Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny weather and clear skies for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) was one of independent India’s earliest indigenous production units. It was inaugurated in 1955 and is considered the largest coach-making facility in the world.
👨🌾 Bioproduct from biomining soil
Anna University has developed a bioproduct that can be used in agriculture.
What’s it about? Anna University’s Centre for Environmental Studies (CES) has developed a bioproduct from biomining soil that can be used in agriculture and to increase green cover. Called bioamendment from biomining soil (BBS), it took eight members more than two years to develop. The project was funded by the State Planning Commission under Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiative.
- The team used a grouping of microorganisms and nutrients to convert bioearth into better-quality soil. The BBS can turn wasteland into one with green cover by enriching it.
- In Perungudi, nearly 35 lakh cubic metres of legacy waste have been dumped over three decades, and the biomining process has begun.
Who said what? CES Director S Kanmani said the team would share details about BBS with the state government to help them increase green coverage. The centre will also work with farmers to generate awareness about the bioproduct.
🌇 Property registrations spike
Various infrastructure projects have resulted in an increase in property registrations.
What’s it about? Thanks to new infrastructure projects like the proposed airport in Parandur and the Kilambakkam bus terminus, there’s been a spike in property registrations in the city. Real estate consultants say there’s an increase in people wanting to buy homes, and there’s ready-to-move-in inventory.
- Between April 2022 and January-end 2023, Chennai saw a 40% increase in properties registered. Around 4.7 lakh documents were registered with ₹6,000 crores in earnings.
- People now prefer ready-to-move-in houses, plotted developments, and villas. Post-Covid, there’s been an increase in interest in people wanting to buy new homes and properties.
Who said what? Sanjay Singh of the Anarock Group said despite the recent hike in home loan rates, it hasn’t deterred prospective buyers. S Ramprabhu from the Builders Association of India said that compared to 2019, there’d been an increase in the movement of commercial property, and 2022 was a good year for real estate.
🚇 Metro’s driverless trains
The first driverless trains will run on the phase 2 Poonamallee-Power House stretch.
What’s it about? The Metro’s first driverless trains will arrive next year and be used on the Poonamallee-Power House stretch in 2026. Phase 2 of the metro will see three and six-coach trains, unlike the phase 1 four-coach trains.
- Before the trains are put into service, the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) will certify them to see if they’re fit for operations.
- The trains in phase 1 can’t run in phase 2 since the design, control, and signalling systems are different. The colour and look of the driverless trains haven’t been decided yet.
Testing process: Once the trains arrive, they’ll undergo several static and dynamic tests. Their brakes, traction, and management system will be tested. They’ll first have trial runs at the Poonamallee depot.
🕹️ Drone startup raises funds
A Chennai-based entrepreneur’s drone startup has raised $22 million, the highest in the sector.
What’s it about? Chennai entrepreneur Agnishwar Jayaprakash’s drone startup Garuda Aerospace has raised $22 million. It’s the largest-ever Series A funding in the drone sector. The former professional swimmer brought in MS Dhoni as the company’s brand ambassador. It’s the first drone company to get dual DGCA approvals for manufacturing and pilot training.
- A part of the money raised will be used for R&D to accelerate the development of advanced drones for the army. It’ll be done in partnership with global companies in the defence and aerospace sectors.
- The money will also be used to train drone pilots and create employment opportunities in tier 2 and 3 cities. The company already has 400 drones and more than 500 pilots in 26 cities in India.
Journey and future: In January, the company launched its digital brand film KhetonKeKaptan jointly produced with Dhoni Entertainment Private Limited. It showed how its drones could help farmers. In the next 18 months, the company is looking to sell 25,000 drones and export 10,000 to 100 countries.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you drink soft drinks?
- Yes, I drink soft drinks.
- No, I don’t drink any soft drinks.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s your favourite family tradition?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Mint area residents will have a new park in April thanks to the Singara Chennai 2.0 initiative.
- South Chennai motorists are upset at the traffic diversions due to ongoing Metro work.
- The Singapore Tourism Board held a roadshow in the city to showcase its potential for holidays and weddings.
- Renault-Nissan will invest ₹5,300 crores to upgrade their Chennai plant.
- Urbanrise has bought a 96.5-acre parcel of land at Tambaram for a ₹3,600 crore township project.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have tried plant-based meat/mock meat products: 10.0%
- I have not tried plant-based meat/mock meat products: 90.0% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s your favourite brand of chocolate?
Chitra: “Ferrero Rocher”
Ramprasad: “Kit Kat”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!