The following is required to get a water connection in Bangalore. The organization that is concerned with this is BWSSB.

• Furnish the sanctioned plans from the BDA/BMP. If not, product a tax paid receipt from the BDA/BMP or the local authorities. If the building is more than ground floor plus three floors, you are required to produce the occupancy certificate given by BDA/BMP.
• Get a letter of permission from these authorities to cut the road. You are required to pay a fee for this [official and unofficial]
• Get an application from a BWSSB service station. You are required to pay Rs 30 for water connection and Rs 30 for sanitary connection.
• Submit the form with the mentioned required documents to the assistant executive engineer at the sub-division office. You can apply thru a certified plumber also.
• The fee is Rs 1,620 for domestic individual houses on the ground floor. For other floors you pay more.

You should get the permission and connection in about 10 working days. If you were required to bribe please do let us know the going rates

Sanitary and water connection application requires:

1. Floor area of the building
2. Number of toilets
3. Number of sanitary and plumbing connections required
4. Number of water points
5. Overhead and sump tank capacity

For more details see BWSSB consumer page.

PS: This is very specific to Bangalore city, however the rules may not be very different for other towns/cities.

• DC's Office: 2221 1106, 94480 40700, 93428 15124
• Bangalore North: 2286 9011
• Bangalore Zilla Panchayat: 2221 1107, 94484 89283

• Karnataka Telecom
• Bangalore Telecom
• Just Dial - for business numbers only
• GetIT Yellow Pages - for business numbers only
• Mysore
• Dakshina Kannada Telecom is selling their telephone directory on a CDROM for Rs 60 as of August 9, 2001

In Bangalore you can get it from BangaloreVoterId.org .

Call the toll-free helpline 1959 [for DoT users in Karnataka only] between 10 AM and 6 PM.

Call the non-toll free number 1679 [for DoT only]

See STD page. We have included the intra state codes as calls within 200 kms in the state are treated as local calls.

Bharti's Touchtel, Reliance and Tata Teleservices have started their operations in Karnataka.

See Karnataka State Police site. Also try Bangalore City Police

You can get connected to the police control room instantly and alert them of any theft or emergency.Those interested must register by submitting a BSNL non-dedicated hotline facility application (available at BSNL customer care centres or offices of BSNL divisional engineers) to the deputy commissioner of police (crime), police commissioner's office, # 1, Infantry Road, Bangalore-1 (Ph: 2220 0912). The application, if approved, will be forwarded to BSNL, which will provide the facility free of cost.

Those eligible include banks, ATMs, petrol pumps, jewellers and other business establishments with heavy turnover, senior citizens, people staying in isolated areas or any other special group. To avail the facility, they should have a BSNL landline at home. How to operate: When a robber attacks, the subscriber has to take the phone receiver off the hook for a minimum of 20 seconds. The police control room will access the call through the caller identity and subscriber database and will send patrolling vehicles to the subscriber's place.

If you want to pass on some information about a crime or lodge a complaint against any high-handed police officer, call +91-80-22943400 or +91-80-22943399. Whatever you say will be heard by the City Police Commissioner himself and your identity will be kept a secret. These two dedicated telephone lines have been set up with a view to promoting 'complaint culture' among Bangaloreans.

A Vehicle is not permitted to ply with other state registration mark beyond 11 months from the date of migration . So you should apply and obtain the Karnataka Registration mark before that period.

Things to do to re-register an out of Karnataka state vehicle:

• Intimate the nearest RTO within 30 days.
• Pay the required tax.
• Re-register the vehicle within one year after coming to Bangalore.

Documents required:

• NOC from registration authority of the state where vehicle was registered.
• Registration certificate.
• Proof of address [Bangalore].
• Insurance.

There are few exemptions to Central Government employees and defence personnel.

• Life-time tax will continue, if paid in other state.
• If yearly tax is paid, they continue to pay yearly tax here in Karnataka.

You can call the RTO helpline in Bangalore: +91-80-2235 3434

The Bangalore City Crime Records Bureau in co-ordination with the State Crime Record Bureau wil be opening a window counter at the police commissioner's office in Bangalore. People can avail the following services, on payment of nominal fee of Rs 20:

• Information to potential buyers of a second hand vehicle. One can find out whether it is stolen one or has been used by any criminal for committing crime.
• Information whether a stolen vehicle has been recovered in any part of the country

Call +91-80-2294-3165 for further details.

See BMTC site.

See passport office website. You can get and submit passport applications in post offices. Post offices charge Rs 100 to help you to fill the form.

As of June 2006 Bangalore One accepts applications for new passports. As of July 2006 Bangaloreans need to apply for a new passort at BangaloreOne offices ONLY.

Also a separate branch of the passport office has been opened on his office premises in Chitradurga [Dec 2004].

In Bangalore call,

• North Zone: 2356 3805
• South Zone: 2659 5138 / 2658 9977
• East Zone: 2526 6888
• West Zone: 2350 3030

See state budget site.

Bangalore: See BWSSB site or call 155313.

See this document

Power connection application form requires

• Application on Form A
• Number of lighting and heating points
• Number of KW of extra load required

It is better to use a electrical contractor to do the running around to get the sanction.

Bangalore: Call BCC at 080-22221188

In Bangalore you have Prahari, a helpline to attend and tackle emergencies through patrol vehicles. The squad will also deal with the health problems - prevention of garbage dumping into drains and open places, meat and chicken wastes, organic and inorganic wastes in parks and public places and also co-ordinate with the Pollution Control Board in reducing pollution levels due to operation of public address system.

• Control Room: 2222-1188, 2229-7595, 2210 0031/32/33/34/35.
• East zone: 2297-5803
• West zone: 2356-1692
• South zone: 2656-6362
• Rajarajeshwarinagar (CMC): 2860-0954
• Byatarayanapura (CMC): 2363-6677
• Bommanahalli (CMC): 2573-5642
• Dasarahalli (CMC): 2839-4909
• Mahadevapura (CMC): 2851-2300, 2851-2301

Bangalore:
24 Hour: 080-22370711/22/33/44
Centralized Complaints 1917 (6 lines) / 12660 / 1-600-338-017
Other numbers: 2228 7118 / 2228 119 / 2235 5180 / 98442 44639 (Executive Engineer)
Send SMS to 9848 237266 with the keyword HELP for further details.

Complaints received here are provided with docket numbers. While lodging complaint the name, address, telephones number and nearby landmark with nature of complaints should be given. In case complaint not attended within two hours contact 22252035.

Also you could contact,
Managing Director,
Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM)
14/3, CFC Building, IV Floor
Nrupathunga Road
Bangalore - 560001
Phone: 080-2227 6366
Email: mdbescom@bescom.org

Bangalore:
Holy cow! For a change a government office in Karnataka gave us a pleasant shock. We were checking with them for information about how to avoid street cows and stray dog menace.

They were kind enough to inform that Bangalore is forefront in addressing this issue by adopting WHO recommended Animal Birth Control/Anti Rabies Vaccination (ABC/ARV) programme to rapidly reduce street dog population, reduce dog bite and prevent spread of rabies. They also provided these telephone numbers for you to register complaints. Now citizens, sorry neitzens can start cracking. Try it and let us know if it worked for you.

For street cow menace: 2227 7789
For stray dogs menace:

• 2571-1036 (East Zone) - CUPA
• 2672-4036 (South Zone) - ARF
• 2341-1181 (West Zone) - SPCA

Any other complaints to BCC: 2222-7822
For general queries: 2222-1188

The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has set up 24-hour dog bite treatment centres at BMP Referral Hospital on H Siddaiah Road and at the Ulsoor BMP Referral Hospital (only in Bangalore). Dr Susheela Shekar has been appointed the nodal officer and can be contacted on phone 22291966 (office); 25280195 (residence) and 98440-98127

Bangalore has 186,000 stray and 146,000 pet dogs.  Even though it has been made mandatory to obtain a license for pets since 2000, only 12,000 pet dogs have been registered in the city.

• Get the form from BCC [Rs 10]
• Register your pet for Rs 50.
• Vaccinate your pet for Rs 50

Please help the government by registering your pet.

See Inspector General of Registration & Commissioner of Stamps site.

For the sale of houses, plots

• Stamp Duty: 8% of market value of property - 8%
• Additional Stamp Duty Under 3B of the Stamp Act: 5% of stamp duty - 0.4%
• Additional Stamp Duty: 2% of market value of property (Payable to City Corporation. 3% if locatated within Taluk Panchayat) - 0.16%
• Registration Fee: 1% of market value of property - 1%
• Grand Total Stamp Duty Payable: 9.56%

For the sale of flats/apartments the stamp duty is based on the value of the property.

• Upto Rs 300,000: 2%
• Rs 300,000 - Rs 500,000: Rs 6,000 + 3% on amount over Rs 300,000
• Rs 500,000 - Rs 1,000,000 and above: Rs 12,000 + 6% on amount over Rs 500,000
• Rs 1,000,000 and above: Rs 42,000 + 8% on amount over Rs 1,000,000
• Additional Stamp Duty: 5% of stamp duty, 2% to city corporation, 2% registration fee

Welcome to Karnataka. See our bribe rate card

The government will introduce e-stamping in March 2008. The ministry of finance and the department of economic affairs have appointed the Stock Holiding Corporation of India [SHCI ] as the central record keeping agency for e-stamping. The facility will be available at Jayanagar, Shivajinagar and Gandhinagar sub-registrar offices, the Lawyer's Assocation office and at four SHCI branches.

After submitting the application form, the client's details will be entered into the system and a stamp certificate woudl be generated immediately in case of cash payment. In cae of cheque/demand draft/pay order, the certificate woud be generated only after the realisation of funds.

e-stamp papers are tamper proof as each certificate will have a Unique Identification Number [UIN]. Every stamp generated through the web application would be provided with a 20-digit alha-numerice UIN. Anybody with the UIN can check the certificiate's authenticity at www.shcilestamp.com .

The govt has taken active steps in Bangalore to clean up the mess. However, we strongly feel the citizens need to take more interest instead of blaming the govt for everything. See Swachha Bangalore. Their helpline number is 98450-24365 (the number translates to 24 hours a day, 365 days a year)

Shuchi Mitra - a civic minded citizen, who volunteers to devote time to take on the responsibility of partnering with the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike [BMP] to ensure cleanliness of his / her locality and monitor local conditions. The BMP requires Shuchi Mitras in many areas. Please call 22122608 / 22122609/ 22122610. Commendable effort, we hope citizens will support this group.

The Centres are available at:

1. Head office: 2297 5500, 2297 5583
2. Jayanagar: 2297 5700
3. Public Utility Building: 2297 5800
4. Malleswaram: 2297 5600

Please see the list of resident welfare associations in Bangalore.

• Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Cavery Bhavan, K.G. Road Bangalore - 560001 (Phone: 080-2221-1137)
• Civic Watch, C/O Deccan Herald, No 75, M G Road, Bangalore - 560001
• Janaagraha, 198 Nandidurga Road, Bangalore 560046. Phone: 2237 0092,4127 7102/3, Fax: 2237 0093 E-mail:info@janaagraha.org (civic amenities movement). Also see Yahoo Groups

On August 3, 2001 "The Karnataka Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Health of Non-Smokers Bill, 2001" was passed in the Legislative Council. The bill is aimed at protecting the non-smoking public from the hazards of passive smoking, and prohibiting smoking in a few selected places like public spaces, auditorium, hospitals, health institutions, amusement centres, restaurants, court buildings, educational institutions, libraries and places of worship. It also discourages promotion of smoking through advertisements.

See the railway ecom site.

Call 139 from anywhere in Karnataka for train related queries.

By dialling 139 and PNR number without a break, a caller can obtain PNR status directly without going through various prompts. Similarly, for berth availability in a train, one can dial 139, train number, date and month of journey. For example, by dialling 13926272811, they can get the berth availability on Karnataka Express (train no 2627), on Nov 28.

See Maps Of India. Also see Bangalore Transport Information System (BTIS) for driving directions in Bangalore.

Click here to see the flag. According to the Department of Kannada and Culture the "red and yellow" colors in the flag have no legal status. In 1965, Ma Ramamurthy launched a political party called Kannada Paksha. The red-and-yellow flag was teh flag of the party and he called it as Kannada flag. The party never took off but the flag continued to fly high.

Kannada organizations have started using the flag. Yellow stands for good things and red signifieds revolution. Few say red-and-yellow stands for Arishina (turmeric) and Kumkum. These two objects are traditionally considered as asupicious in most Southern states of India.

See Bangalore City Police site.

You can apply for a UK visa at: 304, Prestige Centre Point, 7 Edward Road (Cunningham Road), Bangalore - 560052. Email: vfsuk.south@visa-services.com

You must be talking about the one written by Rajeev Nanda. It is an excellent contribution to the society. Click here to read the entire document.

Chief registrar of births, deaths and marriages, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, M.S. Buildings, B.R. Ambedkar Road, Bangalore-560001. Call +91-80-22253758 / 22863025. Also see other offices in Karnataka.

A telephone helpline to report illegal tree felling and vandalism has been set up by the Environment Support Group in Bangalore. Call 2653-4364.

Personal Account Number (PAN) is issued by the friendly Income Tax Department. It includes the addresses of the offices in Karnataka from which you can get the new PAN card.

• Airport Road Flyover: Ramaswamy, 98456-30117
• Jayadeva-Dairy Circle Flyover: Guruprasad, 98456-30115
• HSR Complex: Lakshmipathy, 98456-30116
• Bangalore East: Shashidhar, 98456-30157
• Bangalore North: Ravindra Reddy, 98456-30111
• Bangalore South: Shiva Murthy, 98456-30112

Bangalore Transport Information System (BTIS) and Airtel have partnered in providing real time traffic updates. Information Needed

• To get area/junction codes
• To know the route from area 1 to area 2
• To know traffic condition and route from area 1 to area 2
• To know traffic at a particular junction

SMS Procedure Send SMS to 54321 (Airtel Customers) or 98450 27222

• BTIS CODE followed by name of area/junction
• BTIS followed by area-code1 area-code2
• BTIS followed by area1 area2
• BTIS POINT followed by junction code

Most of us are tired of being refused service by Autos. As of May 2007 we have a new solution - Call or SMS 98441-12233 or visit EasyAuto to book an auto.