Chennai Buzz: Namma Chennai App, promise of a new airport, lake adoption and more!

A new app for citizens to report problems and grievances, cheer for air travellers, hope for our waterbodies and mandatory safety checks for schools - in this week's news round up.

Namma Chennai App to the rescue of residents, yet a long way to go

Since the launch of the Namma Chennai App in January, Greater Chennai Corporation is witnessing a steady flow of complaints. As many as 3000 complaints have been received so far and officials say they act on the complaints swiftly. Poor street lighting, Pavement encroachments, abandoned cars  are some of the issues that are getting the attention of the officials.  As on May 4, the app had seen 8000  downloads on Google Play store, and it has also been introduced in the iOS store.

Source : Times of India 

Finally, a ray of hope for air travellers in Chennai

The Central Government has approved the construction of a new terminal at Chennai airport, with an estimated capacity of handling 35 million passengers by 2027. One news report even mentioned L&T as the shortlisted bidder for the project. The first phase of construction is expected to take around 30 to 34 months and the second phase will take 20 to 24 months.

Source: Business Standard ! The New Indian Express

Five years on, Ennore shoreline still awaits protection

The Water Resource Department is still awaiting approval on a plan that was drawn five years ago to construct groynes  to arrest sea erosion along the coast north of Chennai. During the monsoon the fishing hamlets around this area face inundation. After several years, the stretch between Ennore and Thalangkuppam has 10 groynes laid perpendicular to the coastline. However the second phase is still awaiting implementation..

Residents feel that groynes have certainly helped  in protection against the rough sea, but there is a need for such structures all along the coastline to prevent loss of property.

Source: The Hindu

Stringent safety checks at all schools ahead of the new academic year

The State Government seem to have woken up to rising incidents of school safety with the Madras High court clearly instructing that all schools in the state, including matriculation, CBSE and ICSE schools need to be inspected to ensure compliance.

The District collectors have been instructed to form a committee to check all schools for not only infrastructure, but also for implementation of RTE Act, Fee Regulation etc.  A mobile app comprising of checklists, will help keep track of the inspected schools and document the violations.

Chennai Educational district CEO S.M. Manoharan said the committees had inspected around five schools already and would continue inspecting all schools in the district over the next few weeks.

Source: The Hindu

GPS meters with panic button to be fitted in 43,000 city autos

After a five-year delay, the government is all set to begin installation of GPS-fitted digital meters, which have inbuilt printers and panic buttons, in 43,000 autos in the city of Chennai,  in the first phase. When pressed, the alarm will ring at the nearest police station.

Source: Times of India

Polluted water bodies now up for adoption

Corporates and local communities can now adopt local water bodies for restoration for a specific period of time. Greater Chennai Corporation is putting up 206 local water bodies for adoption and working on a special resolution to facilitate the adoption.  

The corporation has started clearing solid waste from Oma Kulam in Madhavaram zone using its own funds. We will develop walkways near the 3.66 acre pond,” said an official.

Bunds, walkers path, high mast lamp, park and children’s play area will be developed in all the water bodies. Already 93 of the 563 parks in the city have been given up for adoption and maintenance.

Source: The Hindu

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