Even SPR sells at 3200 or more per sqft these days :)

That is apt price (mostly around 2500- 3200)
this is land price, if you 3000Rs per sq feet it costs 72 lacs for 1 ground, I think market price is around 24lac on OMR.

That is apt price (mostly around 2500- 3200)
this is land price, if you 3000Rs per sq feet it costs 72 lacs for 1 ground, I think market price is around 24lac on OMR.

Thanks . At the away OMR and GST are growing they definitely have the potential to turn into some thing like the Western and Central corridors of Mumbai.

:)

^^ I think you are talking about Osaka. Yeah, its hugely surprising that European companies are not interested there. Could be due to the recent earthquake and Japans graying population.

Thanks Bono for tackling Indian Sun's wicked googly. :lol:


Good one . :)


I am happy that Chennai is one of the 3 cities in India that made the list . :)

^^ I think you are talking about Osaka. Yeah, its hugely surprising that European companies are not interested there. Could be due to the recent earthquake and Japans graying population.

:cheers1:

Roads: Shortcuts to success

CHENNAI: For a novice politico, Raj Cherubal, an independent candidate in Kottivakkam, seems to be well versed in the art of making promises. asCan we have well designed roads with stormwater drains and lights that work" he asks rhetorically. "Yes, if you elect me as councilor," he says and assures that this can be done.

Cherubal, who as a coordinator of NGO, Chennai City Connect, has worked on several road projects for the government, says bad roads are a top issue in the votersa mind. Not for nothing he chose the road roller as his election symbol. "People in the city have been miserable for years and now I hope Iall be bring about a change at least in the ward Iam contesting in," says Cherubal. "Roads in neighbourhoods like AGS Colony and Natesan Colony in Kottivakkam are life-threatening," he says.

Cherubal may be contesting for the first time but exploiting this sentiment may just work for him as it has for others. C Gopal Krishnan, another independent candidate contesting for the third time in Avadi (municipal), won twice focusing on better roads. Seventy one years old and still going strong with the palm tree as his symbol, he says that a majority of the funds available to him will go into making roads better.

Gopal Krishnanas tenures have not been easy though. "Whenever we lay roads, the Metrowater digs it up. Itas a constant struggle," he says.

But not everyone has the luxury to vote for someone they believe could bring change. Residents of Perungudi and T Nagar have taken drastic and opposite steps to resolve their road issues. Some disaffected residents of T Nagar have chosen to get in to the thick of the elections by supporting an independent candidate, E Sridharan. In Perungudi, though, some 300 people are threatening to boycott the upcoming elections. "We are sick of these ward councilors promising us better roads," said a resident, P Arjun. "Last month, we even threatened the current ward councilor that we wonat vote for him unless he repairs all the bad roads in the ward. Even after this, only one road was repaired," he adds. They say that they lost all hope when an independent candidate wasnat nominated to contest.

Some of them pooled in money and relaid Kurinji Nagar, 1stCross Street. "Church Road that leads to residential areas from Old Mahabalipuram Road is still a mess after the corporation dug it up for constructing stormwater drains," says Arjun.

TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Roads-Shortcuts-to-success/articleshow/10347895.cms)

Will Corporation tag help suburban voters?

CHENNAI: Years of neglect, unsolved civic issues and continuing woes. Now that the councillors elected by suburban voters� will be going to the Chennai Corporation, they hope that it could significantly mitigate their problems.

Left, right and centre. Whichever direction you take in Madipakkam, you would find a stinking garbage mound. Overflowing open sewers tell you that underground drainage network is absent here.

And, absence of Palar or Metro Water supply besides bad road conditions fill Madipakkam’s cup of civic woes. And the very basic garbage bin that is almost universal in its presence, cannot be spotted anywhere in the vicinity, complain residents.

Undoubtedly, this locality should top the list of the most neglected localities of the burgeoning suburban Chennai. Despite all urban characters, the neighbourhood had continued to remain a village panchayat all these years and so did the civic problems. Now, voters fervently hope that the ‘embrace of the Corporation’ will help solve the issues.

Residents of Madipakkam, including S Keerthivasan and Janaki Sundar, took ‘Express’ on a ‘guided tour’ to understand their civic problems.

This is how the location looked like. Cattle tethered to a pole and garbage everywhere. What kind of a place could it be? The Madipakkam bus terminus. And, a public distribution outlet abutting the terminus is no exception.

On Ambedkar Street, right opposite the terminus, there was a huge garbage dump. This testified to the claim of residents that all vacant plots serve as garbage dumps. Also, around places of worship frequented by the public, including the Vembuli Amman and Kamatchi Amman temples, one could see heaps of litter.

Again, in several streets of Karthikeya Puram - mainly the 3rd Street - , the community hall location, Rajarajeswari Nagar, Ponniamman Koil Street and Erikarai Street abutting the Madipakkam lake raise a fundamental question.

Does a local authority exist? Or is it due to the public indifference?

As regards drinking water, the residents pointed out that unlike nearby the Nanganallur and Puzhuthivakkam areas, there is neither Palar water nor Metro Water supply here.

“There are just 21 overhead water tanks in the whole of Madipakkam. The water supplied could be used only for washing and other household purposes. For drinking, we buy water cans.”

While Nanganallur already has an underground drainage network, work is progressing at a fast pace in Puzhuthivakkam. Most roads are� pothole-riddled and craters make a ride back breaking.� �

“We are sick and tired of making representations. We hope that councillors with the Corporation tag will provide the silver lining,” the residents said.

Speaking to Express, a local official regretted that most problems were due to financial constraints. “To this day, we own just one tractor-trailer to clear garbage. Four other vehicles are taken on hire off and on.”

Tricycles are being used widely to collect liter. “Although Madipakkam witnessed manifold rise in population, the status of the local body continued to be a village panchayat. This has dwarfed all our efforts. Now that the neighbourhood will be part of Corporation, we hope that funds will have a free flow to solve civic woes.”

Not only residents, officials too bet on Corporation.

IBN (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/will-corporation-tag-help-suburban-voters/192851-60-120.html)

Residents' great expectations

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00808/th14_adyar_bw_eps_808066e.jpg

Playing host to reputable educational institutions besides its well planned layouts, several healthcare facilities and relatively better infrastructure and greenery, Adyar is a much preferred zone of Chennai Corporation.

The zone comprises sought-after residential locations such as Adyar, Besant Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Velachery and CIT Nagar. And then there are also areas like Adambakkam, Guindy and Saidapet which house a mix of slum tenements, industrial estates and plenty of shops.

Councillors of this zone unlike their counterparts in other wards might not have to deal with issues concerning lack of basic infrastructure since the localities witnessed considerable development in the last five years. The residents want the councillors to stay in touch with them regularly after the elections.

H. Vembu, a resident of Padmanabha Nagar 5th Street, Adyar, says he has never seen the former councillor visit the area. Neither did he hear of the councillor raising any issue pertaining to the locality in the Council in the last five years.

Residents like S. Rangarajan of Subramaniam Colony, Velachery, want the new councillors to prepare a five-year plan focussing on the water supply, sewer network, garbage collection and disposal, roads, electricity and removal of encroachments. The ward should be divided into blocks and the councillor should conduct regular meetings with the residents to review development in each locality and the issues taken up with the officials to resolve them.

While Adyar was primarily designed to be a residential locality with the best amenities, it has managed to attract showrooms and restaurants in the last few years. Historically, Gandhi Nagar in Adyar was the first to get a proper layout in the country post-independence. Residents say it continues to be promising, provided the new infrastructure facilities are intelligently planned to reduce the increasing traffic congestion.

“The heavy traffic from L.B. Road has seeped into the interior lanes too. Traffic from East Coast Road has to be directed this way to the city. It takes almost 30 minutes to reach Sathya Studio, which is just about three km away,” says G. Veeraghavan, a resident of Indira Nagar. Public transport has not caught up with the increasing population with the number of buses plying this route having significantly reduced. The MRTS (Mass Rapid Transit System), which runs through the Adyar Zone, remains poorly utilised because of lack of connectivity and the stations are in need of better maintenance and more security.

Residents complain that commercial buildings have come up in between residential places, and most of them do not have parking lots, which has led to illegal parking in many areas. The Srinivasamurthy Avenue located next to the Corporation zonal office in Adyar was once awarded the ‘Best Maintained Road' but is now occupied by vehicles of visitors to nearby shops.

With fast food joints and garment stores lining the waterfront in Besant Nagar, residents say the stream of visitors cause several inconveniences. “During weekends, the cars parked along the narrow lanes make it difficult to get our vehicles out,” says L.V.Mahadevan, treasurer, Bay View Flat Owners' Association. The lack of pruning of tree branches and poor functioning of streetlights have led to several incidents of chain snatching, he adds.

The neighbouring Thiruvanmiyur also suffers from poor road infrastructure, unfinished cable laying work and increasing traffic congestion. “Two months ago, the Kuppam Beach Road was dug up by Metrowater and it has not been repaired as yet. When it rains, the slippery roads make it unsafe for two wheeler riders,” says S.Rajakumar, a shop owner.

Residents of Velachery want immediate solutions to decongest traffic in the area, which is fast becoming the preferred location for leading brands. Poor road infrastructure compounds the problem.

R. Arun, a resident of Tansi Nagar, says the Velachery Main Road, Taramani Link Road and Bypass Road are heavily crowded with vehicles, resulting in pile up of vehicles for even 30 minutes on some days to cover a stretch of a few kilometres during rush hour.

Members of the Federation of Velachery Welfare Associations want the Councillors to take steps to speed up the construction of stormwater drain, upgrade the sewage pumping station and lay new sewer pipelines, retrieve Open Space Reservation lands meant for public purposes and protect the Velachery Lake. Besides early completion of the SWD work, residents of Division 177 and 178 in West Velachery want a straight road connecting either to the Bypass Road or the Inner Ring Road.

Civic issues galore in Kanagam, which is home to several prime educational institutions. Water logging in areas of Sriram Nagar and WBT road is a regular menace. “This area is preferred by the IT crowd because it is relatively cheaper than other areas, but that has not made any significant change to the state of roads and issues concerning safety and security,” says T. Purushottaman, a resident.

The demands of Saidapet residents include measures to improve road safety and streetlights. Squatters along the Adyar river near the Maraimalai Adigal bridge complain of inadequate public toilets and lack of potable drinking water.

CIT Nagar, which was previously in Saidapet zone, is now part of Adyar Zone. Sewage overflow and incomplete SWD construction work plagues many areas of C.I.T. Nagar and Venkatnarayana Road.

The Hindu (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article2536928.ece)

Upturn seen in key Indian cities

Bengaluru and Chennai at odds with general sentiment as hurdles are cleared

If key investment trends are seen as heading south, it needn't necessarily mean bad tidings all the time. It certainly does not apply for those property investors chasing safe havens in the southern cities of India.

With the exception of Hyderabad, which has been buffeted by political storms, residential and commercial real estate activity in the key cities of Bengaluru and Chennai have recorded a marked upturn in recent weeks. This is quite at odds with the general sentiment shown by property investors in the rest of the country in the wake of the country's central bank going in for a succession of interest rate hikes and making home financing costlier.

"Interest rate hikes of 225 basis points in one year are going to make a buyer question whether the time is right to make an investment," said Jack Nazareth, CEO at Purvankara Projects, which has a portfolio of existing and recently launched projects in southern India.

"Sales-wise, I can say the whole of south India is an end-user market. If the product portfolio is kind of right, you will always have people buying into it.

"The issue post-recession was about projects getting delayed or having to be scrapped. There were so many macro-factors impacting on the ground," he said.

But, more recently, these hurdles are getting cleared. While the higher cost of home finance still exists, property transactions have had help from salary increases of between 13 to 25 per cent in the last two years, particularly within the IT industry.

"The end-use in Bengaluru comes from IT and manufacturing services, while Chennai too caters to this clientele," said Nazareth. "Also, what has been lost out by Hyderabad is spilling over into sales for these two cities."

Are expatriate Indians pulling their weight in all of this activity? According to banking sources here, the summer months saw a marked improvement in interest from expatriate Indians looking to finance a property purchase back in India. Also, a majority of these were for buys in the southern cities.

Cont.....

http://gulfnews.com/business/property/international/upturn-seen-in-key-indian-cities-1.891343

Slum votes to those who are against eviction


Making their demand loud and clear to main political parties in the fray for the local body polls, a newly floated joint action group representing lakhs of slum dwellers in the city announced on Friday that their votes were reserved for those who assured them safety from forced evictions.
Coordinator of the Chennai Slum Dwellers Joint Action Group S K Shiva said, “Slum people are fed up with politicians and governments, who always promise big but deliver very little”.
“We have made it clear that our 8 lakh slum votes would go to those candidates (Mayor and ward councillors) who assure us that they will not encourage forced eviction of slum settlements in the city’s 200 wards in the future,” he said.
He clarified that it was not an ‘order’ to slum dwellers but it was to make elected representatives more accountable to voters. “When we see the PMK’s manifesto, it promises to clean Adyar River and create recreational facilities along the banks. We see it as anti-slum policy as it could evict thousands of families who have been living along the banks of the river for decades,” Shiva said.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/slum-votes-to-those-who-are-against-eviction/193187-60-120.html

All hail Indian Democracy!!

:cheer:

Guiding us through the Chennai food scene

If you have enjoyed the Indianised menu at the Subway outlets recently, as opposed to their previous mostly international one, then you need to thank the Chennai Food Guide (CFG). And if you think that there are a ton of positive changes at the Casa Picola on Khader Nawaz Khan Road, yes, the credit goes to CFG again. With over 8,000 members on the Internet, CFG was initiated in 2004 by a group of food lovers.

“It was the period when Orkut was the most happening thing and different people with different passions were coming together and the availability of good food in Chennai was what brought us together,” says Mohamed Ali, a founding member of the group and adds, “There are about 40-50 members who are active.”

Considering the following the group has, online, with most of the members maintaining regular food blogs and the rest constantly updating their status messages and tweeting, restaurants and hotels invite them to review their food and provide feedback on ambiance, quality and quantity of food and service.

“Some of the blogs our members have even get upto 3,000 clicks per month. So, put together 10 bloggers and you have 30,000 odd people reading about the restaurant and that’s basically free publicity for the restaurants,” explains Ali. “Eight thousand people is also the focus group that goes out to eat. So, restaurants come to us to find out what satisfies them and find out their expectations,” he adds.

The group meets once every two weeks and this week, they reviewed the food spread at Burgundy's in MRC Nagar. Seated with the owner Vipin Sachdev (who shared quite a few anecdotes), they discussed the food even as some of them carefully dissected the kebabs, chaat and pizzas, among other dishes, peering into their plates before expertly popping it into their mouths. Ali and other bloggers constantly took notes, careful about getting the names of whatever they ate right. There was also an elaborate photo session of each plate, before they dug into it. “Orkut was less eye candy and more text, but Facebook gives us the opportunity to upload photos and video and be more graphic,” says Ali. “There is also much lesser spam and it is more secure,” offers Raghavender Mahalingam. And of course, there are intense discussions on Masterchef Australia.

And if you have already formed an image of the group as a bunch of snobs that go around eating at only fancy restaurants, you’re wrong. They sample even the smallest of eateries, provided the food there is good or there is something new.

“Our motto is anything and everything about food in and around Chennai,” explains Ali.

With most members having the blog posts out within the same week or sometimes even on the same day, restaurateurs have found a big difference in their customer numbers. “We have seen immediate results with the number of people walking in after the CFG review and the increase remains that way over a period of time,” says Vipin, who also runs Tuscana Pizzeria and Kryptos, among others.

The members of CFG also help out each other and others in various food related issues. Arjun Balaji, one of the members will soon be opening a restaurant at Royapettah, with guidance from the group. “We have helped a lot of people who are new to the city to find what they are looking for and also people with specific needs such as Jain food and so on,” explains Ali.

The group will soon be partnering with a radio station to provide food updates on alternate days and some of their blogs can be read at www.incorrectmystic.in, www.chennaifoodie.com, www.theharriedcook.blogspot.com and www.saapaturaman.wordpress.com.

IBN (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/guiding-us-through-the-chennai-food-scene/193194-60-120.html)

Thanks . At the away OMR and GST are growing they definitely have the potential to turn into some thing like the Western and Central corridors of Mumbai.

:)
Take it easy Mumbaikars :lol:

Slum votes to those who are against eviction




http://ibnlive.in.com/news/slum-votes-to-those-who-are-against-eviction/193187-60-120.html
Wonderful demand.Vote who support squalor:nuts:.When 8 lacs of the total 45 lacs voters in chennai can come together and put a demand why not the others say atleast the lower middle and middle classes of chennai who are more than 30 lacs come together and support those promising eviction of unauthorised slums on the banks of cooum and Adayar rivers and Buckingham canal.Its high time that the chennaites gear up to cleanse their surroundings and make their city presentable.

So which city looks clean and presentable in India .. ???!!

Wonderful demand.Vote who support squalor:nuts:.When 8 lacs of the total 45 lacs voters in chennai can come together and put a demand why not the others say atleast the lower middle and middle classes of chennai who are more than 30 lacs come together and support those promising eviction of unauthorised slums on the banks of cooum and Adayar rivers and Buckingham canal.Its high time that the chennaites gear up to cleanse their surroundings and make their city presentable.

Are you from Alien land?

Point raised by Cactus 54 is valid. It is just a view point nothing personal. Madras is always associated with stink of Cooum like Bombay slums make up 60_70% and the stench is unbearable whilst one travels by the locals. These are typical decay of indian cities.

Let me tell you, now HT is doing a feature on the lost sidewalks, during monsoon and even today POTHOLE ridden roads have broken many a backs, but BMC is managed by Shivsena which flatly denies any problems. But for people movements and debates things dont take a serious note to be resolved. There are many city centric issues that is highlighted. Never ever I have seen "The Hindu" doing such features, shortcoming of your city.

Official Census is out
Chennai UA still stands 4th in the country with 8.7 million
http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/prov_results_paper2_indiavol2.html

Coimbatore is 2.1million, followed by Madurai with 1.4 million, Trichy with 1.02 million, Tirupur with .986 million, Salem with .95 million in the state

Are you from Alien land?

Mars may be

So which city looks clean and presentable in India .. ???!!

Chandigarh and Mohali.

About 45 lakh voters in 200 wards spread across 424 square kilometres—mayoral polls have never got this big. By the sheer size of the electorate, it is easily the biggest election in the country. At the forefront of the battle to lead Greater Chennai are AIADMK’s Saidai Duraisamy and DMK’s M Subramanian. After more than two weeks of hectic campaigning covering voters of more than 4,800 polling booths, the top contenders were still all charged up at a mayoral debate organised by TOI


Freebies or civic concerns. What do you think will people vote for in this election?
M Subramanian (MS): In this election freebies won’t get votes. Only civic issues matter. People will also look at which councillor was more accessible. Nearly 10 lakh people know my cellphone number. Whenever they called me, even at 1am, I would go to the spot even if I had to stand in sewage or garbage.
Saidai Duraisamy (SD): Freebies also work, especially the ones that benefit the people the most. Welfare schemes like free laptops to students help them access news from all over the world. Those who could earlier read newspapers only at teashops and barber shops say they are able to get news from 138 countries now. If people voted for those who gave them rice at Re 1, won’t they vote for us who gave them rice for free? Now that we have increased the maternity leave from three to six months, won’t these women government employees vote for us?
MS: What about the time you put two lakh government employees in jail? Won’t they remember that?
Do you think having the same party in power, both at the state and the corporation, makes a difference when it comes to implementation of projects? Will voters consider it while choosing their councillors?
SD: It helps if the ruling party is the same at both the corporation council and at the state government.
MS: It is unfair to say that there will be state funding only if the mayor and councillors are from the ruling party. In Delhi, where Congress is the ruling party, BJP has been heading the local body for several terms. They have been able to work together.
SD: The local body is a separate entity. And now that politics has entered, it has become politicised. But if the process of electing representatives is done in a democratic way, then the ruling party can work with a council consisting of opposition party members like in other states. But that can’t happen if we see each other as enemies.
MS: In Tamil Nadu, we (AIADMK and DMK) have been like that ever since MGR (MG Ramachandran) left DMK in 1972. The corporation doesn’t get much state government funds. The main income is property tax and the only time the state has given money is under the JNNURM schemes.
SD: There is a limit to the corporation’s spending power. If project cost goes beyond Rs 10 crore, the council has to get approval from the state government. There are limits on how far the council can govern. For executing any big project, the council needs the cooperation and benevolence of the state government. Chief minister will be generous with everyone, but this is how it works.
Is there a contractor-party-councillor nexus that affects the quality of works undertaken? Whichever party is in power, the quality suffers. Why is that?
MS: Can you prove that by naming a specific project? There is a committee to monitor the works.
SD: The monitoring system has been there from the 1990s. But it is not very effective.
What is the better option to solve Chennai’s transportation problems — Metro Rail or Monorail?
MS: Metro Rail. It has a maximum speed of 130 kmph and is used in 176 cities. It can carry 40,000 people in an hour. This project is now being stalled. While Monorail, which is used in only 23 cities to shuttle tourists, is being introduced. It is a failed concept. It can at best be a showpiece.
SD: Metro Rail will take time to finish. Monorail can be brought in immediately. We have to see which is more beneficial for people. We have not stopped the Metro Rail project. Only a bold CM can get any project done. Whether it is Cooum, Metro Rail, Monorail or any other project, you need the CM’s mercy and favour.
How can we prevent flooding of the city during the rains? What are your plans?
SD: The chief minister is bringing a new concept in stormwater drain design. Instead of having concrete walls on all sides, the floor will be left as it is and 18 feet deep pits will be dug up in the course. The pits will help in rainwater harvesting and collecting waste materials, which will decompose naturally.
MS: We are asking people not to throw garbage into Cooum river but you are asking them to throw it into stormwater drains! It will just clog the drains. The current model that we have is followed across the world.
What are your top priorities if you become the mayor?
SD: As mayor, I will create separate email IDs for all 200 wards in the city. We will also have a grievance helpline for each ward. We will also collect complaints through grievance boxes and get back to them within three days.
MS: If I come back to power, I won’t be just a DMK mayor. We have already created email accounts for 155 wards, apart from SMS alerts and 1913 helpline. We will continue with these schemes, especially the once-a-week meetings with citizens on Tuesdays. And if there are complaints I will attend to it in a day.
Why should the Chennaiite vote for you?
MS: Local body elections are beyond politics. Basic amenities have to be fulfilled and people will have to look at who provides the service well. In Chennai, it takes lesser time to travel when compared to places like Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi. But even then, we built bridges and subways at 15 places in collaboration with the highways department. The fact that Chennai’s transport scene has improved is evident from the fact how once when a harvested organ had to be transported from a hospital to another, they could make use of the new bridges for reaching on time. Garbage clearance has improved in the last five years. And if the solid waste management project at Perungudi comes through, it will be my dream come true. If stormwater drainage project improves as planned, the city and suburbs will have no water stagnation problem.
SD: It is not just about completing infrastructure works but we also need to keep people happy. You have to see what change is needed for whom and give that. Chennai needs a new face; change is what people want. While building bridges, you should be far-sighted and make sure that they are used. Look at the Rangarajapuram flyover. The flyover lands at a traffic bottleneck rendering it useless. The chief minister did an aerial survey of Chennai and has a master plan for the city. The implementation will start on October 25. We will also give suburbs all the basic amenities that the city has. Only then it makes sense to call it Greater Chennai.
What is your idea of a model city?
SD: Chennai is our model city. We can’t turn it into a Singapore because it won’t work in our conditions. We will give Chennai a new look to attract visitors.
MS: How can you give it a new look when you have stopped the Cooum river restoration project and discontinued the Metro Rail project? If you want to attract visitors, why did you shut down Semmozhi poonga and Tholkappia poonga?
SD: We have a comprehensive plan for bettering Chennai. Accumulated garbage in Cooum is the main reason for the mosquito menace. The chief minister has come up with a master plan for Chennai after much thought in the last two months. Fifteen schemes will be unveiled soon, and these will be executed in the next two years.

Chandigarh and Mohali.

i was suprised to read an article on business standard today - from recent census: apparently chandigarh has the highest % of children in slums.

i was suprised to read an article on business standard today - from recent census: apparently chandigarh has the highest % of children in slums.

It came today in The Hindu too..

Every eighth urban child in India lives in slum: report

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00809/child_slum_809470f.jpg
Every eighth urban child in India in the age-group of 0-6 years stays in slums, according to ‘Slums in India – A statistical compendium 2011' published by the Union government.

Every eighth urban child in India in the age-group of 0-6 years stays in slums, according to ‘Slums in India – A statistical compendium 2011' published by the Union government.

“... about 7.6 million children are living in slums in India and they constitute 13.1 per cent of the total child population of the urban areas of the 26 States/ Union Territories reporting slums,” the report compiled by the National Buildings Organisation (NBO) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation says.

More than 20 per cent of Chandigarh's children are in slums. According to the data, Maharashtra has the highest slum child population with around 1.7 million children (between 0-6 years) staying in slums. But Chandigarh has the highest proportion of slum child population.

After Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh has the second highest slum child population of around 0.97 million. It is followed by Andhra Pradesh (0.83 million), Madhya Pradesh (0.6 million), West Bengal (0.53 million) and Tamil Nadu (0.51 million).

In Chandigarh, a whopping 20.9 per cent proportion of the 0-6 age group population stays in slums. The picture is dismal in case of at least 23 States, where more than 10 per cent of the child population stays in slums.

In fact, in 11 of these 23 States, the proportion of slum child population is more than 15 per cent. This includes the ‘much applauded for development' state of Gujarat, along with other States like Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Goa.

Even in progressive States like Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, more than 10 per cent of the child population stays in slums. The other States, where the proportion is more than 10 per cent are: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Orissa, Punjab, Tripura, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir.

The picture is no better in the million plus cities of the country. “Around 2.5 million children in the age group of 0-6 are living in the slum areas of million plus cities in 2001; this constitutes 27.3 per cent of the total child population of these 27 cities,” the report stated.

Half of these 2.5 million children stay in the three major metros of Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. While Mumbai has 0.86 million children, Delhi and Kolkata account for 0.3 million and 0.15 million children respectively.

“The child sex ratio at 921, in the slum areas of 26 States/Union Territories, where slum population has been reported, is higher than 903, recorded for non-slum urban areas of these States and Union Territories,” the report said.

The highest child sex ratio in this age group is 988 and it has been observed in the slums of Puducherry. It is closely followed by Meghalaya (986) and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (965).

In fact, even in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar, the child sex ratio in slums is above 943. Generally, 943 is a figure which is regarded as average natural sex ratio at birth. The ratio stands lowest in Punjab at 822. But the report indicates that it is still much better than the ratio in the non-slum population of Punjab, which is 790.

“This is the first time that this data has been produced so comprehensively anywhere in this format,” D.S. Negi, NBO Director, told The Hindu from New Delhi.

He said that the data published in the 2001 Census was not representational and needed lot of work on it. “The 2001 Census had data of only 654 towns and cities in India. It was not representational. Then we asked them to collect data from more cities and towns. This way, the Registrar General and the Census Commissioner collected data for a total of 1743 cities and towns,” he said.

“But there were lot of anomalies in that data as well. For example, it said that the proportion of slums in Patna was 0.3 per cent, whereas it is much more than that. Many States approached the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation for fresh estimation of slum population in their urban areas,” Mr Negi said.

Thus, he said, a high-power committee was appointed by the Ministry headed by Pranob Sen, the then Chief Statistician of India. “The committee did factual modelling and came up with this data which was near to reality for the 3,000 and odd remaining cities and towns,” he said.

The recent 2011 Census was done on the basis of the recommendations given by the committee in its report, he added.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2541052.ece

No Power Cut in Chennai, Yester day and Today!!!... Local Body Election effect...

About 45 lakh voters in 200 wards spread across 424 square kilometres—mayoral polls have never got this big. By the sheer size of the electorate, it is easily the biggest election in the country. At the forefront of the battle to lead Greater Chennai are AIADMK’s Saidai Duraisamy and DMK’s M Subramanian. After more than two weeks of hectic campaigning covering voters of more than 4,800 polling booths, the top contenders were still all charged up at a mayoral debate organised by TOI


Freebies or civic concerns. What do you think will people vote for in this election?
M Subramanian (MS): In this election freebies won’t get votes. Only civic issues matter. People will also look at which councillor was more accessible. Nearly 10 lakh people know my cellphone number. Whenever they called me, even at 1am, I would go to the spot even if I had to stand in sewage or garbage.
Saidai Duraisamy (SD): Freebies also work, especially the ones that benefit the people the most. Welfare schemes like free laptops to students help them access news from all over the world. Those who could earlier read newspapers only at teashops and barber shops say they are able to get news from 138 countries now. If people voted for those who gave them rice at Re 1, won’t they vote for us who gave them rice for free? Now that we have increased the maternity leave from three to six months, won’t these women government employees vote for us?
MS: What about the time you put two lakh government employees in jail? Won’t they remember that?
Do you think having the same party in power, both at the state and the corporation, makes a difference when it comes to implementation of projects? Will voters consider it while choosing their councillors?
SD: It helps if the ruling party is the same at both the corporation council and at the state government.
MS: It is unfair to say that there will be state funding only if the mayor and councillors are from the ruling party. In Delhi, where Congress is the ruling party, BJP has been heading the local body for several terms. They have been able to work together.
SD: The local body is a separate entity. And now that politics has entered, it has become politicised. But if the process of electing representatives is done in a democratic way, then the ruling party can work with a council consisting of opposition party members like in other states. But that can’t happen if we see each other as enemies.
MS: In Tamil Nadu, we (AIADMK and DMK) have been like that ever since MGR (MG Ramachandran) left DMK in 1972. The corporation doesn’t get much state government funds. The main income is property tax and the only time the state has given money is under the JNNURM schemes.
SD: There is a limit to the corporation’s spending power. If project cost goes beyond Rs 10 crore, the council has to get approval from the state government. There are limits on how far the council can govern. For executing any big project, the council needs the cooperation and benevolence of the state government. Chief minister will be generous with everyone, but this is how it works.
Is there a contractor-party-councillor nexus that affects the quality of works undertaken? Whichever party is in power, the quality suffers. Why is that?
MS: Can you prove that by naming a specific project? There is a committee to monitor the works.
SD: The monitoring system has been there from the 1990s. But it is not very effective.
What is the better option to solve Chennai’s transportation problems — Metro Rail or Monorail?
MS: Metro Rail. It has a maximum speed of 130 kmph and is used in 176 cities. It can carry 40,000 people in an hour. This project is now being stalled. While Monorail, which is used in only 23 cities to shuttle tourists, is being introduced. It is a failed concept. It can at best be a showpiece.
SD: Metro Rail will take time to finish. Monorail can be brought in immediately. We have to see which is more beneficial for people. We have not stopped the Metro Rail project. Only a bold CM can get any project done. Whether it is Cooum, Metro Rail, Monorail or any other project, you need the CM’s mercy and favour.
How can we prevent flooding of the city during the rains? What are your plans?
SD: The chief minister is bringing a new concept in stormwater drain design. Instead of having concrete walls on all sides, the floor will be left as it is and 18 feet deep pits will be dug up in the course. The pits will help in rainwater harvesting and collecting waste materials, which will decompose naturally.
MS: We are asking people not to throw garbage into Cooum river but you are asking them to throw it into stormwater drains! It will just clog the drains. The current model that we have is followed across the world.
What are your top priorities if you become the mayor?
SD: As mayor, I will create separate email IDs for all 200 wards in the city. We will also have a grievance helpline for each ward. We will also collect complaints through grievance boxes and get back to them within three days.
MS: If I come back to power, I won’t be just a DMK mayor. We have already created email accounts for 155 wards, apart from SMS alerts and 1913 helpline. We will continue with these schemes, especially the once-a-week meetings with citizens on Tuesdays. And if there are complaints I will attend to it in a day.
Why should the Chennaiite vote for you?
MS: Local body elections are beyond politics. Basic amenities have to be fulfilled and people will have to look at who provides the service well. In Chennai, it takes lesser time to travel when compared to places like Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi. But even then, we built bridges and subways at 15 places in collaboration with the highways department. The fact that Chennai’s transport scene has improved is evident from the fact how once when a harvested organ had to be transported from a hospital to another, they could make use of the new bridges for reaching on time. Garbage clearance has improved in the last five years. And if the solid waste management project at Perungudi comes through, it will be my dream come true. If stormwater drainage project improves as planned, the city and suburbs will have no water stagnation problem.
SD: It is not just about completing infrastructure works but we also need to keep people happy. You have to see what change is needed for whom and give that. Chennai needs a new face; change is what people want. While building bridges, you should be far-sighted and make sure that they are used. Look at the Rangarajapuram flyover. The flyover lands at a traffic bottleneck rendering it useless. The chief minister did an aerial survey of Chennai and has a master plan for the city. The implementation will start on October 25. We will also give suburbs all the basic amenities that the city has. Only then it makes sense to call it Greater Chennai.
What is your idea of a model city?
SD: Chennai is our model city. We can’t turn it into a Singapore because it won’t work in our conditions. We will give Chennai a new look to attract visitors.
MS: How can you give it a new look when you have stopped the Cooum river restoration project and discontinued the Metro Rail project? If you want to attract visitors, why did you shut down Semmozhi poonga and Tholkappia poonga?
SD: We have a comprehensive plan for bettering Chennai. Accumulated garbage in Cooum is the main reason for the mosquito menace. The chief minister has come up with a master plan for Chennai after much thought in the last two months. Fifteen schemes will be unveiled soon, and these will be executed in the next two years.

Pleasantly surprised. First time I came across two people from rival kazhagams debating on some issues - The qualtiy is not upto the mark though. SD is particularly disappointing (
SD: "As mayor, I will create separate email IDs for all 200 wards in the city. We will also have a grievance helpline for each ward. We will also collect complaints through grievance boxes and get back to them within three days.".- which millenium is he in?
SD: "Chennai is our model city. We can’t turn it into a Singapore because it won’t work in our conditions. We will give Chennai a new look to attract visitors" - has to change his mindset)
MS tries to do his bit to improve. But unfortunately, we are aware how it works in Tamilnadu. MS will have a very hard time if he comes back, cos of local politics. But his chances are I guess, little less..

No Power Cut in Chennai, Yester day and Today!!!... Local Body Election effect...

Maybe holiday of TASMAC effect!! More electricity available for homes now :cheers:

I have never seen local body election campaigning so heavilly,everybody was promising for underground sewage in pallavaram.

I have never seen local body election campaigning so heavilly,everybody was promising for underground sewage in pallavaram.

We in India are in important Juncture ...where people are awakening ..possibly due to more and more people paying taxes these days..... so candidates need to get to the fine details to get votes.... i wish people will grow up and show some courage and character to ask questions when politicians turn up.

http://i.imgur.com/t6d3a.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/t6d3a.jpg
Karachi? Karachi??!!!!
Are FII investments into KSE (don't know if they happen to be significant enough) or the remittances by overseas pakistanis to their country in general being counted as FDI in Karachi?

How did Karachi beat Chennai and Bangalore? Above HK and Guangzhou? I must be missing something...

Well.. It is from 2006 and at that time, Pak economy was not doing that bad. They were clocking above 6-7% growth during Musharraf's regime. And karachi is the economic powerhouse of Pakistan.

All aside, I am also surprised that Karachi got higher FDI than Bangalore. But, we can't discount them as FII or remittances, that would be unfair.

BTW, where is NCR and Mumbai in that list??

India Inc. adds 346,000 jobs: MEtS- Wave 3 survey

The survey was conducted among 676 companies across 13 industry segments panning 8 Indian cities.

The organized sector in India created 346,000 jobs between July and September 2011 and is expected to add another 326,400 by end 2011, according to the latest findings of Ma Foi Randstad Employment Trends Survey (METS)– Wave 3.

The survey was conducted among 676 companies across 13 industry segments panning 8 Indian cities. The feedback was gathered from the top HR personnel and senior management of companies, who shared valuable insights on the job creation during the last (July – September) and the current (October – December) quarters of 2011.

The current slowdown in the economy and increasing domestic inflation has resulted in sectoral variation in the employment outlook among sectors and although new jobs continue to be added, it is at a slower pace. According to the survey, the Healthcare sector continues to lead in job generation by adding 60,400 jobs in Q3 (July – September) 2011, followed by Hospitality sector with 48,400 jobs and IT & ITeS sector with 46,600 jobs during the same period.

This is however lesser than the numbers (Healthcare - 63,800 / Hospitality - 54,400 / IT & ITeS - 55,500) predicted at the beginning of the quarter three. These sectors are expected to continue as the lead job generators in the coming quarter with Healthcare expecting to add 58,700 jobs followed by Hospitality & ITeS adding 40,000 plus jobs each.

Among the cities, Mumbai added 28,500 jobs, followed by Delhi & NCR adding 27,000 and Chennai adding 15,500. However, the total job generation by these 3 cities was lower by 6,100 jobs, against the original prediction (Mumbai - 32,300 / New Delhi & NCR – 27,900 / Chennai – 16,900) at the beginning of Q3. These cities are expected to generate a total of 69,200 jobs in the current quarter.

Laid out below are some of the key findings of the survey:

· In addition to being the lead job generator, the Healthcare sector also saw a salary increase of 16.99% for lateral job shifts.
· The Energy sector added a total of 7,500 jobs in Q3. An increase in demand for trained manpower in smart grid technology and software is expected in this sector in the coming months.
· The growth in the Media & Entertainment sector has fuelled the hiring for core functions with a 16.92% increase in salary for lateral job shifts. Interestingly maximum hiring happened through the referral and social media route in this sector.
· The hiring of freshers (< 1year) was highest in the Hospitality sector (36.46%) and hiring of experienced manpower (5-10 years) was highest in the Energy sector (50.81%).
· The Pharma sector added 11,300 jobs in Q 3 and this sector witnessed a spurt in hiring of experienced people for core functions.
· Although the increase in interest rates have brought down the demand in housing, the Real Estate & Construction sector continued to add 29,600 jobs in Q 3 and grow at a rate of 3.29%.
· Among the cities Delhi recorded a higher increase in average salary (15.01%) for lateral job shifts, followed by Pune (14.98%) and Chennai (14.91%).

E Balaji, MD & CEO, Ma Foi Randstad said, “Although the survey results show a sluggish mood in hiring, we see this only as near time problem, as the long term growth story of India is still intact. Many sectors still enjoy a favourable long term excess demand and it is important that they conquer the immediate challenges and protect the growth potential and generate jobs.”

The current survey covers employment generation and other employment related topics such as salary hikes for lateral job changes, composition of job growth and areas during the Q 3 2011 and captures perceptions and expectations of employees and the employment scenario for the Q 4 2011.

The structured analysis was administered by India’s leading economic research firm Indicus Analytics using a quick industry analysis to ascertain the various forces that are working on companies that are affecting their intentions to hire.


http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/India-Inc.-adds-346000-jobs-MEtS-Wave-3-survey/5270418461

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6105/6259471479_60e18a9ed5_b.jpg

CC: vigneshwar_thanjavur (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33609267@N08/)

Looks like they have painted the walls recently.. Not bad.

But the eyesore lies on the left side!! :bash:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6105/6259471479_60e18a9ed5_b.jpg

CC: vigneshwar_thanjavur (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33609267@N08/)

Looks like they have painted the walls recently.. Not bad.

But the eyesore lies on the left side!! :bash:

^^

The river is indeed an eye sore . One thing I like is the presence of a side walk on both sides some thing that is absent ( or encroached) in most parts of Chennai putting pedestrians to great inconvenience.


:)

Looks like they have painted the walls recently.. Not bad.

But the eyesore lies on the left side!! :bash:

that is the symbol of southern railway! both are brothers...:lol:

if canal is clean, even railways will be clean. If railways is clean, canal will be clean.:nuts:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6105/6259471479_60e18a9ed5_b.jpg

CC: vigneshwar_thanjavur (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33609267@N08/)

If there is one infrastructure that could change the face of the state in general and Chennai city in particular beyond recognition, then this is that: encroachment free, clean, broad, properly laid sidewalk. This will bring in enormous change - including attitudinal.

A considerable majority of the road users - pedestrians, are the most neglected section of the road users.

One of the major problems is encroachment of this space wherever it exists.
Not sure what prevents the Government to enforce strict anti-encroachment and eviction. If the existing resources are not sufficient, Government can create a separate department / wing with sufficient resources exclusively for this purpose. Local bodies have proved to be inadequate to address this issue.

I guess probably it is the lack of political will. I am not sure, which section of the voters will be antagonized by Government's action.


The only person in the state that could do this is Madam 'J'. It is high time she was mature enough to keep at least a few real visionaries / leaders with her in her ministry as second level leaders. Everything now is left to the Executive arm of the Government. Their stake in all their activities / projects, if at all they have one, is very limited and lasts only up to their next transfer.[/B]

If there is one infrastructure that could change the face of the state in general and Chennai city in particular beyond recognition, then this is that: encroachment free, clean, broad, properly laid sidewalk. This will bring in enormous change - including attitudinal.

A considerable majority of the road users - pedestrians, are the most neglected section of the road users.

One of the major problems is encroachment of this space wherever it exists.
Not sure what prevents the Government to enforce strict anti-encroachment and eviction. If the existing resources are not sufficient, Government can create a separate department / wing with sufficient resources exclusively for this purpose. Local bodies have proved to be inadequate to address this issue.

I guess probably it is the lack of political will. I am not sure, which section of the voters will be antagonized by Government's action.


The only person in the state that could do this is Madam 'J'. It is high time she was mature enough to keep at least a few real visionaries / leaders with her in her ministry as second level leaders. Everything now is left to the Executive arm of the Government. Their stake in all their activities / projects, if at all they have one, is very limited and lasts only up to their next transfer.[/B]

My thoughts exactly and more. I wish to start an online forum or a map based tool thats something like "MakeMySideWalk" .. where each furlong of our pavements along arterial and other roads can be tracked to see whats the major problem and how to overcome. Just no accountability exists! In my opinion, major challenges :

1) Encroachments by hawkers
2) Ugly TNEB/Utility junction boxes dilapidated, precarious and begging attention
3) Potholes, dips and mounds
4) Open sewers
5) Trash cans (laid on the pavement at many areas)
6) Fringe areas such as the one in the coovum pic above (central), where the filth mounds fudges the border between pavement and piles.

We need some energetic set of minds dedicated to this.. Like "Own Your Pavement", "Walk Along" kind of program. We need this as a razor sharp focus, not swerving into other misc. areas.

Still on the wishlist ... for a longtime.

My thoughts exactly and more. I wish to start an online forum or a map based tool thats something like "MakeMySideWalk" .. where each furlong of our pavements along arterial and other roads can be tracked to see whats the major problem and how to overcome. Just no accountability exists! In my opinion, major challenges :

1) Encroachments by hawkers
2) Ugly TNEB/Utility junction boxes dilapidated, precarious and begging attention
3) Potholes, dips and mounds
4) Open sewers
5) Trash cans (laid on the pavement at many areas)
6) Fringe areas such as the one in the coovum pic above (central), where the filth mounds fudges the border between pavement and piles.



+1

TNs bio-gas project on BBC award shortlist


An Indian project has been shortlisted as a finalist on BBC World News’ “World Challenge 2011”. A bio-gas project, initiated and managed by social and developmental organisation, Hand in Hand in Mamallapuram, is one of the 12 finalists who will be showcased on the channel at the end of this month, after which the winner will be chosen by an online poll.

Called Trash to Gas, the project is being run in conjunction with Mamallapuram town panchayat, and converts the food waste generated by hotels into bio-gas. This is done through a 100cu m bio-gas plant, which is used to generate electricity through a 12.5 KVA generator specially designed to run on this gas. The project was shortlisted out of 640 international entries, and the only one from India to make it to the finals.

Speaking at a press conference, Chief Operating Officer of Hand in Hand N Amuthasekaran said, “The local body has been very helpful to us; we could not have carried the project forward if not for their cooperation. The project is self- sustainable, and employs 45 people.” He also said that if the project was to be among the first three places, the grant from Shell would enable them to expand operations.

The first place will win a grant of USD 20,000, and two runners up will get USD 10,000 each. When asked if the organisation would think of similar operations in Chennai as well, Krishnamurthi, Solid waste management project head, said, “We can support the corporation by helping spread awareness and share our technical know-how. We are already involved in talks with areas like Sholinganallur, Meenambakkam, Pallikaranai and Chembarambakkam.


http://ibnlive.in.com/news/tns-biogas-project-on-bbc-award-shortlist/194980-60-120.html

Murlee

For a second I thought that some real ant is moving on my monitor.

Avtar la kalakkunga.

:lol:

I kinda got fooled by this in some other forum. So, thought of fooling some people here. :laugh:

Murlee

For a second I thought that some real ant is moving on my monitor.

Avtar la kalakkunga.

+1

Murlee

For a second I thought that some real ant is moving on my monitor.

Avtar la kalakkunga.

I made two unsuccessful attempts to squish the bug.:)

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00815/saidai_duraisamy_815511f.jpg
Mayor-elect Saidai Duraisamy being greeted by the supporters at the counting centre in Chennai on Friday. He defeated his nearest rival DMK's M. Subramanian by over 5.20 lakh votes.

Saidai S. Duraisamy of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) romped home with a margin of over 5.20 lakh votes in the election to the post of Chennai Mayor. The results of the election were declared on Friday and he is set to become the first AIADMK Mayor of the city.

The party also got an overwhelming majority in the 200-member Chennai Corporation Council. It was the first election after the Corporation limits were expanded by merging several adjacent local bodies.

Mr. Duraisamy defeated his nearest rival and outgoing Mayor of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) M. Subramanian by polling 12.40 lakh votes. Mr. Subramanian got 7.20 lakh votes. A total of 23.15 lakh voters had exercised their franchise on Monday to elect the Mayor and 200 councillors. In the recent elections to the State Assembly, Mr. Duraisamy gave a tough fight to former Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in the Kolathur constituency.

The thumping victory of the AIADMK in the Council elections and that of its Mayoral candidate is expected to help in introducing more schemes and implementing development projects in the city. With the AIADMK being in power in the State, the civic body is better placed in seeking assistance. Mr. Duraisamy is likely to assume office on Tuesday. Mr. Stalin was elected Mayor in 1996 and in 2001.

However, he had to resign as a one-man, one-post rule was introduced during the second tenure.

After that, Deputy Mayor Karate Thyagarajan was holding charge of the post of Mayor till the elections in 2006.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2560128.ece

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6105/6259471479_60e18a9ed5_b.jpg

CC: vigneshwar_thanjavur (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33609267@N08/)

cha dirty city. i am ashamed of Chennai

^^ After seeing such pics of every major city in India, I want to say "Cha, dirty country, I am ashamed of..." :)

^^ After seeing such pics of every major city in India, I want to say "Cha, dirty country, I am ashamed of..." :)

i went to udaipur a few days ago. not bad at all. no coovams in udaipur but some beautiful lakes which also is getting dirty these days. Population is the problems. ellarum naalu anju kutti pottanga last generation la adhu nala namma kashta padarom.

^^ Apdiya ? So basically you went to Lake Palace, Pichola, Fatehsagar, Monsoon Palace, Sukhadia Circle. That's all no ? Yeah, these places are quite clean. Want to know about a few other places ?

^^ Apdiya ? So basically you went to Lake Palace, Pichola, Fatehsagar, Monsoon Palace, Sukhadia Circle. That's all no ? Yeah, these places are quite clean. Want to know about a few other places ?

i am like one of the three monkeys that symbolizes dont see, hear and talk bad things :ohno:

:lol:

many times i got fooled and tried to remove it thinking some bug on my screen.

Murlee

For a second I thought that some real ant is moving on my monitor.

Avtar la kalakkunga.

i am like one of the three monkeys that symbolizes dont see, hear and talk bad things :ohno:

So what happens to your inner monkey when you return home ?

So what happens to your inner monkey when you return home ?

i criticize chennai the dirty home city of mine. Thats all :)

One general point to be noted is that there is no one thing in this world which is having only merits and similarly only demerits .....every point has it's own plus and minus .....

i criticize chennai the dirty home city of mine. Thats all :)

Ooraar sirikka sirikka solvaar, Ootraar azha azha solvaar.

welcoming the monsoon,
Its raining heavily from yesterday evening... :)

MIGRATION SPURS SUBURBAN SPRAWL
Census shows population in inner city grew less than 8% in the last 10 yrs; suburbs added 19 lakh

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOICH/2011/10/25/6/Img/Pc0060900.jpg

Recently released census data shows that the urban sprawl in Chennai is spreading much like in other major metros such as Mumbai and Delhi – away from the inner city and towards the suburbs. As an urban agglomeration – a census term that groups over 50 local bodies in and around the city – Chennai had 24% more people in 2011 compared to 2001.
The population within what used to be the Chennai Corporation limits grew by less than 8% or 3.5 lakh, indicating that much of the 22 lakh growth in Chennai urban agglomeration took place in the suburbs. Four large municipalities around the city grew by over 50% in the last ten years.

Demographers say that since Tamil Nadu and Chennai have always posted low growth rates, the boom in the suburbs must have come from migration. P Arokiasamy, a professor at the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, says that the relatively recent trend of mass migration from Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa to Chennai is a major contributor to the population surge.

It seems that for the white collar workers in IT, heavy engineering and automobile industries, as well as poor migrants employed in restaurants, housekeeping and construction, Chennai has become the land of livelihood, if not opportunity.

High real estate prices in the inner city are also driving migration to the suburbs. In the inner city, apartments cost over Rs 70 lakh and are therefore out of the reach of many middle income families, says Sohail Sarooshi, a realtor. An official at a housing finance company said the bulk of the housing loan applications received by the company in the Chennai region are for a little over Rs 20 lakh – a sign that many of these houses are being constructed in the suburbs.

Sarooshi also talks about apartment complexes and mini-townships of 200 to 300 units coming up not just on the IT corridor but also in the northern suburbs such as Ambattur. This is part of the overall trend of ‘gentrification’ in which wealthier people move into low-income neighbourhoods, says a former chief planner of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). He says that many of the industries serving the old economy in the northern Chennai are making way for new ones, leading to a surge in white collar population in areas known for industrial labourers.
The old economy hasn’t left Chennai, however. It’s only taken new forms, supporting higher income groups in the new economy. For instance, in the recent past, many car companies, such as Renault-Nissan and Daimler, have set up base in Oragadam.
Amid all this growth and change, demographers see positive trends. They believe Chennai is on its way towards a demographic transition characterized by an ageing population and low growth rates. They point to Mumbai where the inner city showed a negative growth of 4% in the last decade.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2011/10/25&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00600&ViewMode=HTML

Neel Metal Chaps make a stinking statement

CHENNAI: Even before taking up the mantle of Mayorship in Chennai, AIADMK’s Mayor-elect Saidai S Duraisamy has received a Deepavali ‘gift’ from Neel Metal Fanalca — a city stinking with heaps of garbage.

An unannounced mass absenteeism, over unpaid Deepavali bonus, by Neel Metal Fanalca’s (NMF) 2,500-odd employees for more than a week coupled with the new assignment for the Corporation’s 10,000-odd sanitary workers during the civic body elections has created garbage mounds across the city.

NMF is responsible for removing garbage from four zones — Triplicane (zone-6), Adyar (zone-10), Kodambakkam (zone-8) and Pulianthope (zone-3). While, civic body staff are entrusted with the remaining six zones.

However, garbage removal operations have been hit for the last two weeks in those four zones, as NMF workers began striking seeking immediate disbursement of Deepavali bonus.

NMF management convinced workers to return to work and promised payment within a week.

Later, it backtracked from its promise and asked its employees to get their bonus in two installments afterward.

When bonus was not released even after the second promise, NMF workers refused to go on the streets, resulting in garbage pile up at several locations.

Since a sizable number of the Corporation’s sanitary staff were roped in as ‘support staff’ during civic body elections, garbage removal in the other six zones (except VIP areas and posh localities) has also been hit.

NMF sources said, the on-field strength of staff has dwindled to 200 against the actual strength of 2,500.

NMF has been able to move only about 400 metric tonnes of garbage during the last two weeks against its daily average of over 1,700 mt. Sluggish work by civic body’s sanitary staff� (after elections) has also added to the problem.

Though authorities have deployed its men and machinery to remove tonnes of garbage piled up at NMF’s four zones, the city is still stinking of garbage.

Source (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/neel-metal-chaps-make-a-stinking-statement/196185-60-120.html)

:bash::bash:

Giving the contract to Neel Metal was one of the biggest mistakes that happened to Chennai over the past few years!

I have a basic question - These private agencies like Neel Metal or Onyx have around 2000 - 3000 plus people on their rolls for their operations. what happens to all these people when a city cancels its contracts?

Once the Neel metal contract expires by this year end, will all these people become jobless? Or will they be just taken over by the new company.

I think their plight is the worst of the lot.

I have a basic question - These private agencies like Neel Metal or Onyx have around 2000 - 3000 plus people on their rolls for their operations. what happens to all these people when a city cancels its contracts?

Once the Neel metal contract expires by this year end, will all these people become jobless? Or will they be just taken over by the new company.

I think their plight is the worst of the lot.

They are recruited by the next company..

They are recruited by the next company..

Only some Onyx supervisors were recruited initially by Neel Metal to understand the trade.

Actually Onyx recruited enthusiastic workers through an elaborate interview process and had given very good training to all its employees. They emphasised on neatness of each person and gave additional sets of uniform.

All the new recruits of Neel Metal were paid very much lower salaries than Onyx. Neel Metal used the temp. staff of regular corporation works to save money. They were given only the top shirt (uniform) to save cost.

Many of the employees were not even aware how to clean the roads and how to use the implements.

The Ex Governor's son and the relative of the first family were partners in Neel Metal.

Though the spanish company FINALCA was involved, their influence was very limited to certain areas - after collection & segregation at the centres. The CEO of FINALCA was living in our neighbourhood and he was very frustrated towards the last few years.

I wish that ONYX is given the new contract.

SSC Nanbargal Anaivarukum Iniya Diwali Nalvazhthukkal..

Anaivarukkum Vidumurai Dina Nalvaazhthukkal

Kannan sir,

isnt onyx taken over by veolia environmental?

Kannan sir,

isnt onyx taken over by veolia environmental?

I read it somewhere.

Veolia is the biggest Water company in the world and they have already taken up Water Treatment & Distribution of some of the municipalities of India on BOT basis.

I hope that such professional company manages waste management in metros like Chennai at least.

Happy diwali to all SSCians ... Lets party...:banana::banana:

:dance:

kBvAusSFYRc

Deleted

i went to udaipur a few days ago. not bad at all. no coovams in udaipur but some beautiful lakes which also is getting dirty these days. Population is the problems. ellarum naalu anju kutti pottanga last generation la adhu nala namma kashta padarom.

And you found Udaipur clean? Seriously?

It is a tier-III city, and like most other tier-III cities in India, it is among the filthiest places in the nation.

Did you go and see the heaps of garbage on the road? The pigs reveling in that garbage? Did you notice the number of pigs rolling in slush all over the place? Did you see empty grounds being used as makeshift garbage dumps?

And you found Udaipur clean? Seriously?

It is a tier-III city, and like most other tier-III cities in India, it is among the filthiest places in the nation.

Did you go and see the heaps of garbage on the road? The pigs reveling in that garbage? Did you notice the number of pigs rolling in slush all over the place? Did you see empty grounds being used as makeshift garbage dumps?

my eyes look at the good places only ;)

Okay i'll cut a slack. Chennai has good clean places too. Happy?

Deleted

Yes we know. Chennai #2 for Playing and #3 for Living. Hahaha. I like it. Start meesic.

I hope that such professional company manages waste management in metros like Chennai at least.

aaha, idhe eppadi miss senjen :lol:

appa engala madhiri madippu amsa ooru karanga (adhanpa Tier II, III etc.,) ellam enna paavam senjaanga?

The Chennai Corporation will take up garbage clearance on a war footing, said Mayor Saidai Duraisamy.

Speaking to mediapersons after taking the oath of office on Tuesday, Mr. Duraisamy said that a number of major policy decisions pertaining to the civic body would be taken after obtaining the approval of the Chief Minister shortly.

Complaint redressal at the ward level would be strengthened, he said. Every councillor would have a dedicated email account and a mobile phone for receiving complaints from the public, said Mr. Duraisamy. A separate complaint box would be set up in residential localities.

A. Ezhilarasi, councillor of ward 1 covering localities in Ennore, said she had started taking efforts towards better garbage disposal in her area. “As our area is newly added to the city, the residents have high expectations. We have taken efforts to install complaint boxes in all residential localities in two days. The box will be cleared every evening. Roads also have to be improved,” she said.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article2571673.ece

Mayor in action!

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOICH/2011/10/26/2/Img/Pc0020900.jpg

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2011/10/26&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Pc00209&ViewMode=HTML

Mayor in action!

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOICH/2011/10/26/2/Img/Pc0020900.jpg

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2011/10/26&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Pc00209&ViewMode=HTML

mayor veetla thanni ozhugannnum, avar theruvula mutharamum kalandha sakada thanni thengi kadakanum. Appo pakallam avar oda padaiappa nadaiya.

aaha, idhe eppadi miss senjen :lol:

appa engala madhiri madippu amsa ooru karanga (adhanpa Tier II, III etc.,) ellam enna paavam senjaanga?

Tier II ooru la kuppa kammiya irukkum la. Edhuku professional company ? :)

^ :lol: lollu lol

Tier II ooru la kuppa kammiya irukkum la. Edhuku professional company ? :)

or

Tier II III makkal ellaam, Chennai (or Bangalore) vandhu thaana kuppa kotraanga?

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article2574682.ece

arul will be happy. but hope they dont screw like they did with corporation having smaller vision

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s320x320/316027_295541117142747_100000605842906_1168670_1558376102_n.jpg

Saidai Duraisamy, FB

Cool.. I think SSC members from Chennai could arrange a meeting with him with proper home work done and give him a report of the most pressing needs of Chennai city.

Kannan Sir could lead..

^^nice idea, during his term he should concentrate and spend money ONLY on drainages and nothing else.

^^drainages, garbage clearance, road laying/maintenance and some facelift to the city - like no poster zones, litter free zones...

aaha, idhe eppadi miss senjen :lol:

appa engala madhiri madippu amsa ooru karanga (adhanpa Tier II, III etc.,) ellam enna paavam senjaanga?

Appappa!

Romba Kaaram.......

The Privatisation of waste collection & management cost quite a lot of money for the corporations. They should have more income for sparing so much money for waste management.

Generally Corporations prefer to recruit own people to do since it will cost less and also their people will get jobs.

Chennai Corporation with its huge income itself is struggling.

Unga OOR Paasam konjam adhigam thaan.

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00819/vbk-27chengraphic_819818f.jpg

A large area around Chennai extending up to Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram is set to be designated as one single urban region for planning purposes. In the face of rapid increase in population in the districts surrounding Chennai and the expansion of the city, a new regional planning model on the lines of National Capital Region, Delhi, is being examined by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA).

Government sources say three kinds of planning regions are under consideration. A smaller region with its southern boundaries reaching Mamallapuram and Tirukazhukunram is an option. The other alternative under review is the delineation of a large area which would include Gummidipoondi, and portions of Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts.

The third option is a midsized region. In terms of organisation, either a separate and independent regional authority under which other planning authorities such as the CMDA would function could be decided or, alternatively, the CMDA itself could be asked to perform the regional planning role, said the sources.

Since 1974, an area encompassing 1,189 sq. km around the city has been designated as the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) and the CMDA has been designated as the authority to plan the growth of the city and the area around it.

This model has been found inadequate since the areas outside the CMA are growing fast and they have not been sufficiently integrated with the metropolitan area. The recently released 2011 census data confirms that the population growth within the Chennai Corporation has slowed down while in the adjacent districts of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, it has substantially increased. Between 1991 and 2011, Chennai witnessed a decadal growth of 13 per cent, but between 2001 and 2011 it dropped to 6 per cent.

During the same period, population growth in Kancheepuram increased from 19 per cent to 39 per cent and Tiruvallur increased from 23 to 35 per cent.

In order to plan for balanced regional development, developing a larger road network, implementing an integrated transport plan and identifying a Chennai Mega Region have become necessary.

Some metropolitan cities which faced a similar situation have either expanded their planning areas or radically reconstituted their planning structure. Delhi was one of the earliest cities to implement the idea of a larger planning region.

A National Capital Region covering a total area of over 33,578 sq. km, and spread over three States and 15 districts was constituted in 1985. Hyderabad, which earlier had a metropolitan area of 1,860 sq.km for planning purposes, extended it to 7,100 sq.km in 2008.

Bangalore has delineated an area of 8,005 sq.km as its metropolitan region and has constituted a separate Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority to oversee it.



Source: the Hindu, Chennai Edition, Dated 28-Oct-2011 (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article2574682.ece)

Mayor's Facebook pages buzzing with suggestions, petitions and responses

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00820/28THDURAI_820341f.jpg

Over a thousand ‘likes' on the latest update, nearly 200 ‘shares' and a long thread of comments – Mayor Saidai S.Duraisamy's Facebook page is buzzing with activity.

In response to several requests from residents eager to meet him in person, the Mayor on Thursday said that those interested could confirm his availability with the staff at his CIT Nagar office and visit him.

Mr. Duraisamy has been on Facebook since 2010, interacting with IAS aspirants regularly, says M. Karthikeyan, director, Saidai Sa. Duraisamy's Manidha Naeyam IAS Academy, who helps maintain his account on the site.

“He has been in regular touch with the student community through this account but avoided political discussions on it. After being elected Mayor, we identified an opportunity to connect with younger residents through the network,” he says.

In addition to Mr. Duraisamy's individual account, two pages were created just before the local body polls, to promote him as the prospective Mayor.

The ‘Mayor' pages, which were created as a forum to campaign ahead of the local body polls, have now morphed into a highly interactive platform where the Mayor interacts with residents.

As on Thursday evening, Mr. Duraisamy had 4,753 friends in his individual account, in addition to the over 13,000 members of the ‘Chennai Mayor 2011' page, and the nearly-600 persons who ‘like' the ‘Saidai Sa Duraisamy Chennai Mayor' page.

Updated regularly

His pages get updated quite regularly, as is evident from the photographs of the recent swearing in ceremony, messages on immediate plan of action for flood mitigation or strategy for garbage disposal.

The pages are also being used to mobilise youth for various social causes. According to Mr. Karthikeyan, as many as 440 youngsters, mostly, students, signed up for a beach cleaning drive following a Facebook post announcing it.

“Similarly, we have put together a database of nearly 2,000 willing blood donors by networking on Facebook.”

From friends pledging their support for public health issues, or those giving suggestions for good local governance, the Mayor's page presents an interesting variety of responses and petitions from residents. Some friends such as Sankar Renganathan have posted with a sense of camaraderie, too. “Great !! but as usual, lets not wait for next monsoon to tackle the monsoon woes ,and let's start acting,” reads his message on the Mayor's wall.

The Hindu (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article2576173.ece)

^^

http://www.facebook.com/saidaiduraisamy

first and foremost chennai should have dust clearance done. Streets and roads are not to have even an iota of sand.

next step is landscaping - like grass and other good looking sidewalks. thirdly inbetween the roads there should be trees planted making it look like a Singapore.

if u can please recommend these things to the new mayor of casterbridge.

Source: the Hindu, Chennai Edition, Dated 28-Oct-2011 (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article2574682.ece)

Highly belated, but very welcome. Its high time.

According to a recent report, Chennai has the greenest buildings in India and the highest total volume of certified green building space. Out of 198 rated Green buildings in India, 18 are in Chennai.
SOURCE (http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/homes-and-gardens/article2577076.ece)

Source: the Hindu, Chennai Edition, Dated 28-Oct-2011 (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article2574682.ece)

did'nt they just expand the chennai metropolitan area to beyond uthandi @ south and also in the north? or are these two different things? CMA vs CMDA ....

did'nt they just expand the chennai metropolitan area to beyond uthandi @ south and also in the north? or are these two different things? CMA vs CMDA ....

You are right. These are two different things. What was expanded is the definion of the core city / corporation. What they are proposing to expand is the reach of CMDA. I think in some cities these two areas almost overlap. Need some clarity there.

According to a recent report, Chennai has the greenest buildings in India and the highest total volume of certified green building space. Out of 198 rated Green buildings in India, 18 are in Chennai.
SOURCE (http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/homes-and-gardens/article2577076.ece)

could be. i have seen more banyan trees and ashoka trees growing in Chennai city buildings than the rest of the cities in india.

Source: the Hindu, Chennai Edition, Dated 28-Oct-2011 (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article2574682.ece)

In reality the urban sprawl is till Arakonam(Vellore District) in the west, Gummudipondi in the north if TN border is taken into account.

Appappa!

Romba Kaaram.......

The Privatisation of waste collection & management cost quite a lot of money for the corporations. They should have more income for sparing so much money for waste management.

Generally Corporations prefer to recruit own people to do since it will cost less and also their people will get jobs.

Chennai Corporation with its huge income itself is struggling.

Unga OOR Paasam konjam adhigam thaan.

Wow!! What a theory of yours linking professional waste management to corporation budget!! Probably this is the problem with planners in the state.

When it comes to my posts, it is so easy to laugh at, shift the blame on to individual and attack on the basis of oor paasam and get-away with it isn't? So the solution that you have for that is to provide just 1/7th of the state's population (1 cr out of 7 cr) with that feature and leave the rest 6/7th unattended? Well if that is branded oor paasam in few people's dictionary so be it.

FYKI professional waste management in a 21st century townplanners dictionary not only includes waste management, it includes health management too. In developed countries even a town of 5000 has professional waste management because they see improper waste management as a health hazard too.

Across the world, waste management today is handled by State governments. This means that State governments have obligation to do it for its entire population either through a centralized mechanism or by providing local autonomy. It is state government's problem to raise fund through infrastructure bonds and allowing local municipalities to raise municipal bonds and back those bonds if required.

So please don't limit your vision based on your oor paasam :)

PS> I didn't reply to the previous 2 posts and I would not have replied to this too had I not seen that term in your post!!

Kongu,

Even chennai never had all its zone under private waste management for your info. My zone was right from the beginning there.

And it was managed well only first 2 yrs. After that onyx got stuck in red tape and got pissed. neel metal was a nightmare.

If corporations can very well manage to outsource they are welcome to do so. If not they have to modernize themselves with modern compactor trucks, mini compactor autos, bins. That need not require private agency. You can always call for these

I noticed chennai corp itself bought such bins and trucks in other zones, though in lesser no. These were used to clear in our zone as well when neel metal left unattended for days.

Now coming to your post, kannan called for companies like veolia in metro cities? whats the problem you have with that? No one comes and does it free. Onyx came and set standard in india on waste collection.

Many corporations visited and learnt. Chennai too learnt lately these professional methods.

If every city can afford to use such services they are welcome. Else call for such professional outlook to be adopted by all corporation and municipalities and funding for that.

Not nakkals. Kannan sir was right when he talked about financials. I hardly reply to debates on town issues, but your last post forced me to reply.

Why is it that if someone calls for something in particular city thread in a related discussion he should also call for every other city? In what way is someone duty bound for that? and that in what way shows oor pasam?

why do you expect it?

Why is it that if someone calls for something in particular city thread in a related discussion he should also call for every other city? In what way is someone duty bound for that? and that in what way shows oor pasam?

why do you expect it?

I wouldn't have had any problem if he had just asked for professional waste management in the city. What bothered is the phrase "that it should come up in metros like Chennai at least". Had it come from any other person, I would have left it too. I didn't expect it to come from Kannan..


I hope that such professional company manages waste management in metros like Chennai at least.

Coming to oor paasam, he accused me of it and mine was a retaliation :)



If every city can afford to use such services they are welcome. Else call for such professional outlook to be adopted by all corporation and municipalities and funding for that.
...............
.................
Not nakkals. Kannan sir was right when he talked about financials. .....



That's where the problem is. You tie professional management to financials. I see it as an obligation of the state government tied to population.

Whether private or public, professional management is the key. Waste management is no longer waste management alone. In modern terms it is Waste + Health. If lack of financials is the reason that it could not be implemented across the state, it is the job of the bloddy SG to get their lazy bum out of its comfy chair at Chennai and come up with ways to generate the required money. Local corporations neither has the freedom nor has the autonomy in Indian political conditions. All they have is some chillarai amount to play with. So obviously the obligation lies with SG.



If every city can afford to use such services they are welcome. Else call for such professional outlook to be adopted by all corporation and municipalities and funding for that.



Did I say anything different? Again read reply for the first quote. I am emphasizing the professional outlook to be adopted by all corporations. What irked me is the term that "it has to be done at-least in metros" followed by laughter in couple of posts looking-down at a person and accusing of oor-paasam.

Where did my oor-pasam come in to picture or what did I do wrong in that post 11072 that was partially serious and partially sarcastic?

^^ By 'at least', Kannan sir meant 'to start with'. He never said other places shouldn't have it. :)

what are the prime attractions in Chennai in terms of tourist attraction? Cus all what i think off pales in comparison to other cities.

^^ Chennai is a city developed from a small outpost.

^^
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/5016718878_3d742e133f_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/5401453858_61ccece69d_b.jpg

Chennai is not a city developed from small outpost. I have time and agin proved it. There were n number of flourishing towns which have now combined to become chennai city.

Mylapore itself was such an important harbour. Pallava high ranking officials and govt houses were theere

what are the prime attractions in Chennai in terms of tourist attraction? Cus all what i think off pales in comparison to other cities.

Bring it on.

Whenever my friends from other states visit Chennai, I take them to:

Mahabalipuram and Tiger Caves - early morning or evening.
Mudaliar Kuppam Water Sports, also there's a paragliding place nearby.
Muttukadu Lake
Ultimate Frisbee @ Elliot's Beach.
MGM - By far I find it to be the best of the 6 Amusement parks in Chennai
EA and Escape - most of them are awed by Escape
Blur @ Sathyam
Marina, and also some of the virgin beaches beyond Uthandi on ECR
Go karting at Kart Attack.
If it's a raceday, to Irungattukottai MMSC
Alampara Fort near Kalpakkam
Any indoor sports center, there's one in T.Nagar which I like. (Cues)
KNK Road
MGR and Anna Memorial, Napier Bridge can be great place to walk around leisurely in the night.


Well ? We're short of monuments like the Qutub Minar or Charminar I'd say. That's about it.

Mylapore temple is as good as any Qutb minar. But not very well publicized.

^^ I love going to the Kapaleeshwarar temple in the morning and having Puliyodarai (Tamarind Rice) or any other offering. Awesome temple with a great old world feel.

I always wonder why we are not maintaining temples like Angor wat.

Bring it on.

Whenever my friends from other states visit Chennai, I take them to:

Mahabalipuram and Tiger Caves - early morning or evening.
Mudaliar Kuppam Water Sports, also there's a paragliding place nearby.
Muttukadu Lake
Ultimate Frisbee @ Elliot's Beach.
MGM - By far I find it to be the best of the 6 Amusement parks in Chennai
EA and Escape - most of them are awed by Escape
Blur @ Sathyam
Marina, and also some of the virgin beaches beyond Uthandi on ECR
Go karting at Kart Attack.
If it's a raceday, to Irungattukottai MMSC
Alampara Fort near Kalpakkam
Any indoor sports center, there's one in T.Nagar which I like. (Cues)
KNK Road
MGR and Anna Memorial, Napier Bridge can be great place to walk around leisurely in the night.


Well ? We're short of monuments like the Qutub Minar or Charminar I'd say. That's about it.




^^

+1 . Chennai and its surrounding cities have plenty of attractions to satisfy every age group

1) National Parks, Bird Sanctuaries and Reservoirs - Vedanthangal,Vandalur,Guindy,Snake and Crocodile Parks , Poondy , Pulicat

2) Plenty of Amusement Parks along ECR

3) Pubs like EC-41

4) Temples, Churches , the newly constructed Anna Library ,Planetorium and other buildings with in the city.



I think a lot of these places need to be discovered and may not be publicized or marketed enough .


:)

^^

+1 . Chennai and its surrounding cities have plenty of attractions to satisfy every age group

1) National Parks, Bird Sanctuaries and Reservoirs - Vedanthangal,Vandalur,Guindy,Snake and Crocodile Parks , Poondy , Pulicat

2) Plenty of Amusement Parks along ECR

3) Pubs like EC-41

4) Temples, Churches , the newly constructed Anna Library ,Planetorium and other buildings with in the city.



I think a lot of these places need to be discovered and may not be publicized or marketed enough .


:)


Yes, I missed these.

For more to do

http://wikitravel.org/en/Chennai#Do

what are the prime attractions in Chennai in terms of tourist attraction? Cus all what i think off pales in comparison to other cities.

Which big city has miles of relatively clean beaches ? Bombay is the only one with a shoreline..but the beaches are so dirty..yucks

We have a beautiful shoreline and choices of beaches...QED

http://www.omantribune.com/index.php?page=news&id=104304&heading=India

The Corporation of Chennai has decided to terminate the services of private conservancy agency Neel Metal Fanalca (NMF) and may not pay the agency its deposit of Rs20 million if the shabby work continues.

Complaints against the agency, responsible for clearing garbage from four of the 15 corporation zones, have been piling up for months.

NMF’s contract ends on December 31. NMF’s contract, signed in August 2007 was to last till August 25, 2014.

The corporation council recommended a gradual withdrawal of NMF operations in May 2010. Protesting against the move, the company moved the Madras High Court, which asked it to continue till December 31, 2011.

However, it looks like with the piling garbage and the city’s residents raising a stink, tenders are being called for a new firm.

Which big city has miles of relatively clean beaches ? Bombay is the only one with a shoreline..but the beaches are so dirty..yucks

We have a beautiful shoreline and choices of beaches...QED

huh? Bubneshwar, Vizag, Goa....

Chennai beaches are not that clean. We shouldn't be talking about clean beaches living in mainland India in the first place when we compare some of the islands around.

^^

+1 . Chennai and its surrounding cities have plenty of attractions to satisfy every age group

1) National Parks, Bird Sanctuaries and Reservoirs - Vedanthangal,Vandalur,Guindy,Snake and Crocodile Parks , Poondy , Pulicat

2) Plenty of Amusement Parks along ECR

3) Pubs like EC-41

4) Temples, Churches , the newly constructed Anna Library ,Planetorium and other buildings with in the city.



I think a lot of these places need to be discovered and may not be publicized or marketed enough .


:)

that is the thing. these things are like easter eggs, we have to search for them and only a long time resident might know. For instance i used to show some of my friends Tirusulam hill top and the airport view along with planes taking off and landing. They said wow atleast Chennai has one place to visit. They are not too keen in all those temples, semi-dirty beaches, some not so good parks, museums and zoo's. They want something like a botanical garden, some really distinguised palaces like mysore palace levels, they need something really memorable...

^^ "Memorable" depends on you. People of my age-group would not be interested much in botanical gardens and palaces. Also, If I were a father I'd rather take my kids to museums/planetariums/libraries/amusement parks/beaches.

I have seen people from land-locked parts of the country go wild with delight at the sight of Marina. When I was in Chennai I had friends from Bangalore who biked to Chennai once in a few months just to spend time at the beach/water-adventure-sport parks.

Smart of you to pick places that are not prominent in Chennai, while conveniently brushing aside our beaches and other attractions. Basically you said something which caused outrage, and you're just backing yourself too hard.

Sorry if I sound rude, but I'm just making my point.

these things are like easter eggs, we have to search for them and only a long time resident might know.

Well, if you belong to a city, you should know everything about it. Search for them before saying there's nothing to see. Being a long time resident has nothing to do with it.

Vinod,

There are also some trekking and water falls locations withing 60 km from chennai.

How many know of aapur hills? Why do you want to visit temples as temples? And these are pristine locations.

visit them for their architecture. for guys living near south western boundaries kanchipuram is near than mahabs. So kailasanatha there and many more are excellent locations. Have u guys been to Mamandur? Mahendrans beauty again.

Why not uthiramerur and manimangalam? To me Uthiramerur has a greater piece of history and archi than that charminar. Atleast hope film like 7am arivu instills some pride in ur history.

Tell you dont know anything about your city. Have never seen a posting anything positive.

http://www.pulicatlake.org/apps/videos/channels/show/1795059-pulicat-lake

Videos raises my doubts??.

^^ I am not sure how accessible it is from AP side due to proximity to SHAR.

Vinod,

Adding to India sun's recommendation:

If you wish to take your friends for neat & nice beach accompanied by good food & facilities...here are few:

Highly recommended:

http://www.chariotbeachresorts.com/ (Near five rathas, Mahabs)

http://www.idealresort.com/mahabalipuram/profile.htm (Very calm and quite one)

http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-mamallapuram

http://www.vivantabytaj.com/fishermans-cove-chennai/overview.html

Medium budget:

http://mgm-hotels.com/index.php/tariff

http://www.tangy.in/

Also you can combine Shiridi Saibaba temple in Neelankarai when you head to the resorts...

Also this temple is a good place to visit. http://www.velloregoldentemple.com/

If you want to combine film watching with stroll on beach...then here are few other options.

http://www.mayajaal.com/DefaultNew.aspx
http://www.prarthanadriveintheatre.com/index.html - A different experience, that is it. No "wow" factor. Food - no choices here.

What else you want more man....Chennai has better weekend gateways than you think. Also pubs are not the only relievers here.

Ships of desert to be main course this Bakrid

CHENNAI: At least eight camels have been brought to the city to be sacrificed on the day of Id-ul-Zuha or Bakrid. The meat will be given to the poor on November 7.? Five brothers from Saidapet have purchased eight camels from Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh on behalf of them and their family, to be sacrificed in the city.? Apart from these, sacrifice of camels will be made in over 10 places in the city including Washermenpet, Mannady and Tondiarpet.

“The camels were brought from Rajasthan to a market at Kadapa in AP from where we purchased and brought them to Chennai for qurbani. The sacrificial meat will be distributed on Bakrid after prayers,” said Mohammad Ali, one of the brothers.

Ali claimed he started off by buying one camel five years ago. This had increased to eight this year.? The price of a camel could be anywhere between Rs 40,000 and Rs 65,000 depending on the size. A camel aged between six and 10 years would be bought for qurbani.? “We hired lorries and could carry only two camels in a vehicle. The sacrifice will be made in our house. The meat will be given to seven persons, which would be further divided into three portions - one for the poor, one for relatives and the last for ourselves. If I have excess meat, I can give it to the poor. Religion, friend or enemy does not matter,” he explained.

Claiming that qurbani was a tradition being practised for the past 5,000 years, Ali said that one could either sacrifice a goat, camel or a cow and that depends on the affordability of a person.? “If I sacrifice a goat, I can give it to only one person. But I can give a camel to seven persons,” he said.

Narrating the story behind the sacrifice for the festival, Mohammad Ali explained that the festival is the commemoration of a test Prophet Ibrahim went through when Allah ordered him to sacrifice his son Ismail.? “When he places the sword on his son’s throat, Allah sends a goat through an angel to be sacrificed. So, we also sacrifice an animal. It is not the meat that God wants, it is your devotion (takva) and your aim,” he? explained.? Sacrifice of a camel is done the same way as in the case of a goat, Mohammad Ali said, adding that the legs of the camel are tied and a sharp blade is used to slit its throat. “Once the blood leaves the body, the camel dies

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ships-of-desert-to-be-main-course-this-bakrid/197139-60-120.html

^^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC9sU10Gyb0

Modeerator Warning:

Very Cruel Stuff.

If members feel so, Bono may please delete this video

How green is my building?

Energy-efficient, eco-friendly structures not only help cut operating costs, but also reduce emissions, and the green building movement is gaining greater traction in India.

LEED ratings, energy-saving, eco-friendly... today, builders and developers are vying with one another to highlight their ‘green’ credentials to woo customers. So, what is happening?

In many ways, this phenomenon is being driven by the increasing demands for environmental compliance. This is because buildings are responsible for 40 per cent of the world’s energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Energy efficient buildings can cut operating costs by 15 to 40 per cent. Apart from reducing operational costs, users of the buildings are also guaranteed comfort, better health and safety.

What exactly is a green building? A green building is one that focuses on renewable energy, efficient use of water and use of recycled or recyclable materials, and provides for healthy indoor air. Its advantages are manifold: the expenditure on design and equipment is rapidly offset by gains in power, water and hygiene — apart from reducing emissions and helping to cut global warming.

But while green ratings matter, the matter does not end there. Sathiaram Ram, Managing Director, En3 Sustainability Solutions Pvt Ltd., says that to achieve a performing green building, it is necessary to address sustainability through design, construction, operations and maintenance and in occupant use. When a building gets a green rating, it is only a rating for design and construction; the other two aspects need to be addressed once the building is occupied in order to realise full sustainability performance. If that is done, then you have a performing green building throughout the lifecycle of the building.

Mr. Ram feels that the green concept should be tucked into the design at an early stage. Working closely with every aspect of construction including site planning, building architecture and automation leads to optimum levels of sustainability.

If the green concept is based on fundamentals of design such as climatology, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and thermal comfort, it is passive design. But if it is focused on systems such as air conditioning, lighting, pumps, motors, intelligent building management systems, water fixtures and other equipment that go into a building, then it is active design.

How expensive are green buildings? The construction costs of a green building would be 5-8 per cent higher for a LEED Platinum building than a conventional building; but the incremental cost can be recouped within 3-4 years with substantial reduction in operational costs, says S. Raghupathy, Executive Director, CII-Godrej Green Building Council.

Mr. Raghupathy says that the increasing demand for green buildings has brought down the cost of green building products and technologies. Technologies and materials such as solar air-conditioning, wind towers, geo thermal cooling and flyash bricks are now common and their pricing is competitive.

Globally, there is an increasing acceptance for green buildings. Green Building Council (GBC) in every country are playing a catalytic role in promoting the concept of green buildings. The Green Building Rating Systems, voluntary in nature, are designed to address national priorities.

The benefits of green buildings include energy savings of of 40-50 per cent, water savings of 20-30 per cent, and intangible benefits such as enhanced ventilation and day lighting which significantly improves productivity of the occupants.

With the construction sector growing rapidly, protecting and preserving the environment is one of the key challenges faced by the sector. Therefore, there is an urgent need to minimize the use of natural resources, says Raghupathy.

The green building movement in India was triggered when CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre building in Hyderabad was awarded with the first Platinum rating outside of the U.S. by the US Green Building Council. Since then, it has grown by leaps and bounds. Fro, a modest beginning of 20,000 sq.ft. green built-up area in the country in the year 2003, there are today more than 1,285 registered green buildings projects with a built-up area of over 905 million sq. ft. are all over India.

According to a recent report, Chennai has the greenest buildings in India and the highest total volume of certified green building space. Out of 198 rated Green buildings in India, 18 are in Chennai.

http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/homes-and-gardens/article2577076.ece

India, Japan discuss civil nuclear cooperation

Tokyo, Oct 29: Notwithstanding its own nuclear disaster, Japan today assured India of taking forward the civil nuclear cooperation during the 5th bilateral Strategic Dialogue, which covered discussions on key areas, including defence and trade.

New Delhi also conveyed its appreciation to Japan for its decision to remove seven Indian entities from a banned list, paving the way for bilateral high-technology trade.

The External Affairs Minister, Mr S.M. Krishna, and his Japanese counterpart, Mr Koichiro Gemba, held comprehensive talks here after which Mr Krishna said: “My aim .... is to take our partnership to an even higher level.”

“I also discussed with Foreign Minister Gemba the status of civil nuclear cooperation between our countries...We have had three rounds of negotiations on this subject. After my discussions today, I am optimistic on this score,” he said.

Noting that Japan has removed seven Indian entities from its Foreign End User List this year, Mr Krishna said this will boost high-technology trade between the two countries.

“One of the entities removed from this List is Indian Rare Earths Ltd. We now look forward to greater cooperation between Indian and Japanese firms in the rare earth sector,” he said.

Thanking the Japanese government for its consistent support to India’s developmental effort by means of its ODA or Official Development Assistance, Mr Krishna said: “This year, Japan has maintained the level of ODA for India despite its focus on reconstruction activity after the earthquake and tsunami.

“This is a strong vote of confidence in India’s growth story and exhibits the importance Japan attaches to our Strategic Partnership.”

After the successful joint cooperation in establishing the Metro rail network, Japan has also proposed to help India in bringing in high-speed bullet trains to the country.

Mr Gemba said Japanese companies were “very keen” on offering support for bullet trains and open to joint ventures with the Indian government or companies in implementing the project.

He said they are ready with their study report regarding bullet train projects on the Delhi, Agra, Bangalore, Chennai route and the Bangalore-Hyderabad route.

He said the freight corridor project between Delhi and Mumbai and the high-speed bullet train network are on Japan’s immediate support list to India.

The Japanese Foreign Minister also emphasised on the need to strengthen maritime security and combating piracy which, he said, was a major problem in increasing trade between our two countries.

Mr Krishna, on his part, conveyed “deep sympathy” at the loss of life and property in the major earthquake-tsunami of March 11 in Japan.

“I told the Hon’ble Foreign Minister that India stands ready to help in whatever way required,” he said.

The minister said 2012 will mark the 60th anniversary year of the establishment of India-Japan diplomatic relations and the two sides also discussed how to celebrate the “momentous occasion’’.

He also suggested to the Japanese side the possibility of the Navies of India and Japan conducting bilateral exercises besides multilateral ones.

“Our Defence Minister will be in Tokyo in a few days and will discuss

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article2579799.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home

Hi guys, we need a website where we can post photos of offenders, interesting observations, happenings in the city, etc all posted by normal people like us. And this website should be maintained and moderated by THE HINDU. Its a great business opportunity as well as does a lot of good to the city.

So, does anyone have any contact with the decision making authorities at Hindu?

http://www.pulicatlake.org/apps/videos/channels/show/1795059-pulicat-lake

Videos raises my doubts??.

AP - TN Border

Southern shore in TN and some western shore also.

Very beautiful tourist spot - not spoiled yet

Wow!! What a theory of yours linking professional waste management to corporation budget!! Probably this is the problem with planners in the state.


So please don't limit your vision based on your oor paasam :)

PS> I didn't reply to the previous 2 posts and I would not have replied to this too had I not seen that term in your post!!

Kongu,

You are also becoming like our TVM / Kochi Forumers. Reading between lines and nitpicking.

I am seeing the Govt Depts from closer quarters than you Guys.

Wishing some thing and living in utopia / denial - I am not for.

What I told was that At least Metros should try more professional waste management. (since they can afford to experiment & spend money on that)

Chennai itself has experimented and so far failed - not successful. The new Perungudi projecton PPP is so far in limbo.

Coimbatore and other cities in TN can follow later once the successful formula is learnt. (for eg PPP model in Waste mgt. A company known to me manages Medical waste mgt in CBE and they are far better than Chennai).

Coimbatore needs more immediate other infra facilities on priority than waste mgt (which looks better than Chennai in my view).

I understand your anguish for CBE betterment. But it should be on positive vibes and not negative vibes.

Let us please stop with this and continue CHENNAI matters here.

Bring it on.

Whenever my friends from other states visit Chennai, I take them to:

Mahabalipuram and Tiger Caves - early morning or evening.
Mudaliar Kuppam Water Sports, also there's a paragliding place nearby.
Muttukadu Lake
Ultimate Frisbee @ Elliot's Beach.
MGM - By far I find it to be the best of the 6 Amusement parks in Chennai
EA and Escape - most of them are awed by Escape
Blur @ Sathyam
Marina, and also some of the virgin beaches beyond Uthandi on ECR
Go karting at Kart Attack.
If it's a raceday, to Irungattukottai MMSC
Alampara Fort near Kalpakkam
Any indoor sports center, there's one in T.Nagar which I like. (Cues)
KNK Road
MGR and Anna Memorial, Napier Bridge can be great place to walk around leisurely in the night.

Well ? We're short of monuments like the Qutub Minar or Charminar I'd say. That's about it.

What about semmozhi poonga and tholkapiya poonga? Are they well maintained and frequented by visitors?

Thirupathikke Ladduva

Thirunelvelikke Halwava

Chennai kkaranukke Chennai Patri Chollanuma

Kali Kalamda Sami :lol:

Vinod venum endre thooni vidarara ?

I understand your anguish for CBE betterment. But it should be on positive vibes and not negative vibes.

Let us please stop with this and continue CHENNAI matters here.

Ok will stop. Since you are accusing me of something I seriously wanted to know ->

1) Which of this following three posts expresses my anguish for CBE betterment?

2) Which one of it specifically carries negative vibes?

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=85082432&postcount=11072

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=85149129&postcount=11095

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=85151646&postcount=11097

AP - TN Border

Southern shore in TN and some western shore also.

Very beautiful tourist spot - not spoiled yet

in TN side ever heard of pazhavarkadu? There is a nice boating picnic spot in an island and the backwaters are not more than 6 feet deep. But is dangerous to swim/step out. They are like quick sands. one of my UK friends(Terry, a white guy. We had 5 beers each over there 4 years back) like this place a lot. Rs.600 for the oat trip and u can accommodate even 10 folks. One of the best places around Chennai.

What about semmozhi poonga and tholkapiya poonga? Are they well maintained and frequented by visitors?

those are not that good compared to good national parks and botanical gardens.

^^ "Memorable" depends on you. People of my age-group would not be interested much in botanical gardens and palaces. Also, If I were a father I'd rather take my kids to museums/planetariums/libraries/amusement parks/beaches.

my answer: those things are there in every goddamned city in Earth and Mars. Anything exciting that they haven't seen in other cities? If you were a father then you ain't no tour guide to an outsider.

I have seen people from land-locked parts of the country go wild with delight at the sight of Marina.

so is a calicut beach or Vizag beach. Man, talk about some locations like Ko Lanta island and not a crowded Edward Elliots or Besant Nagar or some remote ECR almost private beach past Kottivakkam(calm beach but still aint no blue lagoon or something)

When I was in Chennai I had friends from Bangalore who biked to Chennai once in a few months just to spend time at the beach/water-adventure-sport parks.

Big deal, Chennai to Bangalore and Bangalore to Chennai tourists are dime a dozen. I am talking about those who have seen better cities in terms of tourism like Manali or Jaipur or Kerala etc...

We have 0 attraction when it comes to the single defining tourist attraction of Chennai that is known to even a buddhu in Assam..[/B]

Smart of you to pick places that are not prominent in Chennai, while conveniently brushing aside our beaches and other attractions. Basically you said something which caused outrage, and you're just backing yourself too hard.

excuse me but after showing many places people like only this place which not everyone knows about. I have taken them to many places but they say only this was the best and it is not even a tourist place!!

Sorry if I sound rude, but I'm just making my point.

same here

Well, if you belong to a city, you should know everything about it. Search for them before saying there's nothing to see. Being a long time resident has nothing to do with it.

i still say there is nothing "attractive" to their eyes

my answer: those things are there in every goddamned city in Earth and Mars. Anything exciting that they haven't seen in other cities? If you were a father then you ain't no tour guide to an outsider.

Exactly my point. If these are there in every city, so how is Chennai inferior to these cities ?


so is a calicut beach or Vizag beach. Man, talk about some locations like Ko Lanta island and not a crowded Edward Elliots or Besant Nagar or some remote ECR almost private beach past Kottivakkam(calm beach but still aint no blue lagoon or something)

Big deal, Chennai to Bangalore and Bangalore to Chennai tourists are dime a dozen. I am talking about those who have seen better cities in terms of tourism like Manali or Jaipur or Kerala etc...

Do not compare Apples to Mustard seeds. Chennai should only be compared with metros. Shall I say Mumbai is not as good as Valparai in terms of beauty ? It's absurd.


excuse me but after showing many places people like only this place which not everyone knows about. I have taken them to many places but they say only this was the best and it is not even a tourist place!!


Well, I'm sorry about your guests, I have hosted people who very much like the city and its attractions. You should have probably taken them to Zara/Dublin/Geoffrey's and got them inebriated, because that seems to be the metric to rate a city these days. I saw a status on Facebook 3 days ago - "Glenfidditch at Residency Towers, I will now accept Chennai roxx". Typical :ohno:

It is pretty clear you are in bash-mode, what with raising issues about the non-existent stink around the Perambur flyover in another thread.

Apart from the usual Chennai attractions which are well published, there are lots of spots which are in and around Chennai which can be visited in a day trip.

Trekkers Club arrange week end tours to these places.

Apart from that Foodie Tours are arranged for each region of Chennai.

Similarly Photo tours are held by Camera enthusiasts.

There is no time really to soak in all these.

Exactly my point. If these are there in every city, so how is Chennai inferior to these cities ?

Lets see.... Mysore: Brindavan Gardens, Mysore Palace those two defines Mysore. Now define Chennai? A Planatarium, science park, a zoo, a museum and so on -- A guy with half brains can say they aren't special to the extent of defining Chennai with such run of the mill stuff.


Do not compare Apples to Mustard seeds. Chennai should only be compared with metros. Shall I say Mumbai is not as good as Valparai in terms of beauty ? It's absurd.

Glad you said that. But still Delhi has places like Red Fort and qutub minar and we have no fort or palaces worthy of a entourage. Neither is our gardens as comprehensive as some of the botanical gardens. Guindy national park has so much potential but a majority of it is occupied by IIT's and colleges/hospitals that the public has less interest with the remaining bit. (Like Gandhi mandapam - heck who would not want to explore the huge flora that guindy national park has). Why isn't there a safari service or something and similar promotional campaign? Because one idiot sits as the sole authority and he is more concerned about his daily maamool. Silly government officials doing nothing to promote tourism


Well, I'm sorry about your guests, I have hosted people who very much like the city and its attractions. You should have probably taken them to Zara/Dublin/Geoffrey's and got them inebriated, because that seems to be the metric to rate a city these days. I saw a status on Facebook 3 days ago - "Glenfidditch at Residency Towers, I will now accept Chennai roxx". Typical :ohno:

I have taken them to bykes and barrels, geoffreys and Flames. Whites and other NRI's are not too bothered about pubs, nightclubs and stuff - they have them in huge numbers and thats no big deal to them



It is pretty clear you are in bash-mode, what with raising issues about the non-existent stink around the Perambur flyover in another thread.

I merely said in photoes it appears clean while in reality it could stink. Didn't mean Perambur flyover stinks. Oh and by the way lets agree to disagree and be polite with each other and make some good points and meaningful discussion. Pls dont think Vinod is always a chennai hater. I learned a few things in this discussion and i am glad i brought this issue up.

I merely said in photoes it appears clean while in reality it could stink. Didn't mean Perambur flyover stinks. Oh and by the way lets agree to disagree and be polite with each other and make some good points and meaningful discussion. Pls dont think Vinod is always a chennai hater. I learned a few things in this discussion and i am glad i brought this issue up.

I didn't say you were a Chennai-hater (that's someone else ;)) I just said you're in bash mode.

Hello Guys,

I have been following SSC - Chennai for a few years now. I think the first time I stumbled across this forum was sometime around 2005. Since then I have been a passive viewer. Finally, decided to jump into the fray!

I always wonder why we are not maintaining temples like Angor wat.

ASI is currently involved in a decade-long restoration project at Angkor wat.

Exactly my point. If these are there in every city, so how is Chennai inferior to these cities ?

Do not compare Apples to Mustard seeds. Chennai should only be compared with metros. Shall I say Mumbai is not as good as Valparai in terms of beauty ? It's absurd.

Well, I'm sorry about your guests, I have hosted people who very much like the city and its attractions. You should have probably taken them to Zara/Dublin/Geoffrey's and got them inebriated, because that seems to be the metric to rate a city these days. I saw a status on Facebook 3 days ago - "Glenfidditch at Residency Towers, I will now accept Chennai roxx". Typical :ohno:

It is pretty clear you are in bash-mode, what with raising issues about the non-existent stink around the Perambur flyover in another thread.

I merely said in photoes it appears clean while in reality it could stink. Didn't mean Perambur flyover stinks. Oh and by the way lets agree to disagree and be polite with each other and make some good points and meaningful discussion. Pls dont think Vinod is always a chennai hater. I learned a few things in this discussion and i am glad i brought this issue up.

I didn't say you were a Chennai-hater (that's someone else ;)) I just said you're in bash mode.


I dont see how this fixation with palaces and botanical gardens can justify bashing up Chennai . If you are not a Chennai hater you should be willing to bring up both the good and the both bad points of the city to the table and be willing to discuss them. Instead what I see is that you are just dismissing every attraction quoted with a sweep of your hand with comments like Aww What good is that , This is in Mars or is dime a dozen and a run of the mill stuff . I am like What ever man. :)

Chennai blends the old and the new like no other city does and every Chennaite should be proud of it . It is one of those cities whose cultural identity has not been swept away by the tides of new age stuff like malls and pubs and stuff .


:cheers:

TTDC is sleeping over Chennai City tours . They are not marketing the same and sufficient information is available for the tourist.

1) There should be a common identifiable sign boards in places of interest

2) Basic information and Maps have to be placed in these places

3) Contact centres have to be established in CMBT , Egmore, Central and important places

4) City tours should be organised and properly marketed

There is a huge business oppurtunity which can be really tapped.

Hello Guys,

I have been following SSC - Chennai for a few years now. I think the first time I stumbled across this forum was sometime around 2005. Since then I have been a passive viewer. Finally, decided to jump into the fray!

Welcome:):):)

those are not that good compared to good national parks and botanical gardens.

But adyar park was/is supposed to be at par with the best (at least to Indian standards). With amma coming to power, is the focus lost?

But adyar park was/is supposed to be at par with the best (at least to Indian standards). With amma coming to power, is the focus lost?

FYI..Adyar park was originally started by Amma under the name Adayar Creek Ltd., Thatha just got it re-christened and fixed his name.

i will only rest when Chennai actually becomes a highly sought for tourist destination. Instead it is like a transit city to Kerala cities and TN hill stations.

By the way how far is Pichavaram from Chennai? I heard the mangrove swamps are attracting a lot of westerners' curiosity. Can we include that as a one day or week end picnic spot from Chennai?

I dont see how this fixation with palaces and botanical gardens can justify bashing up Chennai . If you are not a Chennai hater you should be willing to bring up both the good and the both bad points of the city to the table and be willing to discuss them. Instead what I see is that you are just dismissing every attraction quoted with a sweep of your hand with comments like Aww What good is that , This is in Mars or is dime a dozen and a run of the mill stuff . I am like What ever man. :)

Chennai blends the old and the new like no other city does and every Chennaite should be proud of it . It is one of those cities whose cultural identity has not been swept away by the tides of new age stuff like malls and pubs and stuff .


:cheers:

fixation illa voi just an example to show how poor we are in terms of tourist attractions. I am a guy who thrives for standards and excellence in any field. I am not asking Chennai to construct a Sentosa Island. But one must give its best to gain public attention. There was a talk about underwater oceanarium for the last decade or so - it didn't come.

By the way i do admire a few things in Chennai though. Like for instance we are never far away from a tea shop or a food outlet.

I think Chennai does not have an 'anchor' attraction unlike Delhi, Hyderabad or Mumbai. Qutub Minar, Charminar, Red Fort are all world famous. The only thing that comes close is Mahaballipuram.

Like Vinodgopal said, it is mostly a transit city to various other destinations.

PS: I think tourism creates the maximum number of jobs for every dollar/rupee spent. Many countries have managed to generate hundreds of thousands of jobs because of tourism. Most of these countries can't hold a torch to India when it comes to cultural, ethnic, religious, bio diversity. Its a shame that the short shortsightedness of the powers that be has made our country a very low priority on the list of travelers. I have a friend who has traveled to more than a 120 countries and he tells me that India was by far the most interesting among all those countries (I know him well enough and so am pretty sure he was not just being nice to me). Today the only people who travel to India are hardcore travelers who are willing to put up with any difficulty or the low cost back packers. Even though this is comment is not specific to Chennai, thought I should mention it.

At the end of day, the real problem for India (or Chennai) is not if we have enough tourist attractions. I think we have a problem of plenty. Even Chennai, without an 'anchor attraction' has many places that are worth visiting. We have a problem with having the right systems and processes in place that help us leverage our potential.

fixation illa voi just an example to show how poor we are in terms of tourist attractions. I am a guy who thrives for standards and excellence in any field. I am not asking Chennai to construct a Sentosa Island. But one must give its best to gain public attention. There was a talk about underwater oceanarium for the last decade or so - it didn't come.

By the way i do admire a few things in Chennai though. Like for instance we are never far away from a tea shop or a food outlet.
beauty lies in the eyes of beholder...
having said this let me list below the choices..

1. Natural: the beach the entire stretch up to Mahabs. Visak, Bhuba'wr and other places has beach and each place has its beauty. I have lived in Mumbai and most of them likes the drive on the beach road and on the ECR road..

2. Man made: Fort St. George: I had a chance to talk to a Army Major who was posted in this place.( Fort is a Army place and leased out to TN SG). He told me that Army wanted this place back to maintain like other forts (Red fort) and make it a Army Museum. Remember, Chennai was the first Municipal Corporation created by the Britishers and it has loads of Heritage. Its just that we not maintaining it properly.

3. Pallavaram: This name is derived from Pallava-puram. The hills near trisulam has lots of Pallava inscriptions. These are not maintained properly.

4. Kalashethra: I need not have to say much as there is huge crowd (including foreigners) are dying to get a admission to learn the fine arts thought here.

5. Burma Bazaar: Till some time back, when hi end mobile phones are looked upon with wow factor this place was the high street. I know those traders use to import high end phones and send it even upto Delhi.. You can test you nego. skills when you make any purchase any thing here.

6. T Nagar: Once again, Ranganathan street, Usman Road and Pondy Bazaar are known all over India.. I know a person who did shopping in Saravana Stores when he came to Chennai from Jaipur enroute to Thirupathi.

7. Music Season: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/chennais-monthmelody_430661.html. This link will talk better.

8. St. Thomas Mount, Santhome Church, Mount Road Darga..

These are just few of the many If you still not convinced then read the first statement once again

I think Chennai does not have an 'anchor' attraction unlike Delhi, Hyderabad or Mumbai. Qutub Minar, Charminar, Red Fort are all world famous. The only thing that comes close is Mahaballipuram.

Like Vinodgopal said, it is mostly a transit city to various other destinations.

PS: I think tourism creates the maximum number of jobs for every dollar/rupee spent. Many countries have managed to generate hundreds of thousands of jobs because of tourism. Most of these countries can't hold a torch to India when it comes to cultural, ethnic, religious, bio diversity. Its a shame that the short shortsightedness of the powers that be has made our country a very low priority on the list of travelers. I have a friend who has traveled to more than a 120 countries and he tells me that India was by far the most interesting among all those countries (I know him well enough and so am pretty sure he was not just being nice to me). Today the only people who travel to India are hardcore travelers who are willing to put up with any difficulty or the low cost back packers. Even though this is comment is not specific to Chennai, thought I should mention it.

At the end of day, the real problem for India (or Chennai) is not if we have enough tourist attractions. I think we have a problem of plenty. Even Chennai, without an 'anchor attraction' has many places that are worth visiting. We have a problem with having the right systems and processes in place that help us leverage our potential.

thanks for putting it in the right words and saving me from the embarrassment of being called a basher. I meant exactly the anchor attraction thingy.

Shoka sonnenga thalaiva. Thana varadhu dhan illa? :lol:

Marina is pretty much an anchor attraction. And don't get me started on the not-so-clean part because Charminar, Red Fort Area, Gateway of India aren't pristine wonders either. It's the Indian standard of cleanliness wherever you go.

beauty lies in the eyes of beholder...
having said this let me list below the choices..

True and thats why we should not see in our own stand point. We must think what others perceive as beauty.



1. Natural: the beach the entire stretch up to Mahabs. Visak, Bhuba'wr and other places has beach and each place has its beauty. I have lived in Mumbai and most of them likes the drive on the beach road and on the ECR road..



The beach is pathetic over here. i once visited a lovely beach in Indonesia when i was in Singapore for a year and half sometime during 2007 to 2009. THAT IS WHAT A BEACH REALLY IS. It ain't just a beach - it is blue fing lagoon!

2. Man made: Fort St. George: I had a chance to talk to a Army Major who was posted in this place.( Fort is a Army place and leased out to TN SG). He told me that Army wanted this place back to maintain like other forts (Red fort) and make it a Army Museum. Remember, Chennai was the first Municipal Corporation created by the Britishers and it has loads of Heritage. Its just that we not maintaining it properly.

It is too late to promote that as an anchor attraction that defines Chennai. They should have done it decades ago.


3. Pallavaram: This name is derived from Pallava-puram. The hills near trisulam has lots of Pallava inscriptions. These are not maintained properly.

Believe me the tirusoolam hillock has mind blowing views of the city and my white friends from UK were full of praise about this little babe from Chennai!! But alas in JJ's regime, it is not permitted for civilians. DMK's rule had no police and barricades although many local folks said it used to be illegal to go up from the 70's period.


4. Kalashethra: I need not have to say much as there is huge crowd (including foreigners) are dying to get a admission to learn the fine arts thought here.


One thing i would agree but someone's got to make it real big. I mean real big in the sense every person from Guam or Guatemala or Russia or Antarctica must know about it. Get the media to promote it to the far stretches of pristine world.



5. Burma Bazaar: Till some time back, when hi end mobile phones are looked upon with wow factor this place was the high street. I know those traders use to import high end phones and send it even upto Delhi.. You can test you nego. skills when you make any purchase any thing here.



Yawwwwn! its been a long day. Electronics are cheaper in foriegn countries and so it is not a good attraction for foriegn tourists. Maybe wholesale shops in the bazaar might attract those Delhi based retailers and thats a definition of free trade inside indian states. It is not a tourist attraction dosth.
[QUOTE]
6. T Nagar: Once again, Ranganathan street, Usman Road and Pondy Bazaar are known all over India.. I know a person who did shopping in Saravana Stores when he came to Chennai from Jaipur enroute to Thirupathi.
[QUOTE]

Jaipur guys love doing business in most southern cities. I dont see that as a specialty only Chennai has over other cities. You quote them 1 nickel less than Bangalore in price and Chennai becomes their heartthrob.


Seventh and 8th i will just pass as it does not even warrant a comment. They are not what they call an "Anchor" attraction.

It is too late to promote that as an anchor attraction that defines Chennai. They should have done it decades ago.


Nothing's too late. Something grand can be done even now. Look at Singapore, they've captured the tourism market again with Marina Bay Sands.

Marina is pretty much an anchor attraction. And don't get me started on the not-so-clean part because Charminar, Red Fort Area, Gateway of India aren't pristine wonders either. It's the Indian standard of cleanliness wherever you go.

many haven't heard of marina. So lets try to associate this with Chennai every time we speak with a not so learned north indian or a foriegner. It would atleast arouse their curiosity and many would start liking it and Chennai would rub off its name being referred to as a not so attractive place with nothing much in it.

(Even with these mediocre and unmaintained beaches where Coovam flows into its waters and the whole beach being raped by shopping carts. )

First someone has to revamp all those Chennai travel guides. Frankly they are extremely boring. I mean, why would you list the Lighthouse (which is closed to outsiders) as a one-day attraction ?

In fact, a group of us can put together a perfectly pragmatic guide. I'd be happy to help with design/images/info.

True and thats why we should not see in our own stand point. We must think what others perceive as beauty.




The beach is pathetic over here. i once visited a lovely beach in Indonesia when i was in Singapore for a year and half sometime during 2007 to 2009. THAT IS WHAT A BEACH REALLY IS. It ain't just a beach - it is blue fing lagoon!



It is too late to promote that as an anchor attraction that defines Chennai. They should have done it decades ago.



Believe me the tirusoolam hillock has mind blowing views of the city and my white friends from UK were full of praise about this little babe from Chennai!! But alas in JJ's regime, it is not permitted for civilians. DMK's rule had no police and barricades although many local folks said it used to be illegal to go up from the 70's period.



One thing i would agree but someone's got to make it real big. I mean real big in the sense every person from Guam or Guatemala or Russia or Antarctica must know about it. Get the media to promote it to the far stretches of pristine world.



Yawwwwn! its been a long day. Electronics are cheaper in foriegn countries and so it is not a good attraction for foriegn tourists. Maybe wholesale shops in the bazaar might attract those Delhi based retailers and thats a definition of free trade inside indian states. It is not a tourist attraction dosth.
[QUOTE]
6. T Nagar: Once again, Ranganathan street, Usman Road and Pondy Bazaar are known all over India.. I know a person who did shopping in Saravana Stores when he came to Chennai from Jaipur enroute to Thirupathi.
[QUOTE]

Jaipur guys love doing business in most southern cities. I dont see that as a specialty only Chennai has over other cities. You quote them 1 nickel less than Bangalore in price and Chennai becomes their heartthrob.


Seventh and 8th i will just pass as it does not even warrant a comment. They are not what they call an "Anchor" attraction.
If you just want to convince the "whites from UK" please look from their point of view. Don't think from I will I be looked in their eyes. Your culture and heritage is your attraction. that's your strong point and try to project that. What ever you said are available there with your ''whites (as well blacks) from UK" in their own backyard. They come here for what they don't have.

Moreover the number of domestic tourists /tourism and its potential is much more comparing the spectrum of people available outside the borders.
Finally, the smart businessmen of Jaipur( I don't want to take the community name here) will not spend spend pound to save a penny by switching to Chennai but to know how Saravana clears that volume ( having inside knowledge about these I can tell you).

Nothing's too late. Something grand can be done even now. Look at Singapore, they've captured the tourism market again with Marina Bay Sands.

i know it can be. See lets take the two superstars of Tamil film industry. Kamal Haasan is promoted as one of the best actors in Indian cinema industry and so ask anybody in Jaipur or Kashmir they would say he is a great actor with a wah. Rajinikanth is promoted as the biggest and highest paid star in Asia and so every north indian would say so even if Salman Khan gets 40 crores for a film and Amitabh Bachchan gets a national award for acting. Because we Tamils promoted these two names into big levels.

Same way we need to do something about Chennai's tourism. We need to address Chennai as beach city or some thing like that everywhere. When i was young i was told Taj Mahal was in Agra which is very close to Delhi and so i was thinking it was like a suburb of Delhi. So why not promote some places like Sholingur which has a beautiful hilltop temple and foriegners would love it better than Taj Mahal especially those adventure tourists - 1400 steps is not a bad start for any alien who visits India. Trekking plus hilltop temple visiting. We can just promote it as something close to Chennai as it is only 110 kms away. If they can say 250 kilometers far away from Delhi as close enough, why cant we.

We need to start a wave and it is high time. Otherwise Chennai will not be found in the world map.

beauty lies in the eyes of beholder...
having said this let me list below the choices..

1. Natural: the beach the entire stretch up to Mahabs. Visak, Bhuba'wr and other places has beach and each place has its beauty. I have lived in Mumbai and most of them likes the drive on the beach road and on the ECR road..

2. Man made: Fort St. George: I had a chance to talk to a Army Major who was posted in this place.( Fort is a Army place and leased out to TN SG). He told me that Army wanted this place back to maintain like other forts (Red fort) and make it a Army Museum. Remember, Chennai was the first Municipal Corporation created by the Britishers and it has loads of Heritage. Its just that we not maintaining it properly.

3. Pallavaram: This name is derived from Pallava-puram. The hills near trisulam has lots of Pallava inscriptions. These are not maintained properly.

4. Kalashethra: I need not have to say much as there is huge crowd (including foreigners) are dying to get a admission to learn the fine arts thought here.

5. Burma Bazaar: Till some time back, when hi end mobile phones are looked upon with wow factor this place was the high street. I know those traders use to import high end phones and send it even upto Delhi.. You can test you nego. skills when you make any purchase any thing here.

6. T Nagar: Once again, Ranganathan street, Usman Road and Pondy Bazaar are known all over India.. I know a person who did shopping in Saravana Stores when he came to Chennai from Jaipur enroute to Thirupathi.

7. Music Season: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/chennais-monthmelody_430661.html. This link will talk better.

8. St. Thomas Mount, Santhome Church, Mount Road Darga..

These are just few of the many If you still not convinced then read the first statement once again
December music festivel may not warrant your comment..but it attracts most NRIs/ foreigners including the Noble laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan.. you may want others to say what you like...but other perspectives still remain.

December music festivel may not warrant your comment..but it attracts most NRIs/ foreigners including the Noble laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan.. you may want others to say what you like...but other perspectives still remain.

oh so Chennai is music festival city huh?

Can we make that our main attraction. Oh then Goa's film festival is all Goa is famous about huh?

First someone has to revamp all those Chennai travel guides. Frankly they are extremely boring. I mean, why would you list the Lighthouse (which is closed to outsiders) as a one-day attraction ?

In fact, a group of us can put together a perfectly pragmatic guide. I'd be happy to help with design/images/info.

well done! this is just a beginning. I hope i have opened your eyes. I wish people not be complacent about Chennai's tourism prospects. We have to be fanatics about it like how we have promoted the Tamil film industry.

oh so Chennai is music festival city huh?

Can we make that our main attraction. Oh then Goa's film festival is all Goa is famous about huh?
you are not seeing the big picture.... its the culture and heritage. ask anybody Chennai's attraction are is this...Its like the fashion of Italy and the perfume of France (not exactly through)...

well done! this is just a beginning. I hope i have opened your eyes. I wish people not be complacent about Chennai's tourism prospects. We have to be fanatics about it like how we have promoted the Tamil film industry.

Well you made sense in the last post - that we are poor in the promotion aspect. Earlier, you were saying Chennai doesn't have anything worth seeing and I do not agree to that.

well done! this is just a beginning. I hope i have opened your eyes. I wish people not be complacent about Chennai's tourism prospects. We have to be fanatics about it like how we have promoted the Tamil film industry.
I am willing to contribute..I can do leg work

Planemad has made some superb maps, and we have a great collection of Chennai pictures in flickr (I know a few of the photographers and can request permissions)

Photographer Ravages (Chandrachoodan Gopalakrishnan) is another passionate Madrasi who is working on a photobook for Madras (he likes to call the city Madras)

I can do something useful in December, when I'm on vacation.

Well you made sense in the last post - that we are poor in the promotion aspect. Earlier, you were saying Chennai doesn't have anything worth seeing and I do not agree to that.

again it is nothing worth because it is not promoted or maintained well and as far as i can see nothing attracts a tourist that much and it is used as a transit location.

again it is nothing worth because it is not promoted or maintained well and as far as i can see nothing attracts a tourist that much and it is used as a transit location.

+1

Myself and my friends did that for western ghats tourism. Did several presentations, sent it out to media, government through various sources but no use. First and foremost necessity is

- Good roads to lead to with proper signs / directions
- Facilities taking into account families / senior citizens / handicapped (like restrooms with baby-care stations, ramps to accomodate handicapped, adequate trash collection points etc.,)
- Security features (Like police outpost, cameras, vending machines)
- Clean Maintenance
- And finally marketing

We can do all we want, we can even get it to appropriate folks, we can write about it in SSC, but finally what matters is what they call as "Management will" in corporate world :) Government will and attitude matters. I gave up. Our presentations will probably endup to wipe out poops of government authorities pets

The biggest scourge for tourism in Chennai are the auto drivers. I guess I stated the most obvious fact. Oh well....

While lack of cleanliness and some of the other factors are pan-indian, our auto drivers put us in a league of our own

Is anyone planning to meet the mayor?

^^ Bono, not related to ur above post, but regarding the thread for civic problems in chennai(based on photos), do post the photos on Mayor's FB profile. Its becoming active increasingly and sure there will be some sort of action. I recommend everyone to do this.

Yeah, the facebook page is a good addition. Only time will tell if it has any effect.

But the mayor can't do everything. If we are able to convince Hindu, then lots of people will have access to it, both the internet and non-internet newspaper reading population. But I don't have any contacts with Hindu.

Yeah, the facebook page is a good addition. Only time will tell if it has any effect.

But the mayor can't do everything. If we are able to convince Hindu, then lots of people will have access to it, both the internet and non-internet newspaper reading population. But I don't have any contacts with Hindu.

Bono, I agree that mayor cant do everything. I heard that the page is administered by some of his knowledgeable assistants. If we put 10 pics, atleast 1 or 2 will get acted upon.

Regarding Hindu newspaper, I don't have any contacts, but you can find out who often writes City section pages in paper and their email ids from website. Send an email to each of them or may be to one/two of them with cc to others regarding your ideas. Sure atleast one will respond. Well atleast we will have something to start with.. We will get directions once we start it.

I think it is better to throw a email boomerang at those hindu editors, and if they come back then we can get started.

hmm...ok..I will try sending some emails to the editors...Another drawback is that I don't live in India. So, I thought that someone who lives in the city can take up this initiative.

Another drawback is that I don't live in India..

Same problem for me.. I will try to send email to some other editors if possible. just PM the message which u send. so that i can get the gist.

Do any of you remember the Tourist (Domestic and Foreign)arrival figures for India in 20010-11 given in Tourism thread, and where TN stands? Have a Check pl!

I have my own sister working for The Hindu. What you guys need from my side? Any concrete, useful, 'not just for the sake of it' ideas I can take through her.

again it is nothing worth because it is not promoted or maintained well and as far as i can see nothing attracts a tourist that much and it is used as a transit location.
So it means that you do agree that Chennai has tourist attractions but the problem is with promotion and maintenance only. And thats your whole point of two-page war :)

I have my own sister working for The Hindu. What you guys need from my side? Any concrete, useful, 'not just for the sake of it' ideas I can take through her.

Thats cool...what I am suggesting is a separate page in the Hindu for user generated news AND a separate website for user generated news moderated by the Hindu. It SHOULD NOT be restricted only to public infra/government functioning. It can include news like "Rude waiter charges extra"/"Bus driver shouting expletives". AND each news item should carry a photo.

Advantages for the Hindu are that it would be more city centric and this would get a lot of readership/revenue. Also, Hindu can track the person responsible for corrective action (Pwd officer/Airport officer, etc.) and ask for the reason of neglect of infra and time taken for corrective action. If the Pwd officer says it would take a week to clean the gutters, the Hindu should write a report after a week checking if the gutters are cleaned or not.

This is the basic idea. Can you ask your sister about this? I am sure it would a success.

Shops in T.Nagar sealed


Shops that are not constructed in accordance with CMDA regulations were sealed

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/3950/2171593.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/207/2171593.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Plight of a road near raamapuram that is laid a few months back

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/928/22039500.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/267/22039500.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

^^^^

Due to heavy rains in the past few days many roads were damaged badly

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7937/22552140.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/28/22552140.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

GST choked up today morning.

Traffic was freezed for around 20 minutes for CM(not sure) to pass.

At Tambaram ROB exit ramp where I got stuck.

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/10/dsc00594eb.jpg

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/6628/dsc00595zer.jpg

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/1134/dsc00596is.jpg

Good rainfall, plentiful inflow and more Metrowater supply..

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2587151.ece

We have started wasting lots of precious water resource by opening gates in Poondi,Redhills and may be Chembarabakkam soon.

Why not they stop all borewells in use in North Madras (Chempatti, I think) preserve ground water and use lake water for Industrial use in Manali?

Can think of more such use rather than letting it to BOB.

GST choked up today morning.

Traffic was freezed for around 20 minutes for CM(not sure) to pass.

At Tambaram ROB exit ramp where I got stuck.

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/10/dsc00594eb.jpg

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/6628/dsc00595zer.jpg

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/1134/dsc00596is.jpg

Mayor and chairman election are over.... What else? Nothing? Time to bring back legendary style... TN'kku vidive kidaiyaathaa?

Just read this (heart) breaking news in http://tamil.oneindia.in/

கருணாநிதி திறந்த அண்ணா நூற்றாண்டு லைப்ரரி குழந்தைகள் மருத்துவமனையாகிறது!!!

OMG!! This lady is going bonkers...

Seriously! What a pathetic decision if true..

^^

In Dinamalar too.

http://www.dinamalar.com/latest_main.asp

:ohno::ohno:

She has really gone mad. :bash:

I seriously can't believe she is doing this!! WTF?? It was such a great facility catering to every age group.. I had visited a few times when only the ground and 1st floors were open.The sections for Children were too good with great facilities for them to enjoy learning .

Plus, it is located very close to IIT and Anna University and I saw many from there coming to use the facility..

A sad day for Chennai.

It is very sad and unfortunate that TN continues to suffer for the political gains and personal revenge of the politicians ....

^^

In Dinamalar too.

http://www.dinamalar.com/latest_main.asp

:ohno::ohno:

She has really gone mad. :bash:

Kadavule tamilagathai kapatru
Looks like she wants dmk to win 2014 ls

May be she wants to Make Chennai Medical Capital of India:nuts:

May be she wants to Make Chennai Medical Capital of India:nuts:

No way! We can be sure that both building will be mere vacant for next 4.5yrs!

Now I am worried about u/c medical blocks opp. to central station.. we don't know what will happen to that u/c building when completed.:ohno:

True very good doctors will not take up govt jobs so developing super spec. chil hospital will be a dream.

Now I am worried about u/c medical blocks opp. to central station.. we don't know what will happen to that u/c building when completed.:ohno:

Enna ippadi kettuteenga? They will be converted into world class library and Tamil Nadu tourism hotels.

Remember Vivek comedy? "naangalam leftla kai pottutu rightla povom"

If thatha had built a ship, amma would fit wheels to it and let it on the road. :bash:

If thatha had built a ship, amma would fit wheels to it and let it on the road. :bash:
:rofl:

Just because a Library is touched, she has become bad (villi, psycho,etc)... and Just because, a Ford and a few other companies gone to other states..she has become investor unfriendly... Opinions are formed quickly (quite a knee jerk)

I think its becoming like vada nattu media...playing for the gallery.. taking moral high ground..

^^ Vaanga saar vaanga.. ungalukuthan wait pannitu irunthom. Just like that you used 'Just because'.. ah!

Political vendetta.. vendetta.. appadinu etho onnu irukkam.. kelvi patrukeengala?

btw, these opinions weren't formed overnight. This is how she was in the previous term, people believed that she would have changed now.. but history repeating itself.

If thatha had built a ship, amma would fit wheels to it and let it on the road. :bash:
:lol:

^^ Vaanga saar vaanga.. ungalukuthan wait pannitu irunthom. Just like that you used 'Just because'.. ah!

Political vendetta.. vendetta.. appadinu etho onnu irukkam.. kelvi patrukeengala?

btw, these opinions weren't formed overnight. This is how she was in the previous term, people believed that she would have changed now.. but history repeating itself.
yenna Sir, arasiyalla irunthunde.. arasiyal panna kudathunna yeppadi.....we have to separate our fixation here.. is it the Library or the huge glass facade building that we are bothered about..
if first one..when government has scarce resource.. the money spent(172 cr if am not wrong) could have been spent on primary education. Please note there are already two big Libraries available in the city apart from private book clubs. It was built to show that, in future, these structures( may it be assembly or Library or Poongas ( we all know why was it built (Chennai Sangamam) what is the state of most of the these know giving way for Metro rail, who is bothered about the money spent) were built some body's name engraved on it.. economic cost who's bothered?

You may argue that two negatives can not make a positive but we know in maths the product of two minus is a plus. Thats what is happening

@wlbkng http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/9340582.It_was_a_night_of_light_and_colour/

yenna Sir, arasiyalla irunthunde.. arasiyal panna kudathunna yeppadi.....we have to separate our fixation here.. is it the Library or the huge glass facade building that we are bothered about..
if first one..when government has scarce resource.. the money spent(172 cr if am not wrong) could have been spent on primary education. Please note there are already two big Libraries available in the city apart from private book clubs. It was built to show that, in future, these structures( may it be assembly or Library or Poongas ( we all know why was it built (Chennai Sangamam) what is the state of most of the these know giving way for Metro rail, who is bothered about the money spent) were built some body's name engraved on it.. economic cost who's bothered?

You may argue that two negatives can not make a positive but we know in maths the product of two minus is a plus. Thats what is happening

I am not getting it!
Are your saying we dont need Libraries or Poongas or assembly buildings, and they should be shutdown because we already have too many of it or because it has somebodys name is engarved on it.

So if there are private book clubs we dont need libraries? Going by your theory, when there are autos running everywhere in the city why do we need MTC buses and especially those damn A/C volvo buses which are a big waste of public money. Lets stop them all right away. Isn't anybody bothered to question such huge economic costs?

And how in the world did you get the impression that there is no money to spend on primary education? AFAIK TNs gross enrollment ration is the best in country and close to 100%.

And finally what makes you think her actions account to a plus. That comment of you was simply amazing. Please explain

I am not getting it!
Are your saying we dont need Libraries or Poongas or assembly buildings, and they should be shutdown because we already have too many of it or because it has somebodys name is engarved on it.

So if there are private book clubs we dont need libraries? Going by your theory, when there are autos running everywhere in the city why do we need MTC buses and especially those damn A/C volvo buses which are a big waste of public money. Lets stop them all right away. Isn't anybody bothered to question such huge economic costs?

And how in the world did you get the impression that there is no money to spend on primary education? AFAIK TNs gross enrollment ration is the best in country and close to 100%.

And finally what makes you think her actions account to a plus. That comment of you was simply amazing. Please explain



government has resource scarcity.. you will try to spend that on give relative better usage for public. Crores of money have been spent on Parks on koyembedu, P H Road, Anna Nagar, Ashok Nagar (near pillar).. now these are taken over by CMRL and completely wiped off the green area. I am sure no one in the govt. will wake up one fine morning and decide to build metro. they would planned the route and option for long time. the parks have been renovated less than a year before metro started. So they made these parks just for Chennai Sangamam. This is waste.

These are catering two different needs and not same...MTC buses will not come and drop me near my doors at late night.. so I need an auto..but if I want to travel upto ambatur from say OMR during day time then I will be a crack pot if use an auto and burn my money instead of using buses. I hope you got it.

Please spend some time with a government run school student of class 5 class to write his name in tamil.. you will understand what am talking about. I am a student of one such schools.. I know how long it took me to get closer to other if not going ahead.

In one of the threads in the chennai forum its listed that medical facilities for middle/lower middle class is getting unreachable state. With the spread of diseases there is a pressing need for good medical care for them. All those who are talking big, would they have remained silent if what has happened in WB has, God forbid, happened here.

In present day engineering, it will not make much time to make it a bare shelf and redo it as a hospital. So, a perceived mistake is required to correct a real mistake.

A hospital is designed differently from from airport to a library. You cannot convert one to another unless you have an emergency situation or you are jaya.
Lets not try to justify every act of hers for sake of justifying.

government has resource scarcity.. you will try to spend that on give relative better usage for public. Crores of money have been spent on Parks on koyembedu, P H Road, Anna Nagar, Ashok Nagar (near pillar).. now these are taken over by CMRL and completely wiped off the green area. I am sure no one in the govt. will wake up one fine morning and decide to build metro. they would planned the route and option for long time. the parks have been renovated less than a year before metro started. So they made these parks just for Chennai Sangamam. This is waste.


Parks and trees getting demolished when infrastruture projects are implemented. Agreed its a waste. What was lacking here is proper planning. Nevertheless this does not prevent you from implementing projects.


These are catering two different needs and not same...MTC buses will not come and drop me near my doors at late night.. so I need an auto..but if I want to travel upto ambatur from say OMR during day time then I will be a crack pot if use an auto and burn my money instead of using buses. I hope you got it.


Catering two different needs. Thats exaclty is what I am trying to say to you. You are having private book clubs does not mean that you dont need public libraries.


Please spend some time with a government run school student of class 5 class to write his name in tamil.. you will understand what am talking about. I am a student of one such schools.. I know how long it took me to get closer to other if not going ahead.


That may be your personal experience and is very subjective. Plus the situation has changed a lot since you studied your 5th grade. I go by media reports both positve and negative regarding the state of primary education.


In one of the threads in the chennai forum its listed that medical facilities for middle/lower middle class is getting unreachable state. With the spread of diseases there is a pressing need for good medical care for them. All those who are talking big, would they have remained silent if what has happened in WB has, God forbid, happened here.

In present day engineering, it will not make much time to make it a bare shelf and redo it as a hospital. So, a perceived mistake is required to correct a real mistake.

First and foremost, please understand that this discussion is not against JJ creating medical facilities in chennai. If JJ had earnest intentions to create worldclass pediatriac hospital, everyone in this forum regardless of their political affialitions will welcome that. But her intentions are clearly not that and she is looking for every possible way to undo any little (so called) achievement that previous regime has.

FYI, there are so many existing govt hospitals that are in dilapidated condition that need money and govt should rather spend its energy renovating those just like the prev govt's renovation the GH opposite to central. Why do you want the govt to rather make engineering changes to a brand new library that was just buit to create a pediatric hospital. Her intentions and actions are clearly evil and I swear you fully know that by heart and still defend those actions. Thats what hurts TN the most!

Well said ....

government has resource scarcity.. you will try to spend that on give relative better usage for public. Crores of money have been spent on Parks on koyembedu, P H Road, Anna Nagar, Ashok Nagar (near pillar).. .

ஒரு வாதத்துக்காக hospital முக்கியம்னு வெச்சிக்குவோம். (ofcourse it is important)

உங்க ஊருலேந்து மேற்க்கால ஒரு 350 கி மீ போனீங்கன்னா சேலம் சேலம்னு ஒரு ஊரு வரும். அங்க இருக்கற மக்களுக்கு கண்ணாடி சன்னல் எல்லாம் வெச்சி அலகா ஒரு ஆசுபத்திரி கட்டுனாங்க. கண்ணாடி சன்னல எல்லாம் தொடக்கவே காசு இல்லன்னு சொல்லி halloween கொண்டாட வாடகைக்கு விட்டு புட்டு இப்ப இதுக்கு மட்டும் எங்கேந்து துட்டு வந்திச்சி? halloween party rental income a ?

ADMK supporting moderator would not let anything to be said against Amma. Is this the mark of the moderator, we need a neutral person as a moderator. Not a shameless partisan.

ADMK supporting moderator would not let anything to be said against Amma. Is this the mark of the moderator, we need a neutral person as a moderator. Not a shameless partisan.

You are being warned one last time. You may be banned if you persist.

yenna Sir, arasiyalla irunthunde.. arasiyal panna kudathunna yeppadi.....we have to separate our fixation here.. is it the Library or the huge glass facade building that we are bothered about..


Saar.. nelama ippadi aayiduche.. oruthara maathi oruthar pazhi vaangarathu per arasiyal illai. Our politicians has slowly changed the definition of politics in our minds. we do have to separate our fixation :)

KT saar.. please.. nanbaruku arasiyalna ennanu konjam eduthu sollunga.

It is the library that I am concerned about, vitta man roadla car pogatha ethuku thaar roadunu kepeenga poliruku. If we start this path, we can question every project and development. And remember, she either is not selling the building and going to spend that towards primary education.

She is going to build another so called 'knowledge park', may be bigger more costlier and convert this one type of building to another which would require 'funds' again. Would you question back, rather than spending in all these fiasco.. why not spend that money towards primary education...

You are being warned one last time. You may be banned if you persist.

Please explain what wrong did I do, how can you justify deleting my posts?
on what basis you deleted them?

ADMK supporting moderator would not let anything to be said against Amma. Is this the mark of the moderator, we need a neutral person as a moderator. Not a shameless partisan.

Seyoan, lets be neutral. All of us are bashing amma today including the moderator himself. At the same time we all would appreciate her if she does something really good. Go to TN Chaibar and see how much discussions have happened regarding both parties. Bricks or bouquets, which ever is appropriate would be served whoever it is.

Seyoan, let be neutral. All of us are bashing amma today including the moderator himself. At the same time we all would appreciate her if she does something really good. Go to TN Chaibar and see how much discussions have happened regarding both parties. Bricks or bouquets, which ever is appropriate would be served whoever it is.

I am just pissed off at all my post being deleted without valid reasons.

Please explain what wrong did I do, how can you justify deleting my posts?
on what basis you deleted them?

Pl see your inbox. I have PMed.

Chennai, country's sole US blanket L visa centre from Dec 1

From December 1, the U.S Consulate General here will be the only centre in the country to receive and process blanket L category visas meant for managers, executives or specialised knowledge professionals transferring within their company, a US diplomat said today.

"The Consulate General in Chennai will be the US Mission to India's sole blanket L category visa acceptance and processing centre. Companies throughout India will be requested to send blanket L applicants exclusively to Chennai for visa interviews," Chief of Consular services at the US Consulate General here Nicolas Manring told reporters.

L1B and L1A categories include specialised knowledge professionals, executives and managers transferring to U.S.

Explaining the reason behind the move, Manring said the centralisation was only to "increase efficiency," and will not affect the spouses and children of L1 visa holders. Indivual L1B and L1A visa applicants may still be processed at any US consular section in India.


A US Consulate General release said 10 per cent of all US non-immigrant visa applications come from India. The country also accounted for 37 per cent of all L1 visas worldwide from October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/nri/visa-and-immigration/chennai-countrys-sole-us-blanket-l-visa-centre-from-dec-1/articleshow/10569822.cms

TIMES VIEW

Yet another decision has been reversed, a building needs to be remodelled and more public money to be spent. In the game of political one-upmanship, the latest casualty is the Anna Centenary Library, acclaimed by the previous DMK regime as Asia's largest and built on an eight-acre stretch at a cost of Rs 250 crore. But this time, chief minister J Jayalalithaa's move to undo her political rival's dream project may not strike a chord, however lofty the alternative. There is a virtual public outcry against her decision to convert the modern library, located in an educational hub and drawing enthusiastic crowds, into a paediatric hospital. No doubt there is a need for a well-equipped , affordable super-specialty hospital for children, but not at the cost of another popular public facility, that too one built at high cost. The government could do well to remember that scoring political points at the cost of larger public sentiment could prove costly. Instead, political magnanimity and sound administrative policies would earn it brownie points and appreciation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/After-secretariat-its-librarys-turn-now/articleshow/10588054.cms

this CM uber hyper vendetta will pull us all into ditches beyond redemption. there are many critical welfare actions to be taken - just look at the roads, sewers and garbage piles everywhere. chennai has gone to the dogs, in many respects, and we are at the very backward even in national, let alone internationl standards.

okay MTC dabba buses can be made into mobile hospitals. mobile hospitals were announced in budget

SOURCE: (http://blogs.rediff.com/dillichaat/2011/11/02/why-cant-mamata-learn-from-jayalalithaa/)

Jayalalithaa and Mamata Banerjee became chief ministers at the same time after Tamil Nadu and West Bengal voted for their parties with a massive show of support.
But their track record in governance for the last six months (since they came to office) is vastly different.
Mamata is still struggling to get a grip of her administration while Jayalalithaa has shown that, when it comes to delivery, nobody can beat her.
One wonders whether Mamata can learn a tip or two from Jayalalithaa — at least when it come to governance.
When children die in Bengal hospitals, Mamata can’t think of anything but blame the Marxists!
But look at Jayalalithaa. Her politics of putting down her political rivals, the DMK, also includes creating better hospital care in Tamil Nadu!
Jayalalithaa on November2 announced that the modern Anna centenary library in Chennai, a multi-crore project of the earlier DMK government, will be converted into a super speciality paediatric hospital. The library would shift to a new integrated intellectual park to be housed in an alternative site in the city.
In July, this very library complex was the venue for US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to address about 1500 students.
Jayalalitha’s decision comes two months after she announced her plans to convert the Rs 500 crore new secretariat complex in the heart of Chennai, also built during the previous DMK regime, into a multi-specialty hospital.
By creating a super speciality hospital for children the state would ensure that it is a child welfare state, she says.
What does Mamata do? She gets angry with the media for putting questions to her after series of deaths of new-born at two state-run hospitals when she wants to talk about the industry policy of her government. Then after a week, Mamata does a re-think. She says most of the infants had been underweight and were suffering from malnutrition. “I have come to know that most of these babies were underweight and were suffering from malnutrition. 30 babies died. It is sad,” she tells her party workers.
The government had earlier given a clean chit to both the B C Roy Children’s Hospital and the Burdwan Medical College and Hospital on the death of the infants. later she blamed the Left’s rule of 34 years for hospital mess in Bengal!
She also says “I took the initiative to add 37 ICU beds and 3,000 beds in hospitals and we have many plans to upgrade the health system.”
But more bad news is in store. Barely a week after 27 newborns died in two state-run hospitals in three days, a woman is swabbed with muriatic acid instead of the normal antiseptic solution after she delivered a still-born in a state-run hospital in Murshidabad district. She suffers burns.
The incident comes within two months of a nurse wiping the arm of a female patient with carbolic acid before administering an injection at SSKM hospital, Kolkatta’s largest post-graduate medical research institute.
Ironically, the news broke a few hours before chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who also holds the health portfolio, defended the department on the spate of infant deaths last week. “As many as 40,000 babies died every year in the state during the Left regime. We are focusing on many aspects including setting up specialty hospitals in the districts,” she said.
Ironically, when she took over as chief minister, she had paid surprise visits to Kolkatta hospitals.
Coming back to Jayalalithaa and Mamata, the two leaders can still help each other. After all Jayalalithaa has national ambitions and a number of people from West Bengal seek out medical facilities in Tamil Nadu for treatment. By the way, both the leaders are good friends– though Mamata wasn’t happy recently when her Tamil Nadu counterpart launched a broadside at a National Development Council meet against the UPA government for step-motherly treatment of her state while placating West Bengal with a huge financial package.

--------------------------------------------------------

Idhu eppadi irukku..

Perspection is reality seems to be vindicated. Jaya lessons for Mamata ??

Reversing earlier government decisions should not be the only focus. Hopefully there will be other growth oriented decisions.

expected. Rajdeep had blasted mayawati last week and said why not use these statue money for children hospital.

With so many children why no state coming forward for special hospital for them.

Looks like Jaya got the idea only from that. Expectedly his wife Sagarika is asking karti chidambaram whats wrong with that, good for children.

Thats how the paid media will think.

I am still amazed that people in Chennai specifically the educated are silent on this.Have people become so timid or scared here.In any other city outside TN if such whimsical decisions are unilaterally taken there would have been a mass upsurge.Why people are indifferent to issues concerning all in Chennai?its strange

People do raise their voice but it gets masked or deleted. Out of frustration when I blamed JJ for the library issue, the Mod here deleted all my post and threatens me by PM that I would be banned. That is the state of affairs on most of the media in TN.
This post of mine would also be deleted soon

expected. Rajdeep had blasted mayawati last week and said why not use these statue money for children hospital.

With so many children why no state coming forward for special hospital for them.

Looks like Jaya got the idea only from that. Expectedly his wife Sagarika is asking karti chidambaram whats wrong with that, good for children.

Thats how the paid media will think.

Wow.. this whole episode is clearly hijacked and projected as if people are srguing for/against Jaya building a chlidren's hospital. Media cannot get any worse than this:bash:

Wow.. this whole episode is clearly hijacked and projected as if people are srguing for/against Jaya building a chlidren's hospital. Media cannot get any worse than this:bash:

Option 1:
Construct a de nova Childrens hospital cost 300cr

Option 2:
convert a tailor made state of art library to a children hospital and construct a New State of art library
Cost 500CR + 200CR = 700CR

Wasteful expenditure = 400 CR, much more than the reason why Kani and other are in Jail.

would CAG never interfere in decision like this, what is the point in accusing people for 2 to 3 CR expenses while being silent on decisions that cost 400CR wasteful expenditure.

Disclaimer: this post is not meant to be provocative and any abnormal use of words or tone is unintentional.

[QUOTE=Seyoan;85336716]Option 1:
Construct a de nova Childrens hospital cost 300cr

Option 2:
convert a tailor made state of art library to a children hospital and construct a New State of art library
Cost 500CR + 200CR = 700CR

We can keep debating on anything.

In fact the previous government could have constructed at least 300 decent schools in rural areas and given jobs to 2000 unemployed graduates just like what Aziz Premji is planning now instead of wasting 500 crores on an International standard library .

:nuts:

Option 1:
Construct a de nova Childrens hospital cost 300cr

Option 2:
convert a tailor made state of art library to a children hospital and construct a New State of art library
Cost 500CR + 200CR = 700CR


Valid points there

Option 3: (And probably best option in terms of cost savings)

Use an existing super-speciality hospital in Salem and convert that building to whatever the requirements are for childrens hospital. That way that pei bunglaw is also put to good use. Does state-of-art always have to be at Chennai?

In fact the previous government could have constructed at least 300 decent schools in rural areas and given jobs to 2000 unemployed graduates just like what Aziz Premji is planning now instead of wasting 500 crores on an International standard library .

:nuts:

I agree with this too. Or they could have created more libraries across the state by spreading out the cost earlier. In fact this was the reason I opposed this building earlier.

But now, this having come up and being put to good use widely, coverting it to hospital at this stage is uncalled for and is a wasteful expense

SOURCE: (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/housewife-%E2%80%98right%E2%80%99-mission-414)

Here is a housewife who does not set her clock by the TV serial she is watching, but arms herself with RTI petitions for the public good. After sending her two children to school and her husband to office, S. Booma, 39, of Ambattur rushes out of her house with a bagful of RTI petitions to different post offices and government offices in Chennai. The construction of a drainage facility in Ambattur municipality, which was moving at a snail’s pace last year, is nearing completion now. Reason: An RTI application by Booma on spending of public money by the municipality on drainage works.

This plus-two-passed homemaker has always fought against negligence. As a regular newspaper reader, Booma kept herself updated with the use of RTI. She filed her first RTI in 2009 with the East Coast railway. “The TTE was corrupt. He denied us seats in the first class though seats for my family were confirmed. He sold the seats to others. I filed a complaint with the railways and followed up by RTI to know the action taken on my petition,” she said.

When the railway officials told her that the increment of the TTE was cut for the next three years, she got a copy of the memo through RTI to confirm it. After this, Booma learnt that she could make the ‘static’ government machinery work by using RTI. “My RTI application on bad quality roads in our Ambattur municipality has borne fruit,” said the houswife. “The municipality officials gave details on funds allotted, money used for laying roads and for repairs now,” she added.

Others around her are inspired by her commitment and determination. Ambatur resident A.D. Sujatha said, “Many of us now speak up against official apathy, emulating Booma,” she said.

-----------------------------------------------------

Being proactive is a zillion times better than mere complaining or cribbing. :applause: Booma

I agree with this too. Or they could have created more libraries across the state by spreading out the cost earlier. In fact this was the reason I opposed this building earlier.

But now, this having come up and being put to good use widely, coverting it to hospital at this stage is uncalled for and is a wasteful expense

Hope the next government doesnt undo the hospital back to library or worse still .. something else. Wonder if as citizens we have any other recourse (except elections..).. say legal ?

Cognizant - Ramanujan IT SEZ - 650,000 sqft
HP - Ramanujan IT SEZ - 150,000 sqft
Aricent - ASV Chandilya - 150,000 sqft
Verizon - RMZ Millenia - 140,000 sqft
Alcatel Lucent - TVH Agnitio Park - 120,000 sqft
Renault - Ascendas Cybervale - 90,000 sqft
BNP Paribas - Ascendas - 75,000 sqft
Shriram Group - Independant - 35,000 sqft
Apollo Hospitals - Prestige Palladium - 19,800 sqft
Take Solutions - Nesal House - 16,500 sqft
Burndy Technologies - Ascendas - 11,600 sqft
Shriram EPC - Sigapi Achi Building - 10,600 sqft

Cognizant - Ramanujan IT SEZ - 650,000 sqft
HP - Ramanujan IT SEZ - 150,000 sqft
Aricent - ASV Chandilya - 150,000 sqft
Verizon - RMZ Millenia - 140,000 sqft
Alcatel Lucent - TVH Agnitio Park - 120,000 sqft
Renault - Ascendas Cybervale - 90,000 sqft
BNP Paribas - Ascendas - 75,000 sqft
Shriram Group - Independant - 35,000 sqft
Apollo Hospitals - Prestige Palladium - 19,800 sqft
Take Solutions - Nesal House - 16,500 sqft
Burndy Technologies - Ascendas - 11,600 sqft
Shriram EPC - Sigapi Achi Building - 10,600 sqft
Most of them in OMR. Some 13K employment opportunity in OMR alone that too between Madhya Kailash and Toll plaza. Velacherry, Adyar, Tiruvanmiyur, Perungudi is gng to boom again

Valid points there

Option 3: (And probably best option in terms of cost savings)

Use an existing super-speciality hospital in Salem and convert that building to whatever the requirements are for childrens hospital. That way that pei bunglaw is also put to good use. Does state-of-art always have to be at Chennai?

That is a valid point, here state govt need not convince any private investor about port/international accessibility/infrastructure/etc or there is no bangalore/Hyd/Gujarat competing for the capital flight. Why not Salem/Trichy/Kovai?
If the intention is for a good hospital, why not a new world class facility in any of the TN cities that has a decent medical infrastructure, I can count at least 10 such cities in TN

^^ Not just anywhere.

I was specifically talking about the multi-speciality hospital in Salem that thatha started which this government abandoned saying that there is no money to maintain it. Thatha himself did just 1 or 2 good things and those are also reversed :)

Why not convert a building that is already there in Salem (and already claimed as state of art) for the proposed state-of-art children's hospital?

^^ I didn't know about this hospital in Salem. If it was abandoned because they couldn't maintain it, how would they maintain the multi-speciality hospitals coming up in Chennai (TNLA and ACL now).. leave alone the cost involved in converting these cars into ships.

Posting here as this presser was held in chennai only.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/government-and-policy/article2595279.ece?ref=wl_opinion


Attracting projects such as the Tata-Sikorsky aerospace components joint venture and the Mahindra & Mahindra group's tractor manufacturing project to Andhra Pradesh mark the success of the Government in rejigging industrial policy to draw the manufacturing sector, according to its the Minister for Major Industries, Dr J. Geeta Reddy.

The State has focussed on bringing in investments in the manufacturing sector after the previous successes in drawing world leaders in services sector. The focus of the latest industrial policy is on supporting investments into capital-intensive and high value sectors.

Telangana

Addressing media persons a day ahead of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy's visit to the 5,000-acre Sri City SEZ near Tada about 60 kilometres to the North of Chennai on NH 5, Dr Reddy, responding to questions on the impact of the agitations for creation of a separate Telangana State, said the State has attracted over Rs 15,772 crore investments from 15 mega industries – categorised as investments of more than Rs 250 crore in a project – which would generate over 38,000 jobs. Over 30 projects on a similar scale involving investments of over Rs 18,000 crore and generating 91,000 jobs are in the pipeline. In the current year the State has attracted investments of over Rs 21,000 crore as of August against Rs 30,000 crore in 1010-11, she said.

The agitations are ‘politically threatening but not threatening industry,” she assured.

There has been a ‘basic change in thinking' in the industrial policy with focus on assistance and financial support for human resources training to meet industry needs and providing low-cost power to support industry. These are some of the unique features of the policy in addition to the usual tax breaks.

The proof of the success has been the State's ability to attract high value investments. Projects such as the tractor manufacturing plant will catalyse the emergence of Andhra Pradesh as a automobile hub, she said.

Sri City launched over three years back now has over 60 industrial units including multinational players across a range of sectors who have taken up nearly 1,000 acres land.

Mr Ravindra Sanna Reddy, Managing Director, Sri City, said the social infrastructure such as a school, hospital, business centre and dormitory have been set up. Over the next three years, the project would reach critical mass with establishment of a residential and commercial projects.

Shiva,

Whats absurd was they told it was opened in a hurried manner without enuf facilities.

how many months have passed what have they done? isnt this time enough address those deficiencies?

And how much time has gone since secretariat conversion was announced. Any progress on that?

None.

^^ Oh, so it was not even "opening in phases". These politicians should not be allowed to open such public facilities until is completely ready for use by the public. There should be some kind of approval process, like CRS for railways.. how they cannot operate a rail line until is completely approved.

^^ I didn't know about this hospital in Salem. If it was abandoned because they couldn't maintain it, how would they maintain the multi-speciality hospitals coming up in Chennai (TNLA and ACL now).. leave alone the cost involved in converting these cars into ships.

A built super-specialty hospital is left un-attended. So building a new one is only an eye-wash. Or may be in chennai it might be completed !! JJ only knows..
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/article2513441.ece?css=print

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00800/SA05_HOSP_G0L3H78CF_800627e.jpg

All major political parties, barring AIADMK, contesting for mayorship in Salem Corporation have taken up one common and burning issue – non-functioning of superspeciality hospital.

The Rs. 140-crore State and Central Governments' mega health care project promoted on the lines of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has kindled citizens' hopes of getting specialised care in cardiology, neurology, nephrology and trauma care.

Once operational, the hospital is expected to cater to the medical needs of the people of Salem and neighbouring districts who at present have either go to Coimbatore or Chennai or Bangalore.

Till today the massive five-storeyed building remains a mute witness to the State's lack of initiative. The project is left to disuse today. Even the recent visit to the hospital by the State Health Minister has not brought in any positive change. Various citizens and political fora have been staging a series of agitations to make the hospital fully operational.

In the run-up to the mayoral polls, the superspeciality hospital has also emerged as an important election issue besides the ‘Clean and Green Salem' and drinking water problems.

Almost all parties, including PMK and DMK, which in fact brought the hospital to Salem, and other parties such as Congress, MDMK and VCK have included a promise in their manifestoes that if elected they would take up the issue “strongly”.

The hospital is ready for full-fledged operation since 2009. Latest and costly equipment have been procured and installed in the 22-metre high five-storeyed project which has come up on a sprawling 30,000 square metres in the heart of the city. It also has 11 operation theatres with a bed strength of 441 beds – but all remaining empty today.

I dont get this did govt built this with an intention some private players will buy this or govt will run this hospital.

Don’t litter, trade plastic for cash
Pollution Control Board Plans To Pay You For Handing Over Plastic Waste

The city may breathe easier without plastic clogging its roads and drains, if the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) puts its plan into action. The board is ready with a plan to open plastic waste collection centres that pay households for every bit of plastic they segregate and give. The collected plastic will be recycled into a range of products.

A high-level meeting of the state department of environment on Thursday decided to implement the project first in Chennai and later across the state in collaboration with the local bodies. Chennai generates about 360 tonnes of plastic waste every day, which is almost 10% of the total garbage that goes to the two major dumpyards.

Earlier attempts at source segregation had failed as homemakers found other uses for the colour-coded buckets given by the corporation for waste segregation. :ohno:

The game-changer this time, the PCB feels, would be the way in which it plans to collect plastic waste for a price. The corporation will distribute a bin to every house to keep the plastic waste. The local body, directly or through contract labour, including rag pickers, will collect the waste periodically and pay the resident by the weight of plastic given.

The PCB will set up collection centres in each of the 15 city zones in collaboration with plastic manufacturers as an ‘extended producer responsibility.’

The manufacturers will buy the plastic waste and recycle those that can be. There is a range of products that can be made of recycled plastic, including bags, footwear, curios and plastic crystals from which many computer parts are put together. The government also has plans to buy back some of processed plastic waste for laying of roads. If implemented, Chennai will be the first metro to have such a system.

“It is a financially sustainable model,” said PCB member secretary K Karthikeyan. “We will decide on the number and location of collection centres after the local body gives details of plastic waste generation in different zones.” The project will be in adherence to the Plastic Waste Management Rule, 2011 introduced by the Union ministry of environment and forest. The rule insists that local bodies should monitor the movement of plastic, right from its sale to usage and disposal.

The high-level meeting on Thursday finalized the draft of the project. The state government will soon constitute an advisory committee headed by experts to implement it.

LINGERING DEVIL
Chennai generates 360 tonnes of plastic waste every day
Plastic constitutes 10% of total garbage generated in the city
Plastic waste can remain in the environment for several years and seep into water sources to cause contamination Once segregated, plastic is among the costliest waste products



http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2011/11/04&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00400&ViewMode=HTML

^^ has such an idea been implemented elsewhere, before ?

Corporation plans to improve amenities in newly added areas

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00826/03NOVThaxl01_Corpor_826981e.jpg

It will submit proposals to government on November 15

Chennai Corporation proposes to undertake improvement of basic amenities, particularly in areas that have been merged with it recently, at a cost of Rs.225 crore. It will submit the project proposals for approval to the State government on November 15.

Following the announcement of the State government to improve infrastructure in the expanded Chennai Corporation as part of a mega city development mission, the civic body has commenced preparation of detailed reports for the proposed projects. According to a senior official of the Corporation, while the focus would be on upgrading arterial roads to international standards :| in the city, the emphasis in the new areas would be on improving streetlights and solid waste management.

An integrated plan for solid waste management with an estimated cost of Rs.75 crore in the newly added areas has been proposed. Streetlights in the areas would be improved at a cost of Rs.50 crore. The remaining Rs.100 crore would be used towards improvement of road connectivity between the newly added areas and the old city limits. All eight zones in the newly added areas would get a garbage transfer station, lorry stations, compactors and adequate garbage bins. Streetlights fittings with tubelights and mercury vapour lamps in the newly added areas would be converted to sodium vapour lamps as is the case in the old city limits. Detailed project report is being prepared for improvement of 30 arterial roads forming four corridors of around 40 km that would connect important parts of the expanded city. This would be a support network for the Highways Department's plan of improvement of 60 km of roads, including Inner Ring Road, Anna Salai, Poonamallee High Road and the southern arm of Inner Ring Road connecting GST Road and Velachery. The roads would be widened in some areas according to requirements and would have better traffic flow with superior pedestrian facilities. The government has proposed to upgrade main arterial roads to international standards besides improving interior roads in the city. “The effort would be a stepping stone for future improvement of infrastructure in the newly added areas,” said Raj Cherubal, Director-Projects, Chennai City Connect.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2596551.ece

^^ All these are not needed. Drainage facilities at least upto some third world country's standards are needed now.

Why not something innovative like this one. Chennai has endless supply of plastic which can be best used for the development of the country

http://www.polywood.com/content/railway-sleepers.jpg

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRaynF49o8oMeA4o1SX3I1gPHG5FY0R36XvyV7bzEMBqNkzmuo5ujdpqdQJ

http://www.polywood.com/plastic-railway-sleepers.html

சிறப்பு செய்தி...

தமிழக அமைச்சரவையில் அதிரடி மாற்றம் - 6 பேர் நீக்கம் - 6 பேர் சேர்ப்பு

கூடுதல் செய்தி.. அம்மா முன்பு காலனி அணிந்திருந்ததே பதவி நீக்கத்திற்கு காரணம் என கண்டறியப்பட்டுள்ளது...!!! :lol:

^^ Not just anywhere.

I was specifically talking about the multi-speciality hospital in Salem that thatha started which this government abandoned saying that there is no money to maintain it. Thatha himself did just 1 or 2 good things and those are also reversed :)

Why not convert a building that is already there in Salem (and already claimed as state of art) for the proposed state-of-art children's hospital?

Are People in salem dumb.Why can't they start a movement to reopen that hospital.Why people in TN are so docile?Its in the hand of the local population to put to use public utility constructed with tax payers money not with some lady in power father's money.

Why don't u fellows in TN get info thru RTI about this.


RTI'la ellam nadakkara kariyama sir idhu?

Adha vidunga, do you know that if RTI is filed for same cause by 10 people you will get 10 different responses? Not sure if anything improved now, but that's how it was from one of our experiences

All pics courtesy: The Hindu website (http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2597255.ece)

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00827/VBK-HORSE_CHEN_827327g.jpg
Marina

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00827/VBK-POZHICHALUR_CHE_827332g.jpg
Adyar river causeway near Pozhichallur-Gowl Bazaar

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00827/VBK-MARINA_CHEN_827328g.jpg
Marina

nice snaps wlbkng :)

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00812/20_MP_ROAD_1_812883e.jpg

If you want to understand Chennai, dig into the life and times of people who've lent their names to its roads and streets, says Bishwanath Ghosh
What's in a name? A lot, if you happen to be living in Chennai where, apart from your own name, one more name matters — that of the person after whom your street or road is named. And you'd better remember that name, because that's your lifeline as long as you live in the city: these days, without the proof of address, there is no proof that you exist.

SPARE A THOUGHT

Chennai is the only metro in the country where every single tarred stretch — even an apology for a street — bears a name. It is a practice being followed meticulously right from the days of the East India Company, when a street or road would be named after its earliest or most influential resident. But how often have you wondered about the people who've lent their names to the roads and streets that you traverse every day? For example, you may be a frequent visitor to Sathyam Cinemas, entering its parking lot through Whites Road, but how often have you asked yourself, “Who was Whites?”

The road is named after one Mr. J. D. White, who obtained a grant of land in 1809 and built a house there. In 1832, the house went on to become the Madras Club — the first club in the city and for long considered the best in India, hailed as the “Ace of Clubs”. The club moved out of the premises post-Independence and the building was demolished as recently as in 2003. Today in its place stands Express Avenue, the city's hippest mall.

Connecting White's Road with Mount Road is Patullo's Road, named after Archibald Erskine Patullo, a captain in the Madras Cavalry who died in 1824 when commanding the Body Guard. Shortly before he died, he lived in a house called Hick's Bungalow, which also become part of the Madras Club premises.

Nearby is Wood's Road, which houses the oldest Fabindia outlet in the city. It takes its name from Edward Wood, a civil servant who, as the chief secretary to government, owned a house there in 1822. The house later became the Castle Hotel.

Both Patullo's Road and Wood's Road join Mount Road at points that are very close to the junction it forms with Commander-in-Chief Road, now known as Ethiraj Salai (one of the few Indian road-names people have gotten used to). The Commander-in-Chief Road was named so because in the early 19th century, the Commander-in-Chief lived close by, in Egmore, in a building that became the Victoria Hotel.

But not all of it is officially Ethiraj Salai. The small stretch starting from the Spencer Plaza junction up to the bridge over Cooum is still called Binny's Road — named after John Binny, who entered the service of the Nawab of Arcot around 1797. His residence subsequently became the Imperial Hotel, which later came to be occupied by Messrs. Spencer & Co. and the Connemara Hotel. A newly-erected blue-and-white signboard at the junction, identifying the short stretch, will ensure that Mr. Binny is not forgotten for many more years to come.

And who is Mr. Ethiraj of Ethiraj Salai? Many may know of him, many others may not. V. L. Ethiraj was a barrister known for his charm and brevity, and one of his biggest successes was to secure, in 1947, the release of two highly-respected actors, M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and N. S. Krishnan, who had been convicted for the murder of film journalist C. N. Lakshmikanthan that took place in November 1944.

Before moving on to more Indian names, let's identify some more Britishers who lent their names to some of the posh roads of Chennai. Both George John Haddow and William Harrington — the men behind Haddow's and Harrington Roads respectively — were civil servants who lived some 200 years ago. Henry Sullivan Graeme was also a civil servant from that era, even though the road that takes his name is no longer known as Graeme's Road but has been corrupted, irreversibly, as Greams Road. Sterling Road, once upon a time a cart-track, was so named because one Mr. L. K. Sterling happened to own a property adjacent to it in the early 19th century. Sterling was a soldier who went on to become a sessions judge.

Now let's come towards T. Nagar, which came into being in the 1920s, when Indians had become part of governance. Panagal Park is named after the Raja of Panagal, the Justice Party chief minister of the Madras Presidency responsible for the creation of T. Nagar. Pondy Bazaar is believed to derive its name from Soundarapandian Nadar, yet another Justice Party leader — it's most likely that Pandi got corrupted into Pondy. Close by is the all-important Doraiswamy subway, which has been named after Dr. T. S. Doraiswamy, a well-known eye doctor who lived in that area.

THE MOST CROWDED STREET

Ranganathan Street, easily one of the most crowded streets on this planet, is said to have been named so on the request of Tupil Rangaswamy Iyengar (Tupil being the Anglicised corruption of Thoopul, a place near Kancheepuram), a sub-collector of Madras who came to live on the street. When civic authorities sought his permission to name the street after him, Rangaswamy, a god-fearing man, suggested that it be named instead after Lord Ranganatha.

The story of Chennai is the sum total of the stories behind the names of its numerous roads and streets. The more you dig into the names, the clearer the picture will emerge about India's oldest modern city — in case you are interested to know, that is.

http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article2551882.ece
------------------

nice snaps wlbkng :)

He he, credit goes to The Hindu newspaper photographer..

Good information....next time i visit chennai, i would like to go the museum ....thx for these info

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00812/20_MP_ROAD_1_812883e.jpg

If you want to understand Chennai, dig into the life and times of people who've lent their names to its roads and streets, says Bishwanath Ghosh
What's in a name? A lot, if you happen to be living in Chennai where, apart from your own name, one more name matters — that of the person after whom your street or road is named. And you'd better remember that name, because that's your lifeline as long as you live in the city: these days, without the proof of address, there is no proof that you exist.

SPARE A THOUGHT

Chennai is the only metro in the country where every single tarred stretch — even an apology for a street — bears a name. It is a practice being followed meticulously right from the days of the East India Company, when a street or road would be named after its earliest or most influential resident. But how often have you wondered about the people who've lent their names to the roads and streets that you traverse every day? For example, you may be a frequent visitor to Sathyam Cinemas, entering its parking lot through Whites Road, but how often have you asked yourself, “Who was Whites?”

The road is named after one Mr. J. D. White, who obtained a grant of land in 1809 and built a house there. In 1832, the house went on to become the Madras Club — the first club in the city and for long considered the best in India, hailed as the “Ace of Clubs”. The club moved out of the premises post-Independence and the building was demolished as recently as in 2003. Today in its place stands Express Avenue, the city's hippest mall.

Connecting White's Road with Mount Road is Patullo's Road, named after Archibald Erskine Patullo, a captain in the Madras Cavalry who died in 1824 when commanding the Body Guard. Shortly before he died, he lived in a house called Hick's Bungalow, which also become part of the Madras Club premises.

Nearby is Wood's Road, which houses the oldest Fabindia outlet in the city. It takes its name from Edward Wood, a civil servant who, as the chief secretary to government, owned a house there in 1822. The house later became the Castle Hotel.

Both Patullo's Road and Wood's Road join Mount Road at points that are very close to the junction it forms with Commander-in-Chief Road, now known as Ethiraj Salai (one of the few Indian road-names people have gotten used to). The Commander-in-Chief Road was named so because in the early 19th century, the Commander-in-Chief lived close by, in Egmore, in a building that became the Victoria Hotel.

But not all of it is officially Ethiraj Salai. The small stretch starting from the Spencer Plaza junction up to the bridge over Cooum is still called Binny's Road — named after John Binny, who entered the service of the Nawab of Arcot around 1797. His residence subsequently became the Imperial Hotel, which later came to be occupied by Messrs. Spencer & Co. and the Connemara Hotel. A newly-erected blue-and-white signboard at the junction, identifying the short stretch, will ensure that Mr. Binny is not forgotten for many more years to come.

And who is Mr. Ethiraj of Ethiraj Salai? Many may know of him, many others may not. V. L. Ethiraj was a barrister known for his charm and brevity, and one of his biggest successes was to secure, in 1947, the release of two highly-respected actors, M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and N. S. Krishnan, who had been convicted for the murder of film journalist C. N. Lakshmikanthan that took place in November 1944.

Before moving on to more Indian names, let's identify some more Britishers who lent their names to some of the posh roads of Chennai. Both George John Haddow and William Harrington — the men behind Haddow's and Harrington Roads respectively — were civil servants who lived some 200 years ago. Henry Sullivan Graeme was also a civil servant from that era, even though the road that takes his name is no longer known as Graeme's Road but has been corrupted, irreversibly, as Greams Road. Sterling Road, once upon a time a cart-track, was so named because one Mr. L. K. Sterling happened to own a property adjacent to it in the early 19th century. Sterling was a soldier who went on to become a sessions judge.

Now let's come towards T. Nagar, which came into being in the 1920s, when Indians had become part of governance. Panagal Park is named after the Raja of Panagal, the Justice Party chief minister of the Madras Presidency responsible for the creation of T. Nagar. Pondy Bazaar is believed to derive its name from Soundarapandian Nadar, yet another Justice Party leader — it's most likely that Pandi got corrupted into Pondy. Close by is the all-important Doraiswamy subway, which has been named after Dr. T. S. Doraiswamy, a well-known eye doctor who lived in that area.

THE MOST CROWDED STREET

Ranganathan Street, easily one of the most crowded streets on this planet, is said to have been named so on the request of Tupil Rangaswamy Iyengar (Tupil being the Anglicised corruption of Thoopul, a place near Kancheepuram), a sub-collector of Madras who came to live on the street. When civic authorities sought his permission to name the street after him, Rangaswamy, a god-fearing man, suggested that it be named instead after Lord Ranganatha.

The story of Chennai is the sum total of the stories behind the names of its numerous roads and streets. The more you dig into the names, the clearer the picture will emerge about India's oldest modern city — in case you are interested to know, that is.

http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article2551882.ece
------------------



He he, credit goes to The Hindu newspaper photographer..
Good find...also, I remember seeing a documentary in Makka TV some time back on Chennai city History... they showed that most of the street names in T Nagar was after those who purchased large parcels of land developed in that area by City Improvement Trust or CIT( after which we have CIT Nagar and CIT colony). This was because there were no takers for these land as they were nearer to the lake ( There is a neighbourhood called Lake Area in Nungambakkam and Lake view road in Mambalam, perhaps it refers to this invisible lake)

Do any of you who reside around Koyembedu, made a serious study on the recurring flooding problem and thought of a feasible, permanent solution?

Pl share here as well with the CoC.

^^ has such an idea been implemented elsewhere, before ?

Plastic recycling is done in the US aeons ago, nothing new about such a concept. Every household is required to segregate their rubbish into three bins - one for plastics, paper, cardboard and other recyclables; two for yard waste like wood chips, grass clippings,etc; three for solid waste.

Plastic recycling is being done, and the number of products with recycled plastic is increasing.

Corporation plans to improve amenities in newly added areas

This bit of news is rather boring. What are metro corporations supposed to do? Is this not their primary job function. Reporting such stuff is ludicrous. I would report things that don't happen. garbage, roads, sewer, electricity, law and order these are the primary jobs of corporations but they end up doing a half assed job in India unlike other nations. The city of Chennai has deteriorated in garbage collection, electricity is some areas is erratic, roads are not properly paved nor are the sidewalks kept to proper code. sewer runoff into the coovum is well known.

All pics courtesy: The Hindu website (http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2597255.ece)

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00827/VBK-HORSE_CHEN_827327g.jpg
Marina

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00827/VBK-POZHICHALUR_CHE_827332g.jpg
Adyar river causeway near Pozhichallur-Gowl Bazaar

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00827/VBK-MARINA_CHEN_827328g.jpg
Marina

nice snaps wlbkng :)

^^


+1 :)

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00812/20_MP_ROAD_1_812883e.jpg

http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article2551882.ece
------------------







Good read . :) Madras Musings a Free Monthly Digest usually features a lot of information about Chennai from the Past .

http://www.madrasmusings.com/


:)