Good morning, Chennai!
🌤️ Today’s weather: High: 35 ℃ | Low: 26 ℃ | Mostly sunny for the day.
🧐 Did you know? When autos were first introduced in Chennai in the early 1970s, only two passengers were allowed. In 1983, the Transport Department increased the passenger limit to three.
🛺 Pink autos
The state government will partially fund pink autos for women and children.
What’s it about? The government will provide ₹1 lakh each as grants to 250 women in Chennai to buy CNG/hybrid autorickshaws. Loans will be provided for the remaining amount needed to purchase the vehicle.
- Women in the 25-45 age group can apply for the scheme. Destitute and widowed women will be prioritised. The conditions are that the women should be Chennai residents, pass the SSLC exam, and have a driver’s license.
- The autos will have a helpline and a GPS tracking system monitored by the police. The autos will be functional at bus stands and railway stations.
Empowering women: The scheme’s goal is to provide women and kids a safe public transport option and encourage women to opt for self-employment.
🚰 Contaminated water
A survey by IIT Madras found that 75% of water in the city’s homes is contaminated by E.coli.
What’s it about? The survey showed that 75% of the water samples collected by IIT Madras researchers were contaminated by the E.coli bacteria that can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. The results included water collected from houses that use water treatment systems.
- The study found water taps, unclean sinks, and water containers were the sources of the bacteria. The samples were collected from taps, borewells, and other sources.
- Many of the households surveyed had young kids. The survey showed that 58% of kids sometimes drank water from taps, while 15% relied on water treatment systems.
Greater awareness: Among the tips to ensure safe water is to follow water purifier instructions carefully, keeping water containers airtight, clean, and away from direct sunlight.
✊ Samsung strike aftermath
Samsung said it lost $100 million due to the 37-day strike by its workers.
What’s it about? Senior counsel G Rajagopalan, representing Samsung, told the Madras High Court that the company lost $100 million due to the worker’s strike. Justice RN Manjula heard a petition from the company and allowed it to implead the case and give Samsung a chance to counter the trade union.
- Rajagopalan said the company can’t allow political interference in the company’s affairs as the workers’ union was affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). He also said the company’s name can’t be used in the trade union’s name.
- NGR Prasad, representing the union, objected. He said the company needn’t be involved in the case since it’s between the union and the Labour Department.
What does the law say? A union’s name must be registered by the labour department as per the Trade Union Act. The union, according to its representative, isn’t being used for business purposes, regulated by the Trade Mark Act.
🚍 Electric buses from next April
Electric buses will hit the city’s roads in April 2025.
What’s it about? A contract for 500 low-floor e-buses, including AC buses, was awarded to OHM Global Mobility, under a Gross Cost Contract with the World Bank. The buses are manufactured by Switch Mobility.
- Under the contract, OHM will operate and maintain the buses for 12 years. The operator will be responsible for the electric charging infrastructure and depot maintenance.
- Transport Minister SS Sivasankar said the MTC will pay ₹77.16 per km for non-AC e-buses and ₹80.86 per km for AC e-buses.
Routes: The e-buses can be operated for 180 km on a full charge. They’ll be operated from Perumbakkam, Tondiarpet-1, Poonamallee, Vyasarpadi and Perambur-2 depots.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you been on a heritage walk?
- I have been on a heritage walk.
- I haven’t been on a heritage walk.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What genre of music do you prefer listening to?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Germany’s Rehau Group has acquired a majority stake in Chennai-based Red Star Polymers Pvt Ltd.
- 160 families of Mangalapuram still await their permanent homes despite tenements completion 6 months ago.
- Trace the journey of different types of garbage and the city’s waste management system.
- Areas under Tambaram Corporation continue to face a stray cattle menace as officials are slow to respond.
- IIT Madras‘ eXperiential Technology Innovation Centre will host India’s first ‘eXtended Reality’ (XR) Summit.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I subscribe to magazines: 20.0%
- I don’t subscribe to magazines: 80.0% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
Which song instantly puts you in a good mood?
Suchi: “Any Old Tamil film song.”
Shiva: “Any song from my happy playlist”
Preethi: “Pachai kiligal tholodu”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!