Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 36 ℃ | Low: 26 ℃ | Sunny weather for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The moniker High Road was once unique to Madras because settlements around Fort St George were all on sandy, elevated ridges.
📄 History through postcards
A new exhibition traces the city’s history through postcards.
What’s it about? As part of the Madras Day Celebrations, the Department of Journalism and Communication at the University of Madras presents an exhibition tracing the city’s history through postcards. The “Madras Through Picture Postcards” exhibition offers a glimpse into the everyday lives and culture of Chennai.
- The exhibition is a diverse collection of 200 postcards that showcase iconic buildings, historical monuments, street life, and the evolution of media.
- A new set of postcards will be released as part of the event brought to life thanks to the artistry of Visuva Varoon and the printing expertise of Jagadeeshwaran from The Postcards Originals.
Capturing time and history: The postcards are more than just documents, they’re a time capsule that gives people an opportunity to look back at the city and how it has changed. Each one tells a story of a place and time.
😋 Chennai’s history with the bun-butter-jam
The well-known snack has a storied history on its way to becoming a Chennai staple.
What’s its history? Going back to the early 20th century, British and Western-style bread came to Chennai. Small family-run bakeries in George Town and Mylapore helped bring the butter bun into the spotlight. In the 1960s and 1970s, it became a staple across tea shops and bakeries across Chennai.
- Places like Gopaul Dairy and others have remained true to their roots. Over the years, the snack evolved with different types of buns, etc.
- For those who have tasted the original, there’s no substitute. It’s not only comfort food but a piece of history and a memory of a simpler time.
Places to get it: Places like Irani Cafe and Universal Bakery in Royapettah and Smith Field Bakery in Purasaiwakkam are some of the old-world haunts. More modern ones like Madras Coffee House, Chaiwala, and Chai Kings have added it to their menus.
🌊 Tackling blocks and leaks
The Metrowater has a new application to help track and monitor pipes, blocks and leaks.
What’s it about? Tracing the water pipeline network can be tricky since it involves a lot of guesswork and cutting up many roads. Now, a geographic information system (GIS)-based monitoring cell will help officials update the coordinates of new and old underground pipes when they’re installed or replaced.
- The GIS map will be integrated with the Chennai Corporation’s integrated command and control centre. The application will help officials identify valves of sewers and water lines to open and close them during repairs.
- Engineers can figure out streets that don’t have water or sewer service lines. The Metrowater department will also integrate data with the Metrorail and other line departments to ensure no one else damages pipelines.
Mapping it out: The GIS has also mapped 9.9 lakh household sewage and 8 lakh water connections. The department will soon map illegal sewage outfalls in waterbodies and drains.
🚇 Tunnel boring machines stuck
The idle tunnel-boring machines stuck at some locations could increase the risk of cave-ins.
What’s it about? Even after the metro finishes tunnelling at five locations, the tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) may be stuck since the shaft to retrieve them might not be ready. The TBMs lying underground increase the risk of cave-ins and could slow down the remaining tunnelling process.
- The TBMs at Mandaveli and Moolaikadai have completed the work but remain underground. The same could happen in Kilpauk, Perambur, and Thirumayilai. It’s because contracts for 28 stations were awarded late.
- Normally, a TBM is retrieved from a shaft built along the periphery walls of an underground station. It’s retrieved at one end and deployed at the other or refurbished and deployed at another location.
Process: In phase 2, earth pressure balance boring is used where the cutters on the head of the TBM excavate soil to hold it up against the surface. As the TBM moves forward, precast slabs are installed against the surface to form a ring.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you ever learnt a foreign language?
- I have learned a foreign language.
- I haven’t learned a foreign language.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s your favourite productivity hack?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Civic and sanitary workers protested outside the Ripon Building against the Corporation’s plan to privatise waste management.
- Madras University students from the archaeology department found prehistoric rock art in Namakkal.
- A retaining wall will be built to help restore Okkiyam Maduvu.
- To minimise delays in the construction of bridges, the Chennai Corporation wants district collectorate to expedite land acquisition.
- Mass fever screenings have begun at the Chennai Airport to prevent Mpox entrants.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- A metro service does help decongest Indian traffic and roads: 90.0% 🏆
- A metro service doesn’t help decongest Indian traffic and roads: 10.0%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s your go-to homemade snack?
Suchi: “Murukku”
Shiva: “Bhaji”
Vinay: “Masala peanuts or Paruppu vadai”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!