Articles by News Desk

Air pollution in Delhi reaches hazardous levels post-Diwali The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi reached an alarming 1645 at 1 am on Friday, November 5th, a day after Diwali. AQI data revealed that, post 6pm on Diwali, the air quality in the city worsened, as firecrackers were burst across the city. Citizens complained of itchy throats and watery eyes. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and beyond, ‘severe.’   Source: Times of India Read more: Delhi: Super commission fiddles while…

Mumbai set to get its first new rail corridor in 100 years For the first time in a century, Central railway is set to build a new railway corridor of 17.5 km all the way to South Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). The project will demolish over 700 structures, rebuilding many that are on the route and diverting the old harbour line to P D’Mello Road. Source: Mid-Day Read more: Mumbai is not fully open until the trains start running Diwali crackers in full force in Mumbai despite strict Supreme Court curbs Representative Image | Source: Wikicommons Despite a…

Door delivery of govt services launched State government has launched two initiatives - ‘Janasevaka’ (peoples’ servant), and ‘Janaspandana’, an IPGRS (Integrated Public Grievance Redressal System) - to deliver government services at the doorsteps of citizens. These services are modelled after the Delhi government’s doorstep service delivery scheme. Janasevaka can help citizens avail of 56 government services at their doorsteps. These include home delivery of ration at subsidised rates, of Aadhaar card, caste certificate, income certificate, senior citizen card, BBMP khatha transfer and health card. Source: Indian Express Markets crowded, cracker sales brisk for Deepavali Though heavy rains played spoilsport on Deepavali, shoppers…

Translated by Sandhya Raju from the original Tamil Press Release by GCC Chennai District Election Officer and Chennai Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi jointly released the draft electoral poll list for Chennai, in the presence of the party representatives, earlier this week. The electoral list includes eligible voters from the 16 constituencies, as of January 1st, 2022. This list is available at 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13 zonal offices for public view. The public has been requested to check the draft list for addition, modification or deletion. First-time voters whose names have still not been included or who…

Velachery and Koyambedu flyovers open to public Two much-awaited infrastructure projects in the city were inaugurated by Chief Minister M K Stalin earlier this week. One arm of the Velachery flyover and a 1.15-km long Koyambedu flyover were thrown open for public use.  The Koyambedu flyover has been under construction since 2015. The project saw several delays as the authorities had to work around the heavy flow of traffic along this route and due to issues with land acquisition. The project cost a total of Rs 93.5 crore. The COVID-19 lockdown helped accelerate the pace of completion as most vehicles…

இந்திய தேர்தல் ஆணையத்தின் உத்தரவின்படி, சென்னை மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ளடக்கிய 16 சட்டமன்ற தொகுதிகளுக்கான வரைவு வாக்காளர் பட்டியலை மாவட்ட தேர்தல் அலுவலர் / அரசு முதன்மை செயலாளர் / பெருநகர சென்னை மாநகராட்சி ஆணையாளர் திரு. ககன்தீப் சிங் பேடி, இ.ஆ.ப., அவர்கள் இன்று (01.11.2021) ரிப்பன் மாளிகை கூட்டரங்கில் அனைத்து கட்சி பிரமுகர்கள் முன்னிலையில் வெளியிட்டார். இந்திய தேர்தல் ஆணையத்தின் உத்தரவின்படி சென்னை மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ளடக்கிய 16 சட்டமன்றத் தொகுதிகளுக்கான வாக்காளர் பட்டியல் 01.01.2022- ஆம் தேதியினை தகுதி ஏற்படுத்தும் நாளாகக் கொண்டு 2022-ஆம் ஆண்டின் சிறப்பு சுருக்க முறை திருத்தம் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டு வருகிறது. இச்சுருக்க முறை திருத்தம் தொடர்பாக வரைவு வாக்காளர் பட்டியல் இன்று 01.11.2021 வெளியிடப்படுகிறது. மேற்படி வரைவு வாக்காளர் பட்டியல் பெருநகர சென்னை மாநகராட்சி மண்டல அலுவலகங்கள் 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13 மற்றும் வாக்குச்சாவடி மையங்களிலும் பொதுமக்களின் பார்வைக்கு வைக்கப்படும்.…

Delhi bans diesel gensets as AQI tanks Delhi reported an AQI (air quality index) between 82 and 268 on October 28th, coaxing The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to ban the use of diesel generator sets and enhancing parking fees by up to four times in Delhi-NCR. These measures were listed under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), according to an official order. According to an assessment by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Delhi is under threat of an air quality emergency as stubble fires are expected to peak during Diwali, when air pollution levels generally rise.  “Actions…

BMTC app to be relaunched in four months The BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation) app to track buses will be relaunched on February 26, 2022, with a new ITS (Intelligence Transport System). The project, funded by the Nirbhaya scheme, had been delayed due to COVID, said BMTC MD V Anbukumar. The app would give a range of information, from vehicle tracking to driver behaviour, seat occupancy and CCTV footage. Meanwhile, a study by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) showed that, assuming 30% electric vehicle (EV) penetration within BBMP limits, there will be a demand for…

Metro to issue QR code-based tickets The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is set to issue QR code-based tickets that will enable contactless travel. The QR code is to be printed on paper tickets. The Metro currently uses a token system where the reusable tokens are sanitised after each use.  The QR code-based tickets will also ensure adherence to COVID safety norms as customers no longer have to handle the tokens. The tickets can also be printed at ticket vending machines unlike the tokens which are issued only at counters. Trials are ongoing for the seamless rollout of QR code-based…

Central Railway may stop issuing daily Mumbai local train tickets The Railways may stop issuing daily tickets for Mumbai local trains. This comes a day after the state government issued an order allowing fully vaccinated citizens to travel through local trains by issuing only monthly, quarterly, and half-yearly passes.  "We might not issue daily tickets to anyone. Yet we are still having internal discussions on the same before we finalize the same," a railway official told The Free Press journal.  Source: Indian Express, The Free Press Journal 14 more bridges in Mumbai to undergo repairs After the collapse of the…