Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny weather with high temperatures.
🧐 Did you know? The sengol used in the inauguration of the new Parliament building was made by Chennai-based Vummidi Bangaru jewellers.
🏍️ EV startup’s first plant
EV startup Raptee opened its first manufacturing plant in the city.
What’s it about? Electric Vehicle (EV) startup Raptee’s first manufacturing plant will roll out its first EV motorcycle later this year. The new factory is spread across 3 acres and will also have most of the company’s R&D team.
- The company will invest ₹85 crore in the plant. Its annual capacity will be 1 lakh units, and this plant will be its primary production facility for the next two years. The plant will also have a dedicated battery pack assembly line.
- Raptee plans to employ 470 people for manufacturing and design innovation. The R&D centre will have state-of-the-art development and testing facilities on-site.
Raptee’s rise: The company has become an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) from a small R&D startup. The company received a ₹3.27 crore grant earlier this year from the Automotive Research Association of India.
🚉 Suburban train delays
Commuters rue frequent delays of suburban trains on crucial routes.
What’s it about? Several delays of suburban trains on important routes have inconvenienced passengers as they reach their homes or places of work later than usual. Some switch to the metro due to the delays.
- For the third consecutive day, passengers on the Gummidipoondi – Chennai route were late to their destinations as services were delayed during the peak hours. The trains were almost an hour late.
- Some decided to cross the tracks and head to the Wimco Nagar metro station. Some also had to cross the tracks to board a train bound for Ponneri.
Why the delays? The delays on Tuesday were caused by one of the trains developing an issue during the morning peak hours. Another train was held up at Minjur to allow two express trains and a fast suburban train to pass.
🚍 Bus operator issues
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) steps in to help resolve the concerns of state-owned bus operators.
What’s it about? State-owned bus operators are unhappy that private omni buses will be allocated space at the upcoming Kilambakkam bus terminus. Some are hesitant to move out of the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT).
- The All Omni Bus Owners Association has asked the CMDA to allot more parking space and bays for them with additional office space. State-owned corporations are also against private buses having their own spaces.
- At the new Kilambakkam terminus, there are 62 bays and 130 temporary parking lots for omni bus operators. On average, 1,400 government buses and 850 private omni buses depart from the city. It’s also not feasible for omni bus operators to bring their vehicles to Koyambedu for repairs.
What can be done? A CMDA official said the government is providing idle parking at Kilambakkam. There’s also another omni bus stand at Mudichur. The CMDA is also reassessing the number of bays for omni buses. This will depend on how many bays government buses need.
🌐 Women 20 summit
The official engagement group of the G20 kicked off with its meeting in Mahabalipuram.
What’s it about? The Jan Bhagidari (Citizens’ Connect) event got underway on Wednesday and will end today. The theme for the summit is “Women-Led Development- Transform, Thrive and Transcend”. The citizen connect event had the theme “The Journey of Empowerment”.
- The delegates heard stories of women from across India. One of the guests, Supreme Court Advocate Bansuri Swaraj, emphasised India’s commitment to women-led development with a focus on digital literacy, healthcare, etc.
- The summit will also have a showcase from grassroots entrepreneurs of the state. They’ve been supported by the Department of Rural Development. It includes exhibits by W20 Argentina and Indonesia.
Declaration: The W20 communique will be released. It provides actionable recommendations to be included in the G20 Leaders’ Declaration.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Family Fun Fest is back with a day of events, food, and lucky draws, happening this Saturday.
- Unfairly Funny Tales is a standup show featuring an all-women lineup this Saturday.
- Indian Haat Festival is the city’s largest arts & crafts lifestyle exhibition happening this weekend.
- Stories At Sunset is an evening of storytelling by Vikram Sridhar, who will weave tales from mythology and folklore this Sunday.
- Once Upon a Musical presents a collection of 20-minute musicals this weekend.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I have travelled by business/first class on a flight: 14.3%
- I haven’t travelled by business/first class on a flight: 85.7% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What international event would you like to see in the city?
Chitra: “World Tamil Conference”
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!