The Observer Volume 18 Issue 26

The Observer An IIJNM Publication

BMTC buses breaks down due to poor maintenance, vexing passengers and traffic department | P2

Vol 18 Issue 26

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Former Hassan BJP president Yoga Ramesh joined the Congress in ex-CM’s presence | P2

Metro users fume at hike in smart card minimum balance Say it is steep, decision caught them unawares

Yohanjali R

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ommuters on Namma Metro are unhappy over the decision of the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd to increase the minimum balance in smart cards to Rs 50.

BMRCL announced the change in on Wednesday afternoon, catching Metro users unawares.

Till then, the minimum balance on a smart card was Rs 8.

“The sudden rise was not known to me. I thought my card was not valid anymore and bought a new card. It was a complete waste of money,” Shobha Gupta, who was on her way to the National College Metro station, informed The Observer.

An official of BMRCL at the Kempegowda Majestic Metro Station who didn’t want to be named said: “The increase in

BMRCL announced the change in on Wednesday afternoon, catching Metro users unawares | Credit: Yohanjali R minimum requirement has been decided by BMRCL. It will possibly be used for the maintenance of the present Metro stations and for the construction of the extended network.”

On the inconvenience caused to the commuters, he said: “Even the Delhi Metro has high fares but no one complains there. The increase has been made for the commuters’ future benefit, and to improve the network. They must understand that.”

On Thursday, The Observer saw dozens of students and officegoers queuing up at ticket coun-

ters across the Metro network to top up their smart cards.

While the BMRCL sees the increase in minimum balance as a necessity to provide sustainable service, some commuters say they are considering changing their mode of transport.

Sandhya Srinivas of Baiyapanahalli who takes the Metro to work daily said: “I used to take the Metro because it is faster than bus and eliminates traffic problems. But now I’m thinking of using buses again as it won’t require constant recharges.”

Manoj Singh, an intern at a

business company on MG Road, said most Bengalureans do not have time for constant Metro card recharges. “We are usually in a hurry to catch the train. At times like these, to maintain a minimum balance of Rs 50 even though our ride costs only Rs 28 doesn’t make sense. This is why a minimum balance of Rs 8 was better as we could travel quickly with little money in the card.”

Some commuters say they will lose out on the balance in the smart card once they move to a different city.

Ankur Raj, who works at an IT company said: “The new minimum recharge price has got me worried. I’m moving to Chennai this weekend. My card will be useless in two days. I will use the Metro till then, and have to throw away the card with a minimum of Rs 50. That is insane.”

According to the BMRCL website, a smart card can be recharged with multiples of Rs. 50, starting from minimum of Rs 100 to Rs 3,000. yohanjali.r@iijjnm.org

News Briefs National lA war of words broke out between the BJP and the Opposition on Wednesday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement via an address to the nation of the successful conclusion of Mission Shakti and India’s space deterrence.

Local l Researchers from Bharathiar University (Tamil Nadu) and St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous) and Christ Deemed to be University in Bengaluru sampled seven dumpsites in the city and tested the soil on physiochemical parameters as well as on vegetation parameters. These figures were compared with similar tests on ‘undumped’ soil next to the dumpsites.

International l A Hindu lawmaker from Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party has moved two Bills in Parliament seeking enhancement of punishment for those involved in forced conversion and for making child marriage a cognizable offence, amid the nationwide outrage over the alleged forced conversion of two teenage girls from the minority community.

The healing notes of music Shrabona Ghosh

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usic therapy is used to treat cognitive disorders in patients. Many Bengalureans are using it as a healing process.

Indian music has healing properties, but mostly is employed for entertainment and recreational purpose. Most people are unaware of the therapeutic im-

Indian music has healing properties | Courtesy: Pexels portance of music.

“My personal experience exposed me to the holistic value of

music. Before taking it as professional intervention, it was my odyssey that helped me explore how music is a wonderful tool for emotional catharsis. I would feel a lot of positive energy in the vicinity of music. Whenever I felt low, music would act as a reflection,” Dr Meenakshi Ravi, founder of the Meera Music Centre, informed the Observer.

Continued on Page 2

CONG, JD(S) PROTEST TAX RAIDS: Congress and JD (S) workers on Thursday protested outside the IT department office in Bengaluru against raids conducted on minor irrigation minister C.S. Puttaraju and others. The protesters called the raids politically motivated. Chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy called the action a “misuse of central agencies”. | Credit: Ileena Dutta

CITY

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The Observer Thursday, March 28, 2019

Poor condition of BMTC ‘Ignored’ by BJP, Hassan neta buses: travellers vexed joins Congress

Ileena Dutta

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ilapidated and old BMTC buses break down due to lack of maintenance, vex commuters and cops alike Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s (BMTC) busses, renowned in the city for hogging roads and charging one of the highest ticket prices in the country, has recently been in the news for breaking down on city roads.

Commuters who depend on these buses to commute everyday to workplaces and schools are finding it hard to find a suitable public transport mode which is easy on the pocket, after incidences of bus breakdowns increased in the city.

They say that the state of busses plying on the city roads is not hard to observe. Brinda S, a local commuter who travels by BMTC buses daily said, “I commute by bus everyday to office and it is extremely irritating to go along with the loud engine and creaking sounds, caused due to low maintenance of BMTC buses. I have mild migraine and travelling for long hours in such busses exacerbates health issues.”

Citizens’s Voice Brownie points for BJP After the A-Sat missile which was launched yesterday, the Modi government has got another political brownie point to brag about during the election campaign. The Modi government has burnished its image of a pro-active government focused on national security in the runup to the national elections by green lightening the Balakot Air-strike and now the test of a new missile technology enables India to defend its space assets.

Swagata Banerjee

$1bn down, more to go

$1bn worth of taxpayers’ money has been sanctioned by the Pentagon to fund the US-Mexico border wall. The failure of the House of Representatives to stall the order is a failure of the American people and American institutions.

Priyanka Dhaundiyal

BMTC buses break down due to lack of maintainence | Credit: Ileena Dutta Kartick S, a daily commuter who travels on BMTC busses from Kengeri to KR market said, “The breakdown of BMTC buses has been an issue for days now. I commute from Kengeri to KR market on BMTC buses and most of them on this route make sounds but sometimes, the busses breakdown in the middle of the road. It becomes very inconvenient for commuters who are dependent on public transport.”

According to a report by Citizen Matters, Unregulated private vehicles pose a problem to the safety of passengers. Section 56 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, says that private vehicles need to get mandatory fitness checks after 15 years, not annually like commercial vehicles.

Recently the Supreme Court endorsed the National Green

Tribunal (NGT) order issued in 2015 banning private vehicles more than 15-years-old in New Delhi. In Bengaluru, out of the 74 lakh vehicles plying on roads, 16 lakh vehicles are over 15 years old, of which 3781 are busses.

BMTC public relations officer, Venkatesh T refused to comment when asked about the progress of the maintenance of buses older than fifteen years.

He mentioned that maintenance work for few older buses is ongoing and assures that the rest will be completed soon.

Manjula Dev, another daily commuter said, “The engine sound and smell is miserable if I get front seats. I wonder how drivers and passengers deal with this every day. The metro, although an efficient alternative, is not very economical.”

“Commuters suffer in numerous ways and those with health issues have urged BMTC to take immediate action for the commencement of maintenance of the old busses, “said Raheem Ali, a member of Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike (BBVP), a bus passengers assocaition. ileena.d@iijnm.org

Ex-CM assails income tax raids

Shrabona Ghosh

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ormer Hassan BJP president Yoga Ramesh on Thursday joined the Congress in the presence of former chief minister Siddaramaiah.

“Even after serving the BJP for 16 years, I was not given the Hassan Lok Sabha nomination.

I have dedicated my whole life (to BJP), but my efforts were not recognized.”

Siddaramaiah said: “Yoga Ramesh is a potential leader, and we will do everything possible to support him in our party.

We are glad to have a dedicated person like him.”

About the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Siddaramaiah said: “The income tax raids in Karnataka are a political matter. The step by the BJP government is unconstitutional. Why is every move by the BJP coming right before the election? This clearly indicates the political motive behind every action taken by the

Music therapy can treat disorders Continued from Page 1

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he American Music Therapy Association defines music therapy as “the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to achieve individualized goals”. It calls music Therapy “an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals”.

Dr Salim Ali, a psychiatrist, said: “Music therapy is now widely used to treat many disorders. If applied properly, it can treat many behavioral disorders.”

G. Mahadevan, a resident of Jayanagar, said: “My son is autistic. He had difficulties in adapting and learning. The doctor-prescribed medicines were OK, but no major changes were noticed. It was then I came

to know about music and its therapeutic values. I assigned a personal music teacher for my son last year. Since then, the changes have been amazing.

Now learning has become much easier for him.”

Mreenalini, a patient of schizophrenia, was referred to Dr Meenakshi Ravi by NIMHANS. Her tormenting condition led her to discontinue her education.

“I started treating her through music. Initially, she was under medication but slowly, through music therapy, she showed a lot of positive changes. She recovered to the extent when she no more required medication.

She passed her junior-grade examination with distinction.

Mreenalini is now a teacher who helps other special people,” Dr Ravi shared.

Nagaraj, a 27-year-old specially abled resident of Bengaluru, has found that learning music

has improved his retaining capacity.

The evolution of music therapy in India dates back to the ancient time. According to Indian Journal of Psychiatry, In India, literature on science of music (Gandharva tattva) dates back to fourth century B.C. “Raga Chikits,” describes the therapeutic role of musical melodies.

Swami Haridas, a classical musician of the 16th century, used music to treat illnesses.

Similarly, “Sangita Sudha” a 17th-century work authored

by Nayaka King Raghunatha Nayak and his minister Govinda Dikshitar, provides an insight into effects of music on emotions.

Ancient works collected by King Sahaji (1684–1711) is preserved at the Thanjavur Saraswati Mahal Library in the form of palm leaf manuscripts, shrabona.g@iijnm.org

“Yoga Ramesh is a potential leader,” said Siddaramaiah | Credit: Shrabona Ghosh Karnatka government” According to a Deccan Herald report, Ramesh met the chairman of the Congress-JD(S) coordination committee on Tuesday.

This led to speculation that he would join the Congress. Ramesh was against former minister A Manju returning to the BJP. He opposed the saffron party giving the Hassan ticket to Manju.

Ramesh had earlier said: “His contribution to Hassan as district-in-charge minister was zero. Manju left the Congress in tatters in Hassan. The party leadership should field a local leader for.” shrabona.g@iijnm.org

WEATHER Mainly Clear Sky Minimum Temperature: 27 degrees Celsius Maximum Temperature: 35 degrees Celsius Tomorrow: Mainly clear sky with minimum temperature of 22 degrees Celsius and maximum of 35 degrees Celsius.

OBSERVER TEAM Editor- Oisika Dev Page Layout: Abbinaya Kuzhanthaivel Reporters: Yohanjali R, Shrabona Ghosh, Ileena Dutta Desk: Pranay P, Sahana S