Practical Road standards for manageable Cross Sections

psaram42 - 27-JUL-2010

 A road is not the mere outer visible surface. It is a volume to be precise. [This “Volume” concept is more attractive than conceiving a road as a  3-D object. Thanks to my visit to CSTEP some time back]. Its underbelly is the home of many services essential for the city / place it serves. 

BBMP Elected Corporator's Roles and Responsibilities

Chitra Amin - 24-JUN-2010

BBMP Elected Corporators celebrating their victories big way. Corporator in our area opened a new office and celebrated his birthday and new office inauguration on same day. With big posters around, loud music and huge tent, blocking the traffic on a road for one full day. No one complained. including me.. why? There is a fear that something may wrong with me/family if I complain... and nothing will happen to them.

Wonder what gives them this power.

While talking to my maid about the corporator, she said, Ma - they spend so much money on all this even part of it, if given to all those homeless people sitting near bus stop will save their life.. but who cares? It hurts and pains a lot inside... why are we "ordinary" and educated people just ignore this "Tamasha" happening around us? Can nothing be done? Isn't it time to wake up and check this out? Aren't Corporators responsible for helping the community instead of creating inconvenience to it? Where does this money come from? Who gave them rights to use Tax payer's money and "aam janata's" road? When this will stop? Will it ever?

Inputs to proposed Fire Safety Legislation

deepakar - 22-JUN-2010

I'm posting this on behalf of Vivek Reddy of the BJP Legislative cell. Vivek is gathering inputs for a reform to the current Fire-safety laws and their enforcement. He was keen on getting inputs from Praja too. I had referred the following two threads to him.

http://praja.in/en/projects/2010/03/12/fire-safety-project-bring-awareness-and-seriousness

http://praja.in/en/blog/ravi-d/2010/02/24/what-can-we-learn

Further inputs will be appreciated

* Who are the local experts on the area that could contribute to this activity?

* Are you aware of some measures and best-practices adopted successfully in other countries?

* Anyone who has knowledge of the law and can critique the current legislation?

Bangalore Patrol

manjari - 7-APR-2010

Times of India along with Janaagrah launch Bangalore Patrol (starting tomorrow) says the cover page of TOI today. I tried to look for it online but couldnt find a thing about the same. But if you have a TOI around check it out, it is impossible to miss.

According to the Advertisement "Bangalore patrol involves a stringent ward infrastructure and services assessment programme with the singular aim of demanding direct evaluating and accountability from the local administrative and governance system."

They will start with 5 essential civic rights of water supply, Mobility, Sanitation, Environment and Public amenities.

It will measure the same in 198 wards. By doing so they intend to monitor the work of our newly elected representative's in each of the wards. In my opinion the best measure of performance and also at the same time we get a good idea about our city.
According to the article "Progress report will be based on simple objective performance evaluation criteria and will be freely available to the public, empowering them to demand answers" 

War Memorial OK - But not in my backyard, says Infosys HR Head

kbsyed61 - 23-MAR-2010

It seems the steam for opposition to War memorial is picking up. Apart from Justice Saldhana, now the ABIde member themselves are crying hoarse. But the circumstances seems to suggest something contrary to their public statements. It looked like, War memorial is OK, but not in my backyard.

Courtsey - Sights, Sound and Smell from Bangalore

"..The National Military Memorial was an idea originally mooted by the Agenda for Bangalore Infrastructure and Development Task Force (ABIde) headed by Rajeev Chandrashekar. But its own members are now coming out in protest against the proposed venue.
Mohan Das Pai, one of its key members who resides close to the park, said the idea of a war memorial for our heroes is indeed a fine one because their stories have to be told. “But the venue is certainly not acceptable to me.” ..."

For more read here

Fire Safety - project to bring awareness and seriousness

Ravi_D - 13-MAR-2010

This project is coming out comments like these (Awareness, Citizen's audit) from Major Kapur, Ravi_D and others on the discussions we had about incidents at Carlton Tower. Remember, it could be the mall you visit, or your office building next, and fire breakout is always one accident away.

2020 Olympics in Bangalore

idontspam - 8-OCT-2009

 I would suggest we start building an Olympic park near Bangalore so we can bid for 2020 olympics. Of the BRIC countries only we havent won the bid to host an Olympics yet. The economy is booming and we can get some funding/private participation now.

Plastic Waste Management at Nandi Hills

deepakar - 28-JUL-2009

For the last year or so, some of us have been involved in a drive to keep litter away from Nandi hills.

Forced to pay a rupee extra!

begeprasad - 20-JUL-2009

Most of us have experienced this at times, for me though it's a daily thing. What am I talking about? Yes it's about nandini milk/curd etc.

Why there is no place for me to walk?

Vasanthkumar Mysoremath - 14-JUL-2009

Pedestrians are the most neglected lot.  For long, city planners, technical wizards and all those who have authority to allot the available land between different class of road users