Malini Parmar (She/ her)

5:15 AM. #BackToSchool Two alarms go off in two different homes. Meet Ramesh and Ramya. Both are fictional. The journeys they represent are very real! Ramesh is 9. Ramya is 16. One commutes to school & home via Varthur-Gunjur the other Sarjapur. They have never really met, but their mornings are almost identical. Both are up before much of Bengaluru has stirred. Both board a school bus in the dark. Both end up on SH-35. Across 21 school days of tracking, many of our buses travelled at 13 km/h or less—barely faster than a brisk jog, and slower than many cyclists. When it rained, a tree fell or a truck broke down, journeys became slower still. Think about what that means for a child. For Ramesh, it’s sleep he doesn’t get back, and arriving tired before the first bell. For Ramya, it’s music and robotics classes missed, practice cut short, and study hours eaten up by the road. For both, it’s less time with family and friends. Less time to just chill and be kids! Around 40,000 children use this corridor every school day, alongside their teachers and thousands of fellow commuters. What does this road take from them—and from all of us? And what could better journeys give back? Over the coming days, we’ll look at #SH35 through children’s eyes. Its ups and downs—and yes, those go beyond potholes and speed breakers. We’ll also look at the action underway: commitments made, progress on the ground and work still waiting. And we will recognise the people helping this corridor move better. Here’s an invitation to see, understand and act together. For Ramesh and Ramya’s learning, growth and wellbeing—and for everyone who shares this road. Follow along with #OurMobilityOurVoice for a #BetterBengaluru @krishnabgowda @PriyankKharge @GBAChiefComm @blrcitytraffic @wftrps @CPBlr @Jointcptraffic @DCPTrEastBCP @GBA_office @BPACofficial @dcpwhitefield @WFRising @sarjapuraps @SarjapuraRWA @rk_misra @MansoorKhanINC @TVMohandasPai @PCMohanMP @MALimbavali @ArvindLBJP @MLAShivanna