Good morning, Chennai!
☁️ Today’s weather: High: 37 ℃ | Low: 25 ℃ | Mostly cloudy for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The first street lights in Madras were oil lamps introduced in 1785.
🎨 Showcasing artists and their creations
The AKC Art Market is back this weekend to showcase unique works from small-scale artists.
What’s it about? The Art Kin Centre is back for its third edition of the AKC Art Market. The event is for enthusiasts and others to see and interact with the artists that encompass several art forms, like interior designers, architects, etc.
- The event’s focus is on small-scale artists and giving them a platform. It promises to have a myriad of creations, from handcrafted wooden artworks of Eden Studio to original paintings of Art by Rubhini.
- Apart from the visual displays, visitors can also engage in other senses, like responsibly sourced organic honey from Thäen by EcoLogin and Luxe Parfums by Naveen.
History and partnerships: The idea for the market began in 2021 by Art Kin Centre heads Anahata Sundarmurthy and Shruthe Raammohan. The idea was to collaborate with different artistic professionals. This time, AKC has teamed up with the Josh app as a video partner.
🏗️ Anna Salai’s tower
The Brigade Group will build Anna Salai’s tallest skyscraper.
What’s it about? Anna Salai will get a new landmark. Bengaluru-based Brigade Group will build a 150-metre-high residential tower with 38 floors. It’ll offer six lakh square feet and be the first large-scale residential project on this section of the arterial road. The project is expected to take six years to complete.
- The project also includes a 100-metre-high commercial tower with 18 floors of retail and commercial space. The overall project development is expected to cost ₹1,000 crore.
- The size of each unit will range from 2,700 to 5,500 square feet with 3-5 bhk apartments. The developer is also looking to house high-end retail brands.
Larger plan: The company will invest ₹8,000 crore in the city across residential, office, retail, and hospitality projects spread over 15 million square feet. Other projects include two hotels and a resort at Uthandi on East Coast Road.
🎒 Monthly review of schools
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As schools reopen for the new academic year, officials have been instructed to conduct monthly review meetings.
What’s it about? Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena instructed district collectors and chief education officers to conduct monthly review meetings on student safety, progression of students from Class 12 to colleges, and review schools with low enrolment.
- Among the key issues at corporation schools have been maintaining attendance records and upkeep of school infrastructure. Following reports of dilapidated structures, officials have been asked to identify unsafe buildings.
- Some government schools don’t have adequate space to accommodate students. They need additional funds to build more classrooms.
Using technology: To help keep enrolment high, attendance is marked on the Educational Management Information System (EMIS). If a student is absent, an alert is sent to their parents.
👁️🗨️ CCTVs at ration shops
Some ration shops in North Chennai have CCTVs installed to prevent theft and smuggling of goods.
What’s it about? Authorities in Washermanpet have installed CCTVs at 23 Public Distribution System ration shops in North Chennai to prevent the smuggling of essential commodities.
- The shops are located in areas like Royapuram, Vyasarpadi, and Periyar Nagar. The number of thefts and smuggling incidents has reduced by 90%, according to Balaji, Managing Director of Washermanpet Cooperative Stores Society.
- For ration cardholders, they can find out the stock of rice, sugar, and other essential items and their availability status.
Helps keep staff in check: Some customers have faced instances where the staff have said they don’t have stock of items like sugar and wheat and were unsure whom to complain to. Once the cameras were installed, they were given a link to complain to higher authorities.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Songs of the past come alive with the Melodrama Madras Music Band live this Sunday.
- A classic rock tribute is here with some of Chennai’s best musicians in More than a Feeling this Saturday.
- A fun evening is in store at the Kids Family Day Out this Saturday.
- Poetry, music, and comedy are on display at the Artistic License open mic this Sunday.
- For the budding chefs, catch a Masterclass by Chef Sarah Todd this Saturday.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I have purchased from a street vendor: 88.9% 🏆
- I haven’t purchased from a street vendor: 11.1%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What subject in school do you wish you were better at?
Suchi: “Mathematics”
Shiva: “Tamil”
Krishna: “The subject of self-confidence.”
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!