City: Chennai

As the Convener of the Perambur Neighborhood Development Forum and an active citizen journalist, I have spent the past few years auditing the public infrastructure across the city. I have regularly shared the findings from my observations with the community through digital, social and print media. A few days ago, I visited the Vyasarpadi Jeeva Railway Station to conduct an on-the-spot audit on the state of its public infrastructure. Here is what I found:  Vyasarpadi Jeeva Railway Station. Pic: Raghukumar Choodamani. Lifts and foot overbridge The concrete steps on the existing foot overbridge, located on the platform, are dilapidated and…

"I have been interested in politics ever since I was a 10-year-old girl as my family has been part of DMK for generations," says Pavithra Nareshkumar, Councillor of Ward 43 in Chennai, speaking about her political journey. She spoke to Citizen Matters about the measures she has taken to address the civic issues in Ward 43 of Chennai, especially for flood mitigation and improving underground drainage systems in the ward. Ward 43 Name of Councillor: Pavithra Nareshkumar Party: DMK Age: Educational Qualification: Contact: 9445467043 / 8939536466 Pallavan Nagar slum, Nagooran Thottam, Thideer Nagar, Kasipuram, Pudhumanai Kuppam, Singaravelar slum and Chokkalingam…

“A democracy masterclass is brewing in North Chennai, where children are showing the way for the 200 ward councillors of the Greater Chennai Corporation,” says Charu Govindan, Founder and Convener at Voice of People. For around six years, her collective has advocated for Area Sabhas, which many councillors conveniently skip to avoid meeting the residents.  But Bala Sabhas, led by child councillors in North Chennai for over a year, are pushing for real change. They have prompted the installation of new street lights and barbed wire fencing at a local GCC school in Tondiarpet, for example.  What is a Bala…

On January 6 2025, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) launched the ‘Singara Chennai’ smart card, enabling cashless transactions not only on MTC buses but also on metro trains in Chennai. It can be used in Bengaluru and Delhi too, which accept the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC). In the first phase of the rollout, MTC has partnered with the State Bank of India (SBI) and plans to distribute 50,000 cards free of charge. Within the first 15 days, MTC sold around 11,000 cards. One of the challenges faced by MTC bus conductors and passengers is ensuring the correct change for…

Plastic has been in use for about 120 years, initially invented in 1862 to replace elephant ivory and tortoise shells. The first synthetic plastic, made from cellulose nitrate, was a commercial success. Despite its usefulness, there is a dire need to restrict unnecessary plastic use. Certain types of plastic need to be eliminated altogether. Polyethylene bags, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, and polystyrene food containers are among the worst offenders. One million plastic bottles are sold worldwide every minute, while 500 billion single-use plastic bags are used every year, and this number is projected to increase. After a single use, many…

In October 2023, Alby John Varghese, a 2013-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, took charge as the Managing Director of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) in Chennai. His appointment marked a significant shift, as an IAS official had not helmed the government body for over two decades. From implementing an electronic ticketing system that now accounts for 99.5% of transactions, to expanding social welfare schemes like the Vidiyal Payanam Scheme and the Singara Chennai Mobility Card, Alby's tenure has been marked by a strong emphasis on improving efficiency and passenger experience. In an interview with Citizen Matters, Alby offers an…

Ramesh S, a resident of Perambur, stands at his local bus stop, waiting to start his daily commute. A beat-up Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus, painted pink at the front and rear, arrives, emitting visible black smoke from its exhaust. The fumes and unpleasant smell make him cough. In 2023-24, the average age of MTC buses was 9.61 years as opposed to the recommended 9 years. With the addition of a few new buses into the fleet in 2024, this improved to 7.56 years, yet the overall situation remains concerning. The new buses still run on fossil fuel and the…

As the first light of dawn paints the sky in hues of orange and gold, 17-year-old Ravi steps out of his home. The cool breeze brushes his face as he walks towards the expansive, 150-acre Sembakkam Lake for his morning bath. Millipedes and blanket worms scuttle across the road, their movements as steady as a train on its tracks. A flock of white pelicans glides across the sky as he nears the lake, where a few people fish in the serene waters. After his bath, Ravi returns home to prepare for college. This was M Ravi's experience as a young…

AP Poornima, a physician by profession and Councillor of Ward 87 in Chennai, says she was always drawn to politics. Her political journey began early, starting as a class leader in school and later becoming a student councillor in college. "It has always been my passion to enter politics," she says. "Gone are the days when only people with less educational qualifications made politics their career. Many youngsters get the opportunity to contest in elections these days and I see it as a good sign," she adds. Ward 87 Name of Councillor: Dr AP Poornima Party: DMK Age: 32 Educational…

On December 22nd last year, the Chennai District Collector and the Joint Chief Environmental Engineer of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) abruptly left Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Maligai in Ennore in the middle of a public hearing. The reason? Chaos and backlash from the local communities of Ennore, who wanted to voice their concerns regarding the Ennore Thermal Power Station (ETPS) Expansion Project. Since the meeting, the unrest has persisted, with many attendees saying they were not allowed to participate, express their views, or raise their concerns. Of the 44 people who spoke at the hearing, only two were women.…