Bangalore Mélange: 2008

Monday, March 24, 2008

BMTC ready with buses to International airport

The opening of the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA), might have been put off to May 11, but the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has adhered to its deadline and is all ready to ply its shuttle buses to Devanahalli from March 31.

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Metro Rail work yet to gain pace

In a few days from now, it will be a year since the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) demolished the historic boulevard on MG Road, much against the wishes of environmentalists and old-time Bangaloreans. But, not much progress has been made as the work has slowed down.

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Saturday, March 22, 2008

Namma Metro's chugging along

BANGALORE: In 2010, when Reach One of Namma Metro zips across the elevated tracks, it will reduce at least 30% of the private vehicles that clog city roads. By December 2011, the four corridors of Bangalore will be connected with a 33 km network of Metro rail, giving Bangaloreans the much-awaited mass transportation facility that is truly comfortable and classy.

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Bangalore gets Rs.8 mn for vehicle-tracking project

Bangalore, March 20 (IANS) The central government will provide Rs.8 million to state-run Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) for a pilot project to track vehicles using GPS (global positioning system) and GPRS (general packet radio service) in the city. According to a union ministry of shipping, road transport and highways statement Thursday, BMTC is implementing the vehicle tracking system at a cost of Rs.33 million, involving 500 buses on build-own-operate and transfer basis.

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Tuesday, March 18, 2008

WILL EASE ROAD CONGESTION

The 30-minute difference in commencement of government and private school students will help reduce congestion on the roads, according to an Education department official.

“The number of students studying in private schools are more compared to those in government schools.

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Traffic snarls: City schools to start early

To ensure that school children are not caught in peak hour traffic, the State Government has decided to advance school timings by half an hour in the City, from the coming academic year.

Government schools will start from 9 am, private-aided and unaided schools will open at 8.30 am, said Commissioner to the Department of Public Instructions, Kumar Naik.

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Ferraris vroom on City roads

Bengaluru woke up to the sound of two Ferrari 612 Scagliettis rolling into the city in the wee hours of Monday.

The cream and maroon coloured cars were a crowd puller near Shell station on Mysore road.

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Train to airport put on fast track

The proposed high speed train to the Bengaluru International Airport will be implemented under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model with private participation, unlike the Bangalore Metro which is being jointly implemented by the State government and the Centre through a special purpose vehicle, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC).

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Ticketless travellers may get clicked

Looking for a free ride on BMTC buses? Beware. If caught while travelling without a ticket, your photographs may appear in the newspapers stating that you had travelled in public transport buses without proper ticket.

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Use of BlackBerry devices by traffic police in city not to be affected

The Union Communication Ministry’s decision not to ban the BlackBerry services for the time being has come as a relief for the city traffic police, who are using the service for online registration of cases related to traffic offences. The Union Home Ministry had sought to check the use of BlackBerry services citing national security concerns.

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Direct poll for mayor proposed

A mayor directly elected by the people, a separate new legislation for BBMP and establishment of a Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC) for Bangalore region.

These are some of the recommendations made by the expert committee on governance in the Bangalore Metropolitan Region (BMR) and Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

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Bangalore: the world's call-centre capital

Under an oak-beamed ceiling, young couples are sitting at bar tables next to a cosy stone fireplace. They down their beers, work their way through plates of chips, and share text messages on their mobiles. The TV is showing darts matches and Premier League football. Just another Tuesday night down the Red Lion, Bangalore.

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Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Cong fears poll fallout over Banglore airports

The Centre's formula of giving Hyderabad and Bangalore private state-of-the-art airports by closing the old ones in the heart of cities is now causing heartburn among the political class and the general public in Karnataka.

While Hyderabad — with a stable government in Andhra and a "politically conscious" GMR Group developing the airport — is less of a problem, Bangalore is proving to be a big headache.

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Tuesday, March 11, 2008

HC not to stall BIA opening, questions connectivity

The Karnataka High Court on Monday made it clear that it will not come in the way of the Bangalore International Airport (BIA) inauguration, but expressed displeasure over the connectivity to the new airport.

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City needs HAL airport

With less than three weeks to go for the commissioning of the Bengaluru International Airport, the clamour has grown louder for retention of the HAL airport for short-haul flights, at least until the access to the new airport is smoother.

Political leaders, cutting across party lines, have joined the chorus.

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NHAI bogey hits speed train

The Karnataka government's efforts to put on track a high-speed train from the city to the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) has suffered a hiccup. The project, planned on NH 7, has been sent to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for a relook at the alignment, which is found to be clashing with the elevated corridor planned on the same path by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

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Poor roads delay inauguration of Bangalore airport

While Hyderabad is all set to get a new international airport on March 14, Bangalore is scheduled to miss its date with the swanky new international airport that was to open on March 30. Citing safety concerns and poor road connectivity from the city to the airport, civil aviation minister Praful Patel has turned down the proposal to open the airport for commercial operations this month.

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Bangalore air traffic to go sky-high soon

With the new international airport set to open March 30 in India's silicon city, domestic and foreign airlines are waiting in the wings to launch new services and increase frequencies from this southern hub to new and existing destinations both in India and abroad.

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Friday, March 7, 2008

Litter Lalbagh, pay hefty fine

In a bid to check the litter menace and help the historical garden regain its past beauty, the Horticulture department and the Civil Defence will impose a penalty varying from Rs 50 to Rs 400 on litterbugs in the garden from March 24. “As part of the ‘Lalbagh Clean-up’ initiative, anyone found littering in the park — visitors or hawkers — will pay a fine from March 24.

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Cong banks on B'lore-centric ‘Krishna’

The news of the return of Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna to active politics has not only bolstered the prospects of Congress candidates in urban areas, but also brightened the hopes of IT and BT sectors in the capital.

Krishna, who had been criticised by his detractors for being too 'Bangalore centric,’ has been a very popular leader in the IT capital, besides in other IT hubs like Mysore and Mangalore because of his pro-people outlook during his term as chief minister.

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Pollution board aims to make city litter-free

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) in association with the Civil Defence Wardens-Bangalore and a few city-based corporates have embarked upon a project to make Bangalore litter-free and plastic-free.

In a step towards achieving this, ‘Hasiru Kattu’ — a green code movement for the city has been launched

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Thursday, March 6, 2008

BRV Grounds-airport link cleared

Decks have been cleared for the multi-crore high-speed rail connecting BRV Grounds (MG Road) to Bengaluru International Airport.

The state has created a special purpose vehicle (SPV) - Bangalore Airport Rail Link Ltd (BARL) - for the speedy execution of this project.

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Govt finds it tough to close old airports

The government is in a fix over its agreements with greenfield airports developers for shutting existing airports in Hyderabad and Bangalore when the new ones get operational later this month.

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Put user fee on hold, BIAL told

Not happy with the BIAL proposing to charge user development fee for its embarking passengers, the Centre has asked the project operator to consider imposing the fee only after it furnishes the audited project cost, like the Hyderabad airport.

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Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Bangalore Open could lose WTA Tier II status

BANGALORE, India, March 4 (Reuters) - A decision on whether the Bangalore Open will remain a Tier II event will be taken in the next few months, WTA chief Larry Scott said on Tuesday.
The Bangalore Open, in its third year, was upgraded to Tier II this season which Scott said was on a trial basis as the WTA was finalising plans for restructuring the tour.

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Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Credibility at stake: BIAL

Albert Brunner, CEO of BIAL, while making his point against the retention of the existing HAL airport, said, "Give me one reason, why it should be kept open. There are about three to four reasons on why BIAL can become the transport hub of South India...

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Retain old airport: HAL

Speaking at a seminar on ‘Should HAL airport be closed’ he said, “We have come a long way from the beginning of the HAL airport in the 1940, when the Royal Airforce started its operations from there. With 150 passenger flights making 380 movements a day, we have achieved a 47 per cent growth in 2007. There is room for both.

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It's 'race' at snail's pace here

The road is dug up, buildings are demolished, wall of the Turf Club has been reduced to the ground. But, the widening of Race Course Road is yet to begin...

The project has not progressed at all in the last three months, and the delayed work has put both pedestrians and motor riders at great risk.

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B`lore`s 75% of SEZ office space pre-committed

Nearly 75 per cent of the 5.8 million square feet of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) office space set to enter the Bangalore market in 2008-09 are pre-committed.

Built-to-suit (BTS) or campus developments have gained greater momentum in the SEZ space occupancies in the city and developers are busy with BTS arrangements by signing up large companies like Cisco, Accenture and IBM.

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Bangalore airport faces GMR heat

The management of the Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) is likely to come under pressure to follow GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd’s (GHIAL) model to spare domestic passengers from the contentious user development fee (UDF). Budget 2008-09

GHIAL on Monday decided to levy $25 (about Rs 1,000) as UDF on international passengers from the new airport at Shamshabad, which is scheduled to open from the midnight of March 15.

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Monday, March 3, 2008

PRR phase-1 awaits government nod

Following transfer of works to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) would commence acquisition of land for construction of Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) soon. For, the government is expected to approve the final notification for acquisition of land to initiate works on the first phase of the PRR.

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Reva rally to curb global warming

Over 120 Revatica employees and customers staged a rally here spreading the message of global warming and the need to protect the environment.

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A star-studded show from today

“When we got the WTA’s nod to hold the Bangalore Open as a two-tier event, we faced an uphill task. Today, standing before you, I can say, we have arrived.”

That was C.S. Sunder Raju, Bangalore Open Tournament director and secretary of the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA), talking. He surely can take pride in the KSLTA’s effort to bring home the biggest tennis extravaganza in the country which kicks off at the KSLTA Stadium on Monday.

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BBMP launches major drive to asphalt roads before monsoon

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is focussing on a major roads improvement drive to asphalt most of the arterial roads before the onset of the South-West Monsoon in May. The next three months would thus facilitate a qualitative improvement in city’s roads at an estimated cost of around Rs. 400 crore.

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Rallying for a better city

Our roads would be better if each one of us observed traffic rules and our city would look better if we did not litter and behaved responsibly…”

This was the message carried by many residents of Indiranagar when they took out a “leadership march” to create awareness about building “a better Bangalore”.

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Sunday, March 2, 2008

Bangalore: Mega tennis bonanza for fans from March 3

KSLTA stadium in all certainty will reverberate to the sound of applause when the city's mega tennis event, the Bangalore Open Championship unfolds itself on Monday, March 3. The championship is regarded as one of the highest ranked women's tennis tournaments having $600,000 in stake as prize money. It is all set to commence with the main draw matches.

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No place for pedestrians?

Skipping over dislodged pavements, skirting around vegetable vendors, swerving past electricity junction boxes and darting between vehicles... the pedestrian in Bangalore would be a natural at Parkour, the urban obstacle race.

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Thursday, February 28, 2008

Liquor shops oppose change in closing time

Business Standard

The ongoing debate in the state on allowing a section of liquor establishments to operate till very late in the night took an interesting turn on Wednesday with the Federation of Wine Merchants Association of Karnataka appealing to the government not to change the present business timings.

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Short-haul flyers shun new airport

ToI

Fears are coming true. The new Bengaluru International Airport appears to be putting off travellers flying on short-haul routes — those that have a flight time between 30 minutes and an hour.

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Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Hyderabad, Bangalore airports to close after new ones come up

Commissioning of the new airports is pursuant to the provisions of the contractual agreements with the concerned airport companies," Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel said while replying to a query.

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Karnataka to build Rs 200 cr stadium, aims to host Super Slam

Karnataka has proposed to build a Rs 200 crore "world class stadium" here to host the first 'Super Slam,' a combined men's and women's tennis event, by 2011-12 with prize money of over $5 million.

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Monday, February 25, 2008

Campaign against excessive honking

New Ind Express

IT is a traffic jam and not a single vehicle is moving. Yet, there are a few who insist on honking, as if it would help ease traffic. There are some others who are obsessed with honking even in silent zones.

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March of metal in the city soon

ToI

March promises to be a rocking month for Bangalore. Two of the biggest metal bands will perform with seven Indian groups at the ‘Rock n India’ music festival at Palace Grounds on March 14.

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Friday, February 22, 2008

Will it ease traffic or not?

Deccan Herald

The first underpass constructed using pre-cast elements at Cauvery junction was opened for traffic on Wednesday evening. Vehicles moving from BDA junction to Mekhri Circle took left turn at the junction and a U-turn at the underpass to reach Bellary Road.

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K’taka at crossroads, to undergo asymmetrical development

New Ind Express

Karnataka politics is at the crossroads with the President of India giving her assent to the delimitation of constituencies. While the caste equation, on which the politicians had played their game for the last over thirty years, is going to change, rural Karnataka will also stand to lose in the years to come.

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India Billionaire Mallya Isn't Showing Shareholders Everything

Bloomberg

``Where's my yacht? Has it come back from the Maldives?'' Mallya barks at his staff before leaving New Delhi. An employee confirms the 95-meter (312-foot) Indian Empress is berthed at Mumbai. ``Tell the captain I'm spending the night on it. I haven't slept in three days.''

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One lakh apartments may remain vacant in Bangalore by April

Hindu

Is Bangalore’s real estate market heading for a slump? Such is the impact of the real estate slowdown in Bangalore that the number of unoccupied apartments in and around the city is expected to touch nearly one lakh by April.

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A vague idea that led to ‘magic box’

Hindu

The idea of “instant underpass” got life from the memories of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Commissioner S. Subramanya’s visit to the U.K. 14 years ago.

It was a team of BBMP engineers and private consultants who gave shape to Commissioner’s “vague” idea and built “magic boxes” to ease traffic problems of the silicon city.

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Bangalore’s new airport gears up for Rs 2,500-cr expansion

Business Line

Even as the new Bengaluru International Airport is almost set for flight on March 30, its promoters are gearing up for round 2: expansion worth around Rs 2,500 crore over the next three years.

User development fee of Rs 675 for domestic departures and Rs 955 for international departures would stay, as per the concession agreement. The UDF would refinance the promoter investment.

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Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Subir Roy: How to build 30 new Bangalores?

Business Standard

Even this will not be enough. Vivek Kulkarni, who as IT secretary of Karnataka unsuccessfully tried to craft a crescent of development on Bangalore’s periphery called the IT corridor, realised that 40 per cent of the area was already “hard”, built-up via plans sanctioned with the rigour of a small town municipality.

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One lakh apartments may remain vacant in Bangalore by April

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Radio Indigo, Black Dog bring Alain Brunet trio to perform in Bangalore

Indian Television

Black Dog, in association with Radio Indigo and Alliance Francaise, is bringing in the French Alain Brunet trio for what they claim to be "an evening of eclectic blend of experimental jazz."

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In Bangalore, say cheers beyond curfew time

DNA

The pub capital of India is set to return to its glory days as the deadline on bar and pub timings may be extended beyond midnight. A proposal mooted by the Karnataka tourism department with the recommendation of the police is awaiting the government’s nod.

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State in no mood to amend rules

ToI

Thanks to President's rule and the negative campaign of live bands, the state is in no mood to relax the 2005 police order and help out the whole lot — bars, discotheques and live bands. Live bands have given the government a ready excuse to persist with the status quo on dance rules.

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Monday, February 18, 2008

Govt plans panel to assess fund needs for urban infrastructure

Live Mint

The Union ministry of urban development is planning to set up a committee to estimate the investments needed for urban infrastructure in the country, even as flow of grants from its flagship Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme for infrastructure development continues to accelerate.

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Road to airport: No place to walk

Deccan Herald

Would you like to know where the pedestrian stands in BBMPs grandiose scheme of things for the Devanahalli international airport? Have no illusions, they dont even appear to exist for the civic body.

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BBMP sees big money in LCD hoardings

Hindu

Bangaloreans will have a taste of more and more giant LCD hoardings all set be installed on several arterial roads with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) deciding to opt for such commercial screenings given the enthusiastic response from advertising companies, including one run by the Reliance Group of Anil Ambani.

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All choked up over rapid growth

The Star

The new airport in Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka and India’s Silicon Valley, is to be inaugurated later next month. It too suffered from delays, disputes of various kinds, design hassles and, of course, cost overruns before it could be fully built.

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Dusk-to-dawn fest is back

Hindu

A jugalbandi between modern and traditional music will take place at the open-air amphitheatre at the Fireflies Inter-Cultural Centre when its annual music festival gets under way at Dinnepalya off Kanakapura Road at 6 p.m. on February 23.

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Underpass is ready

Hindu

The countdown has begun for the inauguration of the underpass at Cauvery junction with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike completing the first stage of asphalting work on Sunday night. The final stage of asphalting work will be completed by Monday morning, said Chief Engineer (Major Roads) K.S. Krishna Reddy.

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Sunday, February 17, 2008

Dancing ban: Blame it on live bands

TOI

It was the dog-in-the-manger attitude of live bands that triggered the virtual ban on dancing in Bangalore.

Once they figured out that the December 2005 police order —- requiring establishments which serve drinks and have dance floors to apply for a fresh licence — was meant to weed them out, they decided to target discotheques, bars and other dance floors who survived the order.

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Will police dance to the tunes of live bands?

New Ind Express

With the live band association threatening to rope in eunuchs if their demand for renewal of licences is not met, the city police are now in a tight spot.

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Saturday, February 16, 2008

Bangaloreans want dance floor back

TOI

Where’s the party, tonight? Certainly not on the dance floors of Bangalore’s discotheques and hotels, thanks to the administration which has cracked the whip on them. Overworked and entertainment-starved Bangaloreans are vociferous in their criticism against the government for infringing upon their right to shake a leg if they chose to. Says Tanya Bhat, "TOI should organize a protest near Gandhi Statue on MG Road. Let’s hold up traffic, dance in the streets and call attention to this ridiculous ban."

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Trial run at new underpass

Hindu

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Friday allowed motor vehicles to move through the new underpass at Cauvery Junction for about 20 minutes on trial basis.

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‘Sly note’: Rs. 30,000-cr. land for NICE

Hindu

The State Government on Friday disclosed to the Karnataka High Court that manipulation by way of a “note”, reportedly by the then Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary, had resulted in unreasonable concessions to the company implementing the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project. However, no date has been mentioned in the note.

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South India’s road to future may soon be completed

CNBC TV18

After 13 years, work is speeding up on the road connecting Bangalore and Mysore, popularly known as the Bangalore Mysore infrastructure corridor or BMIC. The road will cut the driving time from the three and half hours to just 90 minutes.

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Friday, February 15, 2008

BMTC Services To Bengaluru International Airport

Praja Bangalore

The BMTC has released the fares of the soon to be introduced ‘Airport Bus Service’ to BIAL, connecting the airport from eight locations of the city. These buses will be numbered as BIAL 1 to 7 for the first seven routes that are expected to hit the roads in the last week of March.

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It's COPS vs CUPID

Deccan Herald

The Valentine's Day this year is set to be a damp squib with no major events taking place in the City in the light of ban on dancing and unreasonable deadlines imposed by the State government.

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NHAI assesses road alignment

Deccan Herald

The process of handing over the proposed expressway between Outer Ring Road and the international airport in Devanahalli to the National Highways Authority of India has entered the next phase, with officials of the NHAI assessing the alignment of the road.

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Deccan chief blames Government for closure of HAL airport

Hindu

The Government has to be blamed for the closure of HAL airport when the international airport at Devanahalli becomes operational by March-end, G.R. Gopinath, Executive Chairman of Deccan, said here on Thursday.

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HC adjourns plea to retain HAL airport

Hindu

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday adjourned a petition by an advocate from Bangalore against the proposed closure of the HAL airport from March 28/29.

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BMRC can prune trees on CMH Road: Court

New Ind Express

On Tuesday, the High Court declared that BMRCL can prune trees on CMH road, but cannot cut, chop or uproot any tree.

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People are not fools: BKC tells Palike

New Ind. Express

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike should not take up any more �instant� underpasses in the near future and wait and see how the one near Cauvery Junction works, said Chairman of Legislative Council B K Chandrashekar.

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Wednesday, February 13, 2008

3 elevated corridors for Bangalore

TOI

For the traffic-weary, here is some cheering news. To reduce traffic congestion and travel time in Bangalore, the authorities have planned to build three elevated high-density corridors (road-over-roads) stretching 21 km. But wait. The much-hyped Rs 800-crore tunnel road proposed between Minsk Square and Hebbal flyover may give way to one corridor.

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It’s a Big, Big World

Tech, MIT

Near the end of my six weeks in Bangalore, I was seriously craving American food. Masala dosas, curries, rice, vegetables, and limited amounts of chicken created a healthy diet, but at times I desired a big, juicy burger.

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Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Major demolition work for metro rail project today

Hindu

The first major demolition of nearly 20,000 square feet will be undertaken on Monday in the Ulsoor area, to pave way for the prestigious Bangalore Metro Rail. As the State Government owns the property, there is unlikely to be any resistance to the demolition work. However, it could attract attention as some of the latest demolition machinery will be used for the first time in the State.

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A fillip to original Indian Metal compositions

Hindu

Palace Grounds, Bangalore, has been witness to very many firsts — from the first Iron Maiden concert to the upcoming Megadeth show in March — “rock heads” in the city have ensured that it sits firm on the rock roadmap.

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Grounded at the word go

Live Mint

So, a few weeks in advance, here’s a greeting to Bangalore’s air travellers: Welcome to the most underdesigned, underconnected, woeful piece of infrastructure that is the face of new India to the world. Maybe we can harness a new source of renewable energy in India: “angry citizen energy”. It’s available in plenty, and being replenished every day by our governments.

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Saturday, February 9, 2008

Govt plans Delhi model for stations` upgrade

Business Standard

After inviting private companies to modernise New Delhi railway station in partnership with the public sector, the Ministry of Railways plans to soon implement this strategy for other major railway stations like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Patna, besides some smaller stations in an around Delhi like Bijwasan and Kapashera.

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Bangalore slams airport plan, airs worries instead

CNN IBN

India’s IT city is all set get its first international Airport but Bangloreans don't seem to be too excited.

With the first flight set to take off on the March 30, many Bangaloreans feel there is a long way to go before the airport becomes a hit.

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Bangalore to become Wine capital of India

Mangalorean

The Grapes Mela organised by the Horticultural Producers Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society (HOPCOMS) has promised much more than just grapes. If things go right for the growers, Bangalore will become one day in the near future a destination for winery and vineyards.

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Bangalore International airport gets state of the art equipments from Austria

Mangalorean

With the State of the Art Airport Rescue & Firefighting Vehicles arrival at the New Bengaluru International Airport, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) is now working towards the operational readiness of the new airport which will open for commercial operation on March 30th 2008.

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Remaking Mumbai

Time

There's not much that the inhabitants of Dharavi can't recycle. Every day thousands of workers in India's most crowded slum--600,000 people squeezed into 500 acres (200 hectares) in the heart of Mumbai--shred plastic, mend clothes, strip computers, sort and bundle paper, fix machinery, flatten cardboard and clean and crush glass. The level of specialization is extraordinary.

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Ethanol content in petrol to double by this October

Bangalore (PTI): The government on Friday said it would double the ethanol content to be mixed with petrol to 10 per cent by this October to reduce the country's dependence on oil exports.

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Rail corridor study to be completed soon

Business Standard

The Centre has initiated a feasibility study on the proposed Chennai-Bangalore-Mumbai industrial corridor. The feasibility study report is expected to be out soon.

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Study initiated on Chennai-Bangalore-Mumbai corridor

Economic Times

A study had been initiated to check out the feasibility of setting up a Chennai-Bangalore-Mumbai industrial corridor, according to Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Kamal Nath.

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Friday, February 8, 2008

Stop the senseless Bangalore renaming !

Mutiny.in

What’s in a name? A lot apparently if the spate of Indian city renamings in recent years is any indication: Trivandrum, Bombay, Madras, Calcutta, Bangalore have been renamed and many more proposed: Delhi, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Patna to name a few. Not just happy with the cities, many anglicized names of localities, sub localities and streets have fallen prey to this senseless and futile exercise. I have been holding back my pen for a while now for fear of being branded querulous.

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Hotel projects still on ground

DH

If you thought poor road connectivity would be the biggest nightmare for passengers at the Bengaluru International Airport, think again...

For, there are even bigger ones awaiting them when the new airport starts its operation in March last week.
One such nightmare which a majority of the passengers are sure to encounter relates to the accommodation facilities.

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Govt may make connectivity part of airport projects

Business Standard

The idea of making connectivity a part of airport projects is being examined by the government in the light of the experience of Hyderabad and Bangalore airports — both of which will be ready way before the access roads to them are in place.

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BMTC to hire retired cops

TOI

Policing at 60? Well, that's the BMTC way. With the increasing traffic and commuter problems plaguing the transport corporation, the BMTC has decided to hire retired police officials.

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Thursday, February 7, 2008

Bangalore: Pollution levels at all time high

Rediff

Once upon a time, walkers in the famous Cubbon Park and Lal Bagh used to enjoy the fresh air during their walks. Today, a majority of them are forced to wear pollution masks during their morning and evening walks.

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After March, it’s mayhem in Bangalore!

MSN

Imagine travelling for two hours to the airport to catch a 30-minute flight. Or, driving to Chennai in lesser time than getting to the airport and boarding a flight. Well, this could be the grim scenario once the new Bangalore international airport takes over the civilian operations from HAL airport on March 30.

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It’s Time We Stood Up! A Unique Leadership March to Awaken Bangalore.

On the 10th February, Sunday, you could either watch a movie in the cosiness of your home, shop at the comfort of a mall or you could stand up and lead. If you even care the least for Bangalore, then come out and join this symbolic and historic leadership march along with us. Declaring that it is our city and we would build it together.

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Rs 60 cr till Jan: BBMP hits jackpot with ad revenue

Deccan Herald

BBMP's revenue through advertisements this financial year is breaking all records. The over Rs 60 crore earned up to January-end is a six-fold increase over its revenue earned during the previous financial year and the figure is expected to increase further by March-end.

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Environment institute for Bangalore soon

Hindu

Bangalore will soon be home to the National Institute of Environment and Hazardous Materials Management. It was inaugurated at a two-day national seminar here on Monday by M.V. Rajashekaran. Union Minister of State for Planning and Member Planning Commission.

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Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Live bands set to sizzle in Bangalore again

DNA

The Beats, a pub on Bangalore’s famous Brigade Road, could soon sizzle with a bunch of women in colourful clothes, mostly from Mumbai and West Bengal, dancing and singing to entertain customers. So could the other over 120 restaurants and bars in the city.

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Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Rs 30,000 cr to revamp Bangalore transport

Projects Monitor

The Karnataka government has presented to Centre its comprehensive traffic and transportation plan for Bangalore, taking into account the city's projected growth by 2025. With an eye on Central funding, the government has initiated talks with the urban development ministry for developing traffic and transport infrastructure.

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ITC: Wealth from waste project in more areas

Deccan Herald

Residents of about 2.5 lakh houses in Hyderabad do not throw away dry waste. They make money out of it. ITC Limited in collaboration with the residents’ associations has started purchasing dry waste (recyclable) from house holds in Hyderabad. The company is all set to extend the programme to Bangalore City.

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Stop tree cutting, HC tells BMRCL

Deccan Herald

The Karnataka High Court has restrained Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) from cutting trees on CMH Road till February 14.

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B One to open 20 new centres shortly

New Indian Express

Bangalore One, the integrated citizen service centre, is expected to open 20 more centres in the next two weeks in the city limits. The new centres will be smaller than the usual Bangalore One centres which has 8-10 counters.

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B’lore among most polluted cities

New Indian Express

Bangalore is one of the most polluted cities in India. Thanks to increasing levels of vehicular pollution, unscientific ways of solid waste management and a large number of industries, it can no longer be called a Garden City.

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GAIL proposes extending Dabhol-Bangalore gas pipeline to Goa

Business Line

GAIL (India) Ltd has proposed extending its planned Dabhol-Bangalore gas pipeline to Goa to meet the fuel needs of the country's hottest tourist destination. GAIL Chairman and Managing Director U D Choubey made a proposal for extending the Dabho l-Bangalore line to Goa during a meeting with the State Chief Minister Digambar Kamat here.

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Monday, February 4, 2008

Venus joins Serena in Bangalore Open

AFP

Six-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams will take part in the 600,000-dollar WTA Bangalore Open here next month, joining sister Serena in the draw, organisers announced on Monday.

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Alliance Française de Bangalore Calendar

Calendar Feb - April 2008

Following the pothole survival plan

Deccan Herald

"The times have changed my fellow potholes," the politically inclined, Po To Gowda got ready to embark on a longwinded speech, "I regret to inform you that this is no more the laidback city we hoped to live and multiply in. There is a new dangerous enemy who will target us soon. We need to be prepared."

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Is BMTC a killer vehicle?

Deccan Herald

The roads of the City have become death traps due to accidents is a well-known fact. Moreover, the BMTC buses which has a major role to play in these accidents and is responsible for the public wrath is not new either.

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Electronic fare meters for autorickshaws, taxis proposed

Hindu

The State Government is considering an amendment to the Karnataka Motor Vehicle Rules to make it mandatory for autorickshaws and taxis operating in eight city corporation limits, including Bangalore, to install electronic digital fare meters.

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BJP promises to make Bangalore top IT power

Hindu

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday promised to put Bangalore on the top of the IT world map if the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was voted to power.

“Bangalore has the capacity to beat Silicon Valley in the U.S. We will do our best to achieve this if the NDA comes to power,” BJP national president Rajnath Singh told a press conference in Bangalore.

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Ring road project poses threat to Bangalore’s vital water source

Hindu

With the land within the ecologically sensitive Thippagondanahalli reservoir catchment area set to be acquired for the first phase of Peripheral Ring Road, the threat of irreparable damage to a vital water source for Bangalore city looms large.

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Sunday, February 3, 2008

’Bangalore must take lead in controlling greenhouse gases’

Hindu

It is time for Bangalore to take the lead in pollution control, particularly the Green House Gases (GHG). The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board is the first pollution board in the country to release the GHG inventory for the State.

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Water seepage at underpass: Finally, BBMP finds solution

Deccan Herald

With the help of water management experts from Chennai the Palike has set up a well to collect ground water. The well will be connected to a chamber, being constructed at a distance of 100 metres from the underpass. The chamber is, in turn, connected to a drain on Bellary road.

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Underpass construction hits rock

New Indian Express

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) much talked about ‘instant’ underpass project near Cauvery Theatre junction has hit a ‘rock’, literally.

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Colonial calm

Business Standard

The Taj West End has kept the character of the city alive.

Hidden behind the noise and chaos that envelopes the city of Bangalore today lies 20 acres of sheer calm and splendour that brings back memories of a city that was once known for its greenery.

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New Reva plant at Bangalore for electric cars

DNA

Bangalore-based electric car maker Reva has built a new 33,000 capacity plant in Bommasandra, Bangalore, to meet the increased demand in foreign markets and gain a foothold in the Maharashtra market.

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Bangalore's GDP zooms past other metros

CNBC TV18

You may be stuck in traffic but Bangalore is not. Bangalore is the fastest metro. No we are not looking at the speedometer of your car. We are talking about economic growth.

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Friday, February 1, 2008

Bangalore Happenings

Live Mint

Dance and Music festival
1-7 February
The Indiranagar Sangeet Sabha is organizing the annual Dance and Music festival as a tribute to saints Purandara Dasa and Thyagaraja. The series of concerts, spread over seven days, will feature leading artists from across the country. The festival will begin on 1 February at 6pm with a violin duet by Mysore M. Nagaraj and Dr M. Manjunath.

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Oasis Centre now for Bangalore

Fibre 2 Fashion

Landmark Group, a foremost retail conglomerate in the Middle East and India, launched the first Oasis Centre in the country at Bangalore.

Combining 4 Levels of International Shopping experience (Lifestyle and SPAR) including the best International brands, fine dining (Polynation) and an entertainment zone (Fun City) under one roof, Oasis Centre will provide an all-round family leisure and shopping experience to the residents of Bangalore.

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Bangalore to have women cabbies

Khaleej Times

Women chauffeurs are all set to hit the roads in Bangalore. A private cab company will introduce metered taxis steered by women soon. The company will launch the taxi service possibly next month.

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HAL airport to be a mall?

Times of India

Bangalore's HAL airport may well go on to become a premier shopping destination. After the closure of the airport in April, the arrival and departure lounges may be converted into a mega retail mall with multiplexes along with a five-star hotel, and a convention centre.

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Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Airport to be named after Bengaluru

Deccan Herald

The Garden City may still be awaiting a green signal from the Union Home Ministry to get its name changed from Bangalore to Bengaluru. But the promoters of the new Devanahalli international airport have gone a step ahead and christened the airport “Bengaluru International Airport”.

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Subir Roy: Post-modern India of sudden death

Business Standard

Getting into Bangalore airport was not too difficult, the traffic on Airport Road was predictably heavy in early evening but manageable. But the scene inside was unbelievable. There were what looked like half a dozen queues snaking their way around the whole check-in area, making it difficult to get to the machines that scan your baggage or the check-in counters.

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Volvo bus unit planning to make India global component sourcing hub

Forbes

BANGALORE (Thomson Financial) - Volvo Bus Corp (VBC), a division of Swedish commercial truck maker AB Volvo, said it plans to make India its global sourcing hub for components in the future.

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Citizens, cops address traffic woes

Times of India

There are 40,000 road intersections in Bangalore and at least half of them should be manned by traffic cops. This means the 2,800-strong traffic department should have 20,000 personnel.

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Can we travel together?

Times of India

If one does not know how to arrange items in a single cupboard efficiently, purchasing two more would not solve the problem. As an artist, chaos interests me, but anarchy frightens. What we are confronted with in Bangalore are shades of anarchy. As someone once said, traffic explains the mind of the city.

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‘Krishna’s second innings is certain’

The Hindu

Congress leaders in Mandya district are upbeat about the possible return of Maharashtra Governor S.M. Krishna into active politics in the State. The party workers and the people of Mandya, the home constituency of the former Chief Minister, had always wanted Mr. Krishna to remain in State politics. They have waited three years for his return.

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Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Don’t mess with this camera, you will be red-faced

Times of India

The countdown on the traffic signal timer has begun and you’re revving up your engine. But be warned, the next time you decide to jump the gun and take off, there’s a roving eye watching you.
Newly installed Red Speed Cameras at five major junctions capture the registration number of vehicles jumping signals.

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Integrated seamless solution needed

Times of India

Karnataka has proposed many projects to make transportation seamless, painless
Ideally, Bangalore city should have had a mass rapid transport system i.e., Metro Rail, at least a decade ago. We have now, in right earnest, started the work on positioning the 33 km of Metro Rail from Byappanahalli to Mysore Road (18.1 km) and from Yeshwantpur to RV Road Terminal (14.9 km). The project will be commissioned by December 2011.

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CMH Road widening from today

Deccan Herald

Final round talks with the traders association and the Assistant Commissioner of Police (East Division) was held on Tuesday.

V Madhu, MD, BMRC said contractors would begin footpath widening of 0.5 mts on either side of the CMH Road in Indiranagar from the Double Road stretch to S V Road curve in Ulsoor.

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Bangalore stays putt on golf turf

Economic Times

When you think Bangalore, you probably conjure up images of IT, coffee, salubrious weather and beer. You might be surprised to see golf added to that list — but the Silicon City has, in its inimitable way, given a twist to what’s elsewhere perceived as an elitist and fuddy-duddy pastime.

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Monday, January 7, 2008

B`lore needs apex body to manage transport

Business Standard

What Bangalore needs foremost to come to grips with its key traffic problem is an apex transport authority suitably empowered which brings within its scope all the government agencies and stakeholders who affect the city’s traffic flow and are affected by it.

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This device sees red if you jump the signal

The Hindu

The city police on Saturday set into motion another device for automation of enforcement of traffic offences, even as the Transport Department is yet to provide the details of the vehicles online. The new device called “Red Speed Cameras” will be used to book cases of against those jumping traffic signals and those indulging in rash driving.

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Plea to allow live bands in hotels, pubs

The Hindu

The Karnataka Restaurant Live Band Association, Bangalore, has submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Karnataka asking the Government to allow live bands in restaurants and pubs in the city. The association said that if discotheques are allowed to function, live bands should also be allowed to do so.

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BBMP strikes gold with LCD hoardings

The Hindu

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has netted Rs. 30 lakh a month for each of its state-of-the-art liquid crystal display (LCD) hoardings. At an auction held here on Friday, the BBMP netted Rs 2.1 crore a month as rent for the hoardings in seven prime locations.

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Govt wants low airport fee

Times of India

Fearing massive public outcry, the government has asked the private players developing new airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore not to make flying out of them prohibitively expensive for passengers.

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Karnataka to set up mega city police force for Bangalore

Times of India

The Union Home Ministry has promised to extend financial support to establish a "mega city police force" to address the security needs of the fastest growing city and IT hub, Bangalore.

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Friday, January 4, 2008

GLTS Event this sunday

Praja Bangalore

Our good friends at GLTS are organising an event to tidy up the road medians in Indiranagar. Below is their message to each one of us. Do participate if you can.

Dear Friend,

Wish you a very Happy and a prosperous New Year.

As our first initiative this year, we have planned a rally this Sunday (6th Jan,2008) on Old Madras road. We intend to fix the medians permanently and clean unwanted sand and dust lying on this stretch starting from Indranagar RTO to K.R Puram junction.

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State may be first to go to polls

Deccan Herald

Karnataka could be the first state in the country to hold assembly elections as per the redrawn assembly constituencies as the Union Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs on Thursday is understood to have decided to implement the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission.

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Bangalore Open moves up a tier

The Hindu

The Bangalore Open, the premier event of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in India, is poised to take a quantum leap as the tournament, to be held in March, will be a mega Tier II affair with an overall purse of $600,000.

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Year of reckoning

Times of India

Rs 10,000 crore for Bangalore: this is the kind of investment the state will be ploughing in for major infrastructure projects. Megaprojects have been planned for better connectivity and traffic management in a rapidly growing city. While some of these projects have been on paper for more than three years, 2008 will be a year of reckoning for them.

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BBMP starts animal birth control programme

New Indian Express

Residents in parts of Greater Bangalore, CMC and TMC areas need not worry about the increasing stray dog menace.

As the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has started Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes in the new wards.

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International film festival kicks off

Deccan Herald

Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan on Thursday said India was still in the ‘backyard’ of world cinema because the film industry in the country did not offer the much-needed space for serious, different cinema. He was speaking at the launch of the Bengalooru International Film Festival 2008.

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Governor for making Bangalore an international film festival centre

The Hindu

Governor Rameshwar Thakur has said that the State Government will urge the Centre to consider Bangalore as a major centre for holding international festivals on a permanent basis for promoting art cinema.

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Biocon finds solution to foul smell

The Hindu

Following a notice from Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) about a foul odour emanating from its incinerator, Biocon has put in place an alternative solution to remedy the problem, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CEO of Biocon India Group, told The Hindu.

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Snag hits Bidadi project

Deccan Herald

The State Government and the project developer, Delhi-based real estate major DLF Universal, are locking horns over finalising the Development Agreement for implementing the mega project estimated to cost Rs 50,000 crores.

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