Bangalore Diary

Election fever

The battle for Bangalore is on and there's sound, fury and some film star magic on the streets. Bangalore is the cleanest state capital in India and the country's seventh cleanest city, according to the Swachh Bharat ranking of the urban development ministry. But residents would probably need some convincing about that. And, that's what the two big parties are up against in polls to the civic body, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, next week.

The Congress, which rules the state, appeared reluctant to fight the polls and chief minister Siddaramaiah has been trying hard to shake off the impression that his government has neglected the city. The BJP, meanwhile, faces the voter after five years of running the BBMP during which the city's garbage problems went out of control. Both are now claiming credit for the cleanest capital. Neat, eh?

Clubhouse blues

It's back again, the club for legislators. Last year, the Karnataka government faced the ire of citizens and prominent personalities when word got out that Balabrooie, a colonial-era building close to the secretariat in Bangalore, might have to make way for a club for MLAs. The idea of a club, something on the lines of Constitution Club in Delhi, has been around for years. But having to raze a heritage structure was what got everyone's goat. The government hastily clarified there was no such plan. Now, reports suggest that another British-era building, Carlton House, might be the new location. Already, voices are being heard on social media. A sequel, it seems, is on the cards.

Art attack

Mysorean Baadal Nanjundaswamy's work of art a couple of months ago did make the civic authorities sit up and take notice. Well, they couldn't have not noticed. The (dummy) crocodile he let loose into a gaping pothole in an east Bangalore locality to highlight the sorry state the road was in, was front paged by newspapers and was all over social media. It wasn't the first time Baadal used art to get the message across. And, it's now inspiring many. Last week, a vicious looking anaconda surfaced in a pothole, thanks to a group of activists. Wonder what's next.

F&B bliss

You'll still see crowds along Brigade Road, Bangalore's most iconic stretch, and you probably won't find parking. But how it has been eclipsed. Take 12th main in Indiranagar for instance, supposedly one of the city's most happening places these days. It used to be a quiet street dotted with lovely, big houses and home to some top ranking civil servants, and yes, of course, where Rahul Dravid once lived. Now, it's being described as one of the busiest food streets in the country where snazzy, new restaurants are opening for business every three months. And, you get traffic jams at midnight on weekends. Well, that last bit you just can't escape in Bangalore.

A new lease on life

The last order confusion has been settled. But not before ruining a weekend for some in the city, who discovered there's many a slip between the cup and the lip. Bangalore last year got a breather from a stifling night time deadline when the government okayed a weekend indulgence of upto 1 am. This rule lapsed at the end of June and the notification renewing it took some time coming. So, back came the 11.30 pm deadline for a week or so, catching people off-guard. The paperwork's in place now, and it's valid for another year. Cheers.