Phase 1 of Chennai Metro to be fully functional this weekend

The entire stretch of 45 km comprising Phase 1 of Chennai Metro will become fully functional starting this Sunday, February 10th. Prime Minister Modi during his visit to the state will inaugurate the final leg of Phase 1 connecting AG-DMS to Washermanpet.  The final 10-km stretch from AG-DMS to Washermanpet will be entirely underground and have stations at Washermanpet, Mannady, Madras High Court, Chennai Central, Government Estate, LIC, Thousand Lights and AG-DMS.

The construction of Chennai Metro Rail’s phase I project built at a cost of ₹14,600 crore has been on for nearly seven years now.

Meanwhile, more than 1.7 lakh metro commuters have used the feeder services – share autos and taxis in the last 6 months. CMRL will extend this service to all other stations as well with the completion of the entire stretch on Phase 1.

CMRL has also introduced battery car services at the Chennai Central Metro for the elderly to cover the 500 m long distance from the entry point at Ripon building to the AFC gate where the smart cards are swiped for entry to access the metro.

Source: The Hindu | Times of India

Desilting of lakes to begin soon

The long pending desilting project in lakes is finally set to begin in two months. With this, the three major lakes in Red Hills, Poondi and Chembarambakkam, which constitute a primary source of drinking water for the city, are expected to have improved storage capacities. Bids will be called next week for executing civil works in these lakes, including strengthening of the lake bund and improving channels that bring inflow to the waterbodies.

The lakes in Red Hills, Poondi and Chembarambakkam would be desilted perhaps for the first time in many decades.

Meanwhile, in a shocking revelation, an NGO audit revealed that the corporation has restored only one of 15 ponds. The audit said the storm water drain department had called for tenders in August last year to restore 15 ponds at a cost of Rs 7.16 crore, including nine in the OMR area, out of which only one has been restored.

Source: The Hindu | Times of India

Krishna water to quench city’s thirst

In what could bring relief for city residents, Krishna water is likely to reach the state border this weekend. The Andhra Pradesh government released nearly 900 cusecs of water into the Kandaleru-Poondi canal on Wednesday for irrigation purpose.

A portion of the water discharged from the Kandaleru reservoir in Andhra Pradesh will reach the canal’s inter-State border in Uthukottai in Tiruvallur district. The water release is crucial as drinking water supply has dropped to 550 million litres on alternate days.

Meanwhile, the Water Resources Department is proposing to draw water from Vayalur and Alapakkam in Kancheepuram district and bring it to the city through a pipeline.

Source: The Hindu

App to trace stolen mobiles

The next time you plan to buy a used mobile, it will be easier to ascertain if it was a stolen piece. Chennai police’s new mobile app will help tell a buyer if the mobile phone they have purchased second hand is a stolen one or not.

According to police, victims of cell phone theft can register their complaints with the police, mentioning the respective IMEI number along with the phone number; once this is done, should it be resold as a second hand piece, the new buyer will get an SMS stating that the phone had been stolen immediately as he enters a SIM card. The app will also notify the complainant that their mobile has been traced.

Source: The New Indian Express

City set to grow vertically 

The state government notification to increase the FSI will not only pave way for dense vertical growth but will also reduce the cost of flats in the urban centre. There will be a uniform set of rules for development and building rules applicable to all parts of the state, and rules regarding planning and building permit have been compacted into a single document.

The authorities have also ensured that deviations from construction rules shall be curtailed with mandatory inspections both at the plinth and last storey levels.

Source: The Hindu

Chennai flyovers to have vertical gardens

As part of the beautification drive, Chennai Corporation has started installing vertical gardens on flyover pillars. The pilot project has begun on the G N Chetty Road flyover at T Nagar which will have a mix of green and red leafy plants. Eight of the twenty pillars will be covered with plants. The initiative has been planned based on the similar projects at Bengaluru and Nagpur.

Source: The Times of India

Permanent houses for pavement dwellers

Around 2000 homeless families living on the pavements and streets at T Nagar, Egmore, Chepauk, Koyambedu, Choolai, Waltax road and Annasalai will soon be moving to new houses provided by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board. The families will be moved to permanent housing in TNSCB tenements in Perumbakkam, Thiruvottiyur, Seven Wells and 40 other localities where construction is in progress. It is to be noted that the houses were allotted last in 1980.

Source: The Times of India

[Compiled by Sandhya Raju]