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Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
₹1,000 cr down the drain, as Chennai's public toilets still stink
City corporation's Singara Chennai dream has been drowned by stench. Even after more than ₹1,000 crore was spent to clean public toilets, they remain stinky, dirty and in a ramshackle state. Now, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) plans to pump in another 1,000 crore for the same failed cause. In order to clean, maintain and build 10,000 public toilet seats in the city across 1,260 locations, the GCC spent 620 crore under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in the last five years, and another 430 crore was spent to privatise toilets in two zones -- Royapuram, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar — and partly Marina in a nine-year privatisation deal. This apart, they spent around 50 crore to build and maintain mobile toilets, e-toilets, and Singara Chennai's 'Oppanai Araai's toilets. A field visit by TOI, however, showed the money has gone down the drain. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai In Anna Nagar, a 10-storey SBM toilet that once existed, and still shows on Google Maps, is now missing. Another toilet in Tower Park has no door on the women's side, just a pink curtain, and it reeks of urine. At the SBM toilet outside Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore, the floor is filthy and no staff was present to monitor the seats. None of these facilities had CCTV, although it is required under GCC's tender rules. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Benefits of Trading Bitcoin CFDs IC Markets Learn More Undo In the Adyar zone alone, the GCC spent about 1.6 crore within six months from Feb to maintain toilets. Yet, the toilets remained shut and the commode was plastered with cement. In a nearby location, on Indira Nagar fourth main road, the e-toilet marked on Google Maps was removed five months ago. At Apparao Gardens in Aminjikarai, a two-decade-old public toilet stands crumbling with its floor lined with water-filled holes, and a stray dog resting on a toilet seat. One of the walls is cracked and looks ready to fall. "This toilet has been such as this for as long as I can remember," says Padmini, a resident living nearby. "Using a restroom should be a peaceful experiance, not something where you worry if something will fall on your head. " The GCC has not enforced any of its key-performance indicators such as cleanliness, CCTVs, water supply, presence of staff, ramps, and proper sewage outfalls. Not has it blacklisted any of its contractors, including Dr RSB Infra who handles privatisation in Royapuram and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zones. In these zones, the GCC inflated maintenance costs per seat from 3.18 per seat to 364, which was 300-times the cost of toilets maintained in popular private firms. DMK councillors too have flagged GCC's poor maintenance of toilets. In the council, accounts committee chairman K Dhanasekaran admitted that the corporation lacked both adequate funds and technical expertise to design and maintain toilets. While existing toilets are poor, there are no toilets at all in popular public spaces like Guindy and Koyambedu. The mobile toilet buses launched by mayor R Priya last year are nowhere to be seen. Ignoring the glaring scams, lack of enforcement on the six-month shorter contracts and nine-year contracts as well, officials continue to bank on nine-year contracts as a permanent solution. "The nine-year privatisation is one of the first corporation-funded toilet privatisation models in India," said PV Srinivasan, superintending engineer of special projects. Yet, GCC is sitting on this 1,243 crore privatisation deal for 13 zones for nearly two years now. On the delay, mayor Priya said that bringing in high-quality private toilets is a tedious approval process. "The special projects team first identifies the sites. These are then inspected for structural stability, and finally sent to the council for approval. This takes time," she said. She said the corporation is speeding up approvals and implementation. "Work is underway for the rest of the 13 zones and when these toilets are operational, they will be of a good quality," she said. Though tenders have been awarded to three contractors, work is yet to start anywhere and the six-month contracts continue to be in place. Officials promise works will be finished by Dec 2026.
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
FIDE Women's World Cup: Vantika beats Ushenina, Padmini out of the race
However, Padmini Rout lost to another former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk of Switzerland to bow out from the tournament. HT Image In a gripping showdown, Vantika held her nerve to secure a 4.5-3.5 win after the scores were tied 3-3 following multiple rounds of tiebreaks. The two players exchanged wins in the classical games, forcing a series of rapid tiebreakers. Vantika struck first with the black pieces in the rapid format, only for Ushenina to level the scores again at 2-2. Further draws pushed the contest into five minutes per player games with a three-second increment. It was in this high-pressure phase that Vantika capitalised on a crucial blunder from Ushenina, edging ahead and eventually making her way to round three. The Indian will has a challenging third-round clash with Kateryna Lagno, a former Ukrainian prodigy who now plays for Russia. Padmini's luck deserted her in the rapid tiebreaker against Kosteniuk wherein the Indian took the lead by winning the first game. Kosteniuk needed a win on demand to equalize the scores and she achieved that after Padmini missed her chances. In the fourth set of games, Padmini lost the first game with white and was losing the second one too when Kosteniuk decided to repeat moves and took a draw as it was enough to take her to the next round. With Vantika's hard-earned victory there are still five Indians left in the last 32 stage of this USD 691,250 prize money event with an additional bonus of making it to the Women's candidates' tournament slated in 2026 for the top three finishers. Koneru Humpy will play against Klaudia Kulon of Poland in the third round, while D Harika starts as a huge favourite when she meets Stavroula Tsolakidou of Greece. R Vaishali has a tough customer in fast-improving Carrisa Yip of United States and Divya Deshmukh will forward to her entry in the pre-quarterfinals against Teodora Injac of Serbia. Important and Indian results round 2: Lei Tingjie (Chn) beat Francisco Guecamburu Candela Be (Arg) 2-0; Alinasab Mobina (Iri) lost to Zhu Jiner (Chn) 0,5-1,5; Tan Zhongyi (Chn) beat Anastasia Kirtadze (Geo) 2-0; Afruza Khamdamova (Uzb) lost to Koneru Humpy (Ind) 0.5-1.5; Anna Muzychuk (Ukr) beat Inna Gaponenko (Ukr) 1-1, 1.5-0.5; Kateryna Lagno (Fid) beat Anastasia Avramidou (Gre) 1-1, 1-1, 2-0; Daria Charochkina (Fid) lost to Nana Dzagnidze (Geo) 0-2; Mariya Muzychuk beat Cervantes Landeiro Thalia (Usa) 1-1, 1-1, 2-0; P V Nandhidhaa (Ind) lost to Dronavalli Harika (Ind) 0-2; R Vaishali beat Ouellet Maili-Jade (Can) 2-0; Gulnar Mammadova (Aze) lost to Polina Shuvalova (Fid) 0-2; Alexandra Kosteniuk (Sui) beat Padmini Rout (Ind) 1-1, 1-1, 1-1, 1.5-0.5 goes to tiebreak; Divya Deshmukh (Ind) beat Kesaria Mgeladze (Geo) 1.5-0.5; Vantika Agrawal (Ind) beat Anna Ushenina (Ukr) 1-1, 1-1, 1-1, 1.5-0.5; Klaudia Kulon beat K Priyanka (Ind) 1-1, 2-0; Alina Kashlinskaya (Pol) lost to Umida Polonova (Uzb) 1-1, 0-2; Mai Narva (Est) lost to Yuxin Song (Chn) 1-1, 0-2.
News18
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- News18
When Gear Stick Wasn't Between Seats: It's Millennials' 'Papa Ki Car', Gen Z Can Call It...
The Gen Z need to know about this car, Fiat's Premier Padmini. It was more than just a household vehicle, it was also the heart of Mumbai's roads. 'Mere papa ke pass thi ye car," and that car was most likely a Premier Padmini — the backdrop of countless childhood memories. In the '80s, it wasn't just a car, it was 'the car.' It was the kind of vehicle families took pride in. What many didn't know back then was that the Padmini started its life as a Fiat 1100. It was brought to India under the Italian company's license. Before that, Premier was building American models like Plymouths and Dodge trucks under Chrysler. The name 'Padmini" was given after the Indian government pushed for more local production and it was chosen as a tribute to the legendary queen of Chittor. It came with a 1.1-litre petrol engine that made 40 bhp, and cost Rs 30,000. But it's real charm wasn't in its specs, it was in the little things especially the gear. Unlike today's cars, where you reach for the gear box between the front seats, the Premier Padmini had no gear box there at all. Instead, the gear lever was fixed to the steering column on the left side. A video shared by Harsh Chaudhary recently reminded people of this unique detail. This design allowed for a bench-style front seat which meant that three people could sit comfortably in the front. The gear itself followed a manual H-pattern. You would move it forward and up for first, straight down for second and so on. Each shift made a 'click" sound. At first glance, it looked confusing but it didn't take long to get used to. The video stirred up a wave of nostalgia online especially among millennials who had seen the car in their childhood or had memories of family members owning one. One user commented, 'I saw this system of steering mounted gears in my childhood. It looks complicated but once you know how to drive, you'll learn it easily." Another said, 'I grew up watching my uncle's Fiat Padmini glide through the streets—majestic, timeless, and full of character. Too young to drive back then, I could only imagine what it felt like behind the wheel. By the time I was ready, she was gone. I never got to drive her…" 'I am confused. Wonder how my grandfather got used to this," someone wrote. And then there was the iconic comment: 'Mere papa ke pass thi ye car." The Premier Padmini was more than just a household car, it was also the heart of Mumbai's roads. It entered the taxi market and soon it became impossible to think of Mumbai without imagining a kaali peeli Padmini moving through traffic. They ruled the streets for decades, until 2023 when the last few were officially taken off the road. For many, it felt like saying goodbye to a family member. Of course, the bond Gen Z has with the car is a little different. 'As Gen Z, my first experience through the Bombay streets was while travelling in these black beauty Padmini taxis. I vividly remember when I asked the name of this vehicle, my dad told me these were Premier Padminis. Now I'm bidding adieu – it's the end of a long ride. I view the end of this era with a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for these iconic cars. I also view the transition to newer and more technologically advanced taxis as a sign of progress and modernization in urban transportation," said Soumya Prabhu, who was 18 when she shared this back in 2023, as quoted by Free Press Journal. But not everyone feels the same pull. 'The fact that these taxis have gone off the road doesn't make much of a difference to me, since I don't remember them much. I haven't travelled in any of them," Janvi Goenka, 19 back then, said. Still for many, the love never really left. In January this year, a woman in Bengaluru named Rachana Mahadimane made her dream come true by buying a vintage Premier Padmini on her birthday. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rachana Mahadimane (@rachanamahadimane) 'I am pinching myself as I talk to you because I bought a car on my birthday and not just any other car. It is the car of my dreams. I have been dreaming about this car since I was a child," she said. Padmini isn't just any car, it is clearly a bandwagon of memories. About the Author Shahrukh Shah Shahrukh Shah, Sub-Editor at News18, loves to write about everything that moves on wheels. With years of experience and the required skill sets, he is contributing to the auto section, where he let people know ...Read More Get the latest updates on car and bike launches in India — including reviews, prices, specs, and performance. Stay informed with breaking auto industry news, EV policies, and more, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : #TrendingNow Fiat viral news Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 02, 2025, 10:00 IST News auto When Gear Stick Wasn't Between Seats: It's Millennials' 'Papa Ki Car', Gen Z Can Call It... | Watch
National Post
22-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Families of Air India bombing victims find peace and presence at Irish memorial
Article content A larger than usual crowd is expected Monday, June 23 to mark the 40th anniversary of the bombing. Dozens of relatives have travelled from Canada. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree will be here, as will Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin and representatives of the Indian government. Several RCMP officers from B.C. are also here to participate. Article content The Mounties and several relatives gathered informally at the memorial Saturday as rain threatened overhead. Article content Saroj Gaur hugged Padmini, who she calls 'auntie' because of the support Gaur was offered by the Turlapatis when her father Om Prakash Sharma died in the bombing. Article content Sharma had immigrated from India to work as a high school teacher in Newfoundland and support his large family. Article content Article content Gaur, who now lives in Toronto, said her dad wanted her to travel with him to India for the summer break. But she was 23, had just finished her studies and wanted to look for work. She was job-hunting in Toronto when she got the news about the flight from a family friend. Article content Article content 'We were living in Canada, paying our taxes. My father was teaching Canadian children, and it hurts when he wasn't recognized. You know that it's a Canadian tragedy,' Gaur said with tears in her eyes. Article content Article content She also finds comfort here, near to her father, whose body wasn't recovered. Article content 'This is my third trip. When we were driving down here, I felt something very touching. I felt like I'm coming to my own place,' she said. 'I was feeling so joyous. I felt like I belong here.' Article content She is also grateful to the Irish for their support over four decades. Article content 'The Irish people made this beautiful monument here. It doesn't matter how many times you come here, how many times you've seen it, you still want to come back. This is the place where they lost their life and you can't forget it.' Article content Sanjay Lazar, who lives in Pune, India, was just 17 when he lost his father Sampath, stepmother Sylvia and toddler sister Sandeeta to the bomb planted by B.C. terrorists. Article content It is here that Lazar feels closest to his family. Article content For many years after he was orphaned, Lazar ran away from his pain. Four years ago, that all changed here at the memorial when he felt for the first time that his family was sending him a message. Article content
Gulf Today
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Shraddha Kapoor's ‘Ghummakad mode' is on, shares pictures from her day out
Actress Shraddha Kapoor turned on her 'ghummakad' mode as she travelled to several places like the museum and a renowned Parsi restaurant in Mumbai. Shraddha took to her Instagram, where she shared a string of pictures from her visit to the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, the oldest museum in Mumbai, which was originally established in 1855 as a treasure house of the decorative and industrial arts. The images had Shraddha posing in the museum and with the flowers she received. The actress also shared a few glimpses from her visit to the Parsi restaurant Britannia & Co., which was established in 1923. The 'Stree' star posed with the owner and shared pictures of the caramel custard she had, along with the interiors of the restaurant. For the caption, she wrote: 'Next picnic kahan jaoon ??? #GhummakadModeOn.' On the professional front, reports claim that Shraddha will be joining hands with 'Tumbbad' maker Rahi Anil Barve for her next. Going by the reports, she has signed a multi-film contract with producer Ektaa Kapoor, who will also back the untitled drama. In addition to this, details regarding Shraddha's other untitled drama with Ektaa were also doing rounds on social media. This yet-to-be-titled movie is expected to mark the reunion of the beloved 'Aashiqui 2' pair of Shraddha and Aditya Roy Kapoor. However, an official confirmation is still awaited. Furthermore, it is being reported that Shraddha is in talks for the forthcoming installment of the popular 'Dhoom' franchise. The reports also suggest that she will be seen sharing the screen with her 'Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar' co-star Ranbir Kapoor in her next. Again, no official announcement has been made till now. She was last seen on screen in the 2024 film 'Stree 2: Sarkate Ka Aatank,' a comedy horror film directed by Amar Kaushik. It is the fourth instalment in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe and serves as the sequel to the movie Stree, which released in 2018. Meanwhile, veteran actress Padmini Kolhapure recently opened up about the thoughtful approach her niece, Shraddha Kapoor, takes when selecting film roles. According to Padmini, the 'Stree' actress doesn't make decisions in isolation; instead, she carefully considers advice from her close family members before finalizing her choices. Speaking to IANS, Padmini shared that Shraddha often discusses potential projects with her mother, Shivangi Kolhapure; sister, Tejaswini, father Shakti Kapoor, and even Padmini herself. She mentioned that this collective support system helps the young actress weigh the pros and cons of each opportunity. Padmini revealed that despite taking input from her family, Shraddha ultimately trusts her own instincts. The 'Vidhaata' actress shared, 'Advice, in the sense Shraddha discusses. So, because she hears everybody, she kind of weighs the pros and cons, and then she goes ahead with her decisions in picking the films.' Padmini Kolhapure is Shraddha Kapoor's aunt. Indo-Asian News Service Mumbai
