With over 15 million vehicles plying the roads of Bengaluru, the rapidly expanding megacity no doubt grapples with severe traffic congestion despite the expansion of public transport facilities like the metro-rail services. The 2024 congestion level index by TomTom, a Dutch location technology developer, says Bengaluru is the third-slowest city for traffic in the world, behind only Barranquilla in Colombia and Kolkata. So to decongest the Silicon Valley of India and ensure a “seamless travel solution”, the city’s civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has unveiled the blueprint of an ambitious public infrastructure plan that involves constructing elevated corridors, under-passes and even tunnel roads between key corridors, such as Hebbal Esteem Mall junction and Silk Road KSRP junction. A New Delhi-based consultancy firm has submitted its feasibility report for the project to BBMP in December 2024.
However, a quick analysis of the feasibility report shows that not much emphasis has been placed on the ground-truth data related to the region’s lithology (which explains the characteristics of rocks) and hydrogeology (movement of groundwater and how it interacts with soil and rocks). Such data is particularly necessary to assess the viability of tunnelling projects that are influenced by the geological condition of the region and may lead to hazards such as subsidence and landslides. It is also important because of the city's complex geology.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Invisibilised localities
AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY ON THE NETWORKS, CULTURAL TRADITIONS AND OBSTACLES FACED BY RESIDENTS OF JHUGGIS AND TRANSIT CAMPS WHILE DEALING WITH EVICTION POLITICS AND INEQUALITIES IN DELHI
SAFETY IN CIRCULARITY
Global standards of water availability show that India is water stressed. Reusing treated wastewater can augment water supply while solving the problem of its safe disposal. FARAZ AHMAD and SUMITA SINGHAL analyse wastewater management practices of 16 cities in seven states to understand the challenges and potential areas of reuse
AGAINST THE GRAIN
India's two most valuable timbers-sandalwood and red sanders-have long been bound by restrictive regulations designed to curb illegal trade. Encouraged by the government decades ago with promises of windfall profits, farmers took to commercial cultivation, investing years of patience and effort. Now, as they prepare to harvest, a harsh reality is setting in-the promise of big profits is not quite holding up. HIMANSHU NITNAWARE travels to 19 villages across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to explore the reasons
Guardians of forest
Communities across Maharashtra take on the mantle of biodiversity conservation; replicate sacred groves on common land
Climate talks
Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2025 sees discussions on the state of India's environment, energy ambitions and emerging health threats
Mission for inclusion
Vidya Rajput leads the fight for transgender community's rights and acceptance in Chhattisgarh
Ready for power shift
An unprecedented drought forces hydropower- dependent Zambia to diversify its energy portfolio, embrace solar power
THE GREAT FARM HUSTLE
Agroforestry is fast emerging as a win-win strategy to mitigate climate change and improve farmers' income. It is particularly so in India, home to one-fifth of the agroforestry carbon projects in the world. Over the past months ROHINI KRISHNAMURTHY has travelled to almost 20 villages across the country to understand how this market works. At all locations, she finds that communities and their land and labour are central to the projects. But they do not always benefit from the carbon revenue
CAN AGROFORESTRY CREDITS BE SAVED?
Ensure that farmers benefit from the carbon revenue and stay protected against market failure
