Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: It’s going to be sunny with clear skies.
🧐 Did you know? Madras once had several statues of King George V. Only one has survived at its original location at George Town. They were scattered in and around the city in places like the Flower Bazaar Police Station, outside gate 10 of the Madras harbour, and Panagal Park.
🔇 Silent railway station
Central station is the first silent station in the country to do away with public announcements.
What’s it about? There was something unusual about Central station on Sunday as it said farewell to public service announcements. Like some airports, the station has opted for more display boards and inquiry booths. For the disabled, braille maps and QR codes will guide them. The response has been mixed from passengers.
- The station now has large digital display screens with information in Tamil, Hindi, and English at its three entry points. The concourse areas also have 40-60 inch digital boards.
- The public announcement (PA) system will continue for suburban trains. The move is being done as an experiment with the same rule applying to ads. For persons with disabilities, the QR code will take them to a sign language video.
Response: For some, the absence of the system didn’t make a difference since passengers generally look at the display boards for departure and arrival times. R Pandiyaraja, a former member of the Southern Railway Users’ Consultative Committee, said it’s too early to adopt such a move, and rail passengers can’t be equated with airlines.
🎨 Artists showcase
Nageswara Rao Park saw more than 80 artists showcase their works.
What’s it about? Visitors at the park were treated to different forms and styles of artwork from 83 artists. The styles ranged from oil paintings, sketches, and embossed artwork. The day-long public exhibition showcased works from across the state.
- The Art Fest gave many of the artists a chance to interact with their peers. There was one interactive installation called Walks of Life from five Stella Maris college students where people could leave footprints coated with organic pigments on the canvas.
- Anuradha Venkataraman paints in the Tanjore style and enjoys working on custom orders. Landscape artist Ananda Kumar prefers to paint at the location.
About the Fest: Organiser Ganapathy Subramaniam said the idea was to use the public space to facilitate interaction between the artists and the public. Having it in an informal setting makes it easier for those who aren’t experts to see and purchase art.
🏞️ Children’s parks and playgrounds
The Singara Chennai 2.0 initiative will involve the construction of parks and playgrounds.
What’s it about? The city is expected to get nearly 200 new parks and playgrounds in two phases. While this will result in trees being cut, the Corporation has also focused on increasing green cover and building basic facilities like walkways, CCTVs, and drinking water. For many in North Chennai, new parks and playgrounds are welcome news.
- Local administrations will plant saplings in the parks and playgrounds under the Chennai River Restoration Trust (CRRT). The Corporation will also focus on beautification and greenery with fountains and paintings on walls of bridges and underneath flyovers.
- One concern is maintenance. Several parks and playgrounds have been abandoned due to poor upkeep. Residents have urged the authorities to increase security and filed petitions for more playgrounds.
Who said what? One official said the maintenance work will be done by the respective zonal officers and the contract workers. R Sathyaraj, a resident of Tondiarpet, said there aren’t any playgrounds in his locality, and the allocated playground in Korukkupet will take at least a year for the public to use.
✈️ New entry point at the airport
The airport will get a second entry point for cargo and international flights.
What’s it about? The AAI has asked for 97 acres of land for a new satellite terminal with cargo handling facilities on the north side of Pallavaram-end of the main runway. The new terminal will come up between the two runways outside the airport’s compound. The decision was made to boost passenger handling capacity.
- When the long-pending integrated terminal opens in a month, the airport will handle 35 million passengers. The satellite terminal will handle international flights with the entry and exit from the Tambaram bypass road.
- Currently, the road is used by trucks going along the GST road during the day. With no restrictions on the Tambaram bypass road, traders can bring in and pick up freight round-the-clock.
Who said what? Airport Director Sharad Kumar said they’ve asked the state government for money to connect the Tambaram bypass road with the terminal. He said the goal is to make Chennai airport among the top 3, having lost ground to Bengaluru and Hyderabad. He said Chennai should be regarded as a gateway and well-placed on international routes.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you consider yourself to be a religious person?
- Yes, I’m a fairly religious person.
- No, I’m not a religious person.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s your go-to drink of choice?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Three MTC terminuses at Thiruvanmiyur, Vadalpani, and Vyasarpadi will be modernised.
- Travel agencies have called for improved flight connectivity from Chennai to domestic and international destinations.
- Rising private building rents has affected community welfare schemes with inadequate space and poor services.
- The tendering process for civic works in the city could use greater transparency.
- Anna Nagar could soon become a hub for traditional Tamil sports.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I do keep and follow a schedule: 75.0% 🏆
- I don’t keep and follow such a schedule: 25.0%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
Which Indian city have you visited the most?
Chitra: “Bangalore”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!