Good morning, Chennai!
🌥️ Today’s weather: High: 34 ℃ | Low: 27 ℃ | Cloudy weather for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The idea of a ‘Madras Day’ was pieced together by historian S Muthiah, journalist Sashi Nair, publisher Vincent D’ Souza, and a few others in 2004. The first Madras Day was celebrated that year in Rajaji Hall.
🚩 Vijay‘s party flag
Actor Vijay unveiled the flag of his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) at its headquarters.
What’s it about? At the TVK’s headquarters, the actor hoisted the party flag. It features red and yellow bands with two war elephants that symbolise the people’s force and a vagai flower that represents victory.
- Addressing the cadre, he said the party and its members should now work for the people of Tamil Nadu. He said the flag and the party represent the future generation of the state.
- He administered a pledge to party members, which included honouring the sacrifices made by those from the state who fought in the freedom struggle.
Next steps: While he hasn’t outlined his or the party’s electoral plans, speculation is that they’ll formally enter the next Assembly elections. The party’s first state-level conference will happen at Vikravandi on September 22.
♿ Making Besant Nagar Beach accessible
The Chennai Corporation will build a ramp for persons with disabilities at Besant Nagar Beach.
What’s it about? When a ramp for persons with disabilities was built at Marina Beach in 2022, it received a positive response from the public. The Chennai Corporation will begin work on a similar ramp at the Besant Nagar Beach. A temporary pathway was provided since officials waited for the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance.
- The clearance was obtained in March. Construction on the pathway began near the Karl Schmidt Memorial for ₹1.61 crore. It’ll be built with red Maranti, babool, and Brazillian IPE wood and be 190 metres long and 2.80 metres wide.
- Even before cyclone Michaung hit, the beach only had broken handrails and uneven flooring. The civic body took its own time to repair them.
Keeping it safe: Two weeks after the ramp in Marina Beach was inaugurated, heavy rainfall from cyclone Mandous damaged it. The Corporation spent over two months to repair it. During the 2023 northeast monsoon, officials temporarily removed the ramp for a few metres.
🚘 Hydrogen Innovation Centre
Hyundai will develop a new Hydrogen Innovation Centre through a partnership with IIT Madras.
What’s it about? Chief Minister MK Stalin laid the foundation stone for the new ₹180 crore centre developed by Hyundai in partnership with IIT Madras. The company announced the centre at the Tamil Nadu Investors Conclave 2024 in Chennai.
- The centre will be spread across 65,000 square feet within IIT Madras’ Thaiyur campus on the city’s outskirts. The centre aims to undertake breakthrough research in hydrogen mobility.
- The partnership also aims to accelerate the hydrogen ecosystem development and adoption in Tamil Nadu. The centre is expected to become fully operational by 2026.
Hydrogen technology: The centre will be a catalyst for hydrogen technology and create an ecosystem for startups and researchers. The centre will also help the state reduce its carbon footprint.
🚌 Tidying up bus shelters
The Chennai Corporation gave a facelift to over 1,200 bus shelters across the city.
What’s it about? Many bus shelters across the city have long been unkept and defaced with posters. The Corporation and over 2,500 workers gave them a facelift by cleaning up the spots, washing the railings, and removing the posters.
- Over 4,200 posters were removed, and 95.7 tonnes of debris and garbage were cleared. The workers targeted 1,265 bus shelters in Kottivakkam, Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), and Vadapalani, to name a few.
- The civic body identified 78 bus shelters with damaged roofs, seating, and frames for advertisements. They have been getting complaints of electric cables and garbage pile up.
Legal issues: The maintenance of 700 bus shelters is stuck in arbitration. Contractors went to court when the Corporation decided to tender out 750 shelters after the initial batch wasn’t done properly. It resulted in the civic body losing ₹46 crore annually.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Natasha Andrea Rajkumar brings her latest collection, “If Only You Knew”, this Saturday.
- Celebrate the city with the British Council’s Heritage Walk this Sunday.
- Music lovers can catch a live performance by K4C Varam this Saturday.
- Give back to Wayanad by celebrating Madras at the Madras Carnival this weekend.
- Enjoy high-stakes racing at the Indian Racing Festival (IRF) this weekend.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I have learned a foreign language: 60.0% 🏆
- I haven’t learned a foreign language: 40.0%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s your favourite productivity hack?
Suchi: “Having a prioritised To Do list.”
Chitra: “Prioritise tasks and Assign.”
Shiva: “Sticky note, then I make a toy with it to motivate further (origami).”
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!