Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 32 ℃ | Low: 25 ℃ | Mostly clear skies for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The idea of an Indian National Congress took shape in late December 1884 when 17 men met at the house of Dewan Bahadur Raghunatha Rao in Mylapore to chart out a plan for the formation of a political National Movement.
🗣️ Summit to address challenges
The AVPN’s South Asia Summit 2024 in Chennai will focus on South Asia’s social challenges.
What’s it about? AVPN is the largest network of social investors in Asia. Its 2024 South Asia Summit kicked off in Chennai with the theme “New Realities, New Opportunities”. The two-day summit will bring together leaders, policymakers, and social investors to discuss and highlight the region’s challenges and opportunities.
- The healthcare sessions will showcase digital solutions and community-based models to expand medical access. Another topic will be women’s economic empowerment.
- The Summit’s climate action track will highlight initiatives for sustainable urban development. Blue Planet is the anchor partner for the Climate Pathfinders Workshop at the Perungudi dumpsite. The delegates will experience first-hand how urban waste is transformed.
Summit features: The summit will feature over 40 sessions and 90 speakers. They include officials from the Indian government, NITI Aayog, Blue Planet, and Reliance Foundation, among others.
🌊 New and improved ponds
The Chennai Corporation has been focusing on renovating old ponds and creating new ones.
What’s it about? The civic body wants to increase storage levels following the recent heavy spells of rain to mitigate inundation in residential areas. About 41 ponds have been renovated in the past six months.
- Among them are the SVS pond in Valasaravakkam and the Waqf Board pond in KK Nagar. During the 2023 floods, SVS Nagar was flooded. The Chennai Metro desilted the choked drain on Arcot Road. The Corporation took over and widened and deepened the pond to increase its water capacity to 47,00 cubic metres.
- The Corporation also plans to convert the pond into an eco-park. Others, including the Aavin and the Waqf Board pond, will be renovated to increase their water capacity.
Preventing waterlogging: The Waqf Board wasn’t maintained which resulted in waterlogging at KK Nagar. Previously, there was no pond, just a slushy marsh. After residents complained, civic authorities excavated the land and created a pond.
🚻 New public toilets
Chennai will get over 1,000 new public restrooms to enhance public health and sanitation.
What’s it about? Chief Minister MK Stalin sanctioned a ₹1,002 crore project to develop and maintain 1,002 community and public toilets across Chennai. The goal is to transform the city’s sanitation landscape with modern hygienic facilities for citizens.
- The project will be undertaken through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model for efficient operations, quality control, and maintenance. Phase 1 of the project is already underway.
- Over 2,300 toilet seats at 285 community restrooms will be upgraded in zones 1,2,3 and 4. The following phases will focus on zones 7 through 15.
Project implementation: The maintenance costs will be paid based on key performance indicators (KPIs). An independent engineering consultant will monitor the project.
🚆 Fewer local trains
The Chennai Beach-Chengalpattu route will have fewer trains on Sundays.
What’s it about? 24 services on the Chennai Beach-Chengalpattu route have been cancelled on weekends to accommodate line and engineering maintenance works. The section previously had 206 services on Sundays. It has now reduced to 182.
- Railway authorities have cited low patronage and maintenance work as reasons for the decision. According to the new timetable, the interval between trains from Chennai Beach has been increased to 20 minutes between 7 am and 10 am.
- The number of trains operated between 6.30 am and 7.30 am has been reduced to three from four. The operational hours haven’t been reduced. Local trains will still be available from 4 am onwards at Chennai Beach.
Affects passengers: Passengers will have to wait longer hours during peak times. Suburban trains see high patronage during festival seasons like Pongal, Diwali, and Ayudha Puja. Higher crowds are also seen during extended holidays and events like IPL matches and concerts.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Would you travel in a self-driving car?
- I would travel in a self-driving car.
- I wouldn’t travel in a self-driving car.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
How many hours of sleep do you get on average per night?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Omnibuses bound via GST Road will continue to pick up passengers from the Koyambedu and Porur toll plazas.
- Thai Lion Air will begin four weekly direct flights between Bangkok and Chennai.
- Ward 51 Councillor Niranjana Jagadeesan focuses on housing and girls’ education.
- Margazhi – The Rasa Edit showcases classical dance as part of Chennai’s cultural calendar.
- The Chennai Book Fair will take place at the YMCA Grounds from December 27 to January 12.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have written a competitive exam: 68.7% 🏆
- I haven’t written a competitive exam: 31.3%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s your favourite Indian dessert?
Suchi: “Kesari”
Shiva: “Palkova”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!