Heading towards Bengaluru's MG Road? Get ready for traffic diversions for 4 years

Infrastructure

The Kamaraj Road connecting MG Road and Cubbon Road will remain closed for four years until the Metro work is completed.

TNM Staff

The Namma Metro expansion in Bengaluru has hit the Central Business District in the city, making the arterial MG Road and Cubbon Road a traffic nightmare for motorists. Since construction work began last Saturday, a 200m section connecting Brigade Road (MG Road Cauvery Emporium) to Cubbon Road Junction has been blocked. As a result, what would have taken minutes has now increased travel time for motorists by at least 15 minutes for those travelling from Cubbon Road to MG Road and vice versa. But there’s no respite in store any time soon. The 200m stretch on Kamaraj Road will be closed until March 2023, when the Namma Metro line is expected to be ready. During this four-year period parking vehicles on MG Road and Brigade Road will be banned. The road closure has paralysed the traffic flow in a good part of the central business district of the city. Traffic police officials said the cascading effects of this blockage can be felt as far as Shivajinagar and Residency Road in either side. Tunneling work on the Kamaraj Road has begun for the construction of a new station as part of the Metro Phase II (Reach 6)) Gottigere-Nagavara Line. The underground station on Kamaraj Road will connect to the existing MG Road station. The Traffic Police Department has also created some diversions to accommodate vehicles which would otherwise use the Kamaraj Road. For the next four years, all vehicles travelling towards Shivajinagar from Trinity can take a right turn only at Anil Kumble Circle instead of the Kamaraj Road. Similarly, motorists heading from MG Road towards Trinity Circle will also be redirected to enter Central Street towards BRV junction. Meanwhile, vehicles coming from BRV junction side towards MG Road have to come via the Manipal Centre on Cubbon Road and take the Webbs Junction before entering MG Road. These diversions will also affect BMTC bus routes as buses won’t be allowed to access Murphy Road at the Anjaneya Temple junction. Instead, buses have to stick to Swamy Vivekananda Road- Ulsoor Police Station- Trinity Circle- Richmond Road route. Noted traffic expert and senior engineer MN Sreehari said, “At this point, there is not much the traffic police can do. It is a planning problem which is plaguing the city and this is also an example of the same. At the planning stage, if all the Metro Phase 1 was underground today, they would not have to close this important lifeline of a road. Just to save one-time cost, the government have created this problem.”  

Body 2: 

from Karnataka http://bit.ly/2KrJ1X7
via IFTTT

Turmoil inside Afghanistan cricket team as it languishes at the bottom in World Cup

Sport

Coach Phil Simmons has indicated that he will reveal chief selector's Dawlat Ahmadzai's role in the removal of Asghar Afghan as captain ahead of the World Cup.

TNM Staff

Tensions are brewing inside the dressing room of the Afghanistan cricket team after coach Phil Simmons on Wednesday indicated in a tweet that he will reveal chief selector Dawlat Ahmadzai's role in the removal of Asghar Afghan as skipper on the eve of the Cricket World Cup in England. He said that the decision affected the team's preparation for the World Cup in England and Wales, where it is the only team yet to win a game. "I am in the middle of a World Cup and trying to get our team to perform to the level we expect but at the end of the World Cup I will tell the Afghanistan people about the part that Dawlat Ahmadzai had to play in our preparation and his part in the dismissal of #AsgharAfghan," said Simmons. He was responding to a tweet by an Afghan journalist in which Ahmadzai was quoted to be laying the blame for the team's dismal run at the World Cup on the shoulders of the coaching staff led by Simmons.  Afghanistan's pre-World Cup preparation was marked by major changes, most notably the sacking of long-time skipper Asghar Afghan from the role. Senior players Rashid Khan, who replaced him as T20I skipper, and Mohammad Nabi publicly expressed their displeasure. Simmons announced shortly thereafter that he will not be continuing as Afghanistan's head coach after the World Cup.  The instability spilled into the tournament in which Afghanistan's woeful run has seen them sitting at the bottom of the standings with five losses in as many matches. Their most recent defeat came at the hands of hosts England where the latter hit a whopping 25 sixes batting first and star spinner Rashid conceded 110 runs in 9 overs -- the most by any bowler in a World Cup match.  Going into the World Cup, Rashid was touted to have a breakthrough tournament after he rose to 3rd position in the ICC ODI Bowlers rankings. But the tournament has been one to forget for Rashid and the Afghanistan team so far which is languishing at the bottom of the table.  The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) was also in the news recently when wicket-keeper Mohammad Shahzad, who was ruled out with a knee injury, said that he was not informed of his ouster and accused the ACB of conspiring against him.   

Body 2: 

from Karnataka http://bit.ly/2IrJkyK
via IFTTT

AH Vishwanath urges JD(S) to accept his resignation as party president

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Vishwanath said he was even considering resigning from his position as MLA of Hunsur constituency.

TNM Staff

The divisions in the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka came to the fore once again on Thursday after the party’s president AH Vishwanath reiterated his desire to quit his post. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Vishwanath said he was even considering resigning from his position as MLA of Hunsur constituency in Mandya. “Chief Ministers in the past have managed to balance party work and chief ministerial responsibilities. Kumaraswamy also should balance these two jobs. A ministerial position is vacant, 360 board and corporation head positions are vacant, and giving it to our workers will secure our position in this government. I urge him to lead us to becoming a nation-wide party. Please accept my resignation. Otherwise I will have to think about resigning from the position of Hunsur MLA,” Vishwanath said. Vishwanath decided to quit his position as JD(S) president earlier this month citing differences with his party colleagues and with members of the Congress. He also took responsibility for the party’s humbling defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, in which it managed to win just a single seat in the state. His resignation is yet to be accepted by the party. Responding to Vishwanath’s ultimatum, JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda stated that he will discuss the position of party president in a meeting of party leaders on Thursday. “Today, we have a meeting where all leaders will be present. We will discuss at that time. He has said he is not quitting the party but will not continue as president,” Deve Gowda said at a press conference at the JD(S) party office in Bengaluru. Deve Gowda added that he met Congress President Rahul Gandhi and requested him to ensure that Congress leaders in Karnataka refrained from publicly discussing the coalition government in power in the state. He was responding to reports that former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had suggested withdrawing support to the coalition government as it would improve the Congress’ chances of winning elections in the state. “There is ample time and I do not want to react to those statements. Two independent members have been inducted into the cabinet. All I ask is that there should not be a public reaction by any member of our party or of the Congress. I am watching and I am hurt by the statements being made and I request all Karnataka leaders not to make any public statements against the government,” he added. The flurry of press conferences comes amid fresh uncertainty over the coalition government’s future in the state. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy publicly admitted that he was in pain leading the coalition government in the state. Despite the complaints, he is set to address a press conference later today discussing the achievements of the coalition government along with Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka http://bit.ly/2WRMYeh
via IFTTT

Trump-approved Medicaid work rules didn't increase employment, study finds

from Health Care https://politi.co/2WTPP6C
via IFTTT

Man working as food delivery agent mistaken for thief, assaulted in Bengaluru

Crime

Police have registered an FIR against the accused charging them for assault, wrongful restraint, causing hurt by dangerous weapons and criminal intimidation.

TNM Staff

A 23-year-old man working as a food delivery executive with Swiggy in Bengaluru was attacked on Monday night after he was suspected of being a thief. The incident took place in Marathahalli and the victim Liton Das is currently being treated at St John’s Hospital. According to his complaint with the police, Liton had an argument with his roommate following which he was attacked by labourers taking shelter at a camp when he stepped out of the house.  The attackers also assaulted two of his friends who came to help him with wooden sticks. Liton’s scooter was also damaged. It was around 11:30 pm on the night he had stepped out of his home as a result of the fallout and his roommate had shouted “thief, thief” which triggered the attack.  Police said that they have registered a case of assault. “The police have registered an FIR against the accused charging them for assault, wrongful restraint, causing hurt by dangerous weapons and criminal intimidation. We suspect that Biplabnath and the victim had a falling out. He might have instigated the attack,” a police officer told The Hindu. This incident comes after a Swiggy delivery executive was attacked and robbed by four men earlier this month in Bengaluru. The victim, Vinay, was riding his two-wheeler after he had delivered an order at 12.40 am, when four men started chasing him n two bikes. Then, one of those bikes hit his vehicle causing him to fall to the ground. The men then threatened him to give up his valuables. When Vinay showed resistance, he was stabbed and left bleeding, as they made away with Rs 4,000 in cash. Earlier in May, five persons were arrested by Halasuru police in the city after customers had attacked the delivery executive for allegedly delivering their food late. The assaulters had left him injured and did not pay for their food.     

Body 2: 

from Karnataka http://bit.ly/2RsNiKv
via IFTTT

Don’t allow immersion of idols in Bengaluru lakes: Karnataka HC

Environment

The HC was hearing petitions about removal of encroachment and unauthorised occupation of the city's lake beds and storm water drains (rajakaluve).

TNM Staff

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday asked authorities in Bengaluru not to allow immersion of idols in lakes. The HC said that the government should identify separate places for the same purpose.  The HC was hearing petitions about removal of encroachment and unauthorised occupation of the city's lake beds and storm water drains (rajakaluve). A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice HT Narendra Parasad also directed the corporation to lift litter and garbage from around the lakes on a daily basis, reported Live Law.  Hearing the case about protecting lakes in the city, the bench said, “"Prima facie we find there has been a complete failure on the part of the state government and its authorities to protect the lakes/tanks and other water bodies in the city of Bengaluru." At the same time, the HC ordered the state government and the BBMP to install CCTV cameras around all lakes in Bengaluru.  Meanwhile, the HC said the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) would carry out identification of lakes in Bengaluru and their encroachment. The HC also directed the BBMP to conduct drives to educate people about the need for water bodies. The HC reiterated several interim directions while hearing other bunch of petitions of Bengaluru lakes. The BBMP and the state government have been asked to come out with a grievance redressal mechanism in six weeks time. The HC said this would enable the citizens to lodge a complaint in writing, through email and they could also upload pictures of any illegality or encroachments near lakes. "Complainant will be entitled to seek action taken report as a matter of right after the expiry of the specific period of lodging the complaint. If the complainant desires, his identity should be kept anonymous," the HC said.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka http://bit.ly/2XWHc7A
via IFTTT

Bengaluru in top 10 Asian cities for realty investments

Business

The survey noted greater interest in office properties, followed by industrial and logistics, multi-family, hotels and retail for investment in the APAC region.

IANS

 India's tech hub Bengaluru is ranked among top 10 Asia-Pacific cities for cross-border investments in real estate, said a leading consulting firm on Wednesday. "Real estate investment in Bengaluru doubled to $1,600 million (Rs 11,200 crore) in fiscal 2018-19 from $800 million (Rs 5,600 crore) in fiscal 2017-18, said CBRE South Asia Ltd consultant firm from its Asia Pacific investor intensions survey 2019 finding. Interest in Indian realty sector picked up after the central government framed a law in 2014 to set up the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), which brought in market transparency. "India is among the top five preferred markets in APAC after the city-based property developer Embassy and global private equity firm Blackstone have set up the first REIT in March 2019 as a joint venture in the realty sector," revealed the survey. The drivers for the new trend are new infrastructure and potential growth opportunities in the market. "Improved investor sentiment in office assets is likely to make quality buildings as a fund-raising avenue for developers and propel corporations to lease/purchase space in these developments," said the finding. CBRE Chief Executive Anshuman Magazine said Bengaluru figured as the first Indian city in the list of preferred investment destination, thanks to its global reputation as the home for trans and multi-nationals. "The tech city with a strong talent base and quality infrastructure is popular for offering investment grade options in office, retail and residential segments," said Magazine on the occasion. The survey noted greater interest in office properties, followed by industrial and logistics, multi-family, hotels and retail for investment in the APAC region. "There is also scope for investment in India as rising consumption and growing demand in the logistics sector will attract investors to seek opportunities in the market," added Magazine. The survey also found Bengaluru as one of the fastest growing cities in India owing to the presence of global players in IT, biotech, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and other growth sectors. "Over the past two decades, Bengaluru has transformed to India's aSilicon Valley from being a aPensioners' Paradise' and has become the hub of research and innovation," added the finding.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka http://bit.ly/2RxWspj
via IFTTT