URBAN PLANNING | | Citizen Matters, Chennai

Smart city chief: If we love cities like Paris and Singapore, why not have pedestrian plazas in Chennai?

February 7, 2020 Aruna Natarajan

The T Nagar Pedestrian Plaza is one of the flagship projects that have been launched under the smart city banner in Chennai. Raj Cherubal, CEO of Chennai Smart City Limited, speaks of the work that went into creating the plaza and the challenges faced in the process.

How building violations lead to gridlocks on GST Road

December 9, 2019 S David Manohar

RTI responses point to rampant, unregulated commercialisation on GST Road. What is often missed is the link between such commercial construction and the growing, chaotic traffic on this important national highway.

How ‘smart city’ Chennai can be more resilient to disasters such as 2015 floods

August 24, 2019 Varun Sukumar

Technology in many ways forms the base for a smart city. With the 2015 floods exposing the city’s inability to deal with heavy rains and flooding, the smart city mission should address the gaps and build resilience through use of digital infrastructure.

As India steps into her 73rd year, let’s ask for area sabhas in our city

August 16, 2019 Aruna Subramaniam

Want to know more about decentralisation of urban governance? Wish you had a greater say in the way your ward is governed and managed? Come, meet this women’s group to know how you can make these reality.

When the new business in your neighbourhood spoils your peace

August 8, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Zoning laws, that classify lands within a municipality as residential, commercial, mixed and more, are rarely followed in Chennai and many residents continue to suffer as commercial establishments mushroom in their once-quiet neighbourhood. It’s perhaps time for citizens to wake up and raise their voices.

“Rethink urban development”: Author of new book on 2015 Chennai floods

July 19, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

Krupa Ge, author of Rivers Remember, speaks about the research that went into writing the book and key learnings for Chennai and other cities from the floods of 2015.

As Chennai reels under water crisis, faulty restoration of Paruthipattu lake angers residents

May 30, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

An eco park at Paruthipattu Lake is due for inauguration. But with restoration work causing raw sewage to enter the lake, citizens are least cheered by the prospect of a boating facility and more worried about groundwater contamination in this time of acute water scarcity.

OMR residents write to the Chief Minister on water woes

May 27, 2019 News Desk

Around 100 resident associations of OMR have written to the Chief Minister calling for his immediate intervention to address the prolonged water and sanitation issues faced by them.

Meet TR Baalu, MP-elect from Sriperumbudur

May 27, 2019 Sri Loganathan

DMK’s Principal Secretary TR Baalu has been elected to the Lok Sabha from Sriperumbudur constituency for the fifth time. He defeated PMK’s A. Vaithilingam.

Meet Thamizhachi Thangapandian, MP-elect from Chennai South

May 25, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Meet South Chennai MP elect: Thamizhachi Thangapandian promises to be a strong voice for women South Chennai had been a DMK bastion for a long time, until 2014. J Jayavardhan, son of AIADMK MLA, D

Shenoy Nagar residents fight to save Thiru Vi Ka Park

April 26, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

Thiru Vi Ka park, which served as vital lung space for the neighbouring communities, has been closed to the public since 2011, when it was taken over for Metro construction. Now, with recent plans of the CMRL, the park and green cover may be lost forever, fear citizens.

Zooming into the environmental problems of a growing Chennai

April 19, 2019 Amirtharaj Stephen

A look at the environmental issues that Chennai faced since the 2014 national elections, through the camera lens.

Meet Thiruvallur candidates: Two-time AIADMK MP faces another doctor fielded by MNM

April 17, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Thiruvallur Parliamentary constituency is comprised of six assembly constituencies — Madhavaram, Poonamalle, Avadi, Ponneri, Gummidipoondi and Thiruvallur. Once part of the Sriperumbudur constituency, Thiruvallur was carved out as a separate constituency in 2008 after delimitation.

We will go against biggies in Ennore: A G Mourya, Chennai North candidate

April 16, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Meet A G Mourya, retired IPS officer and Makkal Needhi Maiam candidate from Chennai North. In this interview, he talks about the changing scene of politics in Tamil Nadu and the opportunities that this throws up.

This is how Election Commission and public entities are sensitising citizens to vote

April 16, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Ahead of elections to the 17th Lok Sabha, Greater Chennai Corporation and public entities conduct back-to-back awareness campaigns, emphasising the right and duty to vote.