Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 37 ℃ | Low: 29 ℃ | Hot and sunny for today.
🧐 Did you know? In the upcoming election, Chennai has the highest number of polling stations in the state at nearly 3,800.
🌃 Chennai’s growth story
Researchers have stated that Chennai’s ongoing growth story has helped create a new way of understanding urban sprawl.
What’s it about? An international group of researchers published their findings in Habitat International after examining the rise of regions within the St Thomas Mount panchayat union. They said the city’s ongoing growth trajectory can be a blueprint for urban planning.
- They analysed how communities developed on the edges of the city where urban and rural areas meet. It could help develop plans tailored to other Indian cities and countries in the Global South.
- They identified elements that form the “peri-urban turn” noted by the ambiguity on the demarcation of urban and rural areas. They used causal loop diagrams to map connections between the economy, health, and demographics.
The urban sprawl: Rapid urbanisation has resulted in the prevalence of urban sprawls, particularly in the Global South. It has created peri-urban areas where the city meets the country.
👩🍳 Food tales
Food connoisseur Varsha Panjabi’s series The Travelling Chef chronicles her love for different cuisines.
What’s it about? What began during the lockdown to experiment with cuisines from different countries has become The Travelling Chef series. Varsha visits homes and hotels to cook and taste different dishes and post them online.
- Varsha visits any place where food is celebrated, be it a 5-star hotel or a farmer’s house. Her mission is to learn new recipes, recreate them and pay homage to those who cook. It’s a way to commemorate the culinary world and the creators.
- Her expertise lies in several cuisines of states like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, and international cuisines like Korean, Italian, and Mexican.
What’s next? She’s documenting recipes learnt from other chefs with a plan to write a coffee table book containing anecdotes and messages from chefs. She also plans to launch a YouTube channel to review hotels and restaurants.
📃 Anna Nagar’s demands
Residents of Anna Nagar petitioned central Chennai MP candidates on flood mitigation-related issues.
What’s it about? The Federation of Anna Nagar Residents Associations (FOARR) wants candidates to focus on flood-mitigation efforts like reviving the 10.5-km-long Otteri Nullah and building effective stormwater drains. A letter was shared with DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran and BJP candidate Vinoj P Selvam.
- The Ayapakkam, Ambattur, Kolathur, and Villivakkam Lakes drain into the Nullah, which has shrunk due to encroachments. During heavy rainfall, the channel floods the 1st, 3rd, and 6th avenues in Anna Nagar.
- Among the demands are cut-and-cover drains on New Aavadi Road, from the Padi flyover to the 3rd Avenue diversion channel to the Cooum and 5th Avenue.
Only way to reduce flooding: Residents feel reviving the Nullah and new stormwater drains on all 30-foot roads from L to Z blocks is the only way to reduce flooding.
👩💻 Last-minute campaigning
As campaigning nears its end in the state, get-out-the-vote teams spread across the city to convince the undecideds.
What’s it about? The last day of campaigning is upon us, and parties have deployed teams across the city to sway and woo voters. The “war rooms” employ young engineers and content creators to set targets and goals in covering and reaching as many people and real estate as possible in the final hours.
- Political consultancy groups include trained lawyers, social workers, MBAs, and former journalists. They gather data from at least 1,000 voters each morning. They also interface with voters through group discussions.
- As campaigning enters the final day, deadlines are tight to create and release content. Social media, YouTube, and WhatsApp groups are among the most popular ways to spread the message.
Data analytics: This team analyses the work and provides feedback and suggestions to tweak messaging. They also prepare charts using voter data to predict the outcome.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Did you stick posters on your wall growing up?
- I did stick posters on my wall growing up.
- I didn’t stick posters on my wall growing up.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Which historical period are you most interested in?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- In Chennai South, the salient issues among voters include flood mitigation, traffic, and infrastructure.
- Kattupalli Kuppam families have announced a poll boycott over issues with the L&T and Adani Kattupalli ports.
- Electric bus brand NueGo announced a new long-haul air-conditioned sleeper bus service between Chennai and Bengaluru.
- IIT Madras has partnered with two German universities to launch an international MA programme on water security and global change.
- Chennai is among the top Indian cities, along with Mumbai, in industrial and warehousing space absorption.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I wear sunglasses when I go out: 23.1%
- I don’t wear sunglasses when I go out: 76.9% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great day!