Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny weather for the day.
🧐 Did you know? Pudupet was once the home of the affluent of Madras in the 1700s. It was an exclusive area developed on the banks of the yet-to-be-named Cooum River.
👨💼 New Corporation commissioner
J Radhakrishnan will be the new commissioner of the Chennai Corporation.
Who is he? Additional chief secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan will take charge as the new commissioner of the Chennai Corporation. It’s part of a reshuffle of top bureaucrats.
- He was previously the commissioner 23 years ago, from January 2000 to June 2001, when Chief Minister MK Stalin was the then Mayor. At the time, he was the Corporation’s youngest commissioner.
- In the years since, the Corporation has expanded significantly to 200 wards after seven civic bodies, including Ambattur and Sholinganallur, were added in 2011.
Outgoing commissioner: Outgoing commissioner Gagandeep Singh will take charge as health secretary. His achievements included improved efficiency in infrastructure work and deficit reduction through prudent spending.
😰 Summer woes
South Chennai residents lament power cuts, voltage fluctuations, and short circuits in the summer.
What’s it about? Areas like Tambaram, Chrompet, Vandalur, and Pallavaram have seen frequent power cuts over the past couple of years. Residents have complained about voltage fluctuations and short circuits damaging ACs and air coolers.
- The population in these areas has increased by 10-20%. This has led to increased power consumption thanks to new apartments and buildings. People have complained about their expenditures on fixing TVs and ACs that were damaged due to power fluctuations.
- The frequent power cuts have also disrupted people’s sleep patterns and routines and affected their work.
What’s the issue? There has been some issue in the power supply due to a transformer failure in Madambakkam. The power cuts might’ve been due to officials doing a power changeover due to overloads in the summer.
🚇 Updated Metro Phase 2
The Chennai Metro has slightly trimmed down Phase 2 by scrapping nine stations.
What’s it about? Phase 2 of the Metro won’t have nine previously planned stations since they were deemed too close to each other and due to broader alignment factors. This will reportedly save the Metro ₹1,200 crore. The previous 2026 deadline for the entire phase remains unchanged.
- An elevated station at Koyambedu has been added to be linked with the existing station. Madhavaram Milk Colony will now be one station. The Porur station will be removed from Corridor 5 but retained for Corridor 4.
- Previously, officials scrapped stations at Doveton Junction, Thaalpetti, St. Joseph’s College, Foreshore Estate, Natesan Park, and Meenakshi College. These stations were 750 metres from the next stop.
Effects: The total number of stations in phase 2 is now 118 from the previous 127. Officials have reiterated that the changes won’t affect passengers that much, and no locality has been skipped. The overall distance covered has been reduced by 0.8 km.
😋 Travel back in time through food
Junior Mess aims to transport people back to the 1980s.
What’s it about? Located in Mylapore, Junior Mess is a pilot initiative from Junior Kuppanna. Their idea is to transport patrons by providing them with a 1980s mess ambience with authentic and hygienic food based on Kongu cuisine.
- The menu is restricted to a mess-like setup with signature dishes like Mutton Biryani, Parotta, and Mutton Chukka. They also provide meals and a special butter gravy, supposedly the most ordered item for vegetarians.
- The atmosphere is set thanks to Tamil songs from the 1980s and 90s. The restaurant has wooden benches with white and grey walls.
Future plans: If this becomes successful, Balachandar R, director of Junior Kuppanna, said similar places would open in tier 2 and 3 cities across Tamil Nadu.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you been to a Chennai Corporation office?
- Yes, I have been to a Chennai Corporation office.
- No, I haven’t been to a Chennai Corporation office.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s your favourite bar/nightclub in the city?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Potholed roads pose a threat to Mogappair devotees.
- T Nagar residents have asked the Corporation to prevent sewage flow into the new stormwater drain at the Lakshmi Street intersection.
- Summer season is the ideal time to spot resident birds in Chennai.
- Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway is expected to be ready by August 2024.
- Sanjana Bhatt from Chennai secured a perfect 100% score in the recently-declared CBSE class X board exams.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!