Good morning, Chennai!
☁️ Today’s weather: High: 30 ℃ | Low: 24 ℃ | Cloudy for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The term “High Road” in Chennai was coined since the settlements that grew around Fort St George were on sandy, elevated ridges.
🚌 MTC bus ride payment
The MTC will soon accept payments made through the NCMC and the metro’s Singara Chennai card for tickets.
What’s it about? The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) is taking its first step toward a common and seamless ticketing system. By the end of this month, passengers can pay for tickets through the National Common Mobility Card (MCMC), including the Chennai Metro’s Singara card.
- The pilot initiative on select bus routes was successful. Electronic ticketing machines have been updated to accept NCMC card payments.
- Passengers can pay for tickets with a tap of the card. In February, the MTC launched cashless fare payments, but the response was low. Officials organised a two-day training session on UPI payments at 20 depots.
Why the switch? The cashless mode of payment is increasing among metro rail users. One in four metro passengers use this method for their daily commutes. There are also plans to launch a dedicated MTC NCMC card.
🛣️ New IT Park’s woes
Residents are frustrated with the lack of connectivity to the new Tidel Park at Pattabiram.
What’s it about? The DMK government hopes to attract IT companies by creating a new project – a Tidel Park in Pattabiram. It has been a long time coming as residents have demanded development in the area. However, they’re unhappy with the lack of bus and rail connectivity and infrastructure to support the new IT park.
- Pattabiram is now considered a hub for employment, especially for those in the western suburbs. At the Pattabiram railway station, there aren’t any lifts or escalators.
- The area near the ticket counter is filled with garbage and isn’t cleaned regularly. The area becomes waterlogged when it rains and there are safety issues for women and children.
Connectivity: The Metro rail service is currently only proposed till Avadi. The MRTS service to and from Arakkonam and other western suburbs hasn’t resumed till Velachery.
🌧️ More rains possible
A new low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal could bring heavy rains to the city.
What’s it about? A new low-pressure area formed over the East Equatorial Indian Ocean and the adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal on Saturday morning. It’s expected to bring heavy rain to the delta region, Chennai, and its surrounding districts over the next few days.
- The weather system formed due to the influence of upper air circulation in the area since Friday. It’s expected to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression over the central parts of the Bay of Bengal.
- The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in isolated places for Chennai’s surrounding districts.
Notice to fishermen: A yellow alert, where heavy rain ranging from 6.45cm to 11.5cm is expected, has been issued for Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Ramanathapuram, and Puducherry for November 26. Fishermen were advised to not venture out for deep-sea fishing.
🏞️ Pond restoration work progress
With another spell of rain forecast, the Chennai Corporation’s pond restoration work hasn’t progressed.
What’s it about? The Chennai Corporation’s initiative to restore 14 ponds to help mitigate flooding has made little progress. Under the Singara Chennai 2.0 and Amrut 2.0, it awarded contracts in 2023 and January 2024, but the 9-month deadlines have passed.
- An audit by the NGO Arappor Iyakkam showed delays and discrepancies. At Kosappur and Puliyakeni, no work has been done. Residents claimed desilting work hasn’t been going on for a year.
- The restoration has begun at only 6 of the 14 ponds and hardly 50% of the work has been completed. The NGO also noted that the locations of three of the ponds are untraceable.
Challenges: The civic body said the city has 226 ponds and takes up a certain number to restore every year. The current delays are due to boundary disputes, encroachments, and the need to prevent potential sewage inflow before desilting can begin.
📊 Today’s Poll
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Are you a member of any sports/recreational club?
- I’m a member of a sports/recreational club.
- I’m not a member of a sports/recreational club.
❓ Today’s Question
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Which Indian regional language do you wish you knew better?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- A Chennai devotee donated ₹1.01 crore each to trusts at Tirumala’s Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple.
- The “Ongo Ride” NCMC cards will now be available at 41 metro stations.
- Actress Sonali Bendre was announced as the co-owner of the Tennis Premier League (TPL) franchise, Chennai Smashers.
- Erratic monsoon rains have officials wondering about reservoir levels.
- IIT Madras’ AI course has increased in popularity among aspiring engineers.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!