Karnataka HC issues direction to govt on audio announcements in private buses
Bengaluru, Nov 9: The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday said the Government on its own should direct private bus operators to install audio announcement systems to help visually-challenged passengers.
Asking the government to issue a circular in this regard, the division bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit said, "Needless to state, such circulars would be additional circulars for fixing such facilities for those operators who have already received permission for plying buses and it would be pre-condition to those operator seeking fresh permission from State Government for plying buses."
The HC also gave four weeks to the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and the State government to file affidavits on the action taken by them in regards to implementing the system in the corporation's buses.
The HC also directed the petitioner to submit a representation to the authorities on suggestions to make the mobile commuter app disabled-friendly.
Shreyas N, a visually challenged person, had filed the PIL seeking a direction to the government to install audio alert system in public transport corporation buses similar to the ones found on the Namma Metro.
Such a system was introduced on a trial basis in some BMTC buses a few years ago and then discontinued.
Earlier, the HC had directed the state government to come up with its suggestions on the issue and become a role model to other states.
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Andhra CM thanks President for giving assent to bill recognising Amaravati as capital
Amaravati (PTI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has thanked President Droupadi Murmu for giving assent to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which recognises the greenfield city of Amaravati as the capital.
The Act was published in The Gazette of India, following the presidential assent.
The Chief Minister thanked the Union Government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his commitment to the southern state and his guidance to all the MPs for supporting the 'Amaravati Bill'.
"On behalf of my people of Andhra Pradesh, I express profound gratitude to Hon'ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji for her gracious assent to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2026, fulfilling the long-cherished dream of our capital," Naidu said in a post on X on Monday.
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The chief minister also thanked PM Modi for guiding state leaders and every citizen who stood with Andhra Pradesh.
"This is a victory for my people of Andhra Pradesh, especially my farmers of Amaravati," he said.
"The capital of Andhra Pradesh is Amaravati," Naidu said in a post on X on Tuesday.
With the President's assent, IT Minister Nara Lokesh said the dream of our capital has officially become a reality.
"Today is a historic day for every citizen of Andhra Pradesh," Lokesh said in a post on X.
He said that he was joining millions of Telugu people to express his gratitude to PM Modi for his vision and support in championing the state's future.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said that April 6 will be etched in history as the day Amaravati was officially recognised as the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
"On this historic occasion, following the passage of the Bill in Parliament and the issuance of the Gazette Notification by the Government of India, and with the assent of the Hon'ble President of Bharat, this long-awaited aspiration of the people of Andhra Pradesh has finally been fulfilled," Kalyan said in a post on X.
He thanked Murmu, Modi, and Naidu for making this historic moment possible.
