Bengaluru & public life
Traffic, pollution, governance and the common man. 40 posts, newest first.
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A coconut grove, a builder's sign, and no outrage
For over a decade, I've been seeing a huge stretch of land filled with hundreds of Coconut trees. Today, I noticed a prominent builder's signage announcing a new project there. Another…
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We are all part of the CJP: Corruption Janta Party
We all are part of CJP!!! Corruption Janta Party. We park on the road to save ₹20 in parking fees.
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Freebies vs education: what the textbooks say
I saw this image on SocialMedia, and my first reaction was: "₹8.96 lakh crore on freebies, and less on Education? No wonder everyone keeps saying we've got our priorities wrong!" Then my…
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The biggest EV salesman in India is the algorithm
The biggest EV salesman in India today isn't Tata, MG, or Tesla. It's the SocialMedia algorithm. I said this to a friend, and he felt a bit lost!
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“When are the next elections?” Ask your fuel bill
Recently, a friend asked me: "When are the next elections?" I said, "No idea. Why?" He replied,
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Who pays for those fancy airports? You do
We all love the fancy airports, but have you ever wondered who funds them? The next time you book a flight, look at the fare breakup. You'll notice something called User Development Fee…
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“We pay 30–40% tax, give us free education and healthcare”
"Bro, we pay 30-40% taxes. The government should at least provide free education and healthcare." "Bro, you are expecting too much.
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A “common man” can bring a road to a standstill
A "CommonMan" can bring an entire road to a standstill. Yesterday, it took me more than 45 minutes to cover a distance of 1.5 km. The reason?
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Why no outrage for the Lucknow coaching centre fire?
Why did we not see the same outrage for the Lucknow coaching center fire? A few days ago, when a similar tragedy happened in a Delhi hotel, SocialMedia was flooded with anger, discussions,…
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A new fundamental right: the footpath. Now find one
We have a new FundamentalRight. The right to walk on a footpath! The SupremeCourt has recognised that pedestrians also have rights.
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Delhi, Goa, Mumbai: the same fire, again
"What happened in Delhi was tragic. So many innocent lives were lost." "Sadly, this keeps happening every few years. The government rarely takes any meaningful action." "Are you talking…
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Carpooling: the easiest way to cut fuel use
Whether your company announces WorkFromHome or not, is not in your hands… But there are still many ways to reduce fuel consumption and make commuting more sustainable. One of the simplest…
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We all have a role to play in helping the economy
We all have a role to play in helping the Economy! Sharing an Old post, which resonates with the appeal made by Modiji a few days back! If we act, we can help, or we can continue to crib!…
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Petrol price protests: can opposition states lead by example?
Most Opposition parties have protested the recent PetrolPrice hike. But here’s a simple question: Can they lead by example? Most people only blame the Central Government whenever petrol or…
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Fuel prices are rising globally, but not in India. Why?
Fuel Prices Are Rising Globally… But Not in India. Why? Even though prices were officially deregulated years ago, the reality is quite different, especially when Public Sector Undertakings…
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FASTag fixed payments, not VIP exemptions
You thought FASTag would “fasten” your journey. Instead, you’re stuck in a queue… watching VIP arguments unfold! FASTag solved payment friction. It didn’t solve Exemption friction.
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Why is Bengaluru Metro among the costliest?
Bengaluru Metro is among the costliest in the country. Ever wondered why? The usual explanations are well known: - Delays in execution
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After the IndiGo fiasco: is the government to blame?
After the recent Indigo fiasco, almost every gathering I’ve attended has revolved around the same topic. And the most common sentiment? “The government failed to ensure healthy…
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Would you ditch your car if office parking cost money?
🚗 Would You Ditch Your Car If Your Company Starts Charging for Parking? Recently, BengaluruTrafficPolice proposed something quite bold: Companies should start charging employees for using…
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Cancer, pollution and the food chain
There was a time when Cancer was a rare disease. Not anymore!! Almost every family today knows someone who has battled it, some survived, others weren’t as lucky. While medical science has…
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Two hours for 16 km, thanks to one broken-down bus
It took me over 2 hours to cover just 16 km yesterday! All thanks to a bus breaking down near Ecospace Flyover! Since I didn’t have any carpool partners today, I had all the time in the…
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Why is running the nation a part-time job?
Why is running the nation treated like a part-time job by many of our Netas? Many continue their professional lives, as artists, industrialists, or business owners, while holding public…
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Is the government becoming the camel in the tent?
Is the Government becoming like the Camel in the tent? Remember the story where the camel, inch by inch, pushes the Master out of his tent? Many citizens feel the same way, being cornered…
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Why does a Tesla cost double in India?
Every second post on my LinkedIn feed is about Tesla! “How can the same car cost double in India compared to the US?” And of course, people are quick to mock our FM, pull out PPP stats, and…
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How one small traffic change adds an hour to the commute
How a small Traffic change increases Commute time disproportionately! Whitefield, once a sleepy industrial town, is now an IT powerhouse. Tech parks, apartments, offices, all booming. But…
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When public welfare takes a backseat to profit: Hebbal metro depot
When PublicWelfare Takes a Backseat to Profit! NammaMetro had bold plans - a full-fledged depot at Hebbal that would: - Support the upcoming Hebbal - Sarjapur metro line
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The bike taxi “jugaad” that isn't worth cheering
While many LinkedIn Influencers cheer the “innovative jugaad” of BikeTaxi startups continuing post-ban in Karnataka by offering 'parcel' services, the ground reality is far from…
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Bureaucrats get blamed, netas move on
Time and again, tragedy after tragedy, it's the bureaucrats who are blamed, suspended, while the Netas move on! We saw that in the recent Gachibowli deforestation case in Hyderabad, and now…
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The Supreme Court, Telangana and the forest land
The SupremeCourt has come down hard on Telangana’s Chief Secretary, demanding the restoration of forest land encroached upon in Hyderabad, or face jail. A bold move? Yes. But a fair one?…
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Graphite India's Whitefield land: what came next
A few years ago, when the GraphiteIndia factory in Whitefield was shut down due to environmental concerns, many nearby residents celebrated. But I was skeptical. I had a feeling that this…
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Bengaluru's infra problem doesn't need gods to fix
Is the Bengaluru's Infra Problem so Complex that even Gods can’t solve it, as stated by our Minister? Not at all! - Metro & Construction Chaos
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Bengaluru's last USP, its weather, might soon be lost
Bengaluru’s Last USP - Its Weather - Might Soon Be Lost! For all the problems this city has - from traffic jams to crumbling infrastructure, water shortages, to corruption - most citizens…
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Freebies are winning elections
With BJP winning Delhi, the electoral landscape might witness rampant repercussions. However, a more intriguing pattern is emerging across state elections — freebies are winning votes!…
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Nikhil Kamath, Bryan Johnson and our air
NikhilKamath's recent podcast with BryanJohnson shed light on a grim reality — the air quality in our cities is deteriorating at an alarming rate. AQI levels in major Indian cities have…
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Lara: the power plant you haven't heard of
What Comes to Mind When You Hear "Lara"? For most, it might be Brian Lara, the legendary cricketer, or Lara Dutta, the glamorous actress. But NTPC has added a new association to the name…
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Today's traffic took me back to pre-COVID days
Today’s Bengaluru traffic took me down memory lane, reminiscent of the pre-COVID era. Back then, due to intense traffic jams, there were days when I was forced to make U-turns and head home…
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Too much pollution? Count the trees in your complex
“Bro, there’s too much Pollution!” “How many trees are there in your apartment complex?” “Hmm, about 10-15”
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Why are we silent about polluted water bodies?
Why Are We Silent About the Pollution in Our WaterBodies? 🌊🛑 When I saw this pic, I wondered why there was no outroar. It seems like we’ve almost accepted it as a lost cause, it's an…
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Zepto delivers in 10 minutes. Can its staff reach the office?
Zepto's success in delivering orders within 10 minutes is impressive—but can their employees reach their new headquarters in 10 minutes? If media reports are to be believed, Zepto's new HQ…
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A small traffic police change adds 30 minutes to the commute
A Small Change by Traffic Police Adds 30 Minutes to the Daily Commute time!🚦 Bengaluru commuters, especially those heading to the IT hub of Whitefield, know this struggle all too well.…