Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 30 ℃ | Low: 21 ℃ | Generally cloudy sky with light rain.
🧐 Did you know? The Lalbagh Park is home to some of the country’s oldest and most beautiful rock formations dating back around 2.5 to 3.4 billion years ago.
📉 Cost-of-living ranking
Bengaluru has dropped in the global cost of living rankings while Mumbai and Delhi have risen.
What’s it about? Bengaluru has seen a decline in Mercer’s 2024 Cost of Living Survey, now ranked at 195th globally. This translated to indicate a slight drop in its living costs relative to other cities.
- Mumbai rose 11 spots to 136th, maintaining its status as India’s most expensive city for expats.
- New Delhi climbed 4 spots, now ranked 164th, while Chennai also dropped slightly, now at 189th.
Balance: Expat housing costs have increased, particularly in Delhi and Mumbai, but Bengaluru saw a moderate rise of 3-6%. Despite the cost hikes, Bengaluru remains a key tech hub, balancing affordability with its status as a major city.
🎮 Crackdown on gaming zones
The BBMP shut down eight gaming zones in the city due to a lack of fire safety measures and necessary licences.
What’s it about? Prompted by the recent Rajkot gaming zone fire that killed 27 people and following Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s order for an audit, BBMP officials found that eight out of 29 audited gaming zones lacked the required no-objection certificates (NOC) from the authorities.
- Yelahanka, a region with numerous malls, had the highest number of violations.
- BBMP officials have stated that operations will resume once these zones comply with safety measures and the necessary NOCs are obtained.
Expansive project: Officials have said that the audit has not ended and will continue to encompass malls and other recreational places in the city as well.
🌧️ Weak monsoon predicted
The IMD has predicted a weak monsoon with light showers and isolated gusty winds until June 20.
What’s it about? The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted a weak monsoon over Bengaluru and parts of North and South Interior Karnataka for the next few days due to the absence of a shear zone, which influences rainfall. This weakening is expected to lead to slightly higher temperatures.
- Residents have expressed concerns about newly planted saplings drying out due to the lack of rain and insufficient watering facilities.
- IMD official CS Patil noted that the moist south-westerly winds’ weakening is temporary and that rainfall is expected to increase in the coming week.
Post-June 20: Officials have also predicted that isolated heavy rainfall and thundershowers with lightning are likely to occur across the state after June 20, with coastal areas like Gokarna receiving 2 cm of rainfall on Sunday and 1 cm each in Shiroli and Mangaluru.
🚂 ‘Priority’ tenders
Tenders have been invited for station work on the priority section of the Bengaluru suburban rail project.
What’s it about? K-RIDE has invited tenders for the construction of eight stations on the Chikkabanavara–Yeswantpur priority section of Bengaluru’s suburban rail project. The 25-km Byappanahalli–Yeshwantpur–Chikkabanavara corridor is progressing, with the station work estimated to cost ₹455.8 crore.
- The tender for signalling and platform screen doors will follow soon, with completion expected within 24 months.
- The project faces delays due to land acquisition issues and coordination challenges, with the rolling stock contract yet to be finalised.
Deadlines: K-RIDE aims to operationalise the priority section by December 2025, with all corridors completed by 2027.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you ever been to a gaming zone?
- I have been to a gaming zone.
- I have not been to a gaming zone.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Would you secretly hope for a weak monsoon if it means less flooding and traffic?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- The Den Bengaluru appointed Priyanka Rao as its head of HR.
- The Maj. Gen. SL Bhatia Museum is offering an exhibit of the journey of medicine.
- The multi-level parking facility at Freedom Park will open on June 20.
- ITC Windsor has revamped its menu infusing Awadhi heritage under Master Chef Ghulam Qureshi.
- The Defence Ministry has denied permission for a 250-metre skydeck in Byappanahalli.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I am a religious person: 38.5%
- I am not a religious person: 61.5% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great day!