Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 36 ℃ | Low: 26 ℃ | Sunny weather for today.
🧐 Did you know? The first trade show in the city was the Industries Exhibition between February 20 and April 28, 1855, organised by the Madras government.
🎶 Creating CSK’s anthem
Composer Sean Roldan and singer Arunraja Kamaraj helped create the CSK fan anthem for IPL 2024.
What’s it about? The song titled, “Roar-A-Yethu” was created by Roldan and Kamaraj for Coke Studio. It also features their vocals and that of Vijay Sethupathi. They were the perfect team since they understood film culture, music, and its impact.
- The song was initially called “Rage-A Kaatu” but was deemed too aggressive for something that needed to capture the spirit of a team like CSK.
- Think like a fan is the motto of the process of creating the song. The lyrics were written before the music, and there was a conscious choice to include more Madras slang.
Their histories: Arunraja Kamaraj debuted in 2014 with the song Ding Dong in Jigarthanda. It was the same year when Sean Rolden emerged as a film composer with movies like Mundasupatti and Sathuranga Vettai.
🎓 75 years of MIT
The Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) celebrates 75 years thanks to its innovative learning and courses.
What’s its history? Eighty years ago, the land where MIT now sits had a hanger to service British planes used in World War II. It was only after independence that industrialist C Rajam decided to set up a technical institute. The leftover weapons and machinery were got for a bargain and used to train and teach students.
- The institute opened in 1949 with 96 students. 75 years later, over 4,000 currently study across nine UG and fifteen PG programmes. Last year, it was the first to fill all seats in engineering counselling.
- In the beginning, the institute offered a three-year diploma in four branches – aeronautics, automobile, electronics, and instrumentation technology.
Did you know? The institute followed an open-book test based on class notes and practical work. In the early years, its students also had practical training at GD Naidu’s Industrial Training Centre in Coimbatore.
🚘 Protecting vehicles
Chennai-based SERC has developed a new barrier to protect lives in case of collisions.
What’s it about? Researchers from the CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre (SERC) have developed a barrier made of glass and concrete that can absorb more energy and resist impact during a collision. The new protection could potentially help save lives and reduce damage to the vehicle.
- It consists of layers of an alkali-resistant glass mesh as reinforcement, cement, fly fish, sand, silica fume, and water. The glass textile is flexible and elastic and can absorb more energy.
- The materials used are durable and non-corrosive. The barriers can be customised for target impact resistance. They can be easily fabricated, transported, and installed.
Making it market-ready: The barriers have already undergone lab tests and met regulations. They’ll soon undergo field crash tests before entering the market.
🚆 Kilambakkam station by year-end
.jpg){kind=link}
The Kilambakkam railway station will help commuters reach the bus terminus through suburban trains.
What’s the status? The Southern Railway has begun laying platforms and drainage lines. Commuters will be able to reach the new bus terminus via suburban trains, and direct trains from the northern periphery are also planned.
- Once the work on the island platform is done, the Southern Railway will begin building the station shelter, ticketing counters, and several passenger amenities.
- A few weeks ago, work began on a 220-foot-long skywalk to help passengers get down at the station and cross the road. It’s expected to be completed by December or January 2025.
More trains needed: Ever since the bus terminus opened, commuters from the northern and western parts of the city have complained about poor connectivity to the terminus. Frequencies between Tambaram and Chengelpet are poor. Unless it’s increased, the new station won’t be useful.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you like window shopping?
- I like window shopping.
- I don’t like window shopping.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s your favourite tourist destination in the country?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- BMW and Tata Technologies have announced a joint venture to set up an automotive software and IT development hub in Chennai.
- Hazardous ‘forever chemicals’ have been detected at record levels in the city’s lakes.
- A new special local train was launched by the Southern Railway between Chennai Central and Arakkonam.
- Get to know your local MP from Chennai Central, Dayanidhi Maran.
- Vision11, the fantasy sports platform announced its renewal as a sponsor of CSK.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I own an Apple product: 27.3%
- I don’t own an Apple product: 72.7% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
Which planet in our solar system would you like to visit?
Shiva: “Jupiter’s rocky moons”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!