City: Chennai

Translated by Sandhya Raju “எனக்கு ஒரு வீடு வேண்டும்,” என்கிறார் ஒன்பதாம் வகுப்பு படிக்கும் தனஸ்ரீ. “கதவு வைத்த கழிப்பறை, கால் நீட்டி தூங்கக்கூடிய அளவிலான ஒரு அறை மற்றும் ஒரு சமையலறை,” என மேலும் அவரது விருப்பத்தை கூறுகிறார். இது அவர் கனவு மட்டும் இல்லை, கண்ணப்பர் திடலில் உள்ள நூற்றுக்கணக்கான குடும்பங்களின் விருப்பமும் ஆகும். இவர்கள் இருபது ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன் ரிப்பன் மாளிகை அருகில் உள்ள தெருக்களிலிருந்து வெளியேற்றப்பட்டவர்கள். ஆக்கிரமிப்பு, நீதிமன்ற ஆணை, வளர்ச்சி திட்டங்கள் என பல்வேறு காரணங்களை சுட்டிக்காட்டி, சென்னையில் ஆக்கிரமிப்பு அகற்றல் அமல்படுத்தப்படுகிறது. பல வருடங்களாக வசித்த இருப்பிடங்களை விட்டு சென்னையின் புறநகர் பகுதிகளில் இவர்கள் வசிக்கின்றனர். இந்த வெளியேற்றம் இவர்கள் வாழ்க்கையில் பல இன்னல்களை உருவாக்குகிறது, ஆனால் இதைப் பற்றி அதிகாரிகள் அதிகம் அக்கறை கொள்வதில்லை. Read more: Life beyond the murals in Chennai’s Kannagi Nagar நிறைவேற்றப்படாத…

Many Chennaiites are naturally anxious about what the revised electricity tariff would do to their EB bills. TANGEDCO raised the EB tariff on September 10, and the changes could mean the bi-monthly bill could see an increase by around 50%. Here are some tips and tricks to help you use electricity judiciously in Chennai, making your homes energy-efficient and keeping power bills reasonable. What is the hike in electricity tariff in Chennai? Current electricity tariff for Chennai's domestic households, post-revision. Source: TANGEDCO Although the initial 100 units remain free, the base rate has increased from Rs. 2.50 to Rs. 4.50,…

Chennai Metro Water spreads message on rainwater harvesting 'Water volunteers', appointed under the Tamil Nadu Urban Livelihood Scheme, have joined the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) and are encouraging the public to harvest rainwater. CMWSSB is also distributing flyers and brochures to residents about rainwater harvesting (RWH). Moreover, RWH structures in government and private buildings will undergo a makeover in the wake of the coming monsoon. New systems will be installed in government offices, residential buildings, private and government hospitals, movie theatres, marriage halls, private and government schools, colleges and malls, which lack RWH structures. Source: DT…

"Of the people. By the people. For the people." Former US President Abraham Lincoln defined democracy thus. This quote is also the idea behind the Namakku Naame Thittam (NNT) scheme in Chennai, as the scheme calls for public participation in creating community spaces and facilities: spaces of the people; built or revamped by the people; and for the use of the people. To put it simply, the public can restore or create community infrastructure by collaborating with the Greater Chennai Corporation under the NNT. The public will have to bear a share of the cost of the projects they want…

Kalyani, a fruit vendor in Anna Nagar, had often seen the rows of cycles stationed by the side of the road, which people would come, unlock and ride away on. She had heard that this was a public bike sharing facility available to citizens and was eager to try it out. It really would help her in her commute. But sadly, she had little help in figuring out how the whole system worked. "I was interested in trying it out," she says, "but there were no instructions in Tamil at the spots (docking stations) on how to access these bikes.…

Chennai’s swirling mass of two-wheelers and cars could technically make the Greater Chennai Corporation a wealthy civic body through parking fees, but the current realisation of revenues is only of the order of Rs.1.2 lakh a day, going up from a low Rs.80,000 after parking lots were “improved.” The GCC plans to double the number of street parking sites to 88 locations and provide 12,000 spaces.As of April 2021, there were 9.99 lakh cars and 49 lakh two-wheelers registered in the State capital as per official data. For Tamil Nadu as a whole, the vehicle population grew sharply since 2001,…

Are you a Chennaite who has been to Marina beach since your childhood? Does the sight of the sea hold many happy memories for you? But how many of us know that Marina beach also has a fraught past, which counts as part of its history a police gun firing against fisherfolk who protested against beach beautification? For many youngsters of this generation, the Jallikattu protests were the first time they saw a very different image of the beach - one as a site of protest. But that's not the only point of contention that has seen protests. Over the…

Traffic restrictions in T Nagar for Deepavali Given the expected traffic congestion ahead of the Deepavali shopping in T Nagar, the Greater Chennai Traffic Police have announced new traffic arrangements from October 8th to 24th. Accordingly, commercial and goods vehicles will be permitted only between 11 pm and 7 am. Meanwhile, vehicle parking will be allowed at the Chennai Corporation School, Prakasam Salai; Ramakrishna High School, Bashyam Salai and Ramakrishna High School, Dhandapani Street. Paid parking facilities will also be available. Besides, the autorickshaws will be restricted on the routes including those from Thiyagaraja Street-Thanikachalam Salai towards Panagal park; from…

George Town in Chennai encompasses NSC Bose Road and many bylanes that bustle with activity at all times. It is a wholesale market where businesses and individuals buy goods in bulk for cheap. The narrow lanes and many shops make navigation of these roads very difficult. While much has changed about the area over the years, the tricycle carts used by cart pullers to transport goods have remained constant. In the din, from dawn to dusk, one can spot men on their tricycles, moving goods to and from the market. They work close to 12-14 hours a day. The cart…

Uma Anandan made the news for her controversial statement in support of Nathuram Godse in the run-up to the local body polls. She was elected from Ward 134 and is the lone councillor from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chennai. Her foray into politics has roots in early childhood, with her father being a member of the Indian National Congress (INC)."I remember the times of Indira Gandhi and the issues such as corruption and autocracy that plagued the INC being discussed in the extended family. There was a slowly eroding value to the party that became apparent to me",…