Shah arrived at the old airport in Chennai by a special flight from New Delhi at 9.10 pm. He was received by Tamil Nadu Minister Rajkumar, Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran, former state BJP president Pon Radhakrishnan, BJP functionaries and government officials.

After the reception, Shah left the old airport by road for a private star hotel at Kovalam on the East Coast Road, where the conference is scheduled to be held on Thursday morning.

Chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Puducherry are expected to participate in the conference. Shah will chair the meeting.

Security was stepped up at the old airport and along the routes that Shah was scheduled to take to Kovalam, with a large number of police personnel deployed as part of the security arrangements.

According to officials, CCTV footage from Central station showed a man and a bespectacled woman entering the station with the red suitcase before boarding the Tamil Nadu Express. The couple placed the suitcase inside the general compartment and got off the train before it departed. 

The footage showed the two walking towards Park station and boarding a suburban train to Tambaram. In a footage recorded later, they were seen leaving the train without the suitcase.

Police are examining CCTV recordings from Central and Park stations along the suburban route to reconstruct the couple’s movements and establish their identities. Their identities have not yet been confirmed. 

The investigation is being coordinated with the UP Government Railway Police (GRP), which registered a case after the mutilated remains were recovered from a red suitcase abandoned in the general compartment of the Chennai-Delhi Tamil Nadu Express. Railway staff found the suitcase after the train arrived at Agra on August 5.

The unidentified body was badly mutilated, with the head and some limbs missing. The UP GRP subsequently sought assistance from Tamil Nadu Police to identify the victim and trace those responsible.

Police are continuing to analyse footage from multiple locations in Chennai as the investigation progresses.

FNCRWA urged the State government to scrap the proposed waste-to-energy incinerator project, as it posed a severe health and environmental threat to North Chennai.

According to the residents, establishing a multi-speciality hospital in Perambur has been a long-pending core demand of North Chennai residents. They had been consistently insisting on a health care facility by raising the proposal with state ministers, government officials, and relevant departments on several occasions.

FNCRWA President TK Shanmugam said, “The announcement demonstrates how collective community action can successfully bring essential issues to the attention of policymakers, driving tangible change. The State government’s decision is a major milestone for North Chennai.”

Expressing gratitude and appreciation to the State government for prioritising the healthcare needs of the north region, the federation asked the administration to hasten the project forward so that residents could access modern, high-quality, free advanced healthcare services without delay. It also urged the government to address other pressing regional concerns, such as finding a permanent solution to the long-standing Kodungaiyur landfill issue and scrapping the proposed waste-to-energy incinerator project.

Which vegetable prices increased today ?

Ooty carrot – Rs 90 per kg, up by Rs 20 (compared to August 14)

Onion – Rs 50 per kg, up by Rs 12

Tomato – Rs 30 per kg, up by Rs 5

Which vegetable prices decreased today ?

Green chillies – Rs 60 per kg, down by Rs 20 (compared to August 14)

What are the prices of essential vegetables ?

Onion: Rs 50 per kg

Small onion: Rs 70 per kg

Potato: Rs 25 per kg

Tomato: Rs 30 per kg

Coconut: Rs 60 per piece

What are the prices of other vegetables ?

Ooty carrot: Rs 90 per kg

Beans: Rs 90 per kg

Garlic: Rs 240 per kg

Ginger: Rs 180 per kg

Green peas: Rs 180 per kg

Lemon: Rs 220 per kg

Green chillies: Rs 60 per kg

Brinjal: Rs 40 per kg

Bitter gourd: Rs 50 per kg

Capsicum: Rs 50 per kg

Drumstick: Rs 30 per kg

Okra: Rs 30 per kg

How much do herbs cost today ?

Coriander: Rs 7 per bunch

Mint: Rs 6 per bunch

Curry leaves: Rs 25 per bunch

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,13,640 per sovereign and Rs 14,205 per gram, after a decrease of Rs 85 per gram.

Earlier on August 18, the price of 22-carat gold stood at Rs 1,14,320 per sovereign and Rs 14,290 per gram.

Silver prices remain unchanged

Meanwhile, silver prices also decreased by Rs 5, to sell for Rs 250 per gram (Rs 2,50,000 per kg) on August 19.

On August 18, silver was sold at Rs 255 per gram.

Gold rate today vs gold rate on this day, last year

Gold remains significantly higher compared to last year. Prices have increased from Rs 73,880 per sovereign (Rs 9,235 per gram) on August 19, 2025, to Rs 1,13,640 per sovereign (Rs 14,205 per gram) on August 19, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 39,760 or about 53.81%.

Gold price (22-carat) over the last five days:

August 18, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,320 | 1 gram - Rs 14,290

August 17, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,160 | 1 gram - Rs 14,270

August 15, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,760 | 1 gram - Rs 14,220

August 14, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,12,320 | 1 gram - Rs 14,040

August 13, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,760 | 1 gram - Rs 14,220

Silver price over the last five days:

August 18, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 17, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 15, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 14, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 13, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

According to reports, one litre of petrol is being sold at Rs 107.77, while diesel costs Rs 99.55 per litre in Chennai on Tuesday.

On May 25, petrol was raised by Rs 2.61 a litre and diesel by Rs 2.71. The increase took cumulative hikes since May 15 to nearly Rs 7.5 per litre.

Until May, fuel prices had largely remained unchanged since April 2022, except for a Rs 2 per litre reduction announced in March 2024 ahead of the national elections.

Why have fuel prices been increased?

Global crude oil prices had surged more than 50 per cent since late February following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route.

State-run retailers had delayed passing on higher input costs for weeks, a move the government said was intended to shield consumers from inflation. Opposition parties, however, accused the administration of holding back price increases until after key state elections.

The May 15 increase came after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expanded its electoral footprint by winning three of five state and UT elections, including West Bengal.

Retail fuel prices were first raised by Rs 3 per litre on May 15, followed by a 90-paise increase on May 19 and another hike on May 23, when petrol prices rose by 87 paise and diesel by 91 paise per litre.

On May 25, petrol was raised by Rs 2.61 a litre and diesel by Rs 2.71. The cumulative increase since May 15 stands at nearly Rs 7.5 per litre.

The increase varies across cities due to differences in local taxes.

Petrol rates (per litre) in Chennai across last 5 days:

August 18 - Rs 107.77

August 17 - Rs 107.77

August 16 - Rs 107.77

August 15 - Rs 107.77

August 14 - Rs 107.77

Diesel rates (per litre) in Chennai across last 5 days:

August 18 - Rs 99.55

August 17 - Rs 99.55

August 16 - Rs 99.55

August 15 - Rs 99.55

August 14 - Rs 99.55

The complainant, Tirupurasundari (75) of Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, lived with her son Gopinath, daughter-in-law Devi, and granddaughter Deepika.

According to police, Tirupurasundari alleged that her family members had been neglecting her for some time and had even denied her food, subjecting her to mental and physical hardship. Tensions escalated on Monday when an argument broke out between Tripurasundari and her son Gopinath.

Police said the argument turned violent, following which Gopinath, Devi, and Deepika allegedly assaulted her and forced her out of the house. Tirupurasundari was admitted to Periyar Nagar GH for treatment.

Based on information, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar police visited the hospital, recorded her statement, and obtained a formal complaint. A case has been registered against Gopinath and his family and further investigations are underway.

Instead of deterring jaywalking, the low dividers allow pedestrians to easily step or jump directly into fast-moving lanes. This sudden surge in mid-block crossings is forcing motorists to swerve unpredictably, leading to a rise in near-misses and minor accidents.

FOMRRA stated that these low medians undercut the massive public investment in Foot Overbridges (FOBs) by incentivising dangerous at-grade crossings rather than directing foot traffic toward designated facilities.

Highlighting past infrastructure flaws, Harsha Koda, co-founder of FOMRRA, pointed out, “FOBs were installed in low-footfall areas like Kalaignar Karunanidhi Road near the Pratyangira Temple, while critically high-density zones like Sholinganallur Junction, SRP Tools junction, BSR Mall junction, and the Sathyabama and Jeppiaar colleges were ignored. This means a high-density population still crosses at ground level, exacerbating traffic jams.”

Commuters also highlighted the disparity in infrastructure, noting that OMR, despite carrying a substantially higher daily traffic volume than the East Coast Road (ECR), but has been provided with a vastly inferior median structure.

RWAs are demanding that CMRL, Highways department, and Tamil Nadu Road Development Company (TNRDC) intervene. They have urged officials to standardise OMR’s median heights to a minimum of 4-5 feet or install sturdy pedestrian guard railings before traffic along the corridor returns to full capacity.

While ongoing Metro construction has necessitated the removal of several obsolete bridges, authorities have promised that future pedestrian crossings will be seamlessly integrated into the new Metro stations. However, residents remain sceptical. Many question the overall engineering foresight, wondering why pedestrian subways, which require fewer steps to navigate than overbridges, were not incorporated into the broader Metro Rail design.

Camera makes me look longer: Srivatsan Sankaran

For Srivatsan Sankaran, photography began simply with a mobile phone and a curiosity about people, places, culture and the little stories unfolding around him. But over time, “Photography became a language for me — a way to communicate and connect beyond spoken words,” he says.

Being deaf since childhood has shaped how Srivatsan sees the world. Without relying on sound, he has become more aware of what he sees around him, from light and movement to expressions, gestures and small details. “My deafness taught me to slow down and observe. While I may not hear a moment approaching, I can see it developing.” Photography, he says, gave that visual awareness a purpose. What could have been seen as a limitation became part of his photographic language.

What began as a personal interest eventually became a profession. Srivatsan left his corporate job to pursue photography full-time, despite the financial uncertainty and the additional challenges of navigating a hearing world. He has travelled to hundreds of destinations, photographing festivals, heritage, people, and everyday life, and has found himself repeatedly drawn to the stories within them. “The camera doesn’t make me see more — it makes me look longer,” he says.

That approach has also shaped how he photographs places beyond Chennai. He believes the most memorable photographs often come from unexpected moments that reveal something about everyday life. Through Madras Photo Bloggers, he wanted to create a space where people could learn, explore, and express themselves through photography, while making the community more inclusive for those who may not always feel welcome.

For Srivatsan, one photograph that comes closest to explaining why he photographs is a portrait of Choothumani, from a tribal community. Beyond her appearance, the photograph carries a sense of identity, tradition and quiet strength.

It was like I was seeing the world in 4K: Samuel Soundararaj

For Samuel Soundararaj, photography began with a change in the way he saw the world — quite literally. In Class 6 or 7, he realised he could not see things clearly from a distance. By Class 8, he was diagnosed with -4.5 eyesight and given his first pair of glasses. What happened next stayed with him. “It was like I was seeing the world in 4K,” he recalls.

Suddenly, sunsets had colours he had never noticed. Flowers appeared sharper. He found himself wondering why people were not looking at the things he had suddenly begun to notice. That curiosity led him to his father's old film camera. Samuel began photographing sunrises, sunsets, dogs, birds, insects and people. His fascination with wildlife documentaries and programmes featuring people such as Steve Irwin and David Attenborough gradually drew him towards nature and wildlife photography.

In those early years, he also learned that printing his photographs made him look at them differently. His father's school friend introduced him to the works of Impressionist painters such as Monet, Degas and Renoir, as well as photography books featuring Kodak and Ansel Adams. Slowly, he began understanding composition and the difference between merely taking a picture and making one.

On Samuel's 21st birthday, his father told him: “If you aren't thankful and content with what you have, you will never be content or grateful with what you get.” For Samuel, that became a lesson in focusing on the photograph rather than constantly chasing better equipment.

From 2008 to 2016, Samuel searched for a tiger. He travelled to forests and went on safaris in places including Bandipur and Kabini, returning without the photograph — or even the sighting — he had hoped for. Then, in 2016, on an unplanned trip to Nagarhole, he saw his first tiger in the wild. After years of searching, the moment arrived almost when he had stopped expecting it. Another such moment came when Samuel spotted a peacock among the branches of a flame-of-the-forest tree. He noticed the bird moving towards a cluster of flowers and waited for the right moment to capture the frame.

I did it all by myself: Saravanan

“Observation is key!” Saravanan says. Even when he is not consciously photographing, he finds himself watching people and the world around him. When he does have a camera in hand, he often stands back first, observes the person in front of him and thinks about how he can present them through his vision before making the frame. His interests lie in street and fashion photography, along with portraits and conceptual portraits. But he isn't particularly interested in photographing someone simply because they look good. “Raw looks and emotions are underrated,” he adds.

Even when he sees someone interesting, his instinct is not always to immediately take out the camera. He looks for something happening around them — a story that makes the photograph worth making. And even now, he sees photography as something he is still exploring and learning through.

That willingness to experiment has taken him from street photography to portraits, models, clients and celebrities. He has also photographed friends who are Bharatanatyam dancers, using those opportunities to experiment with different kinds of frames and movements.

But photographing people comes with its own challenge: not everyone is comfortable in front of a camera. Saravanan doesn't immediately start giving them poses. Instead, he lets them move naturally and asks them to simply go with the flow. He shoots candid frames while they get comfortable, until eventually the camera becomes less intimidating.

He says he considers every photograph he takes his best in its own way. Before pressing the shutter, he observes and thinks about how he wants to make the image. Afterwards, he shows it to the person he has photographed.

If they really like it, he sometimes goes to a nearby studio, gets two physical copies printed and hands them over to them. “That is my happy core,” he says.

Many of those people, from different cities and different walks of life, have remained in his contacts. He began learning on his own, starting with street photography before gradually moving towards clients, models and celebrities. “I did it all by myself, whatever I've accomplished so far,” he concludes.

Photography chose me: Harish

For Harish, photography seems to have been around long before he consciously chose it. His mother worked as an accountant at a photo studio when he was a child. Even after she left the job, his memories of playing with film rolls and old cameras as though they were toys stayed with him. She was strict about him not taking up photography as a livelihood, but eventually, life took him back to the camera anyway. “I believe photography chose me,” he says. “That is why I always return to it, and what more could you ask for than something that continuously chooses you?”

For Harish, a portrait is not simply about making someone look beautiful. There is a relationship that develops during a shoot — between the photographer and the person being photographed, between the first frame and the hundredth, and between what is planned and what unexpectedly happens.

He believes a shoot should feel natural rather than overly created. That becomes especially important when he photographs actors and models.

One such photograph came early in his journey, when he was photographing a friend at a bookstore. The manager asked them to clear the area so the floor could be cleaned. His friend, an avid reader, picked up a stack of books and moved into another room to read. She was surrounded by scattered books when a beam of light from the window fell directly on her. Harish captured the moment without fully understanding why he was drawn to it. The resulting image looked like a painting.

“I have many photographs that came to me unexpectedly. I don't create these moments. I am simply a tool witnessing them and helping my camera capture them. Photography is an art form, and art brings out kindness and deeper perception. It makes me feel truly alive,” he concludes.

Residents of Pattalam noted that the tree, located along Strahans Road near Mahalakshmi Theatre, had remained untouched despite repeated complaints lodged via the GCC’s 1913 helpline. They added that following the publication of the news article, officials had cleared the tree the very next day.

When asked about the removal action, officials pointed to the news story as the reason. Welcoming the move, V Sathiabalan, State Secretary of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Tamil Nadu, said: “Following the news report, Corporation officials cut down the tilted tree. Removing it will prevent injuries to passersby and protect vehicles that are regularly parked underneath from being damaged during the upcoming monsoon. While cutting down trees in the city is generally regrettable, removing this particular tree alongside Strahans Road near Mahalakshmi Theatre has not harmed the green cover unnecessarily. In fact, it has eliminated a major risk to members of the public who gather under its shade daily.”

Meanwhile, residents urged civic authorities to plant at least two saplings in the nearby vicinity to compensate for the loss of the tree.

To implement the change, the State Government issued a GO 313 through the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department on October 6, which outlines guidelines for removing or changing public names that denote caste or promote social discrimination.

The letter from the Social Justice Department asked the Corporation to inspect public infrastructure and take appropriate corrective action. Meanwhile, a State-Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, is scheduled to take place soon to review progress.

A GCC official stated, “As per the directive, we have instructed officials to audit streets and submit a zone-wise report. Around 77 street names with caste references have been identified across the Kodambakkam, Valasaravakkam, and Adyar zones, with reports from the remaining zones awaited.”

According to the guidelines, if a caste title appears as a suffix, only the suffix will be removed. If the entire street name centres on a caste, it will be completely renamed. Examples of streets currently under review include Gengu Reddy Road, Brahmin Street, Vanniyar Street, Reddy Street, and Dr Nair Road in the Kodambakkam zone.

The State Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF), K Veni, said, “The TNUEF welcomes the initiative to enumerate street names containing caste references, as our state is known for its commitment to social justice compared to others in the country. While the previous government suggested alternatives for street names with caste references, it failed to include leaders like Dr BR Ambedkar and M Singaravelar, who fought tirelessly for social justice. We submitted a representation to the government to add their names to the list, and the new administration must now ensure their names are included in the revised list.”

Some streets have already changed. For instance, GN Chetty Road was renamed Gopathy Narayanan Road, and Srinivasa Iyer Street and Balakrishna Naicken Street in West Mambalam were shortened to Srinivasa (I) Street and Balakrishna (N) Street, the official added.

This is what 'Madras Reimagined: Heritage, Culture, Urban Futures' hopes to explore. Organised by Heritage Inspired, Global Shapers Community Chennai and Art Kin Centre, the day-long programme will be held on August 22 at Art Kin Centre as part of Madras Day celebrations.

“We have constantly been talking about the past. I feel like this is something that we need to concentrate on too: the urban future,” says Shalini Ravikumar of Heritage Inspired, a cultural heritage organisation that works on the concept of living heritage. Shalini has been working as a conservation architect in the city for the past seven years. For her, Chennai’s history exists in many layers. “Chennai has got a lot of heritage, but it is in multiple layers. This is something we need to uncover. Chennai was a set of villages and each village had a name and its history. It also had a lot of association with the Chola kingdom. That is one aspect that we wanted to bring in with this.”

The programme also asks a larger question: what if heritage is not something we simply preserve, but something we practise? “When we talk about living heritage, we are saying that heritage is not static. Multiple things come as part of heritage, like food, rituals, traditions and iconography. As we move, heritage is around us. But are we doing something about it?” she asks.

The main aim is to get young people involved in conversations about the city and its future. “The purpose of the one-day event is to get the youth of the city involved in the process because they are the next generation,” says Shalini, who works as the Principal Strategy & Growth expert at Heritage Inspired,

The morning programme, from 9 am to 1 pm, will feature three sessions by Heritage Inspired. ‘Madras Before Madras: From Knowledge to Experience’ will look at Chennai’s deeper historical roots, layered identities and lesser-known stories. ‘Who Are We to Madras: Reimagining the Known’ will be an interactive session exploring neighbourhoods, memory, identity and belonging. Participants will also take part in a heritage mapping exercise, looking at the neighbourhoods they have lived in and how these places have changed over time.

“We have been living in different neighbourhoods. Chennai has undergone multiple periods of change, so we want to map it and bring alive the concept of what that change is,” she says. The third session, ‘Heritage Beyond Preservation: Where Do We Go From Here?’, will look at how heritage can be carried forward rather than simply preserved.

The morning will culminate in a panel discussion, ‘From Belonging to Blueprint: Neighbourhoods Shaping Chennai’, organised by Global Shapers Community Chennai. The panel will explore how neighbourhood identity and civic participation can contribute to decentralised city planning.

The evening programme, from 4 pm to 8.30 pm, will be presented by Art Kin Centre. It will feature an Oyilattam and introductory Thappattam workshop for children and adults, led by folk artiste Dheepan, followed by an improv comedy performance by the all-women ensemble Unhinged AF. For the organisers, placing a traditional folk form alongside a contemporary performance also reflects the idea of living heritage. Heritage does not remain unchanged; it continues to evolve with the people who practise it.

Beyond the event, the organisers hope the discussions will encourage Chennaiites, particularly young people, to engage more closely with their neighbourhoods and think about their role in shaping the city.

The Railway Board’s approval brought to end the process that began on January 27, 2011, by the then Chief Secretary of the State government who proposed the merger.

The agreement provides for a 90-day handover period followed by a two-year transition/hand-holding arrangement. The immediate handover covers the assets and general operation and maintenance of the MRTS, excluding core train operations and maintenance.

The State must deploy personnel for ticketing, security and other general functions within 90 days of signing the MoU. Ticket checking stays with the Railways, and fare and non-fare revenue collected during the transition will be remitted to Southern Railway (SR).

The SR will continue core train operations and maintenance, including crew and EMU rakes, for 24 months from the MoU date without charging the State. This period is the window for Tamil Nadu to prepare to take-over train operations itself.

The State must settle payments for land, assets and infrastructure, in full or in installments, before the transition period ends. The existing EMUs will stay with SR until Tamil Nadu procures new rolling stock or the handholding period ends, whichever is later. A similar arrangement covers the traction system.

The MRTS overhead electrification system will eventually go to Tamil Nadu, but SR will continue maintaining and using the Chintadripet traction sub-station during the transition, or until alternative arrangements are made. Tamil Nadu will establish a separate SCADA system and its own facilities for OHE (Overhead equipment) maintenance.

The merger also leaves SR with an operational interface at the MRTS’s northern end. During the transition, suburban trains will continue using the MRTS section from Chennai Beach platforms 9 and 10, up to St Thomas Mount. Even after the transition, the Railways will share platforms 9 and 10 at Beach station.

At Chennai Fort, the State will develop a block/crossing station with electronic interlocking and crossovers to facilitate train movements. The agreement also flags the single-line stretch between Beach and Fort stations, which currently affects frequency and headway. SR will consider any Tamil Nadu proposal to enable doubling, subject to its operational requirements and Railway land policy.

According to CMRL sources, once the MRTS takeover is completed, the focus will shift to improving the passenger experience with more convenient, seamless travel. Existing facilities at MRTS stations will also be assessed and upgraded to ensure they are better maintained and more accessible, the sources said.

A special committee of senior officials from SR and the Tamil Nadu government will oversee the process, with the CUMTA convenor as coordinating officer.

A seperate MoU will be made for handing over of the MRTS to Chennai Metro Rail Limited by Government of Tamil Nadu. The process for handing and taking over is being coordinated by CUMTA.

The MRTS network, comprising 20 stations from Chennai Beach to St Thomas Mount, will be integrated with the city’s broader public transport system to facilitate improved connectivity and seamless multimodal travel.

As per the proposed MoU, the handover is to take place within 90 days of execution, with Southern Railway continuing train operations and maintenance during a 24-month transition period.

The accused, identified as Nagaraj (37) of Thousand Lights, was allegedly driving his autorickshaw at high speed and in a rash manner. He first hit a scooter and then a motorcycle, both driven by policemen.

Head Constable, Mahaveer (47) and an Armed Reserve (AR) Constable, Sundaramahalingam (31) were thrown off their vehicles and suffered injuries. Onlookers rescued the policemen and moved them to a hospital for treatment.

Triplicane Traffic Investigation Wing (TIW) rushed to the spot and secured Nagaraj. His auto rickshaw was seized and he was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody.

Police have reiterated their warning against drunk driving and urged motorists to follow traffic rules to ensure road safety.

On Sunday night, she returned home around 11 pm after visiting a temple and parked her scooter in front of her house. The next morning, she found the vehicle missing after which she filed a complaint with the Otteri Police.

A police team conducted an enquiry and based on CCTV footage, police zeroed in on the suspects and apprehended three minor boys. The stolen two wheeler was recovered from their possession.

They were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) and sent to a government observation home. Further enquiry is underway.

The flight, which was scheduled to depart from Chennai at 7.10 am, reached Tiruchy at around 8.10 am. It was then scheduled to depart at 8.30 am and reach Chennai by 9.30 am.

However, while the aircraft was being prepared for departure, a technical issue was detected. Following this, passengers were informed that the flight would be delayed and were asked to remain at the airport. They had to wait for nearly six hours at the Tiruchy airport.

After the issue was rectified, the flight departed at around 2.15 pm and reached Chennai at 3.20 pm. When contacted, Chennai airport officials said the delay was due to an operational reason.

1.Mannargudi–Egmore Express

The Mannargudi–Egmore Express will operate from September 4 to October 13. The train will depart Mannargudi at 10.50 pm and terminate at Tambaram instead of Egmore.

The Egmore–Mannargudi Express will depart from Tambaram at 11.25 pm from September 5 to October 14.

2.Tiruchy, Mumbai and Salem Express trains

The Tiruchy–Egmore Malai Kottai Express will terminate at Mambalam instead of Egmore from September 9 to 15 and again from September 21 to October 14. The train will depart Tiruchy at 10.35 pm.

The Mumbai CSMT–Egmore Superfast Express will terminate at Chennai Beach instead of Egmore from September 12 to 15. It will depart Mumbai at 10.52 pm.

The Salem–Egmore Superfast Express will terminate at Mambalam instead of Egmore from September 12 to 15. The train will depart Salem at 9.30 pm.

Meanwhile, the Egmore–Salem Superfast Express will originate from Chennai Beach at 11.30 pm from September 13 to 16.

3.Uzhavan Express to face delays

The Thanjavur–Egmore Uzhavan Express will also be affected by the redevelopment work. The train will run 20 minutes late in the Mambalam–Kodambakkam section from September 16 to 19.

From September 22 to October 15, the train will run 30 minutes late in the Mambalam–Kodambakkam section.

Passengers travelling on these trains are advised to check the revised boarding and terminating stations before starting their journey, as the changes are temporary and linked to the ongoing redevelopment work at Chennai Egmore.

Shah is scheduled to arrive at the old airport at 7.40 pm on Wednesday, and he will travel by road to a private star hotel on the East Coast Road at Kovalam, where he will stay overnight. On Thursday, he will preside over the conference of the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Puducherry at the hotel.

The Home minister will depart for Delhi at 3.45 pm Thursday.

Chennai airport authorities held a meeting at the old airport on Tuesday afternoon to review security arrangements for the Union Home Minister. Senior officials of the airport, security personnel, VIP security officials, Chennai police personnel and officers from the Intelligence Bureau participated in the meeting. Additional security arrangements will be in place at the old airport on both days.

The protest began around 11.30 pm and continued until 12.49 am, with residents refusing to leave the road until Electricity Board (EB) officials reached the spot and addressed their grievance.

However, even after police officials held talks with the residents and asked them to clear the road, they remained firm and insisted that police call EB officials to the spot. When the police tried to contact the EB officials, the officials reportedly did not attend the calls. Subsequently, two police personnel went towards the EB office and contacted the officials. Only after this did two EB officials arrive at the protest site and inspect the issue.

They then rectified the immediate fault, following which power supply was restored in the affected area. An EB official also told the residents that the existing EB pillar would have to be completely replaced and assured them that the work would be carried out the next day.

Following the intervention of the EB officials and restoration of power, the residents withdrew their protest and the road was cleared for traffic.

Power cuts disrupt residents' sleep, daily routine

The affected residents alleged that power supply would sometimes go off around 11 pm and get restored only in the morning, affecting their sleep and daily routine. They claimed this has been happening for almost a month.

The affected stretch is along Langs Gardens Road, between the police quarters and the Chennai Government Urdu School. Residents alleged that while Tyagarajan Street faced prolonged outages, nearby areas just a few metres away continued to have power supply. They pointed out that the police quarters on one side and a hotel and the CMDA building on the other side had electricity even when their street remained without power.

Residents said they had been approaching the EB office for more than a week and repeatedly requesting officials to address the problem. “When we complain online, they receive the complaint, but they do not come. When we go to their office, they do not solve the issue and do not allow us to meet a higher official,” said the father of a seven-month-old boy.

Police officials told the residents that blocking the road was not an appropriate way to raise the grievance. They advised them to submit a written complaint signed by all affected residents to the EB office and said online complaints alone would not be sufficient.

However, the residents insisted that they had already approached the EB office several times and would not withdraw the protest unless officials came to the spot. They maintained that had the EB officials not arrived, they would have continued the protest through the night and remained on the road until morning.

A resident said the issue had continued despite the new government assuming office 100 days ago. “The TVK government been in office for 100 days now, but we have been facing this issue for nearly 30 days,” the resident said.

Residents said their protest was aimed at drawing attention to what they described as repeated inaction despite several complaints. Some also urged Egmore MLA and Minister Rajmohan to visit the spot and intervene in the issue.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,14,320 per sovereign and Rs 14,290 per gram, after an increase of Rs 20 per gram.

Earlier on August 17, the price of 22-carat gold stood at Rs 1,14,160 per sovereign and Rs 14,270 per gram.

Silver prices remain unchanged

Meanwhile, silver prices remain unchanged and continue to sell for Rs 255 per gram (Rs 2,55,000 per kg) on August 18.

Gold rate today vs gold rate on this day, last year

Gold remains significantly higher compared to last year. Prices have increased from Rs 74,200 per sovereign (Rs 9,275 per gram) on August 18, 2025, to Rs 1,14,320 per sovereign (Rs 14,290 per gram) on August 18, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 40,120 or about 54.07%.

Gold price (22-carat) over the last five days:

August 17, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,160 | 1 gram - Rs 14,270

August 15, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,760 | 1 gram - Rs 14,220

August 14, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,12,320 | 1 gram - Rs 14,040

August 13, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,760 | 1 gram - Rs 14,220

August 12, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,600 | 1 gram - Rs 14,200

Silver price over the last five days:

August 17, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 15, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 14, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 13, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

August 12, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

Several users said that parking attendants turn away vehicles citing a lack of space, while vacant slots could reportedly be seen inside the parking premises.

They alleged that some of these spaces were kept aside for frequent or regular users, making it difficult for occasional passengers to park their vehicles. The issue has caused inconvenience particularly for passengers who depend on Metro station parking to complete the first leg of their daily commute.

Those denied entry are often forced to search for alternative parking nearby, potentially delaying their journeys and adding to congestion around stations.

Passengers have called for greater transparency in the management and allocation of parking spaces at Metro stations. They have also sought clearer information on parking availability and rules governing entry.

With Metro Rail becoming an important mode of public transport, commuters say convenient access to station parking is essential for encouraging people to leave private vehicles behind for longer journeys.

They have urged CMRL authorities to examine the complaints and ensure available parking spaces are allocated fairly.

The deceased were Neelakandan (25) and Chandru (24), both from Padunelli village. The police have registered a double murder case and launched a search for the assailants. Several police personnel have been deployed in the village to prevent further incidents.

The incident followed a quarrel between two groups from the same community during a programme organised for the Aadi festival at the Ponniamman temple in Padunelli on Sunday night. The groups reportedly clashed over the songs being performed on stage, particularly gana songs.

On receiving information, police personnel reached the spot and reportedly pacified both groups before leaving the venue. After the programme ended around midnight, Neelakandan and Chandru were sitting and talking at a plot near their houses. A group of unidentified men allegedly arrived on two-wheelers, surrounded the duo and attacked them with sickles before fleeing. The two youths sustained severe injuries and died at the spot.

Following the incident, residents gathered in large numbers and expressed anger over the failure to prevent the escalation of the earlier dispute. They alleged that the double murder could have been avoided had the police taken stronger preventive action when the quarrel first broke out during the programme.

The Ponnerikarai police recovered the bodies and sent them to Chengalpattu Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem. Meanwhile, residents of Padunelli staged a protest outside Ponnerikarai police station on Monday morning, demanding the immediate arrest of those involved. They also blocked traffic on the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway. The police officials pacified the protesters and said special teams had been formed to trace and arrest the suspects at the earliest.

The deceased were identified as Tamilarasan (16) of Gummidipoondi and Dilkush alias Sanjay (16) of Bihar. The police said the duo were travelling from Kavaraipettai towards Gummidipoondi on the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway, when the accident happened.

Preliminary investigations have suggested they were overspeeding. While speeding through the Verkadu village, Tamilarasan, who was riding the motorcycle, reportedly lost control, and both boys were thrown off the motorcycle and suffered severe head injuries. Tamilarasan died while being taken to Ponneri Government Hospital. Dilkush, who sustained critical injuries, was admitted to the hospital, where he succumbed without responding to treatment. The Kavaraipettai police retrieved the bodies and sent them for post-mortem examination. The police have registered a case and are probing how the minors got hold of a two-wheeler.

Sampath (38) was wanted by the Perambalur District Economic Offences Wing in connection with complaints involving financial fraud and attempts to acquire properties using forged documents.

However, he had escaped abroad and remained absconding. Later, the Perambalur police declared him a wanted accused and issued an LOC against him at all international airports.

On Monday morning, an IndiGo flight from Singapore arrived at Chennai Airport.

When immigration officials were checking the passengers' passports and travel documents, they found Sampath and handed him over to the Chennai Airport police.

The Perambalur district police were also informed about his detention.

A special team from Perambalur is on its way to Chennai to take Sampath into custody and bring him to Perambalur for further investigation.

The deceased, Arun Kumar (39), of Kancheepuram was admitted to Moon Shine Home, a de-addiction centre at VGP Nagar in Sembakkam near Selaiyur, on August 10th. Arun Kumar attempted to escape from the centre after four days of treatment. The staff and other inmates caught him, assaulted him and tied him to a chair. He subsequently became unconscious and died at the centre.

On information, the Selaiyur police recovered the body and noticed injuries on his hands, legs and other parts of the body. A suspicious death case was registered, and the body was sent for postmortem.

During the preliminary examination, doctors found that suffocation, caused by obstruction of the mouth and nose, was a major factor in the death.

Following this, Selaiyur police inspected the centre and seized CCTV footage. The investigation revealed that Arun Kumar had been tied to a cot and that a cloth had been pressed over his mouth. Police arrested the centre's administrator Manikandan (36), along with four long-term inmates identified as Ezhumalai (40), Gunaseelan (43), Rajasudhakaran (41) and Rajkamal (33). All of them were remanded in judicial custody.

A search is on for the owners and others associated with the centre.

The MoU aims to facilitate joint research initiatives by utilising the expertise and facilities available at both institutions.

The collaboration will focus on areas of mutual interest in Siddha medicine and to promote greater academic engagements.

As part of the agreement, the institutions will undertake collaborative studies in drug formulation, synthesis and testing, and Siddha formulations for gut health.

They will also jointly submit research proposals to various state and central Government funding agencies for research grants.

The institutions have further agreed to organise joint symposiums, conferences, workshops and short term courses, besides developing value added courses for students and researchers.

The MOU will also facilitate joint publication of research findings in peer reviewed national and international journals, helping to promote Siddha research and increase its academic visibility.

The collaboration is expected to provide students, faculty members and researchers with opportunities for knowledge sharing, academic interaction and collaborative research in Siddha medicine.

According to reports, one litre of petrol is being sold at Rs 107.77, while diesel costs Rs 99.55 per litre in Chennai on Tuesday.

On May 25, petrol was raised by Rs 2.61 a litre and diesel by Rs 2.71. The increase took cumulative hikes since May 15 to nearly Rs 7.5 per litre.

Until May, fuel prices had largely remained unchanged since April 2022, except for a Rs 2 per litre reduction announced in March 2024 ahead of the national elections.

Why have fuel prices been increased?

Global crude oil prices had surged more than 50 per cent since late February following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route.

State-run retailers had delayed passing on higher input costs for weeks, a move the government said was intended to shield consumers from inflation. Opposition parties, however, accused the administration of holding back price increases until after key state elections.

The May 15 increase came after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expanded its electoral footprint by winning three of five state and UT elections, including West Bengal.

Retail fuel prices were first raised by Rs 3 per litre on May 15, followed by a 90-paise increase on May 19 and another hike on May 23, when petrol prices rose by 87 paise and diesel by 91 paise per litre.

On May 25, petrol was raised by Rs 2.61 a litre and diesel by Rs 2.71. The cumulative increase since May 15 stands at nearly Rs 7.5 per litre.

The increase varies across cities due to differences in local taxes.

Petrol rates (per litre) in Chennai across last 5 days:

August 17 - Rs 107.77

August 16 - Rs 107.77

August 15 - Rs 107.77

August 14 - Rs 107.77

August 13 - Rs 107.77

Diesel rates (per litre) in Chennai across last 5 days:

August 17 - Rs 99.55

August 16 - Rs 99.55

August 15 - Rs 99.55

August 14 - Rs 99.55

August 13 - Rs 99.55

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is developing six new stainless-steel shelters on Erukkenchery High Road in Sharma Nagar, SIDCO Nagar Main Road in KKD Nagar, Ashok Pillar at Vyasarpadi Bridge Junction, Sathiya Moorthi Nagar Main Road and its junction, opposite MKB Nagar Bus Stand, and at Central Avenue Junction in MKB Nagar under the Chief Minister’s Integrated Urban Transformation Mission (CMIUTM) at a cost of Rs 1.20 crore. The shelters will be equipped with CCTV cameras, improved lighting, Wi-Fi connectivity and mobile charging points.

According to a Corporation official, the panic button will be installed as a women’s safety measure. “If a woman feels uncomfortable because of a bystander or while waiting at the bus stop, she can press the button. Once pressed, the camera will continuously record and store footage for the next 15 minutes,” the Corporation official said.

The CCTV cameras will be connected to the Greater Chennai Police headquarters and the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) of the Chennai Corporation. The facilities are intended to improve surveillance and safety at the bus stops.

The CMIUTM works in the Chief Minister’s home constituency mark the first time that the scheme is being implemented in Chennai. TK Shanmugam of the Federation of North Chennai Residents’ Welfare Associations (FNCRWA) welcomed the initiative but said its effectiveness would depend on sustained implementation.

“More projects should be launched in north Chennai for the benefit of local residents, rather than focusing primarily on the central parts of the city,” he said.

Several consumers who tried calling local engineers and field staff on their official corporate user group (CUG) numbers said the calls failed to connect, with an automated message stating that the numbers did not have an incoming call facility. The calls were then disconnected.

The communication breakdown has come at a particularly inconvenient time, with consumers in several areas complaining of unexplained power outages, especially at night.

T Sadagopan, president of the Tamil Nadu Progressive Consumer Centre, said he had been trying to contact engineers in Avadi and FOC numbers since Sunday evening. “I tried five or six officials’ numbers, but none of them is working. How can the utility have its CUG numbers not working? How will consumers contact officials?” he asked.

He said consumers normally contacted FOC centres to register complaints when officials could not be reached. “All the FOC numbers were also disconnected. It is totally unacceptable,” he said.

Elaborating on the situation in north Chennai, civic activist LM Jaiganesh said he had tried contacting the assistant engineer in Vyasarpadi over abandoned electric poles in the first block of 9th Street in Ward 35, but could not get through. He asked, “Officials told me that their CUG numbers had not been working for the past few days. It is shocking. How can official mobile numbers remain non-functional?" he said.

The TNPDCL officials attributed the failure to an issue with telecom service provider Airtel and said the utility was in the process of shifting the connections to Reliance Jio or BSNL.

“Nearly 3,000 CUG numbers on Airtel were disconnected. Airtel did not match the offer made by Jio and BSNL. We had asked officials to migrate for the last six months. Some of them did not act, which led to the present crisis, while most migrated through mobile number portability,” a senior official said, adding MNP could not be completed for some connections and TNPDCL had instructed the officials concerned to obtain new numbers, will be published in the telephone directory and on social media, he said.

The explanation, however, raises questions about TNPDCL’s preparedness. A TNPDCL order on July 28 said the existing Airtel CUG connections were to be migrated to Reliance Jio through mobile number portability. The order also provided for new SIM cards and CUG numbers from Jio or BSNL if Airtel services were disconnected.

Aiming to establish a high-quality civic gathering space that balances public infrastructure goals with long-term financial viability, the civic body has invited consultants to provide project structuring and transaction advisory services to execute the venture under a public-private partnership framework.

Sources in the corporation said, “The plan is to utilise the land of the Omandurar campus to its full potential by developing a recreational space for visitors, patient attendants, and the general public, while reclaiming the rear setback of the hospital.”

The tender document states that the consultant should undertake comprehensive site investigations, field data collection, and mapping of statutory requirements, utility shifting needs, and implementation constraints.

While reviewing conceptual layouts, 3D visualisations, and design guidelines aimed at revenue generation, the advisor will collaborate with the eventual concessionaire. The consultant will evaluate potential revenue streams by factoring in space utilisation, advertisement demand, tariffs, inflation, and market trends to establish precise financial projections over the concession period.

Sources noted that four of the six acres of the campus can be effectively used as a public recreational space equipped with seating arrangements, lighting, and footpaths. “There are also plans to create an exhibition area, public viewing spaces, food counters, and screening zones. Additionally, we would like to revive the live forum space that was originally constructed when the campus was considered for the secretariat,” sources stated.

Launched on August 19, World Photography Day, in partnership with SIGMA India (Shetala Agencies Pvt Ltd), the open call will accept submissions until October 31, 2026 Selected works will be exhibited in Chennai in January-February 2027.

The third edition builds on the response to the previous two editions, which received more than 15,000 image submissions from over 40 countries. More than 160 photographers have been exhibited through the initiative, drawing over one lakh visitors across venues in Chennai.

Open to artists of all ages and from anywhere in the world, the call does not prescribe a particular theme. Submissions can explore photography across nature, portraiture, documentary, landscape, still life, conceptual and experimental practices. While the work must be rooted in photography or a lens-based practice, artists can also incorporate other forms such as painting, sculpture, sound, literature and performance.

“Now in its third edition, the CPB International Photography Open Call has grown into an incredibly inclusive and accessible platform for photographers — from passionate amateurs and emerging voices to established practitioners,” says Varun Gupta, Director, Chennai Photo Biennale. “With each edition, we’ve tried to make the opportunity more meaningful, not just through recognition and visibility, but by creating real opportunities for photographers to have their work seen, discussed and exhibited.”

This year’s jury includes Bhavna Kakkar, founder of Latitude 28 and Take on Art; artist and curator Charan Singh; independent photographer and educator Indrajit Khambe; Nat Geo Explorer and World Press Photo winner Senthil Kumaran.

The open call will also be accompanied by a live Q&A on August 19 at 5 pm , followed by a panel discussion titled Photography Now on September 5.

The victim has been identified as J Rajkumar, a native of Omalur in Salem district. He resides in Triplicane. Rajkumar had picked up a woman from Alandur metro station and was moving along CIT Nagar 1st Main Road in Nandanam when a loose maanja thread entangled around his neck, causing a deep cut.

He fell from his bike and while attempting to remove the thread, he suffered cuts on his fingers as well. A passerby rushed to the aid of the injured rider and passenger, and Rajkumar was taken to a GH.

The Saidapet police have registered a case and are investigating.

The consultancy will update the water-supply DPR prepared in 2023 for the entire Tambaram Corporation.

The move comes as Tambaram’s existing water-supply system remains dependent on multiple sources and agencies, with the document identifying intermittent supply, inadequate per-capita availability and low distribution pressure among the problems that need to be addressed. The earlier DPR, completed in 2023, is now being revisited to factor in the Corporation’s latest population, development, infrastructure, water demand and cost estimates.

The 24x7 plan is for the entire Corporation, including the 15 village panchayats that are yet to be merged. Implementation will be in phases, with the six areas newly added: Sembakkam, Madambakkam, Chittalapakkam, Tiruneermalai, Perungalthur and Peerkankaranai forming Phase I; Tambaram, Pammal, Pallavaram and Anagaputhur forming Phase II, and 15 village panchayat areas forming Phase III. Separate financial models and project structures will be prepared for the phases.

The existing water-supply system is plagued by issues like intermittent supply, inadequate per-capita availability and low distribution pressure

The 2023 DPR had envisaged expanding the distribution network from 1,140 km to 1,502 km. It had proposed 117 water-supply zones and 156 District Metered Areas (DMAs), against 58 existing zones. The plan also envisaged 117 OHTs, including 59 new tanks, and 2,13,914 house service connections, compared with 51,017 existing connections. A SCADA-based monitoring system was also proposed.

The identified sources are 45 MLD from Nemmeli desalination plant, 99 MLD from Perur desalination plant, 58 MLD from Orathur Reservoir, 28 MLD from Manimangalam Lake, 43 MLD from the Palar and 28 MLD from Maduranthakam Lake. The consultant will have to check their adequacy and sustainability for the next 30 years. The exact PPP arrangement, including the financial structure, has not yet been finalised.

The roads in the Perumattunallur, Kannivakkam, Anna Nagar, and Pandur areas under the Kattankulathur block are riddled with potholes and damaged stretches. Roads in Kundan Nagar and Anna Nagar are among the worst affected.

Residents said they had submitted several petitions to the Perumattunallur panchayat and Kattankulathur panchayat union seeking repairs, but no permanent solution had been found.

Kundhan Nagar, which falls under Ward 6 of the panchayat, has several apartment complexes and more than 500 individual houses. Residents said the roads turn dusty in summer and become muddy during the monsoon, making commuting difficult for school students, pregnant women, senior citizens, patients, motorists and pedestrians.

Residents and social activists have repeatedly raised the issue and staged protests demanding repairs.

Though the panchayat passed a resolution and forwarded a Rs 45 lakh proposal for road repairs to the authorities concerned following repeated protests, no work has been undertaken so far, rue residents. Officials cite fund crunch

R Ramanathan, a resident of Perumattunallur, said the panchayat passed a resolution following the protests and prepared a Rs 45 lakh proposal for road repairs. The proposal was forwarded to the authorities, but the project has remained pending for several years, with no work undertaken.

Residents have now urged the Chengalpattu district administration to intervene and ensure that the repair works are commenced at the earliest.

Officials from Kattankulathur panchayat union said the Perumattunallur panchayat had passed a resolution and forwarded the road repair proposal. However, the works had been delayed due to a lack of funds.

The incident happened on Saturday, and police traced and secured the suspects on Sunday, police said.

Head Constable Balamurugan was deployed on security duty during the procession when a youth indulged in unnecessary confrontation with the officer and used abusive language, asking him to leave. When the constable questioned his behaviour, the youth continued to abuse him and attempted to assault him. Another youth also joined in haranguing the policeman.

Two other policemen intervened,  after which the youths left the scene. The police traced the youths, Vishal and Subramani (both aged 20), and registered a case against them. They were produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.

The deceased boy was K Monish Aadhav, a Class 2 student at a private school in Tiruvottiyur.

On Sunday morning, the boy was riding pillion on a scooter driven by his mother, Maria. They were travelling from their home in New Washermenpet to a church in Ennore when the accident happened.
While going along Palagathottikuppam, a water tanker which was trailing the two-wheeler hit them. Maria fell to the left on impact, and the boy fell to his right, coming under the wheels of the tanker lorry.

The lorry ran over the boy's hip, killing him on the spot. Maria suffered injuries and was admitted to the Government Stanley Hospital, where the boy's body has been sent for postmortem. The police said Maria was stable.

The Washermenpet TIW (Traffic Investigation Wing) registered a case and arrested the lorry driver, Sundaravel (45), of Maduravoyal. Further investigation is under way.

The proposed high-rise will come up on about 1,660.34 square metres of land behind the station, close to the existing parking area on 100 Feet Road.

The development is designed to combine commercial activity, office space and improved parking facilities within the Metro premises. According to CMRL’s project specifications, the building will have a basement, a stilt floor with a four-tier mechanical car-parking system, and seven upper floors. The project also covers structural and architectural works, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, HVAC, lifts, signage and façade works.

Of the seven upper floors, four are planned for commercial establishments, including retail stores and food outlets, while the remaining three floors will accommodate office spaces. The combination is expected to provide commuters with easier access to shops and services while creating additional sources of income for the Metro operator.

The development forms part of CMRL’s wider transit-oriented development (ToD) approach, under which the land around stations is being used for commercial and office projects. A similar development has already been established at Ekkatuthangal, while other station-area projects are also being pursued.

Official tender records show that CMRL subsequently issued a fresh construction tender for the Arumbakkam high-rise, indicating that the project continues to be taken forward. Once completed, the Arumbakkam development could turn the station into more than a transport interchange, creating a mixed-use commercial destination directly connected to Chennai's expanding Metro network.

Meanwhile, like Arumbakkam, such a facility is also to come up at Guindy, Broadway and Vadapalani as part of ToD.

The programme, organised by the Corporation’s Gender and Policy Lab at Victoria Public Hall as part of Madras Day celebrations, brought together students for discussions on safe travel, civic responsibility, bystander responsibility and the role of young people in improving public safety.

The programme also sought to give students an opportunity to share their views on safety. A student-led play highlighting women’s safety in public spaces and public transport was staged as part of the programme. This was followed by a discussion titled ‘Champion Women – Inspiration for a Safe Chennai’, which covered women’s empowerment, travel, public safety and the role of young citizens in creating safer public spaces. 

Students, subsequently, took a ‘Safe Chennai’ pledge, committing themselves to values of respect, equality, safety and responsible civic participation. Corporation Commissioner GS Sameeran said, “The Gender and Policy Lab has an important role in incorporating gender considerations into the Corporation’s planning. Though the city has undergone significant development, we’re still keen on working with denizens to create a safer Chennai for women.”

This marks the first protest at the MLA office in 100 days since Tamilaga Vettri Kalagam (TVK) governance took over the state.  

According to residents, the locality has been deprived of fundamental civic infrastructure for over 15 years.

Protesters stated that a few residents had repeatedly attempted to lay roads and construct the stormwater drain (SWD) on the street. They also cited an ongoing property dispute before the court and invoked a judicial stay order to halt the infrastructure work in the locality. Despite multiple petitions submitted to civic authorities over the past decade, there has been no progress in resolving the issue or providing alternative civic solutions. 

After the TVK came to power, representatives have submitted petitions to the MLA’s office on two separate occasions, reiterating the urgent need for basic facilities such as proper roads, street lights, SWDs, and sewage pipelines. Ward 34 councillor K Sharmila Gandhi (DMK) said, “The land through which a road needs to be laid, is owned by three brothers. The land is under litigation, and each of the brothers is a tahsildar, police officer and lawyer. Using their influence, they do not allow any basic development works to be done on or around that land. After milling it, when we were about to lay the road, the brothers cited court litigation and stopped the work.”

Frustrated by the persistent inaction despite repeated complaints, residents gathered at the Perambur MLA office on Monday morning and blocked the entrances. Upon receiving information about the protest, personnel from the MKB Nagar police station arrived at the scene to maintain order and mediate between the demonstrators.  

Chennai district secretary K Siva Kumar arrived at the venue to talk to the aggrieved residents. He assured the protesters that their longstanding demands would be brought directly to the attention of the Chief Minister to expedite solutions to the civic infrastructure issues. Following assurances, the residents agreed to call off the protest.