Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny weather and clear skies.
🧐 Did you know? Chennai got its first two golf courses in the 1800s. The first was originally at Island Grounds and later shifted to Guindy in 1887. The next one came eleven years later at the Cosmopolitan Golf Club.
💳 Mobility card trials
Trials of the Common Mobility Card might take place at suburban railway stations.
What’s it about? The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) has written to the Railway Board requesting them to conduct trials of the Mobility Card at the suburban railway stations. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) might integrate the card within a year.
- It was recently launched by the Chennai Metro with the State Bank of India (SBI). It can be topped up now and linked to bank accounts. Passengers can use it for the metro, suburban trains, and MTC buses.
- Currently, only the metro has access systems in place. Suburban stations are open facilities and have high patronage. A small snag can cause long queues. Hence the need for extensive trials.
Next steps: CUMTA is in talks with stakeholders to introduce a QR code ticketing app and journey planner. ₹15 crore has been allocated for this. Tenders were floated to upgrade electronic ticketing machines with QR code scanners.
🏞️ Koyambedu park
A new park with several amenities inside the Koyambedu market complex is set to come up.
What’s it about? The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) will develop a park on seven acres of land inside the market complex for ₹10 crore. The goal is to have a lung space, which the city lacks.
- The park will be inside the flower market and have amenities like a walking path, a children’s play area, disabled-friendly access, and local species of trees and plants.
- There will also be a hospital inside the premises for the market’s labourers with emergency and inpatient facilities. The market will soon be powered by solar energy.
Who said what? Resident K Vasudevan lauded the plan for the park but said it should be maintained well. Minister for the CMDA PK Sekar Babu said the roads would be improved, and the damaged market floor would be repaired.
🏌️ Tee-off this summer
As summer sets in, youngsters and others are taking to golf.
What’s it about? With golf now an Olympic sport, people’s interests have peaked as parents want their kids to learn with an increased scope at home and abroad. Thanks to new facilities, clubs, and coaching programmes, the young and old alike are taking to the sport with more interest.
- The Madras Gymkhana Club has restarted its summer camp after a six-year absence. It has a 10-day course which began with 45 participants. The Tamil Nadu Golf Federation (TNGF) also has a summer camp at the Nandanam golf course.
- Indoor golf centres like Golfer’s Edge provide mini golf, a virtual simulator, and 170 sq feet putting green.
Why it matters? The sport is becoming popular among Indians. 88 Indians have won international tournaments.
Who said what? TNGF head coach Jayanan Satagopal said some kids they had trained have secured golf scholarships in the US. They also provide training to 15 underprivileged kids. Golfer’s Edge co-founder Bharath Aravind said they provide coaching classes with equipment for those who don’t want to play on a full course.
👁️ Predicting diabetic retinopathy
Sankara Nethralaya and RetinaRisk have developed a tool to predict the sight-threatening condition.
What’s it about? Sankara Nethralaya and Iceland-based health tech company RetinaRisk have developed a mathematical tool to predict a person’s risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. The goal is to reduce blindness through early detection.
- The Indian version of the algorithm was developed based on the 2019 Sankara Nethralaya Diabetic Retinopathy Epidemiology and Molecular Genetics Study dataset.
- In the beginning, 20 doctors from Chennai and the rest of India will be the first to use the algorithm. 12.5% of diabetic people can develop retinopathy. Of this, 5-6% could develop sight-threatening retinopathy.
Who said what? Dr Rajiv Raman from Sankara Nethralaya said information like age, gender, and duration of diabetes is used to determine the risk of diabetic retinopathy. Ægir Þór Steinarsson, the CEO of RetinaRisk, said this algorithm was first introduced in 2009 in countries like the US, South Africa, and the Netherlands.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you ever tried your hand at playing golf?
- Yes, I have played golf.
- No, I haven’t played golf.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s your favourite smell?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- The new integrated terminal will undergo some changes before all international operations are shifted.
- Citizens demanded the Fort Station lights be switched off during the day.
- Read the documented history of Marina Beach’s Loop Road.
- Perungalathur-Puzhal elevated stretch of the Chennai bypass will soon get LED lights.
- A ₹5,000 fine will be imposed for delays in relaying roads post-milling.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!