How has a residential area at the confluence of West Mambalam, T. Nagar, Ashok Nagar and Kodambakkam spread over about five square kilometres turned barren without a single bus route? That is the story of Rangarajapuram, a largely residential locality that once boasted of two regular MTC bus...
Soon after assuming office, the DMK government rekindled its love for flyovers, announcing several of these structures for important road stretches, including Anna Salai and Poonamallee. Just one stretch, from Teynampet to Saidapet covering 3.2 km, is to get an outlay of Rs.485 crore, as per...
There are no loud complaints against high fuel prices. Everyone gets used to misery in small daily doses, and so the average citizen remains mobile on his two-wheeler or car, as fuel prices soar: the petrol price tops Rs 110 a litre, diesel Rs100 in Chennai (more in some other States). LPG for...
The butterflies of Tamil Nadu can weave colourful tales for our policymakers. Let's see how. Although strapped for finances, this year’s Tamil Nadu budget made an expansive announcement that a Rs. 300 crore botanical garden would come up near Chennai, in partnership with London’s Kew Gardens....
With the local body elections sorted out and having scored handsome victories across the State, the DMK government has announced a big revision of property taxes and some other civic taxes in Chennai and elsewhere. The increase ranges from 50% for the sensitive residential segment of up to 600...
The latest innovation in food and groceries delivery such as by Swiggy and Zomato is ten-minute delivery. Zomato promises it for food, Zepto and Zomato-backed Blinkit for groceries. Swiggy Instamart talks about a delivery time of 15 to 30 minutes. Last year, Dunzo announced a 19-minute delivery...
The shocking incident of V.J. Theeksheth, the 7-year-old who died after being run over by a school bus at Sri Venkateshwara Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Chennai’s Alwarthirunagar on March 28, raises the question, once again, whether enough is being done to make the daily commute...
While COVID-19 virtually shut down bus systems around the world, Chennai started losing its appetite for bus travel even earlier. The share of bus trips in total travel had started dropping before the pandemic, with a marked shift to two-wheelers. The pandemic made things worse. Bus services...
Sacred groves are areas that people decide not to touch, allowing nature to take its course there. They are sites of worship. The sacredness in sacred groves makes people leave them alone, providing precious space for green cover. It now seems that the sacred grove approach is better suited to...
Chennai pedestrians need saving. Statistics of Chennai pedestrians dying on the road are alarming. But first: Is Chennai a walkable city? Not for the faint-hearted, the elderly or the disabled. Not for children, surely. The city acquires a busy character from its congested quaint enclaves like...
