Thank God at least one party has formally demanded BMLTA approval for B-SMILE projects. Bengaluru must know that B-SMILE/BBMP crafted these unscientific projects via a heavily plagiarised 5.5 cr Feasibility Study. @NammaBNP has sought accountability on this and so should we.

ಕಳೆದ 5 ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜಕಾಲುವೆಗಳ (Storm Water Drains) ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಗಾಗಿ ಬರೋಬ್ಬರಿ ₹4,500 - 5,000 ಕೋಟಿ ರೂಪಾಯಿ ಖರ್ಚು ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿದೆ! ಆದರೂ, ಕೇವಲ ಕೆಲವೇ ಗಂಟೆಗಳ ಮಳೆಗೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಮುಳುಗಿಹೋಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಹಾಗಾದರೆ, ರಾಜಕಾಲುವೆಗಳು ನಿಜವಾಗಿಯೂ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣವಾಗಿವೆಯೇ? ಹಣ ಎಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಹೋಯಿತು? ನಾಗರಿಕರಿಗೆ #LekkaBeku ₹4,500-5,000 crore spent on storm water drains in the last 5 years. Yet, the city floods within hours of rain. Were the drains really built? Where did the money go? We're asking. #LekkaBeku #bnp #accountability #civicproject #publicmoney #stormwater #flood

GBA need not have got into this conversation. Making walkable footpaths is not its mandate. That can be left to the corporations. Now has BBMP distinguished itself in this in the past. What GBA needs to do is develop a proper Master Plan. The constant intervention in the work of the corporations only reminds people that GBA is neglecting its own work as a planning body.

🚨HISTORIC ! The union government is finally showing signs of upcoming Municipal Reforms. NITI AAYOG has recently published a detailed report titled “Moving towards effective city government framework”. It proposes radical reforms in our urban local governments to streamline daily functioning, ensure seamless public service delivery and most importantly establish local accountability. The report recommends: -> Directly-elected mayors with fixed terms & executive authority. -> Integration of core urban services under city governments that currently report to the state departments. -> Greater financial autonomy & regular fund distribution. This is the first ever instance where the union government has officially talked about reforms in urban governance and decentralization of power. If implemented, this will radically change how India functions. -> The cities will finally get more autonomy and executive authority for performing at their max potential. -> City authority will be handed over from state-appointed Officials to democratically elected Mayors, marking a radical change in Indian politics. -> All parastatal bodies will be unified under one city government under a Mayor, making them directly accountable to the people. However, convincing the power-hungry state governments to devolve powers at the local level will still be a massive challenge for the union government. Some states will comply first, others may hesitate. But, the truth is - India needs Municipal Reforms ASAP. We hope @NITIAayog and @narendramodi make it happen soon enough before it's too late and people hit the streets if things continue as they are today.

Bengaluru's garbage contractors haven't been paid since January. Diesel prices up. Minimum wages hiked 60%. Payment rates frozen. As a result, sanitation workers quitting. Collections becoming irregular. City on the edge of a waste shutdown. This is what the 'small contractor civic body' model looks like in practice.Chronically underpaid, financially unviable, one diesel hike away from collapse. No long-term contracts. No capex roadmap. Just survival mode. A ₹39,000 crore scaled operator with financial accountability, fixed SLAs and a long-term horizon is a good model

Gen Z, appreciate your energy and interest. Stop wasting your unmatched energy on national noise. Redirect the curiousity, interest in system where it actually changes your daily life, right in your municipality, panchayat and revenue offices. Demand pothole-free roads, working street lights, zero corruption, and crime-free localities in your own backyard. Show up at ward meetings. Question your corporator, MLA, sarpanch. Voice out like your street depends on it.

For nearly six years, Bengaluru has been denied the most basic layer of democracy, an elected local representative that citizens can hold accountable. Through garbage crises, flooding, broken roads and failing footpaths, we have had no corporator to question. The Supreme Court’s extension till August 31 must be the final indulgence. Bengaluru cannot be governed forever by administrators, notifications and excuses. The State Government and Election Commission must treat this as a hard deadline and restore elected local government without further delay.

BNP NavaYuva Wing Head @RishvanjasR explains why Bengaluru does not need expensive tunnels that merely shift traffic from one junction to another. What the city truly needs is transparent, data-driven transport planning that addresses congestion at its root. #NammaBengaluru #BNP #Traffic #TunnelRoad #Publictransport

Gen Z is asking the right questions and that is very good for Bengaluru. @RishvanjasR must watch 4 minute video. See it. Share it. Sort it.

The New Short Tunnel: Sow traffic at Hebbal, Reap it at Baptist Hospital

Suddenly, everyone is realising the importance of public transport :) Some of us have been shouting this from the top of our voices for years, often being dismissed or called names for questioning car-centric planning. But every crisis reminds us of one thing: car-based infrastructure alone cannot help cities tide over disruptions. This is a golden opportunity for corporations and city leaders, if they are serious about sustainable mobility, to invest in reliable first- and last-mile connectivity and make the public transport experience convenient, safe, and comfortable for everyone...

Met the @NammaBNP candidate for my ward - RBI Layout - recently. Former IIM Research Assistant, professional career in adoption and foster care services, special educator and active member of residents' committee. We should get more candidates like Sharada Narayana. 50% reservation for women in local bodies hasn't had a great track record, but it's improving as more and more self-made women step up to public life.