Good morning, Chennai!
🌧️ Today’s weather: Mostly cloudy with some spells of rain.
🧐 Did you know? The oldest engineering college outside of Europe is the Guindy Engineering College. It was founded as the Survey School in 1794.
💬 Addressing grievances
A new QR code initiative helps residents raise civic complaints.
What’s it about? For residents of Mylapore, Santhome, and Mandaveli, there’s a new QR code that provides them with a platform to raise complaints. It’s all thanks to Ward 126 councillor Amirda Varshini.
- The QR code has been placed in public places and offices. Scanning the code takes a user to Councillor Varshini’s personal WhatsApp number and can post grievances.
- The system will function 24×7. The complaints will be forwarded to the respective department. The complaint will be attended to in coordination with local officials.
Website: The councillor also launched her website, https://amirdavarshini.in, for residents to post complaints and feedback. There are 12 issues added.
🚘 Alleviating traffic
The Traffic Police will introduce more U-turns and diversions to help alleviate traffic congestion.
What’s it about? Commuters could soon have a seamless travel experience as the Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) will implement more U-turns and diversions to reduce traffic congestion. Areas that suffer from frequent gridlocks will be identified to implement the measures.
- The GCTP will work with the IIT Madras’ Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (CoERS) to identify and study emerging hotspots across the city.
- The new revised speed limits are meant to ensure more orderly traffic on busy roads and neighbourhood areas. The police will also implement Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at 177 junctions.
Traffic congestion data: In March, the average congestion index was 40% and has dropped to 26% till November. Chennai ranks 53rd in global traffic congestion, with an average congestion rate of 20%.
🌊 Saving Chennai’s lakes
Dedicated citizens and organisations join hands to ensure the city’s lakes aren’t forgotten.
What’s it about? In the aftermath of the 2015 floods, several lake restoration projects were announced to mitigate urban flooding. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and Tamil Nadu Water Resource Department (WRD) launched an initiative this year to develop 10 lakes in the city for ₹100 crore. In many instances, citizens and civic groups have also stepped in.
- At the Thazhambur Eri in Thiruporur, Chennai-based Care Earth Trust launched a two-year restoration project which helped recover 30.60 hectares of water spread area and increased the lake’s holding capacity.
- The challenge at Retteri Lake has been making it a clean water source amid neglect and increased encroachments. The story is similar for the Korattur Lake, with no underground sewage system. It’s also polluted with high levels of chemicals.
What’s being done? The Madras High Court ordered the revenue department to digitally map the city’s lakes and make the files available to the public on their websites. Activist group Arappor Iyakkam uses survey data, RTIs, and revenue department maps to access lake-related information.
🎨 Blending heritage and history
Artist Tejasmi Honey’s art exhibition paid homage to the centuries-old Tanjore painting art form.
What’s it about? The Tanjore Painting Fusion Art exhibition at the Art Houz Gallery in Nungambakkam paid homage to the Tanjore art form while embracing the modern route of combining diverse regional techniques.
- The gallery’s walls were also adorned with other regional paintings like Kerala’s murals, Bihar’s Madhubani style, and the painting techniques of Madhya Pradesh.
- The paintings were inspired by Krishna and Radha’s love story. The exhibition shows how distinct techniques and artworks can complement each other.
Journey: It all began as an experiment with just two painting techniques learnt by travelling the villages of Thanjavur. The collection took four years to curate. For the artist, the exhibition was a foray back into the art world after her previous works were lost during the 2015 floods.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Are you following the Cricket World Cup?
- I am following the Cricket World Cup.
- I’m not following the Cricket World Cup.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
How can pollution in the city during Diwali be curbed?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Full-body scanners will be installed next year at the Chennai Airport.
- The Chennai Corporation has set up over 5,000 rainwater harvesting structures in stormwater drains.
- Social impact startup Native Krea blends art and architecture by bringing together native artists.
- The Beach to Egmore MRTS line is taking shape with a bridge across the Buckingham Canal.
- Vyasarpadi pathway remains filled with garbage and waste impeding the route to the railway station.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I take a lot of photos on my phone: 57.1% 🏆
- I don’t take a lot of photos on my phone: 42.9%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s your favourite non-Indian cuisine?
Suchi: “Chinese”
Kavi: “Burmese”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!