Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌫️ Today’s weather: High: 30 ℃ | Low: 17 ℃ | Fog/mist in the morning and partly cloudy sky later.
🧐 Did you know? Legendary Kannada actor Dr Rajkumar’s original name was Singanalluru Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj.
🚗 Third slowest city for traffic
Bengaluru has been ranked the world’s third slowest city for traffic, according to the 2024 TomTom Traffic Index.
What’s it about? The report reveals that it takes an average of 30 minutes and 10 seconds to travel 10 kilometres in Bengaluru, an increase of 50 seconds from 2023. The city trails Barranquilla and Kolkata in global rankings.
- Bengaluru records about 2,000 new vehicle registrations daily, adding to its traffic woes.
- Pune debuted on the slowest cities list, ranking fourth globally.
London most congested: The city has surpassed New Delhi in private vehicle numbers, with over 2.5 million cars on its roads. Globally, London remains the most congested city, with an average speed of just 14 km/h.
🚦 Traffic advisory
Bengaluru Traffic Police have issued diversions to manage congestion near the Sri Banashankari Ammanavara Brahma Rathotsava Temple on Monday.
What’s it about? With large crowds expected at the temple on Kanakapura Main Road, restrictions will be in place from Banashankari Temple to Sarakki Market Junction.
- Commuters are advised to follow alternate routes, including diversions through JP Nagar Metro Junction, Rajalakshmi route, and Indira Gandhi Circle, for smoother travel.
- Traffic from the Banashankari bus stand towards Sarakki signal will also face rerouting via Yarab Nagar and Iliyasanagar.
Plan travel: The advisory aims to minimise disruption during the Rathotsava festival while ensuring smoother vehicular movement. Residents are encouraged to plan travel in advance to avoid delays.
🏢 TCS to expand
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) plans to develop a 25,000-seat capacity in Bengaluru after acquiring land in Whitefield for ₹1,625 crore.
What’s it about? The expansion is part of TCS’s long-term strategy to enhance its infrastructure in India’s IT hub, where it already employs 70,000 staff. CFO Samir Seksaria explained that the initiative follows a build approach, aligning with the company’s plans to establish campuses nationwide, such as its recent facility in Coimbatore.
- TCS reported a 12% net profit rise in Q3 FY25 and aims to expand its 24.5% operating profit margin further.
- The ₹15,000-crore BSNL 4G rollout deal, a key revenue contributor, will taper off by Q2 FY26.
Optimistic: Despite the BSNL deal’s gradual decline, TCS remains optimistic about offsetting revenue loss by diversifying across global markets. This proactive approach, coupled with strategic expansions like the Bengaluru project, underscores TCS’s commitment to sustained growth and operational efficiency.
🏢 US consulate in Bengaluru
The site-dedication ceremony for the US consulate in Bengaluru will take place on January 17, with the location to be unveiled during the event.
Potential sites: Officials suggest the Central Business District or Whitefield as potential sites for the new consulate, with visa services initially operating temporarily from the JW Marriott hotel. The consulate aims to address the long-standing demand from Bengaluru and Karnataka residents, saving them from travelling to other states for US visa processing.
- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar advocated for the consulate’s establishment during his visit in 2023.
- The consulate is expected to become operational by January 2025, as announced by US Ambassador Eric Garcetti.
Strengthening Indo-US relations: This consulate will join existing US missions in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad. The initiative, alongside India’s upcoming Seattle mission, strengthens bilateral relations announced during PM Modi’s US visit in 2023.
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🗞️ In Other News…
- Another drug racket busted in the city by the Bengaluru City Police.
- Namma Metro will start operations by 4:15 AM on every Monday.
- Macrotech Developers buys 20-acre land in Bengaluru, and targets ₹2,800 crore sales.
- BBMP fines New Delhi-based Rodic Consultants Private Limited ₹5 lakh after tunnel project blunder.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!