Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 29 ℃ | Low: 20 ℃ | Generally cloudy sky with light rain.
🧐 Did you know? Bengaluru (at 920 metres) has more than double the elevation of Dehradun (437 metres).
⛔ Bakrid traffic restrictions
The Bengaluru traffic department has issued a traffic advisory for Bakrid celebrations.
What’s it about? Ahead of Bakrid celebrations, the Bengaluru traffic department has issued an advisory to ensure smooth traffic movement around BG Road, which typically sees large gatherings for religious prayers.
- The police have announced temporary traffic restrictions on BG Road from Sagar Hospital junction to Gurappanapalya junction, GD Mara junction to Gurappanapalya junction, and 39th crossroad Reddy Hospital junction to Gurappanapalya junction.
- Commuters are advised to use alternative routes: vehicles coming from Dairy Circle towards BG Road should take a right turn towards Swagath junction, then left towards East End junction, and via 28th Main Road junction, reach Delmia junction and proceed towards GD Mara junction.
For Bilekahalli commuters: Vehicles from Bilekahalli on BG Main Road should turn left towards Delmia junction, then via 28th Main Road junction and East End junction, move towards Sagar Hospital junction and take a left to rejoin BG Road.
🏠 Affordable housing sales declines
Sales of affordable homes in Bengaluru, priced up to ₹60 lakh, saw a significant decline of 46% in the first quarter of 2024.
What’s it about? The number of units sold dropped to 2,801 from 5,193 in the same period last year. This decline is part of a broader trend observed in eight major cities, where overall sales of affordable homes fell by 4% due to lower supply and a shift in focus towards luxury apartments.
- The fresh supply of affordable homes in these top cities also dropped significantly, from 53,818 units in January-March 2023 to 33,420 units in the same period in 2024.
- Builders are increasingly targeting the luxury segment to capitalise on higher profit margins and growing demand for premium properties.
Kolkata contrary: Despite the overall decline, sales figures varied across cities, with Kolkata seeing an increase while Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Delhi-NCR also experienced declines.
🌧️ Underbridges under pressure
The monsoon season has exacerbated flooding issues at Bengaluru’s railway underbridges (RUBs), posing significant hazards for pedestrians, commuters, and vehicle users.
What’s it about? With the southwest monsoon active in Bengaluru, poorly maintained railway underbridges (RUBs) have become dangerous for pedestrians and commuters. Flooding during heavy rains, caused by blocked drains filled with debris and plastic waste, leads to severe waterlogging at these underpasses.
- Areas like Kasturi Nagar, with its narrow and flawed RUB design, experience significant water accumulation, making it perilous for residents who avoid the area during rains.
- Despite BBMP efforts, clearing the water can take hours, causing traffic chaos.
Pervasive issue: Other RUBs in Okalipuram, KR Puram, Dooravani Nagar, Doddanekundi, Seshadripuram, Banaswadi, Lingarajapuram, and Marathahalli face similar issues.
🦠 Stomach infections on the rise
Bengaluru is experiencing a significant rise in gastrointestinal infections, primarily caused by contaminated water and poor sanitation.
What’s it about? Symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are prevalent, especially among bottle-fed children, per the Aster CMI Hospital. Doctors have also highlighted that inadequate sewage treatment and poor food hygiene practices are exacerbating the issue.
- With schools reopening and jathres (fairs) contributing to the spread, experts emphasise the need for proper hydration and hygiene.
- Parents are advised to ensure children drink plenty of fluids, like ORS and tender coconut water, and avoid milk during infections to prevent dehydration.
Treatment: If already ill, doctors recommend maintaining good food hygiene and using homemade, non-sugary juices to manage symptoms effectively.
📊 Today’s Poll
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Are you a religious person?
- I am a religious person.
- I am not a religious person.
❓ Today’s Question
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What’s your favourite movie genre?
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🗞️ In other news…
- BDA’s ‘Flat Mela’ saw a good response on the first day booking nearly 150 homes.
- Bengaluru’s high-density corridors (HDCs) have seen a cumulative 106 km of congestion due to poor road conditions and waterlogging in the past four months.
- Tenders are likely to be out for a new observation deck in the city in the next 10 days.
- The BBMP removed 3,800 flex banners and registered 48 FIRs over them in a special drive.
- Bengaluru has led the country in electric car registrations over the past year.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!