Chennai news in just 5 minutes. Get our smart and concise daily guide to charming Chennai. Delivered to your inbox for FREE. Don't forget to subscribe.

Startup dreams at a villa
S

Good morning, Chennai!

☀️ Today’s weather: High: 33 ℃ | Low: 23 ℃ | Sunny weather today.

🧐 Did you know? The “Old” in Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) was added when the newer route to Mahabalipuram via the East Coast Road (ECR) was completed in 1998.


🤝 Villa meet-up

(Image credit: Makers Tribe’s Facebook post)

Villa 409 – Launch House brought together people from different backgrounds to discuss creating and launching a business.

What’s it about? The three-day event was organised by Makers Tribe and Deepak Network Achievers to help foster discussions on building a business. People from backgrounds like content creators and brand strategists were involved.

  • The aim was to create and launch their products or services within 48 hours. The topics of discussion included startup ideas and products. The event was a unique social experiment to harness their diverse skill sets.
  • Guvi founder Arun Prakash was the chief guest and shared his experience as an entrepreneur. At the end of the event, participants were able to develop leads and secure sales for their businesses.

Expanding to Chennai: This type of initiative isn’t groundbreaking since there are similar events worldwide. The organisers have plans for similar events every few months since Chennai is ripe for entrepreneurial opportunities.


🏢 3D printing farm at IIT Madras

IIT Madras has started a 3D printing farm in its new Additive Manufacturing lab.

What’s it about? The printing farm has over 25 3D printers developed by Fabheads Automation. The new lab is expected to become a hub for additive manufacturing and learning by giving students hands-on experience with advanced manufacturing processes.

  • 3D printing farms are a step forward in manufacturing that enables mass production of parts by reducing waste. They allow for printing multiple parts simultaneously, saving time and money.
  • At IIT Madras, these machines will be used by students to learn about sustainable manufacturing processes. The institution hopes to build on its legacy of innovation.

About FabMachines: The machines are developed by Fabheads Automation, whose founder, Dinesh, is an alumnus of IIT Madras. The Chennai-based company has gained traction for its cutting-edge 3D printing machines made in India.


🛣️ Unclogging the roads

(Image credit: Balu Velachery’s Flickr post)

The state government has sanctioned money to widen several stretches and build new elevated corridors.

What’s it about? The state government has allocated ₹300 crore to widen important stretches, including New Avadi Road, Paper Mills Road, and Dr Radhakrishnan Salai. The goal is to help ease traffic congestion on arterial roads.

  • The government will acquire land from landowners, pay them compensation and transfer development rights (TDR). They can use that to build more buildings elsewhere.
  • To improve connectivity, there are plans for a 14-km elevated corridor between Thiruvanmiyur and Uthandi. The government has revived the Airport-Kilambakkam metro extension.

What about buses? The government announced it’ll buy 3,000 new buses. One-fourth of this will be sanctioned by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC). There are also plans for new bus termini at Broadway, Anna Nagar, Mandaveli, and KK Nagar.


🌊 Adyar River restoration

(Image credit: Rajaraman Sundaram, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

The restoration project of the Adyar River is expected to be completed in 15 months.

What’s it about? The state finance minister, Thangam Thennarasu, said the project to restore the Adyar River from Thiru Vi Ka bridge to Saidapet is expected to be complete in 15 months. It’s being done through a public-private partnership model for ₹1,500 crore.

  • The first phase will include building 14 sewage treatment plants with sewage interceptors on both sides on a 70-km stretch. The plants will come up at several places, including Mylapore, Nungambakkam, and Saidapet.
  • The detailed project report will contain details of eco-parks in Mylapore, Kotturpuram, and Alandur. A private contractor will maintain the river for 18 months.

Feasibility report findings: The report showed that 24 km of the 43-km-long stretch from Anakaputhur to Kotturpuram is dead with zero dissolved oxygen. It’s due to the excessive amount of sewage in the river.


📊 Today’s Poll

(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)

Have you ever written a letter to someone?

  • I have written a letter to someone.
  • I haven’t written a letter to someone.

❓ Today’s Question

(Only subscribers can submit their answers)

What subject do you wish you studied in college?

Reply to this email with your answers.


🗞️ In other news…


🛋️ Local Lounge

Yesterday’s Poll:

  • I have read a graphic novel: 42.9%
  • I haven’t read a graphic novel: 57.1% 🏆

Answers to Yesterday’s Question:

What’s your most prized childhood possession?

Suchi: “My childhood photos”

Shiva: “School group photo”

That’s it for today. Have a great day!

Chennai news in just 5 minutes

Get TLB Chennai, our smart and concise daily guide to charming Chennai in your inbox for FREE.