Us and Them - Metro for free!

silkboard - 17-AUG-2008

Read in newspapers last week that if things go as being planned Hyderabad will end up getting a 71 km long Metro for free! Actually, not just free, they will end up getting paid some money (Rs 1240 crores, about 10% of the project cost of Rs 12410 crores) by the winning consortium. Read it yourself, this biz-standard article - Hyd to get 71 km Metro for free. Stats to compare from cost angle are - 65 km Delhi Metro comes at Rs 10500 crores, and 42 km Bangalore at Rs 6500 Crores, both are state funded.

Rs 8,830 mn - bribe paid by just BPL households last year

murali772 - 17-AUG-2008

The level of corruption is "alarming" in the states of Assam, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, says a new survey based on experience of BPL households in availing various public services last year.

The "India Corruption Study 2007", brought out by NGOs Transparency International India (TII) and Centre for Media Studies (CMS), found that about one-third of Below Poverty Line (BPL) households in the country bribed officials to avail a total of 11 services - from police to PDS.

What BDA spent on Abide

silkboard - 16-AUG-2008

Mr A pulled out BDA's expense report on Abide (remember this event?). He found that BDA spent Rs.21,86,487 for that full day session at IISc. See a similar news reported about BBMP (Biscuits worth Rs 50000). That small event has allegedly been over-accounted. The same can't be said about Abide event, this is pure information for public consumption.

Potholes on Roads tarred one month back!!

anusree.kailash - 14-AUG-2008

[Sep 5 spotlight post - an example for us to just go do it - read Anusree's experience {admin}]

An Arterial road in Ejipura got tarred in July. Within just 3-4 weeks there are major potholes on major junctions of the road.

One wonders ...

booze, banjo and bangalore

tsubba - 14-AUG-2008

* drinking and driving dont mix * drumming and drinking dont mix * drinking, drumming and bangalore dont mix * by two kaapi for me

Jayanagar 5th Block RWA interacts with MLA and officials

blr_editor - 13-AUG-2008

Mr Mukund shares with us the following piece of news :

Hope for green belt? - breaking news

murali772 - 13-AUG-2008

CAF's counsel in their "Master Plan PIL" has informed as below:

After hearing the arguments at length, the Division Bench of the Hon'ble Chief Justice and Justice V Gopalagowda was today pleased to pass an interim order that any approvals in the Green Belt of 714 km under the '95 CDP shall be subject to further orders of the Court.

Small money corruption - why BBMP why?

silkboard - 13-AUG-2008

Assuming Mr Basavaraj Itnaal got his facts right in this Deccan Herald news story, what does it say? Thats why we keep saying - proactive disclosure is a must. Do nothing else BBMP, just do this. Just put details of all your activities - planned expense, actual expense, receipts reports - on your pubilc website.

Refer Biscuits for Rs 50,000 on BBMPs gravy train By Basavaraj Itnaal, DH News Service, Bangalore. One snippet:

Water supply PPP

murali772 - 13-AUG-2008

Nagpur Municipal Corporation has invited for 'Expression of Interest' for pre-qualification for bidding for its 24x7 City Water Supply Project, on PPP basis. Should Bangalore follow suit?

Through its ad on page 15 Sunday TOI (dt 10/08/08, click on right-side bottom corner at

Concession agreements vis-a-vis MRTP

mcadambi - 12-AUG-2008

Concession agreements for infrastructure should be within the frame work of the Competition Act (previously MRTP Act):

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/11/29/stories/2006112900880700.htm