Good morning, Chennai!
⛅ Today’s weather: Mostly sunny with some cloud cover.
🧐 Did you know? The Binny strike in the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills was the catalyst for trade unionism in Madras and the rest of India. Workers began to protest after they were made to work for 12 to 16 hours a day with low wages.
🚇 Metro progress
Track laying on the Poonamallee-Porur Stretch will begin in July.
What’s it about? In the next couple of months, track-laying will commence on the Poonamallee-Porur stretch as part of the Metro’s Phase 2. This section will connect the Light House to Poonamallee.
- Chennai Metro officials are eager to start services from Poonamallee to Porur and want the work to be accelerated. They are optimistic about the 2025 deadline for the stretch.
- Laying of tracks on this stretch will take a year, with the contractor able to finish 80 metres a day. The construction of two stations on this route might be delayed.
Route: The section between Poonamallee and Power House will be opened first. It’s part of corridor 4 of this second phase, as the previous corridor connected Madhavaram to SIPCOT. This one will connect Madhavaram to Sholinganallur.
💻 CMDA goes digital
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is digitising its planning and approval processes.
What’s it about? The CMDA is full-speed ahead in digitising various processes like online permissions and integrating its software with the Chennai Corporation and other local bodies. Builders say digitisation of approval processes will be a boon.
- Previously, getting a planning nod was a tedious process, and the applicants had to visit the corporation or local body offices to apply for building permissions.
- 670 applications have been received online since last June, with 330 planning permissions issued. More than 63 permissions have been granted within 2 months.
Advantages: Online approvals help speed up construction and approvals for developers who previously needed to do a lot of paperwork. Digitising the process also helps in maintaining records easier. For homebuyers, there’s increased transparency since they can check the approval status.
✈️ Nonstop to Myanmar
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The first direct flight with Myanmar from Chennai has been launched.
What’s it about? To commemorate 75 years of bilateral ties between India and Myanmar, the first direct flight between Chennai and Yangon was launched.
- Myanmar Airways International will operate flights on Saturdays departing from Yangon at 8 am local time and arriving at Chennai at 10.15 am IST. The return leg will depart from Chennai at 11.15 am IST and land at Yangon at 3.15 pm local time.
- The first flight arrived at Chennai with 48 passengers, while 70 were on board for the return flight. Myanmar Airways will use its Embracer (E190) aircraft.
Benefits: The new service will mutually benefit trade, health, and leisure tourism for both countries.
😂 Havin’ a laugh
Humour comes in many forms, as Chennai laughs its way to good health.
What’s it about? The Chennai Humour Club celebrates its 40th year on May 14, and its members are gearing up. People like Manohar Bokdia have been on a mission for 21 years to spread the word about laughter. The standup comedy scene is also taking off with more shows and comics.
- The Humour Club has thousands of members, some of whom meet at Mylapore on the second Sunday of every month to laugh. People recite jokes they’ve heard, and there’s a lecture on the importance of humour.
- Thanks to clubs like the Tanglish Comedy Club from Annamalai Lakshmanan, there are shows on weekends. Thanks to OTT platforms showcasing Tamil standup acts, interest in live performances has increased.
The science behind laughter: According to physician Dr Madan Kataria, laughter has health benefits as it lowers stress and keeps immunity levels up. The gene 5-HTTLPR is involved in the regulation of serotonin, the neurotransmitter of happiness.
📊 Today’s Poll
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Do you keep a personal journal/diary?
- Yes, I keep a personal journal/diary.
- No, I don’t keep a personal journal/diary.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What part of the city do you think is the most picturesque?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Madras’ history with trade unions and the labour movement.
- Chennai Corporation will soon have professional cricket and football teams.
- The Kothandaramar Temple tank in West Mambalam was restored and opened.
- The Chennai-Mysuru Vande Bharat train has been given revised timings.
- Thailand Week was inaugurated in Chennai to boost business and tourism ties with Thailand.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!