A solution for eastbound OMR/ORR lanes

Transmogrifier - 20-JAN-2009

The mess at Bennigannahalli is a 2 km microcosm of what haphazard (if any) planning can result in- apathy (and sometimes antipathy) to public transportation, lane indiscipline, poor forethought (narrow RUB; non-existent pedestrian infrastructure) and bad design (Cable-stayed bridge) to name a few. However IMO some solutions are not that far away.

A solution for eastbound OMR/ORR lanes

Transmogrifier - 20-JAN-2009

The mess at Bennigannahalli is a 2 km microcosm of what haphazard (if any) planning can result in- apathy (and sometimes antipathy) to public transportation, lane indiscipline, poor forethought (narrow RUB; non-existent pedestrian infrastructure) and bad design (Cable-stayed bridge) to name a few. However IMO some solutions are not that far away.

A solution for eastbound OMR/ORR lanes

Transmogrifier - 20-JAN-2009

The mess at Bennigannahalli is a 2 km microcosm of what haphazard (if any) planning can result in- apathy (and sometimes antipathy) to public transportation, lane indiscipline, poor forethought (narrow RUB; non-existent pedestrian infrastructure) and bad design (Cable-stayed bridge) to name a few. However IMO some solutions are not that far away.

Meeting with Adviser to the CM on road-widening issues

murali772 - 25-JUN-2010

The meeting was convened by Dr A Ravindra, advisor to the CM on urban issues, at the instance of the Bangalore Environment Trust (BET), on the matter of 'road-widening', on 23rd June, at the Vikas Soudha. Along with Dr Ravindra was his deputy Dr Ashwin Mahesh. Though the Commissioner had apparently been requested by Dr Ravindra to be present, along with some of his top officials, only a Superintending Engineer turned up, that too some half way through the meeting.

There were about 20 invitees, largely from Civil Society groups, including Capt Prabhala, Mr Govardhan, Mr Nityananda, Mr Devare from BET, Ms Kathyayini Chamaraj from Civic, Dr Harini Nagendra, a Doctor who is spear-heading the 'Sankey road widening opposition' movement, apart from yours truly representing Praja and Koramangala Initiative.

It started with Mr Nityananda of BET making a presentation, making out a case for widening, where need be, in a more tree-friendly way, citing examples of some specific roads.

Give prosecution & suo motu powers to Lokayukta - Petition

indian - 25-JUN-2010

This petition’s been created to request those concerned to

01) Appoint the Upa Lokayukta at the earliest.

02) Give prosecution and suo motu powers to the Lokayukta.

(If the Lokayukta has suo motu powers, it can speedily take up investigations on its own without waiting for someone to file a complaint.)

03) Dismiss the corrupt government officials from service.

04) Retain Justice Mr. Santosh Hegde after accepting his demands/requests.

Justice Santosh Hedge's requests to the government as soon as he'd taken over as the Lokayukta chief

01) Give power of suspending and revoking suspension of corrupt officials.

02) Amend Section 36 of CrPC to confer police power on the Lokayukta.

03) Give suo motu powers to investigate Class I officials as well as politicians, who come under the Lokayukta purview.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/give-anti-corruption-prosecution-powers-to-kla

Using IT methods to control traffic and enforcement of traffic rules

irfanulla - 25-JUN-2010

Hi All,

may be its time we used the IT infrastructure and the already available infrastructure to get people learn some traffic rules

My opinion would be to outsource technology, infrastructure and marshaling to high end cameras and monitoring systems to take care of traffic rule violations and imposing of fines and make the process devoid of traffic police interference and in the process take the big burden off the heads of the Traffic police and let them stick to their more important job of managing the traffic  -

using technology would let the TP (traffic police) make a note of repeated offenders and would help in auto collection of fines through third party system,

The above may be well known to all- but the reason to mention it out here is that - it needs to be at least tried out in a pilot way to find its effectivity -

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?

Bring Justice Santosh Hegde back to office - protest M G statue, Saturday (26th June), 9 AM

murali772 - 24-JUN-2010

Loksatta calls for a movement to bring Justice Santosh Hegde back to office: Organises protest at Mahatma Gandhi statue on Saturday (26th June) morning at 9 AM

The resignation of the Hon'ble Lokayukta Shri Santosh Hegde is a low point for governance in the state. His action, coming after many months of repeatedly urging the government to give his office more powers, and to take action against various offenders he has identified, is a blackmark against the political leadership of the BJP, as well as the Congress and JD(S), all of whom have paid only lip service to the Lokayukta's efforts. It is particularly unfortunate that the Government has failed to protect officials of the Lokayukta's office from motivated legal and other attacks.

Even at this late hour, the Government can take corrective action, and restore public confidence that the much-needed battle against corruption in public service will be taken up seriously. There are three steps the government needs to take seriously, and immediately.

Bus Day Campaign - Need Minds & Hands!!

Srivatsava - 24-JUN-2010

Heres some fun activity followed by lot more fun activity!!

Update: The video campaign is put off for now. A separate notification will be posted on Praja whenever it happens!! The effort to meet and get the buy-in of corporators will go  ahead as planned.

Event 1: Video Campaign

We have to build some short videos as Bus Day online campaign material. The intent is to showcase advantages of taking the bus, in short and crisp videos (may be 10 sec to 1min duration). The 'shoot' is planned for Saturday, 26th June from 8:30am to 10am. We need volunteers to enact in the clips. We need men and women - old, young & middle-aged, able to speak 'minimal' English or Kannada. And yes, ideas and storylines for the videos are also welcome. Hope to see atleast 10 people!!

Venue: Shantinagar Bus Stand (tentative). From there, we may hop on to a 'exclusive' Bus to shoot the videos!!

And yes, We need a good camcoder and a interested/skilled 'video'grapher. Any volunteers?

Event 2: Corporators Campaign!!

Forced into jay-walking

murali772 - 23-JUN-2010

Today, I had this strange experience. I had been invited to this meeting convened by Mr A Ravindra, advisor to the CM on urban issues, at the instance of the Bangalore Environment Trust, on the matter of 'road-widening', at 3.30 PM at the Vikas Soudha (On what transpired at the meeting, I will post separately - nothing too earth-shaking, though).

I reached well ahead of time, parked my car in the paid parking lot in the Cubbon park, near the library, and walked upto the Vikas Soudha main-gate. But, to reach the main gate, I had to cross the busy Vidhan Veedhi. There was a convenient pedestrian crossing, with signal lights, though the zebra markings had mostly got obliterated. The signal was showing red as I reached it, and the law-abiding citizen that I like to be seen to be, I waited for it to turn green, even as many people were crossing all over, darting through the speeding traffic. After some patient waiting, it suddenly occurred to me that a whole new cycle had started, even as the pedestrian signal had remained red right through.