"Da Vinci Code"

Last week, I read Dan Brown's thriller "Da Vinci Code". It reminded me of the novels by Robert Ludlum, that once opened to read, were difficult to put off.

I am not sure how many of Dan Brown's claims in the book are true, because I have read both sides of the camp, in the media.

Here is one note:Cracks in 'Code'
Another:Da Vinci Code and the Church

Bangalore - What is the future?

I have been hearing news reports that the government of Karnataka has taken the stance of discouraging new IT development in Bangalore. The growth of the IT industry in Bangalore cannot be synched up with the development of the infrastucture.

So I have been wondering as to what would be the ideal future for Bangalore.

Lets look at the issue of the infrastructure and other parameters:
a) The roads of Bangalore were mainly designed for the 1920's or let us say pre-independence era.
b) There were always drinking water issues even before the IT boom started.
c) Electricity - well we do not have a nuclear reactor close by. Karnataka buys power from neighbors.
d) Dearth of quality schools for kids. (Trust me, this is a problem). Imagine every parent wanting their child to go to Bishop Cottons etc....
e) Petrol?

Some statistics I read was that there is a new IT company in Bangalore every 3-4 days or something like that. And then there is the exodus of low-wage artisans from as far as the Northern states of India. They never go back and also bring their brethren from their villages, because the real estate development in Bangalore will never end.

Given this, what would be ways to develop Bangalore and stop the crazy mania out there?
- Get a nuclear reactor in Karnataka?
- Evaluate alternative fuels like the Brazilian Ethanol campaign?
- Improve roads (But How? )
- Stop the influx of junta.
- Improve Public Education at par with private schools? Give emphasis on English, Kannada and Science/Technology.
- Expand Bangalore and maybe good public transportation - how about getting those electric trains like Mumbai?
- Stop treating Mysore as a tourist destination and make it a IT platform and offload some of the Blore junta there? For this to happen, Mysore will need a classy airport.

Your thoughts?

Here is an article that provides some hope.
Latin American model for Bangalore’s traffic woes