Good morning, Chennai!
🌤️ Today’s weather: High: 32 ℃ | Low: 23 ℃ | A little cloudy for the day.
🧐 Did you know? Most of the Jews who came to Madras lived on Coral Merchant Street. It’s where the city’s first Synagogue was built.
🌌 Citizen scientist
Sriram Kumar’s journey to becoming a NASA citizen scientist began with his fascination with space.
What’s it about? From an annual science competition at the Birla Auditorium to the 73rd International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Paris, Sriram has had quite a journey. It all began with his love for space in class 11. Now, he mentors 100 students across the state.
- He did a project in his third year of college called Controlled Combustion of Solid Rocket Propellants with Electromechanical Subsystems. It was selected for the prestigious IAC in Paris.
- Becoming a NASA citizen, his responsibilities included identifying asteroids and naming them. He has discovered two provisional asteroids.
What’s he working on now? He’s currently working on different methods to manage and produce components with extreme hardness and strength for aerospace applications.
🍽️ A new rail coach restaurant
A new 24×7 rail coach restaurant called Route 32 will see diners savouring different cuisines in an EMU coach.
What’s it about? Route 32 will be located outside the Potheri railway station. The 2,000-square-foot restaurant will be inside an EMU coach placed on an elevated enclosure on the side of the GST Road.
- The restaurant is expected to be open in ten days. It’s the second type of rail coach restaurant opened by the Southern Railway in partnership with AKS Express.
- The coach has been refurbished with pine wood panelling, sofas, and granite-topped tables. The restaurant gets its name after National Highway 32.
Bringing in business: With the new Kilambakkam bus terminus, officials are expecting good business since there aren’t many restaurants offering Italian, Chinese, and Continental cuisine on the stretch.
🏖️ Remaking Chennai’s beaches
The Chennai Shoreline Renourishment and Revitalization Project will see the city’s beaches become hubs of activity.
What’s it about? A master plan has been developed for the shoreline project to develop public spaces with unique designs and themes. About 50 km of shoreline from Ennore to Kovalam will be developed for ₹100 crore.
- Urbanisation along East Coast Road and Old Mahabalipuram Road has increased the potential for redevelopment of the stretch between Adyar Mouth and the Neelankarai beach. The Broken Bridge will be used to build pathways for pedestrians and cyclists.
- At Kovalam, the plan is to introduce water sports like surfing and wakeboarding. There will also be green corridors in Besant Nagar and Kovalam.
Boating in Ennore: The 4.75 km stretch between ETPS Pier and Ennore Bridge has potential for development. The plan is to have recreational boating within the creek and a food court with outdoor seating.
🛫 More domestic flights
The coming months may see more domestic flights in the mornings from the Chennai airport.
What’s it about? Several airlines like Vistara, Alliance Air, and Air India have shifted operations to the old international terminal which was converted for domestic services. It was lying unused after the new integrated international terminal was built.
- This domestic terminal now sees 25 departures every day. With two domestic terminals, airlines can now offer more peak-hour flights from Chennai.
- The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has informed the airlines that more space is available. According to the AAI, most airlines want to increase frequencies in the morning and evening peak hours.
Limitations: While the airlines that have shifted operations can add more flights, additional airlines can’t shift operations since there are only two aerobridges. There’s also another terminal being built between the integrated international and modified domestic terminals.
📊 Today’s Poll
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Do you grow plants at home?
- I grow plants at home.
- I don’t grow plants at home.
❓ Today’s Question
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Which historical figure’s biography would you like to read?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Fishing villages have come up with a plan to restore the Ennore wetlands.
- Metro stations have yet to introduce the previously planned check-in facilities for air passengers.
- Tambaram Corporation’s water pipeline project will provide regular drinking water supply to residents.
- Vegetable prices in the city have decreased due to an abundance of supply at the Koyambedu market.
- Water supply across the city will improve thanks to a new circular pipeline system.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!