GENRE: LN

State Government to create SOP for under-construction sites after tragic accident in Mumbai Maharashtra government will be establishing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for under-construction buildings in order to prevent accidents in light of the one that occurred in Mumbai's Worli four weeks ago and resulted in the deaths of two pedestrians. During the Assembly session, Sunil Shinde, a legislator from Shiv Sena (UBT), brought up the issue of the February 15th accident by a calling attention motion. As per news reports, a concrete block fell from a crane of a 42-storey under-construction building killing two pedestrians. As a response,…

Efforts have been made to create a positive perception of schools run by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) with the aim of making the prospect of studying in these schools attractive. There has been an increase in enrollment in GCC-run schools in Chennai on the back of these moves and largely driven by the economic toll of COVID-19. While there is a clamour for smart classrooms and the creation of model schools in the city, many GCC-run schools continue to function without basic infrastructure such as an adequate number of classrooms, working toilets and usable and safe playgrounds. Teachers in…

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to build three underground parking lots at Flora Fountain (with capacity of 176 cars), Worli (640 cars) and under a section of Raosaheb Patwardhan Park (228 cars), Bandra (West). Overall, the underground parking lots, meant to accommodate 1044 cars, will be built at the cost of about Rs 300 crores.  However, citizens have opposed this move vehemently leading to withdrawal of another proposal of underground parking beneath Juhu's Pushpa Narsee park (PNP).  Citizens mobilised to protest after a BMC press note on February 2, 2023 announced plans for underground parking underneath Patwardhan Park in…

Susheela* begins her work at 6 am and finishes around 2 pm. During the eight hour work shift, the 45-year-old pourakarmika rarely takes a break. She tries her best to only drink water and take toilet breaks twice. She controls herself until her morning meal at 10 am and final call at 2 pm at a local government school in Thindlu, in the Vidyaranyapura ward in North Bengaluru. There is a public toilet next to the school, which Susheela and nearly 50 pourakarmikas in her group or mustering use. “I try to avoid drinking water until my breaks ,” she…

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be increasing the number of swimming pools in the city this year. It also announced 25 per cent discount for women at four of its existing functional swimming pools to increase the number of female users. The current annual fee for large pools is Rs 10,100 while for the smaller ones, it is Rs 8,000. The monthly fee varies as well, depending on the size of the pool, and ranges between Rs 1,300 to Rs 4,700. While the pools have special slots for women, from 11 am to 12 pm and 5 pm to…

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has proposed the reconstruction of some of the flyovers within the city.  A section South Usman Road flyover ramp near Chennai Silks will be demolished and the arm is likely to be extended up to CIT Nagar connecting Anna Salai to T. Nagar, with a bigger 1.2km carriageway.  Similarly, a section of the flyover which links Adyar with Besant Nagar will also be demolished and the foundation pillars will be removed to facilitate the construction of the Metro Rail Twin Tunnels underground.  The flyover will be reconstructed once the CMRL work is completed. In the…

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, speaking at a real estate event recently, assured the stakeholders present that his administration would be happy to consider an increase in the Floor Space Index (FSI) as presently stipulated by law for construction within Chennai.  This announcement was received with much jubilation by the real estate lobby but its impact on the ultimate consumer – those who purchase home and office space – needs to be studied carefully.  Read more: Opinion: One policy change could make your dream home in Chennai a reality FSI and quality of life in Chennai An…

Near the Cauvery Underpass on Sankey Road is a majestic old Indian rubber fig tree, its aerial roots spread all around. With a height of 12 metres and a girth of 11 metres, the tree is a sight to behold, its huge canopy extending right across the two lanes. A little ahead in the same street is yet another Indian rubber fig, towering over the Café Coffee Day outlet next to it. Both trees are believed to be 60 plus years old and are just two of the 50-odd trees that would have to be cut or lopped in the…

It has been a year since the launch of a bio-CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) plant in Chetpet by Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) in partnership with Srinivas Waste Management Solutions Pvt Ltd. Around 100 tons of vegetable and food waste from Koyambedu market and hotels are processed every day and converted into bio-CNG. This renewable source of energy is sold to the Gas Authority Of India Limited (GAIL) and various hotels whose reliance on conventional energy has drastically reduced as a result.  A similar plant at Madhavaram was inaugurated about six months ago but is yet to be functional as it…

"Last year, we were not able to celebrate Women's Day in the Ward because it was too close to the election results. This year, we have planned to celebrate Women's Day with the conservancy and sanitation workers in the Ward, along with other women," says M Renuka, the Councillor of Ward 42. "We are planning to create awareness about the rights of women," she adds. Renuka is a first-time Councillor. She joined the Communist Party of India (CPI) in 2018. "I used to do field work for the party," she says. "Then, in 2022, the party fielded me as a…