Ola discontinues shared cab services between 11pm and 6am in Bengaluru

Transport

While some reports indicate that this decision was taken keeping in mind the safety concerns, industry sources deny it.

TNM Staff

Leading app-based cab aggregator Ola has discontinued its popular ride sharing offering for Bengaluru between 11pm and 6am from the beginning of this week. This means customers in Bengaluru cannot book shared cabs on its platform in the late hours. In a company statement, Ola said, “Ola Share is a smart and sustainable mobility solution and a popular choice for commuters during regular hours i.e. 6am to 11pm. By matching users who are looking to ride on similar routes, Ola Share optimizes fares for customers and capacities for driver partners, enabling fewer vehicles on the road. We have hence matched the availability of Ola Share to this time period to ensure value for money and viability for customers and partners respectively. Customers can continue to choose from a variety of mobility options from 11pm - 6am on the Ola platform and we remain committed to innovating and building localised mobility solutions." While some media reports indicate that this decision was taken keeping in mind the safety concerns, industry sources deny it. One source said, “It is not true that this decision was taken on safety grounds. The Ola platform has a robust safety mechanism to ensure no one has to feel unsafe in a ride." The source added, ”In that duration, we often don’t get passengers on the same route and this naturally makes their routes longer. So customers often end up paying the same amount they would have paid for a personal cab. This was not a win-win situation as both the driver and customer were losing money. It has already been done in Chennai.” Ola’s rival Uber has not made any similar announcement.  While shared cabs remain a preferred option for commuters, one cab drivers’ association has said shared cabs services should be stopped immediately. Tanveer Pasha, President of Ola, Taxi for Sure, Uber Drivers and Owners Association, said, “Not only in the night, they have to stop shared services completely, as it is completely against the Motor Vehicles Act. Nobody knows who their next co-rider is irrespective of it is day or night time. We are already talking with the state government.” Read: Ola gets green signal from officials, just has to pay Rs 15 lakh fine  

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Congress-JD(S) mission is 20% commission, PM Modi taunts in K’taka rally

Lok Sabha 2019

The Prime Minister said the previous Congress government head was a "10% commission agent".

IANS

Slamming the alliance of the ruling Congress and JD(S), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the mission of the coalition government in Karnataka was to take 20% commission in every deal-making. "Both the defeated parties came together after the Assembly elections last year to form a 'milawat' (adulterated) government for keeping the BJP out of power and take 20% commission in every contract or project," Modi said while addressing an election rally in Gangavathi, 370 km northwest of Bengaluru. The Prime Minister said the previous Congress government head was a "10% commission agent". "With 10% commission agent JD(S) joining the Congress, the commission has doubled to 20% for every deal. What can you expect from such parties, which fought for years but came together soon fearing the BJP will come to power," Modi said in his 35-minute speech in Hindi. Dubbing Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi and British national Christian Michel as "uncles" of the Congress for being commission agents in defence deals, Modi alleged that the new Congress government in Madhya Pradesh diverted funds meant for mid-day meals in schools to the party's election expenses. "Crores of rupees were found in the official residence of a Congress leader from Madhya Pradesh on Tugalak Road in New Delhi. The money was siphoned off from the treasury to fund the party's campaign," Modi said. Exhorting the people to vote for the party's candidates by pressing the lotus button on the EVM, the Prime Minister said their votes would help him form a strong government at the Centre for the overall development of the country. Modi was given a rousing welcome when he greeted the people in Kannada and lauded them for assembling on a hot summer day. Claiming that a BJP wave was sweeping across the country, Modi said there was no doubt about the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) returning to power to serve the people for five more years. State BJP President BS Yeddyurappa and the party's other leaders such as Jagadish Shettar and BR Sriramulu were present on the occasion. The 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka will go to the polls in the second and third phase on April 18 and April 23, respectively.  

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Traffic restrictions imposed in Bengaluru CBD ahead of PM Modi’s visit

Traffic

The Prime Minister will be in the city on Saturday for a public meeting at the Palace Grounds.

TNM Staff

In view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bengaluru to address a public meeting, on Saturday, the city traffic police have issued an advisory to citizens to help tackle the traffic. The Prime Minister will be addressing a public meeting at the Palace Grounds. According to reports, heavy traffic is expected around Palace Grounds, as a result of which parking restrictions have been issued in the area. The meeting will be held at Sri Krishna Vihar at Palace Grounds in Bengaluru from 4.30 pm onwards. Modi will be joined by his cabinet members at the meeting. The following are the traffic advisories put out by Bengaluru City Traffic Police for citizens to follow: For those travelling from Bengaluru South to the Kempegowda International Airport: Go via Basaveshwara Circle to Old High Grounds P.S. Junction and make a left at T.Chowdaiah Road to reach Windsor Manor Junction. At Cauvery Theater Junction take a left turn at Bashyam Circle  and a right at Jeevaraj Alva Road to reach Sadashivanagar P.S. Junction. From there via New BEL Road go towards Hebbal flyover and move towards KIA. For those travelling from Kempegowda International Airport towards Bengaluru East: Take the Hebbal flyover underpass and then a left onto outer ring toward towards Nagawara Junction via Tannery Road. Upon reaching Hennur Junction, move further ahead. From Kempegowda International Airport towards Bengaluru West, South and North West: Go from the airport to the Hebbal flyover underpass and take a right turn at Kuvempu Circle then a left at B.E.L Circle to reach Sadashivanagar P.S. junction. From there make a right turn to reach B.H.E.L Circle and take a left turn at Maramma Circle. Upon reaching Margosa road go past K.C. General Hospital to move further ahead. From Bengaluru East towards Kempegowda International Airport: Go via MG Road towards Kamaraja Road to reach Thomas Cafe. Take Wheeler Road then the ITC Bridge to reach MS Nagar. From IOC Bridge go towards Banaswadi Main Road and take a left turn to reach outer ring road. Go from Hennur Ring Road towards Nagawara junction and take a right turn to reach Thanisandra Main Road. From there go via Hegde Nagar to Kattigehalli and take a left turn at Bagalur Cross to move towards the airport

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PM Modi, Kumaraswamy engage in war of words over latter’s jawan comment

Lok Sabha 2019

PM Narendra Modi criticised Kumaraswamy for his statement even as Kumaraswamy clarified the context in which he had made the statement.

TNM Staff

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy engaged in a war of words after PM Modi criticised Kumaraswamy for his remark about Indian Army personnel where he had said that those who don't get a square meal join the army and become jawans. A 15-second video clip of Kumaraswamy's statement was shared by BJP's state unit and the same statement was referenced by PM Modi in his speech during a rally in Koppal on Friday.  Kumaraswamy had said, "People who guard our borders are not children of the rich. Because they don't have food to eat, ultimately some youth join armed forces and the PM is playing with their lives." People who don't have food to eat join Defence: @hd_kumaraswamy Kumaraswamy avare, people join Defence forces due to the love they have for Nation. Why don't you send your Son to serve in army instead of contesting for MP seat. You may then know what it needs to be a soldier. pic.twitter.com/J8vSZl6ZRN — BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 11, 2019 "It is shocking to know a Chief Minister's thinking is so low to say those who don't get a square meal a day join the Army and not the rich. What else can people expect from such a leader? By using such words, Kumaraswamy has insulted our patriotic soldiers who sacrifice their life to protect the country," PM Narendra Modi said, addressing a rally in Koppal on Friday. After the comment sparked a controversy, Kumaraswamy had clarified that the video had been cut short to create a false implication and shared the full video clip of his speech.  #BJP is upto their old tricks again.They posted another edited video with false interpretation to malign me.I had said that not all who join defence forces are rich.The PM shuldnot play with d lives of jawans to get votes.I never said tat jawans are inthe army just for livelihood https://t.co/Xzwkk7Vxya — H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) April 11, 2019 In response, Kumaraswamy had shared a longer 1:08 clip describing the context in which he made the statement. He said, " A youth like Guru has lost his life in a bomb blast under the rule of Narendra Modi and his family is suffering and we are hurt by this and not due to the Pakistan air strike. As a nation-lover, have you given emphasis to the nation? What about the poor families who are crying today? People who guard our borders are not children of rich. Because they don't have food to eat, ultimately some youth join armed forces and the PM is playing with their lives," he had said. Despite clarifying on the false post by @BJP4Karnataka, PM @narendramodi still gets carried away by wrong inputs of state leaders. The PM is using the patriotism of soldiers for his gain. He rides on such emotional waves because there are no development issues to talk about. pic.twitter.com/fhA6u3lA7p — H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) April 12, 2019 In his previous election rally in Karnataka, PM Modi had asked if the Chief Minister has his vote bank in India or Pakistan.

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Deve Gowda, Siddaramaiah hold joint rally in Mysuru: Will it unite workers?

Lok Sabha 2019

The two parties are traditional rivals in the region but this time around, they are contesting the polls jointly after signing a pre-poll alliance.

TNM Staff

At a time when the JD(S)-Congress alliance is experiencing strains in Karnataka, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appealed to party workers in Mandya and Mysuru to set aside their differences and work together to help the coalition candidates win in the Lok Sabha elections.  With less than a week to go for the elections, a joint rally was held in Mavalli in Mandya and Nagamangala in Mysuru on Friday after multiple reports of discord between JD(S) and Congress workers emerged. The two parties are traditional rivals in the region but this time around, they are contesting the polls jointly after signing a pre-poll alliance.  "The coalition government in the state was put together to defeat communal forces. There may have been conflicts at the local level but we must forget them and try and help Vijayashankar and Dhruvanarayana win in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar," Deve Gowda said, speaking on the occasion.  His words were echoed by Siddaramaiah, who once considered Deve Gowda as his political mentor before he was expelled from the JD(S). "To defeat the BJP, the independent candidate should be defeated," he said, referring to actor Sumalatha Ambareesh who is contesting as an independent from Mandya.  There has also been a strain in the alliance after Congress workers were seen attending campaign rallies of late actor Ambareesh’s wife, Sumalatha, who is contesting as an independent candidate against HD Kumaraswamy's son, Nikhil. Ambareesh was a popular Congress leader and also served as Minister of Housing during Siddaramaiah’s tenure.  "Many Congress workers are openly supporting Sumalatha and not Nikhil Kumaraswamy. Even as the election draws closer and several high command leaders have asked them to support Nikhil, they have refused to do so. They wanted Sumalatha to get the Congress ticket and cannot accept another grandson of Deve Gowda contesting from here," a Congress worker from Mandya says.  Congress recently suspended seven block presidents for indulging in anti-party activities and is struggling to quell the dissidence from its party members. Unlike in Tumakuru, where Congress leaders managed to convince incumbent MP Muddahanumegowda to hand over the seat to Deve Gowda, the party is facing a tough task in pacifying workers in Mandya.  MLAs N Cheluvarayaswamy and PM Narendraswamy and few other Congress leaders who are supporting Sumalatha were missing at Siddaramaiah and Deve Gowda’s joint rally. The joint rally comes a day before Congress President Rahul Gandhi's visit to Mandya to campaign for Nikhil.

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Trump’s health care blundering soothes Democratic infighting

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Dale Steyn returns to RCB, replaces Nathan Coulter-Nile

Sports

Steyn, who represented RCB in the first three editions of the IPL, will hope to change the fortunes of the team in this edition of the tournament.

Prajwal Bhat

South African fast-bowler Dale Steyn has joined the Royal Challengers of Bangalore (RCB) as a replacement for Australian speedster Nathan Coulter-Nile. Steyn, who represented RCB in the first three editions of the IPL, will hope to change the fortunes of the team in this edition of the tournament. The Bengaluru-based franchise is yet to win a game in the IPL and have lost six games in a row, the joint-worst start by any team in the history of the tournament. An Instagram by Dale Steyn showing an Indian visa lead to speculation that the fast bowler is returning to RCB. This led to several RCB fans speculating about Steyn signing with the team. RCB fans have had little to cheer for on the pitch this season and will be buoyed by the news of a fan-favorite returning to the side. Steyn, who recently returned from injury, is still one of the best fast bowlers in the world. He surprisingly went unsold in the IPL auction held in January. Dale Steyn's arrival was the topic of discussion among RCB fans on social media and with the confirmation that he has indeed rejoined the team, fans are hopeful that he can help change the fortunes of the team on the pitch. Read: Dale Steyn shows Indian visa, RCB fans think he is 'coming home'  

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