BJP's toppling game is to show that grand alliance will fail: DCM Parameshwar
Bengaluru, Jan 16: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwar on Wednesday alleged that the BJP has a bigger plan behind the its moves "to topple" the coalition government in the state as it wants to show that any grand alliance against it at the centre will meet the same fate.
The coalition government in Karnataka suffered the first major setback when two MLAs, an independent and a member of the Karnataka Pragnyavantara Janata Paksha, Tuesday withdrew support to the government.
There was no immediate threat to the government with the withdrawal of support but speculation was rise that many other disgruntled Congress MLAs could follow suit by resigning from the Assembly, though the party has maintained that its flock is intact.
"There is a bigger scheme in destabilising the coalition government in Karnataka because when we took oath, the oath ceremony was attended by most of the non-BJP friends and leaders. That was a kind of Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance)," Parameshwara told reporters on the sidelines of a function.
He said the BJP "took the stand to pull down the government" despite knowing well that its attempt would fail.
The deputy chief minister said, "Now if these two parties are not successful, the alliance is not successful in Karnataka, the message would be that yes this (grand) alliance is going to fail. Maybe they (BJP) are trying to do that. This is another thing which we have been discussing."
On the alleged discontent in Congress, Parameshwara said whenever there is an expansion, some people aspiring for ministerial posts express their feelings in different ways when they don't get the opportunity.
"But after some time they will also understand that everybody cannot become minister. We also try to accommodate them in different ways," Parameshwara said.
"The BJP saw an opportunity in the disgruntled MLAs to topple the government," the deputy chief minister said.
In the 224-member Assembly, BJP has 104 members, Congress-79, JDS 37, BSP, KPJP and Independent one each, besides Speaker.
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Bengaluru BMTC introduces QR-based UPI ticketing system in buses
Bengaluru: In a move to enhance digital convenience in public transport, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has introduced a dynamic QR-based UPI ticketing system in teamed up with 'Chalo', a Mumbai-based mobility startup, Asianet News reported.
The system is currently being tested as a pilot project in 50 buses from Yeshwantpur Depot 26. The plan is to roll out this system across all depots by the first week of May. This is part of a four-year contract with Chalo, worth around Rs 30 crore, where the company will not only supply the smart ticketing machines but also handle their maintenance.
Unlike the earlier system that relied on static QR codes, where passengers had to manually enter fare. But with this new system, the conductor's machine generates a fresh, dynamic QR code for each trip. Passengers can scan this code with any UPI app to pay. The payment gets credited instantly, and the ticket is printed only after the payment is successful.
The new system is expected to improve transparency and accountability, especially following recent incidents where some conductors allegedly used personal QR codes to divert payments. It also solves the problem of passengers showing fake payment screenshots to avoid paying the fare.
In the first phase, around 11,000 smart ETMs will be deployed, with plans to increase the number to 15,000 over the next five years. The system is designed to support various payment methods, including QR codes, UPI, debit/credit cards, smart cards, and the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC).
Officials said the system will also be compatible with the one used by the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). This opens up the possibility of using a single card or platform for both bus and metro travel in the future.
The government has also given its approval for introducing smart cards for the 'Shakti' scheme, which provides free bus travel to women, aiming to create a single, contactless system for both free and paid travel.
Ever since the bus fares were increased on January 5, more and more passengers have switched to UPI payments to avoid the hassle of finding exact change. It's worth noting that currently, almost half of BMTC's ticket revenue comes from UPI payments.
