Good morning, Chennai!
⛅ Today’s weather: Cloudy weather with some sunshine.
🧐 Did you know? According to some reports, Guindy gets its name from Kindi, which was the pitcher laid by the sage Bringi while performing puja.
🛣️ Separate lanes for bikers?
Can a separate lane for two-wheelers help reduce traffic snarls and accidents?
What’s it about? Over the past two decades, the number of two-wheelers has increased to almost 50 lakh. Hence, they tend to dominate space on city roads, often trying to squeeze through any gap in traffic and even using the pavement. This causes more than its fair share of headaches for others and has led to fatal accidents.
- One suggestion is to reserve the left lane on arterial roads for two-wheelers. This could probably only work on some wide stretches. There was one attempt in Anna Salai in 2005-06, but it was scrapped following a report from IIT Madras.
- While a dedicated lane sounds good on paper, can the police implement and enforce it? Also, it doesn’t seem practical for Chennai. Arterial roads have a connecting road every 300-400 metres.
Any examples? Delhi is one city that has tried to have separate lanes. According to former additional commissioner of traffic, Sanjay Arora, Delhi has successfully implemented dedicated bus lanes on several arterial roads.
🍲 Revitalising Amma canteens
The struggling Anna canteens will get a boost with additional money allocated for their renovation.
Story so far: One of the signature initiatives of the past AIADMK government is the Amma canteens to provide food at affordable rates. Over the past few years, they’ve struggled with workforce and infrastructure shortages. With reduced patronage, they’ve also not generated the expected revenues.
- During a surprise inspection of some canteens, Deputy Mayor M Mageshkumar said the Chennai Corporation has allocated ₹9 crore for their renovation. It’s an additional ₹4.5 crore from last year.
- He said chief minister MK Stalin wants the canteens to prosper and offer food to people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The mobile Amma canteens have benefitted over 1 lakh construction workers in the past year.
Numbers: From April 2022 to March 2023, the canteens have benefitted 5.3 crore people. However, their finances aren’t in good shape. In a recent audit of canteens in the Teynampet zone, expenditures of 38 canteens were ₹9.5 crore, but revenue was only ₹1.55 crore.
🌊 Mission to clean Chennai’s lakes
Plastic Fischer India is bringing its services to Chennai to help clean up the city’s lakes.
What’s it about? The technology-based social enterprise will work to clean lakes and water channels in the city. The goal is to prevent plastic and other waste from entering the ocean. Chennai has a recurring problem with plastic and other waste entering waterbodies, despite the work done by the Chennai Corporation and NGOs.
- The company will operate on the 3 L formula – low cost, low tech, and local, which is employing local people. Their “trashboom” technology is a barrier that catches plastic before it reaches waterways.
- There’s a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) that can store and manage 20 tonnes of plastic a month. Organic waste is sold on the local market. The non-recyclable waste is processed.
Goals: The company wants to generate 75 full-time job opportunities and have 40 systems deployed across the city. With initiatives in other cities, the company wants to work with Chennai’s NGOs, entrepreneurs, and corporates.
⚛️ Plasma Exhibition
An exhibition at the Birla Planetarium showcased technologies in plasma and atomic research.
What’s it about? The Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre (TNSTC) organised a four-day exhibition at the Periyar Science and Technology Centre in collaboration with the Institute for Plasma Research, Gujarat, and Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam.
- The exhibition is meant to educate students on atomic research and applied sciences. With projects on display, students can know more about this field of science.
- The exhibition also has a live plasma exhibition, a training program for teachers, and talks during the four days.
Details: The exhibition will be organised from 10 am to 5 pm till July 7.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you eaten at an Amma canteen?
- I have eaten at an Amma canteen.
- I haven’t eaten at an Amma canteen.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Which is the best picnic spot in the city?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Ahead of its 4G/5G rollout in the city next year, BSNL announced it might not increase tariffs.
- IIT Madras & Diamondpick will team up to help train new engineering students.
- Chennai’s western suburbs continue to suffer from inadequate roads and amenities.
- Anna University has raised the bar on several parameters to ensure only top colleges get autonomous status.
- PDS shops in Chennai began selling tomatoes for half the price of the open market.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I think Chennai is better prepared for flooding now: 50.0% 🏆
- I don’t think Chennai is better prepared for flooding now: 50.0% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What irks you most about other motorists while driving?
Sagaya: “People don’t follow lane discipline. They also try to fit in between two vehicles in heavy traffic.”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!