City: Chennai

This is in continuation to my  previous blog post. A median made up of concrete blocks was originally installed between the Venkatraman Canal Street - Perambur High Road intersection  to the Perambur High Road - Madhavaram High Road intersection. This median existed until 2015 elections before it was removed, further details relating to this matter can be found in the link above. After repeated follow ups with the AE BRR, AC Traffic and the Zonal Office, a temporary median made of concrete blocks and metal barricades was set up for a small length on the road in front of the…

"What is the budget allocated to my ward? How many roads will get relaid this year in my area? This waterbody in my ward needs to be desilted, can we add it to the works" I could rightfully ask these questions and give my suggestions for my area said Charu, Raji, Meera, Sakthi and Jothi, the members of Voice of People. But how? As we celebrated this August 15th, our 73rd Independence day, maybe it is time we got into the spirit of what independence truly is. We are continuing in this journey as passive bystanders, appalled at the quality…

Picture a Chennai where buses are the fastest and most regular means of transport for short distances. Where bus stops are seamlessly aligned and you won't ever have to run after a bus that has overshot its designated stop or has come to a halt a good few metres before the stop. You don't ever have to haggle with the conductor over small change, because you can purchase your ticket prior to boarding. Wouldn't you automatically opt for a bus in such a scenario, instead of stressing yourself out at the driver's wheel in the midst of crazy traffic? Well,…

What makes governmental arrogance worse – media ignorance or just plain indifference? I refer to the claim, made through a press statement, that new-generation MTC and other Tamil Nadu transport corporation buses will provide access to persons with disabilities. Global good practice on universal access requires low floor buses, designated wheelchair spaces in the bus, and minimal effort for disabled users. This contraption from MTC is a reflogged idea from the time A P Shah was in the Madras High Court and ordered MTC to come up with some form of disability access. The truth is, they didn’t, and couldn’t care…

Besides showcasing the architectural expertise and aesthetics of their time, temple tanks also play an extremely important role as water storage systems in Chennai. Chennai has 39 temple tanks (excluding the suburban area) according to a study conducted in 2008.  As the rains arrived, a few temple tanks in the city were filled to the brim with water, thus helping in groundwater recharge while offering a spectacular view for devotees. "Most temples were designed to include tanks, an indigenous way of ensuring water management as part of religion and ritual. These tanks were dug by the benefactors and philanthropists," said…

There we go again, asking everyone to celebrate Chennai, for Madras Week is just around the corner (August 18-25, 2019). The cynics we are sure, must be already practising their counter chorus beginning with the usual litany – Chennai was not founded in 1639, the weather here is uniformly bad, there is a perennial water crisis, the roads are terrible, the civic body inactive and the traffic chaotic. To all of this we agree in toto but these in our view do not in any way detract from the fact that there are several aspects to Chennai that are sufficient…

Comply with helmet rule or shell out Rs.1000 as fine The city traffic police will soon start levying fines on two wheelers that violate the helmet rule, as per the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill. To avoid confrontation with the public, the police have issued a warning to adhere to the rule or shell out Rs.1000 as fine (up 10x from the current fine of Rs 100).  The police have said that there needs to be an attitudinal shift in the mindset among the public, that safety is more important than convenience or fashion. According to the new rule, pillion riders must…

"Will you walk into my parlour?" Said the spider to the fly. "I've spread a carpet of silk and diamonds! Walk in, and don't be shy! Do come along, for I grow thinner... I've LOVE to have you, ahem, for dinner!" Jokes apart, Funnel Web Spiders also called Wolf Spiders, are named because of the funnel-like web they weave...and the second name is given because they are ferocious predators. They build a flat sheet of nonsticky web with a funnel-shaped retreat to one side or occasionally in the middle, depending on the situation and species. The typical hunting mode is…

To enhance awareness on road safety and emerge as an accident-free nation, Thozan, a city-based NGO, along with 108 ambulance services, conducted an awareness campaign across 73 parks in Chennai on Sunday, August 4th. The aim of this drive was to spread awareness among the public about road safety, the Good Samaritan law and first aid. This awareness drive was conducted to commemorate the 73rd year of India's independence. Answering questions in Lok Sabha on July 11 2019, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways placed on record India's dubious record on road safety. The Global Status Report on Road…

In April 2019, the Madras High Court, acting on deoccupation orders issued by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), directed the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to demolish the structures put up by a restaurant chain on Old Mahabalipuram Road, on land that was classified as residential.  The Court struck down the reclassification and subsequent planning permission granted by the GCC as 'fraudulent'. This is a rare occurrence, not just in Chennai, but in most of our rapidly growing cities. As urban India grows, and larger numbers of people migrate to cities, commercial establishments of every hue and size begin to…