City: Chennai

"As a woman in politics and mother of a two-year-old, I am aware of my child's needs and am in a position of power to create a safe space for children. That's precisely what I have been trying to do," says Brindhaa Shrri Murali Krishnan, the Councillor of Ward 160. Brindhaa also highlights the importance of promptly addressing the needs of the residents. "I am dedicated to ensuring that each query and issue raised by the residents of my Ward receives thorough follow-up and timely updates", she adds. Brindhaa’s journey into politics has been shaped by her upbringing and early experiences…

The increasing instances of student suicides in Chennai have brought the need to discuss mental health of students, especially teenagers, to the fore. Given that the environment at home and at school has a major role to play in the mental health of students, a closer examination of what transpires in these spaces is essential. Saranya A, the founder of Arukah Counselling Service, speaks to Citizen Matters on the factors that affect the mental health of students and what can be done to create safe spaces for them. Saranya A, Counselling Psychologist Saranya holds a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology…

Elevated corridor to come up on Mount Road The State Highways department has invited bids for the construction of an elevated corridor above the metro tunnel on Mount Road. The elevated corridor will be 3.2 km long and have four lanes and the width of the flyover will be 34m. Footpaths measuring 2m will be present on both sides.  The flyover will allow vehicles to drive up to a speed of 80 km/ph and cut travel time between Teynampet and Saidapet to under 10 minutes. The budget for the project is Rs 525 crore.  The project will commence after clearance…

3233 பேருந்துகள். 633 தனித்துவமான வழிகள். நகரம் முழுவதும் உள்ள 31 டிப்போக்களில் பணிபுரியும் 19,762 பணியாளர்களின் அர்ப்பணிப்பு முயற்சியின் மூலம் நாள் ஒன்றுக்கு 28 லட்சம் பயணிகளுக்கு சேவை செய்தல். இது சென்னையின் பெருநகரப் போக்குவரத்துக் கழகத்தால் (MTC) நடத்தப்படும் பேருந்து சேவையின் மேலோட்டமாகும். சென்னையில் அடிக்கடி பேருந்துகளில் பயணிக்கும் அமுல்யா கூறுகையில், “சென்னையில் செல்ல வேண்டிய இடத்திற்கு பேருந்து வருமா என்பது அதிர்ஷ்ட விளையாட்டாகவே உள்ளது. நான் ஒரு பேருந்தைப் பிடிக்கும் நம்பிக்கையில் மணிக்கணக்கில் காத்திருப்பேன். பேருந்து கிடைக்காத நாட்கள் பல உண்டு."  சில நகர வழித்தடங்களில் பேருந்துகள் மிகவும் குறைவாகவே உள்ளன என்பதையும் சுட்டிக் காட்டுகிறார், மேலும் பெசன்ட் நகர் டெர்மினஸிலிருந்து எழும்பூருக்கு பேருந்துக்காக ஒரு மணி நேரத்திற்கும் மேலாகக் காத்திருந்த தனது தனிப்பட்ட அனுபவத்தை விவரிக்கிறார்.  அடையாரைச் சேர்ந்த மற்றொரு பயணியான உர்சுலா கூறுகிறார், "மெட்ரோ பணியை அனைவரும் குற்றம் சாட்டுகிறார்கள், ஆனால் பேருந்துக்காக மணிக்கணக்கில் காத்திருப்பதை நான் புரிந்துகொள்வது கடினம்."…

A few residents of Kannagi Nagar Block 1 were occupied with the task of sun-drying salted fish on jute sheets; there were children in school uniforms amongst them. At the entrance of the block, under the relentless noon sun, the women talked about the state government's newly launched breakfast scheme in government-run schools - sharing their optimism and concerns. The breakfast scheme being discussed was inaugurated on September 15, 2022, on a small scale before being expanded the following year to cover primary schools across the entire state. The scheme now spans more than 1,500 government schools throughout Tamil Nadu. …

Sudden, heavy downpours after hot and humid days have been a frequent occurrence over the past two months in Chennai. Such rainfall during the lesser southwest monsoon season is a deviation from the norm for the city. The northeast monsoon season is the most critical period for rainfall in Chennai, as it provides more than 50% of the city's annual rainfall. The southwest monsoon season, on the other hand, provides only around 20% of the city's annual rainfall. However, this year, the city experienced an early and abundant southwest monsoon this year. What do these high numbers mean for the…

Chennaiites have had a spate of complaints about the state of the city in recent months. From the menace of stray cattle to poor roads, all avenues such as social media and the civic body’s official app are being used by residents to raise their grievances. However, they continue to be deprived of constitutionally mandated platforms in the form of Area Sabhas and Ward Committees to put forth their complaints. With most of the residents not having the chance to attend Area Sabhas and Ward Committee meetings, citizen participation in urban governance has a long way to go in Chennai.…

A year ago while I was looking into the spate of evictions in Chennai, I came across the heart-wrenching story of 115 families in Kannappar Thidal. Around 62 families, who were living on the streets near the Ripon building, were evicted in 2002 by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) as their presence was found to be an obstacle to the then-ongoing sporting events and developmental work in the nearby Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. These families were provided a temporary shelter in a building that was originally used to house load-men working in the nearby Southern Railways goods shed. They were promised…

Suggestions sought from survey of North Chennai The Rs 1000 crore Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam will see development of various key infrastructure in North Chennai. Neglected areas in the region will soon get model school, sports facilities, amenities such as walking paths and cycling tracks and sprucing up of existing public spaces such as parks and playfields.  The project will be carried out by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), Tamil Nadu Urban Habitate Development Board (TNUHDB) and Department of Town and Country Planning. Read estate firm CBRE has been roped in to conduct surveys…

For the past 13 years, the residents of Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) have awaited piped water connections from the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB). Owing to the topography of the area, they do not have access to alternative sources of water like groundwater. This makes many of the residents of OMR completely reliant on private water suppliers. However, with rising costs and frequent threats of strikes by private tankers, residents have begun exploring solutions that reduce their dependence on external water suppliers. To this end, Central Park East, an apartment complex in Sholinganallur, has come up with…