Good morning, Chennai!
⛅ Today’s weather: Sunny weather and clear skies ahead.
🧐 Did you know? Chennai debuted on the aviation map when the Tatas began the Karachi-Madras airmail service. It was after an attempt was made post World War I when the Madras Chamber of Commerce was approached by aircraft manufacturer Sopwith to see if there was a market in the Madras Presidency.
🌊 Restoring an old lake
Residents and NGOs have come together to save an old lake at Madambakkam.
What’s it about? 80% of the restoration work at the lake has been completed thanks to joint efforts by the Care Earth Trust, the Madambakkam Residents’ Welfare Associations, and the Rotary Club of Chennai Coastal. The lake dates back to the British era near Tambaram. Recently, people organised a cleaning drive at the periphery of the lake.
- Residents have long demanded the Tambaram Corporation to shift the composting centre in the lake’s foreshore area. Some of the waste from the plant had polluted the lake.
- There’s also been the issue of garbage dumping along the lake’s periphery. The lake is spread over 7 acres. It has a storage capacity of nearly 1.7 million cubic feet. This will be increased to 20,000 kilolitres.
Who said what? One resident said the lake has been neglected for several years and was a source of groundwater recharge. S Thirunavukkarasu from Care Earth Trust said they have deepened and dredged about 15,000 cubic metres of earth so far.
🛣️ Roads to become smart
More than 100 km of roadways will be transformed into smart urban roads.
What’s it about? The Highways Department has started preparing a detailed project report to transform 134 km of highway roads into smart urban roads. It’s being done to ease traffic congestion and make them friendly to non-motorised transport.
- The project will involve building pedestrian walkways, footpaths, skywalks, and intersection crossings. The report will also look at flood mitigation measures and multi-modal transport integration.
- The project is being done under the Chennai City Partnership-2 project called Urban Mobility and Spatial Development programme. The plans will be finalised based on recommendations from citizens.
Location & outcome: Among the roads under consideration are Anna Salai, Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, and Poonamallee High Road. The hope is this project will result in the development of public spaces and landscaping and strengthen urban mobility.
🖧 Nokia’s OLT expansion in Chennai
Nokia will expand manufacturing of Optical Line Terminals (OLT) at its Sriperumbudur factory.
What’s it about? Nokia announced that it’d extend manufacturing of passive optical network (PON) optical line terminals (OLT) at its Sriperumbudur factory. It’s in response to increasing demands from domestic consumers. The company is benefitting from the government’s production-linked incentive (PLI).
- The increased demand for broadband is due to changing consumer behaviour from working at home to data-rich environment services. There’s institutional support from governments and private equities.
- The company’s planned production of PON OLTs in India will help expand its production base and reach. Demand for fibre is shifting to new places like the Asia Pacific with the deployment of 5G.
Who said what? Sandy Motley of Fixed Networks at Nokia said the impending growth of 5G has pushed service providers to invest in fibre and upgrade existing networks. Sanjay Malik, head of the India Market at Nokia, said OLT production at the Chennai plant would help Nokia meet the demand, and service providers will benefit from the increased availability.
☿️ Gender inclusive city
Thanks to the Corporation’s Gender and Policy Lab, Chennai has emerged as India’s first gender-inclusive city.
What’s it about? The Corporation’s Gender and Policy Lab, inaugurated last year, was set up to improve opportunities for women by highlighting gender equality and safety in public spaces. It’s the work being done with the Nirbhaya Programme. Its initiatives for inclusiveness and accessibility in infrastructure have been fruitful. The Lab works with city and state officials to suggest and implement changes.
- The Lab conducted safety audits to identify lapses in public spaces and infrastructure. This includes surveying spaces for footpaths, adequate street lights, and availability of public transport.
- The Lab also conducts periodical campaigns. Last year, the night cycle drive was done to promote women’s safety. There are also gender equality and awareness courses in corporation schools.
Who said what? Corporation commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi said recommendations by the Lab are studied by the apex committee comprising stakeholders in the city’s governance. One member of the Lab said the state government has been open to the ideas, including Mayor R Priya.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- “Anubandh – Connectedness” is a classical dance performance exploring the relationship between nature and life, happening this Saturday.
- An Improv Mixed Jam with The Hysterical is a valentine’s special improv comedy show this Sunday.
- Dancefit Party is a Tamil dance party for non-dancers combining dance and fitness this Sunday.
- Love.Of.Life Affairs is an event for couples to celebrate Valentine’s Day with fun and games this Sunday.
- SPB Charan’s one-man show will showcase songs by the legendary SPB this Sunday.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I prefer Indian brands when I’m shopping: 70.0% 🏆
- I prefer International brands when I’m shopping: 30.0%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s your usual wake-up time, and why?
Giri: “6-7; I don’t use alarms and I sleep around 11 PM so my sleep cycle gets end around that time.”
Chitra: “5 am”
Rajkamal: “Wakeup Time : 6 am : Because My Office Time is 9.30 am.”
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!