Category: Records

** Bengaluru tops in country in office space transaction

Bengaluru has registered the highest office space transactions in the country and has stood second in residential spaces in the third quarter of 2021 (July-September), reveals a report by a leading global property consultancy firm. 

The report by Knight Frank India, ‘India Real Estate Update – Q3 2021’, made public on Monday, stated that the city reported transactions running to 0.4 million square metres, while its new completions stood at 0.38 million square metres. “The cumulative office transactions for the first nine months of 2021 were reported to be at 0.73 million sqm,” it said.  

** Bengaluru’s ‘biggest water tower’ faces threat of losing tree cover

With the State Government deciding to develop the heritage structure, Balabrooie Guest House, into a Constitution Club for legislators, experts have raised concerns over axing of century-old trees.

Assembly Speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri said the proposed structure will be similar to the Constitution Club of India, in New Delhi, and will be taken up without making major changes to the heritage building.

Environmentalists and heritage enthusiasts, however, said even if no major changes are made to the building, the authorities will end up cutting trees to provide parking and other facilities on the campus.

** Kali reserve all set for tiger survey; increased numbers may help Karnataka gain top slot in India

The Kali Tiger Reserve in Karnataka is all set for the upcoming tiger census this month. Nestled between Goa’s Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and Belagavi’s Bhimad National Park, the Kali Tiger Reserve has emerged as a favourite site for the source population of tigers and has been recording phenomenal growth in the tiger numbers in the last few years, thanks to its demography. 

** Art in Artificial Intelligence: Bangalore artist launches NFT at Sotheby’s

 Bengaluru artist Raghava KK needs no introduction. He’s known for infusing life into some of the most creative pieces the world of art has seen in the past, and he’s at it again, with a bold concept that he’s named ‘The Orgasm Project’.

Using Artificial Intelligence in art, Raghava is now one of the first Indian artists to launch an NFT — simply put, a digital file — at the international auction house Sotheby’s.

** Tunes of nostalgia

This documentary chronicles the journey of Bengaluru-based musician MB Prakash, one of the few accordionists in the country.

Walking into ITC Windsor in the evenings, before the pandemic, always meant a sweet welcome with the sound of the accordion wafting from all corners. Perched on the first floor with an aerial view of the space, MB Prakash (72), one of the  few accordions in the country, would often play a varied set of tunes. 

Now, documentary filmmaker Adithyaa Sadashiv has collaborated with classical harmonium player Ravindra Katoti to make a 35-minute film, Whispering Melodies, which chronicles Prakash’s journey. It is now available on YouTube. Sadashiv says, “I was introduced to Prakash sir by Katoti in July and we took about two months to complete the film. He’s an inspiration to many and I felt that it was a story worth telling the world.” 

** India’s first security-boosting wall from Belgium debuts at Bengaluru’s KSR railway station

A state-of-the-art video wall imported from Belgium has recently been installed inside the premises of Cyber Cell of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and offers an enhanced layer of security at Bengaluru’s Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) railway station.

This is the first such installation in the country.

** St John’s Medical College gets central award for eldercare research, activities

The Medical College was adjudged as the Best Institute for Research in the field of ageing by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

 St Johns Hospital, Bengaluru, has bagged the Vayoshtreshta Samman by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment after it was adjudged as the Best Institute for Research in the field of ageing.

** No strings attached

This B’luru-based Carnatic artiste will be the first woman from India to perform at the Parliament of World Religions.

What is the connection between the Guru Granth Sahib and Dasara padagalu? What are the similarities between the sacred music of Hinduism-Judaism, Sikhism-Hinduism, and Christianity-Buddhism?

Dr Deepti Navaratna, a Bengaluru-based Carnatic artiste, will decode all of this in her musical concert titled, The Dialogues with the Divine, which she will perform, virtually, at the Parliament of World’s Religions, on October 18. Interestingly, Navarathna, who is also the regional director of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, is the first Indian woman to represent the nation at the Parliament of World’s Religions, the world’s premier interfaith convening organisation.

** UK, Singapore pros to design KIA retail village

Bangalore Airport City Limited (BACL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), has appointed DP Architects Singapore, and Portland Design, UK, as its architectural consultants for its integrated Retail-Dining-Entertainment (RDE) village.

The RDE Village was built with a vision to create a retail and lifestyle destination for those with a millennial mindset. It would be strategically located adjacent to the Concert Arena and Convention and Exhibition Centre, the release said. The project will be developed on 23 acres, over a built-up area of 1.1 million sqft.

** Mangaluru swimmers shine in state-level swimming event in Bengaluru

The swimmers of Mangaluru have shown exemplary performance in the state-level championships organised by the Karnataka Swimming Association at Basavanagudi Swimming Club pool in Bengaluru recently.

The details of the medal winners are as follows:

Group 3 boys: Naitik N – Gold in 100 backstroke, Silver in 200 mtrs individual medley and 100 mtrs butterfly, bronze in 200mtr freestyle;


Group 2 boys: Alaister Samuel Rego 4 silver in 1500 freestyle and 400 freestyle, 800 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 3 golds in all relays, Steve Jeff Lobo – 2 silvers in 100 and 200mtr butterfly, bronze in 50 mtrs butterfly, 2 golds and 1 bronze in relay; Nishan gold in 4*100 relay; Diganth V S – silver in 200 mtrs backstroke, bronze in 100 mtr backstroke;


Group 2 girls – Riana Dhrithi Fernandes – silver in 200 individual medley and 100mtr breast stroke, 2 bronze in 200 breaststroke and 400 IM, 1 gold and 1 bronze in relay; Dwisha Shetty – Silver in 50mtr breast stroke, bronze in 100mtr breast stroke.