^^
ECR already exists till Pondicherry and has been extended further deeper into south almost touching Kanyakumari, I think.

It is probably a matter of time that such facilities come up on this stretch. Over a period of time (probably a few decades), this area might turn into something akin to Boston to NewYork type of development along highway I-95 in the eastern coast of US.

Great idea. Many of them are government offices such as Ezhilagam doing unproductive stuff. The government can move its a$$ off from the shorefront and leave it to the private who can add to entertainment/night life of Chennai. They can also build a few tall structures in this area like you see in the sea fronts of Singapore, Hong Kong, Boston, NY city, etc. Chennai see front is pretty flat and nondescript.


I can rule out any such dreams bearing fruit! Ezhilagam hosts the Revenue Dept of the Govt,the most corrupt and Productive dept for the Govt.

Chennai has chosen to have a flat Beach front consciously, to allow evening sea breeze to flush out hot ,sultry air over the Main City westwards. The cooling effect you get after 1430 hours will be lost once you opt for High rises in the Beach front as they will act as wind barriers. Wise people have done some nice things. Don't get influenced by show pieces around the World. Our needs are different.

Even Chepauk Stadium on the Eastern side is being brought down to build a new design, which will reduce seating capacity by leaving large open spaces in the Eastern side to allow cool breeze from the sea inside the Stadium, so that it will not remain a cooking chamber as of now. Pithavidian Partners could have been the Architect(?) of the present stadium who enclosed the playing area as a large Well with concrete walls, without any consideration to Chennai weather.

FYI, Marina had a large Restaurant by a famous name in Anna Salai ,in the sands till early 90s. They and the Public made a mess of that area forcing JJ Govt to demolish all such facilities including a Political platform which used to have large meetings.

I am happy with what we have now.

That is really nice idea. We don't have any decent restaurant in Marina. Besant nagar we need to wait in queue to enter into planet yum or murugan idli shop or barista or ponnusamy or any other hotel. But it is long way to go for government thinking in this way to make Kamarajar salai as entertainment corridor or food/bar street of Chennai. And if I am correct the current TN assembly building belongs to Indian Military, but the offices in Namakkal Kavingnar building (6-7 storied one) will move to new assembly building. This could be used to more government office space.



and added something like sydney tower? "Singara Chennai tower" with those few serious of talls

http://www.dungoanviet.com/images/Tour/SydneyTower4.jpg

A few buildings like that with along with a tower like the one you have highlighted would change the look of the city drastically. 'Marina Tower' may be a shorter and more appropriate name to this location.

cross posting from Chennai images thread

Madras High court building

http://i46.tinypic.com/dzbh9e.jpg



Can we get back this view again?

Marina Beach can be kept properly by cleaning the sand regularly and kept litterfree.

Most of the present buildings along the Beach Road are govt properties and it is more than impossible to shift them out.

Most of the middle class people are enjoying the beach for ages at a very little cost. Many of my friends and relatives from non beach places rave about Marina / Besant Nagar beaches. It is better to be left as it is except for the cleanliness & litter. Eateries have to banned inside the beach.

http://epaper.mmnews.in/19122009/epaperimages/19122009/19122009-md-hr-3/144251703.jpg

Some more pictures of Marina.

Marina

http://epaper.dinakaran.com/pdf/2009/12/20/20091220a_00510c007.jpg

Dinakaran

Looks Great :applause: :banana:

The city will have its first 4D' theatre in a week. The experience centre' named Funmax is being set up by Dynamic Dimensions India in
Abirami Mall. The start-up company, which is setting up this theater, plans to launch two more such centers in Chennai.

4D as a technology is based on the 3D platform. It combines the effect of 3D movies by incorporating external physical effects like movement in seats and environmental enhancers like virtual fog, rain, lighting, air bubbles and smells in the movie watching experience. "This will enable audiences to have both visual and sensory experience and create a never before experience," the company said in a release. The technology provided by the company is sourced from the Israel-based Simnoa Technologies.

Dynamic Dimensions is also planning to open franchises in tier II and III towns in Tamil Nadu. "We are close to finalizing the franchisee agreements to set up similar theaters in Coimbatore, Trichy and Erode," said S Sivakumar, executive director of Dynamic Dimensions. He added, that each such experience center' which has a minimum of 30 seats costs around Rs 3 crore to set up. The company expects to break-even in two years.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/4D-Theater-in-Chennai/articleshow/5349480.cms

http://www.dinakaran.com/Photo%20Gallery/GALLERY/Mainn/Images/mi12.jpg

http://www.dinakaran.com/latestphoto/marina/index.html

http://www.dinakaran.com/latestphoto/marina/gallery.swf

:nuts:

http://epaper.mmnews.in/20122009/epaperimages/20122009/20122009-md-hr-3/1414130_1.jpg

Maalai Malar

wow wonderful...looks marvelous :banana:

The new greener look is definitely an upgrade. There are so many dry patches around the structure and pretty much all over in the other picture posted earlier too. Is this because of bad work, poor maintenance, or people stepping on it?

cross posting

Marina view

http://tm.dinakaran.com/pdf/2009/12/20/20091220b_001105003.jpg

Dinakaran

One more of Marina with CBD skyline at background

http://epaper.dinakaran.com/pdf/2009/12/21/20091221a_001104008.jpg

Dinakaran

From TOI

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOICH/2009/12/21/2/Img/Pc0020700.jpg

photographer should have cleaned camera lens...:lol:

CHENNAI: Nothing compares to the pleasure of a simple ride on a cycle. But if cycles become a major means of transport, then it’s not a pleasure for the individuals alone. Rather a great relief for the humanity itself as researches say that motorised transport is the reasons for about 30 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions.
How keen is Chennai in promoting cycling? The CMDA has mentioned in the Second Master Plan that it aims to promote non-motorised transportation, which primarily means cycling. But enthusiasts point out that with no specific system to promote cycling and the increasing congestion on roads has made it scary to ride cycle in the city roads.
“I used to enjoy cycling from the Chennai airport area to the city frequently through the main roads. But today with the proliferation of motor vehicles and rash driving it is dangerous to cycle,” says S Raghavan, former Deputy Director-General of Meteorology.
Realising the benefits of cycling as a means of transport, several governments across the globe are actively promoting cycling. For example, the local governing bodies in Paris and Barcelona have introduced the bicycle-hire system to promote cycling as a means of transport within the city.
Mehul Kamdar, a Chennaiite who currently lives in Chicago, says that separate compartments were allotted in suburban trains for bicyclists to carry their cycles along with them and cycle racks were also available in buses.
Thane Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra has also planned to create separate track along the roads exclusively for cyclists.
Raj Cherubal of Chennai City Connect who works closely with Chennai Corporation on transportation issues, pitches for similar tracks in Chennai too.
“This is easier than said since it requires proper planning, identification of safe routes, designing safe cycle pathways. But this can be done,” he says.
Social activist A Narayanan says that there are number of reasons to encourage cycling as means of transport within the city — it reduces greenhouse gas emissions, accidents, congestion and all the more makes the city a pleasant place to live.
A research by the Institute for Transport and Development Policy, which is involved in promoting cycling across the globe, says that when cycling can act as a crucial connectivity link for the public mass transport systems.
However, the State still thinks providing separate tracks for cycles would be difficult task. In his reply to the Supreme Court, Chief Secretary of the State has stated that narrow roads are making it difficult to provide exclusive tracks for cyclists.

self deleted...

கோவை, : உலக தமிழ் செம்மொழி மாநாட்டையொட்டி, கோவை நகரை அழகாக்க மாவட்ட நிர்வாகம் முனைப்புடன் செயல்பட்டு வருகிறது. மாநாட்டில் பங்கேற்க வெளிநாட்டினர் மற்றும் தமிழறிஞர்கள் கோவைக்கு வரவுள்ளனர். இதையடுத்து, முதல்கட்டமாக கோவை மாநகராட்சி, போலீஸ் மற்றும் டான்போஸ்கோ அன்பு இல்லம் சார்பில் பிச்சைக்காரர்களை பிடிக்கும் பணி நேற்று நடந்தது. மாநகராட்சி உதவி நகர்நல அலுவலர் சுமதி, சுகாதார ஆய்வாளர் திருமால் மற்றும் போலீசார் இப்பணியில் ஈடுபட்டனர். மாநகரில் சிக்னல், பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட், ரயில்வே ஸ்டேஷன், பொது இடங்களில் பிச்சை எடுத்த சிறுவர்கள், சிறுமிகள் உட்பட 325 பேரை பிடித்தனர். சிக்கிய 325 பேரும் மாநகராட்சி திருமண மண்டபத்தில் தங்க வைக்கப்பட்டனர்.பல ஆண்டாக வெட்டாமல் இருந்த தலைமுடிகளை வெட்டி அழகாக்கினர். அனைவரையும் குளிக்க வைத்து, புதுத்துணி வழங்கப்பட்டது. மாநகராட்சி கமிஷனர் அன்சுல் மிஸ்ரா கூறுகையில், ‘‘பிச்சைகாரர்களின் விவரங்களை சேகரித்து, புகைப்படத்துடன் கூடிய டேட்டா தயாரிக்கப்படும். வெளிமாநிலம், வெளி மாவட்ட பிச்சைக்காரர்களை கண்டறிந்து, அந்தந்த ஊர்களுக்கு அனுப்பி வைக்கப்படுவர். கே £வையை சேர்ந்த பிச்சைக்காரர்களை வேலைக்கு செல்ல அறிவுறுத்துவோம். குழந்தைகளை காப்பகத்தில் சேர்த்து படிக்க வைக்க ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்படும் ’’ என்றார்.
:applause::applause::applause:

Chennai Corporation is now on Twitter - @ChennaiCorp (http://twitter.com/chennaicorp)

http://chennaionline.com/

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-01.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-02.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-03.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-04.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-05.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-06.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-07.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-08.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-09.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-10.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-11.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-12.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-13.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-14.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-15.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-16.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/film/Photofeature/images/The-new-look-Marina/Marina-Beach-17.jpg

http://chennaionline.com/

The govt should act on these to make marina even better
1. Remove shops
2. Regulate parking. Currently it is very haphazard in service lane
3. Fence the lawns
4. regulate parking of fishing boats and net drying to dedicated areas
5. Prevent people from sleeping during nights
6. Force people to clean up after their dogs

The govt should act on these to make marina even better
1. Remove shops
2. Regulate parking. Currently it is very haphazard in service lane
3. Fence the lawns
4. regulate parking of fishing boats and net drying to dedicated areas
5. Prevent people from sleeping during nights
6. Force people to clean up after their dogs

I agree with points 2-6. However, it seems as though the shops are a big draw on the beach. If they're gone (and I would imagine that'll be really hard to do), I think the beach will suffer from reduced patronage. Perhaps if the shops were shifted off the sands to the parking area... although, that's just shifting the problem, not solving it.

த*மிழக அரசு *விரைவு பேரு*ந்துக*ளி*ல் *விரை*வி*ல் இ-டி*க்கெ*ட் வ*ச*தி அ*றிமுக*ப்பட உ*ள்ளது எ*ன்று*ம் இத*ற்கான மு*ன்னோ*ட்ட ப*ணிக*ள் நடைபெ*ற்று வரு*கி*ன்றன எ*ன்று*ம் போ*க்குவர*த்துறை* அ*திகா*ரி ஒருவ*ர் தெ*ரி*வி*த்து*ள்ளா*ர்.

அரசு விரைவு போக்குவரத்து கழகம், திருச்சி, மதுரை, நெல்லை, கோவை, புதுச்சேரி உள்ளிட்ட பல இடங்களுக்கும், ஆந்திரா, கேரளா, கர்நாடகா ஆகிய வெளிமாநிலங்களுக்கும் பேரு*ந்துகளை இயக்குகிறது.

சென்னையில் இருந்து 956 பேரு*ந்துகள் இயக்கப்படுகின்றன. இதில் 48 கு**ளி*ர்சாதன வச*தி கொ*ண்ட பேரு*ந்துகள் உ*ட்பட சொகுசு பேரு*ந்துகள் உள்ளன.

அரசு விரைவு போக்குவரத்து கழகத்துக்கு 53 மையங்களில் முன்பதிவு வசதிகள் உள்ளன. நீண்ட தூரம் செல்லும் அரசு பேரு*ந்துகளுக்கு முன்பதிவு செய்ய, போக்குவரத்து கழக மையங்களுக்குதான் செல்ல வேண்டும்.

சாதாரண நாட்களில் முன்பதிவு மையங்களில் கூட்டம் குறைவாக இருந்தாலும், தீபாவளி, கிறிஸ்துமஸ், புத்தாண்டு, பொங்கல் போன்ற விழா காலங்களில் பயணிகள் கூட்டம் அதிகமாக உள்ளது. இதனால், வரிசையில் காத்திருந்து டிக்கெட் கிடைக்காமல் பலர் ஏமாற்ற த்துடன் செல்கின்றனர்.

இந்நிலையில், இரயில் டிக்கெட்டுகளை இணையதள*த்த*ி*ல் முன்பதிவு செய்வது போல், அரசு விரைவு பேரு*ந்துகளுக்கும் விரைவில் இணையதள*த்த*ி*ல் முன்பதிவு செய்யும் வசதி அறிமுகம் செய்யப்பட உள்ளது.

இது குறித்து அதிகாரி ஒருவர் கூறுகை*யி*ல், ''பயணிகள் இணையதளம் மூலம் முன்பதிவு செய்யும் வசதி விரைவில் கொண்டு வரப்பட உள்ளது. இதற்காக முன்னோட்ட பணிகள் நடக்கின்றன'' எ*ன்றா*ர்.

The govt should act on these to make marina even better
1. Remove shops
2. Regulate parking. Currently it is very haphazard in service lane
3. Fence the lawns
4. regulate parking of fishing boats and net drying to dedicated areas
5. Prevent people from sleeping during nights
6. Force people to clean up after their dogs

I dont think removing shops is a good idea. What Marina needs is better regulated shops, and actually more provisions for shops.

For example something like these..

http://www4.worldisround.com/photos/1/339/372.jpg
http://www.worldstainless.org/NR/rdonlyres/C3610968-97D7-42CC-8B84-869BBE4435F8/5009/BeachKiosk.JPG
http://z.about.com/d/gobrazil/1/0/K/4/-/-/9kyoskleb.JPG

Cycle path like these..
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/55/98/33/cycle-path-2.jpg

very happy to hear this news. i was waiting for this for a very long time. we are very backward as far as other state transport corporations are concerned like ksrtc & apsrtc.
there was time when tamilnadu was example all over india for buses and transport corporations. now all our corporations are running in loss. if they really dont find ways like the above one to increase there revenue, soon transport corporations will be privatised.

what i suggest is marginally increase the prices. not like the bus fares in karnataka where it is very high. switch off the bus in signal thereby save fuel. make sure that bus travels with its full capacity always. conductors should be instructed so that they make sure the bus runs with full seat capacity. atleast then they can get the money back what they are spending.

we need to learn a lot from other state corporations like ksrtc(but not the pricing structure).
ie.. like switch off bus in signal to reduce fuel wastage. make sure bus runs to full capacity and if not full then as much as possible. introduce e-booking. make sure we follow all rules(like lane rules) to prevent accidents. accidents bec of government buses is the highest in india.

we need to learn a lot from other state corporations like ksrtc(but not the pricing structure).
.

Hello Guys, its highly impossible to modernise our transport system without increasing any fares of transport. Lets face the truth. None of the world class city has moderate price. They spent their money to enjoy the public transport facilty. So our public should understand that and help government to take necessary action to increase a/c buses, infact they should encourage these buses by using them often. Instead of spending money in those nasty autos. If we really understand the price hike is for our benefit, then we will be happy in giving that money. For that MTC should come up with automated system like those in western countires. So that we can increase revenue by employing only driver in buses and cut down without's travellers. We cant please everyone, if you really wanna think to compete with countries like singapore. :)

thanks for the posting all are excellent images...:banana:

shows how slow SSC Chennai forumers are :(

The idea of this sub-section is to bring to notice and follow projects from scratch, especially big construction projects. I am amazed no one even bothered to start a new thread for this huge project.

Same way the Marina project, which is one of the largest urban landscaping project Chennai has ever taken, went unnoticed until the project was almost complete. I encourage forumers to keenly follow construction projects, especially buildings of public interest ( ie. library/assembly/stadiums etc ) and update them regularly in separate threads.

How abt creating a separate thread for Adyar Poonga.

Official Website: http://www.adyarpoonga.com/english/adyar.html

Master Plan:
http://www.adyarpoonga.com/images/a1.jpg

July '09 updates (http://www.adyarpoonga.com/english/mpr/MPR14/APT_-_Monthly_Progress_Report_no_14-_JULY_09.doc)

^^

Is the project started? :shocked:

^I would think so. Check the July'09 updates they have some development progress pics.

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/5250/light9.jpg

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/2774/light6.jpg

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/9834/light3f.jpg

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/5962/light1i.jpg

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/3963/marina19.jpg

^^^ Awesome Pictures .. :rock: Applause for the Govt :applause: I would be happy if they plan some good food outlets ...

n some more recreations ... a Tourist tower ,
Laser show in the sky ... like thing ??? :nuts:

A PLANET YUMM plaza would be a boon for many.

Chennai Marina @night view looks awesome...

I dont think removing shops is a good idea. What Marina needs is better regulated shops, and actually more provisions for shops.

For example something like these..

http://www4.worldisround.com/photos/1/339/372.jpg
http://www.worldstainless.org/NR/rdonlyres/C3610968-97D7-42CC-8B84-869BBE4435F8/5009/BeachKiosk.JPG
http://z.about.com/d/gobrazil/1/0/K/4/-/-/9kyoskleb.JPG



Nice shops...TN Govt can take these kind of shops as model and work out something, wish some person in authority to look this forum and implement .. . Seriously all these unhygenic bajji shops and sundal kadais, which also makse the place untidy have to be vaccated...

^^^ Awesome Pictures .. :rock: Applause for the Govt :applause: I would be happy if they plan some good food outlets ...

n some more recreations ... a Tourist tower ,
Laser show in the sky ... like thing ??? :nuts:

Yes..!! night time @Marina looks awesome:banana:
Govt should plan Laser show ,like the one at lumbhini park @hyderabad

Yes..!! night time @Marina looks awesome:banana:
Govt should plan Laser show ,like the one at lumbhini park @hyderabad

Ya that too Marina is very big ... It would be a grandeur .... :banana: How do we suggest this to govt ? any website for marina ?

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/3963/marina19.jpg
One thing which i feel eyesore in the above picture is the colour contrast they have chosen for pavements on the right and leftsides. Another thing is that the Green-White, Black-White lining works on the left. Do they don't have anything else to compensate with?

An aquarium (underground? like the one in Singapore) would be added attraction to the Marina beach. I think an aquarium has been planned for another location in the city.

Nice shops...TN Govt can take these kind of shops as model and work out something, wish some person in authority to look this forum and implement .. . Seriously all these unhygenic bajji shops and sundal kadais, which also makse the place untidy have to be vaccated...

that will affect the bhajji shops & sundal vendors very badly. What the plan need to have done was incorporated a open air food stall where the same vendors would have been able to trade in a more healthier environment without affecting thier livelihoods. This way even the average visitor who is concerned about hygenine will feel confident of purchasing food, hence boosting business.

For example something like this..

http://www.mikeandrachaelnz.com/images/food_stalls.jpg

What Marina plan lacks is LIFE..

It would have been better if the idea incorporated :

1. Food stall zone. ( for poor/middle class and tourists )
2. Beach Kioshes ( for upper middle class visitors )
3. Handicraft/khadi craft market zone ( tourists and visitors )
3. Ferris Wheel ( children/youth )
4. Beach volleyball court. ( youth )
5. Kabaddi court. ( indian sport enthusiasts )
7. Childrens playing pen ( children )
8. Cycling path ( eco friendly people and health freaks )
9. Skateboarding arena ( youth )
10. REfurbished better aquarium ( for family )
11. Marina complex ( with swimming pool/dancing floor/yoga class ) ( health freaks )
12. Game Stalls ( balloon shooting games/other trivia things on display )

This way there would be plenty of activity and reasons for the locals and tourists all be regenerating existing trade in the region and usiung the local talent. This way life could have been brought to the city's prime centre, rather than people having to sit idly along pathways along the monolithic statues.

How abt creating a separate thread for Adyar Poonga.

Official Website: http://www.adyarpoonga.com/english/adyar.html

Master Plan:
http://www.adyarpoonga.com/images/a1.jpg

July '09 updates (http://www.adyarpoonga.com/english/mpr/MPR14/APT_-_Monthly_Progress_Report_no_14-_JULY_09.doc)

Good call, yet another project that went without much notice ! Thanks for pointing out.

CHENNAI: A total of two lakh sq ft of compound walls, predominantly of government buildings, across the city will soon have paintings depicting facets of Tamil Nadu’s art and culture.

The work, to be taken up by the Chennai Corporation, will be launched in a fortnight.

This was announced by Mayor M. Subramanian at the inaugural function of the 36th India Tourist and Industrial Fair on Island Grounds here on Tuesday.

The fair was inaugurated by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. The initiative is part of the measures of the civic body to beautify the city.

It had earlier imposed a ban on wall posters and graffiti on Anna Salai, Kamarajar Salai, Tiruvottiyur High Road and Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai.

“The painting work will start after the monsoon,” Mr. Subramanian said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Karunanidhi said he was keen on transforming Chennai into a clean, beautiful, modernised and well appreciated city.

He sought the cooperation of the public to make the exhibition venue as well as the recently beautified Marina beach a litter-free zone.

He added that growth in tourism sector resulted in improvement to the economic condition of a city/State.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/23/stories/2009122350090100.htm

^^ Atleast these paintings should be properly preserved and not end up like what happened with the Wall paintings along Mount-Road

CHENNAI: It began with a modest force of 13 to guard Madraspatnam in the 1650s, but now the Chennai city police can boast of a modern 14,000-strong force. Standing testimony to the change undergone by Chennai police is a glorious 118-year-old red structure, located on Wallajah Road off the Anna Salai junction - the city's oldest police station.

The building, which now serves as the Triplicane police station and has stood the test of time for over a century, would have fallen victim to the hammer and faded into history like several heritage structures in the city but for the timely intervention of chief minister M Karunanidhi.

As the structure was located on the fringes of the Omandurar Government Estate, where a modern assembly and secretariat complex is coming up, officials planned to demolish it to construct a reception centre. On learning about it, Karunanidhi instructed the officials not to demolish the building but give it a fresh lease of life by renovating it, sources in the Public Works Department said.

Chennai commissioner T Rajendran said the old structure was a symbol of the history of the police force - its transformation from modest origins to a formidable force. "The decision has come as a major relief as the police station is located at a vital junction through which political and religious processions pass," he said.


Source: Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Citys-oldest-police-stn-saved-from-the-hammer/articleshow/5367955.cms)

I don't know if this is posted before, but definitely a cool initiative by GOTN

http://www.investingintamilnadu.com/

^^ Posted & discussed in most of TN sub forum too.. anyway thx :)

^^ The website has a pretty cool design. I can't believe it's a government sponsored website. Good going GoTN!

Moderators & friends, I feel that Chennai's beautification has now gained good momentum. Will it not be a good idea to start a new tread depicting our "Singara Chennai" initiatives?
Like posting the awesome photos of Marina, paintings that are going to adorn the walls of Chennai etc....

My first post...I am not sure if this has been posted here already...

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/all-melodious-in-chennais-month-of-high-culture/107182-19.html

All melodious in Chennai's month of high culture

Its a very big post...please follow the link.

Highlight:
The Season has now become the world’s largest musical event. As many as 40,000 listeners turn up to listen to 2,000 concerts by 400 musicians in eight languages, not to mention performances by 150 classical dancers and numerous lecture-demonstrations on music research. All in a matter of a few weeks.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/fight-consumer-rights-gains-momentum-city-032

Dec. 23: Krishnamurthy, 72, still has a lot of fight left in him and he has just proved it. After enrolling in a computer class and finding that the 60-day course, costing Rs 1,532, did not deliver on its promise of making him computer literate, he moved the consumer court and won a handsome compensation, apart from a fee refund.
Asked why he slogged it out in the court at his advanced age, the retired block development officer quipped, “It does not matter whether the claim is just Re 1 or Rs 1 lakh. I decided to fight for my right as a matter of principle. I did not want anyone to get away cheating me. And I shall be an alert consumer throughout my life.”
The Chidambaram district consumer redressal forum ordered the computer centre to pay him Rs 8,000 for deficiency of service and Rs 3,000 towards litigation costs within six weeks. It also warned the computer centre not to repeat the mistake.
The victory has buoyed Krishnamurthy to turn into a consumer activist and spread awareness on consumer rights. “Many in my neighbourhood were awestruck when I won my case. Now, they approach me to help in similar situations. I have roped in 20 college students to form a consumer club in my town, which we will launch on New Year’s Day,” he said with pride.
R. Desikan, director, Consumer Association of India, a Chennai-based consumer activist group, says consumer awareness is low: “We must tap the young to raise awareness and student consumer clubs are the right answer.”
But for those who brave it out, like Krishnamurthy, there is enough reward. Take the case of L. Babu. He took his wife on the ‘European Splendour Tour’ but cancelled the trip midway due to stomach trouble and returned home. The tour operator refused to refund the trip cost, so they moved the state consumer commission and got a compensation of over Rs 1.25 lakh.
And the case of prisoner Raju must be an eye-opener for the educated elite, indifferent to consumer rights. While on parole in October 2009, he boarded a government bus, but as the conductor refused to halt the vehicle at his village, Raju had to spend the night in the bus terminus and lost a day’s parole. He moved the consumer court, which ordered the conductor to pay him a compensation of Rs 3,000 besides issuing a stiff warning to behave better in future.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/24/stories/2009122452900300.htm

At least 300 persons have placed orders with police
— Photo: N.Sridharan
http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/24/images/2009122452900301.jpg

Police approval is a prerequisite for possessing pepper spray.
CHENNAI: Pepper spray, a self-defence mechanism suggested by the Chennai Police, is becoming popular among residents of several suburbs of Chennai.

At least 300 women and senior citizens residing in localities along East Coast Road and Rajiv Gandhi Salai have placed orders with the police for the spray, priced at Rs.500 a canister.

Residents of farmhouses in the Panaiyur locality, which witnessed a gruesome double murder a few months ago, are thinking of keeping the spray at home.

“The response is encouraging. Senior citizens living alone in beach bungalows are asking for the spray. Those staying in working women hostels, members of residents’ welfare associations and IT professionals are also showing keen interest. A girls’ hostel has placed order for procuring 50 spray cans,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (Thoraipakkam) K.N. Murali told The Hindu on Tuesday.

The spray, capable of immobilising a person for about three hours by causing temporary blindness or acute irritation in the eyes, was introduced by the police to help women protect themselves from crimes such as chain-snatching.

As a goodwill gesture, the Bangalore-based company that manufactures the spray has offered a buy-one-get-one-free scheme to the Chennai Police limited to a maximum of 100 cans.

“We intend to give the sprays to beat constables who go on foot or motorcycle patrolling to remote areas. It could be of use when they have to arrest more than one person indulging in an offence,” Mr. Murali said.

The Neelankarai, Semmancheri and Thoraipakkam police have application forms to be submitted by those seeking the pepper spray.

“The cans will be supplied only when the applications are cleared by the police. This should be used only as a tool for self-defence. A local hospital has agreed to give free treatment to suspects against whom the spray is used,” Mr. Murali added.

All the best for this guy. May be one day, someone will use his innovation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJD7YM0dSgQ

Excellent link !!! Really a very informative one. I saw that just after reading the news in hindu about a multi level parking system in T-Nagar.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/11/stories/2009121158080300.htm

This showed how that could be implemented!! Thanks for the link!!!

Government of Tamilnadu is promoting FDI.

http://www.investingintamilnadu.com/

Way to Go.

-Techguy

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/kanjeevaram-kaapi-cocktails-city-has-it-all-312

Y. Gee.Mahendra, who in 2010 will be in the 50th year of his career as a theatre personality, likes the relaxed pace of life in Chennai the most. Y. Gee. M was asked to list five things he liked the best about the city and also five things he disliked most.
Relaxed pace of life: “Chennai life is quite relaxed when compared to other metros like Delhi, Mumbai. Wherever I travel for performances, I always want to come back to Chennai,” says the actor.
Blend of the modern and tradition: There is a beautiful blend of the modern and the traditional. According to him, the city still has relatively less of nightlife and has a considerable number of early risers, which tells all about the lovely blend that the city is.
Cultural cauldron: The city has an open mind to appreciate the good things in other cultures.
“The city is a cultural cauldron. We, Chennaiites have the openness to accept varied cultures. Whether it is Sufi music or Bengali dance, we see packed auditoriums here,” says Y.Gee.M.
“We accept anyone who is good. The standing applause the Pakistani cricketers received at Chepauk stadium is just an example,” he says.
Biggest music & dance festival: The city has occupied a significant position in the cultural map of the country and the world at large.
“Ours is the biggest music and dance festival in the world,” he says proudly. He likes the fact that the city is the home of Tamil drama and cinema in which he is deeply rooted.
Enterprise of youth: The last but not the lest he loves about Chennai is the enterprise of modern youth.
* * *
chennai
Madhuvanthi Arun, dancer and educationist, is the daughter of Y.Gee.Mahendra. In her early 30s, she likes the vibrant cultural scenario in the city the most.
“Being in the central part of the city, it takes just ten minutes for me to reach any sabha or cultural center and I love that,” she said. Interestingly, what she dislikes the most about the city is its mushrooming flyovers. “They restrict the air flow,” she complains. The unique weather of the city impresses her.
“I don’t know why. I like the hot and humid weather of the city,” she said. She, however, hates the poor drainage system which goes haywire even for a small downpour.
Who can miss Marina beach, she asks with a smile. In a similar vein, she hates the increasing traffic jams in the city. For her, the fourth good thing about Chennai is its new corporation parks numbering over 200. But the lack of civic sense among majority of Chennaiites worries her the most.
She feels safe and that is another reason for her to love Chennai. With the same intensity, she hates the auto rickshaws in the city. “They have become a Mafia. They charge Rs 60 from Alwarpet to T.Nagar,” she says.
“I like the spirit of Chennai; it is a lovely blend of different cultures. More of today’s youth take pride in being part of the city and prefer to stay back here,” says Madhuvanthi who runs Calibre, a school with an alternative system of education in place. Granddaughter of eminent educationist Ms Y.G. Parthasarathy, Madhuvanthi likes the attitude of today’s youth who are bold and outspoken while being proud of the city’s heritage. They also love the new pub culture.
“The attitude of parents has not changed much. But the youth change faster than ever before. You will see a dramatic change in the next 10 to 15 years – a city filled with youth,” she adds.

May next year bring lots of project to Greatest City in the world Chennai and Puniya boomi Tamil Nadu.
Arul's India Night view was the top post that made me very happy this year and TN shinned very bright when compared with other states and it was a big hope for me that TN is shining and it will be shinning for ever.

Jai ho to all the great forumers.

May next year bring lots of project to Greatest City in the world Chennai and Puniya boomi Tamil Nadu.
Arul's India Night view was the top post that made me very happy this year and TN shinned very bright when compared with other states and it was a big hope for me that TN is shining and it will be shinning for ever.

Jai ho to all the great forumers.

This post of yours made me happy. :) Let us hope TN & India shine brighter in the coming days and years. :cheers:

May next year bring lots of project to Greatest City in the world Chennai and Puniya boomi Tamil Nadu.
Arul's India Night view was the top post that made me very happy this year and TN shinned very bright when compared with other states and it was a big hope for me that TN is shining and it will be shinning for ever.

Jai ho to all the great forumers.

I concur with you :cheers1:

In fact, I took lot of pride in pointing out that night lights pic with my other South Indian friends who saw it with awe! :cheers:

Once again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all!!

Keep rockin forumers!! :cucumber:

May next year bring lots of project to Greatest City in the world Chennai and Puniya boomi Tamil Nadu.
Arul's India Night view was the top post that made me very happy this year and TN shinned very bright when compared with other states and it was a big hope for me that TN is shining and it will be shinning for ever.

Jai ho to all the great forumers.

Exactly, even though we were criticizing the TN gvt for not bringing more investment for tier II cities, the google night view exposed how the development is spread across the state to tier II cities and other towns when compared to other states. That clearly shows we have economic hubs in many corners of the state.

And that night view might be 2006-2007 version. The last three years TN saw more developments in infrastructure except the power crisis. Hope coming year the commissioning of power plants will bring back the golden period of electricity to the state.

I concur with you :cheers1:

In fact, I took lot of pride in pointing out that night lights pic with my other South Indian friends who saw it with awe! :cheers:

Once again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all!!

Keep rockin forumers!! :cucumber:

Welcome to the forum ChennaiIndian, you have become the active member from today. Good updates in many threads. :cheers:

Thanks Arul.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/IT-companies-on-OMR-face-TNEB-checks/articleshow/5376368.cms

CHENNAI: The sprawling campuses of IT companies on the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) are seeing surprise checks by Tamil Nadu Electricity Board
(TNEB) over allegations of misuse of subsidised power. :bash:

"Yesterday, campuses of Cognizant, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Tech were inspected by TNEB officials. They accused us of misusing subsidised power for canteen facilities and for ATMs on the campus. We were told to come in for a compromise over this 'misuse' and pay up. They said the official demand notes would be issued in the next few days," said sources.

Government offers concessional power at Rs 3.50 per unit to large industrial investors as against commercial tariff of Rs 5 per unit. While infotech companies insist that they are not against paying up "legitimate charges", they question the plan to penalise IT/ITES companies for using subsidised power in canteens and other non-processing areas.

"We expect a stake holder like TNEB to approach industry more professionally. They just can't walk in, and demand money without issuing official communication," a company official said, on condition of anonymity. "Besides, having a canteen on the campus is not for commercial gains. It is a basic requirement under labour laws," he said.

TNEB chairman CP Singh, however, described the action as part of routine checks. "We are only looking into whether these companies are misusing power. They have had these canteen facilities for a long time. We will take a legal opinion on whether we can charge them commercial tariff for canteen provisions and other related areas and only after due consultation, will we issue demand notices. If they have been doing this for some time, there must be some logic and reason. It is premature to jump to a conclusion as we have just started the process and we will extend the same checks to other manufacturing units in the state."

One of the senior managers at an infotech firm refuted the charge that subsidised power was being used to boost profits of any allied operations. He said the canteen in his company was not part of a commercial operation with "food courts which solicit outside business. What we provide is a basic meal for our employees, which is an essential service as most of them leave their homes at daybreak. If TNEB wants to charge us for this, let them issue guidelines and make it transparent," officials said.

http://chennaionline.com/City360/Neighborhood/20095120065143/City-gets-an-all-new-Lakm%C3%A9-Studio.col

Do any one know the status of phoenix market city which is suppose to come up at Velachery???

Phoenix Market city (http://www.phoenixmarketcity.in/chennai/chennai_project_breakup.html)

My first post...I am not sure if this has been posted here already...

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/all-melodious-in-chennais-month-of-high-culture/107182-19.html

All melodious in Chennai's month of high culture

Its a very big post...please follow the link.

Highlight:
The Season has now become the world’s largest musical event. As many as 40,000 listeners turn up to listen to 2,000 concerts by 400 musicians in eight languages, not to mention performances by 150 classical dancers and numerous lecture-demonstrations on music research. All in a matter of a few weeks.

Enjoyed this news in IBN very much, but one disappointment is why can't it be called a Chennai Music festival instead of Madras Music festival. A brand Chennai promotion technique. When this festival has so much reach it is better to call as Chennai Music festival.
Same way Chennai cannot have a better person than A.R Rehman to be a brand ambassador for the promotion of Brand Chennai, but he is called as Mozart of Madras, associated with the name Madras and not Chennai... see the reach we could gain if he is called otherwise (though it sounds funny).
I insist on this because many people in US/ UK/ Singapore are not aware of the renamed city "Chennai". Small Incident: When i went to Singapore officially, met a gathering where they were able to recognise Bangalore, where as when I said I am from Chennai, some of them enquired where is the city in India. I felt so ashamed/disgusted, what not....this is our reach internationaly!!!!
I made it a point that day I will never address Chennai as Madras for anything.....
The above sentences are my opinions and noting to do with Chennaiindian's wonderful post....

Thats absolutely correct..... Brand Chennai is yet reach outer world. govt must initiate lot of steps to promote brand chennai. I am located in Germany. Even here its the same story. But in the automotive sector its different story. They indeed have a good opinion about Chennai. But as mentioned by you it needs to be promoted in a big way!!!

xs_LTTGICUc

^^ I really really enjoyed the song. "Ukkandu yosipaingalo?"

xs_LTTGICUc

namma chennai song rocks...

Very Nice... :)

Fantastic camera work and song is very nice..thanks think_different for the post

Enjoyed this news in IBN very much, but one disappointment is why can't it be called a Chennai Music festival instead of Madras Music festival. A brand Chennai promotion technique. When this festival has so much reach it is better to call as Chennai Music festival.
Same way Chennai cannot have a better person than A.R Rehman to be a brand ambassador for the promotion of Brand Chennai, but he is called as Mozart of Madras, associated with the name Madras and not Chennai... see the reach we could gain if he is called otherwise (though it sounds funny).
I insist on this because many people in US/ UK/ Singapore are not aware of the renamed city "Chennai". Small Incident: When i went to Singapore officially, met a gathering where they were able to recognise Bangalore, where as when I said I am from Chennai, some of them enquired where is the city in India. I felt so ashamed/disgusted, what not....this is our reach internationaly!!!!
I made it a point that day I will never address Chennai as Madras for anything.....
The above sentences are my opinions and noting to do with Chennaiindian's wonderful post....

You are right Raji7373. Sometime back I was talking about India to an elderly man in a remote town in the US. He didn't even know Bangalore :lol: and Chennai; but he knew Madras because he had grown up wearing Madras Cotton garments in the 60s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madras_(cloth)). Then I had tell him that Chennai and Madras are one and the same :ohno:

Pics - http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshowpics/5350015.cms

Enjoyed this news in IBN very much, but one disappointment is why can't it be called a Chennai Music festival instead of Madras Music festival. A brand Chennai promotion technique. When this festival has so much reach it is better to call as Chennai Music festival.
Same way Chennai cannot have a better person than A.R Rehman to be a brand ambassador for the promotion of Brand Chennai, but he is called as Mozart of Madras, associated with the name Madras and not Chennai... see the reach we could gain if he is called otherwise (though it sounds funny).
I insist on this because many people in US/ UK/ Singapore are not aware of the renamed city "Chennai". Small Incident: When i went to Singapore officially, met a gathering where they were able to recognise Bangalore, where as when I said I am from Chennai, some of them enquired where is the city in India. I felt so ashamed/disgusted, what not....this is our reach internationaly!!!!
I made it a point that day I will never address Chennai as Madras for anything.....
The above sentences are my opinions and noting to do with Chennaiindian's wonderful post....
Well said! I met one sr executive from UBS bank in HYD. He asked me whether i knew places to visit in HYD. When i said im from Chennai, he blinked for some time (i felt ashamed) and immediately the other person standing next to him asked me whether it is same as 'Madras' (I felt relieved that they atleast know my city in a diff name).

Such is the brand value of 'Madras' & it is sad that we lost it. We should atleast try to promote 'Chennai'. AR Rahman, Vis Anand are some of the prominent people who can help in Branding

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-company/corporate-trends/Dubai-desert-storm-impacts-Chennai-companies/articleshow/5318200.cms

http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/26/stories/2009122657710200.htm

CHENNAI: Large orchid flowers, a white rose with an enticing scent and a palm tree with a triangular trunk are just some of the beauties that one can see at the Mega Flower Show organised at YMCA Ground in Royapettah.

The three-day exhibition, which opened on Friday, has over one lakh plants falling under a 1,000 varieties.

Roses, hibiscus, zinnias, chrysanthemums, petunias and bougainvilleas are just some of the plants that one can find here.

100 varieties of roses
There are over 100 varieties of roses in all hues and sizes at the exhibition being organised by GK Nursery. The pots containing ornamental chilli plants, which are less than 10 cm in height, are covered with at least 20 chillies each.

Plants used for landscaping like ground covers, shrubs, hedges, foliage, grass, creepers, avenue trees and fruit-bearing trees have all been brought under one roof, said Gaffar Khan, CEO, GK Nursery.

Seeds and fertilizers are also being exhibited. There is also good advice on plants for those who seek it.

The exhibition is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. till Sunday and an entry fee of Rs.50 is charged.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/omnibus-terminus-bad-shape-839

Dec. 26: Passengers from Chennai, who went to their home town for the three-day-long leave, had to un-dergo an ordeal at Koyam-bedu omnibus terminus due to poor maintenance and ha-phazard parking. The CM-DA, which takes Rs 16,500 as monthly rent from every bus operator and Rs 7,500 per month from every bus for parking, has failed to repair the roads even after a number of petitions and re-quests, say omnibus operators. The disposal of food waste by eateries and poor maintenance of toilets add to the woes. :bash:
“I went to drop my mother at the Koyambedu omnibus terminus on Thursday. She had to board a bus to Tiruchy. But we missed the bus due to the chaos and confusion there. We had to wait in the traffic at the entrance for over 30 minutes created because of the bus operators and parking lot operators who stop every vehicle at the entrance to collect parking charges. When we asked the man at the entrance who collected money for entering the bus terminus, why he was making us wait for such a long time, he verbally abused me,” Ms J. Kirthika, residing at West Mambalam, told this newspaper.
Not only Kirthika, every passenger who enters the te-rminus had to undergo several hardships – bad roads, garbage and food waste stre-wn on the pathway, toilets without locks, water, buses using sound horns within the terminus and scaring people and touts exploiting passengers by taking exorbitant amounts for tickets.
The omnibus owners who use the terminus point their fingers at the Chennai Metropolitan Authority for not carrying out maintenance work regularly.
There are 80 service provi-ders who have their office at the terminus and over 300 buses come in and go out every day. On any given day, at least 15,000 passengers arrive and depart from the terminus. “There are fo-ur bays in the terminus and each bay has four toilets. But there is no water facility,” said a bus driver who stays in the terminus during the day, requesting anon-ymity.
“We have even threatened the CMDA authorities by saying that we would stop paying the rent. Even then the authorities have not heeded our requests,” Mr A. Afzal, president of Tamil Nadu omnibus owners association.

Encroachers Shifted From Kalvai Thurai To Kannagi Nagar
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board on Saturday carried out an eviction drive at Kalvai Thurai in Asprin Garden, Kilpauk, where 867 families had encroached on 10 acres of the board’s land and had settled down there for more than 30 years. About 400 families were shifted on Saturday to Kannagi Nagar in Okkium Thoraipakkam and the remaining families would be shifted on Sunday, said Metrowater officials.
There was no problem as the residents, who had lost a long-drawn legal battle to obtain pattas, moved out on their own. The board pressed into service about 120 vehicles, mostly lorries, to help them shift belongings, said Shiv Das Meena, managing director of Metrowater.
It had also installed additional water tanks in Kannagi Nagar to take care of the drinking water requirement of those being shifted.
The government had provided the residents alternative accommodation at the Slum Clearance Board tenements in Kannagi Nagar a year ago by spending close to Rs 40 crore and Metrowater, which had taken over the tenements, spent nearly Rs 20 lakh on rent. The board also paid the initial deposit of Rs 1,800 per tenement for electricity connection.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2009/12/27&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00404&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

26 Dec 2004
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/474/5382647cms.jpg

26th Dec 2009
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/3411/marinabeach13.jpg

26 Dec 2004
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/474/5382647cms.jpg

26th Dec 2009
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/3411/marinabeach13.jpg

:cry:

^^

26th Dec 2004 a black day in Tamilnadu history. 5 years rolled off, any concrete plans to avoid such huge loss of life in future? With dotting of huge investment on ECR, we should have sea wall in areas like Nagore, Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Kanyakumari, Tiruchendur etc., which has population very very close to the sea.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/27/images/2009122758860301.jpg
Self-reliance: Residents of Lakshmi Nagar and Alayamman Nagar undertaking repair work on the Lakshmi Nagar Main Road on Saturday.

TAMBARAM: Deciding not to wait any longer for the Madipakkam village panchayat to repair the Lakshmi Nagar Main Road, one of the important streets in their area, residents of Lakshmi Nagar and Alayamman Nagar on Saturday initiated steps to execute the repair work themselves.

Without hesitation, senior citizens, youth, women and even children waded through the ankle-deep stagnant water, contaminated with sewage, to dump debris on the street to make it motorable.

Lakshmi Nagar and Alayamman Nagar are located in Madipakkam (South) and the residents have been complaining about lack of basic amenities for long. According to them, the condition of the amenities had deteriorated in the recent past.

There are close to 1,000 families in the two localities and bad roads, poor solid waste management practices, drinking water shortage and stagnation of polluted water are some of the problems they face.

K.Shankar, an advocate and secretary of the Lakshmi Nagar-Alayamman Nagar Residents Welfare Association, said they had submitted petitions to the St. Thomas Mount panchayat union, the Kancheepuram district administration and even the Department of Rural Development. But, there has been no positive response from them.

In the past few months, particularly after the monsoon rain, the problems had only worsened.

J. A. Rabindran, association president, complained that the panchayat staff and elected representatives hardly visited their localities to have a look at the conditions with which the residents had to put up.

Hence on Saturday, the residents hired a couple of lorry loads of debris and stones to dump them on the Lakshmi Nagar Main Road so that they could avoid wading through the stagnant sheet of sewage mixed water, which posed a health hazard to those who use the stretch often.

TN People - :)
TN Corporation - :bash:

^^

26th Dec 2004 a black day in Tamilnadu history. 5 years rolled off, any concrete plans to avoid such huge loss of life in future? With dotting of huge investment on ECR, we should have sea wall in areas like Nagore, Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Kanyakumari, Tiruchendur etc., which has population very very close to the sea.

Tsunami is once in a life time phenomenon. Moreover, India has a billion plus population. Even if a Tsunami hits coastal TN once every 20 years and causes deaths to an extent of 100,000 lives of poor people living in slum like conditions on the coastal zone, the damages merely scratch the surface of TN's potential. So why bother until the next Tsunami when we can dig up a few ditches and throw all the bodies together into those ditches? And announce a couple of lakhs of ex-gratia payments to the next of kin. We Tamils/Indians are way smarter. :nuts::ohno:

^^

The most affected parts were slums/tiny villages on the coast. These tiny villages/slums were very very close to sea. There may be one slum for every 1KM on ECR right from Neelangarai to Mahabalipuram, completely vanished after 2004 Tsunami, when we went from our college for food distribution for a week from 27th Dec we could see only the ruins. It should be like that till Kanyakumari except in marshy areas like Vedarayam/Kodikarai etc.,

Those slums were without any basic facilities like electricity etc., Don't know what is the condition after 5yrs!

Regulating the slums, and building sea wall for populated areas could help us. After this massive destruction, only we were getting some alerts on Tsunami, but don't know how far those warning reaches those slums and parts were we have poor communication on the coast.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/28/stories/2009122857610200.htm

Within a month of going commercial with the service
Almost 60 per cent of 3G connections are new customers

“Rs.120 per month package has been the most popular”

CHENNAI: BSNL Chennai Telephones has clocked 10,000 3G mobile connections within a month of going commercial with the service.

Chennai Telephones was the first circle in south India to begin commercial operations of 3G mobile services, offering speeds of up to 3.6 mbps, video calling and mobile TV as value propositions. As a promotional offer, the call rates were kept lower than 2G rates with video calls being charged only 30 paise per minute.

Almost 60 per cent of the 3G connections are new customers while the rest are existing 2G CellOne users who migrated to the new technology.

The encouraging response to next-generation telephony is a reflection of the evolved mobile user market, a Chennai Telephones official said.

Apparently, the city’s first generation of 3G converts is also obsessed with the number of their connection.

At a recent auction for vanity numbers for 3G connections, one of the bids was closed for Rs.1.8 lakh.

Virtually replicating the 2G experience, a majority of the 3G users have opted for prepaid connections.

The Rs.120 per month package has been the most popular, an official said.

BSNL and Huawei, the Chinese vendor of 3G network solutions, have been organising road shows at upmarket residential hubs to raise awareness on the new technology and provide potential customers with a first-hand feel of the 3G experience.

BSNL chairman Kuldeep Goyal is scheduled to felicitate the 10,000th 3G mobile customer at a function on Monday.

Chennai Telephones is in the process of strengthening its 3G infrastructure across Chennai.

It expects to put in place another 250 Node B stations to the existing network of about 300 towers to provide seamless 3G connectivity across Chennai and adjoining districts.

The target is to net 1.5 lakh 3G customers in the next couple of months.

^^

The most affected parts were slums/tiny villages on the coast. These tiny villages/slums were very very close to sea. There may be one slum for every 1KM on ECR right from Neelangarai to Mahabalipuram, completely vanished after 2004 Tsunami, when we went from our college for food distribution for a week from 27th Dec we could see only the ruins. It should be like that till Kanyakumari except in marshy areas like Vedarayam/Kodikarai etc.,

Those slums were without any basic facilities like electricity etc., Don't know what is the condition after 5yrs!

Regulating the slums, and building sea wall for populated areas could help us. After this massive destruction, only we were getting some alerts on Tsunami, but don't know how far those warning reaches those slums and parts were we have poor communication on the coast.

I was being sarcastic. :) I am very likely to live in the coastal zone on ECR - where I have a place - whenever I return from US. Hope the government takes some measures to safeguard lives and properties in the event of a disaster. I don't want to end up in one of the ditches. :ohno:

This may just be an eye-wash. Could anyone tell me if the beggar menace has gone down in Chennai of late?

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Fresh+anti-beggar+drive+in+city&artid=Gbd/DbaYs0Q=&SectionID=lifojHIWDUU=&MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&SectionName=rSY|6QYp3kQ=&SEO=

CHENNAI: Despite aborted attempts in the previous years, the city police have again embarked on an anti-beggar drive with the help of special teams.
On the first day on Thursday, five women with infants were picked up at Nandanam junction and at Usman Road. The five - P Annithabai (27) and S Granthibai (20) of Rajasthan, Chellaammal (32) and Lakshmi (21) of Andhra Pradesh and Lakhsmi from Tamil Nadu - were produced in the court and then sent to Rehabilitation Home at Avadi.
Police investigation has revealed that they were pretty much organised and that it has become a lucrative trade employing women to professionally seek alms.
When the police arrested two women beggars in Nandanam, an organiser, who pretended to be a disabled person stealthily monitoring the business, reportedly escaped from the spot before the police could arrest him. During the enquiry, the women told the police that the infant they carry while begging doesn’t belong to them. But, what startled the police was that the ‘trade’ was organised on corporate lines with a clear hierarchy and defined roles.
Women were employed on daily wages and deployed in major junctions in the city and they earned between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 a day.
Pregnant women, physically challenged girls, and those with children were the most sought after in the profession. However, in the past, such initiatives failed due to the lack of coordination between the police and State Social Welfare and Social Defence departments.
Also, the lack of enthusiasm of departments is said to be one important reason for the police to abort their attempt half-way.
In 2002, when Vijay Kumar was the city police commissioner a serious drive was launched. But, the officials were unable to sustain the initiative as there was no coordination and cooperation among the police and other government agencies.
Many special drives were launched in the subsequent years and the State CB-CID too pitched in early this year to help curb begging in the city. Many were arrested and sent to special homes. But, they ‘escaped’ or were released and then they turned up yet again in traffic signals. Interestingly, this was the similar fate of Madurai city police’s initiative in 2007 to halt the journey of beggars in the arterial roads of the temple city.
Though, there may be many reasons for the failure of the efforts, the major ones could be due to the lack of political will, a rehabilitation policy, coordination between government departments and above all still using the archaic Madras Prevention of Begging Act, 1945. Now, with city police launching yet another drive, it is only to see how long this drive lasts?

^^ Please, gimme a break. I think this is a total eyewash.

"But, what startled the police was that the ‘trade’ was organised on corporate lines with a clear hierarchy and defined roles."

Seriously? i don't buy their BS when the police say they were totally unaware of this. I wouldn't be surprised if this is one of those moves where the police or politicians enact a "crack down" on these illegal activities, while in reality they're just doing one of their periodic sweeps to remind these trade circles who's boss and probably to demand higher cuts from their profits. Do they seriously think the common man is totally unaware of this stuff? This has been depicted pretty well in so many movies like "Naan Kadavul" and "Slumdog Millionaire".

"Ennada nadakudu inga?...
Enkita ottu ketavan enga...?"

Reg Tsunami protection measures:

With my limited experience on "Post Tsunami reconstruction measures", I feel that the biggest mistake was destroying the mangroves (South of Chennai coast) and the casuarina (North TN Coast) in the name of coastal development.

The entire coastal development has been done throwing all the enviro issues to the wind.
We see Sea and the waterways as convenient dumping grounds for all the unwanted garbage etc. But the Sea always gives it back - but with a heavy slap on our face.

The proposal for building a concrete wall or plastic lined bund along the coast may not be the ideal solution. Instaead, the GO TN can help the locals & fishermen community to grow the mangroves and other plants which will hold the soil together and protect the coastline.

Chennai escaped last time with bruises (except the marina incident) but the future slap may be far worse.

I wish to quote one of the ladies affected by Tsunami 2004 in Nagapattinam.

"KADALAMMA IS GENERALLY SO KIND THAT SHE HAS BEEN NURTURING US FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS. BUT IF WE TRY TO MOLEST HER, SHE WILL DESTROY THE ENTIRE HUMANITY INCLUDING OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS"

xs_LTTGICUc

awesome song!!!!!!!!!

Reg Tsunami protection measures:

With my limited experience on "Post Tsunami reconstruction measures", I feel that the biggest mistake was destroying the mangroves (South of Chennai coast) and the casuarina (North TN Coast) in the name of coastal development.

The entire coastal development has been done throwing all the enviro issues to the wind.
We see Sea and the waterways as convenient dumping grounds for all the unwanted garbage etc. But the Sea always gives it back - but with a heavy slap on our face.

The proposal for building a concrete wall or plastic lined bund along the coast may not be the ideal solution. Instaead, the GO TN can help the locals & fishermen community to grow the mangroves and other plants which will hold the soil together and protect the coastline.

Chennai escaped last time with bruises (except the marina incident) but the future slap may be far worse.

I wish to quote one of the ladies affected by Tsunami 2004 in Nagapattinam.

"KADALAMMA IS GENERALLY SO KIND THAT SHE HAS BEEN NURTURING US FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS. BUT IF WE TRY TO MOLEST HER, SHE WILL DESTROY THE ENTIRE HUMANITY INCLUDING OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS"


Ya i agree .. with this .. many coastal places like poomphukar .. is slowly breache dby the sea .. due to loose soil .. Now they have formed a rock heap in the shore .. but still no effective use :ohno:

So may trees can help us :cheers:

^^

Is it only a recent phenomenon? We know through history that (parts of)Mahabalipuram, poompuhar and may be Thenmadurai (from Sangam literature) have already been swallowed by the sea. Therefore, it appears that this process of sea moving inland has been going on gradually since time immemorial.

6IcGYxK5R4g

Do any of our forumers have any idea about Madras Stock Exchange? Is it still operational? I learnt it is one of the oldest Stock exchanges in India, closed and reopened again through Wikipedia.

6IcGYxK5R4g

This is definitely an honest effort to put Chennai on the global map with tourism in mind. A great initiative and a great result. Its only getting bigger and bigger every year. Hats off to Kanimozhi and the people behind this.

I also heard sometime back that the Tamil film industry wants to do something on Pongal every year to mark the beginning of Tamil new yr with lighting of firecrackers at the Marina beach. Anybody has any info on that?

Do any of our forumers have any idea about Madras Stock Exchange? Is it still operational? I learnt it is one of the oldest Stock exchanges in India, closed and reopened again through Wikipedia.

No trades happening in Madras Stock Exchange.. but traders come there to trade in NSE or BSE terminals.. same goes for Coimbatore stock exchange..

NSE and BSE are offering excellent services.. they is no point in opening MSE or CSE.. even in Kolkatta where turnover used be very high than MSE or CSE is also witnessing same scenario..

NSE put paid to the hopes of revival of these regional exchanges. They are finished for all practical purposes.

It was a stroke of a genius by the GOI (?!@#$) to have set up NSE and what a fall from grace for BSE, the once mighty giant who would scoff at the liliputian GOI minions. As is the case with any monopoly, BSE was so careless about modernising its opaque processes and heeding to the needs of the investors that a newbie NSE can take on the Goliath and slap it around ignominiously.

In the above scenario, the regional stock exchanges like MSE, or CSE don't have much scope or even relevance.

Samar Halarnkar (http://www.hindustantimes.com/Search/Samar-Halarnkar.aspx), Hindustan Times
India, Japan waltz closer, to sign mega deal today


India and Japan waltzed closer to one another over a carefully choreographed but hectic 24 hours across Delhi and Mumbai.
With China poised to surpass Japan as Asia’s largest — and world’s second largest — economy as early as 2010, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama turned his attention to India despite battling a political scandal and falling popularity at home, diplomatic sources and economic experts said.
Hatoyama’s 36-hour trip began with a closed-door morning meeting on Monday morning at the Taj Mahal hotel with CEOs of India’s largest companies, the first-ever visit by a Japanese PM to Mumbai.
On the sidelines, he met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who, in a 40-minute meeting discussed the $90 billion (Rs 425,000 crore) Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project, a large area of which passes through Gujarat.
The same afternoon, Hatoyama flew to Delhi for a similar CEOs’ meeting and was later hosted to a dinner by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The two countries signed on a Rs 1,000 crore project development fund that will finance feasibility studies for the DMIC master plan.
“They look upon us as a potential Asian leader,” Ajay Dua, a global adviser to Japanese consumer giant Panasonic and former industry secretary, told Hindustan Times. “This visit signifies that they have come to the conclusion that Asia cannot mean China alone.”
With an ageing population and an economy that is showing the first green shoots of recovery after two years, Japan is hoping for a GDP growth rate of 2 per cent next year. Compare that to the prediction for China (10 per cent) and India (8 per cent) and Japan’s investments into India show a strong economic diplomacy on Hatoyama’s part.
“A lot of work has gone into this visit,” a highly placed Japanese diplomatic source told HT, requesting anonymity because he is not authorised to make a public statement. “It (the visit) is a win-win situation for both India and Japan.”
The industrial corridor to be build on both sides of the 1,480 km of rail track between Delhi and Mumbai across seven states — exemplifies this “win-win”.
But the returns to India will go beyond DMIC, with more Japanese investment expected to flow in as India pushes bilateral deals and moves away from third-world multilateral agreements.
Riding the political tailcoats, Japanese companies, traditionally reluctant to enter India, are mulling big investments in India, primarily in telecom, auto, pharma and power.
Toyota Motor Corp managing director Hiroshi Nakagawa, for instance, told HT that he wants DMIC to go all the way to Chennai, through Bengaluru, with the first phase being the Chennai-Bengaluru arm.
The payoff for Japan, which will also provide soft loans for the Delhi-Mumbai dedicated rail freight corridor: a third of the value of contracts will go to Japanese companies.
“The Japanese don’t make friends easily, and no decision is taken overnight,” said Dua, who advised India on the industrial-corridor deal.
The guest list for the Mumbai meeting with Hatoyama, carefully vetted by the Japanese embassy, included Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata, Reliance
Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Godrej Group Chairman Adi Godrej, ICICI Bank Managing Director Chanda Kochhar and Bajaj Auto Chairman Rahul Baja. “Both India and Japan have strong potential (to grow investments),” said Godrej. “We discussed how to take this potential forward.”
(With Rachit Vats in Mumbai & Sumant Banerji in New Delhi)

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/491612.aspx (http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/491612.aspx)

Japanese see the potential of Chennai - Bengaluru industrial corridor but Indians? Anybody even raising the need of such a corridor?

Japanese see the potential of Chennai - Bengaluru industrial corridor but Indians? Anybody even raising the need of such a corridor?

Bangalore is not too keen on pursuing that, they want BLore-Bombay.

I would prefer pushing for Chennai-Coimbatore or Coimbatore-Madurai-Tuticorin corridor.

http://www.thehindu.com/2009/02/08/stories/2009020858400300.htm

Bangalore is not too keen on pursuing that, they want BLore-Bombay.

I would prefer pushing for Chennai-Coimbatore or Coimbatore-Madurai-Tuticorin corridor.

http://www.thehindu.com/2009/02/08/stories/2009020858400300.htm

In this case, TN government has to take the onus with co-operation from Japan and move forward. But, how feasible is it for a state government to enter into talks and agreements with a foreign government without the centre being involved in it?

Difficult indeed, even if the state government want to carry forward, for the foreign government also has to take the risk of co-operating with a state instead of the centre.

The reason for Bangalore not being keen on it is due to limited stretch of the corridor coming under the Karnataka government and the consequent limited benefits for them. May be, the corridor needs to be extended Mysore & Mangalore.

Not sure what the effect of this change will be..Here is hoping that it will be good

http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/30/stories/2009123052970100.htm

CHENNAI: The area under the Chennai Corporation limit is set to expand by over two times, with the State government issuing an order for merger of several neighbouring local bodies with it. It would be 426 sq km after the merger as against 174 sq km now.

Seven municipalities, three town panchayats and 13 panchayat unions in Tiruvallur district and two municipalities, five town panchayats and 12 panchayat unions in Kancheepuram district would merge with the Corporation, according to the government order. The G.O. said that the elected representatives of the local bodies would continue in their posts until 2011 when the next elections would be held. The decision on formation of two new corporations — Chennai-Avadi and Chennai-Tambaram — would be taken later, the government order said.

As regards Chennai Corporation, the formation of new wards in the merged entities would be based on the population. The 155 wards currently in the Chennai Corporation would also be redrawn on this basis.

The GO said that the expansion of the Corporation limits was necessitated as the neighbouring local bodies were unable to develop infrastructure in tune with the growth of population.

Not sure what the effect of this change will be..Here is hoping that it will be good

http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/30/stories/2009123052970100.htm

CHENNAI: The area under the Chennai Corporation limit is set to expand by over two times, with the State government issuing an order for merger of several neighbouring local bodies with it. It would be 426 sq km after the merger as against 174 sq km now.

Seven municipalities, three town panchayats and 13 panchayat unions in Tiruvallur district and two municipalities, five town panchayats and 12 panchayat unions in Kancheepuram district would merge with the Corporation, according to the government order. The G.O. said that the elected representatives of the local bodies would continue in their posts until 2011 when the next elections would be held. The decision on formation of two new corporations — Chennai-Avadi and Chennai-Tambaram — would be taken later, the government order said.

As regards Chennai Corporation, the formation of new wards in the merged entities would be based on the population. The 155 wards currently in the Chennai Corporation would also be redrawn on this basis.

The GO said that the expansion of the Corporation limits was necessitated as the neighbouring local bodies were unable to develop infrastructure in tune with the growth of population.

:applause: :banana2: :okay: :carrot:
:dance:

^^ Still 424 Sq.Km is way less than HYD 630 Sq.Km and BNG 710 Sq.Km.
It would be even better if the complete Sriperumbudur and Oragadam belt comes under Chennai District. That way atleast the rail link for these areas will be seriously considered. Fund can be allocated even more, as well as the combined revenue of Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchepuram Districts will be one of the highest in India.
But administration wise, no idea how tough that will be... :dunno:

TN wants Chennai Bangalore corridor whereas Karanatak wants Bangalore Bombay corridor purely because of the enormous potential for scope of development of inland areas in their states.

If TN pushes hard, it can covert all the available advantages for Chennai Bangalore corridor into big ticket projects with Japan / Korea / Germany throwing in investments.

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/8090/22248285898266.jpg

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/ET-Cetera/Chennai-hosts-institutional-investor-conference/articleshow/5337358.cms

CHENNAI: Chennai seems to be fast-shedding its tag of a conservative market on the backdrop of two events in the last week- a CEO Lifestyle show of luxury products and an institutional investor conference organised by Spark Capital that served as a platform for companies to interact with investors from India, Singapore and Hong Kong. :)

"Its not a forum to cut deals but a place for companies here to meet with investors. The same set of companies keep flying out to different locations. So we thought we could have a forum for companies from all southern states here," said K Ramakrishnan, executive director and head-investment banking of Chennai-based Spark Capital.

The two-day investor conference, called Capitalyze 2009, saw at least 52 investors, which included domestic institutional investors, foreign institutional investors, insurance companies, banks and private equity funds. This included investors from Singapore and Hong Kong.

He said he conference attracted over 32 participating companies from South across sectors such as engineering, auto components, IT, financial services, healthcare, education and leisure hospitality.

Apart from panel discussions on the investment opportunity in various sectors, there were one-on-one meetings between investors and their portfolio companies. The only session that was open to the media was the last session on banking and financial services which discussed challenges facing the banking, non-banking financial companies and micro finance companies.

The participants included Indian Overseas Bank’s chairman & managing director SA Bhat, Shriram group’s founder R Thyagarajan and Equitas micro finance managing director PN Vasudevan. It was initially centred on what the role for NBFCs could be as they compete with banks.

"Competition between banks and NBFC is something we have to live with. Banks think NBFCs are destructively competitive," said Mr Thyagarajan. At the same time, Mr Bhat said that while competition exists, there should also be complementary roles for the two.

"There are some niche areas that NBFCs can serve- like second hand truck financing. IOB won’t venture there because it’s burnt its fingers before," Mr Bhat said.

From regulatory hurdles to credit off-take the discussions also veered around the high interest rates charged by micro finance companies, which Mr Vasudevan said was due to high cost of funds and alos the cost of delivery.

But one area where all three participants were in consensus was that it would be some years before one can see a full-fledged multinational bank, NBFC or MFI from India. While Mr Bhat said Indian banks did not have the ability to absorb the extent of losses that US banks did in the aftermath of the financial crisis, Mr Vasudevan and Mr Thyagarajan said the domestic market held more opportunities.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article73117.ece

The State is experiencing an intellectual rejuvenation of giving greater importance to books in the last few years, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said on Wednesday.

Declaring open the 12-day-long Chennai Book Fair organised by the Booksellers’ and Publishers’ Association of South India (BAPASI) on the grounds of St. George Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School here, Mr Karunanidhi said that worldover, books and libraries were regarded more important than arms.

Pointing out that he had been a writer for nearly 70 years, the Chief Minister said he derived greater pleasure when his writings received commendation compared to praises heaped on him for governance.

Recalling his observation a few weeks ago that he would like to step aside from the positions of power and politics to get closer to people, Mr Karunanidhi said he was yearning for the day when he sat alongside Jayakanthan, Vairamuthu, K.P. Aravanan and V.M. Sethuraman to observe the proceedings of literary meetings.

He gave away the Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Porkizhi award to S.V. Subramanian, Tamil writer, Erode Thamizhanban, poet, Ar. Alagappan, dramatist, K. Chinnappa Bharati, short story writer, Aburi Chayadevi, Telugu writer, and S.N. Kandasamy, writer. He regretted that a book, which was given the award last year or the year before, dealt with the history of Chennai but did not make a mention of C.N. Annadurai becoming Chief Minister in 1967 or his (Mr Karunanidhi) becoming Chief Minister in 1969 or 1971 or 1996. There was no reference to him even on the issue of the change of name of the city from Madras to Chennai.

The awards instituted by the Association were also given to O.R. Suresh and V. Subbiah, representatives of the publishing industry, N. Dharamarajan, translator, Kuzha. Kadiresan, children’s books writer and M. Muthusamy, librarian.

Thangam Thennarasu, School Education Minister, said the government, in the last three years, purchased books at a cost of about Rs. 33 crore for libraries.

Sethu. Chockalingam, president of the BAPASI, appealed to the Chief Minister to provide the `Kalaimamani’ title to publishers too. A housing scheme should be framed for the publishing industry on the lines of a scheme for the film industry employees. Nalli Kuppusamy Chetty, industrialist, and Rama Lakshmanan, secretary of the BAPASI, were among those who spoke.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/article73065.ece

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah on Wednesday said the continuing attacks on film shootings in and around Hyderabad by Telangana supporters may force the Telugu film industry to shift back to Chennai.

Assuring full protection, the Chief Minister urged all political parties to ensure that the industry stays in Hyderabad.

The campaign over Telangana has caused huge losses to the film industry, with thousands boycotting movies of some actors and continuing attacks on the shooting of some others opposed to Telangana’s creation.

Recalling that the Telugu film industry shifted from Chennai to Hyderabad after the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956, Mr. Rosaiah said if it goes back, it will affect the employment opportunities of local people.

He pointed out that 70 to 80 percent of the workers in the film industry were locals.

“The hero, heroines and some other people may be from other regions (of Andhra Pradesh) but the majority of the workers are local people,” he said in an obvious reference to claims by pro-Telangana groups that the movie industry was dominated by people from coastal Andhra.

Mr. Rosaiah also termed as baseless the allegations of pro-Telangana groups that film personalities were given prime lands free of cost in and around Hyderabad.

He pointed out that lands were given to the industry as incentives as per the market rates.

The Chief Minister regretted that the shootings of actors like Mahesh Babu and Junior NTR who have said nothing on Telangana were also attacked.

Last week the protestors attacked film shootings of veteran actor-producer Mr. Mohan Babu’s son M. Manoj and actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi’s nephew Allu Arjun.

Both Mr. Babu and Mr. Chiranjeevi are opposing the bifurcation of the state.

Panel to look into Greater Chennai plan

Corpn Will Appoint Officer For Creation Of 20 New Wards
Julie Mariappan | TNN

Chennai: Moves to expand Chennai city’s limits from the existing 174 sqkm to 426 sqkm will be kick-started right away by the administration.
The Chennai Corporation’s council, which is meeting on Thursday, will discuss the appointment of a highlevel committee, headed by a special officer, to oversee the redrawing of the city’s map. The panel will be tasked with studying procedural and infrastructure requirements to carry out the expansion. Extending the jurisdiction of utilities, such as the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board, to cover new areas in the suburbs would also be on the committee’s agenda.
“The members of the team will be notified in the council. Their recommendations will be sent to the government in six months, so that the redrawn city comes into effect in October 2011 when the next local body elections are scheduled,” said an official.
In all, areas under nine municipalities, eight town panchayats and 25 village panchayats in neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts are to be merged with the present city to create ‘Greater Chennai’.
According to sources, the Corporation is likely to redraw boundaries of all the existing civic wards and zones, besides adding more in the outlying areas, as part of the expansion plan. Currently, the size of the wards varies widely, some spanning barely 10 streets and others twice that. Redrawing of the boundaries would be aimed at ensuring more uniformity. According to sources, the number of wards is likely to go up from 155 to 175 at the end of the exercise, with a population of 40,000 to 50,000 in each.

Merger Moves
A high-level committee, headed by a special officer in the rank of IAS, to oversee the proposed expansion of Chennai
The special officer will examine realignment of boundaries of wards. Other members of the team will study infrastructure needs
Panel’s recommendations to come out in six months. Redrawn city will come into effect in October 2011 ahead of the local body polls
The number of wards under the corporation limits is likely to go up from 155 to 175, with a population of 40,000 to 50,000 each

TOI

^^

With this I think Chennai will get its 3 largest city status in terms of Population if Kolkatta city limits are not expanded like Chennai.

^^ The news item mentions that the redrawn city limits will come into effect by October 2011. Is it something that can affect Chennai's numbers in the census 2011 as the process would begin in the early months of 2011?

Construction on Chennai Metrowater’s 100-million-litre-a -day desalination plant in Nemmeli, nearly 35 km south of Chennai, is set to begin soon, with the water agency on Wednesday issuing work orders.

The contract has been awarded to VA Tech Wabag, which would construct the plant in consortium with IDE Technologies, Israel. The firm, which was one of the seven that had bid for the Rs.533-crore project, would have to establish the plant in 24 months.

The Nemmeli plant would come up on a 40-acre site on East Coast Road. The treated water from the plant would be conveyed to the proposed underground tanks in Akkarai, Thiruvanmiyur, Velachery and Pallipattu through East Coast Road and Rajiv Gandhi Salai (formerly Old Mahabalipuram Road).

Adjoining areas, including Kelambakkam and those on the IT corridor, would also benefit from the plant, an official said. The network of pipelines would be laid at a cost of Rs.122 crore by L&T, an official said.

The construction of the plant and the pipelines are being funded by the Central government, whereas Metrowater would mobilise Rs.500 crore from its funds for operation and maintenance of the plant for seven years.

The water agency has also chosen Mecon Limited, a public sector undertaking, for management and supervision of the project till its completion, the official added.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/31/stories/2009123160150100.htm

Is Pallavaram area also considered in Greater Chennai plan

^^ Still 424 Sq.Km is way less than HYD 630 Sq.Km and BNG 710 Sq.Km.
It would be even better if the complete Sriperumbudur and Oragadam belt comes under Chennai District. That way atleast the rail link for these areas will be seriously considered. Fund can be allocated even more, as well as the combined revenue of Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchepuram Districts will be one of the highest in India.
But administration wise, no idea how tough that will be... :dunno:

I do think so, we have to incldue both these under Chennai District, atleast based on the revenue our region generates and contirbution to over all Indian Economy CG might give preference to TN projects.....

^^

With this I think Chennai will get its 3 largest city status in terms of Population if Kolkatta city limits are not expanded like Chennai.


Well, Bangalore and Hyderabad corporation limits too have been extended, so we cant be sure. Anyway, UA population is what (should) matters.

Slakhs

Maps in TOI and tamil post above by Into_salem show Pallavaram included. However the announcement doesn't talk about Pallavaram. So I'm confused too. Can someone clarify it. Thanks.

Is Pallavaram area also considered in Greater Chennai plan

Maps in TOI and tamil post above by Into_salem show Pallavaram included. However the announcement doesn't talk about Pallavaram. So I'm confused too. Can someone clarify it. Thanks.
As per the map published by TOI, Pallavaram is included in the Chennai city limits.

Chennai: The Chennai Corporation, with the support of traffic police, will identify two major roads near schools and colleges to have exclusive tracks for cycles. Mayor M Subramanian made the announcement in the corporation council meet on Thursday.
Responding to opposition leader Saidai P Ravi, who wanted the mayor to introduce tracks to encourage cycling and decongest the city roads, Subramanian said at least two roads near schools and colleges will be considered and the scheme will take off after the next budget. The mayor, along with Mexico city Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, had taken out a bicycle ride in Copenhagen on the sidelines of the recent summit on climate change.
Subramanian said the corporation would acquire six tennis courts, now in the hands of private welfare associations. The courts are spread over 61 grounds in Indira Nagar, Anna Nagar, Besant Nagar, Kotturpuram and Nungambakkam. “This will help the public to avail of the courts, which are now being used only by members of the
associations. The corporation will continue to maintain the tennis courts, if the locals
wish to do so,” he added. Absenteeism affects Chennai corpn, Alandur municipal council meetings
Chennai: On New Year’s Eve, the city corporation and the Alandur municipal council had a peculiar problem of absenteeism. While in the city corporation, strength of the councillors present fell below the quorum of one-third, councillors at the Alandur municipality staged a walkout protesting the absence of officials at the council meeting. The Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919 clearly mandates that no business shall be transacted unless there are at least 50 members. But when some of the resolutions were taken up for discussion on Thursday, the attendance was thin.
There were only 23 councillors present. Save the ruling party leader and party whip, the front benchers, including heads of various committees had vanished. Many did not turn up for debate on resolutions, including the one on expansion of the corporation.
At the Alandur municipal council meeting, 19th ward councillor, S Vanchinathan, demanded a response from the ‘official desk’ regarding the confiscation of stray as well as owned cattle wandering about on the First Main Road in Nanganallur. But there was nobody to respond to his plea. The ‘desk’ was empty, with most officials, including the municipal commissioner, N Manoharan, busy talking on their mobile phones outside the meeting hall. An agitated Vanchinathan staged a walkout followed by other councillors. The municipal officials told TOI that the fault was not theirs as they were receiving several calls from senior officials in the secretariat where they were supposed to attend a review meeting scheduled at 1pm. TNN

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2010/01/01&PageLabel=5&EntityId=Ar00500&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

CHENNAI: The Chennai Corporation has constituted a committee to look into the process of expansion of its area. Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni will head the committee, Mayor M. Subramanian told the council here on Thursday.

The area under the Corporation now is 174 sq km. After the merger of nine municipalities, eight town panchayats and 25 panchayats, for which a Government Order was issued recently, it would become 426 sq km. The committee’s functions will include coordinating with all the local bodies and enabling processes to merge them.

It will look into aspects such as establishing zones, reorganising wards, improving condition of schools and functioning of street lights. Deputy Commissioner (Health) P. Jyothi Nirmala, has been designated as the officer on special duty, while Joint Commissioner (Works) Ashish Chatterjee is its Member Secretary. The Chief Engineer (Public) P. Murugesan will be the coordinator, the Mayor said. Education Officer and the Superintending Engineer (Bus route roads) will be part of the committee and inspect schools and condition of roads in the areas to be brought under the Corporation. Officers in-charge of solid waste management, electricity, health and buildings will also be part of the committee.

“Whether it is Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad or Bangalore, the total area is over 400 sq km. Chennai, which is currently only 174 sq km in area, has a population of 43 lakh. The expansion will mean an additional 13.5 lakh persons,” Mr. Subramanian said.

“The expansion is important to ensure that the city continues to remain on the list of metropolitan cities. The main objective is to improve basic facilities and livelihood of the people,” he added.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/01/stories/2010010159990300.htm

TRAFFIC RAMASWAMY

So great was his passion for working towards the greater good of the city, that it damaged his eyesight. For Traffic Ramaswamy, strolling in and out of various courtrooms, armed with files overflowing and pockets filled with heavily inked papers is a way of life. Over the years, he has championed the cause for safer roads, putting himself in the path of political danger. Today, he holds the record for the maximum number of Public Interest Litigations filed. His family may have disowned him, and armed bodyguards are his constant companions, but to Chennai and to all of us at Expresso, Traffic Ramaswamy is nothing short of a hero.
:banana:

Rainbow Coalition

Chennai has truly emerged a frontrunner in championing and accepting the LGBT communities. Thanks to the enormous efforts of like minded activists, professionals, counsellors and students. Chennai Pride march held along the waters of the Marina for the first time witnessed a swell of support for the communities that have for years been marginalized and meted out with prejudice. The brilliantly worded placards, poignant voices and above all a engulfing warmth made the alternate sexualities more endearing to our city. Kudos for their brave effort.

MB Nirmal

Here’s a man with more than just a green thumb — he has strategic vision. What started out as an initiative to make our neighbourhoods cleaner and safer has now skyrocketed into the much talked about Civic Exnora that is an integral part of our administration. Nirmal’s green enterprise also took him to the recently held Copenhagen Summit. His commendable work with the Cooum, education of school children and sensibly processing waste deserve applause.

AR Rahman

It took 17 years for the world to truly recognise the musical brilliance that Alla Rakka Rahman. India touted him as a legend from his very first film Roja. His song from the movie’s soundtrack was also among the 10 best soundtracks of all time according to TIME magazine. From winning the Best Music Director award for 'Roja' at the National Film awards to his win at the Oscars early this year, Rahman’s journey has been a commendable one, and one that we’re very proud of. This genius embodies simplicity, courage to experiment and salutations are due for bringing about religious harmony through his music.
:banana:
Mahadevan

He wears many caps and dons them incredibly well — as a restaurateur, a trainer for the underprivileged and many more, but the one which won many hearts was his effort in 2009 in organising the Joy of Giving Week in Chennai. Mahadevan raised nearly a crore of rupees for the many NGO’s. His selfless gestures most definitely deserve praise.

http://expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Recognising+true+heroes&artid=OZAp1OAUUo0=&SectionID=lifojHIWDUU=&MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&SectionName=rSY|6QYp3kQ=&SEO=

Is it not a good to include Tambaram and Poonamallee in the new limits?

Best Wishes for a Happy and Prosperous 2010

isPhYnRvBi8

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/12/31/Detroit-LA-on-list-of-Cities-You-Hate/UPI-50831262310816/

WOLVERHAMPTON, England, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Officials in Wolverhampton, an industrial city in the English Midlands, are not pleased about making Lonely Planet's list of the world's worst cities.

The guidebook publisher ranked Wolverhampton fifth of nine "Cities You Really Hate," The Daily Telegraph reported. The cities, chosen in a reader poll, were Detroit; Accra, the capital of Ghana; Seoul; Los Angeles; Wolverhampton; San Salvador; Chennai, formerly Madras, in India; Arusha, Tanzania; and Chetumal, in the Yucatan in Mexico.

Wolverhampton's claims to fame are its soccer team, the Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Josef Stawinoga, who lived in a tent on the ring road for 30 years, dying in 2007.

But it also has a history that goes back at least to 985, when King Ethelred the Unready granted lands in the area to Lady Wulfruna. Boosters maintain it has much, or at least something, to offer visitors.

"I think it is scandalous that they can write off our city without having even visited it," said Richard Rhodes, head of the Wolverhampton Civic Association. "We have some wonderful places such as West Park and Bantock House (a mansion converted to a museum of Edwardian life) that would appeal to tourists."

^^^
I am really happy that Chennai has made it to the international polls compared on par with LA , Seoul and Detroit.

:lol:

^^^
I am really happy that Chennai has made it to the international polls compared on par with LA , Seoul and Detroit.

Just like when a girl says "I hate you" to a boy it indirectly means I love you, this situation is same so more people are falling in love with Chennai.
It is a win-win situation so please don't worry.

Just like when a girl says "I hate you" to a boy it indirectly means I love you, this situation is same so more people are falling in love with Chennai.
It is a win-win situation so please don't worry.

on what basis they selected these cities as worst cities...?

on what basis they selected these cities as worst cities...?

In the Lonely Planet website they have said that they did on the basis of user feedbacks.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ghana/travel-tips-and-articles/42/9782

Their sorting goes likes this

9 most hated cities

1. Detroit, USA
2. Accra, Ghana
3. Seoul, South Korea
4. Los Angeles, USA
5. Wolverhampton, England
6. San Salvador, El Salvador
7. Chennai, India :bash::bash::bash::bash::bash:
8. Arusha, Tanzania
9. Chetumal, Mexico

They also have another list

least favourite cities

1. Guatemala City
2. Canberra
3. Nashville
4. Darwin
5. Bengaluru (Bangalore)
6. Abu Dhabi
7. Honolulu
8. Puerto Vallarta
9. Québec City
10. San José

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/guatemala/travel-tips-and-articles/42/6379

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2688/4228227729_091c760fca.jpg
Location: Marina - Space to walk...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4228162994_fa8506671a_b.jpg
Location: Kasimedu

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2738/4215525426_083206d4a4_o.jpg
Location: Marina - வேட்டைகாரன் படம் பார்க்க கூப்பிடறாங்க அவங்ககிட்டயிருந்து தப்பிச்சு ஓடு... ஓடு.....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2742/4177626097_8399860b52.jpg
Location: Unknown

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4224516103_8c7e81b288.jpg
Location: Kapaleeshwarar Temple - Tamil Culture

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2772/4219269576_3be1dcc5c9_b.jpg
Location: Chennai Port

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2440/4232125911_d57dbae6b1_o.jpg
Location: students in a village outside Chennai and clicked above pic...

Chennai's New yr 2010 welcome at Marina

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1685/marinaq.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/i/marinaq.jpg/)

Chennai's New yr 2010 welcome at Marina

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1685/marinaq.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/i/marinaq.jpg/)

I can see the peoples of multitude are ready for celebrating NEW YEAR 2010... :banana:

In the Lonely Planet website they have said that they did on the basis of user feedbacks.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ghana/travel-tips-and-articles/42/9782

Their sorting goes likes this

9 most hated cities

1. Detroit, USA
2. Accra, Ghana
3. Seoul, South Korea
4. Los Angeles, USA
5. Wolverhampton, England
6. San Salvador, El Salvador
7. Chennai, India :bash::bash::bash::bash::bash:
8. Arusha, Tanzania
9. Chetumal, Mexico

They also have another list

least favourite cities

1. Guatemala City
2. Canberra
3. Nashville
4. Darwin
5. Bengaluru (Bangalore)
6. Abu Dhabi
7. Honolulu
8. Puerto Vallarta
9. Québec City
10. San José

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/guatemala/travel-tips-and-articles/42/6379

the above news has been already discuseed in the forum elaborately....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2772/4219269576_3be1dcc5c9_b.jpg
Location: Chennai Port



I can see the new container terminal of Chennai port

சர்வதேச தரத்துடன் சென்னை விமான நிலையம்!
From maarkali.blogspot.com (http://maarkali.blogspot.com/2010/01/blog-post.html)

தலைப்பை படித்துவிட்டு அதிர்ச்சியில் ஆர்ட் அட்டாக் வந்தால் அதற்கு நான் சத்தியமாய் பொறுப்பு ஏற்க முடியாது... சர்வதேச தரத்துடன் தான் இல்லை சும்மா அப்படி சொல்லியாவது பார்த்துக் கொள்ளலாமே என்ற ஆசைத்தான், வேறொன்றுமில்லை!:lol:

உறவுக்காரப் பையன் மேற்படுப்புக்காக சிங்கப்பூர் செல்ல சென்னை வந்திருந்தான்... 'பையனுக்கு ஒன்றும் தெரியாது... பார்த்து அவனை அனுப்பி வை...' என்று சொல்லியிருந்தார் போனில் அவன் அப்பா... எனக்கு கொஞ்சமாவது விசயம் தெரியும் என்று ஒத்துக்கொள்ள உலகில் ஆளிருக்கிறதே என்று பெருமையாயிருந்த்து... அதனாலோ என்னமோ சிங்கப்பூருக்கு செல்லவெண்டிய பையன் ஏர்போர்ட் வருவதற்கு முன்னமே நான் அங்கு போய் சேர்ந்து விட்டேன். 'அண்ணே... லேட்டாயுடுச்சி... இன்னும் அரைமணி நேரத்தில் வந்துவிடுகிறேன்...' என்றான் போனில் பையன். கொடுமை கொடுமைன்னு கோயிலுக்கு போன கதையா என்ன செய்றதுன்னு தெரியாம நின்றிருந்தேன்...

விமான நிலைய கட்டிடத்தின் புண்ணியத்தில் எரித்த வெயில் முழுவதும் நிற்பவர்களின் த்லையில் அக்னி ஏவுகணையாக தாக்கியது... நடைபாதை வராண்டா முழுவதும் தடுப்புபோட்டு பார்வையாளர்களை உள்ளே விடாமல் காவல் காத்தார்கள்... பார்வையாளர்கள் வெளியேதான் நிற்கவேண்டும்... வெயிலுக்கே இப்படி என்றால், மழைக்கு... நம் பாடு படு கேவலமாகிவிடும்... வெளியூர் காரர்கள் காறி நம் மோரையில் துப்பிவிட்டு போவார்கள், 'உங்களுக்கெல்லாம் விமான நிலையம் ஒரு கேடா...' என்று. இது இப்படியிருக்க பக்கத்திலிருக்கும் ப்ளாட்பார்ம்கள் சிமெண்ட் பெயர்ந்து பள்ளம் பள்ளமாக இலவசமாக மழைநீர் சேமிப்பில் ஈடுப்பட்டிருந்தன... ஏறகனவே ரோடுகள் அப்படித்தான் இருந்தாலும் இவர்களாக வேறு இன்னும் கொஞ்சம் ஸ்பீட் பிரேக் போட்டிருந்தார்கள்... திரும்பும் இடமெல்லாம் மேஜரான பொண்ணுக்கு தென்னை ஓலையில் மரவடம் கட்டுவது மாதிரி பைபர் சீட்டுகள் வைத்து மறைத்திருந்தார்கள்... சுற்றிலும் குப்பையும் கூலமுமாய் பிச்சை எடுக்க பெருமாள் கோவிலுக்கு போன மாதிரி தான் இருந்தது பீலிங்.
:bash::bash::bash:

இந்தியாவில் மும்பை மற்றும் டில்லிக்கு அடுத்தபடியாய் அதிக விமான போக்குவரத்து உள்ள பிஸியான விமான நிலையம்... சரக்கு போக்குவரத்தில் மும்பைக்கு அடுத்தபடியாக இரண்டாவது இடத்தில் உள்ள ஒரு விமான நிலையம் ஏன் இப்படி கேட்பாரற்று கிடக்கிறது... இதை திரும்பிப் பார்த்து கவனம் செலுத்த ஏன் அரசு தயாராகயில்லை... மெரினாவை அழகு படுத்திவிட்டு கூவத்தை காவு கொடுக்க வேவுபார்த்துக் கொண்டிருக்கும் துணை முதல்வர் ஸ்டாலின் இதை கொஞ்சம் கவனித்தால் நம் தமிழக மானம் தினம் தினம் விமானம் ஏறுவது காப்பாற்றப்படும்.:2cents:

விசயத்துக்கு வருகிறேன்... 30 நிமிடங்களை கடத்த வேண்டுமே என்கிற கவலையில் ஒரு ஓரமாக தடுப்பு கம்பியில் சாய்ந்து நின்று கொண்டேன்... எனக்கு பின்னால் நின்றிருந்த வாயில்காப்பாளர் ரொம்பவும் சின்சியர் என்பது தெரிந்தது... விமான நிலைய அதிகாரிகள், ஏர் ஹோஸ்டஸ் என்று யாரையும் விடவில்லை அவர்... நிறுத்தி அவர்கள் ஐ.டி கார்டில் இருக்கும் முகமும் அவர்கள் முகமும் ஒன்றுதானா என்று பார்த்து பார்த்துதான் உள்ளே அனுப்பினார்... வருபவர்களும் கோபமேயில்லாமல் பொறுமையாய் அவருக்கு ஒத்துழைத்தது என் செயல்களை மறுபரிசீலனை செய்ய வைத்தது... என் அலுவலக முன் கேட்டில் என்னை மறைக்கும் காவலாளியை 'நீ யாரடா என்னை சோதிப்பது... நான் யார் தெரியுமா...' என்பதுபோல் பார்ப்பதை நினைத்து அப்போது வெட்கப்பட்டேன். நான் இதை மாற்றிக்கொள்ள இங்கே பாடம் கிடைத்திருக்கிறது.


எனக்கு முன் சற்றுத்தள்ளி 'ப' வடிவ சுற்றுச்சுவருக்குள், மண் மூட்டைகளுக்கு மத்தியில் நின்றிருந்தார் ஒரு தேசிய பாதுகாப்பு படை வீரர்... தோலில் துப்பாக்கி வேறு... யார் பேச்சு துணையும் இல்லை... அவருடைய கூறிய கவனம் மட்டுமே அவருக்கு துணை... 30 நிமிட காத்திருப்புக்கே இப்படி இஞ்சி தின்ற குரங்காட்டம் நின்றிருக்கிறேனே... நாள் முழுதும் இவர் இப்படியே நிற்கிறாரே... அதற்கு எவ்வளவு பொறுமை தேவை... இங்கேயே இப்படியென்றால் ஆள் நடமாட்டமேயில்லாத காஷ்மீர் எல்லையில் தனியே, தன்னந்தனியே நிற்பவர்களை நினைக்கையில் மயிர் கூச்செரிகிறது... இது எவ்வளவு பெரிய தியாகம்... மனதுக்குள் அவருக்கு ஒரு சல்யூட் அடித்து மரியாதை செய்தேன்.

'க்ளாக் ரூம் எங்கயிருக்குன்னு மட்டும் சொல்லுங்க... நீங்க கூட வரவேண்டாம்...' என்ற பிரயாணியை

'நீ இதுக்கு காசெல்லாம் கொடுக்கவேண்டாம்பா... சும்மா வா நான் காட்டுறன்...' என்று கரிசனையாய் பேசி அழைத்துக்கொண்டு போய்க் கொண்டிருந்தார் ஒரு டாக்ஸி ட்ரைவர்.

ஒரு ஹிந்திவாலா என்னை நோக்கி வந்து... அவரும் 'க்ளாக் ரூம் எங்கே இருக்கிறது...' என்றார். அந்த ட்ரைவர் போன திசையை காட்டினேன்...

'ஏன் க்ளாக் ரூமை உள்ளே வைக்காமல் வெளியே வைத்திருக்கிறார்கள்... அங்கே எப்படி பெட்டியை நம்பி வைப்பது... அது எங்கேயிருக்கிறது என்று ஒரு வழிகாட்டி பலகை கூட இல்லை... என்னைபோல் எவ்வளவு பேரு கஷ்டப்படுவாங்க...' என்று பேச்சை புலம்பலோடு தொடர்ந்தார்...

'ரெனோவேசன் வொர்க் நடக்கிறது அதான்...' என்று சமாளித்தேன்.

அவர் நியூசிலாந்திலிருந்து மலேசியா வந்து அங்கிருந்து சென்னை வந்திருக்கிறார். இங்கிருந்து டெல்லிக்கு அவருடைய கனெக்டிங் ப்ளைட் இன்னும் ஐந்து மணி நேரம் கழித்து தானாம்...

'ஊர் டெல்லியா என்றேன்...'

'இல்லை பஞ்சாப்...' என்றவர் தொடர்ந்து 'வெரி ப்யூட்டிபுல் ப்லேஸ்...' என்று முடித்தார்.

எனக்கு அப்போது தான் பொறிதட்டியது... யாரவது வெளி நாட்டிலோ, வெளி மாநிலத்திலோ நம்மிடம் நம் ஊர் பற்றி கேட்டால், நாம் ஏன் இது மாதிரி 'தமில்நாட்... வெரி வெரி ப்யூட்டிபுல் ப்லேஸ்...' என்று சொல்வதில்லை... இனி கண்டிப்பாக இப்படித்தான் சொல்ல வேண்டும் என்று சபதம் எடுத்துக்கொண்டேன்(நீங்களும் எடுத்துக்கங்க!).

'ஐந்து மணி நேரம் சுற்றுவதற்கு சென்னையில் ஜில்லுன்னு ஒரு இடம் சொல்லுங்கள்...' என்று அடுத்த அம்பை வீசினார். நானும் முட்டிப்போட்டு முன்னூறு முறை யொசித்து யொசித்து சென்னையில் ஜில்லுன்னு ஒரு இடம் கிடைக்காமல் ஆடிப் பொய்விட்டேன்... எந்த இடத்தை சொல்வது (நீங்களாவது சொல்லுங்கள், அடுத்த முறை சுதாரித்து கொள்கிறேன்!)... :ohno:தி.நகர் ரெங்கநாதன் தெருவிற்கு அனுப்பி அரப்பரையை கொடுக்கலாம் என்று சோசித்து, அது நம்மை மேலும் அசிங்கப்படுத்துகிற காரியம் ஆதலால் கிடைத்ததடா இடம் என்று ஸ்பென்ஸர் ப்ளாஸாவை பரிந்துரை செய்தேன்(நிம்மதியப்பா...)

'வெளி நாடுகளுக்கு ஆள் அனுப்பும் வெளையைத்தான் செய்கிறேன்... உங்களுக்கு தெரிந்தவர் இருந்தால் சொல்லுங்கள்...' என்றார்

'எந்த நாடு...' என்றேன்.

'உலகத்துல எந்த நாட்டுக்கு வேனா... யூ.எஸ், யூ.கே, கனடா, ஆஸ்திரேலியா...' என்றவரை மறித்தேன். அரண்டவனுக்கு ஆண்டவன பார்த்தாலும் அலர்ஜிங்கற மாதிரி அவரை ஏற இறங்க பார்த்தபடி

'ஆளவுடுப்பா சாமி... இந்த விளையாட்டுக்கு நான் வரலை...' என்று சொல்லிக் கொண்டிருக்கும் போது உறவுக்காரப் பையன் வந்து விட்டான்... அத்துடன் பஞ்சாபிகாரருக்கு நான் பிரியாவிடை கொடுத்து அனுப்பிவிட்டு, அடுத்து நம்ம பையனுக்கு பிரியாவிடை கொடுக்க ஆயத்தமானேன்.
:rofl:

Translation?

சர்வதேச தரத்துடன் சென்னை விமான நிலையம்!
From maarkali.blogspot.com (http://maarkali.blogspot.com/2010/01/blog-post.html)

:rofl:

:bash::wallbash::rofl:...very true...but could have suggested marina (none of the other cities has got such a place) at this time, city center, abirami mall which has snow room...jiluno irukum.. Anyway airport sucks... WIP presently right excuse.

Regarding passenger airtraffic after Mumbai and Delhi, it is Bangalore which has take the place of Chennai. Chennai is no more third.

^^Is it really required to quote all of this story to give one line answer ?

Pallavaram Area is coming under Cantonment and Airport funnel. They have their own rules for development.

Tambaram is under CMA only. CMA covers upto Kattankulathur on GST Road.

Is it not a good to include Tambaram and Poonamallee in the new limits?

^^ Still 424 Sq.Km is way less than HYD 630 Sq.Km and BNG 710 Sq.Km.
It would be even better if the complete Sriperumbudur and Oragadam belt comes under Chennai District. That way atleast the rail link for these areas will be seriously considered. Fund can be allocated even more, as well as the combined revenue of Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchepuram Districts will be one of the highest in India.
But administration wise, no idea how tough that will be... :dunno:

AFAIK, Sirperumbudur and Oragadam doesnt even come under CMA.

The reason, Tambaram, Avadi and other areas were not included is coz, they're gonna create Chennai-Tambaram Corporation and Chennai-Avadi Corporation. Thats the reason why they limited the expansion to 420 sq.km instead of 800 sq km.

Am quoting from an hindu artilce published in august, 2009. They've opted the 2nd choice which, I think, is a good move than the mega city of 800 sq km.


Size of Chennai city set to expand (http://beta.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article8615.ece)

The second option is to expand the present city to a size of 420 sq.km and in addition, create two Corporations with Avadi and Tambaram as headquarters.

In this proposal, the existing municipalities such as Ambattur and Alandur would be merged with the Chennai Corporation and Semancheri would be the southern limit and Thiruvottiyur and Kathivakkam the northern limit of the city. The Chennai-Avadi Corporation would cover about 150 sq.km extending up to Poonamallee.

The Chennai-Tambaram Corporation would cover about 200 sq.km extending up to Vandalur.

Both these options were not amongst the alternatives that were discussed at public consultation meetings held in 2008 and 2009, but have been arrived at as a result of the discussions, say a government source.

Goal

The purpose behind this restructuring, as stated by the government, is to create ‘higher order local bodies’ that will deliver better public services, generate more resources and facilitate private public partnerships to undertake new infrastructure projects.

The government also expects that this restructuring will optimise expenditure and improve administration.

Deccan (http://www.dc-epaper.com/DC/DCC/2010/01/03/ArticleHtmls/03_01_2010_005_004.shtml?Mode=0)

Jan. 2: The DMK government has been trumpeting about empowering local bodies and upgrading municipalities into corporations. But in reality, even suburbs located close to Chennai lack basic civic amenities including good roads, proper drainage and streetlight. The situation is pathetic with the public staging protests demanding better infrastructure. During the monsoon, the residents are forced to spend sleepless nights thanks to lack of power and mosquito menace.
Last week, a councillor of Nerkundram panchayat picketed the municipality urging it to undertake basic works like repairing roads and replacing faulty streetlights.
The CPI (M) councillor, Mr Vellaisamy, alleged that the civic body had not repaired roads that were battered during last year's monsoon.

A similar situation prevails in southern suburbs like Madipakkam and Adambakkam. "The residents and welfare associations in our locality are forced to protest frequently.
There is no proper roads and piped drinking water supply.
The civic officials pass the buck citing lack of funds," lamented Mr Bala Kumar, a resident of Madipakkam.
And in Selaiyur, encroachers and miscreants often breach the water bodies leading to frequent flooding in residential areas.

According to Mr N Neelamegam, member, Sivaskthi Nagar residents welfare association, the moment nearby lakes in Ambattur and Avadi are breached, several residential colonies become breeding grounds for snakes, frogs and mosquitoes.

However, municipal administration and water supply department secretary Niranjan Mardi explained that the government had taken adequate steps to improve infrastructure in the suburbs.
Civic projects, estimated to cost more than Rs 2,000 crore, are under way.

Little old news which has bee missed here if am not wrong. :)

Sister ties between KL and Chennai mulled (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/12/24/nation/20091224133132&sec=nation)

NEW DELHI: Senior Malaysian officials are floating the idea to twin Chennai and Kuala Lumpur as sister cities to bolster the existing deep-rooted bilateral ties between Malaysia and India.

Officials in KL are believed to have proposed the idea and are likely to get the Cabinet's approval to move the plan to twin both the fast-growing cities.

"It will augur well for both nations because we have very long-standing relations, especially with South India, where many of the Indian population have originated from Tamil Nadu.

"It will give a different political dimension to our relationship and boost the two-way trade and cultural linkages," a high-level Malaysian official familiar with the proposal said.

However, the political arrangement would need the endorsement of India's External Affairs Ministry in Delhi before the idea could be taken to a different level.

Chennai city in Tamil Nadu has established sister relationships with five other cities around the globe -- Cairo, Egypt, Denver, United States (US), Frankfurt, Germany, San Antonio, US and Volgograd in Russia.

Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state, has a population of over eight million while Chennai city itself has about 4.5 million people.

At least 14 major Indian cities have sister relationships with foreign cities worldwide. - Bernama

Am confused.
Does Pallavaram come under Chennai Corp or Tambaram (or neither of the two?). Looks like CMA and chennai corp have different boundaries.

Pallavaram Area is coming under Cantonment and Airport funnel. They have their own rules for development.

Tambaram is under CMA only. CMA covers upto Kattankulathur on GST Road.

Little old news which has bee missed here if am not wrong. :)

Sister ties between KL and Chennai mulled (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/12/24/nation/20091224133132&sec=nation)

How the sister cities are selected? Is it mooted politically? Going by economically, Detroit and Shenzen should also become sister city for Chennai.

Do u think this sister city concept is of any use at all??

LmWkgObV1qE

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/back-in-a-bit/

Nice blog of Scott Bridges travelling through Chennai and his experiences

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/4730/14645212.jpg

:ohno:
Source: Dinamalar

^^ Namma thirundhave matom :ohno:

இப்படித்தான் மாறப்போகிறது கூவம்...!

About Singapore river cleaning project happened from 1977 to 1986

துணை முதல்வர் ஸ்டாலின் அண்மையில் சிங்கப்பூர் சென்று, கல்லாங் மற்றும் சிங்கப்பூர் நதிகளைப் பார்வையிட்டுத் திரும்பிய பிறகு, பெரிதும் ஆரவாரமின்றி சென்னை கூவம் நதியை சுத்தப்படுத்துவதற்கான அடிப்படை வேலைகளை முடுக்கிவிட ஆரம்பித்துவிட்டார்! இன்றைய கூவத்தின் சகல 'லட்சணங்களும்' அந்தக் காலத்தில் கொண்டிருந்த சிங்கப்பூரின் அவ்விரு நதிகளும் இன்று தெள்ளிய நீரோடையாகப் பாய்கின்றன என்றால்... அதற்கானமுயற்சி சும்மா இல்லை! சிங்கப்பூரின் மொத்தப் பரப்பளவில், ஐந்தில் ஒரு பகுதி இந்த கல்லாங் மற்றும் சிங்கப்பூர் நதிகள். இந்த நதிக் கரைகளில்தான், அந்த நாட்டின் பிரமிப்பூட்டும் வளர்ச்சிக்கான பொருளாதார அடிப் படைகள் வகுக்கப்பட்டன. சிங்கப்பூரில் 1819-ல் வந்திறங்கிய ஆங்கிலேயரான ஸ்டாம்ஃபோர்ட் ரஃபில்ஸ் போட்ட சொடக்குதான் அத்தனைக்கும் ஆரம்பம் எனலாம். அவர் வகுத்த செயல் திட்டங்கள் சிங்கப்பூருக்கு பொருளாதார வளர்ச்சியும், உலக நாடுகள் மத்தியில் சமூக அந்தஸ்தும் பெருக முக்கிய விசையாக அமைந்தது. ரஃபில்ஸ் கப்பலில் முதலில் வந்திறங்கிய இடம் - சிங்கப்பூர் நதி.

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இன்று டூரிஸ்ட்கள் படுகுஷியாகச் சுற்றிச் சுற்றி வரும் சிங்கப்பூர் நதியோரம் விண்ணைக் கிழிக்கும் கட்டடங்கள், பல வங்கி நிறுவனங்கள், உணவகங்கள், மதுபானக் கடைகள் என்று அமர்க்களப்படுகிறது.ஆரம்பத்தில் சிங்கப்பூர் நதியை சுத்தப் படுத்துவது செம கடினமான வேலையாகத்தான் இருந்தது. எனினும்,

அரசாங்கத்தின் விடாப்பிடி வெறியோடு இந்த நாட்டு மக்களின் முயற்சியாலும், அவர்களது சுயக்கட்டுப்பாட்டினாலும் இது சாத்தியமானது. 'அர்பன் ரீ-டெவல்ப்மென்ட் அத்தாரிட்டி' இந்த நதியைத் தொடர்ந்து அதே சுத்தம் மற்றும் அழகோடு பராமரிக்கும் பொறுப்பை ஏற்றிருக் கிறது.

முதலில், நதியை ஒட்டி வாழ்ந்து வந்த அப்பகுதி மக்களுக்கு அதே வசதிகளுடன் மாற்று வீடுகளை அமைத்துக் கொடுத்தனர். அந்த நதியை அவர்கள் தங்களது வரலாற்றுத் தொட்டிலாகவே கருதுவதால், அந்த அடையாளங்களை அழித்து, யாருடைய சென்டி மென்ட்டையும் பாதித்துவிடக் கூடாது என்பதில் கவனமாக இருந்தது அரசு. அங்கிருந்த கலாசாரத்தைத் தொடர்ந்து பிரதிபலிக்கும் வகையில் பல நினைவுச் சின்னங்களை சிலை வடிவிலும், கடை வடிவிலும் இன்றும் பராமரித்து வருகின்றனர். ஃபுல்லர்டன் என்ற பிரபலமான ஹோட்டலை ஒட்டி ஐந்து சிறுவர்கள், நதியில் குதிப்பது போன்ற சிலை ஒன்றை அரசாங்கம் அமைத்துள்ளது. இதனை முதலாம் தலைமுறை என்று அழைக்கின்றனர். வெண்கலத்தால் ஆன இந்தச் சிலை, மக்களின் சுதந்திர உணர்வை நினைவு படுத்தும் விதமாக அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதற்குச் சற்றுத் தொலைவில், ஒரு தாய்ப் பூனை, தனது குட்டி களைப் பாதுகாக்கும் சிலை. சிங்கப்பூர், தன்னை நம்பி வந்த விருந்தாளிகளை எப்படி அரவணைக்கும் என்பதற்கான சிம்பாலிஸமாக இந்த சிலைக் காட்சியை ஒப்பிடுகின்றனர். மேலும், அவர்களது பொருளாதார வளர்ச்சிக்கான வரலாற்றைக் குறிக்கும் விதமாக நம்மூர் செட்டியார் சிலைகளும், அமைதிப் பறவையின் சிலையும் அந்தப் பகுதியையே மிகவும் பழைமை வாசனை மணக்க வடிவமைத்துள்ளனர்.

என்னதான் அல்ட்ரா மாடர்னாக மாறிவிட்டாலும், நதிகளை சுத்தப்படுத்திய பிறகும் 25 வருடங்கள் தாண்டியும் அங்கே விட்டுவைத்த கடைகளை மாற்றி அமைக்கவில்லை. ஸ்டாலினுடன் சிங்கப்பூர் வந்திருந்த சென்னை மேயர் உள்ளிட்ட டீம், இங்குள்ள அதிகாரிகளுடன் நடத்திய ஆலோசனையின் சில விவரங்கள் நமக்குக் கிடைத்தன. அதாவது, 85 கி.மீ. நீளமுள்ளது சிங்கப்பூர் நதி. நமது கூவம் 72 கிலோ மீட்டர் வருகிறதாம். கேசவரத்திலிருந்து கொரட்டூர் 32 கிலோமீட்டரும், கொரட்டூரிலிருந்து கோயம்பேடு 24 கிலோமீட்டரும், அங்கிருந்து மயிலாப்பூர் வழியாக இன்னும் 16 கிலோமீட்டருமாக மூன்று மண்டலமாகக் கூவத்தைப் பிரித்துச் சுத்தப்படுத்தலாம் என்று யோசனை தந்தார்களாம் சிங்கப்பூரில், இந்தப் பணியைச் செய்து முடித்த இலாகாவினர்! 1977-ல் அப்போதைய பிரதமர் லீ குவான் யூ, தனது மக்களிடம் ஒரு கனவை வேண்டு கோளாக விடுத்தார். ''இன்னும் 10 வருடங்களில் கல்லாங் மற்றும் சிங்கப்பூர் நதிகளின் தெள்ளிய நீரில் மீன்கள் துள்ளி விளையாடுவதை நாம் கரையிலிருந்தே கண்குளிரக் காணவேண்டும். உங்களின் தனிமனித ஒழுக்கமும், உதவியும் இல்லாமல் இந்தக் கனவு நிறை வேறாது. நாம் செய்யப்போகும் இந்தச் செயலுக்காக, பிற்காலத்தில் நாமும் நமது சந்ததியினரும் பெருமை அடையப் போகிறோம்!'' என்று உணர்ச்சிவசப்பட்டு ஓர் உரையே நிகழ்த்தி னார் லீ குவான் யூ. அது மக்களையும் சென்று அடைந்தது. அதே சமயம், அன்றைக்கு சிங்கப்பூர் இருந்த நிலைக்கு பல பொருளாதார மற்றும் எதிர்க் கட்சிக் குடைச்சல்களுக்குப் பிறகே இதை சாதிக்க முடிந்தது. அந்த 10 ஆண்டு காலமும் அவரிடமிருந்து ஆட்சி கைமாறிப் போகாது என்ற உறுதியான நம்பிக்கை யும் இதை சாதிக்க ஒரு காரணம்.

இந்திய மதிப்பில் சுமார் 660 கோடி செலவில் தொடங் கியது அந்தப் பயணம். அதற்கான பணத்தை தங்கள் அரசு கஜானாவிலிருந்தும், மக்களிடமிருந்து நாட்டை மேம்படுத்து வதற்கென்று வாங்கிய பணத்திலிருந்தும் செலவிட்டனர். இதனாலோ என்னவோ, சிங்கப்பூர் நதியை சுத்தமாகப் பராமரிக்க வேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணம், அந்த மக்களுக்கு உள்ளூர ஆழமாகப்பதிந்துவிட்டது.

முக்கியமாக, 'இயற்கைப் பாதுகாப்பு சட்ட'த்தை அமல் படுத்தினார்கள் அங்கே. நதிக்கரையை ஒட்டி வாழ்ந்த 16,000-த்துக்கும் மேற்பட்ட குடும்பங்களுக்கு மாற்றுக் குடியிருப்புகளை சகல வசதிகளுடன் அமைத்துத் தந்தனர். இது நம்மூரில் சாத்தியம் ஆவதற்கு, குடிசை மாற்று வாரியம் போலவே, கூவம் மாற்று வாரியம் அமைத்தால்தான் உண்டு.

தொழிற்சாலைகளிலிருந்து வெளியேற்றப்பட்ட கழிவுகள்தான், நதி அசுத்தத்துக்கான பிரதான காரணம் என்பதால், சுமார் 2,800 தொழிற்சாலைகளை யாருடைய குறுக்கீட்டுக்கும் இடமே கொடுக்காமல் இடம் மாற்றினார்கள். பரபரப்பான வசிப்பிடங்களைத் தாண்டி, தாம்பனிஸ் பகுதிக்கும் சாங்கி பகுதிக்கும் இந்த தொழிற்சாலைகளைக் கொண்டு சென்றனர். 5,000-த்துக்கும் மேற்பட்ட தெருக்கடை வியாபாரிகளுக்கு, அழுகிய காய்கறிகளை நதி நீரோடு கலக்கவிடாமல், அவற்றை வெகுதூரம் கொண்டுசென்று வெளியேற்றுவதற்கான நவீன வசதிகளையும் செய்து தந்தனர். சுமார் 610 பன்றிப் பண்ணைகளையும், 500 வாத்துப் பண்ணைகளையும் கண் காணாத தூரத்துக்கு இடம் மாற்றினார்கள்.

மேலும், நதியை ஒட்டிச் செல்லும் நடைபாதைகளுக்கு டைல்ஸ்கள் பதித்து, ஆங்காங்கே பெஞ்சுகள் அமைத்து, புல்தரைகளை சமன் செய்து பச்சைப்பசேல் என்றாக்கி... ஒட்டுமொத்த நதிக்கரையுமே ஒரு சூப்பர் பிக்னிக் தலம் மாதிரி செய்துவிட்டார்கள். நினைத்ததை முடிக்கும் அவர்களாலும்கூட சில முக்கியமான தொழிற்சாலைகளையும் சாப்பாட்டு மையங்களையும் மாற்றியமைக்க முடியவில்லை. இருந்தாலும், அவற்றின் கழிவுகள் வெளியேறும் இடத்தில் பிரத்தியேக சல்லடை கள் பொருத்தி பெரிய குப்பை, இன்ன பிற கழிவுப் பொருட்கள் என பிரித்து வடிகட்டுவதற்கு ஏற்பாடு செய்தனர். அவற்றை முடிந்த அளவு, மறு உபயோகம் செய்வதற்கான கட்டுப்பாடுகளை கடைகள் மற்றும் தொழிற்சாலைகளுக்கு விதித்து, அதை ஒழுங்காகப் பின்பற்றுபவர்களுக்கு சலுகையும் சன்மானமும் வழங்கினர்.

மேலும், 'floating boom' எனப்படும் தொழில்நுட்பம் மூலமாக, அவர்கள் அந்த நதியை மீன்கள் வாழ்வதற்கு ஏற்றதாக மாற்றியமைத்தனர். இந்தத் தொழில் நுட்பப்படி, நதியின் பரப்பளவுக்கு இணையான பிரமாண்ட எலாஸ்டிக் துணி ஒன்றை, கரையின் இருபுறமும் இறுக்கி கட்டிவிட... தண்ணீரில் அடித்துவரும் அனைத்து அழுக்குகளையும் தொழிற்சாலைக் கழிவுகளையும் அடுத்தடுத்த ஸ்பாட்களிலேயே இவை 'ஸ்டாப்' சொல்லி நிறுத்திவிடும். இந்த எலாஸ்டிக் தடுப்புகளை குறிப்பிட்ட இடைவெளியில் ஆராய்ந்து கழிவுகளை எடுத்து, சுத்தப்படுத்தி மீண்டும் உபயோ கிக்க முடியும். இதன் மூலம் நதி நீர், மாசு தங்கி விடாமல் தொடர்ந்து தூய்மையாக இருக்கும். இத்தனை முன்யோசனைகளோடு சிங்கப்பூரில் சாத்தியமான இந்தத் திட்டம், நம்மூரில் நடக்குமா..? அன்றைக்கு அவர்களுக்கு இருந்ததைவிட, இன்றைக்கு நமக்கு நிதி கிடைப்பது அத்தனை கஷ்டமல்ல! அப்படியே செலவு செய்து, இந்தப் பணியைச் செய்து முடித்தாலும், இது எத்தனை நாட்களுக்கு நிரந்தரமாகும்? சிங்கப்பூரை பொறுத்த வரை, லீ குவான் யூ-வின் எதிர்க்கட்சியென ஒன்று செயல்பட்டு வந்தாலும், மக்களிடையே அவர் பெற்ற அமோக செல்வாக்கினால், தொடர்ந்து 50 வருடமாக சுய ஆட்சி நடத்த முடிகிறது. அதனால்தான் அவரால் இந்தத் திட்டத்தை 1977-ல் தொடங்கி 1986-ல் வெற்றிகரமாக முடிக்க முடிந்தது. ஆனால், தமிழகத்தில், ஒரு கட்சி நிறைவேற்ற ஆரம்பிக்கும் திட்டத்தை... அடுத்த ஆட்சி வந்ததும் கனகாரியமாக முடக்கிப் போடுகிற கலாசாரம் கொடிகட்டிப் பறக் கிறதே?

இது ஒருபுறமிருக்க, ''சிங்கப்பூரில் ஓட்டு - சாதி - அரசியல் என்ற பாகுபாடுகள் இல்லாமல் சுற்றுச் சூழலுக்கு கேடு செய்வோரை தண்டிக்கக் கடுமையான சட்டங்கள் உள்ளன. இங்கே சுற்றுச்சூழலை மாசுபடுத்துவது ஒரு குற்றமாகவே யாருக்கும் தோன்றுவதில்லை. ஒட்டுமொத்த தமிழ்நாட்டுக்கும் இல்லாவிட்டாலும் கூவம் உள்ளிட்ட சென்னைக்கு மட்டுமாவது முதல் கட்டமாகச் சிறப்பு சட்டவிதிகளை உங்கள் அரசாங்கம் இயற்ற வேண்டும். இல்லையேல், தூய்மைப்படுத்தும் பணமெல்லாம் காலப்போக்கில் வீணாகிவிடும்!'' என்று சிங்கப்பூர் அதிகாரிகள் கூறுவதையும் புறக்கணிப்பதற்கில்லை.
- சிங்கப்பூரிலிருந்து ஏ.ஆதித்யன் - Vikatan

Many a times, I have suggested fencing plus banning of shops in Marina plus some fee for entry. Almost all forumers disagreed with this. Chennaites do not have it in themselves to be hygenic! very sad.

இப்படித்தான் மாறப்போகிறது கூவம்...!

.....

ஆனால், தமிழகத்தில், ஒரு கட்சி நிறைவேற்ற ஆரம்பிக்கும் திட்டத்தை... அடுத்த ஆட்சி வந்ததும் கனகாரியமாக முடக்கிப் போடுகிற கலாசாரம் கொடிகட்டிப் பறக் கிறதே?



:ohno::bash:

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/4730/14645212.jpg

:ohno:
Source: Dinamalar

people sleep or take a short break in parks world over ! except in some authoritarian states like Singapore or North Korea perhaps.

It is very common in London for people to sleep in park or children to play in fountains etc

^^ Parks are meant to relax and rejuvenate..so nothing wrong with ppl sleeping..the issue is about keeping these public spaces clean.

We might just need better waste management. A person strolling in a park should not walk more than 100ft in any direction, to trash his belongings. Segregated waste management with icons, block sized description in tamil and english will guide the layman to use it. Something simple and secure like the setup below might help. Can someone give us the ground reality from marina?

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/6814/dustbind.png

^^^ How can sleeping in a park cause Sughadara Seerkedu?

The reporter shows a picture of some one sleeping and just adds that ppl litter everywhere. While that fact cannot be denied (anywhere in India), the photo doesn't make any sense with what is being reported.

Political disturbance over the demand for a separate Telangana state is forcing information technology (IT) companies to shift. The process to shortlist office space in neighbouring states, like Tamil Nadu, is underway.

“Six companies, including top five in IT and operating in Hyderabad, want to shift before the end of January,” Chennai-based Shriram Properties Managing Director M Murali said.

Software exports from Andhra Pradesh are projected to touch Rs 35,000 crore in 2009-10, and IT companies like Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, Tech Mahindra and HCL are present in Hyderabad.

“Besides Chennai, we have received enquires for leased properties in Visakhapatnam. All want office space for at least 3-5 years,” Murali added.

“Two IT majors have approached us for 100 apartments on bulk lease, besides IT premises,” said Chitty Babu, chairman of Akshaya Homes, a Chennai-based developer.

The IT department of Tamil Nadu confirmed that Chennai had received enquiries from Hyderabad-based IT companies. The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (Elcot), the nodal agency for IT in the state, develops special economic zones. “We have been approached by IT companies, which are currently enquiring about availability of space in the state,” an IT department official said. He added that Elcot was planning to organise roadshows — from Hyderabad to begin with — to promote IT in Tamil Nadu.

The move is bound to have its impact. “About 15-20 per cent of the 60,000-140,000 professionals employed globally by Tech Mahindra, Patni Computers, Satyam Computer, HCL, Wipro, Infosys and TCS globally are based in Hyderabad,” P Phani Sekhar, fund manager (research arm), Angel Broking said.

J A Chowdary, managing director of NVidia Graphics India and president of The Indus Entrepreneurs, Hyderabad chapter, said if the decision on Telangana was prolonged, the IT companies would suffer. “Though we have requested the political parties to ensure law and order, students are going in for violent agitations by not allowing buses to ply and creating problems for people to reach offices.”


Hope TN Govt rises to the situation and help out the IT companies by accomdating them in Tier 2 cites before marketing Chennai.


http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/telangana-issue-forces-it-firms-to-eye-neighbours/381816/

VA Tech Wabag Ltd to build the Rs 1,033-crore project






VA Tech Wabag Ltd will build a water desalination plant on the East Coast Road, near Chennai. The proposed Rs 1,033-crore project will be funded by the government.

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, company managing director Rajiv Mittal said the project was coming up at Nemili on 40 acres of land to be allotted by the government. It would have a capacity of 100 million litres a day (MLD).

The plant, to be constructed on a DBO (design, build and operate) basis, will be commissioned in 24 months. The company has also entered into a seven-year contract for operations and maintenance of the plant.

The plant will convert sea water into fresh potable water, which will be supplied to the southern suburbs of Chennai including the entire stretch of IT Corridor, Thiruvanmiyur, Pallipattu, Velachery, MRC Nagar and Kelambakkam.

Mittal said the company would develop the project along with the joint venture partner IDE Technologies.

This is the second desalination plant for Chennai, being constructed to ease the city’s water problems.

VA Tech Wabag offers sea and brackish water desalination technologies. Its order book currently stands at around Rs 1,000 crore.



http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/chennai-to-get-second-desalination-plant/381745/

http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/06/stories/2010010659050300.htm

SBI launches campaign to promote its mobile and internet banking services

http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/06/images/2010010659050301.jpg

CHENNAI: Mobile banking is slowly catching on in the city with more and more banks deciding to offer the service to attract customers. Aiding the process is also the recent decision of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) relaxing the operative guidelines for the facility.

Some of the major benefits of mobile banking facility, for which the customers should have a java-enabled mobile phone with GPRS connection, are anytime operation, no need of going in person to the branch and saving time spent waiting in queues.

On Tuesday, the State Bank of India (SBI) launched a campaign to promote its mobile and internet banking services. The bank’s Chief General Manager, J. Chandrasekaran, and General Manager B. S. R. Prasad flagged off the vehicles that would cover 60 of the total 120 city branches in four days to create awareness and encourage account-holders to register for the services.

V. Girivasan, assistant general manager (Alternate Channels), SBI, said customers can download application from the website or send a short text message to 567676.

The facility would enable account-holders to view account balances, transfer funds, make request for cheque books, pay bills and even recharge mobiles. Each customer would be given an user ID and password. Once they confirm their mobile number at an ATM, the facility would be activated, he added.

Indian Overseas Bank general manager (Information Technology) M. S. Raghavan said the mobile banking service introduced by the IOB in August last year had attracted 4,000 users. The bank’s customer base in the city is 15 lakh.

He said that a customer could even book movie tickets and locate a branch or ATM using the facility soon. People could also receive utility bills on their mobile from the agencies such as Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. “Mobile banking will be the future delivery channel for the banking services,” said Mr.Raghavan.

One of the reasons for the bankers’ confidence about a significant increase in the number of users in near future is the recent RBI decision relaxing the daily cap on funds transfer and transactions involving purchase of goods by a customer. The apex bank has revised it to Rs.50,000 per customer per day for both funds transfer and transactions. The earlier limit was Rs.5,000 and Rs.10,000 respectively.

On the customers’ apprehensions about security issues, bank officials said that several measures were being taken to ensure security of the users’ information. Besides checking mobile number for authentication, the customers are given marketing partner identification number (MPIN number) to carry out transactions.

End-to-end encryption is also carried out involving coding of clear text message to avoid security breach, they said.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/metro-water-ready-meet-greater-chennai%E2%80%99s-demands-700

Jan. 5: Can Chennai Metro Water meet the water requirements of Greater Chennai Corporation that is set to expand from the existing 174 sq km to 426 sq km soon? This is the crucial issue causing worry among CMWSSB (Chennai metropolitan water supply and sewerage board) engineers.
Metro Water top brass confidently say ‘yes’ and point to the growth trajectory of the board in the last three decades. In fact, they have already issued work order to Shah Technical Consultants for identifying new water sources to meet the demand that has been predicted to increase over threefold from the existing 655 mld (million litres per day).
A senior engineering official told this paper on condition of anonymity that the consultancy would submit a detailed report in the next 15 months. The report would also look into conveyance of water to the desired locations, he added.
The board had risen to the level of supplying 655 mld to 54 lakh people in 2009, against the 240 mld supplied to 30 lakh Chennaiites in 1978. It has also increased the treatment capacity from 182 mld to 1,280 mld in the same period. Another interesting feature the officials point to as proof of their ability to accommodate the demand of an expanded Chennai is the fact that Metro Water has provided 5.17 lakh connections in the last 30 years.
Despite having 6.33 lakh connections for which water mains have been laid to the length of 2,930 km, Metro Water has managed to cover 99 per cent of the area with piped supply. The rest was being taken care of by the “blue tanker lorries” that have become synonymous with CMWSSB.
As on date, the four city reservoirs, Chembarambakkam, Cholavaram, Poondi and Puzhal, have a joint storage capacity of 11.057 tmcft with the monthly requirement at 1 tmcft. Apart from the monsoon, the annual 12 tmcft Krishna water from Kandaleru reservoir in Andhra Pradesh and 180 mld from Veeranam are the only available water sources.
Besides, finding new sources, additional storage facilities ought to be developed so as to ensure that the entire 12 tmcft was received from Andhra Pradesh. The maximum water materialised per annum is less than 7 tmcft till date.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/chennai-coldest-12-years-721

Jan. 5: Monday night was the coldest night in
Chennai this winter with the temperature dipping to
17.5 degrees Celsius, approximately four degrees lower than normal, at Nungambakkam.
Sources claimed that it could have been the coldest night in the city in the last 12 years.
“While we cannot immediately confirm when was the last time temperatures dipped this low in the recent past, we can be certain that it did not get this cold in a long time,” said deputy director general of meteorology, regional meteorological centre, Chennai, Dr Y.E.A. Raj.
He added that the cold weather was probably due to Northerly winds and clear skies. The weather department also predicts that the city could get some rainfall during the end of the week. “We are certainly expecting some rain by January 8 and 9,” the officials said.
Meenambakkam weather station recorded 19.2 degrees Celsius on the same night.
“Usually, Meenambakkam gets cooler than Nungambakkam due to its
distance from the sea and since it is in the suburbs,” said Dr S.R. Ramanan, director, regional meteorological centre, Chennai. But, this year, Nungambakkam has become the ‘cooler spot’.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Renovated-Thyagarayar-hall-to-be-open-by-Jan-end/articleshow/5408461.cms

CHENNAI: The city corporation’s first air-conditioned auditorium for public use — the Sir PT Thyagarayar Hall in T Nagar — is being renovated at a cost of Rs 59 lakh. Deputy chief minister M K Stalin will reopen the hall by the end of the month, says mayor M Subramanian.

Subramanian said, “Restoration of the exterior includes ramps for the physically challenged and senior citizens, tiled walls and flooring, waterproof roofing and additional rest rooms”. Subramanian said that rules were being framed for organisers of any programme to forfeit part of the deposit amount if damage is caused to property during the occupancy period. Built in 2001 by the DMK government, the hall had remained locked for two years, with the then AIADMK government citing ‘short circuit’ as a reason. “We had to approach the court to reopen the hall,” Subramanian said. :ohno:

Sources told TOI that the hall had remained closed for more than three months in the past after it was vandalised by college students during a function. :bash: The roofing was badly damaged and air-conditioning equipment malfunctioning, forcing the local body to take up large-scale renovation.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/house-all-set-host-last-session-712

Jan. 5: The curtains will come down on the Assembly session at the famous Fort St. George on Wednesday with the first session of the state Assembly that will begin with the customary address by Governor Surjit Singh Barnala.
This brief session will turn out to be momentous as it would be last one at the famous building.
The first Assembly session was held 58 years ago in this historical building inside the fort.
After this, the venue would shift to Omandurar estate where a new Secretariat complex is coming up at a cost of Rs 425 crore.
The second session for this year that would focus on the state budget will be held in March at the new Secretariat complex that is expected to be ready by then.
The DMK’s new legislators who won seats in the by-elections would be attending the session on Wednesday.
The last session of the Assembly will be adjourned on January 7 after making obituary references to the former MLAs — S.P. Jayaraman (Vandavasi) and P.N. Periannan (Pennagaram), who died recently.

Thank God!!!!!!

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Strike+at+major+ports+averted&artid=rPWM9F3cCXo=&SectionID=lifojHIWDUU=&MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&SectionName=rSY|6QYp3kQ=&SEO=

CHENNAI: After day-long talks between the management (Indian Ports Association) and five dock workers’ federations in New Delhi, the Shipping Ministry on Monday agreed to provide 23 per cent fitment benefits and settle arrears from the day the workers demanded, thus averting a nationwide dock strike that was to begin from Monday midnight.
According to sources, there were tense moments at the meeting, as an IPA representative abruptly walked out saying that the workers’ demands could not be met.
When the upset federations were busy chalking out strategies for the next course of action, the secretary of the Shipping Ministry organised another round of talks and finally agreed to the dock workers’ demands of fitment benefits of 23 per cent of pay, and dearness allowance besides giving arrears from January 1, 2007 instead of January 2009.
Besides the chairmen of all major ports, representatives of the five recognised federations — the All India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation, the All India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation (Workers), the Water Transport Workers Federation of India, the Indian National Port and Dock Workers Federation and Port, the Dock and Waterfront Workers Federation of India — participated in the meet.
Since fitment was a major issue, a Bipartite Wage Negotiation Committee (BWNC) consisting of representatives of the management and the federations of port and dock workers was constituted by the Ministry of Shipping in January 2007.
They held several rounds of negotiations during the last three years, but could not find a win-win solution for all.
Last September, when another major strike was planned for the issue by these dockworkers’ federations, Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan intervened and assured the dockworkers of a fair deal. Based on his request, the workers called off their strike then.
When the management announced that the fitment benefits would be counted only from January 2009 and that arrears would be calculated from that period, workers turned furious and announced another nationwide strike from Monday (January 5). They wanted the arrears calculated from January 1, 2007 instead.

Can Chennai get it?

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/77470/Sports/Indian+Open+goes+out+of+Hyderabad.html

THE Indian Open badminton championships, which had been hosted by Hyderabad for the last three years, have been moved out of the city.

The decision to shift the $1,50,000 tournament is not a result of the ongoing Telangana crisis but due to the Badminton Association of India's (BAI) wish to take the meet out of the city. Speaking to MAIL TODAY, BAI joint secretary Punniah Choudhary said the move was made keeping in mind the profile of the tournament.

"We (the BAI) thought the Indian Open should not be hosted in one city only. Hence, we decided to shift it out of Hyderabad," he said.

It is also understood that the sponsors also wanted the tournament to be circulated around the country.

"The sponsors Yonex were also of the view that this meet should be shifted out of Hyderabad this year. May be it will return to the city after a couple of years but then this year it will be held elsewhere."

It is understood that Chennai is most likely to host these championships. It must be mentioned here that the Tamil Nadu capital hosts the Krishna Khaitan tournament, which is one of the most prestigious junior events in the country. Choudhary said that the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, the proposed venue for the championships, had undergone a major renovation recently.

"The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium has undergone major renovations in the last six months. We (the BAI) had recently gone there to have a look at the facilities. I am happy to say that the facilities there are comparable to the best in the country," he said.

The Karnataka Badminton Association (KBA) facility in Bangalore is another venue which is in contention to host this meet.

"The Raheja Stadium also has adequate facilities to host a meet of this stature. Also, the fact that they have hosted international tournaments before is a crucial factor," he said. The BAI will take a final decision on the venue very shortly.

"We will take a final decision on the venue on January 10 after a meeting. We are also looking at an association which can raise Rs 40 lakh on its own.

That is a major factor we will take into consideration," he said.

IDRIS TO STAY ON

Meanwhile, Indonesian coach Hadi Idris, who was supposed to go home for a three-week break, has changed his mind.

He will now stay back in Hyderabad and coach his wards . When asked why he was not leaving for Jakarta, Idris said he had changed his plans after a talk with national chief coach P Gopi Chand.

"We had a chat and it was decided that I stay put with the Indian team for another month. I will be leaving for Jakarta in the second week of February," he said.

Idris is credited with improving the fitness of the Indian players. In fact, a major credit for the exploits of Jwala Gutta and V Diju at the international level goes to the Indonesian.

He feels the mixed doubles duo can break into the top five this year.

"The way they are playing, they can make it to the top five soon."

Any idea for Chennai division Personal income tax collection 2008(apr) to 2009(mar).
I know for 2007-2008 it was 7700 crores.

BEAUTIFYING THE SEAFRONT

Royal palm trees to sway on Marina

Julie Mariappan | TNN

Chennai: Royal palm trees, usually found in a warm, coastal landscape, may soon decorate the lawns of the Marina. As part of its high-cost beautification exercise along the world’s second longest beach, the Chennai Corporation recently planted more than 100 royal palm saplings.

In many cities, this graceful tree is preferred to beautify avenues, parking lots and medians of arterial roads. A royal palm can reach up to 20m in height and could be about 70 cm broad at the base. It commonly bulges at middle and at base, while the leaves spread in all directions with the lower ones droping to 4m.

“As many as 100 saplings have been planted to add to beautify the beach. It is a very good ornamental plant for landscape beautification,” said a government official. The species was first introduced at the Indian Botanical Garden, Howrah in the early 19th century and is now cultivated over the country.

The corporation, it appears, preferred the royal palm since canopy trees, which are the overgrown bushy species, block a view of the sea and sand for those moving on the road. “It is a good avenue tree suited for the city’s landscape,” says D Narasimhan, associate professor of Botany at the Madras Christian College. “It can thrive here and can be grown without much difficulty,” he adds.

The corporation has left a minimum distance of 25 metres between every tree, as the green crownshaft is expected to be 3m long. According to Mayor M Subramanian, “the civic agency will explore the possibility of adding more palm trees on the marina front, based on the success of the planted saplings.” There could be an addition of 50 more trees in the left-over area upto the Labour Statue, sources say.

To preserve the expensive beautification works, Subramanian said, the corporation set up a 67-member team led by an assistant engineer. The agency purchased lawn mowers for Rs 2 lakh, brush cutter, edge cutter and tree pruner at Rs 1.65 lakh, pavement cleaner and mopping machine at Rs 2.8 lakh. At least 24 persons have been outsourced for round-theclock three-shift security.

However, it is said, the security personnel are finding it difficult to regulate the surging crowds. “Many come here to sleep, eat, walk or sit on the lush green lawns. They do not pay heed to our repeated advice to keep off lawns. It defeats the very purpose of the beautification. We fear the worst during Kaanum Pongal,” a security guard said. A handful of warning boards could help, it is felt.

TOI

^^

What is the revenue for Chennai corporation from Marina? Now more than 30crores spent on this and maintenance charges are going to shoot up. How Chennai corporation will able to maintain the beach without much profit.

Until heavy fines are imposed on the people , they will not change in spitting, pissing, eating/litter in the beach. Recently Delhi government informed those who piss in public will get a honor name of su su Kumar etc., or Chennai corporation can go some thing like "Pulli rajavu ku varuma?" so people atleast change with such measures and keep the beach neat.

“Many come here to sleep, eat, walk or sit on the lush green lawns. They do not pay heed to our repeated advice to keep off lawns. It defeats the very purpose of the beautification. We fear the worst during Kaanum Pongal,” a security guard said. A handful of warning boards could help, it is felt.

TOI

Lol - what's the matter with these jokers?

Telling people to stay off the lawn is what defeats the purpose of the beautification.. What did they create the lawns for if they were just planning to tell people to stay off it? They could have just left it as sand - would've been much more usable..

Bunch of idiots.. :ohno:

^^

No. The problem should be with litter & spitting and un-authorized shops.

Is that good to charge common man Re.1 or Rs.2 and children for free to enter beach? Shop keepers can be charged more. Fishermen can take some 1km stretch away from the normal crowd. Atleast by this Marina Board can have some revenue.

Roughly put 5000 to 8000 users per day, 150000 to 240000 per month, so somewhere near 2lacs to 4lac rupees per month. This must be enough to maintain the Marina's lawns and decorum. It may also help in future developments.

I recently went to West Palm beach in Florida, and understand that they grown/planted lot of palm trees wherever possible to maintain the Relevance to name of the city...looks very nice...

Just If we maintain the neatness Soon ...we can also have beaches at international level.....I don't find much difference between Marina and Miami...exceot white sand and shallow water to swim....:)

And strongly supports the collection of small ( Rs 1 or 2 ) money to enter the beaches...and hefty fine on any worng doing to the project.

I think Rs.5 will be fine.....this will give a good collection amount to Corp and they can also divert excess funds to enhance the beauty of marina, apart from maintanence.
Some stringent norms must be laid down to run shops in marina/ elliots.....with regard to make of the shop, hygenie factor, waste disposal by the shops and develop entertainment facility in and around marina with a nominal fee etc. All this will make marina a attractive tourist spot and foremost place to hang out for families and youngsters.
We should also have something like London eye or singapore eye (don't know what is the name) in Marina.

Is that good to charge common man Re.1 or Rs.2 and children for free to enter beach? Shop keepers can be charged more. Fishermen can take some 1km stretch away from the normal crowd. Atleast by this Marina Board can have some revenue.

Roughly put 5000 to 8000 users per day, 150000 to 240000 per month, so somewhere near 2lacs to 4lac rupees per month. This must be enough to maintain the Marina's lawns and decorum. It may also help in future developments.

No friend, that's not a good idea. If the Govt plans to bring that in place, it will meet the same fate as the B'lore city corporation's plans to restrict people into Lalbagh a couple of months ago i.e. the plan will fail in the face of public opposition. Secondly, in a state where you can get everything free from color TVs to kitchenware in the form of 'election promises' :lol:, this will never happen.

Apart from these, a beach is nature's gift to mankind and being in a country like India, we should NOT deny access to poor people in the name of money because even Rs.1 or 2 will still be costly for many people on a daily basis.

In order to properly maintain this, only public cooperation can help. They should understand the basic aspects of cleanlines and should avoid littering, walking on the lawns and destroying them, spitting and other non-sense stuff.

Having said all these, I see that the main medium of generating revenue will be through advertising.

^^

No. The problem should be with litter & spitting and un-authorized shops.

yes there need be effective law cleaning up, but it doesnt mean people have to be kept off lawn as such.

Alternatively more decorative benches can be fit in so that more people sits in them rather than in the grass ?

edited

Is that good to charge common man Re.1 or Rs.2 and children for free to enter beach? Shop keepers can be charged more. Fishermen can take some 1km stretch away from the normal crowd. Atleast by this Marina Board can have some revenue.

Roughly put 5000 to 8000 users per day, 150000 to 240000 per month, so somewhere near 2lacs to 4lac rupees per month. This must be enough to maintain the Marina's lawns and decorum. It may also help in future developments.

Fee for visiting a beach!! I disapprove. Beach is a natural beauty .. and it has always been free to view/go. Its OK to charge a hefty parking fee. But I think to charge the regular folks to just visit the beach and walk the sands... its unheard of. I do not know of such a Beach !!

On the other-hand, if there is a cordon-ed area or park alongside where the lawn and recent developments are there ... you could charge for that. Not for just entering the beach. NO.

Mind that -- the most people come there for the breeze and the sands. The green is all good & pretty.. but thats about it.

I think Rs.5 will be fine.....this will give a good collection amount to Corp and they can also divert excess funds to enhance the beauty of marina, apart from maintanence.
Some stringent norms must be laid down to run shops in marina/ elliots.....with regard to make of the shop, hygenie factor, waste disposal by the shops and develop entertainment facility in and around marina with a nominal fee etc. All this will make marina a attractive tourist spot and foremost place to hang out for families and youngsters.
We should also have something like London eye or singapore eye (don't know what is the name) in Marina.

If you can afford it, it is okay, not everybody can afford it.

I see chennaites spending more than citizens of other cities for daily expenses like auto, coffee, tea. being movie crazy, even the so called poor people spend lots of money on tickets. But when it comes to spending 3-5 rs on visiting a beach, we have forumers who object. It doesn't make sense at all.

I see chennaites spending more than citizens of other cities for daily expenses like auto, coffee, tea. being movie crazy, even the so called poor people spend lots of money on tickets. But when it comes to spending 3-5 rs on visiting a beach, we have forumers who object. It doesn't make sense at all.

And how did you come to this conclusion?

Lol - what's the matter with these jokers?

Telling people to stay off the lawn is what defeats the purpose of the beautification.. What did they create the lawns for if they were just planning to tell people to stay off it? They could have just left it as sand - would've been much more usable..

Bunch of idiots.. :ohno:

Getting on the lawns is not the major problem, but what they do on the lawn is the real cause of concern.

As rightly pointed out in the article - it would be interesting to see how Marina looks after Kaanum Pongal. I have always read in papers about thousands gather in the beach on that day to celebrate Kaanum Pongal in their own style of eating all around the beach, lawns, pathways etc. People always make the place nasty on that day.

First of all, people should be educated as to what to do and what not to do on such attractions. Places of these kind are to visit and enjoy - not to eat and sleep.

Is that good to charge common man Re.1 or Rs.2 and children for free to enter beach? Shop keepers can be charged more. Fishermen can take some 1km stretch away from the normal crowd. Atleast by this Marina Board can have some revenue.

Roughly put 5000 to 8000 users per day, 150000 to 240000 per month, so somewhere near 2lacs to 4lac rupees per month. This must be enough to maintain the Marina's lawns and decorum. It may also help in future developments.

Charges for entry should not be first choice. What about following way of getting revenue, few of them already exists:

1. Charges from small shop keepers and making it in organized way.
2. Decent and innovative advertisements (not like the billboards we had in Anna Flyover)
3. Renting space for food mall (this could surely give very good amount)
4. Parking
5. Cinema shooting

I see chennaites spending more than citizens of other cities for daily expenses like auto, coffee, tea. being movie crazy, even the so called poor people spend lots of money on tickets. But when it comes to spending 3-5 rs on visiting a beach, we have forumers who object. It doesn't make sense at all.

True :ohno: Who said Poor people do nt spend ??? :)

Everyone spends for movie tickets and all thosethings .. iam not saying they shouldnt . but if they can spend for that ..Y cant they give 3 r.s for maintanence of a public property ???!!!! :bash:

CHENNAI: The hospitality map of Chennai is witnessing a paradigm shift with action shifting from the arterial Mount Road and the airport to upcoming corridors like MRC Nagar and Guindy.

Apart from top brands like Leela, Taj, ITC and Hilton — all of which are located in either of the two locations — new players, entering the hospitality sector, too are opting for these hotspots. Ceebros and Empee Group are giving finishing touches to their projects, that are to be commissioned soon.

Unlike Bangalore and Hyderabad, where activity on the hospitality front has more or less been confined to Whitefield and Gachibowli (both in the outskirts) respectively, in Chennai, all the projects have come up in the heart of the city.

It is rather unusual for a new hotspot to emerge within the Central Business District (CBD) in a 350-year-old city like Chennai but the vagaries of development would have it so.

The decision to offload huge parcels of land in single transaction contributed to the changing facade of MRC Nagar and Guindy. It was after the MAM Ramaswamy-Chettinad Group decided to launch a flagship real estate project and liquidate some of its existing holdings in the backwater area that gave fillip to the then underdeveloped MRC Nagar, said a leading developer.

While MRC Nagar offers proximity to the CBD, Guindy is located close to the airport and the IT and industrial growth corridors of GST Road, Mt Poonamalle Road and Old Mahabalipuram Road, according to Jones Lang LaSalle-Meghraj MD Ramesh Nair.

Upcoming hotels staying away from Mt Road has positioned these two locations as distinctive hotel destinations, distinguishing them from other hotel sites, he told ET.

While MRC Nagar will see five-star room inventory surge by around 800 units, Guindy would see 1,200-plus rooms being added during the year. Some of the prestigious projects lined up on these two corridors include JW Marriott (328 keys), Leela Kempinski (380) and Ascott (188) at MRC Nagar besides ITC Grand Chola (650 + 100 serviced apartments) Empee-Hilton (260), Grand Hyatt (201), SRM Hotel (120), Raj Park (100 plus) at Guindy.

For long Guindy area is having Le Royal Meridien as the only 5-star delux hotel. In that area ITC is building its
"the grandest, largest and the most capital-intensive projects" — the 750-key five-star hotel project.

‘RainTree on Mount Road,’ the second hospitality venture of Ceebros, is situated on the stretch of road that leads to the Guindy hospitality corridor. The 230-key business hotel has a commercial property alongside. This greenfield hotel is slated to be open by April this year.

Ceebros MD Subba Reddy, who bought the property five years ago, told ET the main reason for the emerging hospitality corridors is their connectivity to the CBD.

Despite slowdown in the construction activity the whole of last year, Ceebros, ITC and Empee were able to sustain the momentum, due to the fact that they had acquired land at "historic" prices, less than Rs 50 lakh a ground (1 ground = 2,400 sq ft). Meanwhile, brands like JW Marriott, Leela, SRM, Grand Hyatt and Ascott had to cough up a premium for the properties since the acquisition happened at peak market prices post-2007, when prices were hovering around Rs 3 crore per ground.

Proximity of prominent convention centres like Mayor Ramanathan hall and Image auditorium in MRC Nagar and the Chennai Trade Centre in Guindy were an added advantage, especially for the business hotels, observed South Indian Hotels and Restaurants Association advisor R Rangachari.

MRC Nagar being one of the few places where multi-storied buildings could be erected close to the coastline helped hoteliers to tap leisure travellers too, another developer told ET.

Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/healthcare/biotech/pharmaceuticals/Sea-change-in-Chennai-metro-hospitality-corridors/articleshow/5423358.cms

Charges for entry should not be first choice. What about following way of getting revenue, few of them already exists:

1. Charges from small shop keepers and making it in organized way.
2. Decent and innovative advertisements (not like the billboards we had in Anna Flyover)
3. Renting space for food mall (this could surely give very good amount)
4. Parking
5. Cinema shooting


Cannot agree more.. I am not against spending, but entry fees to beach doesn't sound good.. Its nature's gift after-all !! The points Arul mentioned here could bring decent revenue, if implemented properly

Cannot agree more.. I am not against spending, but entry fees to beach doesn't sound good.. Its nature's gift after-all !! The points Arul mentioned here could bring decent revenue, if implemented properly

^^ how about some water sports..

True :ohno: Who said Poor people do nt spend ??? :)

Everyone spends for movie tickets and all thosethings .. iam not saying they shouldnt . but if they can spend for that ..Y cant they give 3 r.s for maintanence of a public property ???!!!! :bash:

In chennai i observed that the poor and just above the poor category love to spend money for enjoyment but not the well to do people who could easily afford to spend for comforts and pleasures.I know most of my relatives residing in T'Nagar,Mylapore and Adayar very well to do but very very frugal bordering on stingyness hardly using their cars and avoiding to go by A/C buses but struggle to squeeze in to overcrowded ordinary buses.This must be one of the reasons for poor patronage of A/C buses in the hot,sweltering climate of chennai.

Hope you have nothing against your relatives..:lol: though it is not same with my case.

I know most of my relatives residing in T'Nagar,Mylapore and Adayar very well to do but very very frugal bordering on stingyness hardly using their cars and avoiding to go by A/C buses but struggle to squeeze in to overcrowded ordinary buses.This must be one of the reasons for poor patronage of A/C buses in the hot,sweltering climate of chennai.

Oh yeah..200% right..
My observation today : When i went to Siruseri from saidapet,took a call taxi & he charged me INR 400 - meter fare. While coming back I decided not to waste money to taxi..so got into a volvo - 19B, it was good and comfortable for just 33rs....during travel I noticed that the seats were not fully occupied, very very less patronage, (peak hour - 5.30 PM) Bus stopped in all the stops, just one or two got into the bus, some stops no one got in...while the other two 19B's going in the front was stacked, people were suffocating and travelling in the foot board but not ready to shell out extra cost for a hazzle free comfortable travel. Spare poor labourers and students...middle class men and women, who look well off are not ready to take it .
Stingy to the core...that is what i felt.
Even thought that normal buses should be decreased and made available only for poor people and students with pass...others must be compelled to travel by volvo after increasing its numbers..I known it is utter foolish thought but such was my anger.....that too for Chennai climate (from Sept middle to Feb - climate is good) this volvo buses are boon and now my fear is that - stingy Chennaities may make this service a big failure...:bash:

Oh yeah..200% right..
My observation today : When i went to Siruseri from saidapet,took a call taxi & he charged me INR 400 - meter fare. While coming back I decided not to waste money to taxi..so got into a volvo - 19B, it was good and comfortable for just 33rs....during travel I noticed that the seats were not fully occupied, very very less patronage, (peak hour - 5.30 PM) Bus stopped in all the stops, just one or two got into the bus, some stops no one got in...while the other two 19B's going in the front was stacked, people were suffocating and travelling in the foot board but not ready to shell out extra cost for a hazzle free comfortable travel. Spare poor labourers and students...middle class men and women, who look well off are not ready to take it .
Stingy to the core...that is what i felt.
Even thought that normal buses should be decreased and made available only for poor people and students with pass...others must be compelled to travel by volvo after increasing its numbers..I known it is utter foolish thought but such was my anger.....that too for Chennai climate (from Sept middle to Feb - climate is good) this volvo buses are boon and now my fear is that - stingy Chennaities may make this service a big failure...:bash:

My parents don't own a car anymore due to other reasons (not money) they used to travel a lot when we had car. Now a days my parents are not stingy but when I asked why they don't travel that often they kept saying its expensive to travel in Call taxi or autos (to visit mylapore temple from KK nagar it costs 250Rs in auto for a round trip ) . They don't travel in Buses anymore due to crowd For them A/C bus would be great but the frequency and timings are so odd they prefer to stay home or take auto if its absolutely necessary .
I think it is the same case for most Chennaites, why would Autos charge arm and leg and still survive,you can easily spot 1+ lac autos running. I hope the Metro train service and AC bus becomes a norm in few years so people have more choice to travel in peace instead of overcrowded lousy busy

My parents don't own a car anymore due to other reasons (not money) they used to travel a lot when we had car. Now a days my parents are not stingy but when I asked why they don't travel that often they kept saying its expensive to travel in Call taxi or autos (to visit mylapore temple from KK nagar it costs 250Rs in auto for a round trip ) . They don't travel in Buses anymore due to crowd For them A/C bus would be great but the frequency and timings are so odd they prefer to stay home or take auto if its absolutely necessary .
I think it is the same case for most Chennaites, why would Autos charge arm and leg and still survive,you can easily spot 1+ lac autos running. I hope the Metro train service and AC bus becomes a norm in few years so people have more choice to travel in peace instead of overcrowded lousy busy

I think it is a matter of getting used to: both the buses as well as the habit of spending. Habits die hard. Over a period of time, things will change.

One thing, the government has to do is to increase the normal bus fare a bit so that the difference is not too much. Then the general public will take to travelling in a luxury bus instead of risking their limbs in an overcrowed bus.

Hope you have nothing against your relatives..:lol: though it is not same with my case.

I don't think you meant you have some grudges against your relatives? Did you?

^Certainly not. I was questioning Mr.Ranga

^Certainly not. I was questioning Mr.Ranga

I raised the question because you stated you hoped Ranga doesn't have anything against his relatives and that it was not the same in your case.

Any way, I was joking.

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/7472/59075175.jpg

Source: Dinamalar

I raised the question because you stated you hoped Ranga doesn't have anything against his relatives and that it was not the same in your case.

Any way, I was joking.

I meant it is not the same in my case as my relatives in Chennai aren't as stingy as ranga described. Hope I am clear now. :)

I meant it is not the same in my case as my relatives in Chennai aren't as stingy as ranga described. Hope I am clear now. :)

Yea, I know. :)

Dont know whether this information is already posted ..


They have introduced traffic changes @ Porur junction since last week ... :)


vehicles [incl MTC buses] which travels from poonamalee to arcot road , should take left turn .. some 300m before the porur junction and go thro some inner roads and join Arcot road ... instead of waitng at the porur jn signal :banana::banana::banana:


I hope this reduces the traffic pile up from poonamalee side .. until the flyover gets ready :cheers:

Regarding the traffic jams from Gemini flyover to whites road, there is a simple solution. Most of the buildings on either side of this strectch are very iold and ugly structures. The govt. should compensate them with money/land in other areas and demolish these to make it a 6 lane road. In this stretch, mount road is currently 4 lane. Only iproblem is that a part of thousand lights mosque protrudes into road.

^^ If only all infra solutions were that simple we would be decades ahead of where we are now..

Henceforth the Govt should allow only shops which have parking space infront of them, this can reduce the traffic in all the places.

I know we are killing a small retailer, but i feel if you want to change the attitude of the people. Govt should give some time for the people to understand the issue,solution. so it will not hamper people who intend to do it near future. so let us mandate it from 2012.

Actually we can combine both the plan to demolish building and parking very simply. Zoning laws. If the Govt of the day were serious they would impose very strict zoning laws. If you have a business on the main road then you should provide parking up to the capacity of the building. This would force all the old buildings to immediately shut down or they would have to demolish the building to get underground parking. If they decide to demolish, then the City imposes set back rules and widens the road.

Oh yeah..200% right..
My observation today : When i went to Siruseri from saidapet,took a call taxi & he charged me INR 400 - meter fare. While coming back I decided not to waste money to taxi..so got into a volvo - 19B, it was good and comfortable for just 33rs....during travel I noticed that the seats were not fully occupied, very very less patronage, (peak hour - 5.30 PM) Bus stopped in all the stops, just one or two got into the bus, some stops no one got in...while the other two 19B's going in the front was stacked, people were suffocating and travelling in the foot board but not ready to shell out extra cost for a hazzle free comfortable travel. Spare poor labourers and students...middle class men and women, who look well off are not ready to take it .
Stingy to the core...that is what i felt.
Even thought that normal buses should be decreased and made available only for poor people and students with pass...others must be compelled to travel by volvo after increasing its numbers..I known it is utter foolish thought but such was my anger.....that too for Chennai climate (from Sept middle to Feb - climate is good) this volvo buses are boon and now my fear is that - stingy Chennaities may make this service a big failure...:bash:

^^ Oh..Boy!! Dear Raji... I cannot stop laughing after reading your comments. If you don't mind, what is your per month take home, some where near 50K to 60K? Having this, you don't want to spend Rs.400 for call taxi going alone, wanted to save money decide to go by Volvo A/C bus by giving Rs.33, where max 30 to 40 people can travel(Share ratio is 1:30). You are spending 8.25% of Rs.400 and saving 91.75% of your money.
Common man, whose per month take home somewhere near 5K to 10K, wanted to save money, so he decides to go by normal bus paying Rs. 4 or 6 and instead of going with 30 to 40 people he goes with 70 to 90 persons (Share ratio here is 1:3). His spending would be 12% to 18% of Rs.33 and savings is 82% to 88% of his money whose salary is 1/10 to 1/6th of your salary.
He is just sharing his seat with 3more people where as you share your seat with 30 more people.

Now, who is stingy'est', is that not you baby? What difference in attitude you find between you and them? If you do, you are smarter and professional but if they do, they are fools for you? If you wanna compel common man to use Volvos, shall we compel you to use only Call Taxis?

All Indians are not Tatas and Ambanis, they are peacock in numbers may look beautiful. But majority are Kuppans and suppans, who are crows in numbers, may look ugly.

How on earth you thought these ideas? When you became insane? :dunno:
Wake Up!!

No friend, that's not a good idea. If the Govt plans to bring that in place, it will meet the same fate as the B'lore city corporation's plans to restrict people into Lalbagh a couple of months ago i.e. the plan will fail in the face of public opposition. Secondly, in a state where you can get everything free from color TVs to kitchenware in the form of 'election promises' :lol:, this will never happen.

Apart from these, a beach is nature's gift to mankind and being in a country like India, we should NOT deny access to poor people in the name of money because even Rs.1 or 2 will still be costly for many people on a daily basis.

In order to properly maintain this, only public cooperation can help. They should understand the basic aspects of cleanlines and should avoid littering, walking on the lawns and destroying them, spitting and other non-sense stuff.

Having said all these, I see that the main medium of generating revenue will be through advertising.

I agree. Even I was skeptical to put this. Yes it may be costly on daily basis. Arul's ideas are further filtered and deep thought than mine and can be taken up.

I agree. Even I was skeptical to put this. Yes it may be costly on daily basis. Arul's ideas are further filtered and deep thought than mine and can be taken up.

I dont see why people should not be charged for parking space, like Rs 2 for 2 wheelers and Rs 5 for 4 wheelers. And as said above, advertising boards, similar to those placed in road medians can be placed along the walkway..one it makes the place bright and two makes the beach colourful. Atleast it can be done on a trial basis to test out for like 3 months. But i have an idea...why cant the govt regulate the shops over there? They can build a huge roofed structure..something designed in the form of hut shaped structures that we normally find in tropical beaches. Bring all the shops in there and collect a rent. By doing this you can avoid people from carrying sundal and murukku from one place to another..thereby preventing people from throwing paper insensibly. I would like to see a walkway strip along these shops which will make people walk fast too. Hope I dnt get an outrageous criticism for this..lol

^^ Parking is added in Arul's list. We are not against charges for 2-4wheeler parking. :cheers:

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Chennai Autos

In yesterday's 'Kutram.. Nadanthathu Enna' programme in Star Vijay TV, they covered the exorbidant fares charged by the Auto Drivers in Chennai. People were sharing their experiences in cities like Mumbai, Trivandrum where the auto drivers are very friendly and return even changes like Re. 1/-. They get only what the meter shows. Chennai Auto drivers charge a minimum of 30 or 40 rupees for even covering 1 kilometer.

I did not check in other threads.. But are we covering anywhere about "Chennai Sangamam"??

^^

I was thinking about that. Surely it is a biggest cultural festival in India. In my opinion we have to start new thread for Chennai Sangamam Festival.

But I am confused where to start? Either in CHennai subfolder or Chaibar. We have beautiful pictures of 2009 Chennai Sangamam in Flickr.

If members agree, then I will start a separate topic in Chennai folder itself as Chennai sub folder is the most active folder in SSCI.

^^ Arul, Go ahead with Chennai Sub folders :cheers:

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00022/VBK_TRAIN6_22777g.jpg
A resident of Shastri Nagar, through which the Erode-Tirupur railway line passes, tries to cross the track in the most dangerous way possible

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00022/VBK_TRAIN7_22778g.jpg
Commuters in Avadi duck under a goods train in order to cross. Photo: M. Karunakaran

எப்ப தான் திருந்தபோறோமோ ? :bash::bash::bash:

^^ Namalam innum vayasuku varala...

^^ Namma makkalukku risk edukarathellam rusk saapdra maathiri...
Driving in the opposite directions in high speed, driving in the extreme right when having to take a left turn on an arterial road and vice versa, not using the FOB's and always puzzle the high speeding vehicles on the highways by starting to cross busy roads and the list goes on..

Source (http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Metro+Water+deviates+and+lands+in+stinking+water&artid=nd6PYoZjHsU=&SectionID=lifojHIWDUU=&MainSectionID=lifojHIWDUU=&SEO=&SectionName=rSY%7C6QYp3kQ=)

CHENNAI: Metro Water (MW) has created a mess. Thanks to its decision to go against expert advice, some parts of the city today face a problem of ‘stink’.The exercise was to lay interceptor sewers to increase the pumping potential of the sewage pumping station and the treatment plant. Experts said go for Glass Reinforced Pipe (GRP) and Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) pipe.MW opted for Pre-Stressed Concrete (PSC) pipes.The move backfired. The PVC pipes developed leaks. Documents available with Express point to the MW blunder.Curiously, after the experts’ recommendation, MW floated tenders for GRP and RCC pipes. A tender panel evaluated the tender process. Two tenders for RCC pipes were also awarded.Subsequently, for no reason, MW went for PSC pipes. But sewage flow in gravity mains forced the joints to crumble, caving manholes in the proximity of the pumping station.The pumping main of CIT Nagar Pumping Station started leaking from the very day it was commissioned on August 9, 2005 from four different points – 70 feet Road, Reddy Kuppam Road, Govindan Road Extension and the junction connecting Easwaran Koil Street and Ellaimamman Koil Street – leading to traffic diversions, roads being cut and hindrance to the public.The PSC pipes were not properly joined. There was no supporting rubber gasket or rings to suit the spigot socket ends of the PSC pipes.

:bash: :bash:

Based on 30 goods and services, Numbeo.com's cost of living survey was conducted by 941 contributors from 382 locations. Most expensive cities (including rent) are Stavanger and Oslo in Norway. The least expensive are Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai in India.
(PRWEB (http://www.prweb.com/)) January 12, 2010 -- Based on 30 goods and services, Numbeo.com's cost of living survey was conducted by 941 contributors from 382 locations. Most expensive cities (including rent) are Stavanger and Oslo in Norway. The least expensive are Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai in India.
In Numbeo's survey, New York is used as the base city for the index and scores 100 points, all cities are compared against New York and currency movements are measured against US Dollar and EURO. Copenhagen scores 138.91 points and is nearly three times as costly as Buenos Aires in Argentina with an index score of 47.15.


In the beginning of 2010, most expensive cities (excluding rent) are :
- Stavanger, Norway (CPI 169.20)
- Oslo, Norway (152.85)
- Breda, Netherlands (139.70)
- Copenhagen, Denmark (138.91)
- Zurich, Switzerland (132.03)
- Paris, France (130.30)
- Geneva, Switzerland (122.69)
- Milan, Italy (122.58)
- Dublin, Ireland (120.79)
- Brussels, Belgium (120.00)



The least expensive cities in 2010 are Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Pune in India, followed by Kiev (Ukraine), Dnipropetrovsk (Ukraine), Bangkok (Thailand), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and La Paz (Bolivia).
Rent is most expensive in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) followed by London (United Kingdom), Geneva (Switzerland), Stavanger (Norway) and New York (United States).
Cities with lowest rent are Ahmedabad and Hyderabad in India. Other international cities with low rent are Medellin (Colombia), Constanta (Romania), Asuncion (Paraguay) and Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
On country level the most expensive countries in 2010 are Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland, Italy and Finland.
The least expensive countries in 2010 are India, Ukraine, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Bolivia, Indonesia, China, Belarus, Ecuador and Romania.
For complete rankings please visit Cost of Living Index 2010. (http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings.jsp)

This is a rude shock! :ohno: Such a big complex is struggling? This explains the need for some serious planning including handling of buses, their timings to streamline the flow of traffic to and from the terminal.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Bus-terminus-chokes-under-rush/articleshow/5438909.cms

Chennai: Eight years after its inauguration, the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) at Koyambedu, the largest bus terminus in the country, struggles daily to handle the heavy movement of buses. With Pongal set to begin, transport officials at the ISO 9001-certified terminus on Tuesday found it difficult to handle the crowd waiting to board buses to different destinations. Officials said the terminus now handles more than 500 buses at a time, and 3,000 buses and 2.5 lakh passengers a day. Buses from Madurai, Salem, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli and Villupuram divisions of TNSTC, and from the State Express Transport Corporation, Andhra Pradesh State Transport Corporation and Karnataka State Transport Corporation arrive here everyday. Clearly it is working far beyond its capacity. The terminus was constructed in 2002 on 36.5-acre land at a cost of Rs 103 crore with a capacity to handle only 270 buses at a time and 2,000 buses and two lakh passengers a day.

“Due to heavy congestion inside the terminus, buses take more than half-an-hour to leave. With buses queueing up at the exit, it is an ultimate test for passengers and drivers. Officials must expand the terminus or at least facilitate easy entry and exit, ‘’ says K Govardhan, a regular traveller to Tiruchi.

The TNSTC has started operating buses from Adyar and Tiruvanmiyur as it gets congested inside the terminus. A few bus drivers think that shifting CMBT’s main entrance for mofussil buses to the 100 Feet Road, from Kaliyamman Koil Road might help in reducing congestion.

“There is a vacant land adjacent to the terminus entrance which belongs to the state on 100 Feet Road. If the entrance is widened, mofussil buses can come straight inside the terminus without affecting traffic flow on 100 Feet Road and Kaliamman Koil Road,’’ said a bus driver. Several passengers said, buses waiting at the signal in front of the main entrance was one of the reasons for congestion. Officials of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), which maintain the terminus, said it is a must to reduce congestion inside CMBT. “We have tried to shift the entrance for mofusil buses from the present location to 100 Feet Road, adjacent to the CMBT compound. But Metrowater, to which the vacant land belongs, said it couldn’t give it as it wanted to expand its sewage treatment plant facility,’’ CMDA member-secretary Vikram Kapoor told TOI.

“The major problem is space availability for the parking of buses. For idle parking, space is available for about 100 buses, a lot more buses are parked inside,’’ Kapoor added.

Y dont they try for Multi tier bays ?? if space is a problem ? !

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2542/4236942968_c0fc09d3e2_b.jpg


Dude where did u get this photo ????!


The guy in orange Tshirt is a close friend of mine :nuts:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2542/4236942968_c0fc09d3e2_b.jpg


Dude where did u get this photo ????!


The guy in orange Tshirt is a close friend of mine :nuts:

that's hilarious...i didn't take/post this photo...but it looks like the kapaleeshwar temple in mylapore, chennai

And how did you come to this conclusion?

Discipline and better infrastruture can be achieved only by having price tag ....by any number of advices/directions won't change the people behaviour.....

You need fantastic world class beach, but you don't wish pay the even Rs1....and you need 6 lane highways/Over bridges and don't want give toll charges.....No where in the world thats possible for long run...

last time I remember, that what we pay taxes for, and all other x y z cess, surcharge. but what to do all those money are going towards free TVs, concrete houses, 1 Rs rice, free land scheme for film artists... I am not against the poor...but I feel there shd be a limit.

Discipline and better infrastruture can be achieved only by having price tag ....by any number of advices/directions won't change the people behaviour.....

You need fantastic world class beach, but you don't wish pay the even Rs1....and you need 6 lane highways/Over bridges and don't want give toll charges.....No where in the world thats possible for long run...

Please go read the original post by venkat. Your reply does not make any sense to the question that I had asked.

Happy Pongal to all. பொங்கல் வாழ்த்துக்கள்


http://dkn.dinakaran.com/pdf/2010/01/14/20100114a_001104006.jpg

Hi Guys,

If we move the current transportation of daily commodities mainly food items via commercial vehicles to trains , will it not help to contain help the inflation which is currently directly dependent of diesel/petrol whose price is going to fluctuate every day.

[QUOTE=Arul Murugan;50086921]Happy Pongal to all. பொங்கல் வாழ்த்துக்கள்

Happy Pongalo Pongal to all!!

HAPPY PONGAL TO ALL

இனிய பொங்கல் நல் வாழ்த்துக்கள்

Cross posting from Chaibar...:banana:

தமிழ் பொண்ணுங்கன்ன இப்படி தான் இருக்கணும்

http://i49.tinypic.com/2i6nxx1.jpg
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/2078/fpnmix94439333678.jpg

^^ Tamizh ponnungana ipadi irupangala illa ipdithan irukanuma? Ipdithan irukanum na, mannikanum, aduku vera eda nalla oora pathu nadaya kattunga...

Ipadi than irukanumnu solla umakum sari enakum sari adikaram illa.

அவங்க எப்படி வேணாலும் இருந்துட்டு போறாங்கபா விடு ...

மேலும் இங்கே அழுத்தவும்
http://www.dinakaran.com/latestphoto/pongal1/index.html :banana:

இனிய பொங்கல் நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள் :banana:

அவங்க எப்படி வேணாலும் இருந்துட்டு போறாங்கபா விடு ...

மேலும் இங்கே அழுத்தவும்
http://www.dinakaran.com/latestphoto/pongal1/index.html :banana:

Ponnunga photova irukku. Mattuvandi kooda ponunga thaan oturanga. Dinakaran paper ku passanga yellam pongal pandigai mattu pongal annaikku thaan kondaduvanganu mudivupanitanga polla... nalaikku parunga kaalaimaddu photova irukkum. :lol:

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00023/IN14_SARAANG_23244f.jpg

It is that time of the year when college students from the city and outside flock to the Indian Institute of Technology – Madras’ lovely campus. ‘Saarang,’ the annual cultural festival hosted by the institution, is here.

The extravaganza will be held between January 21 and 25, and this edition promises to be particularly interesting with U.S.-based Skid Row and Sweden-based Hammerfall being part of the rock show.

The Saarang professional shows have, over the years, seen some of the best artists in the country perform at the Open Air Theatre. This year, the ‘Classical Nite’ would be held on January 21 featuring vocalist M. Balamuralikrishna and Daksha Seth Dance Academy represented by Isha Sarvani.

The light music show on January 24 promises to be an interesting treat with the Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy trio set to entertain film music buffs. The ‘Saarang Village’ seeks to complement the fest with a rustic appeal and showcase ethnic crafts, cuisine and culture of rural India.

‘Saarang Essence,’ a three-day youth summit, would bring some of the best minds in the country in an attempt to find creative solutions in the area of policy making.

The 24 short-listed “change makers” would have the unique opportunity of developing their knowledge and skills and giving vent to their passions, as they debate and discuss the governance problem via participatory workshops, interactive discussions, model-building exercises, a field visit and lectures by eminent thinkers, a press release said.

The final day of the summit would culminate in STEP, an open public policy debate among participants, media experts, NGO representatives, civic bodies and other stakeholders. Participants will be divided into groups and will use the inputs they receive during the summit to present a solution to a micro governance problem posed to them. The best solution will be rewarded.

The ‘Habitat Young Visionary Award’ is an attempt to encourage students to be the change they wish to see. Saarang 2010 would be the platform for about 10 semi-finalists to present and defend their vision in the presence of an eminent jury. Winners would get an all-expense paid summer programme to Cambridge, U.K. or an internship at the National Geographic, Hong Kong.

‘Saarang Ethos’ would be an effort to showcase the cultural face of India. Apart from handicrafts put up on sale, craftsmen will demonstrate their art and let visitors try their hands as well.

As part of the popular and cultural lecture series, speakers from diverse fields will address important issues. Speakers include actor Kamal Haasan, director Gautam Menon, former Union Minister Arun Shourie, Sufi singer Kavita Seth, Mohiniattam dancer Neena Prasad, vocalist Bombay Jayashri, art director Sabu Cyril and dancer Oopali Operajita.

For details, visit: http://limata.com/saarang.aspx.

Source: http://beta.thehindu.com/arts/article80407.ece?homepage=true

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00023/ARV_PONGAL_23263f.jpg
Students of Chinmaya Vidyalaya celebrate Pongal in Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu on Thursday

Kites dotted the sky in Indian cities and people feasted on sweets and took holy dips in the rivers as they celebrated the annual harvest festival Thursday in diverse forms of Pongal, Makar Sankranti, and Bhogali Bihu, marking the transition from winter season to spring.

The day also heralded the auspicious cycle of an over three-month long Mahakumbh Mela that occurs once in 12 years in the Hindu holy city of Haridwar in Uttarakhand. An estimated five million people thronged the banks of the Ganga at Haridwar for a ritual bathing supposed to cleanse one’s sins.

Devouts also flocked to the annual Ganga Sagar fair in West Bengal and Prayag Sangam in Uttar Pradesh to take a holy dip before worshipping the rising sun.

Celebrations, however, turned into a tragedy at Ganga Sagar where six women and a child were killed and 12 people injured in a stampede to board a boat to go for the holy dip in the Ganga.

Called Makar Sankranti in northern India, the festival is known as Bhogali Bihu in Assam and Pongal in Tamil Nadu. It marks the transition of the sun from Makar (Tropic of Capricorn) towards the equator on its celestial path.

In northern India, the day was marked by feasting on traditional preparations of ‘tilkut’ (til and jaggery) and ‘chud lai’ (flattened rice and jaggery), yogurt and ‘khichri’ (cooked with newly—harvested rice).

In Gujarat, the day saw the start of Uttarayan festival with people gathering on their terraces and in open grounds to fly kites. A range of food items like ‘undhiyu’, ‘jalebis’, ‘laddoos’ and ‘chikki’ were prepared in homes and feasted upon by the revellers.

Towns and villages in Andhra Pradesh wore a festive look with colourful kites, rangolis, decorated bulls and cock fights. The three—day Sankranti festival began with Bhogi where bonfires were lit on the streets with household waste.

Tamils began the four—day festival of Pongal with much fervour. Every household greeted people with rangolis at their entrance. People wore new clothes and worshipped the rain, sun and farm animals.

The word Pongal, which literally means ‘boiling over’, refers to rice cooked in milk and with jaggery. The main dish — Chakarai Pongal — is made with rice, jaggery and Bengal gram, all boiled in milk. Two varieties of Pongal — the salty one known as ‘ven pongal’ and the sweet one known as ‘Sarkkarai pongal’ — are prepared on the second day.

In Kerala, the Sabarimala temple witnessed an unprecedented rush of pilgrims, who gathered to witness the Makara Jyothi or the celestial light on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

Bhogali Bihu marked the end of the harvesting season in Assam. Bird fights, a major event of Bihu celebrations in Assam, were held on a grand scale with the locals of Hajo preparing for the annual event with tremendous enthusiasm.

Some of the mouth-watering delicacies served during Bihu are rice cakes, til pitha, ghila pitha, Xutuli Pitha, Sunga Pitha and Tekeli Pitha, sweet snacks like Tilor Laru, Narikolor Laru and rice—based snacks Bora Saul, Komal Saul, Chira, Muri and Akhoi served with curd and jaggery.

The day is marked by preparations out of the newly-harvested rice in West Bengal and Orissa as well -- with people looking forward to sweets like Puli Pitha and Patishapta.

??? - என்னப்பா இது எங்கு பார்த்தாலும் பொண்ணுங்க போடவா publish பண்றாங்க; பசங்க பொங்கல் கொண்டாடலையா இல்ல இந்த பிரஸ்- காரங்களுக்கு பசங்க பொங்கல் கொண்டாடுறது தெரியலையா? :lol:

^^ பொண்ணுங்க போட்டோவே பசங்களுக்கு கொண்ட்டாட்டம் இல்லையா?

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/214/17012010114001001.jpg (http://img22.imageshack.us/i/17012010114001001.jpg/)

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00023/AVN16_JALLIKATTU2_23563g.jpg:ohno:

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00023/AVN16_JALLIKATTU11_23564g.jpg:ohno:

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00023/AVN16_JALLIKATTU7_23565g.jpg:ohno::ohno:

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00023/AVN16_JALLIKATTU3_23566g.jpg:lol:

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00023/AVN16_JALLIKATTU9_23567g.jpg:banana:

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00023/AVN16_JALLIKATTU13_23568g.jpg:cheer:

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00023/AVN16_JALLIKATTU10_23569g.jpg:righton:

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00023/AVN16_JALLIKATTU12_23570g.jpg:runaway:

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00023/AVN16_JALLIKATTU6_23571g.jpg:runaway:

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00023/AVN16_JALLIKATTU5_23572g.jpg:lol:

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00023/AVN16_JALLIKATTU14_23575g.jpg:ohno:

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00023/AVN16_JALLIKATTU17_23576g.jpg:righton:

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00023/AVN16_JALLIKATTU15_23578g.jpg:lol:

^^

Nice pictures, but Alanganallur Jallikattu turning to Alagzhiriar Jallikattu :ohno:

Here goes Kannum Pongal celebration in Marina.. 5 lakhs people visited the beach yesterday!

http://www.dailythanthi.com/thanthiepaper/1712010/FE_1701_ph1_10_Cni.jpg

Thinathanthi

^^ beautiful pictures!

Lets hope that they restore this historical structure on time!

http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/18/stories/2010011852180300.htm

CHENNAI: Starting Monday, the Chennai Corporation will commence repair works on the Victoria Public Hall. The work on turrets and wooden staircases that have crumbled will be taken up initially.

The hall has four staircases, of which three lead to the hall on the first floor and one to the balcony, and four turrets.

It was only a couple of days ago that the South India Athletic Association, which was occupying a portion of the hall, vacated the premises.

The civic body has also issued notice to the Andhra Mahila Sabha, functioning from a building behind the hall, asking them to vacate. The building occupies 5 and quarter grounds of land belonging to Victoria Public Hall.

The Sabha has been given time to vacate after which the building will be pulled down, says a senior official of the Chennai Corporation.

Though the civic body took control of the hall from April 1, 2009, it is only now that renovation work is being started. It has cleared shrubs around the building.

Earlier, it had removed 32 shops that had encroached upon land belonging to the hall and erected a short compound wall making the hall more visible.

The Victoria Public Hall, which is an example of Indo-Saracenic architecture, will be restored at a cost of Rs.3.36 crore.

Work on the next stage is expected to begin by February-end and go on for about a year. Constructed with red brick and painted with lime mortar, the hall, constructed in the 1880s, has two large halls on its ground and first floors. The civic body plans to replace damaged wooden floorings and staircases and restore intricate cement carvings. Apart from this the roof with Mangalore tiles will be repaired.

The hall, which was used for public meetings and concerts, will be used for the purpose for which it was designed.

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/214/17012010114001001.jpg (http://img22.imageshack.us/i/17012010114001001.jpg/)

CHENNAI: People who visited the beaches of Chennai on Saturday to celebrate ‘Kaanum Pongal’ left more than 100 tonnes of garbage on the sands.

Conservancy workers found it tough to cope with the piling up of garbage and keep the beach clean on Saturday as visitors kept littering the area. More than 125 conservancy workers of the Chennai Corporation and Neel Metal Fanalca worked the whole night to clean the beaches, including Marina and Elliots, as the number of visitors increased considerably, according to officials.

P. Jyothi Raj, one of the workers said, “Even as we were removing garbage people were continuing to litter the beach. We had to work from the evening of ‘Kaanum Pongal’ till 4 a.m. on Sunday to clean the area under the guidance of officials.” People continued their celebrations till midnight and continued to throw plastic bottles, spoons and polythene bags, he said.

Cleaning of the beach would have been easier if more people had used the waste bins, said Mr. Raj.

Around 15 compactor bins and 25 collection bins were used to collect waste but people were reluctant to use the bins for disposal of waste, said an official.
Most people seemed to have forgotten the ban on plastics on the Marina and more than three tonnes of plastic waste was collected on Saturday, he added.

The collection of plastic waste in Elliots Beach was lesser when compared to that of last year and there was an increase in collection from the Marina Beach.

Transportation of waste to collection centres was also a challenge, said S. Balakrishnan, a driver of the waste collecting vehicle of Neel Metal Fanalca.

During normal days, the frequency of operating the vehicle is two hours per load of garbage. But, during ‘Kaanum Pongal’ this year a load of garbage was transported in 30 minutes and there were three helpers per vehicle. Usually only one helper is available for a vehicle during normal days.


http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/8937/2010011857050301.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/i/2010011857050301.jpg/)
SAD SIGHT: A view of the Marina after the ‘Kaanum Pongal’ celebrations on Saturday.


http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/18/stories/2010011857050300.htm

^^ I wonder how the newly beautified park along the Marina held up under the assault..

In this modern age, Kaanum pongal is one festival that needs to be given a go-by

^^Why? Littering is the problem, not celebrating. Also, as long as there is no permanent damage, garbage can be cleared in a couple of days if not within a day. Educate the people about littering, no use of plastic etc, deploy more people to clean up instead of trying to stop people from enjoying a day out. For many it may be one of the very few enjoyments in life.

Kamarajar Salai

http://tm.dinakaran.com/pdf/2010/01/17/20100117a_003101004.jpg

Dinakaran

Telling our people not to litter is like trying to straighten a dog's tail. For how long will one keep educating? I have tried a few times to tell people not to litter/pee on compounds. The only answer I got was - Is this your father's property? :ohno:

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00023/ARV_PONGAL_23263f.jpg
Students of Chinmaya Vidyalaya celebrate Pongal in Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu on Thursday
??? - என்னப்பா இது எங்கு பார்த்தாலும் பொண்ணுங்க போடவா publish பண்றாங்க; பசங்க பொங்கல் கொண்டாடலையா இல்ல இந்த பிரஸ்- காரங்களுக்கு பசங்க பொங்கல் கொண்டாடுறது தெரியலையா? :lol:

இது மட்டும் இல்ல. பத்தாவது , பிளஸ் டு பரிட்ச்சை எழுதறது என்னமோ பொண்ணுங்க மட்டும் தான்ங் மாதிரி பொண்ணுங்க ஃபோடோ மட்டும் போடுவாங்க.

^^

Inaikku tamil murasu paper la... Republic day celebration trailkum avanga thaan... Looks tamil media give more importance!

http://tm.dinakaran.com/pdf/2010/01/18/20100118a_003101005.jpg

Malaimalar liyum... :lol::lol:

http://epaper.mmnews.in/1812010/epaperimages/1812010/1812010-md-hr-1/16714187.jpg