Good morning, Chennai!
⛅ Today’s weather: A bit cloudy for today.
🧐 Did you know? One of the earliest Art Deco structures in the city was the Royapettah Clock Tower, built in the 1920s. The Art Deco style gained more prominence in Chennai during the freedom struggle.
⌚ On Time
The Watch Collectors Meetup brings together watch collectors for this niche hobby.
What’s it about? 27-year-old Sulai Sha, the curator of the Watch Collectors Meetup, dropped out of Mechanical Engineering to pursue his passions. The idea was to convert the virtual discussions with his friends to physical discussions. The first meetup was on September 24, with just 15 participants.
- Sulai wants to create an inclusive space for seasoned veterans, who bring countless timepieces, and first-timers.
- At the latest meetup, over 30 people showcase their extensive collections from Indian and global luxury brands. For the attendees, it’s a way to meet like-minded people passionate about watches.
Future plans: For Sulai, the future is bi-monthly meetups and workshops on the basics of watch care.
🏠 Moving out of low-lying areas
Many residents whose homes were inundated are moving to other neighbourhoods.
What’s it about? In the aftermath of the cyclone and flooding, people who stayed in inundated areas are looking to move elsewhere. Houses and apartments in places that weren’t inundated are seeing a spike in inquiries and rents.
- Residents in areas like Mylapore, Korattur, Velachery, and Royapettah faced huge losses as water entered the ground floor of houses. They’ve begun looking at Alwarpet, Alandur, and Meenambakkam.
- Amir Agarwal of NoBroker said rental enquiries have increased by 15% in the aftermath of the flood. That’s quite high, considering December is usually not a month that people shift.
The IT conundrum: IT hubs like Guindy, Thoraipakkam, and Sholinganallur were hit hard. Young IT professionals are looking to move to Vadapalani and Alandur, even if it means a longer commute.
👚 Ironing out
The city’s ironmen and ironwomen are switching to LPG-based iron boxes to reduce expenses.
What’s it about? According to a study by Azim Premji University, the switch to LPG-based iron boxes has resulted in higher monthly net incomes. The shift to LPG makes sense since retail coal prices have increased by ₹5.
- Udhyam Vyapaar’s Istri Project surveyed 1,331 ironing vyapaaris in Chennai. The project is currently running in Chennai and Bengaluru and has impacted the lives of over 5,000 ironing vyapaaris.
- It found a 23.3% increase in daily productivity by ironing 29 more clothes per day on average. Nearly 80% saw an increase in their average daily income by 23.6%.
Project impact: The project has resulted in a collective income upliftment of over $25 crore annually. It has helped reduce the consumption of coal by 2,500 tonnes.
🚌 Low-floor buses
Chennai will get its first batch of new low-floor buses after a three-year gap.
What’s it about? Transport Minister SS Sivasankar announced that orders have been placed for 552 new low-floor buses, of which 352 will be allocated to the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC).
- The low-floor buses, costing ₹500.9 crore, will make travelling more accessible for elderly citizens, kids, and the differently abled.
- The initial plan was for 442 low-floor buses. Disability rights activists filed a case in the Madras High Court, demanding all new buses be low-floor and universally accessible.
Court vs government: The government contended that they couldn’t buy only low-floor buses since they were more expensive and became difficult to operate in low-lying areas during monsoon seasons. The court directed the government to increase the number of low-floor buses by 25%.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you plan to travel abroad next year?
- I do plan to travel abroad next year.
- I don’t have plans to travel abroad next year.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s the easiest New Year’s resolution to keep?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Rampant urbanisation and other civic infrastructure shortcomings were the reasons for prolonged inundation across the city.
- The Chennai Corporation still has work to do to crack down on mosquito breeding spots in the cyclone’s aftermath.
- Massive flooding due to Cyclone Michaung has delayed construction at several metro rail sites.
- As floodwater receded, several roads across the city are now pothole-ridden.
- North Chennai schools affected by the oil spill have had no assistance from CPCL or the Corporation.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have travelled to another city by car: 70.0% 🏆
- I haven’t travelled to another city by car: 30.0%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What lessons should the government learn from Cyclone Michaung?
Shiva: “No vote bank politics when it comes to water bodies”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!