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Time of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Velachery FOBs turn anti-social elements' den
Chennai: Would you use a zig-zag foot over bridge (FOB) with multiple steps and long footpaths to cross a road when a pedestrian-friendly signal is just a few steps away? Probably not—unless you're there for an early morning workout or a casual hangout. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This is exactly the case with the two FOBs located on Velachery–Taramani Link Road — one near the Baby Nagar Bus Stop and the other adjacent to the Taramani 100-Feet Road Bus Stop. The FOBs were inaugurated 10 years ago by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa as part of a 30 crore project to "ease congestion" on the road, but both now wear a deserted look. They are dysfunctional and have turned into an anti-social den, with alcohol bottles and cigarette butts strewn around. The escalators do not work either. "Most pedestrians directly cross the road using the two nearby signals. Youngsters even jump across the median barriers. The footfall declined further after the escalators stopped working," said Selvi, who runs a shop near Baby Nagar Bus Stop FOB. Pedestrians flagged redundancy of the bridges, citing their complex design and long access paths. Claiming that traffic is usually manageable in the area, they said crossing at the signals was quicker and less tiring. With poor upkeep and diminishing utility, residents also raised concerns about safety and sanitation. "At night, people sleep along the path with cigarettes and beer bottles," said Ganesan, a resident of Velachery. Residents say it's better to demolish the FOBs so that the pavements can be reclaimed. However, these underused structures continue to receive funds and official backing. "People will start using the bridges once the escalators become functional. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Do you want us to demolish them just because they are not used?" asked Velachery MLA J M H Aassan Maulaana. The govt has plans to revive them. "We are planning to repair the escalators through the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme. The budget will be finalised soon," said Murugan, highways assistant engineer. "FOBs are a bad idea. These structures end up giving priority to cars while forcing pedestrians to climb and cross," said Sumana Narayanan of Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
CM opens 50 free drinking water ATMs at key locations
Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin on Wednesday inaugurated 50 free drinking water dispensing machines (Water ATMs) across key public spots at a cost of 6.04 crore. Launching the initiative at Marina Beach, he took the first sip from a unit installed near the swimming pool. Installed by Metrowater, the machines are aimed at providing free, safe drinking water at busy locations including bus stands, parks, hospitals, markets, metro stations, schools, and beaches. Each ATM dispenses water in 1-litre and 150 ml quantities and is equipped with IoT-based systems for real-time monitoring. Water is stored in large-capacity plastic tanks (3,000 litres to 9,000 litres), similar to household Sintex tanks, and purified using ultra-filtration, carbon filters, and UV treatment before being dispensed from stainless steel containers. "Alerts will be sent automatically to engineers if water levels drop, ensuring timely refills. The RO and UV membranes will be checked weekly, and filters replaced monthly," said a Metrowater official. Metrowater has also set up CCTV surveillance and a centralised control centre to prevent vandalism and ensure round-the-clock monitoring. The machines will be operated and maintained for three years by contractors appointed by the board. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 34歳以上の男性が今年最高のPCゲームと絶賛！今すぐ無料でダウンロード BuzzDaily Winners ゲームをプレイ Undo While residents welcomed the scheme, they cautioned that upkeep must not be ignored. Former chief minister J Jayalalithaa had launched Amma Kudineer in 2016 to offer 20 litres of free RO water daily to the economically weaker sections. However, by 2019, the units became defunct as the RO membranes were not replaced, and the annual maintenance contracts were not renewed. Anna Nagar DMK councillor T V Shemmozhi, who also inaugurated a unit near Blue Star junction, said he would monitor the facility. "I will personally inspect the unit every week. If there are any issues, I will ensure they are fixed," he said.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
TN's Rooftop Gardening Scheme Withers Away
Tamil Nadu's once-popular rooftop garden scheme, which greened up several city household terraces with fruits and vegetables, has now withered. The 'Do It Yourself' scheme, launched by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa in 2013, offered vegetable and fruit seedling kits at 900. Besides seeds, each of these kits included tools such as hand trowels, digging forks, fertilizers, and an operational manual. Officials also came home to teach residents how to grow the garden. They followed up every month, also provided fresh kits at periodic intervals. Each person could book two kits at once. The scheme became so popular in the city that Jayalalithaa expanded it to other districts in 2016. While it witnessed around 1,000 bookings in that period, the scheme now remains only on paper, with the city getting fewer than 100 bookings a week. The 'E-Thottam' app, meant to sell the kits, has disappeared from both iOS and Android stores. The kits were also meant to be sold through horticulture department's website, but when TOI booked the kits using OTP, it only led to contacts of retired officials who were not associated with the department. A follow-up with these retired officials led to officials posted in the five horticulture depots in the city in Madhavaram, Perambur, Anna Nagar, Semmozhi Poonga, and Thiruvanmiyur, where the kits are to be sold. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo However, when TOI reached the depots in Anna Nagar and Semmozhi Poonga, they were shut. The one in Thiruvanmiyur had no stock, making the entire kit-buying process a hassle for residents. Prabhakaran, deputy horticulture officer for Anna Nagar depot, now posted in Semmozhi Poonga, said the scheme got no funding. "The Siddha College in Anna Nagar increased their land rent. So, we shut down. We are also not getting seedling stock. There are more private nurseries, and people prefer them," he said. The depot in the botanical garden was shut too. The govt slashed the price of the kits to 450 five years ago, and yet there were no takers. The govt too has shown no interest in renewing the 'do it yourself' scheme. The scheme did not find a mention in the policy notes of 2024 and 2025. While lack of awareness and bureaucratic negligence in updating the tech to push the scheme is a major reason, residents blamed lack of accessibility and poor quality of the kits. K Shanthakumar, a terrace-garden enthusiast, said with just five depots, it's a hassle for people from extreme corners of the city to buy the kit. "Nurseries are there in every neighbourhood now. They should update the scheme with localised sales options," he said. Agriculture department secretary V Dakshinamurthy said the scheme is not defunct. "Every year, we allocate funds after the budget is finalised, usually in July. We will look into why depots are shut and will revive them," he told TOI. Hafiz Khan, an urban forest creator, said terrace gardening must be promoted in govt buildings and big space infrastructures. "It's a challenge to find land to grow gardens. Hence, terrace gardening must be promoted. It helps in cooling buildings too," he said.
Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Tamil Nadu's beloved elephant Akhila turns 23, celebrated with traditional rituals
Akhila, the revered temple elephant of the Thiruvanaikoil Jambukeswarar Akilandeswari Temple in Trichy, celebrated her 23rd birthday on Saturday with traditional rituals and festive cheer, drawing large crowds of devotees. Born in 2002, Akhila was brought to the temple in 2011 during the tenure of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to assist in temple rituals and ceremonies. Since then, she has been an integral part of the temple's daily activities. To mark her birthday, the temple authorities organised a special celebration in the temple garden. Akhila was decorated and brought in ceremoniously. Priests performed special poojas for her, and the celebration was attended by mahouts, temple staff, priests, and a large number of devotees. Also Read | Why Karnataka handed over Kumki elephants to Andhra Pradesh? A step to curb rising human-elephant conflicts Devotees sang birthday wishes in unison and offered Akhila a feast consisting of fruits, vegetables, jaggery sweets, and traditional delicacies like kozhukattai. Additionally, earlier today, in a vibrant display of tradition and devotion, people from different adjoining villages gathered at the Kallandhiri village near Melur to celebrate the centuries-old fishing festival. According to the rituals, the fish caught by the villagers are offered to the deity for better harvest and health. The festival is celebrated every year with the onset of the summer season. Also Read | Grieving mother elephant refuses to budge, stands for hours by her calf killed by truck in Malaysia Meanwhile, as part of the annual festival of Sri Pidari Amman Temple in Thiruvarankulam near Pudukkottai, a spectacular Jallikattu event was organised on Friday, drawing massive crowds and enthusiastic participants. The event saw the participation of 750 bulls and 300 tamers from various districts across Tamil Nadu. The event, held with great fervor, showcased the bravery and skill of the participants as they attempted to hold on to the humps of the charging bulls. The spectators cheered loudly as the bulls, adorned with colourful decorations, displayed their strength and agility. Jallikattu, a symbol of Tamil heritage, continues to be a major attraction during the Pongal season and temple festivals. Elephants lovingly shield caretaker from rain in viral video: 'Don't worry, everything will be okay' The bull-taming event is an ancient sport played as part of the harvest festival, Pongal, in several parts of Tamil Nadu. It is a traditional event in which a bull is released into a crowd of people, and multiple human participants attempt to grab the large hump on the bull's back to tame it. In January this year, the world-renowned three-day Jallikattu event in Tamil Nadu's Madurai kicked off with Avaniyapuram village holding its first-day event, which features 1,100 bulls and 900 bull-tamers. The best bull was awarded a tractor worth ₹11 lakhs, while the best bull-tamer received a car worth ₹8 lakhs, alongside other prizes. The other two Jallikattu events in Madurai were held at Palamedu and Alanganallur.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Attacks on workers rising in ‘anti-trader' DMK govt: EPS
Chennai: Accusing DMK of being anti-trader, general secretary on Monday said the rival party strategically divided traders "by using a few traders who favour it". He said AIADMK, under J Jayalalithaa, opposed FDI in retail, while DMK supported it during a parliamentary vote, a move the trading community would not forget and forgive. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Addressing a meeting of Tamil Nadu Anaithu Vanigar Sangangalin Peramaippu on 42nd Traders Day, the former chief minister expressed concerns about the safety of traders under the current dispensation. He said traders were being attacked on their own business premises. "There is a rise in attacks against traders by anti-socials whenever DMK is in office," he said, pointing to media reports of attacks, robberies, and govt officials "intentionally" harassing traders during business hours under the guise of continuous inspections, and traders holding protests against the govt for lack of action in areas such as Kancheepuram. Palaniswami urged the state govt to prioritise the security of small businesses and called for tax relief for local businesses struggling to compete with modern technological advancements. "If any deficiencies are found during the inspection conducted by the authorities while transporting goods in a truck, the traders complain that a fine equivalent to the total amount of goods in the truck or double the value of the goods is imposed. This should be avoided," Palaniswami said, requesting govt to cease penalising traders during "test purchases" conducted by commercial tax staff. He reiterated the need for traders across the state to remain united. This unity, he argued, is crucial to prevent the entry of multinational companies into the retail sector and contain the dominance of corporations.
