Shobana Radhakrishnan on Muck Rack

Shobana Radhakrishnan

Verified
(She/Her)
Chennai, Madurai, Tamil Nādu
As seen in: Citizen Matters, Flipboard, The New Indian Express, InfoQ, The News Minute, Edex Live, Good Food Movement
Journalist
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Articles by Shobana Radhakrishnan

Elathur lake: A conservation model focused on nature, not human leisure

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Good Food Movement
On a Sunday evening, as the sunset’s glow faded over the Elathur lake in Tamil Nadu, a group of visitors gathered for what seemed like an ordinary nature walk. Darkness settled across the water, and thousands of birds appeared in waves across the sky. They circled above the lake before descending onto the branches of dried trees—sentinels rising from the Elathur’s waters.
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In this Tamil Nadu village, the palmyra has inspired a homecoming

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Good Food Movement
Pandian D. stood barefoot at the base of a towering palmyra tree, its trunk rising like a pillar into the bright, sunny sky. He carefully tightened a rope loop around his ankles and began climbing the tree, moving upward in a quick, practised rhythm. Within moments, the 42-year-old had scaled to the top and balanced himself among its branches.
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On Tamil Nadu’s coast, a living seed bank conserves 2000+ rice varieties

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Good Food Movement
On a bright January morning in Tamil Nadu’s Kuravapulam village, Sivaranjini S. closes the door to her kitchen, picks up a spiral-bound notebook, and walks into the paddy fields adjacent to her home. Her husband, Saravanakumaran P., follows her into the fields, adjusting his blue rubber boots as he walks past a line of palm trees that mark the boundary of their land. At first glance, this farm in the Nagapattinam district resembles any other paddy field in coastal Tamil Nadu.
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Keeping it cool: How to spot signs of heat stress in buffaloes

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Good Food Movement
Anyone who has spent time around livestock in the middle of the summer knows that animals feel the heat just as much as we do. With the palpable rise in global temperatures, now around 1.5°C higher than pre-industrial levels, and water becoming increasingly scarce, heat stress has become one of the most underestimated threats to dairy animals. In countries like India, where nearly comes from buffaloes, high temperatures can have a serious impact on the health and productivity of these animals.
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Road to freedom: How this Chennai shelter empowers women with disabilities

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
When fifty-one-year-old Matilda Fonceca first wheeled herself through the gates of the Better World Shelter for women with disabilities in Chennai, she was not looking for transformation. She simply wanted a safe place to stay. The locomotor disability that has shaped her life since childhood has never stopped her from pursuing independence, yet it has often dictated how society has treated her.
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Pallikaranai at a crossroads: Expert warns of irreversible damage to Chennai’s last great marshland

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
The Pallikaranai Marshland, one of Chennai’s last remaining natural wetlands, has long been a site of ecological tension. Its designation as a Ramsar site brought national and international recognition, along with renewed expectations for strong conservation measures. Yet the marshland continues to face intense pressure from urban development, infrastructure projects and real estate expansion.
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Accessibility in crisis: Climate disasters expose neglect of persons with disabilities

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
On a normal day, fatigue is a persistent challenge for Smitha Sadasivan, Senior Adviser at the Disability Rights India Foundation and a person living with Multiple Sclerosis. Yet, it is manageable with rest periods, nutritional supplements, hydration, and some mild activity. But heatwaves worsen her symptoms. “During heatwaves, none of these measures help. Only limited nutrition and hydration offer some relief,” says Smitha.
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How to apply for a pet licence in Chennai: A step-by-step guide

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
With a surge in dog bite incidents across Chennai, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has intensified measures to ensure responsible pet ownership. The civic body has set November 23 as the deadline for all dog owners to get a pet licence, failing which, they will face a fine of ₹5,000 starting November 24. Though mandatory pet licensing began in 2023, very few complied.
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When the Earth hurts, we hurt: Understanding eco-anxiety and eco-grief

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
As the realities of climate change become increasingly evident, conversations around its psychological impact are more important than ever. In the first part of this series, we shared the experiences of individuals navigating eco/climate anxiety in their daily lives. In this second part, we speak with two experts, Cauviya and Samatha, to delve deeper into eco-anxiety and eco-grief and examine how environmental changes are influencing mental health across different social groups.
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Living with climate anxiety: How rising heat, floods are reshaping daily life in Chennai 

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
M Ravi, a 63-year-old resident of Sarvamangala Nagar in Chennai, fondly remembers the days when he would bathe in Sembakkam Lake before heading to college. “Early mornings were cold as we lived close to the lake. I neither had the time nor the means to heat water. A clean lake gave me not just a place to bathe but also taught me how to swim. Rain or shine, it was central to our social life,” he says with a smile.
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Green Chennai Initiative: North Chennai coalition challenges toxic Waste-to-Energy plans

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
Residents of North Chennai have been vehemently opposing the Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) proposed Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant set to come up in Kodungaiyur. Over the past few months, they have made several representations to GCC officials and Mayor Priya Rajan, and even organised a human chain protest.
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Privatised trash, public cost: Is Chennai’s waste model failing the city?

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
As Chennai moves rapidly towards privatising its waste management, serious questions are emerging, not only about the impact on workers, but also on the city’s finances and transparency. In the first part of this series, we saw how privatisation of waste management affects the workers. In this second part of our series, we investigate whether privatisation truly makes economic sense for the city.
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From neglect to nurture: How a proactive community revived Chennai's Madipakkam Lake

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
A walk around Madipakkam Lake today offers a lush, green escape: a scenic pathway encircling brimming waters, shaded by native trees and plants that purify the air. Small islands in the lake attract a variety of birds, making it a haven for urban biodiversity. Along the paved paths, vendors selling healthy snacks and fresh vegetables have set up shop, a reflection of how environmental restoration can also support local livelihoods, particularly for low-income groups.
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Sanitation workers' protest: How the privatisation push deepens inequality for Chennai's marginalised

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
In August this year, over 2,000 sanitation workers from Central and North Chennai staged a peaceful protest against the Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) decision to privatise waste management services in Zones 5 and 6. Their demonstration was met with force and allegations of police brutality, just one day before Independence Day. Over the years, GCC has outsourced solid waste management to private firms in 13 out of its 15 zones.
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Chennai Corporation’s sponge parks: Nature-based solutions or cement-lined pits?

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
Sponge parks are quickly becoming a prominent element of Chennai’s flood mitigation efforts. Spearheaded by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), the project now boasts 78 sponge parks in the city, under the Sponge City initiative. While these structures are designed to manage surface runoff and prevent urban flooding, a closer examination reveals significant deviations from the holistic, nature-based designs that typically define a sponge park.
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1,800 kg less to the landfill: Chennai school’s green solution to food waste

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
As the lunch bell rings at Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) Chennai High School in Adyar, students line up eagerly for their midday meal. Seated in groups, they chat happily while enjoying vegetables grown in their school’s terrace garden, which they helped plant and nurture. Once lunch is over, every student deposits food waste into a dedicated bin. This seemingly small act is part of a much larger system.
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Left behind in the heat: Chennai’s fisherfolk face climate crisis without policy support

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
They form the backbone of the country’s seafood export industry, worth over ₹60,000 crore. However, Chennai’s coastal communities, especially fisherwomen, remain mostly invisible in policy and pay. Enduring punishing 15-hour days under sweltering heat, they clean, dry, and sell fish for just ₹200 to ₹300 a day. They work on blistering concrete without shade, toilets, or access to safe drinking water.
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From degraded wetland to community space: Porur sponge park redefines flood control in Chennai

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
Just a few metres away from the congested traffic bottleneck on Mount Poonamallee Road, near Sri Ramachandra University in Porur, lies Chennai’s first wetland sponge park, named Dr MS Swaminathan Wetland Eco Park. Unlike most parks in Chennai, this one stands out for striking a balance between ecological restoration and community use. What was once a marshy plot of land became a dumping ground and parking lot over the years.
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Understanding sponge parks: Why are Indian cities opting for it?

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
As Indian cities expand at an unprecedented pace, the consequences of rapid urbanisation are becoming increasingly visible: frequent flooding, water scarcity, heat stress, and the loss of natural ecosystems. Once-porous landscapes are now sealed with concrete, leaving rainwater with nowhere to go but into overburdened drainage systems. Even moderate rainfall events can now bring cities to a standstill.
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Councillor Talk: Jayaraman of Chennai's Ward 4 strongly opposes GCC's WTE project

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
Once a fiery trade unionist and now a seasoned people’s representative, Chennai’s Ward 4 Councillor R Jayaraman has been involved in electoral politics for over 35 years. Hailing from the village of Veeranapuram in Thiruvallur district, his journey advocating for people’s rights began early. At just 16, he led a protest demanding higher wages for the farmers in his village. This led to a lifetime of grassroots activism and public service. He previously served two terms as the Councillor of Ward 46.
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Lake lost to waste: How a 10-year court battle still failed Pallavaram Periya Eri

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| The News Minute Verified
Legal action by concerned citizens has frequently played a crucial role in safeguarding India’s natural ecosystems. One such initiative finally stopped Pallavaram Municipality from dumping waste illegally inside the Pallavaram Periya Eri, a once-thriving lake in Chennai’s southern suburbs. Advocate Surendranath Karthik took up a pro bono case in 2012 to restore Pallavaram Periya Eri. The case was initially filed with the NGT’s Principal Bench and later moved to the Southern Bench.
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Under the blistering sun: Rising heat and the struggles of Chennai’s coastal communities

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| The News Minute Verified
Anthony Ammal, a 43-year-old fisher from the coastal hamlet of Pulicat in Chennai, begins her day long before the sun scorches the concrete beneath her feet. Her mornings are occupied with preparing her two daughters for school and ensuring they are fed before she steps out. She then makes her way to the Pazhaverkadu fish market, where she labours for approximately 15 hours each day.
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Under the blistering sun: Rising heat and the struggles of Chennai’s coastal communities

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Flipboard
2 hours ago India: The Second Night of Muharram in Karbala 2 Guwahati, India - June 28, 2025 Shia Muslims gather for mourning rituals between the two holy shrines of Imam Hussein and al-Abbas in Karbala, Iraq on June 28, 2025, marking the second night of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. Shia worshippers commemorated the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, with zikr, rhythmic chest-beating, and religious hymns.
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Under the blistering sun: Rising heat and the struggles of Chennai's coastal communities

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
Anthony Ammal, a 43-year-old fisher from the coastal hamlet of Pulicat in Chennai, begins her day long before the sun scorches the concrete beneath her feet. Her mornings are occupied with preparing her two daughters for school and ensuring they are fed before she steps out. She then makes her way to the Pazhaverkadu fish market, where she labours for approximately 15 hours each day.
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From legal wins to civic neglect: The unfolding crisis at Pallavaram Periya Eri

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
Legal action by concerned citizens has frequently played a crucial role in safeguarding India’s natural ecosystems. One such initiative finally stopped Pallavaram Municipality from dumping waste illegally inside the Pallavaram Periya Eri, a once-thriving lake in Chennai’s southern suburbs. Advocate Surendranath Karthik took up a pro bono case in 2012 to restore Pallavaram Periya Eri. The case was initially filed with the NGT’s Principal Bench and later moved to the Southern Bench.
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Seeds of sustainability: How a school garden initiative is cultivating change in Chennai

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
In the midst of buzzing classrooms at the Government Higher Secondary School in Sholinganallur, a row of neatly arranged plants thrives in grow bags, slightly elevated from the ground. These are no ordinary plants; the fresh produce from this school garden goes directly into the mid-day meal preparations, providing nourishment to the students. Amidst Chennai’s concrete sprawl, children, especially from marginalised backgrounds, may have little exposure to abundant greenery.
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Floods, faith, and civic action: Two Chennai lakes, one struggle for survival

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
Encroachments on Chennai lakes often begin with the construction of religious structures, such as temples. Unless citizens take collective action, such encroachments are likely to persist. This is a key lesson from the citizen-led initiative by the Federation of Sunnambu Kulathur Residents Welfare Association to protect Narayanapuram Lake. For years, Narayanapuram Lake has faced encroachments, with four temples and a church gradually expanding into its area.
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Why the closure of waste processing units in Chennai is a setback for sustainability efforts

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
Muthulakshmi*, a sanitary worker contracted with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), begins her day at 4 am, travelling from her home in Kodungaiyur to South Chennai. After street cleaning, she and her co-workers use battery-operated vehicles (BOV) to collect household waste. Few families practise waste segregation, leaving sanitary workers like Muthulakshmi to sort mixed waste themselves. Despite BOVs having separate bins, the process is time-consuming.
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Chennai braces for extreme heat, prepares measures to combat rising temperatures

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
Chennai recorded the highest temperature of 42.7 degrees Celsius on May 17 last year, marking the hottest day of summer so far. According to a study by Heat Watch, titled Struck by Heat: A News Analysis of Heat Stroke Deaths in India in 2024, 733 deaths due to heatstroke were reported across 17 states in India between March and June. This year, the sweltering conditions have returned early.
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What stench? Chennai composting centre turns trash into treasure, minus the smell

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
In urban areas, an unmistakable, overpowering stench often signals the presence of a waste processing facility in a neighbourhood. The foul odour emanating from these sites has long been a major concern for residents and civic authorities. It is also purportedly one of the main reasons behind the Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) recent decision to shut down 168 Micro Composting Centres (MCC) and 88 Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) across the city.
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1.94 crore litres of water saved: How one Chennai apartment mastered sewage treatment

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
Two years ago, I visited the Central Park South apartment complex in Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) to observe and write about its in-house Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). While large apartment complexes are required to have the facility to treat their sewage, many in Chennai lack one.
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பாதுகாப்பற்ற தண்ணீர், பாதுகாப்பற்ற வாழ்க்கை: சென்னையில் அதிகரித்து வரும் நீர்வழி நோய்கள்

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
வண்ணாரப்பேட்டையைச் சேர்ந்த 24 வயதான தரிஷினி, தான் தினமும் குடிக்கும் தண்ணீர் தனது உடல்நலத்தை இவ்வளவு மோசமாக பாதிக்கும் என்று ஒருபோதும் எதிர்பார்க்கவில்லை. திருநெல்வேலியைச் சேர்ந்த தரிஷினி கடந்த இரண்டு வருடங்களாக சென்னையில் தனியாக வசித்து வருகிறார். ஒரு நாள் மாலை, வேலையிலிருந்து வீடு திரும்பிய பிறகு, அவருக்கு கடுமையான வயிற்று வலி ஏற்பட்டது. மதிய உணவாக சாப்பிட்ட காரமான உணவு காரணமாக இருக்கலாம் என்று கருதி, அவர் மருந்தகங்களில் கிடைக்கும் சில மருந்துகளை எடுத்துக்கொண்டு படுக்கைக்குச் சென்றார்.
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உங்கள் தண்ணீர் குடிப்பதற்கு பாதுகாப்பானதா? தண்ணீரை சோதிப்பதற்கான நடைமுறை வழிகாட்டி

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
உங்கள் வீட்டிற்கு வழங்கப்படும் தண்ணீர் விசித்திரமான வாசனையை வீசுகிறதா அல்லது உலோக சுவையை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறதா? சென்னையில் குடிநீர் மாசுபடுவது குறித்த கவலைகள் அதிகரித்து வரும் நிலையில், சென்னை மக்கள் தங்கள் குழாய்களில் இருந்து தரமான தண்ணீர் மட்டும்தான் வருகிறதா என்று கேள்வி எழுப்ப இது ஒரு இது சரியான நேரம். ஐஐடி-மெட்ராஸ் நடத்திய ஆய்வில், சென்னையில் உள்ள 75% வீடுகளில் உள்ள தண்ணீர் வயிற்றுப்போக்கு மற்றும் வாந்தியை ஏற்படுத்தும் பாக்டீரியாவான ஈ.கோலையால் (E. coli) மாசுபட்டுள்ளது தெரியவந்துள்ளது.
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Unsafe water, unsafe lives: The rising threat of waterborne illnesses in Chennai

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified, R Mangala, Harshitha Padmavinod, a Bachelors
| Citizen Matters Verified
Dharishini, a 24-year-old resident of Washermenpet, never anticipated that the water she consumed daily would take such a severe toll on her health. Originally from Tirunelveli, Dharishini has been living and working alone in Chennai for the past two years. One evening, after returning home from work, she developed intense stomach pain. Assuming it was due to the spicy food she had for lunch, she took some over-the-counter medicine and went to bed.
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Explained: What it costs to get a BWSSB connection in Bengaluru

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
You and every citizen frustrated by potholed roads, air pollution, garbage—in short our broken cities. Citizen Matters is India’s leading Civic Media Platform. We dig into the “why” and “how” behind issues plaguing our cities and neighbourhoods—and spotlight solutions. But we go further. We focus on citizens driving change and their strategies and bring you a playbook for better cities.
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Strict action against contractors if quality of tenements not maintained: TNUHDB MD Anshul Mishra

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified, Laasya Shekhar, Abhinav Jandhyala, Archita Anish
| Citizen Matters Verified
Concerns about the quality of housing and basic amenities in Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) tenements have reached a tipping point. Resettled families, relocated due to natural disasters, continue to face persistent issues such as frequent flooding, dilapidated infrastructure, and a lack of essential services.
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Bengaluru’s looming water crisis: Why citizens are struggling to follow the BWSSB order

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
As summer starts kicking in, the strong likelihood of a critical water shortage in Bengaluru is again making headlines. A recent report by BWSSB and Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) reported 80 wards that will face severe water crisis and scarcity this summer and recommended switching to Cauvery connections, as groundwater is depleting at a faster rate.
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Chennai’s last lung space: Nanmangalam Lake faces an ecological emergency

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified, Laasya Shekhar, a Bachelors
| Citizen Matters Verified
Catching a glimpse of the Indian Eagle Owl is not a rarity for birders and nature enthusiasts who frequent the Nanmangalam Lake and the surrounding forests. Yet, this privilege is under threat as the lake’s once-thriving ecosystem faces severe environmental degradation. Fed by rainwater from the hillocks of the Nanmangalam Reserve Forest, the lake — spread over 200 acres — is now ravaged by encroachments, illegal water extraction, sewage and garbage disposal.
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Is your water safe to drink? A practical guide for Chennai residents

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified, Sandhya Bhat, a Bachelors
| Citizen Matters Verified
Does the water supplied to your home smell strange or taste metallic? With growing concerns over drinking water contamination in Chennai, it is a wake-up call for residents to question what is coming out of their taps. A survey conducted by IIT-Madras revealed that water in 75% of city homes is contaminated with E. coli, a bacteria responsible for causing diarrhoea and vomiting.
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Caught in the tides: Can Chennai protect its Olive Ridley turtles?

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By Laasya Shekhar, Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified, Harshitha Padmavinod
| Citizen Matters Verified
Chennai witnessed an unprecedented environmental disaster this year, as more than 1,000 dead Olive Ridley turtles washed ashore in January. The mass mortality event has put the Forest and Fisheries Departments, along with voluntary organisations, on high alert, prompting collaborative efforts to strengthen Olive Ridley turtle conservation.
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Pollution and indiscriminate development threaten Madambakkam Lake's survival

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified, Harshitha Padmavinod, Anisha Jayadevan, a Bachelors
| Citizen Matters Verified
Lakshmipathi, a small-scale dairy farmer, has lived in Madambakkam for over 25 years. “Madambakkam’s name originates from cows, but the common grazing grounds around the lake have disappeared over time. Now, if we let the cattle roam the streets, corporation officials will impound them. It costs us ₹2,600 every time we retrieve them,” he says. Cattle rearing is a vital livelihood for many in Madambakkam. “The area is home to around 3,000 cattle.
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Hope amid despair: Dehradun Citizens Forum seeks to set a model for citizen-led governance

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By Arunima Naithani, Anoop Nautiyal, Santosh Kumar, Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
In Dehradun’s narrow lanes, mayoral election banners flutter briefly, promising progress, before fading into obscurity. The sound of crackers and victory speeches fills the air, echoing through neighborhoods already too familiar with broken promises. Across Uttarakhand’s urban towns and cities, local body elections were recently held, leaving behind a growing unease—a sense of democracy as a ritual, devoid of impact.
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Chennai Councillor Talk: Pavithra keen to resolve long-term housing issues in Ward 43

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified, Prajna Dutt, a Bachelors
| Citizen Matters Verified
“I have been interested in politics ever since I was a 10-year-old girl as my family has been part of DMK for generations,” says Pavithra Nareshkumar, Councillor of Ward 43 in Chennai, speaking about her political journey. She spoke to Citizen Matters about the measures she has taken to address the civic issues in Ward 43 of Chennai, especially for flood mitigation and improving underground drainage systems in the ward.
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Urgent call for safety: Carmelaram-Gunjur Road a nightmare for residents

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By Rajkumar Dugar, Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified, Freesto Francis
| Citizen Matters Verified
Just last month, a tragic accident on the Carmelaram- Gunjur 100 Feet road claimed the life of a young boy, highlighting the increasing dangers of this stretch. This key route, opened to the public just nine months ago, was meant to improve connectivity but has instead become an increasingly unsafe, accident-prone zone, posing serious risks to commuters, particularly at night. Despite the road being opened for public use, it was not fully completed at the time.
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Alleged arson, road plans and builders' greed: All that Dindoshi Hills is fighting

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
The green cover at Dindoshi Hills in Malad East is one among the disappearing forests of Mumbai. Rich in biodiversity, it extends over 138 hectares and is close to Tulsi Lake and Kanheri Caves. Unfortunately, the hills have fallen prey to the greed of developers, leading to deforestation. During a study conducted by Vanashakti from June 2021 to October 2022, we found forty species of plants in the close vicinity of the site.
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Holes in tunnels: Glaring gaps in Bengaluru’s proposed Tunnel Road Project

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By Rajkumar Dugar, Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified, Malavika Ajith Raji, Sherebanu Frosh
| Citizen Matters Verified
The Tunnel Roads Project (TRP) was cleared by the Karnataka Cabinet on August 22, 2024. On December 20th the same year, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) unveiled the 628-page report titled “Comprehensive Bengaluru City Traffic Management  Infrastructure Plan – proposals for vehicular tunnel / grade separator / road  widening in selected corridors- final feasibility report, December 2024”, prepared by Altinok Consulting Engineers Inc.
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Ride smart, ditch cash: All about the Singara Chennai Card

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified, Malavika Ajith Raji, Sherebanu Frosh, a Bachelors
| Citizen Matters Verified
On January 6 2025, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) launched the ‘Singara Chennai’ smart card, enabling cashless transactions not only on MTC buses but also on metro trains in Chennai. It can be used in Bengaluru and Delhi too, which accept the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC). In the first phase of the rollout, MTC has partnered with the State Bank of India (SBI) and plans to distribute 50,000 cards free of charge. Within the first 15 days, MTC sold around 11,000 cards.
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Price of commute: Delhi's mobility crisis is endangering citizens' lives

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified, Malavika Ajith Raji, Sherebanu Frosh
| Citizen Matters Verified
Samina, aged 31, looks out of her rickshaw at the grey Delhi air, worried. She’s pregnant, due in a month or so, and the baby is shifting again. One hand on her stomach, she often protects it from bumps, and the other hand holds the bar. It is during bus rides like this that she wishes she hadn’t forgotten her pollution mask. A long time resident of Delhi, she has read the news, she knows that the air is not safe for the baby. Increased chances of premature labour, low birth weight, the list goes on.
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MTC focussed on intelligent bus system in Chennai: Managing Director Alby John Varghese

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified, Sravasti Datta Verified, a Bachelors
| Citizen Matters Verified
In October 2023, Alby John Varghese, a 2013-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, took charge as the Managing Director of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) in Chennai. His appointment marked a significant shift, as an IAS official had not helmed the government body for over two decades.
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City Buzz: One more stampede at Maha Kumbh | GRAP 3 in Delhi...and more

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By Shobana Radhakrishnan Verified
| Citizen Matters Verified
The Maha Kumbh Mela stampede in the early hours of January 29th in Prayagraj led to at least 30 deaths and 60 people being injured. Large crowds flocked to the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh, on Mauni Amavasya, a day considered auspicious for the ritual dip. There were about 10 crore pilgrims. Just a few hours later, another stampede-like situation three kilometres away at Jhusi resulted in deaths of at least seven, including a child, said police sources.
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