The strange story behind Malleswaram 👀

Good morning, Bengaluru ☀️

Here’s a Bengaluru fact that sounds made up: Malleswaram partly exists because of a plague.

After the devastating 1898 plague, authorities concluded that overcrowding had made things worse. New, less-congested layouts followed - including Malleswaram and Basavanagudi. More than a century later, Malleswaram is back in the civic conversation for something fittingly related: making more room for people on its footpaths.

Broad grids, flower sellers, temple mornings, 8th Cross crowds and dosa stops give Malleswaram a rhythm that still feels distinctly its own.

This week, the humble footpath is getting attention. BESCOM continued removing unused electrical infrastructure across Malleswaram and other parts of Bengaluru over the weekend.

As of August 24, the citywide operation was reported 80% complete. Between August 1–23, BESCOM says it removed 1,535 electricity poles, six transformer centres and nine other unused structures.

For residents, the best infrastructure upgrade may simply be getting space to walk back. Read More

While most of us were deciding where to brunch, Bengaluru residents were painting, planting and plogging.

Citizens, students, children and pourakarmikas joined the #IamBengaluru - Volunteer For Parks effort over Saturday and Sunday, supported by the Greater Bengaluru Authority and community partners including Youth for Seva, Youth for Parivarthan, Hasiru Dala and Adamya Chetana.

At Triangle Park, Koramangala 5th Block, volunteers cleaned two parks and learnt waste segregation. Peace Rectangle Park hosted textile sorting. Kumara Park West’s children’s garden got painted, RBI Layout saw plogging, while tree planting reached Banashankari 6th Stage and Vajarahalli.

Nothing dramatic. Just neighbours leaving public spaces better than they found them. See what Bengaluru’s volunteers did

Veena Stores, Malleswaram

If this issue has put Malleswaram on your mind, make the detour. Keep the order simple: idli-vada, khara bath and coffee. Standing around with everyone else is part of the experience. See the Karnataka Tourism listing

The full 58-km Blue Line connecting Central Silk Board to Kempegowda International Airport is now expected by March 2028 - three months later than the previous December 2027 target. The corridor is planned to open in stages, so parts should arrive earlier.

See the latest timeline

Here’s something genuinely useful: 1533.

It is the city civic authority’s official contact number. For complaints around civic issues, you can also use Sahaaya 2.0; the official BBMP page lists 9480685700 as another Sahaaya contact.

Best habit: take a photo + save the exact location + keep your complaint/reference number.

“Near that big tree after the signal” may work for auto directions. Civic complaints need better coordinates.

Save the official civic contact page

See you in the next kaapi. Same city, slightly better plans.