudy day with a chance of rain.
🧐 Did you know? Central College was started in a temporary shed in January 1858 as the Bangalore High School.
🏞️ Lung space in Yelahanka
Yelahanka will soon have a new lung space on a 153-acre parcel of land.
What’s it about? Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre announced plans to build a green patch along the lines of Cubbon Park and Lalbagh with fruit-bearing and medicinal plants.
- The government is currently recovering 153 acres of land given to the Karnataka Forest Corporation Limited for plantation by the Forest Department.
- The city has grown exponentially but North Bengaluru doesn’t have a botanical garden. There are hundreds of residential layouts in and around Yelahanka. The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is also developing the Shivarama Karanth Layout spanning 17 villages.
Resident’s view: While residents have welcomed the government’s decision, they believe the focus should be on the conservation of biodiversity. They don’t want the space to be commercialised like Cubbon Park.
🏠 Floods and property values
Despite repeated flooding over the years, the city’s property values don’t take a big hit.
What’s it about? Bengaluru’s infrastructural shortcomings are on display again as heavy rains resulted in flooding across many parts of the city, including HSR Layout, Sarjapur Road, and the Outer Ring Road. Property sellers and real estate brokers ask the question – how will prices be affected? If history is any indication, not much.
- Since 2022, property prices in the city have rarely been affected due to urban flooding. Data from Square Yards showed that the per square feet property price in Yelahanka increased from ₹8,635 in Q3 2022 to ₹8,750 the following quarter.
- In other neighbourhoods, prices increased slightly for rentals of a standard 1,000-square feet apartment. During the 2022 floods, the IT corridor along the Outer Ring Road East was among the worst hit. However, demand has surpassed supply.
What are the reasons? These severe flooding incidents happen only on a few days in a year. Many see it as a short-term issue. Property owners in the affordable segment usually live with the problem since reengineering is expensive.
🌊 Redesigning drains
The BBMP has announced plans to redesign major drains to mitigate future flooding.
What’s it about? Heavy rains over the past few days have resulted in severe flooding and waterlogging across several parts of the city. BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath announced plans to redesign drains using money from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund.
- Girinath announced a meeting with World Bank officials who recommended redesigning the drains. Among the suggestions included collecting water at the Kanteerava Stadium and pumping it.
- Apart from this, the BBMP will also install sluice gates at drains and lakes and install rain gauges to monitor rainfall. ₹230 crore has been allocated.
Rain update: RR Nagar and Bommanahalli zones recorded up to 50 mm of rainfall with 97 flooding incidents reported. The Bengaluru metro will also undertake parallel drain work near the Central Silk Road.
👮 Crackdown on drunk driving
The traffic police launched a special drive across Bengaluru to crack down on drunk driving.
What’s it about? The police launched a special drive from October 14 to 20 with rigorous checkpoints at key locations. It resulted in 579 cases of drunk driving being registered.
- The operation spanned all traffic police stations. Officers inspected over 49,000 vehicles. The East Division stopped over 16,000 vehicles, resulting in 147 drunk driving cases.
- The drives were conducted from Thursday to Sunday. If it rained at some locations, they were exempted from checks.
Challenges and precautions: The drives usually occurred between 11 pm and 1 am. The police took precautions with raincoats and reflective jackets, blinkers, and arranging barricades.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you binge-watched a TV show?
- I have binge-watched a TV show.
- I haven’t binge-watched a TV show.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What hobby would you love to pursue?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Bengaluru’s private schools ignored the government’s holiday alert, which inconvenienced parents.
- The heavy rains exposed the city’s poor infrastructure as commuters faced traffic jams.
- The Festive Swap initiative at HSR Layout allows residents to swap or donate pre-owned items.
- An auto driver has gone viral for his pamphlet offering phrases for non-Kannaidigas.
- The Bangalore Chorus will premiere its big production of the classic Broadway musical Annie this weekend.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I buy sweets for family members and relatives for Diwali: 40.0%
- I don’t buy sweets for family members and relatives for Diwali: 60.0% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s one app you can’t live without?
Yogita: “Google Maps”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!