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Articles by Tarika Balakannan
Corruption can be eradicated only when people speak up, say activists
Chennai: The state govt says it wants to eradicate corruption, but this requires more than govt assurances. Residents must understand their rights and question officials, activists said at a meeting organised by the Perambur Neighbourhood Development Forum on Sunday.
₹80-crore stormwater drain to ease flooding in Korattur
Chennai: Residents of Central Avenue, East Avenue and the Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) Colony in Korattur, who experience flooding every monsoon, may soon get relief with the completion of Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) nearly 5-km stormwater drain, being executed in two phases at a cost of ₹80.25 crore. The first phase, a 2.44-km stretch estimated at ₹40.36 crore, is under way. “A length of 1.8km has been completed.
Dear Chennaiite, your complaint is registered. What happens next?
Chennai: About 200 staff at Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) bridge the gap between residents with complaints and the officials concerned. ICCC went live in Dec 2020 and served as a COVID war room. It is now linked with 16 GCC departments. A live display shows civic data, rain forecasts and camera feeds of roads, subways and canals. Complaints are received via the 1913 helpline, Namma Chennai app, GCC web portal and social media.
Chennai streets waterlogged, corporation lines up pumps to tackle flooding
Chennai: Residents across the city woke up to waterlogged streets after Chennai recorded an average rainfall of 70mm on Wednesday. Many areas saw ankle-deep stagnant water, with the flooding disrupting traffic during peak hours. Rains started lashing the city from Tuesday night and continued till Wednesday morning. Localities such as Saidapet (125 mm), Vadapalani (132 mm), and Alandur (119 mm) received very heavy rain (115 mm to 204 mm).
What's Chennai's plan to lower flood risk? Original
Rapid urban expansion, shrinking vegetation and waterbodies, drainage gaps, and low-lying terrain contribute to flood risk, according to a University of Madras study. The city’s flood-risk hotspots include Velachery, Pallavaram, Chromepet and surrounding southern localities, parts of western Chennai, Koyambedu, Villivakkam and areas around Tondiarpet. The study found that between 2000 and 2024, city's built-up area grew 7.6%, vegetation cover declined 26.14% and water bodies shrank 22.54%.
Philately passports to go on sale in Tamil Nadu on Oct 19
Chennai: Want to travel to 58 locations across the state and fill a booklet with postage stamps and postmarks? For those who enjoy the little things and old-school charm, Philately Passports will be available from Monday. Following the buzz in Karnataka , the Tamil Nadu Postal Circle launched the ‘Philately Passport’, a pocket-sized booklet that invites travellers to explore the state’s heritage sites and tourist destinations, where they can collect a special postmark at every stop.
IMD forecasts heavy rain in 17 Tamil Nadu districts, over 15,000 civic workers deployed Original
CHENNAI: Heavy rain continued to lash Chennai overnight into Sunday, inundating several areas, with Ennore Port recording 222.5mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 5.30am. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast heavy to very heavy rain in Chennai and neighbouring areas on Sunday, while authorities have mobilised thousands of civic workers and disaster response teams to prepare for possible flooding.
Perambur to get 24/7 AC lounge for gig workers
Chennai: Gig workers delivering food and other essentials will soon have a place to rest between deliveries, with a 24/7 air-conditioned lounge coming up on GNT Road in Erukkanchery in chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s Perambur constituency. This is among four development projects worth ₹1.45 crore coming up in the constituency. The lounge will have drinking water, toilet facilities and charging points.
Civic agencies line up pumps to tackle flooding in city
Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has readied more than 1,000 pumps, including 500 tractor-mounted pumps, to remove water from flooded areas during the upcoming northeast monsoon. In early 2026, GCC identified 219 waterlogging-prone locations. On Wednesday, officials said new stormwater drains have been constructed at 93 locations, and work is underway at 19 more locations.
Dangers lurk in dark corners of this MRTS station Original
Chennai: For several days, a photo of Vijaya V, dressed in a blue sari, stared from the missing-person poster on the walls and pillars of Thirumayilai MRTS Station. On Monday, her body was pulled out from the same building with multiple injuries. The posters her relatives put up in search of her now frame a darker question: How safe are these stations that thousands of commuters rely on every day? How did the stench of the decomposing body go unnoticed for days?
Recurring black silt in water tanks troubles Virugambakkam
Chennai: Residents of Sri Ayyappa Nagar in Virugambakkam have complained of recurring black silt deposits in their household water tanks. The water supplied to their homes has developed a different taste, and their tanks often show a thick layer of black sediment. They said the silt returns within days of cleaning the tanks, raising concerns about water quality and health risks. The problem has persisted despite repeated cleaning and complaints to Metrowater.
Built to feed the city, Amma Unavagams battle with fraying kitchens
Chennai: Amma Unavagams promise a square meal to anyone who walks in, but several infrastructure issues continue to plague the dining experience. With the northeast monsoon approaching and the city having only 111 community kitchens, Chennai is expected to rely heavily on Amma Unavagams to provide food during emergencies and floods.
GCC audits 417 schools for safety, infrastructure gaps
Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation’s Gender Policy Lab is conducting safety audits at its 417 schools to identify infrastructure gaps, assess physical and environmental risks, and recommend improvements. The exercise follows reports of shortcomings in some schools, including girls being asked to leave class while menstruating, poor toilet facilities and limited awareness of menstrual health.
40-day awareness drive boosts waste segregation in south Chennai
Chennai: By the end of the 40-day 'Kuppai Pirippom–Naalai Kaapom' (Segregate Garbage, Save Tomorrow) campaign, more households in the city are segregating their waste, said GCC officials. The campaign was launched as a pilot in five southern GCC zones to create awareness through door-to-door outreach.
Women must become force for their own safety: Vanni Arasu
Chennai: Husbands who carry out the official duties of their wives, who are elected representatives, are effectively impersonating them, social justice minister Vanni Arasu said at the Women’s Safety and Gender Justice Conference at Ripon Buildings on Wednesday. The conference was organised by theGreater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) Gender & Policy Lab (GPL) in collaboration with the Women’s Safety and Gender Justice Coalition.
18th century buildings at Egmore Museum get heritage makeover
Chennai: The 18th-century Geology and Anthropology buildings at the Government Museum in Egmore are undergoing a ₹10 crore conservation makeover by public works department, to be completed by March next year. The conservation work involves roof restoration, flooring, wall plastering, and making the buildings waterproof, PWD officials said. Roof restoration forms a key component of the work. The Geology building has a reddish-brown Mangalore tile roof, a portion of which had collapsed.
Internet addiction no longer just a young person’s problem: Chennai’s deaddiction centre sees elderly patients
Chennai: What began as a de-addiction centre for students and employees who became increasingly dependent on the internet during the Covid-19 pandemic is now seeing senior citizens too seeking treatment for internet addiction, doctors at Omandurar Government Medical College Hospital said.
Chennai’s private bus fares hit ₹5K ahead of festive rush
Chennai: Three weeks before Ayudha Puja, passengers booking private buses from the city for the holiday are seeing fares as high as ₹4,999 to Kodaikanal, up to ₹3,500 for Ooty, and exceeding 3,000 on some other popular routes. For Oct 17 (Saturday), Chennai–Ooty ticket fares touch ₹3,199. Chennai–Madurai tickets for Oct 19 cost up to ₹3,019, while Chennai–Coimbatore fares for Oct 16 hit ₹3,049.
More cameras, flood monitors for GCC’s command and control centre
Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation has drawn up a ₹98.25 crore, five-year plan to run and upgrade its Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), expanding its network of flood-monitoring systems ahead of the northeast monsoon. The system will expand CCTV surveillance from 668 to 1,256 cameras and increase rain gauges from 30 to 65. GCC will get 40 new floodometers to measure and report waterlogging, along with an additional variable message display (VMD) to project public information.
New sports turfs, anganwadi, community facilities coming up in Egmore
Chennai: Residents of Egmore are set to get a range of new public facilities, with a sports complex, anganwadi and gym, community hall and Muthalvar Padaippagam among the projects being taken up in the area. Santhosh Nagar residents of ward 61 get multi-sports turfs which have been completed. Regional Deputy Commissioner (North) Swetha Suman said they will be ready for inauguration. “We are looking to finalise inaugural time,” she said.
Abandon your pet, pay ₹25,000 to Chennai corporation
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Waiting areas without seats, inadequate toilets; No change in women & children’s hospitals in Chennai after CM visit
Chennai: Less than three months after chief minister C Joseph Vijay inspected Government Hospital for Women and Obstetrics and Gynecology, the campus remains untidy even as the city claims to have stepped up dengue-control measures. It lacks basic facilities, including seating, toilets, and drinking water.
Drains in limbo, Chennai stares at flood risk
Monsoon is approaching but city roads are in a bad shape and stormwater drains are far from flood-ready. Unfinished stormwater drains remain open across various pockets, as Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has not built silt catch pits. Newer neighbourhoods are bracing for a bad monsoon this year. The civic body has left the stormwater drain open in multiple spots in Anna Nagar Second Avenue from Thirumangalam to Roundtana. Key junctions haven’t been connected.
VietJet flight makes emergency landing at Chennai airport Original
CHENNAI: A VietJet Airlines flight from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to Colombo in Sri Lanka with 143 passengers on board made an emergency landing at Chennai airport on Tuesday night after an engine of the A320 aircraft failed. Airport officials said after the crew reported an engine problem, the aircraft was diverted to Chennai. A full emergency was declared here at 9.55pm and all measures under the Airport Emergency Plan were activated.
Anna Nagar Tower park renovation nearing completion
Chennai: The ₹3.5-crore rejuvenation of the pond at Anna Nagar’s Tower Park will be ready for users and joggers by Oct. As part of the project, a new footpath will be laid around the pond for walkers and joggers. Greater Chennai Corporation officials said the work began two months ago and that laying of stones along the pond slope, called stone pitching, would begin soon and be wrapped up by next month.
Biomining on in Chennai, yet waste keeps piling up
As Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) focuses on clearing decades of accumulated garbage from major dumpyards at Kodungaiyur, Perungudi and Athipattu, the city’s decentralised waste processing has taken a hit, raising concerns over how fresh waste is being managed. A major chunk — 168 of 190 micro composting centres (MCCs) were shut following a council resolution on Feb 27, 2025. This reduced GCC’s 531 metric tonnes (MT) processing capacity to 115 MT.
No respite from the elements at Lighthouse bus stop
Chennai: Commuters waiting at the Lighthouse bus stop, opposite D5 Marina Police Station, are forced to stand in a dilapidated shelter with a rusted, leaky roof and seating for barely six people, even as the city debates AC bus shelters and monsoon upgrades ahead of the northeast monsoon. At the Lighthouse bus stop, the shelter’s sheet roof has several rusted portions with visible gaps, and its open sides leave passengers exposed to heat and rain.
Puzhal pipeline burst leads to GNT Road cave-in, disruption of water supply to four zones in Chennai Original
Chennai: A massive road cave-in occurred on Grand Northern Trunk (GNT) Road after a Metrowater pipeline burst on Monday, causing traffic congestion and panic. No injuries were reported. Metrowater is carrying out rectification work, which will disrupt water supply to four zones till Sept 9. The burst occurred in the early hours of Monday on a 1,200mm diameter main pipeline that carries drinking water from the 300mld Puzhal treatment plant.
A father’s dream realised: Son finds a place in Army, after eight attempts
CHENNAI: For 25-year-old Mohit Arora from Punjab, joining the Army was not just a career choice. It was a dream he had grown up watching through his father. Mohit’s father, Manohar Lal, served in the Army Postal Service for 20 years. “I wanted my son to wear the uniform one day and serve the nation,” Manohar said. The family is from the city of Phagwara, over 100 kilometres from the capital, Chandigarh. But the journey was far from easy.
Passing out parade at Chennai’s OTA: When parents let choice lead the way
CHENNAI: It was perhaps the happiest Teachers’ Day for Dashrath Singh Rathore, a teacher from Sindarli village in Rajasthan’s Pali district as his daughter, Shivani Rathore , 25, passed out of the Officer’s Training Academy in Chennai on Saturday. Asked why his daughter chose the Army and became the first person in their family to become an Army officer, Dashrath’s answer was simple: “It’s her choice. It was not my part to restrict her.
2 years on, GCC reworks Loop Road fish market stalls’ layout Original
Chennai: Two years after the ₹9.97-crore Loop Road fish market in Pattinapakkam opened, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has decided to make layout changes to the stalls at a cost of ₹48.18 lakh as vendors stay away, citing lack of space. Three existing stalls will be merged into two larger shops to accommodate vendors inside the designated market and ensure the facility functions as intended.
11 Chennai bus shelters to get AC, uplift through CSR funds
Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with seven companies that will construct and maintain 11 airconditioned bus shelters across the city.
Parking free; road space costly
Chennai: Whenever Calvin N travels he notes how walkable other cities are compared to Chennai. “Here, a footpath is an obstacle course, with shops and other encroachments in the way,” says the 24-year-old Koyambedu resident. “A big chunk of them are parked vehicles,” he says. Chennai Metropolitan Area has 92 lakh registered vehicles, according to 2022 RTO data, with the city fighting a losing battle for road space.
GCC to launch volunteer app for monsoon relief, rescue operations
Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation will launch a ‘volunteers registration app’ next week as part of its monsoon preparedness drive, through which residents can register to help in relief and rescue operations in the event of floods or other disasters. After a meeting chaired by additional chief secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi with several departments, GCC officials said that as part of the disaster response plan, the civic body is preparing 215 flood relief centres and 111 community kitchens.
Poaching menace: Pelican suffers neck injury at Korattur lake
Chennai: A pelican suffered a neck injury after it was attacked by a man at Korattur lake around 9am on Saturday. People at the spot intervened, chased the man away and alerted forest officials, who later rescued the bird. The pelican, weighing around 6kg, was rescued around 1.30pm and is undergoing treatment, said forest officials..
Metrowater installs flow meters to plug water losses
Chennai: Metrowater has installed 372 of a planned 456 flow meters across its treatment plants, distribution stations and filling stations, as part of a ₹44.93 crore drive to track how much water the city loses before it reaches consumers. Metrowater managing director T Anand inspected the meters at the water distribution station in Manapakkam, Alandur zone, and at the Ramakrishna Nagar pumping station in Valasaravakkam. He said the remaining 84 meters will be installed soon.
Sanitation workers storm Ripon Building, ask job permanency
Chennai: Tense moments ensued after a flash protest by more than 50 sanitation workers at the Ripon Building on Tuesday. They entered the civic headquarters, sat on the floor and raised slogans demanding regularisation of their jobs. According to police, the sanitation workers sought permission to stage a peaceful protest near the Allikulam court complex.
Residents flag foul smell, water woes in Perambur, Anna Nagar
Chennai: Residents of a few streets in Perambur and Anna Nagar have been relying on borewells and bottled water for drinking and cooking after the Metro Water supply to their homes developed a foul, sewage-like smell. The problem has been persistent for over a month. The complaints point to a wider problem in the city’s water-supply network, as Metrowater officials suspect it could be due to pipelines damaged during stormwater drain work in the two localities.
CCTV cameras to keep watch at six new bus shelters in Tondiarpet
Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is planning to strengthen women’s safety by setting up CCTV-enabled stainless-steel bus shelters at six locations in Tondiarpet, with cameras linked directly to its centralised control room. The project, costing ₹1.143 crore and funded through MLA funds and the Chief Minister’s Integrated Urban Transformation Mission (CMIUTM), will cover the Tondiarpet zone 4.
Encroachments tighten their grip around Valluvar Kottam
Chennai: Footpaths around Valluvar Kottam are turning into a maze of encroachments, as eateries, vegetable vendors and parked water tanker lorries squeeze pedestrians onto Valluvar Kottam High Road. Eateries have spilled onto the pavement, giving it the look of an unauthorised food street. Tea, coffee, juice and biryani stalls have set up large cooking vessels, gas cylinders, chairs and name boards on the footpath, while parked two-wheelers further shrink the space left for pedestrians.
Bulbs, TVs and repeated fires later, Adyar residents seek new transformer
Chennai: Plagued by repeated fires, voltage fluctuations, and sudden blackouts, residents of Kasturba Nagar in Adyar are demanding the immediate replacement of a hazardous transformer on 8th Main Road. Repeated petitions to the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) for the past four years have yielded no results. According to residents, the transformer was installed near door no. 14 on 8th Main Road twenty years ago and is shared with the adjacent 7th Main Road.
Residents seek rethink of Nageswara Rao Park redevelopment
Chennai: Memories of a greener, tree-filled Nageswara Rao Park came alive at a silent gathering in Mylapore on Sunday, with more than 50 residents, volunteers from Nizhal and civic activists coming together to protest what they described as the park’s growing concretisation. Since 2024, when Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) undertook stormwater drain construction, the four-acre park has remained largely unusable as it was dug up.
Chennai corporation plans to set up more sumps at dumpyards to fight recurring fires
Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation plans to set up two more 2 lakh litre water storage sumps at Perungudi and Kodungaiyur dumpyards for ₹54.3 lakh. Fire has broke out five times this year, between March and June. The first incident was reported at Kodungaiyur on March 14, followed by two incidents at Perungudi on June 4 and 15, and two more at Kodungaiyur on June 21 and 26. Each time, GCC had to rush in water tankers and excavators.
Cracks appear on Anna Nagar tennis court before first serve
Chennai: A tennis court maintained by the Greater Chennai Corporation on Third Street in A L Block, Anna Nagar, has developed multiple cracks across its playing surface only two months after construction, rendering it unusable and prompting questions about the quality of the work. The court cost roughly Rs 15 lakh to build. Assistant engineer Nandagopalan said the court has developed ‘air cracks’ and rectification work will be carried out. Contractor Arumugam disagreed.
Leaky walls, stench, dim lights greet pedestrians at Anna Salai subway
Chennai: Stench is the first thing that greets pedestrians entering the subway on Anna Salai, followed by leaky walls, dim stretches and a loose drainage cover that forces commuters to watch their step. The subway, opposite Higginbothams, is used by thousands of pedestrians, connecting them to multiple modes of transport, including the LIC bus stop and autorickshaws. “They cleaned the subway recently. But many lights don’t work.
GCC’s race against rain: Sept-end deadline set to complete stormwater drains
Chennai : At least 398 roads have been dug up as Greater Chennai Corporation races to finish stormwater drain (SWD) projects before the northeast monsoon. GCC has also identified 230 locations as severely vulnerable to flooding. Many lie in peripheral areas, including Perungudi and Sholinganallur, as well as neighbourhoods such as Tondiarpet, Anna Nagar and Tiruvottiyur — among areas hit hardest during last year’s monsoon.
Road not taken gifts Erode teen ₹3.5cr Ivy League scholarship Original
Chennai: When 17-year-old Pranav Ilango leaves for the US later this month to begin his undergraduate studies at Brown University, his parents will be sending him on a flight they once dreamed of. Pranav, from Erode, has won a full scholarship worth ₹3.55 crore to study at Brown, where he plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree combining applied mathematics and public health.
TNHB seeks one-acre plot in Anna Nagar’s Tower Park from GCC Original
Chennai : Anna Nagar’s iconic Tower Park may lose one acre of land if Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) agrees to Tamil Nadu Housing Board’s (TNHB) plans ‘to reclaim land currently under GCC’s control’. TNHB has sought the transfer of nearly an acre within the 15-acre green space. Officially called Dr Visvesvaraya Tower Park, the landmark is known for its 135-foot, 12-storey tower designed by architect Yahya Merchant.
8g gold for brides, health and biz schemes bring cheer to women Original
Chennai : Women emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of TVK govt’s maiden budget, with a series of welfare measures across 12 departments spanning education, marriage, maternal health, livelihoods and entrepreneurship. Social welfare and women’s empowerment department received Rs 9,818 crore. A new welfare initiative – ‘Annan’s Seer’ – was allocated Rs 812 crore, under which women will get an 8g gold coin and a silk sari on their wedding day.
TN budget 2026-27: Rs 1,485 crore earmarked for differently abled welfare; AI-based assistive devices get funding push Original
News City News chennai News TN budget 2026-27: Rs 1,485 crore earmarked for differently abled welfare; AI-based assistive devices get funding push Trending CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu govt has allocated Rs 1,485 crore for the department for the welfare of differently abled persons in the budget presented by finance minister Marie Wilson in the assembly on Wednesday.The govt will provide financial assistance covering up to 50% of the cost of equipment — capped at Rs 30,000 — for modern AI-based...
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