URBAN PLANNING | Citizen Matters, Chennai

Dear GCC, here is how you can make your vertical gardens project a success

September 25, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

There are evident reasons behind the failure of vertical garden projects in the city undertaken by government departments earlier. How can GCC avoid the same mistakes?

Mega Streets project: Here’s how it can change your neighbourhood

September 21, 2020 Bhavani Prabhakar

Six neighbourhoods have been chosen for Phase-1 of the Mega Streets project. But what is it all about? How were the six locations chosen? And what can residents expect?

Why COVID proved to be a greater challenge in Chennai’s resettlement colonies

September 10, 2020 Aruna Natarajan

The lockdown has exposed the grave vulnerabilities of lakhs of people in resettlement colonies of Chennai. What are the lessons from this experience?

How can Chennai ensure social distancing in public spaces?

August 1, 2020 Aruna Natarajan

With successive stages of unlock underway, how can the crowded streets, shopping hubs, markets and buses of Chennai become spaces safe for people?

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.