Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 35 ℃ | Low: 25 ℃ | Sunny weather for today.
🧐 Did you know? The first official hockey tournament in Madras was the René Frank Gold Cup at the then-Nehru Stadium in 1975. It was to commemorate the golden jubilee of the Indian Hockey Federation.
👩🏫 UPSC hub in Anna Nagar
Chennai’s Anna Nagar has become a hub for UPSC aspirants thanks to its infrastructure and safety for women.
What’s it about? Anna Nagar has gained a reputation of being a coaching hub over the past decade. It has over 80 coaching centres for thousands of IAS and IPS aspirants. With its reasonably priced facilities, it’s also seen as safe for women.
- It has some of the premier institutions, like the Shankar IAS Academy and Officers IAS Academy, along with hostels, cafes and eateries. It has the trappings of Delhi’s Karol Bagh and Mukherjee Nagar but is less crowded.
- The coaching centres attract aspirants from other South Indian states, but also from the North and Northeast. The average fee for general studies coaching in Chennai is ₹1.5 lakh.
History: The government opened the state-run All-Indian Civil Services Coaching Centre on 12th Main Road in 1966. It relocated to Greenways Road in 2012, but by then over 40 coaching centres set up shop in Anna Nagar.
👁️ Revolutionary myopia treatment
Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital launched a new form of robotic laser surgery to correct myopia.
What’s it about? The hospital launched ReLEx Smile Pro, a robotic laser surgery that’s minimally invasive and corrects myopia in less than 10 seconds. This cutting-edge treatment was only introduced globally last year.
- The treatment is AI-driven and features automated laser calculations. The algorithm is based on the treatment data of over 8 million eyes.
- A small precise 2 mm incision is made in the cornea. Through this, a thin disc-shaped piece of tissue is extracted from the inner layers. It reshapes the cornea which allows light to properly focus on the retina.
Better for patients: There’s no risk of a dry eye since the treatment doesn’t disrupt the system of fluids. Patients will have improved vision within 24 hours of the procedure.
🐄 Going private to tackle stray cattle
The Tambaram Corporation has enlisted a private agency to help with the stray cattle menace.
What’s it about? The contracted agency will be tasked with conducting cattle raids across the corporation’s five zones. Local bodies across the city have been struggling with stray cattle posing a threat to pedestrians and motorists.
- The agency will have vehicles fitted with tools and 10 workers trained in rounding up cattle. The rounded-up cattle will be taken to the shed in Kondamangalam.
- Corporation officials are also planning to extend the raids to the newly added zones after being criticised for not punishing the cattle owners.
Some concerns: There’s some concern among activists that involving a private agency will only add to the civic body’s expenses. A better approach would be to increase the manpower of the Corporation.
🚇 Metro stations for the new airport
The city’s next airport, at Parandur, is expected to have two metro stations.
What’s it about? According to the current plan, the 43.63 km line from Poonamallee to Parandur will have 19 stations. The line will reach the airport from the south and cross the proposed Chennai-Bengaluru expressway.
- In January, a detailed plan was submitted to the government. The line would begin at Poonamallee, with stations at locations like Chembarambakkam, Mambakkam, Neervalur, and finally at the Parandur airport.
- The stations will be further apart from each other, compared to the city, which is 1 km. Officials also want to increase the train speed. With fewer stations and a higher speed, passengers can reach the airport faster.
Options for passengers: Once the new airport gets the metro links, passengers from the city can reach it with relative ease. From Meenambakkam, they can switch corridors at Alandur and Alapakkam to reach Parandur.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Would you rather take photos of people or landscapes?
- I’d take photos of people.
- I’d take photos of landscapes.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What fictional place from a movie or book would you love to visit?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Thousands of e-books will become available to affiliated colleges through Anna University’s platform.
- Chennai Corporation schools conducted role-plays and skits to teach kids about gender equality.
- Residents in extended areas will soon get sewage and drinking water facilities thanks to new underground projects.
- The CPCL has been accused by the government of deliberately leaking oil into the Buckingham Canal.
- IIT Madras and Vellon Space are teaming up to advance extra-terrestrial manufacturing R&D.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have met a famous person: 63.6% 🏆
- I haven’t met a famous person: 36.4%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
Which historical figure would you like to see a movie of?
Suchi: “Abdul Kalam”
Shiva: “Dr. Kalam”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!