Bangalore becomes first Indian city to have free wifi hotspots

Bangalore, Jan 25: Bangalore has become the first city in India to have free wifi hotspots.

The project, launched at the iconic MG Road in central Bangalore, allows a person to browse upto three hours a day and download upto 50 MB of data.

Five different locations including MG road in the city now have free wifi and the IT department of Karnataka wants to spread it to 10 more locations by next month.

The project is in its pilot phase and Bangalore-based service provider D-VoiS is involved in the implementation.

"We are trying to make this as safe as possible. A person logs in, and we at our server will be able to check who is logging in, through what instrument or handset, what he is checking, downloading etc... so it is completely safe, said Srivatsa Krishna, IT Secretary, Karnataka government.

"The service provider has set up HD cameras in the locations which can also help in a big way when it comes to security, not just the content on net," Mr Krishna added.

The free wifi comes along with apps too. Soon to be active will be the parking app, the garbage app and the likes. The parking app can show the nearest slot for parking and the garbage app would tell you the nearest garbage throw away point.

"These days the youngsters and all of us are nothing without bandwidth. We all need internet. Browsing, Twitter, Facebook, downloading movies... wow we are all so connected. And this according to me makes us feel empowered. We will be sending out the right message to investors. I dream of the day when each youngster can say he has access to the internet." said Mohandas Pai, former Infosys board member and advisor to the Government's ambitious IT Vision.

"I have tried logging on and it is fast. If am around Brigade with friends I could check which eating joints are available, what's new and so on" said Sindhu, a student in Bangalore.

The youngest city as it may be, Bangalore is also the start-up city where young entrepreneurs, especially those creating cool apps, find this space as an opportunity for their little start up to 'click'.

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‘Have letter, next step is...’: MUDA on Siddaramaiah’s wife’s offer to return plots

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru: The Mysuru land authority at the centre of a financial and political storm - involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and alleged losses of ₹ 45 crore to the state - has received an offer of restitution from his wife, the urban development body's Commissioner, AN Raghunandan said.

"I am in possession of a letter written by Siddaramaiah's wife regarding her intention to return 14 plots (of land). The Chief Minister's son, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, came to our office and delivered the letter. We will take legal advice for the next step..." he told reporters in Mysuru.

Mr Raghunandan also confirmed anti-corruption officials from the city's Lokayukta branch had written seeking cooperation in its inquiry into the charges against the Chief Minister.

He said the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, or MUDA, "will cooperate with the investigation".

The Enforcement Directorate, however, have not reached out as yet, Mr Raghunandan said. The ED, a federal agency, has filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah.

There have also been calls for the CBI, another federal agency, to investigate charges against the Chief Minister, but that appears unlikely now given the Karnataka government has withdrawn general consent for its operations in the state. Law Minister HK Patil made the announcement last week.

He ruled out any link with demands for the Chief Minister to be investigated by the CBI, which reports to the BJP-led central government and the ruling Congress and other opposition parties have claimed is being used by that party to target rival leaders, particularly before elections.

On Monday - three days after the Lokayukta filed a case against the Chief Minister, and hours after the ED launched its probe- Siddaramaiah's wife said she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".

But now, she said, she had made up her mind as "no house, plot, or wealth is more important than my husband's honor, dignity, and peace of mind". She also said the decision was hers alone; "... I am not aware of my husband's opinion on this matter, nor do I concern myself with what my son thinks".

And, in a comment seen as a calculated swipe at the opposition BJP, which is leading calls for the Chief Minister's resignation, his wife also made an emotional appeal to "all political parties and the media" to "please not drag women of political families into the controversy to settle political scores".

Investigative action against the Chief Minister follows the Karnataka High Court quashing a challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order sanctioning Siddaramaiah's prosecution.

Subsequently a trial court ordered framing of charges and directed the Lokayukta to complete the investigation within three months. The ED case was filed based on the Lokayukta FIR.

Siddaramaiah faces an inquiry into claims Parvathi was allotted 14 plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere - holding a far lower value - taken for infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister has denied all charges and refused calls to resign.

He has been backed by the Congress and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who is also the state unit boss, and also by members of his cabinet, including IT Minister Priyank Kharge. However, some within the Congress also want him to quit, such as former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad.

"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally," he said last week after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor's sanction.

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