Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: More of the same with sunny skies and pleasant weather.
🧐 Did you know? The first football tournament in the city happened in 1894. Ten teams from across India participated. The following year onwards, the famous Gymkhana Club hosted an annual tournament for the EK Chetty Cup.
🚇 Improving Metro’s amenities
Chennai Metro Rail will conduct a survey to improve passenger amenities and ridership.
What’s it about? The Chennai Metro Rail will conduct its second survey to see how passenger amenities and ridership can be improved. It’ll begin next week throughout the 54-km network at all stations. This is the latest method the Metro has adopted to increase patronage. Currently, 2.5 lakh passengers use the Metro on weekdays.
- The survey will be a questionnaire distributed during the next month with hopes to reach 20-25,000 passengers. The first such survey was done last year.
- Metro officials want to increase ridership across phase 1 and phase 1 extension routes. They’re seeking feedback on parking, signage, and other passenger amenities.
Impact and Usage: Thanks to the previous survey, signage and parking were improved, and last-mile connectivity was added in places like Manapakkam and Taramani. It resulted in a gradual increase in ridership.
✈️ More international flights
Chennai Airport will see more international flights with airlines adding new routes.
What’s it about? The frequency of international flights at the airport will increase as many airlines add new destinations and routes. A new terminal will be opened for international flights. Despite handling more international flights than Bengaluru, the total aircraft movement is low. It ranks fifth among metros.
- The number of international flights will double with the new integrated terminal opening next month. New ground-handling companies have been hired as AAI looks to help Chennai regain its edge.
- IndiGo will begin flights to Bahrain next month. Air France will increase its frequency from 3 to 5 flights a week. Air Arabia will increase its frequency from 2 to 3 per week.
Numbers: In December 2022, the Chennai airport handled 2,819 international aircraft compared to a little over 2,000 the previous year. During the same period, it handled more than 4.5 lakh international passengers, an increase of 85% from December 2021. AAI is investing ₹2,000 crore to expand the airport’s capacity to 35 million passengers and 45 flights per hour.
🔌 New thermal plant
The trial for Chennai’s new thermal plant will likely happen in May.
What’s it about? The new 800 MW North Chennai Thermal Power Station Thermal Power Plant Stage 3 will begin its trial operation in May on its way to boost the state’s thermal power generation. 95% of the work is complete on the ₹8,722 crore project. Work on the plant began in 2016 and was scheduled to be done in 2019 but was delayed, partly due to the pandemic.
- It’s the first 800 MW supercritical plant commissioned by Tangedco to help meet the state’s growing power demand. Officials want to restrict procurement of power from elsewhere.
- BHEL was awarded the engineering and procurement contracts for the boiler, turbine, and generator. BGRESL for the remaining civil works.
🦟 Battling the mosquito menace
Chennai Corporation has intensified efforts to control the growing mosquito problem.
What’s it about? Chennai is facing a growing mosquito problem, and the Corporation is intensifying efforts to tackle it. Last year, ministers handed out mosquito nets to residents living near waterways. Now, there’s an alarming number of mosquitos in areas with no water bodies nearby.
- The Corporation is tackling it with 3,200 malaria staff, 229 hand-operated fog machines, and 412 hand-operated insecticide sprayers. They’ve begun introducing repellent balls and bottles with oils to kill larvae in water.
- Officials are handicapped due to a lack of larval density data. It would help in planning which areas to tackle accordingly. They’re first looking at areas near waterways.
Who said what? Neonatologist Deepa Hariharan said there had been many dengue cases happening throughout the year instead of it previously being a seasonal illness. Saranya Narayan of the Neuberg Ehrlich Laboratory noted a small increase in malaria cases and that the coming weeks would provide a clearer picture.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you tried plant-based meat/mock meat products?
- Yes, I have tried plant-based meat/mock meat products.
- No, I have not tried plant-based meat/mock meat products.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s your favourite brand of chocolate?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Chennai Corporation will privatise the handling and maintenance of public toilets in March.
- City cyclists want the Chennai Metro to allow cycles on board the trains like in Bengaluru and Cochin.
- Chennai Corporation was fined ₹1.2 crore for not completing legacy waste remediation at two dump yards in 2020.
- AAI’s proposal calls for 193 acres of land to expand the current airport to facilitate additional passengers.
- Ireland showcased its education opportunities to aspirants at its first education fair in Chennai.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- Yes, I have gone camping: 0.0%
- No, I have not gone camping: 100.0% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s the most used app on your phone?
Joylin: “YouTube and Spotify”
Chitra: “Instagram”
Kavimani: “YouTube”
Shyju: “The app I use the most is Swiggy. As a student, this app is very much useful.”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!