Articles by Raghukumar Choodamani

Recently, there’s been news that the new traffic challan system will mandate a Rs 10,000 penalty on old or new vehicles if owners don't acquire the Pollution Under Control (PUC) certification on time. To tackle expired certificates, the system will use CCTV surveillance to identify non-compliant vehicles and flag them for blacklisting from registration. The rule ultimately has several drawbacks, given the difficulty in acquiring PUC certificates in the first place. The number of PUC centres in Chennai has reduced drastically with only a handful still operational. Only the petrol bunk-owned PUC centres charge the customers based on the tariff…

The way the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was conducted in Tamil Nadu, especially in Chennai, has laid bare the lacunae in the system. For residents, who were not able to cast their votes despite having valid Voter ID cards, it seemed nothing short of a sham. Every time before the elections, the electoral rolls are updated by Election Commission of India (ECI) officials. Instead of deputing people who are working full-time within the ECI, the work is outsourced to government employees drawn from schools, colleges or other agencies. These ECI staff, who come from distant locations,…

Getting up early in the morning and picking up the Aavin milk packets delivered to our doorsteps or queuing up at milk booths are vignettes from everyday life that most long-time residents of Chennai have grown up with. But of late, the exercise of getting a regular supply of milk from the State-owned milk co-operative is riddled with obstacles. Many residents have been facing problems in renewing their monthly milk card subscriptions online.  People who are well-versed in using smartphones and other digital devices may not have any major issues in renewing their cards online. But it is not the…

Obstructing pedestrians and commuters is an offence under Section 201 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Though the laws are spelt out, neither the local administration nor enforcement agencies have taken measures to implement the laws against illegal parking on roads and wrongful occupation of footpaths, in the interest of the public in Chennai.   Footpaths are usurped by restaurants, commercial establishments and street vendors to serve vested interests. Illegal parking on footpaths is rampant across our city and beyond. The local officials themselves seem to be ignorant of the rule of law, and claim that the footpath is owned by…

We have been witnessing the impact of climate change over the last few years. Flooding, inundation and subsequent power cuts have become routine during every monsoon. The poor road infrastructure makes matters worse for residents already grappling with the problems brought on by floods. Over a decade ago, the State government made milling a mandatory requirement for every road that is being resurfaced in Chennai.  However, none of the contractors or local officials adhere to the specifications laid down by the Indian Road Congress. Proper gradient and camber are not being maintained while resurfacing the roads and the height of…

Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) from Chennai and its suburban areas made some pertinent observations and suggestions regarding public transport and commuting in the city during the consultative meeting arranged by the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) late last month to discuss the Comprehensive Mobility Plan. These included — smooth access to railway stations and bus stops through walkways and skywalks; ample parking areas that are accessible to all including persons with disabilities; electronic display boards on buses; last-mile connectivity; EV charging points for commuters and much more.         In my capacity as Secretary of the Alliance of Residents Welfare Associations…

Every year, November and December have been the most devastating months for Chennai when it comes to natural calamities. Our city has long been known for its susceptibility to a long list of natural disasters: cyclones, storm surges, coastal flooding, torrential rainfall, earthquakes and tsunamis. After the 2015 deluge in Chennai, the then administration had acknowledged the fact that the incomplete Storm Water Drainage (SWD) network was one of the main reasons for the disaster, which claimed over 470 lives.Most of the problems faced by the residents in Chennai have existed for decades. Inadequate and poorly managed basic infrastructure has…

Every time motorists or pedestrians pass by Sembudoss street and Armenian street in George Town, they feel like they are part of a hurdle race that never seems to end. Apart from the fact that many of the roads in the locality are riddled with potholes, manhole covers which are protruding out on the road add to the misery of citizens. These unscientifically built structures that are quite a few inches above ground, pose a threat to commuters.  Apart from George Town, these utility hole chambers that are used for covering the underground drainage pipes, can be seen in several…

தற்போதைய நிர்வாகம் கடந்த சில ஆண்டுகளாக சென்னை முழுவதும் பல உள்கட்டமைப்பு மேம்பாட்டு நடவடிக்கைகளை மேற்கொண்டுள்ளது. இந்த நேரத்தில் சாலைகள் புதுப்பிக்கப்பட்டு மழைநீர் வடிகால் (SWDs) கட்டப்பட்டுள்ளன. பெரம்பூர் சுற்றுப்புற மேம்பாட்டு மன்றத்தின் உறுப்பினர்கள், உள்ளாட்சி அதிகாரிகள் மற்றும் ஒப்பந்ததாரர்களுடன் நெருக்கமாக ஈடுபட்டு, சென்னையில் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும் குடிமராமத்து பணிகளின் தரத்தை கண்காணித்து, அவை நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்ட தரத்தில் உள்ளதா என்பதை உறுதி செய்து வருகின்றனர். வீதிகள் அமைப்பது உட்பட பல வேலைகளை மேற்கொள்ளும் போது, ​​குடிமைப் பிரிவினரும், ஒப்பந்ததாரர்களும் உரிய நடைமுறைகளைக் கடைப்பிடிக்கத் தவறிவிட்டனர் என்பதே இந்த நேரத்தில் எங்களின் அவதானிப்பு. எங்களால் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும் கண்காணிப்பின் பல நிகழ்வுகளில் தரமற்ற பொருட்கள் மற்றும் தரமற்ற வேலைப்பாடு ஆகியவற்றில் சிக்கல்கள் உள்ளன. Read more: North Chennai roads turn into an obstacle course for commuters சென்னையில் உள்கட்டமைப்பு மேம்பாட்டு பணிகள் தணிக்கையின் போது மோசமான சாலை தரம் காணப்பட்டது தமிழக தலைமைச் செயலாளர், தமிழக முதல்வர்…

Our river beds are mined and mountains are being destroyed continuously to build new roads and restore the existing ones all over the country. Indiscriminate & excessive mining can lead to deforestation, soil erosion and water pollution. This can result in the destruction of habitats for wildlife, which can have serious ecological consequences in the long term. However, sustainability is an aspect that is not often considered when carrying out civic work in Chennai and across the country. While infrastructure development is crucial to achieving economic growth, what we are getting to see is temporary cosmetic makeovers. There is no…