Articles by News Desk

‘At risk’ travellers to be tested on arrival  Passengers arriving to the Chennai airport from ‘at risk’ countries, where the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been detected, will be subject to additional screening. Those who reach Chennai from Europe, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel have been deemed ‘at-risk’. The passengers from these countries will undergo a rapid PCR test which would take 30 minutes to provide results. The test would cost Rs 3400. They also have the option of taking the regular PCT test at Rs 700.  A special corridor…

Maharashtra issues revised air travel guidelines On December 2nd, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope announced revisions to air travel guidelines for domestic flights. Details will be released by the State government in the next couple of days, amid concerns over the Omicron variant of coronavirus. This comes a day after the Centre asked the State to align its order with the SOPs issued by the Union Health Ministry. Institutional quarantine has been mandated for passengers from high-risk countries, notably, South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. As of December 3rd, the State government confirmed that fully vaccinated domestic fliers will not require…

India will resume international flights from December The Civil Aviation Ministry in a statement on November 26th announced that, after consultation with the Ministries of Home Affairs, External Affairs and Health and Family Welfare, scheduled commercial international passenger services will resume from December 15th. Scheduled international flights were suspended since March 23rd last year when the pandemic began. However, special international passenger flights have operated since July 2020, under air bubble arrangements formed with about 28 countries. The Health Ministry had at one time put countries in Europe, including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New…

Concrete walls around drains to fight floods Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai approved a proposal by the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) to build concrete retaining walls around 88.5 km of stormwater drains (SWD) in the city. The project, costing Rs 962 crore, or as much as Rs 10.86 crore per km, is expected to free 58 low-lying areas from flood vulnerability. However, ecologists countered that concretisation would lead to fast surface runoff and also hinder the percolation of water into the ground, leading to flooding. The need of the hour is a more integrated and holistic approach to water management, they…

Revenue sharing under consideration for bus terminals The Chennai Metropolitan Development authority is looking into the feasibility of a revenue-sharing model for Kilambakkam, Kuthambakkam and Madhavaram bus terminals. It is also exploring how best to use the Koyambedu bus terminal and the omni bus terminal when the south and west bound buses start operations out of Kilambakkam. Tenders have been issued as the planning body is looking for a concessionaire to operate and maintain the three bus terminals. The bidder can earn revenue through various means such as parking charges, rent from shops and dorms and through advertisements.  A similar…

Mumbai schools to reopen from December 1st The State government announced on November 25th that physical classes will resume for students from class 1 to 12, effective from December 1st. “After discussing with the CM, cabinet and paediatric task force, the state cabinet has decided to reopen schools from classes 1-4 in rural areas and classes 1-7 in urban areas from December 1. We are committed to the safe resumption of schools,” Maharashtra education minister Varsha Gaikwad told ANI. Reactions from parents ranged from relief to hesitancy. “We also need to mentally prepare younger children to go to school and…

Controversial farm laws repealed after a year of protests On the morning of November 19th, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation and announced that all three farm laws that the Centre had introduced a year ago will be now be repealed in view of the stiff opposition of farmers. The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act had sparked the largest protest in India's history. The protest, led by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) at Delhi's border,…

Half of Chennai without stormwater drains; sewer lines helped clear floodwater In the aftermath of the recent spell of rains that inundated the city, questions are being asked of the stormwater drain network that should have prevented water-logging. Data shows that more than half the city still doesn’t have a robust, well-connected network of drains, causing flooding during monsoons. The city has 2058 km of drains, which is less than 50% of the area that should be covered to prevent water-logging. In the absence of stormwater drains, data from the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has revealed…

BDA to call global tenders for fresh Master Plan The BDA (Bangalore Development Authority) will begin to call global tenders for a fresh Master Plan for the city in a week. The new plan is expected to be ready by mid-2023. The previously drafted RMP (Revised Master Plan) 2031 was supposed to guide the city's development until 2031, but was scrapped by the BDA last year following objections from the public. A focus area for the new Master Plan 2031 would be to boost TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) along the city's transit corridors, especially along the Metro rail and the upcoming…

First ‘pod’ hotel at Mumbai Central railway station Indian railways’ first pod hotel was inaugurated at Mumbai Central station on Wednesday, November 17th, by Raosaheb Danve, minister of state of railways. The hotel is spread over 3000 square feet and is located on the first floor of the station building, with facilities such as 48 capsule-like rooms and separate pods for women and differently-abled persons. Affordable overnight accommodation is also available. For 12 hours, passengers will have to pay Rs 999, and Rs 1,999 for 24 hours.  Source: Hindustan Times Private hospital in Mumbai becomes first provide free COVID-19 vaccination …