Health workers hold protests

Even as the city continues its battle against the Coronavirus outbreak, several health workers held a protest at the Directorate of Medical Services seeking permanent employment.

The Tamil Nadu government appointed 3,000 health workers at a consolidated salary with promise of permanent employee status a few years after service.

The State Health Minister had promised in 2019 that workers who completed five years of service would be made permanent. One year since the announcement was made, there has been no action on the promise, resulting in protests by the workers.

Source: The Hindu

Waste water reclamation plant to be ready in March

In a bid to recycle wastewater generated by industries, the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) plans to begin a trial run of the tertiary treatment ultra-filtration project in March at two locations. 

The works to build wastewater reclamation plants at Nesapakkam and Perungudi is ongoing. While the plant at Nesapakkam would be ready in March, the one in Perungudi will be completed in June. The plants can treat 10 MLD each and the treated water would be let into Porur and Perungudi lakes which will again be treated at the respective treatment plants and distributed across the city.

CMWSSB officials note that this project will help Chennai in becoming a water-resilient city as the need for freshwater will reduce. The project will also pump in water to the lakes throughout the year which thereby recharges the groundwater table. 

Source: The Hindu

DPR submitted for new traffic project

To meet the traffic demands in the city, the Chennai Smart City Limited has submitted a detailed project report for the proposed Intelligent Transport Systems Installation project. After seeking approval from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and TN government, who are funding the project, the tenders will be floated before the end of February.

The project is estimated to cost Rs 660 crore, of which JICA will invest Rs 465 crore, the state government will contribute Rs 195 crore. Some of the components of the project are Chennai Traffic Information System, Traffic Management System and City Bus System. 

As part of the initiative, Adaptive Traffic Signal Control System (ATCS) at 165 junctions will be set up. It is a solution-based technology that adapts the timings of traffic lights depending on the real-time traffic conditions to optimise the flow of traffic. 

Source: The New Indian Express

Multi-level parking at airport to be ready by April

With the two multi-level parking projects nearing completion at the Chennai Airport, the work to lay the approach road was kicked off last week. The two facilities constructed on either side of the Airport Metro Station is expected to be connected by a bridge. This arrangement makes it easy to park and access the terminal without having the need to exit.

The work is likely to be completed by April and after the inauguration the old parking system will be rolled back. The new facilities is constructed at a cost of Rs 250 crore and can accommodate 2,000 cars.

Source: The Times of India

[Compiled by Bhavani Prabhakar]