Good morning, Chennai!
🌤️ Today’s weather: High: 30 ℃ | Low: 22 ℃ | A foggy morning followed by clear skies.
🧐 Did you know? Memorial Hall was built by the British to commemorate the escape of South India from the horrors of the First War of Indian Independence, the Sepoy Mutiny.
📷 Capturing Chennai’s Carnatic legacy
A new photo exhibition pays tribute to the city’s rich history with Carnatic music.
What’s it about? Photographer and Studio A founder Amar Ramesh’s new photo series celebrates Chennai’s rich tradition and culture, which pays tribute to its Carnatic legacy. The “It’s Time. To See. To Be Seen” series at the Lalit Kala Akademi juxtaposes the city and Carnatic music in time for the Margazhi season.
- To capture the city’s spirit, Ramesh chose iconic locations like the Koyambedu market, Central Railway station, Marina Beach, and Santhome Church. In all, 45 musicians are featured across 45 locations.
- The series is in black and white and features TK Murthy, Dr TV Gopalakrishnan, Aruna Sairam, and other renowned artists.
Climate crisis and communities: The exhibition also features photographer Bhumika Saraswati and her series on the impact of climate change on marginal communities, particularly women in South Asia.
🚉 Advertising at Chennai Central
Srishti Communications secured exclusive rights for advertising at the Central railway station.
What’s it about? Srishti Communications secured the exclusive media concessionary rights for the Central railway station. It’s a pivotal development for the advertising landscape since Chennai Central is one of India’s busiest transport hubs.
- The company’s media offerings will include large-format audio-visual screens in the waiting halls and smaller screens across all platforms.
- They’ve been designed to maximise visibility and engagement by integrating them into the station’s environment. The combination of dynamic visuals and placement will offer brands an effective storytelling medium.
Travel hub: The station has an average daily footfall of 6.5 lakh passengers and handles almost 400 arrivals and departures. The addition of advertising platforms will enhance the station’s value as a communication and transport hub.
🏢 Capacity Centres dominate leasing in Chennai
Global Capacity Centres (GCCs) dominated office leasing in Chennai as rental rates soared.
What’s it about? GCCs dominated the city’s market share last year with 39% of total transactions of 3.2 million sq ft. The city recorded office transaction volumes of 8.1 million sq ft. Rental rates increased to a high of ₹69.2 per sq ft, a 6% year-on-year growth.
- Chennai witnessed its second-best year in office leasing in 2024. The surge in demand was led by GCCs, IT outsourcing companies, and India-focused businesses. Limited stock amplified rental growth.
- However, new supply or completions in the office market declined by 69%, with only 2.1 million sq ft of new office space. There’s a concern over the lack of quality supply, which could result in companies looking to other cities.
Residential market: The city’s residential market recorded a 9% year-on-year increase in sales, with over 16,000 units. It was concentrated in the south and west micro markets.
🏗️ Madambakkam Lake project concerns
The NGT has expressed concerns over a real estate project near the Madambakkam Lake.
What’s it about? The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) flagged concerns over a real estate project near the Madambakkam Lake which has filled to the brim following the recent monsoon. The Tribunal had received a private complaint on the project.
- The NGT bench asked the state government to verify whether the project had secured the necessary approvals and on what grounds they were approved.
- The bench was concerned about whether the mandatory 3-metre buffer to the lake was maintained and said it wasn’t based on photographic evidence.
About the project: The 14.5-acre project is being developed by Ocean Lifespaces Private Limited. The company said it had received permissions from the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and was in the process of getting the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) registration.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you filed a complaint for potential cybercrime?
- I have filed a complaint for potential cybercrime.
- I haven’t filed a complaint for potential cybercrime.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Which city in India have you visited the most?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Tondiarpet residents are unhappy with the haphazard parking due to inadequate facilities near the metro station.
- Movie books and screenplays are a big hit at this year’s Chennai Book Fair.
- The Chennai Corporation has begun clearing illegally dumped debris along the Perungudi-Velachery MRTS road.
- The Water Resources Department has deferred seeking Krishna water from Andhra Pradesh since the city’s reservoirs are full.
- The Tamil Nadu Balloon Festival celebrates its 10th edition starting at three locations.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I use AI tools for my daily work: 55.6% 🏆
- I don’t use AI tools for my daily work: 44.4%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What food or dish immediately takes you back to your childhood?
Chitra: “Suyyam”
Suchi: “Rasam saadham”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!