Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 35 ℃ | Low: 24 ℃ | Hot and sunny weather for the day.
🧐 Did you know? India’s first dedicated Container Terminal facility was commissioned at the Chennai Port in 1983.
📊 Chennai’s data analytics prowess
Some of the current IPL teams employ data analytics experts from Chennai.
What’s it about? Data and performance analytics have become part and parcel of sports in modern times, and the IPL is no exception. Data and performance analysts help the teams perform better. The interesting thing is the IPL teams employ analysts from Chennai.
- Sandeep Raju helped the Gujarat Titans win the IPL in 2022. The Mumbai Indians have Varun Narasimhan, and Lakshmi Narayanan has been associated with Chennai Super Kings, to name a few.
- Many companies that are experts in data analytics are based out of Chennai. SportsMechanics and Kadamba are two examples. Some teams hire employees from these two companies since they don’t have a separate data team.
Not just the IPL: SportsMechanics also provides data analytics to the Indian men’s cricket team. Seshadrinathan was at StatDNA, football club Arsenal’s analytics provider when Arsene Wenger was the manager.
🛠️ Showcasing sustainable innovations
IIT Madras was the venue for the PALS Innovation Challenge, where teams presented solutions for sustainability.
What’s it about? PALS is an initiative by the IIT alumni. It’s held every year to identify potential innovators, provide mentorship opportunities, and fund student-led projects.
- Over 140 teams registered for the event, and 68 qualified for the final round. Among the innovations on display were sustainable ways to dispose of sanitary napkins, electric cycles, and other prototypes.
- Students are exposed to lectures, workshops, and industry visits to help them understand the manufacturing process, customer mindsets, and market research.
The entrepreneurial spirit: The event isn’t just about winners. It’s about taking the next step by encouraging and providing them with the necessary support and resources to become entrepreneurs.
🛣️ Increase in toll fees
Travelling by road to or from Chennai will cost more as fees at some toll plazas will increase.
What’s it about? At the end of this month, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will increase fees at four toll plazas on the city’s outskirts. The increase is expected to be between ₹5 and ₹20 per trip.
- The Road Transport Ministry already announced two changes. First, toll charges will be based on distance travelled using GPS technology. Second, fees will be reduced by 40% at tolls where the initial investment has been recovered.
- The NHAI Chennai region was expected to lower fees at the Parandur toll plaza since the capital costs were recovered.
Political considerations: The news of the fee increase comes in the aftermath of the DMK’s election manifesto promising to eliminate toll plazas if the INDIA bloc forms the government.
🧾 Taxpaying headaches
For shops and traders affected by Cyclone Michaung, financial hardships have made it difficult to pay property taxes.
What’s it about? Damaged homes and shops due to Cyclone Michaung mean owners and residents have faced financial difficulties. Compounding the problem is the tax man. The Chennai Corporation’s revenue officers have fixed targets in collecting property taxes and have collected ₹1,970 crore so far.
- In the immediate aftermath of the floods, few residents paid property taxes. Only now have some companies begun paying. The Corporation has a list of registered companies and the amounts due.
- For individual property owners, expenditures increased after the cyclone hit in December. Many were short of funds and unable to pay taxes. Some have spent lakhs to repair damages.
Tax target: The revised tax estimate for 2023-24 is ₹1,680 crore. It’s expected to be ₹1,750 crore the following year. The tax amount paid to the Corporation has increased from the previous year.
📊 Today’s Poll
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Do you have a sweet tooth?
- I have a sweet tooth.
- I don’t have a sweet tooth.
❓ Today’s Question
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What talent/skill would you like to master?
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🗞️ In other news…
- Phase 2 metro tunnelling from Panagal Park to Kodambakkam will begin next month.
- South Chennai will see a three-way face-off between the DMK, AIADMK, and BJP for the upcoming elections.
- Chennai Water Board has introduced UPI payments for water tax payments.
- This year’s IPL final is scheduled to take place in Chennai.
- Chennai Central’s accessible toilet remains locked, resulting in confusion among passengers with disabilities.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!