Good morning, Chennai!
⛅ Today’s weather: Partly sunny and humid for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium hosted cricket matches from 1956 to 1965. It played host to 9 test matches of which India won only 2.
🚍 New bus terminus
Chengalpattu will get a new bus terminus by December 2024.
What’s it about? The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has opened tenders for the construction of a new bus terminus at Chengalpattu. The terminus will be spread over 9 acres near the Venpakkam panchayat.
- The work is expected to be completed in 18 months. The ‘Modern Chengalpattu Bus Terminus’ will be built for ₹75 crore. The main terminus will be over 75,000 square feet with ground, first, and terrace floors.
- The entire terminus will have 46 bus bays at the terminal and 61 bus bays in the bus depot section. There’ll be a depot workshop and depot office area. The terminal will also have 30 shops, a restaurant, and parking space for over 60 cars and 700 two-wheelers.
Accessibility: The CMDA said the new terminus will have accessibility features following an audit of the upcoming Kilambakkam bus terminus.
💵 Cash payments?
Some residents face difficulties after the state government stopped accepting cash at department counters.
What’s it about? At government department offices, the Digital India push hasn’t exactly made life easier. There are issues to contend with, like poor server connections, network issues, and banking failures. For residents who aren’t tech-savvy, it’s become an inconvenience.
- Some residents are unaware of online payment methods and need to depend on officials, who may not be able to always help. Few have suggested the Corporation, Tangedco, and the Metro Water Board organise camps to collect taxes.
- Others feel online payments have made things faster since there’s no need for physical travel. Some say both payment modes are needed to cater to everyone.
Moving toward online payments: Over the past year, government departments have shifted toward online payments for bills and taxes. According to officials, it’s convenient for the working class and senior citizens who can’t wait in long queues. At Tangedco, nearly 70% of payments are made online.
🌊 Report on river restoration
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked authorities to submit a report on the restoration projects for the Cooum, Adyar, and Buckingham Canal.
What’s it about? The Southern bench on the NGT has directed the state chief secretary, who’s also the chairperson of Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust (CRRT), to file a report on the Cooum, Adyar, and Buckingham Canal restoration projects.
- The NGT asked the government to gather information on the status of the projects and a proposed timeline for their implementation. Previously, the CRRT told the NGT it was the state government’s top priority to restore the rivers.
- The CRRT also said the government was trying to implement activities through line departments like the Water Resources Department (WRD), Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA), and Department of Rural Development (DRD), among others.
Another directive: Last year, the NGT asked the state government to monitor the flow of water and pollution by keeping tabs on the dumping of garbage and debris. It also asked the government to remove water hyacinths to halt their spread since they obstruct the flow of water.
🚙 Plan for parking
CUMTA has proposed a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for parking management.
What’s it about? The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) has mooted an SPV to create and regulate parking lots, impose fines, and tow away vehicles. The SPV will manage all aspects of parking in Chennai, Avadi, and Tambaram corporations.
- The plan includes more parking bays, a multi-level parking system, an app-based parking system, and e-tickets. These will include annual passes and digital bookings. The costs will depend on the land and the locality’s value.
- The city will be surveyed to see if interior streets can be used for parking. In places where it’s not a hindrance, the streets will be used for paid parking. The Corporation also has plans to lease out its land for multi-level parking facilities.
Efforts so far: As part of the Smart City Initiative, the Chennai Corporation created over 11,600 parking slots in 2018. Only 5,000 of those are still active. The Corporation collects ₹1 lakh a month, but the original target was ₹11 lakh.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Chennai 10k run is back for its 2nd edition to Run for Those Who Can’t this Sunday.
- Naina Barse is a music show on Saturday with retro Bollywood coming to life with a 14-piece live orchestra.
- Laugh Out Lounge brings together a trio of comedians for an afternoon of laughs this Saturday.
- Good Food Journey takes you behind the scenes on how organic food is grown this Saturday.
- My Chennai – A Love Letter is a community art event to celebrate Chennai this Sunday.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I am a good public speaker: 28.6%
- I’m not a good public speaker: 71.4% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s a lesser-known place in the city for a heritage walk?
Chitra: “Royapuram”
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!