In 2019, 23-year-old R Subhasri lost her life in Pallikaranai when an unauthorised cutout collapsed, knocking her off her scooter. That same year, K Ragupathi, a software engineer visiting from the US, died in Coimbatore after reportedly colliding with an illegal wooden arch erected across a main road. These tragedies lay bare the daily hazards that pedestrians and road users face because of illegal, unchecked hoardings. Flashy advertisements lining roads, signals, and flyovers have become an integral part of the everyday commute. But the threat they pose has only grown over time. Across Chennai, illegal banners continue to multiply with…

When the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) receives a complaint about a pungent odour, it may be one among many environmental issues that require attention. But for thousands of residents living along the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) corridor—from Thiruporur to Sholinganallur—it has become a recurring nightmare. For the past several years, families in this rapidly growing residential area have lived with a constant uncertainty, not knowing when the next wave of foul-smelling air will arrive. On many evenings, the stench hits after 7 pm. On other days, it surfaces much later—sometimes after 11 pm or in the early hours…