Chennai Buzz: Plans for new e-vehicle charging stations | Street vendors survey underway…and more!

Other news in this weekly recap: Cold weather pulls down electricity demand; GCC to notify area delimitation; new ground handlers at Chennai airport.

Cooler weather in Chennai reduces the demand for electricity

Owing to cooler weather, the electricity demand decreased by 20% in Chennai, pegged at 2141 MW on November 23rd. The city has been experiencing below-normal temperatures due to low pressure in the north of Tamil Nadu on the Bay of Bengal.

TANGEDCO sources say that the electricity demand has reduced due to less usage of air-conditioners in Chennai. Usually, the monsoon season sees a power demand of 2500 MW-2700 MW in the city. On November 20th, a Sunday, the electricity consumption came down to 2013 MW because workplaces were closed in the city.

Source: DT Next


Read more: How to keep the electricity bill of your Chennai home in check


Chennai Corporation to notify area delimitation for area sabhas in January

By the end of November, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) aims to notify delimitation of 2000 areas for area sabhas to be held in January 2023. GCC officials hope that area sabhas will increase voting percentages in Chennai as they will encourage greater civic participation.

The civic body is drawing the area maps, such that no building complex gets divided into two areas. After the notification is complete, the council will nominate 10 members for each ward committee. GCC officials stated that they were open to feedback from the residents on the manner in which the areas sabhas are conducted and tweak the process if there are valid concerns raised by them.

Source: The Hindu

Initiative to install universal e-vehicle charging stations across Chennai

GCC aims to bring e-vehicle manufacturers to install universal charging stations across the city in 88 locations. TANGEDCO is doing a feasibility study for the same. Currently, each e-vehicle company has their own charging station with different dynamics, and some stations do not ensure fast charging.

The civic body is urging the e-vehicle manufacturers to create universal fast-charging ports and would give land for the same. These stations will come up in public parking lots and buildings.

The city administration hopes that the universal charging stations would encourage people to switch to using electric vehicles.

Source: The Hindu | The Times of India


Read more: Can electric vehicles check rising carbon emissions in Chennai?


City airport to become more efficient in handling baggage and passengers

long queue at the Chennai airport
Chennai airport employs agencies to improve passenger experience. Pic: Srini Swaminathan

Celibi Airport Services India and Globe Ground India have been appointed as the Ground Handling Agencies (GHAs) at Chennai International Airport by the Airports Authority of India.

The airport already has another GHA – AI Airport Services Limited (AIASL). The two new agencies would work to decrease passenger and baggage check-in time, along with AIASL. The airlines have the option to select from the three available GHAs.

The new agencies will start functioning from January 2023 and aim to bring advanced technology to improve the standards of handling flights. Moreover, this will increase job opportunities, since the two new GHAs will appoint 4000 employees in various positions.

Source: The New Indian Express

GCC starts street vendor survey in its zones

The civic body has begun to survey the street vendors and issue ID cards and sale certificates to them. The survey is expected to end on December 21st. In its initial phase in July, 35,000 vendors were registered via a mobile app, facilitated by the zonal field workers, and received their ID cards.

To register with the Chennai Corporation, a vendor must provide personal information, details on the nature of business, bank details, ration card and Aadhaar card. Registration with the civic body will help vendors benefit from the government’s various welfare schemes.

Source: DT Next

[Compiled by Padmaja Jayaraman]

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