Bengaluru News: Traffic comes to a standstill in most parts of city ahead of festival

Bengaluru police announced that a total of 14 people were arrested for allegedly peddling narcotic substances. Among arrested, a few foreign individuals are also present and recovered drugs from the accused. In an X post, Bengaluru police wrote, “Bengaluru's CCB Narcotics Squad Conducted Swift Operation, apprehending 14 Individuals, Including International and Interstate Drug Peddlers. Also seized drugs worth of 7.83cr.” 

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has invited the residents of the city to file complaints against storm water drain encroachements in the city. This comes after the Karnataka High Court ordered the civic body to clear the encroachments ahead of the rainy season. BBMP has already made a list of primary and secondary encroachments of SWDs in Bengaluru. 

The Karnataka government has booked a total of 742 private vehicles who are running the services by not following the guidelines. A lot of vehicles have been travelling without permit and a few buses were also booked for overcharging the passengers ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi. The transport departement has also asked people to report any violations by the private players. 

Karnataka transport minister Ramalinga Reddy said that a total of 1,200 extra buses are deployed to meet the demand for upcoming Ganesh chaturthi. The transport department has also warned the private travel owners of strict action if they levy heavy fares during the festival season. A lot of people from Bengaluru are already going to their home towns and traffic congestions were observed at many places. 

Slow moving traffic is observed on the Outer Ring Road as a heavy vehicle broke down at Tin Factory towards the Kasturi Nagar area. Bengaluru traffic cops are at the spot and they are removing the vehicle to clear the congestions. 

Bengaluru police wrote in X, “Slow-moving traffic due to vehicle offroad in Tinfactory towards Kasthurinagar. It will be removed shortly. Kindly co-operate.”

Ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi, a large number of people are going to their home towns from Karnataka's capital and the Majestic bus station is filled with lot of people. Bengaluru police alerted about the traffic jam infront of majestic bus station and said that they are clearing the congestions for free flow of traffic. They also advised the commuters to take alternate routes to escape the traffic jams. 

As there is a long weekend ahead, a few traffic jams at Mysuru road were observed on Sturday evening. Police said that lot of vehicles are moving out of Bengaluru towards Mysuru and lare number of devotees have also showed up at Gali Anjaneya temple in the Mysuru road. 

Bengaluru police said, “Slow moving traffic on outgoing Mysore Road from Ksrtc to Kimko junction due to devotees visiting Gali Anjaneya temple and weekend outgoing travellers in huge numbers. Kindly co-operate.” 

Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna on Saturday floated the idea of having three more Deputy Chief Ministers in Karnataka, and said he will discuss it with the Congress high command, keeping in mind the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

He pitched for deputy chief minister posts to be given to leaders from Veerashaiva-Lingayat, SC/ST and minority communities.

Currently, D K Shivakumar from the Vokkaliga community is the Deputy Chief Minister in the Siddaramaiah-led cabinet. He is also the state Congress President.

The Pulakeshinagar Traffic Police Station on social media said, “BMTC bus is standing at the junction of Wheeler Road and Coles Road under Pulakeshinagar police station and the traffic is moving at a slow pace. BMTC officials have been informed that the eviction will be done as soon as possible.”

Bengaluru traffic cops from Upparpete issued a fresh advisory, saying that the additional KSRTC buses leaving from the Majestic bus station on the occasion of Gowri and Ganesha festival have caused traffic congestion and crowding.

 “The public has been advised to take alternative road route…as passengers leave for their hometowns,” they posted on social media.

Canada's popular food chain Tim Hortons has opened up its first outlet in Bengaluru at Kemepegowda international airport's terminal 2. The food gaint is also reportedly opening an other outlet in Koramangla which will be the second outlet in the IT capital. 

In an X post, Tim Hortons India wrote, “Bengaluru! Prepare for a delicious departure to a world of treats, coffee, and a whole lot more too, all served with love. Come, visit us at T2 Domestic Departure, Kempegowda International Airport!” 

Bengaluru traffic police alerted about the slow moving traffic is Whitefield's Varthur area on Saturday afternoon. As it is a long weekend and there is Ganesh Chaturthi coming up, the traffic is expected to swell and police said that they are attending the congestions. 

Whitefield traffic police wrote in X, “'Traffic Advisory'. Slow moving Traffic, Varthur, due to the long weekend & pre festival rush, we are there to assist in your commute.” 

The High Court of Karnataka on Friday ordered an interim stay on the FIR lodged against Planning and Statistics Minister D Sudhakar in the Yelahanka police station, for allegedly hurling casteist abuses at a woman and her family. The single judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna heard the petition filed by Sudhakar, who is also the Director of the Seven Hills Developers and Traders. The HC also issued notices to the State calling for filing of objections and adjourned the hearing to October three.

TDP leader and son of former Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu thanked the IT employees in Bengaluru and Hyderabad to protesting against the arrest of his father by the AP CID.

In an X post, he said, “I salute the thousands of IT employees who have hit the roads in Hyderabad, Bangalore and other cities and towns in support of @ncbn Garu. We are forever indebted to each of you for your unconditional outpouring of love and affection. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

The Karnataka government has cleared 91 industrial investment proposals worth ₹7,659.52 crore with a potential to generate 18,146 jobs.

The State Level Single Window Clearance Committee (SLSWCC) headed by Minister for Large and Medium Industries, and Infrastructure Development M B Patil met on Friday and approved 26 projects involving more than ₹50 crore investment, totaling ₹5,750.73 crore. These hold the potential to create 13,742 jobs. (PTI) 

Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda has announced that the government has approved for five new traffic police stations and six women police stations. More details about where the new police stations are going to come are yet to revealed. 

Bengaluru traffic police have also installed high end digital cameras in important intersections of the city which will monitor and fine those violators without the interruption of police officers. 

National Investigation Agency's special court has sentenced a woman to six years of imprisonment in connection with Bengaluru fake currency case involving smuggling of huge quantities of high quality Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) from Bangladesh into India via Karnataka, the agency said on Saturday.

The woman accused, identified as Vanitha alias Thangam, was convicted by the NIA Special Court in Bengaluru on Friday. (ANI) 

Cab aggregator firm Ola cabs has announced their operations of electric bike taxis in Bengaluru, starting from Saturday. Ola has earlier operated bike taxis in Bengaluru, but this is the first time for the Indian cab aggregator to operate electric bike taxis. Read more here

Senior BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai said the party will undertake a 'Cauvery Rakshana Yatra' in the taluks on the river basin, to protest against the Karnataka government's release of water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

(PTI)

In the midst of the ongoing debate and controversy surrounding the installation of a Lord Ganesha idol at Idgah Maidan, Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation on Friday has given permission Rani Channamma Maidan Gajanan Utsav Mahamandali, to install a Ganesha idol at Idgah Maidan.

(ANI)

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the Congress will perform well in Karnataka in the Lok Sabha polls and targeted the BJP over possible alliance with Janata Dal-Secular, saying the ruling party at the Centre is resorting to “compromise politics”. Read more here

(ANI)

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Friday hit back at BJP national president JP Nadda who alleged that the opposition INDIA alliance was bullying media by boycotting 14 news anchors across nine channels, citing attacks on journalists and India's decline on the Press Freedom Index over the past nine years. Read more here

The Karnataka High Court has directed the police not to take precipitative action against Aaj Tak news channel's Consulting Editor Sudhir Chaudhary in an FIR filed against him, but said that there was a prima facie case against him, and it should be investigated. Read more here

(PTI)

Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar announced that the state government has formally requested a central team to visit the region and assess the water scarcity issue affecting the Cauvery basin. Read more here

Chief minister Siddaramaiah directed the Karnataka police to proactively initiate legal proceedings by registering voluntary FIRs against those indulging in misinformation, hate speech, and moral policing, adding that police should not wait for complaints to be filed in such instances. Read more here