Latest news with #MangaluruSmartCity
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Even three years after launch, people not able to track movement of city buses using Mangaluru Smart City app
The Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL)'s 'smart transport' feature on the 'Mangaluru Smart City' app has remained dysfunctional and people are unable to track movement of about 300 odd city buses. The MSCL launched its app in April 2021, which also had a 'smart transport' feature (a section in the app), among other features, to help people track the movement of city buses. This feature was incorporated in the app shortly after 'Chalo app', launched by Dakshina Kannada Bus Owners' Association in association with a mobility firm, failed to serve the purpose as buses kept their GPS devices off while on the city roads. 'Initially GPS feed of nearly 200 buses was made available to the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) of the MSCL. The feed came down to 60 buses three months ago. Now we are getting the feed of only 30 buses,' an MSCL official told The Hindu. But when searched by clicking on the 'smart transport' section, either on the basis of destination or by bus route number, list of buses with route number appears with a note 'trip not started'. When reluctance of bus operators to share the GPS feed of their buses with the ICCL of MSCL was raised in the district Road Transport Authority meeting on November 5, 2024, the Deputy Commissioner M. P. Mullai Muhilan said not sharing GPS feed will be considered as an offence. While stating that 'smart transport' feature will be fully functional from the end of November 2024, the Deputy Commissioner said the 'smart transport' feature will help district administration to rationalise city bus routes. Despite the instruction by the Deputy Commissioner, the city bus operators are not sharing GPS feed with the MSCL. Shridhar K. Mallad, Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Mangaluru who is member-secretary of District Road Transport Authority, said he will pursue matter with the city bus owners. Without telling the reasons for not sharing the GPS data with MSCL, President of Dakshina Kannada Bus Owners' Association, Aziz Parthpady, told The Hindu: 'We will sort out the issues involved to enable people to track the movement of buses on the app.'
Time of India
21-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Amara app launched to restore Mangaluru's green cover
Mangaluru: As part of the Amara (Prakrutiye Pragati) Plant a Tree, Adopt a Tree initiative aimed at reviving Mangaluru's dwindling green cover, the Amara app was launched on Monday at the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC). The app has been integrated with the Mangaluru Smart City app and is expected to go live late evening. The initiative draws on data from the Tree Count Survey 2023 led by Prof Smitha Hegde, director of research at CFAL, which found that only 6.2% of public space in Mangaluru is covered by greenery. The app, developed based on this data, has mapped 19,872 trees across the city's 50 MCC wards, of which 20 have been adopted so far. The city has about 244 different tree species, with copper pod and Indian almond dominating. Each tree listed on the app carries a unique ID with details including common and scientific names, girth (cm), diameter and height (in inches and feet), and the type of pavement surface, bitumen or concrete. Users can register via the app to adopt and monitor trees, and a register will be maintained for follow-ups. Deputy commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP said the initiative aims to build public ownership of urban greenery . "Every tree will be geo-tagged and monitored. Individuals and organisations can choose their preferred ward and contribute," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Prof Hegde stressed the urgency of climate action , especially for coastal cities like Mangaluru facing rising temperatures and irregular rainfall. "Tree-lined avenues can reduce temperatures by at least 4-5°C during summer. This public-private-govt collaboration will help in data-driven urban planning. Further, to protect the coastlines and diversity one lakh mangroves will be planted," she said. While plantation drives will begin on June 5-World Environment Day, a public audit report is likely to be released on Aug 15. Each ward will see at least 500 trees being planted, with each team requiring a minimum of 10 volunteers and a coordinator. In case multiple groups opt for the same ward, alternatives will be assigned. Gurudutta Shenoy, managing partner of Vertex Workspace, during the inaugural, not only registered but also adopted a Pride of India tree at Kapikad.
The Hindu
21-04-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Greening intiative aims to increase green cover in Mangaluru by 30% by 2040: DC
Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada and Administrator of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) M.P. Mullai Muhilan said on Monday that 'Amara', a citizen driven initiative of greening the city, has aimed at increasing the green cover to 30% by 2040. He was speaking at a programme organised jointly by the MCC, district administration and Centre for Advanced Learning (CFAL) to launch the initiative in association with citizen groups. Mr. Muhilan said that the 'Tree Count Report-Mangaluru 2023' brought out by Nitte (Deemed to be) University in 2023 revealed that the city had only 6.24 % greenery in public places. The report was prepared by a team led by Smitha Hegde, the then Deputy Director, Centre for Science Education and Research (NUCSER) at Nitte (Deemed to be) University. Mr. Muhilan said that the greening initiative has aimed at planting 30,000 tree saplings covering 60 wards in this monsoon. In addition, between 50,000 and one lakh mangrove saplings will be planted as part of the initiative, he said adding that the 'Amara' will have to continue in the coming years. People, institutions can adopt the trees, saplings individually or ward-wise, he said. The Deputy Commissioner said that the planting locations will be finalised after a careful study in consultation with other departments as once the planting is done those saplings should not be removed for development projects or disturbed. Mr. Muhilan said that the initiative has been integrated with 'Mangaluru Smart City' app. After installing the app one has to click on 'Amara' section for details on adopting the tree. The app on Monday put the total trees at public places in the city at 19,872 and the number of adopted trees at 21. According to it, there were 19,851 unadopted trees. Speaking on the occasion Ms. Hegde, who is now associated with CFAL, said that each plant which will be planted under the initiative will be geotagged and monitored. As per the time line, ward adoption ends on April 30 and planting sites will be finalised by May 15. The planting drive will begin on June 5, the World Environment Day. The tree audit will be done from June to August and public audit report will be released on August 15, 2025. Capt. Brijesh Chowta, MP, also attended the launching event. The Commissioner of MCC Ravichandra Naik and Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) Antony Mariappa were present. To be part of the planting initiative interested persons can call on 9448813823 and 9945924193.
