Good morning, Bengaluru!
☁️ Today’s weather: Misty in the morning with cloudy skies later.
🧐 Did you know? The oldest festival celebrated in the city is the Karaga. It was started by a Tamil-speaking community of gardeners called Thigalars.
👩🍳 Hats off to the city’s chefs
In the recent edition of the #FoodSuperstars, four chefs from the city earned their spot on the list.
What’s it about? With the evolution of Indian cuisine, Bengaluru is a vibrant hub that nurtures world-class chefs who help preserve tradition and explore innovation. In the second edition of the #FoodSuperstars from Culinary Culture, four Bengaluru chefs are included in the list – Chef Johnson Ebenezer, Chef Vinesh Johny, Chef Kavan Kuttappa, and Chef Mythrayie Iyer.
- Chef Johnson Ebenezer of Farmlore has championed the farm-to-table concept. Chef Johny of the Lavonne Academy of Baking Science and Pastry Arts has elevated dessert creation into an art form.
- Chef Kuttuppa of Naru Noodle Bar is an expert in creating flavourful broths. Chef Iyer, awarded Young Chef 2023 and the head chef at Falmlore, brings in her international experiences.
Why were they chosen? The #FoodSuprestars is a platform to showcase and honour those who help preserve India’s cuisines. The Bengaluru chefs symbolise a new generation who continue to push the culinary boundaries.
💻 BBMP’s digitisation push
The BBMP will soon go door-to-door to check BESCOM bills and tax receipts.
What’s it about? Bengaluru residents began receiving messages stating that BBMP is embarking on an initiative for a digital property record and that BBMP staff will visit residents. The residents have been asked to keep a copy of their property tax receipt and BESCOM bill on hand.
- The BBMP is looking to identify properties within their jurisdiction that have been outside the tax net. They’ll identify properties without khata or unpaid taxes. The pilot to digitise records will be at CV Raman Nagar, Horamavu, Kodigenahalli, and Arakere.
- Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar previously hinted at modifying the Self Assessment Scheme (SAS). However, the BBMP collected ₹3,000 crore, which was deemed insufficient. This year, the target is 50% more than the previous year.
Tax collections: In 2018-19, the BBMP collected ₹2,529 crore. That increased to ₹2,659 crore in 2019-20 and ₹2,860 crore in 2020-21. For the 2022-23 financial year, it collected ₹3,332.72 crore.
💳 Smart tech for transport department
The transport department will issue QR-coded smart cards for driving licenses and registration certificates.
What’s it about? The state transport department will soon issue smart cards with QR codes for driving licenses and registration certificates. These will adhere to the specifications of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
- Compared to their predecessors, the new smart cards will have more printed information like the cardholder’s name, date of birth, blood group, address, and photo. The back will have vehicle-related and emergency contact numbers next to a QR code.
- For registration certificates, the front side will have the registration number, registration date, the owner’s information and address. The back will have the manufacturer’s name, model, seating capacity, and the QR code.
Why QR codes? With the QR codes, enforcement authorities can verify the authenticity of the holder’s details.
🎭 Celebrating all things comics
The three-day Bengaluru Comic Con showcased artistic talents, particularly from the city.
What’s it about? The three-day Bengaluru Comic Con concluded and provided enthusiasts to showcase their artistic talents. The event was a vibrant mix of cosplayers, music, and art.
- Shubham Khurana from the city started “Corporate Comics” to offer a witty take on corporate life. Graphic designer and illustrator Gaurav Basu showcased his unique psychedelic art.
- Attendees had a special session with Dan Parent, an artist from Archie Comics. He was optimistic about the upcoming Indian adaption on Netflix.
Music and art: The event was also a venue for diverse entertainment. There were performances by Afasr and Mooze One with appearances by artists like Geek Fruit and Vilas Nayak.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you eaten any exotic meats?
- I have eaten exotic meats.
- I haven’t eaten any exotic meats.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What areas of the city do you think need a last-mile connectivity option to metro stations?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Areas under flyovers will undergo thematic development as part of the Brand Bengaluru Initiative.
- Kempegowda bus station will soon get a prepaid auto counter.
- Bengaluru residents showed their support for the Indian cricket team with public screenings.
- New feeder buses have been introduced by the BMTC for last-mile connectivity to metro stations.
- Women in red and yellow saris participated in a bike rally to raise awareness of the importance of the Kannada language.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!