Good morning, Chennai!
🌧️ Today’s weather: Mostly cloudy with rain. Have an umbrella ready!
🧐 Did you know? The city’s suburban railway network dates back to 1931. The first service was between Beach and Tambaram on the metre gauge line.
🏡 Luxury apartment sales
Sales of luxury apartments in the city have risen driven by people’s need for additional amenities.
What’s it about? A report by ANAROCK research showed over 3,300 luxury units were sold across Chennai in the first nine months of this year. That number was 1,370 during the same period last year.
- While previously builders focussed on affordable homes, they’re now shifting to the luxury segment owing to consumer demand. These apartments have luxury amenities like swimming pools, gyms, rooftop barbeques, etc.
- Many luxury apartments in areas like Anna Nagar, Nungambakkam, Adyar, and Alwarpet go for ₹15,000-20,000 per square foot. In the uber-luxury segment in places like Boat Club and Poes Garden, prices are ₹35,000-40,000 per square foot.
Preferences & dynamics: Many buyers of such properties are used to a certain lifestyle and prefer living in a complex with just one apartment per floor. There’s a demand from joint business families that have become nuclear families.
🚯 Kiosk to reduce plastic pollution
The Meendum Manjappai kiosk will help create awareness of the dangers of plastic pollution.
What’s it about? The kiosk, located at the Besant Nagar beach, was installed by the state environment department for ₹25 lakh. It will help raise awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and to enforce the ban on single-use plastic.
- The kiosk has a cloth bag vending machine and a plastic bottle-crushing machine. It’s powered by 5 KW solar panels and has six electric bikes and two electric cars for volunteers to conduct awareness programmes.
- On its first day, the kiosk saw 50 visitors, with more expected on the weekends. Officials plan to install similar kiosks at 10 blue flag beaches, with one coming at the Neelankarai beach by December.
Only a start: While this is a good move, more needs to be done to keep beaches plastic-free. Experts say more bins are needed at the beaches, especially near vendors.
🌃 Modernising Chennai
The Chennai Corporation has plans to make Chennai a smart city with state-of-the-art public amenities.
What’s it about? The Chennai Corporation has placed a high priority on having smart traffic management and parking solutions. They’ve submitted their proposals to the government for approval.
- The civic body will focus on amenities like public toilets, solid waste management, additional stormwater drains, and repairing roads. With parking management, the Corporation hopes to decongest shopping hubs.
- There have also been discussions with the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Authority (CUMTA) for a single ticketing system for all public transport. It’s part of a broader effort by the Corporation to encourage people to use public transport.
Health & Education: The Corporation wants Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) to be upgraded to provide outpatient treatment and not just for diagnosing illnesses. Corporation schools would be converted with modern and additional facilities for students and faculty.
🚉 Suburban train cancellations
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The partial suspension of some suburban trains has inconvenienced regular commuters.
What’s it about? At the Mambalam station, some passengers had to rely on a handwritten note informing them about a train cancellation. With high patronage during the current festival season, commuters are irked by the suspension of trains on the Chengalpet-Tambaram-Beach route. Despite additional metro trains, the line only ends at the airport.
- The trains have been suspended since work is underway to install steel girders for the MRTS extension at St Thomas Mount. Passengers say the railways should’ve taken their feedback and scheduled the work at night or on Sundays.
- Previously, the railways used to schedule their repair and maintenance work only at night. However, that has now changed since they look at the convenience of its officers and staff.
Services are a lifeline: Over 8 lakh passengers travel on the Chengalpet-Tambaram-Beach route on weekdays. Most are regular commuters to work and college. Suspension of services on this line should’ve been done only after informing passengers well in advance.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you ever parked your vehicle at a multi-level car parking facility?
- I have parked my vehicle at a multi-level car parking facility.
- I haven’t parked my vehicle at a multi-level car parking facility.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Where’s the best place to get a traditional South Indian breakfast in the city?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Chennai’s TASMAC outlets will now be allowed to sell premium beer brands.
- IIT Madras and Tel Aviv University have jointly developed an absorbent to purify wastewater.
- The Makkalai Thedi Mayor initiative has been positively received, with over 90% of complaints resolved.
- The Corporation’s booth toilets initiative has failed as most are vandalised and defunct.
- Infrastructure development in the city needs a sustainable approach.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I made purchases during the recent Amazon and Flipkart sales: 25.0%
- I didn’t make purchases during the recent Amazon and Flipkart sales: 75.0% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s your preferred hill station in the country?
Suchi: “Ooty”
Kavi: “Kashmir”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!