Bengaluru: BBMP proposes whitetopping of new roads towards the airport

Civic

Thanisandra Main Road is already undergoing whitetopping works between the Outer Ring Road and Bagalur Main Road at a cost of Rs 65 crore.

TNM Staff

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has proposed that the alternative routes to reach the Kempegowda International Airport through Sathanur be whitetopped. The non-tolled roads, alternatives to the Bellary Road (or the Hyderabad Highway), are currently in a dilapidated condition. Following an inspection of a part of the routes on Monday, BBMP Commissioner  N Manjunath Prasad said that a proposal for the same has already been sent to the state government.  Whitetopping is a process in which the regular blacktop roads or the bitumen asphalted roads are given an additional layer of concrete. While whitetopped roads are expensive to lay, they are sturdier and reportedly last much longer than the asphalt roads.  Thanisandra Main Road is already undergoing whitetopping works between the Outer Ring Road and Bagalur Main Road at a cost of Rs 65 crore. Special ducts (chambers) have been installed at 15 places on the stretch to prevent road cuts along with the ongoing whitetopping work.  As part of the inspection drive, the BBMP Commissioner also inspected flyovers between Hebbal to KR Puram. He inspected the canopy works in Veerannapalya where OFC (Optical Fibre Cables) cables have been installed underground; the Commissioner ordered the immediate removal of the unauthorised cables that were left to be cleared. Further, Rs 25 crore was allocated to reduce traffic congestion and facilitate signal-free traffic near Rashtrotthana junction on Thanisandra Main Road with the help of  a flyover. The construction of the overpass is already underway and has been facilitated for traffic. Four lanes have been built on the 459 meters long canopy.  The Commissioner has issued an order asking the road engineers to complete the work without any delay and he has subsequently instructed them to address the issue of utility lines with concerned authorities.   Whitetopping work on service roads on both sides of the bridge, and the bridge till midway from Hebbal to KR Puram, is underway. 

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Watch: New bicycling track opened up on Bengaluru’s Race Course Road

Transport

A Twitter user posted a video riding a bicycle on the lane.

TNM Staff

Photo: WRI India/Facebook

Bicycling enthusiasts in Bengaluru now have a new route they can take their ride on – Race Course Road. On January 30, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa inaugurated a new bicycle track on the Race Course Road. Posting an update on the same, non-profit WRI India Ross Centre for Sustainable Cities said on its Facebook page, “WRI India is proud to have assisted Bangalore Smart City and Directorate of Urban Land Transport in designing and implementing roads that offer safe and comfortable infrastructure to Bengaluru's many cyclists.” On January 30, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa inaugurated the new cycle track at Race Course Road in Bengaluru.... Posted by WRI India Ross Center for Sustainable Cities on Monday, February 1, 2021 A Twitter user posted a video cycling on this new track, and described the experience, with trees lining the pavement, a “really pleasant ride.” Nihar Thakkar, who shared the video you can watch below, also posted pictures of the track coming up on Raj Bhavan Road, which will connect to the Race Course Road bicycling track. Coming up next - cycle lane on Raj Bhavan Road! It will connect to the Race Course Road cycle lane at Basaveshwara Circle. pic.twitter.com/rmZMWrdm81 — Nihar Thakkar (@nihart1024) February 2, 2021 In October 2020, 30-kilometres worth of cycling lanes were announced in the Central Business District (CBD) area of Bengaluru in October last year as well, under the Smart Cities Mission. These lanes were touted to be two metres wide. In the same month, cycling tracks had opened up between Silk Board junction and Lowry Memorial College near KR Puram. These ‘pop up’ cycling lanes are ones that involve setting up semi-permanent barricades on existing infrastructure to make space for bicycle riders. Officials had told TNM then that the full 16-kilometre stretch of the pop-up cycling track would be ready by November 2021. Apart from the lane on Race Course Road, WRI India has also collaborated with Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) to make the design for the cycling lane planned from Minsk Square and Raj Bhavan Road to Chalukya Circle. 

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BJP member murder: Cong leader Vinay Kulkarni named in CBI chargesheet

Crime

Vinay Kulkarni, a minister in Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet was arrested by CBI in November 2020.

TNM Staff

File image

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a supplementary chargesheet against former Karnataka Minister Vinay Kulkarni and two other co-accused in a related to 2016 murder case of Yogesh Gowda, a BJP district panchayat member.   As earlier reported, Kulkarni, who was a minister in the Siddaramaiah cabinet was arrested in November 2020 by the central probe agency, after questioning him for almost an entire day. Other than being a party to the conspiracy, the CBI had said Kulkarni is also suspected to have intimidated eight witnesses when the case was set to go for trial in 2017.  The BJP had asked the CBI to take over the probe in July 2019 after coming to power since the case was reported during the Congress-JD(S) rule in the state. The family of the victim Yogesh Gowda had said that he had received a letter the night before his murder, which allegedly said that Vinay Kulkarni had purportedly hatched a plot to kill him.  The CBI had maintained that the former minister was party to the conspiracy to murder the BJP worker. At the time of arrest, CBI had said that Kulkarni was being evasive in his replies during the questioning and that they needed to conduct a custodial interrogation to unearth further information. Even former Home Minister and senior Congress leader G Parameshwara was questioned by the CBI in connection with the case.  Kulkarni had won the Dharwad seat in 2013 but could not repeat the victory in 2018 when the BJP's Amrut Ayyappa Desai defeated him in the Assembly polls. He was, for a brief while, speculated to join the BJP days prior to his arrest. He had even gone to Rajasthan to meet BJP National General Secretary (Organisation), BL Santhosh, along with now Karnataka minister CP Yogeeshwar. He was then reportedly denied an appointment by Santosh. However, the possibility of Kulkarni joining BJP was rejected by KS Eshwarappa, Karnataka Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and senior leader for the BJP in the state.

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Gold and cash seized as ACB conducts searches on Karnataka govt officials

Crime

Rs 56.5 lakh in cash and 400 gm of gold have been seized from one location alone.

TNM Staff

The Anti-Corruption Bureau conducted search operations on Tuesday morning at 30 locations in Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka connected to seven government officials for alleged corruption. The raids which are still undergoing have led to seizure of Rs 56.5 lakh in cash and 400 gm of gold from one location alone. The cash and gold seized were from the residence of an Executive Engineer in Dharwad. In a statement, the ACB, said, “Today disproportionate asset cases are registered in Bengaluru city, Ballari, Kolar ,  Dharwad, Dakshina Kannada , Chitradurga and Kalburgi districts against seven government servants and searches started in 30 places under the supervision of SPs (Superintendent of Police).”  In Bengaluru, searches were held at the residence of Pandurang Garag, the Joint Registrar of Cooperatives. The officials who were subjected to these “raids” also included doctors. Dr SN Vijaykumar, District Health Officer, Kolar and Dr Srinivas, Head of Department, Pharmacology, KIMS Koppal were among them. Other officials who were searched were Jayaraj KV, Joint Director Town Planning, Mangalore Mahanagara Palike, Channabasappa Avati, Junior Engineer, Public Works Department, Magadi Subdivision, Devraj Kallesh, Executive Engineer, Minor irrigation Department in Shiggavi,Dharwad and Srinivas, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Dharwad. These raids by the ACB come after high profile raids were conducted in Bengaluru and other nearby areas in November 2020 against Karnataka Administrative Service officer B Sudha. The ACB  had then seized Rs 10 lakh in cash and an SUV vehicle. Sudha who is now administrator of the Information Technology and Biotechnology Department was previously posted as the Special Land Acquisition Officer in the Bangalore Development Authority.

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Aero India 2021: Here are the roads to avoid in Bengaluru and alternate routes

Aero India 2021

The modifications will be in effect from February 3 to February 5, between 5 am and 10 pm.

TNM Staff

File Image

The 13th edition of the periodic air show and exhibition Aero India will commence in Bengaluru’s Yelahanka Air Force Base on February 3. In the view of same, to avoid traffic congestions and maintain a free flow of traffic, the Bengaluru traffic police have put in place traffic diversions and alternative route arrangements. These modifications will be in effect from February 3 to February 5, between 5 am to 10 pm. Traffic police personnel will be deployed to help the public navigate through these modifications. The police have allowed only one-way traffic movement on the Bengaluru-Bellary road from Satyapalli to Sadahalli gate. Prohibition on vehicular movement has been implemented for the route to Ambiance Dhaba House Cross. Furthermore, they have forbidden any traffic movement from Reva College Junction to Bagalur Cross Road. Vehicles going towards Chikkajala through the Airport Backgate (Begur Power Station), Chikkachal-Mylanahalli main road has been blocked. Vehicular movement of heavy vehicles like lorries, trucks and private passenger buses have been prohibited on the following routes as well. The BMTC and KSRTC buses, and those vehicles with passes to the exhibition will be allowed to access these roads, the statement read. Alternatives from places like Devanahalli, Ring Road, Nice Road and Hoskote areas for these heavy vehicles coming to Bengaluru from different cities like Hyderabad have been issued by the traffic police to avoid inconveniencing the public and congestion of traffic. Also read: Bengaluru to host air show Aero India 2021 on Feb 3: Three main highlights Moreover, the traffic police have also issued zone-wise routes for those who plan on heading towards Kempegowda International Airport. Commuters from across aouth and east Bengaluru can use major roads such as K R Puram, Bagalur, Begur, Mysuru Road, Goraguntepalya, Periyaballapur and others to reach the airport. The notification also mentions that the parking of vehicles on either side of the road at Reva College Junction, Ambience Dhaba House Cross, Nagenahalli gate, Periyaballapur Main Road, Goraguntepalya junction and other places has been banned. Additionally, no parking will be allowed on the route from Hunsamarahalli Junction to Kodagalahatti on the Bengaluru-Bellary road. A fast-traffic corridor has also been created from the Yelahanka Coffee Day junction to Indian Air Force Gate 2A for smooth traffic flow. 

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Shivamogga blast: Karnataka govt orders probe by Revenue Commissioner

Shivamogga blast

Siddaramaiah had demanded a judicial probe into the Shivamogga blast that killed six people on January 21.

PTI

Rejecting the demand by opposition Congress, the Karnataka government on Monday declared that the probe into the blast in Shivamogga district that killed six people would be conducted by the Revenue Commissioner. Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah staged a walkout reacting to the decision, alleging that the state government's adamant stand on the probe is a clear indication that they are trying to protect individuals. "The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's adamant stand is a reflection of their actions. Your words on illegal mining and actions do not match. There is suspicion in your commitment, therefore, we (Congress) are staging a walkout in protest," Siddaramaiah said. Shivamogga is the home district of Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa as well as state Revenue Minister KS Eshwarappa. The Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency is represented by Yediyurappa's eldest son BY Raghvendra. As soon as Home, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Basavaraj Bommai made this announcement, Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah asserted that a judicial commission headed by a sitting high court judge should be constituted 'for the truth to come out'. Bommai repeatedly contended that Karnataka would not allow illegal quarrying or mining in the state. Six people were killed in a powerful explosion of a truckload of gelatin sticks at a stone crushing unit in Shivamogga district on January 21. Replying on behalf of the BJP government over the incident and the probe related to it, Bommai admitted that illegal quarrying or mining has been going on for some years now under successive state governments. He said there was a nexus between landholders, quarry landholders, explosive material suppliers and some officials leading to such illegal activities. "We need to break it by taking steps like increasing the fines and jail term for breaking rules and making 'mineral protection force' effective," Bommai added. On the Shivamogga incident, Bommai said officials had given the owners license for crushing despite knowing that illegal mining or quarrying was taking place at the site and cases were booked against them earlier. "Explosive materials had arrived from Andhra Pradesh. It looks like no rules/ regulations or permit conditions were followed. Investigations are on and we will act stringently against all those responsible," the Minister said. On Siddaramaiah's demand that those guilty must be booked under Section 302 of IPC for murder, instead of Section 304 (culpable homicide), the state Home Minister asserted that it can be done in due course based on the investigation. "The government has taken this case seriously, especially transportation and storage of large quantities of explosives. Though reports suggest it was nearly 1,350 kg, only a probe can ascertain it," he said, adding that control on transportation of explosives is necessary to check illegal mining. The state Home minister said as part of the probe, police have seized such materials in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh which in itself is a worrying sign. "I am more worried about large quantities of gelatin sticks being transported and imagining its outcome, if this explosive reaches in the hands of anti-social elements or terrorists," he said. He said the state government was taking steps to control 'excessive hoarding' of explosives, as he noted that cases were booked against those involved under the stringent Explosives Act.

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Three held for attack on woman in Mangaluru restaurant

Crime

Police officials said the girl and one of the accused had been in touch on social media and she had later spurned the friendship.

PTI

Three youths have been arrested in Mangaluru on charges ofattempting to molest a teenaged girl and vandalising a bar-cum-restaurant here where she was celebrating her birthday along with friends, police said on Monday. CCTV footage of the incident that happened on Saturday was shared widely on social media. The accused, one of whom was known to the 18-year old woman, had tried to molest her in the restaurant and attacked her friends with lethal weapons, police commissioner N Shashi Kumar told reporters here on Monday. The incident took place at Coconut Grove restaurant at Bendoorwell in the city around 12:45 pm on Saturday afternoon.  Two of the arrested were aged 19 while the other was 18. They are Thrishool Salian, Santhosh Poojary and Dyanish Aran D'Crus. The commissioner said the woman, pursuing her PUC, was staying with her grandparents and her parents are away in Canada. The girl and one of the accused hadbeen in touch through social media and she had later spurned the friendship. The youth, along with his two friends, had barged into the restaurant and attacked them, the Commissioner said. TNM had earlier reported the attack that took place at the restaurant was caught on CCTV camera. The visuals showed men barging into the restaurant and attacking a group of people along with the woman. Police said the woman did not sustain injuries in the incident however one of the people with her sustained minor injuries.  Police said that the attackers planned the assault after the woman rejected the advances of one of the men. A first information report was registered at the Kadri (Mangaluru East) police station in the case accusing the trio Thrishool, Santhosh and Dyanish under charges of rioting, unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation and assault. Police said that they are investigating the case further. 

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