Chennai discussions II

[ChennaiIndian]

In a way, you are right. Due to regionalism, we see big cities emerging from various states. As an example, had there been no regionalism, B'lore would have been the only IT hub in the country. Other states like AP and TN wanted their states to take a pie out of it and so, driven mainly by their local talent, they also are big IT hubs now.

We need not go to Bombay or Madras to work these days as the good old 60s and 70s movies showed . We can enjoy a good livelihood in our own cities. This phenomenon is spreading fast to Tier-2 cities as well.

[ChennaiIndian]

http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/23/stor...2351460300.htm

“The used car market in Chennai is definitely becoming more organised when compared to other cities,”


CHENNAI: In the era of free-spending market driven by steady arrival of newer products, used cars continue to attract its share of customers.

While a good section of people find used-cars as a smarter option, some feel that the market still needs to be more structured and transparent. “A large number of people are seeking used cars because they think it is affordable. But funding is a problem for most of the people who buy such cars,” said K.Ravi Shankar, a dealer of used cars. Concurring with him, G.Anbarasu, a customer says, “It is very hard to get loans from banks for used cars. I have decided to buy an used car with my savings.”

People may prefer used cars because the price depreciation is around 30 per cent in the first year. However the NPA for loans in the car segment is more and the risk higher. Some banks are not even able to recover 50 per cent of the loan amount from defaulters. So the rate of interest is four per cent higher than that of used cars, according to A.Rajan, an official of a public sector bank. “Our branch has disbursed less than five loans for used cars in the last one year,” he added.

“The used car market in Chennai is definitely becoming more organised when compared to other cities,” said Mr. Ravi Shankar. As there is a possibility of buying stolen cars from unknown dealers, people prefer to buy cars from reputable dealers who would sometime agree to take the car if its develops any snag at a later stage, he said.

As cars are considered a status symbol, some people find value in purchase of used luxury cars.

For example, buying an used Honda Accord for Rs.8 lakh instead of buying a mid-segment car would give more satisfaction to many customers, dealers say.

The market has been improving and more choices are available for used car buyers, says Ravi Kumar, a dealer of used cars. With second-hand cars being the choice of people who learn to drive, the sale this year has improved by 30 per cent, he says.

Even though there are a number of benefits for customers in buying used cars, lack of transparency in terms of data available with the RTO office to customers is seen as a major constraint. Buyers hesitate to get a car with duplicate RC book. Getting access to information of cars in order to verify if they are stolen from other States is another problem that plagues the second-hand car market.

It takes five to six months to verify, says Mr. Ravi Shankar.

[ChennaiIndian]

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chenn...catch-city-567

Feb. 22: With realtors usi-ng the concept of green buildings a marketing tool, the green home concept is gaining momentum in the city. According to Indian Green Buildings Council, nearly 40 green building projects have been registered in Chennai till date and half of these registrations come under ‘Green Homes’ category.
“We launched Green Ho-mes Rating System in 2009. Last year itself more than 10 major housing projects were registered under this rating system,” said an official of Indian Green Building Cou-ncil (IGBC). According to builders and experts in sustainability solutions, more clients opt for green homes.
According to R.V. She-khar, managing director of Lancor Holdings Ltd, sew-age water treatment plants and efficient use of energy systems including automatic out-door lights equipped with photo sensors are the priorities in ‘Central Park’, a major project of 550 apartments, which is being constructed near Sholinganallur. “We will plant 550 tre-es, which will belong to ea-ch apartment. Also, our se-wage treatment plant pro-cesses wastewater and use it for toilet, gardening purposes and water fountains,” Mr Shekar added.
“While green concept mo-stly focus on energy soluti-ons in commercial sector, enhanced air quality, excell-ent day lighting, garbage recycling, 20-30 per cent energy saving and 30-50 per cent water saving are the highlights in residential projects. Most builders have started opting for green solutions along with their energy plans and in structural designs,” said Mr Julian Pradeep, Green Desk co-ordinator of Olympia Technopark.

[georgenadar]

image hosted on flickr

near Pallikaranai flyover

[kannan infratech]

Chennai welcomes non-Tamilians

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

http://www.financialexpress.com/news...lians/582505/1

Reg the shortage of workforce:

It is not that unemployment is zero.

Farm Labourers are migrating to cities & Towns to work as construction coolies to get more pay. Or simply getting the free doles from the Govt and idling away their time at TASMAC shops.

In cities and towns, they get so many things as free and that make them think that the labour wages are bonus. They work only when they want more money.

Their needs have increased tremendouslly due to consumer boom and there is mismatch betweeen income and expenditure. But most of them are too lazy to work.

There is huge unemployment still. Only the responsible, sincere and talented workers are in short supply and the demand for them is growing by the day.

[darkprinz]

Goerge .. the pic is awesome .. hatsoff to contracter for that lights design

[ramvaradan]

Originally Posted by darkprinz

Goerge .. the pic is awesome .. hatsoff to contracter for that lights design

the lights and the skyline are wonderful .. yet another landmark for chennai.

[ferrari_fan]

They're actually using that type of lighting on all new flyovers nowadays - the Cenotaph Road flyover has the same kind..

They look really sleek and give excellent lighting compared to the older bulky street lamps..

In fact similar lights have now replaced the old lights on the entire length of Gandhi Mandapam Road also - only difference is that those lamps give yellow colour light - they are as bright as these white ones though..

The lighting on OMR and Kamaraj Salai from Marina Beach to Fort St. George are also the same type of lights though the external fitting in those cases is more decorative..

Nice to see that we're slowly but surely getting better lit main roads..

[ChennaiIndian]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...ow/5609123.cms

CHENNAI: Now that the city’s first desalination plant is all set to supply drinking water, will you have to pay more for the piped water? Relax, you don’t have to. The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has said that the water supplied to the residents from the plants will not cost more.

Chennai’s water tables are slightly better of late, but the city is yet to completely free itself from the spectre of drought, which happens on an average of once in four years. The last drought-like situation, however, was in 2004, when the city had to live without piped supply for nine months.

For Chennai, which consumes 570 MLD of water a day, the two desalination plants that would collectively produce 200 MLD will augment supply, especially when the metropolis is all set for a three-fold expansion. While the Minjur plant will mostly feed the industrial needs of north Chennai, besides providing domestic supply, the Nemmeli plant scheduled to be functional by December 2011 will have to cater to the newly-inducted areas in the south.

“Our main water sources are the four water reservoirs which are mainly fed by rain. Then we get water from Veeranam and Krishna. But as of now we are supplying only around 95 litres per capita per day (LPCD) water instead of the ideal quantity of 150 LPCD. With the water demand in Chennai expected to shoot up to 2,248 MLD by 2026 and the availability pegged at 1,615 MLD, it is vital to find additional water sources. The Nemmeli desalination plant is one among them,” said a senior CMWSSB official.

He said that though the conversion of sea water into potable water is a costly affair, the consumers will not be charged more. “The Nemmeli plant is the baby of the CMWSSB and we are carrying it out with the Government of India funding. The quantity of desalination can be decreased whenever the reservoirs have abundance of water, thereby optimising cost of production,” said the official.

The agency has also appointed a consultant to find an additional water source which can provide 15 tmc ft of water to the city.

[ChennaiIndian]

http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/24/stor...2452610300.htm



CHENNAI: Though the idea behind a Ladies Special (LS) service is laudable, in most cases it is only a symbolic move and does not provide much benefit to the average working woman who takes crowded buses and trains every day to work. A case in point is the LS service on the MRTS network, which was inaugurated on August 12 last year.

On a network which already attracts only lean traffic during off-peak hours, the only nine coach train on the line is devoted for the two LS services (during the morning and evening rush hour), out of the 128 trains every day. The capacity of a nine coach train is 900. According to Divisional Railway Manager S.K.Kulsrestha, the daily average occupancy of the LS over the past five months has hovered around 10 per cent.

On certain days like October 28 last year and January 14 this year occupancy was as low as 12 and 24 women respectively in the entire nine coach train.

“Timings [of the LS] are a major issue,” said R.Madumathi, a regular MRTS commuter. “It can be modified a bit to make sure that there is at least a reasonable amount of usage. There are not more than 10 women in each compartment on a normal day.”

The LS leaves Chennai Beach station at 9 a.m. and Velachery station at 5.17 p.m. and she feels it is based on the assumption that most women have a 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. job.

Pointing out that the days of such fixed working hours are over, the Station Manager of one of the MRTS stations said “Each company has its own operational hours and women also have a multiplicity of travel options. They are not going to wait for 30 minutes just to catch a Ladies Special.” J.Rama, another regular commuter, said “In the MRTS, the train is totally empty. How can we feel secure?” she asked.

[RajBang]

Guys i am very disappointed by seeing the railway budget as far as Tamilnadu is concerned. There are no new projects sanctioned. The projects that are going on have been allotted some crores. Apart from New coach Factory in chennai, there is nothing good.
I hoped that the work for Chennai-cuddalore via mahabalipuram will be started this year itself. i thought there will be a mention for a new line for sriperumbudur.
but this year it is a total waste.

ak moorty and velu were very good for tamilnadu.
so this time the DMK was not able to pressure mamata and get more projects for TN

[RajBang]

The second term of UPA Govt is not that supportive as of the First term for Tamilnadu.
this time we dont have road transport with us. no railways with us. The central and state govt(TN) is not able to convince Reliance Industries to allot gas from KG basin to Tamilnadu.

apart from Minor flyovers there is less or no infrastructure development in Tamilnadu.

[RajBang]

The Metro project is still a non starter.
The Hogenakkal project is a non starter.
The Ennore-manali project is a non starter
The madurvoyal-port project is a non starter.
The dry port in sriperumbudur has not started yet.
The Titanium project in tuticorin has been put in cold storage.
No gas from KG basin for Tamilnadu even though central government is running with support of DMK

The only achievement is New secretariat. high time people start thinking.

[vs007]

Originally Posted by RajBang

The Metro project is still a non starter.
The Hogenakkal project is a non starter.
The Ennore-manali project is a non starter
The madurvoyal-port project is a non starter.
The dry port in sriperumbudur has not started yet.
The Titanium project in tuticorin has been put in cold storage.
No gas from KG basin for Tamilnadu even though central government is running with support of DMK

The only achievement is New secretariat. high time people start thinking.

Is it a legitimate criticism or just talking points?
Hogenakkal project is proceeding and they are selecting contractors, if my memory serves me right.

Yes, Titanium project is dead and we all know the reasons why. Selfish and Short sighted political parties.

[chennaidesi]

Table 7.16 : State-wise exports of top 15 states
(US$ million)
(April-September) Share(%) Growth rate (%)
Sl. State 2007-08 2008-09 2008-09 2009-10 2008-09 2008-09 2009-10
No. (Apr-Sept.)
1 Maharashtra 44,841 44,667 25,612 20,180 24.1 -0.4 -21.2
2 Gujarat 34,736 40,272 26,802 16,433 21.7 15.9 -38.7
3 Tamil Nadu 14,816 18,540 10,654 7,770 10.0 25.1 -27.1
4 Karnataka 14,641 12,296 7,877 4,181 6.6 -16.0 -46.9
5 Andhra Pradesh 7,427 9,897 5,231 4,585 5.3 33.3 -12.3
6 Delhi 5,183 8,467 4,936 2,214 4.6 63.4 -55.2
7 Uttar Pradesh 4,295 7,571 5,284 2,586 4.1 76.3 -51.1
8 West Bengal 5,679 5,583 3,554 1,808 3.0 -1.7 -49.1
9 Haryana 4,414 4,792 2,478 2,481 2.6 8.6 0.1
10 Kerala 2,364 4,753 2,544 2,778 2.6 101.0 9.2
11 Orissa 3,024 3,351 2,189 1,220 1.8 10.8 -44.3
12 Rajasthan 3,276 3,313 1,815 1,365 1.8 1.1 -24.8
13 Punjab 2,598 3,016 1,628 1,175 1.6 16.1 -27.9
14 Madhya Pradesh 2,915 2,946 1,596 904 1.6 1.1 -43.4
15 Goa 1,387 1,781 640 554 1.0 28.4 -13.5
India’s total exports 163,132 185,295 108,907 76,589 100.0 13.6 -29.7

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/...df__34147a.pdf

[ferrari_fan]

Couldn't make out anything from that mass of numbers.. Could you post the source please?

[RajBang]

When they can build secretariat in 1 year which is of no use to the people,
awarding contracts for past three yrs for hogenakkal is a total eye wash.

[venkatm]

The hogenakkal project had a very huge cost increase added even before it started. Apparently, the changed the specification of the pipes!

[Kewl Batty]

Upgradation work in three areas to begin soon
Julie Mariappan, TNN, Feb 26, 2010, 06.08am IST

CHENNAI: Work on the high-cost upgradation of micro drainage and stormwater drains in three watershed areas North Buckingham, Kolathur and Velachery could begin soon with the Chennai corporation's elected council likely to give its nod to the identified contractors on Friday, informed sources said.

A few days ago, the tender committee had finalised the tenders for three watersheds. Siva Engineering company, which quoted Rs 16.21 crore for North Buckingham watershed, and R P P Construction (P) Ltd, which sought Rs 22.52 crore and Rs 41.82 crore for Kolathur and Velachery watersheds, were selected.

The elected council is unlikely to face problems in according sanction as the quoted prices are much lesser than the prevailing market rates. "Nonetheless, tenders for two watersheds Captain Cotton Canal and Cooum River will be rejected outright by the council, since the contractors quoting the least had themselves asked for 13% and 10.29% higher than the prevailing market rates. The tender committee has already disapproved of the tenders," sources said.

In October 2009, the corporation set the ball rolling for the upgradation of micro drainage-storm water drains and 16 minor canals criss-crossing the city at a cost of Rs 779 crore. The local body gets 35% of the funding for the project from the centre's Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and another 15% from the state government. The remaining 50% will be borne by the civic body itself, through sources like TUFIDCO and TNUDF.

Based on a consultant's report, the corporation floated tenders for the city's 12 watersheds in a phased manner. They received good support from the contractors, with each project receiving as many as 10 bids. "Now the authorities are holding talks with contractors for the Otteri Nullah, Virugambakkam-Arumbakkam, Adyar and South Buckingham watersheds," a senior official said.

The upgradation includes the construction of retaining walls, installing chain-like fencing and concrete waterbed in canals running for about 28.64 km at an estimated Rs 159.56 crore, the construction of new stormwater drains for about 290 km at an estimated Rs 343 crore, another demolition-cum-construction of drains for about 183 km at Rs 276 crore.

[RajBang]

Guys i just want to know what are your thoughts on this.

Which govt do you think is good for Tamilnadu and why.
DMK govt OR ADMK govt. Do reply.