Civic

From cleaning streets to beautifying the wall of a corporation school, residents in RA Puram reiterate the importance of citizens’ participation, especially children, in maintaining our public spaces

A round up of some civic headlines from the week that went by

A quick guide to Chennai Master Plan 2026, and how and what to read in the Master plan, based on your interest and level of involvement in civic affairs.

Chennai Metro plans last mile connectivity even as usage falls after period of free rides, Corporation proposes privatising maintenance of parks, Pallikaranai marsh restoration continues, and a mega desalination plant is on the anvil, in this week’s news round up

Hemraj, a youth in his mid twenties, hails from Royapuram, in North Chennai, which is a neglected area in terms of development or infrastructure compared to other parts of the city. From street light malfunction

The new phase of the Metro connects Chennai’s airport, bus terminus and major train stations, Metrowater hikes tanker tariff without prior information, Chennai citizens protest Thoothukudi violence and Arappor Iyakkam demands Lokayukta in TN, in this week’s news round up

Conservancy staff work quietly and tirelessly in the face of growing amounts of garbage and indifference among the citizens of Chennai. Nature lover and journalist Shobha Menon spends a morning with them and comes away with a heavy heart.

A month after DefExpo, citizens spot trash and debris strewn at the site, and traffic police go cashless for payment of fines, an international rail expo draws enthusiasts and experts alike, and there are encouraging signs of solar power use in public buildings. The week that was!

An ordinary citizen becomes a champion of chanGe and helps improve hygiene levels of Royapettah GH’s cancer block, bringing down infection levels and helping the hospital provide

Work begins on T Nagar pedestrian plaza and Villivakkam lake facelift, while Mylapore wakes up to faulty SWD work, Koyambedu waits for new infrastructure and Chennai waits for Anna Salai to be two way again! A look at the week that went by.

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.

Plastic, tablets, syringes, mixed waste…VHS hospital premises resemble a minor landfill. Hospital authorities blame Corporation officials for not clearing the garbage on time.