Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny and humid.
🧐 Did you know? The Madras University of Kamraj Salai in Chennai is regarded as the mother of all the universities and educational institutions in South India. The university was established in the year 1857 and has a total of six campuses in Chennai.
📽️ Also: Vignesh Shankar, the founder of this newsletter, has started an Instagram page where he posts short reels about some interesting stuff. His recent posts were about the Guinness World Records, the History of Emoji, Microchips and Geopolitics, and QWERTY keyboard layout. Check out his page here and follow him if you like what you see!
🚇 Natesan Park delisted as a metro location
Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has decided to exclude Natesan Park as a proposed metro station location. Instead, CMRL has decided to construct a station at Panagal Park, which is approximately 700 meters away from Natesan Park.
Reasons cited: The decision to exclude Natesan Park as a metro station location is due to technical feasibility issues. According to CMRL, the area surrounding Natesan Park is densely populated, and the station’s construction would require the acquisition of private land, leading to significant project delays and cost escalations.
- In contrast, Panagal Park is deemed to be a more viable location for the metro station, with less population density and no need for land acquisition.
Why it matters? The decision affects the public transportation options available to the local residents in Chennai. A metro station can significantly enhance the connectivity and accessibility of an area, leading to improved mobility and economic development.
- Residents argue that the exclusion of Natesan Park as a metro station location will result in inconvenience and hardship for local commuters who rely on public transport to commute to work, school, and other destinations.
🏏 TNCA gets new head coach
Former Mumbai player and coach Sulakshan Kulkarni has been appointed as the new head coach of the Tamil Nadu cricket team. He is tasked with redefining the team’s approach and strategies as they prepare for the upcoming domestic cricket season.
What’s it about? Kulkarni talks about his vision for the team and his plans to build a winning culture by emphasising discipline, hard work, and mental toughness. He also stresses the importance of building a strong team spirit and creating an environment where players can learn and grow.
Why it matters? The appointment of a new coach and his plans to redefine the team’s approach is significant for the Tamil Nadu cricket team as they seek to improve their performance and achieve success in the upcoming Ranji season.
- Kulkarni’s appointment is expected to have a significant impact on the team’s performance and overall success.
🎼 MYC pays tribute to freedom fighter
The Madras Youth Choir (MYC) paid a musical tribute to the late Indian freedom fighter and social reformer, S Satyamurti. Satyamurti was a prominent leader in the Indian National Congress and played a significant role in India’s struggle for independence from British rule.
What’s it about? The tribute, titled “Satyamurti – A Legacy Told Through Music,” featured songs and compositions that reflect Satyamurti’s life, ideals, and contributions to Indian society. The tribute was well-received by the audience and is part of a broader effort to promote awareness and appreciation of Satyamurti’s legacy.
Tussle with the pandemic: The Madras Youth Choir completed their golden jubilee a couple of years ago but found itself in a pit against the pandemic. The musicians, however, trained themselves as their instructors held classes using Google Meet and Zoom.
- Now that the pandemic is over, the choir is back to running at full steam and is staging performances as well as training new musicians.
🏢 Alten to open office in Chennai
Engineering and tech consultant firm Alten India plans to open a new office in Chennai. The new office is expected to create job opportunities for local talent in the city.
What’s it about? The expansion of Alten India’s operations is part of the company’s growth strategy and reflects the increasing demand for engineering and technology consulting services in India. The company’s decision to expand its presence in Chennai also highlights the city’s growing reputation as a hub for engineering and technology companies.
- The office will have 300 seats.
- There are almost 8,000 Alten employees in India, and the company plans to hire another 7,000 engineers by 2025.
Why it matters? Alten India has been operating in India since 2010 and has been steadily growing its operations over the years. The company has a strong presence in other Indian cities such as Bangalore, Pune, and Delhi.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Laugh out loud with Devesh Dixit and his show, “Gem of a person”, at Sri Ram Nagar. Alwarpet, this Friday.
- Lose yourself to the sensational voice of Benny Dayal at Phoenix Marketcity this Friday.
- Dance to the electrifying beats of 3 DJs with MAD (Music And Dance) Festival this Sunday at Phoenix Marketcity.
- Enjoy cute and hilarious moments with Saikiran’s latest special, Matrimania, at The Stage, Alwarpet, this Saturday.
- Enjoy pure comedy in Tamil with Karthik Kumar’s show AANSPLAINING at Sri Ram Nagar, Alwarpet, this Saturday.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I play Wordle frequently: 55.6% 🏆
- I don’t play Wordle frequently: 44.4%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What household/everyday items do you recycle most often?
Vigneshwaran: “Nothing”
Anbu: “Vegetable waste”
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!