Good morning, Chennai!
🌤️ Today’s weather: High: 31 ℃ | Low: 21 ℃ | Mostly sunny weather for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The tunnel aquarium at VGP Marine Kingdom was India’s first major aquarium, home to 7,000 marine and freshwater fishes.
🧳 Lounge at Chennai Central
A new airport-style executive lounge has opened at the Central railway station.
What’s it about? Chennai Central now has a first-of-its-kind executive lounge. It’s located on the main concourse near platform number six with several passenger amenities and facilities.
- The lounge can accommodate 180 passengers. It has 112 single sofas, 10 recliners, 18 sleeping pods, and 4 double bed sleeping pods.
- There’s also a buffet with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Other amenities include exclusive spaces for showering and dedicated luggage racks.
Prices: The entry fee is ₹200 for a one-hour stay with free Wi-Fi, tea, or coffee. For an extended stay, the single sleeping pods are available for ₹840 for three hours, which includes a water bottle and a special welcome drink.
🎨 Homage to an artist
A new exhibition pays tribute to the life and work of artist Achuthan Kudallur.
What’s it about? ‘Achuthan Kudallur: A Life in Art’ showcases some of the late artists’ works. At the Lalit Kala Akademi, his two studio houses in the city are recreated.
- He passed away in July 2022 at the age of 77. The exhibits are arranged according to stages in his life. The exhibition includes scribbles of elephants, birds and others on the walls.
- The large canvases and the reds he used were inspired by his childhood in Palakkad. Rolled canvases found in his house are also on display.
Life and career: Achuthan was a self-taught artist. His works have biblical themes, conflict, and pain. He later switched to pen and ink drawings and then focussed on abstraction.
🚇 RK Salai flyover demolition
A portion of the RK Salai flyover is being demolished for phase 2 of the Chennai Metro.
What’s it about? The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has begun demolishing a portion of the flyover across the RK Salai-Royapettah junction. It’s to make way for tunnels and a station for the metro’s second phase.
- Below the flyover will be the Dr Radhakrishnan Salai station with two tunnels. A portion of the flyover is being demolished so that the foundation pillars don’t come in the way of the tunnels.
- The demolition will be completed in a couple of months and then rebuilt after the station is finished. Traffic in the area will be diverted.
Other flyover demolition: Apart from the RK Salai flyover, one arm of the Adyar junction flyover will also be demolished later this year. A new two-lane concrete flyover will be built parallel to it.
🌊 Keeping the ocean clean
An upcoming training programme will offer lessons on marine biodiversity and its conservation.
What’s it about? The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) will have a programme about marine biodiversity and the environment. The five-day Marine Biodiversity and Environment (MARBIE) course will be held from February 5 to 9 at the institute.
- The programme will cover several topics like coral reef diversity, tackling marine debris, and marine fish identification. It’ll offer an understanding of the environmental challenges oceans face.
- The programme will be open to postgraduate students, researchers, and academics. It’ll include hands-on practical experience and field visits.
Creating awareness: There was an ocean cleaning awareness programme held in the city with the theme “Swim for the Ocean, Save the Ocean”. Three children swam from Neelankarai to Marina Beach.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you prefer reading or listening to music while travelling?
- I prefer reading while travelling.
- I prefer listening to music while travelling.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Who do you think is India’s greatest sportsperson?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Bharat Innovative Glass Technologies will set up a new cover glass manufacturing facility at SIPCOT.
- A mapping exercise by the Tamil Nadu wetland mission showed that 40.7% of Pallikaranai marshland is encroached.
- A photography exhibition showcased the everyday lives of people in Vyasarpadi.
- The Chennai Book Fair saw increased popularity and sales of the works of Periyar.
- 1,200 fishermen were facilitated for their rescue operation efforts during Cyclone Michaung.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I like street food: 66.7% 🏆
- I don’t like street food: 33.3%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
Which historical site in the world would you like to visit?
Suchi: “Pyramids in Egypt”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!