According to CMRL, a total of 1,04,04,098 passengers travelled on Metro trains in August. The highest single-day passenger footfall during the month was recorded on August 14, when 4,01,607 passengers travelled on the Metro network.

The National Common Mobility Card (NCMC)/Singara Chennai Card emerged as the most-used ticketing option, accounting for 52.84 lakh passenger journeys during the month. Single-journey paper QR tickets were used by 20.20 lakh passengers, while ONDC-based ticketing recorded 12.47 lakh journeys.

Other digital ticketing platforms also saw significant usage. WhatsApp ticketing accounted for 4.69 lakh passengers, followed by Chennai One App with 3.10 lakh, Paytm with 3.09 lakh, PhonePe with 2.73 lakh, and static QR tickets at stations with 2.28 lakh passengers. Online ticketing recorded 1.56 lakh passengers, while the CMRL Mobile App recorded 1.04 lakh journeys.

The Metro operator also offers a 20 percent discount on services including the NCMC Singara Chennai Card and digital QR ticketing through WhatsApp, Paytm and PhonePe, as well as the digital Store Value Pass available through the CMRL Mobile App. The discount does not apply to single-journey paper QR tickets purchased at ticket counters.

School Education Minister Rajmohan confirmed this development in the Assembly on Monday. During Zero Hour, CPI member T Ramachandran raised the demands of cleanliness workers who are staging a protest. Replying to him, Rajmohan, who held two rounds of talks with the protesting workers, said the government would set up toilets with dressing rooms for workers at 107 locations by September 15. Such facilities are already available at 93 locations, he said.

"The government will provide masks and hand gloves to the workers in Zones 4, 7 and 8 of the Corporation. Considering the workers' wishes, the government is considering providing a food allowance instead of morning breakfast," Rajmohan said.

Explaining the salary package for the workers, the minister said the Chennai district Collector had fixed the daily wage for sanitation workers at Rs 832. The government was also considering their demand for a salary hike, he added. "Considering the demands of the workers, biometric attendance will be abolished, and an attendance register will be maintained," Rajmohan said, adding that the workers' demand to meet Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who holds the Municipal Administration and Water Supply portfolio, would also be considered.

The accused was identified as Natarajan. He lived with his wife Ezhila, their children, and his 68-year-old father, Rajendran.

According to the police, Ezhila had returned home after attending the Annai Velankanni church festival and found that Rajendran, who was unable to walk to the bathroom, had soiled the bed. She reportedly chided her husband for failing to take care of his father.

A few moments later, Ezhila, who was sitting outside the house, heard screams and rushed inside to find Natarajan had stabbed his father with a sharp object.

Hearing the cries, neighbours rushed to their aid and shifted the elderly man to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead. Police secured the body and moved it to a government hospital for post-mortem. The Thiru Vi Ka Nagar police arrested Natarajan on murder charges.

The deceased was identified as Murugaiya of Koyambedu. Police said that had brushed against another car that had been parked by the roadside near Thirunagar signal in Choolaimedu on Friday.

Occupants of the parked car confronted him, and assaulted him. Murugaiya lost his balance and fell to the ground unconscious.

Police reached the scene and took him to KMC, where he died.

Police arrested John Benedict Das of Kodungaiyur and Perumal of Red Hills, and booked them for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

They were produced before a magistrate court and remanded in judicial custody.

Under the collaboration, UNESCO MGIEP will bring its expertise in SEL, while IIT-Madras will contribute its capabilities in artificial intelligence, Extended Reality (XR), game design, and immersive technologies, the institutions said in a joint statement.

The initiative would focus on developing open-source digital learning tools that could make education more interactive, personalised and learner-centric, and be adapted to diverse educational systems.

The cooperation agreement was signed in the presence of UNESCO MGIEP Director Obijiofor Aginam, IIT-Madras Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research) Manu Santhanam, and Experiential Technology Innovation Centre (XTIC) head M Manivannan.

Aginam said UNESCO MGIEP would provide expertise in SEL and help align the initiative with UNESCO’s recommendations on AI ethics and learner-centred education. He said the proposed open-source AI tool was expected to help move SEL from policy aspiration to everyday classroom practice.

The tool was also expected to ease teachers’ workload by helping them incorporate SEL into lesson plans, classroom activities, and assessments, Aginam said, adding that teachers would be able to adapt the content to suit local contexts and that low-cost models designed for low-bandwidth environments could help bridge the digital divide.

Manivannan said a major outcome of the partnership would be AI-powered tools capable of transforming conventional curricula by integrating SEL concepts with gamified and immersive learning experiences.

According to the partners, the proposed AI tool will analyse existing curricula and generate personalised learning pathways incorporating SEL.

The immersive components are intended to promote experiential learning and participation, while providing real-time emotional feedback and developing skills such as self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship-building, and social awareness.

The collaboration will also cover joint research in educational technology, pedagogy, AI and learning sciences, besides faculty and researcher exchanges, workshops, and conferences and seminars.

The initiative is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4.7 on education for peaceful, inclusive and sustainable societies, the institutions added.

The commercial cylinder is now priced at Rs 2,916.50 in Chennai. The price of a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder remains unchanged at Rs 957.50, according to a Daily Thanthi report.

Prices of domestic LPG were last raised by Rs 29 per 14.2-kg cylinder on June 7.

Rates had gone up by Rs 60 in March after the West Asia crisis led to supply disruptions and a surge in international energy prices.

Public sector oil companies Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum and Indian Oil distribute 14.2-kg cylinders for domestic use and 19-kg cylinders for commercial use across the country.

Delhi sees Rs 9.50 hike in commercial LPG price

In Delhi, the price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder has increased by Rs 9.50, from Rs 2,738 to Rs 2,747.50.

The price of the 5-kg market-priced cooking gas LPG cylinder, known as 5-kg FTL, has also increased by Rs 2, from Rs 762 to Rs 764.

The latest hike follows two consecutive monthly reductions — a Rs 192 cut per 19-kg cylinder on August 1 and a Rs 183.50 cut on July 1.

The reductions in commercial LPG prices on July 1 and August 1 followed the West Asia crisis, which pushed rates to record highs in June.

After the outbreak of the conflict in late February, commercial LPG rates had risen by Rs 1,373 per 19-kg cylinder, from Rs 1,740.50 in February to Rs 3,113.50 in June.

ATF prices rise by 5.46 per cent

The price of Jet fuel, or Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), has been raised by Rs 6.28 per litre, or 5.46 per cent, to Rs 121.28 per litre for domestic airlines, according to state-owned oil firms.

The increase comes after a Rs 5 per litre rise in rates on August 1.

The two consecutive increases will add to the financial burden of airlines, for which ATF accounts for up to 40 per cent of operating costs.

ATF and LPG prices are revised on the first of every month based on benchmark international prices and foreign exchange rates. Rates vary from state to state depending on local taxes such as VAT.

Petrol and diesel prices, which were hiked by about Rs 7.50 a litre each in May, remained unchanged.

(With PTI inputs)

The dismembered body parts of the woman, identified as Hayathunnisha, a native of Odisha, were found packed in a red suitcase, with the head missing, in a rear coach of the Tamil Nadu Express at Agra railway station on August 5.

Hayathunnisha had married Jagur Khan, a Chennai native, in Odisha around 20 years ago. The couple later moved to Chennai and had a son, Yusuf Khan, 19. Following marital discord, the couple separated and Hayathunnisha lived with her son.

When Hayathunnisha later expressed her intention to marry Manikuddin Laskar, alias Rahul (22), Yusuf reportedly left home in anger and rented a separate house in Perungalathur. Hayathunnisha subsequently stayed at the house of Mohammed Rafi near the Guduvanchery mosque.

The investigation subsequently led police to Laskar from Assam, and his wife Bhagavathi Majhi, who were arrested in Manipur on August 30 and brought to Chennai for questioning.

Marriage demand allegedly triggered the conflict

Police said Hayathunnisha had been in a relationship with Laskar, who was married to Majhi. Majhi allegedly came to know about the relationship, leading to conflicts between the couple.

According to police, Majhi also allegedly obtained money and jewellery from Hayathunnisha on several occasions. Hayathunnisha later became pregnant and insisted that Laskar marry her. He allegedly refused, citing the age difference between them.

Police said Laskar and Majhi subsequently visited Hayathunnisha's house near the Guduvanchery mosque under the pretext of holding reconciliation talks. The couple allegedly stayed there for around two weeks before carrying out the murder.

Couple allegedly dismembered body

According to the police, they had purchased knives generally used for slaughtering goats. Hayathunnisha was allegedly attacked while she was asleep at night. Police said an anaesthetic was sprayed on her face before her throat was slit.

The accused allegedly collected her blood in a large vessel used for cooking biryani before suspending the body from a ceiling fan, skinning it and dismembering it, police said. They also shaved her head and gouged out the eyes.

The remains were allegedly packed into bags and placed inside a trolley suitcase. The couple then transported the suitcase by electric train from Guduvanchery to Chennai Central, from where it was placed on the Tamil Nadu Express bound for Agra, police said.

After leaving the suitcase, the couple reportedly stayed at a relative's house in Chennai before fleeing to Manipur.

Police are now planning to take the accused to the alleged crime scene, Guduvanchery railway station and Chennai Central railway station as part of the investigation.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,15,080 per sovereign and Rs 14,385 per gram, after an increase of Rs 15 per gram.

Earlier, on August 31, the yellow metal was priced at Rs 1,14,960 per sovereign and Rs 14,370 per gram.

Silver price decreased

Meanwhile, silver prices decreased by Rs 5, to sell at Rs 255 per gram at (Rs 2,55,000 per kg) on September 1.

On August 31, silver was priced at Rs 260 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 77,640 per sovereign (Rs 9,705 per gram) on September 1, 2025, to Rs 1,15,080 per sovereign (Rs 14,385 per gram) on September 1, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 37,440 per sovereign or about 48.22 per cent.

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

August 31, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,960 | 1 gram - Rs 14,370

August 29, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,16,040 | 1 gram - Rs 14,505

August 28, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,17,200 | 1 gram - Rs 14,650

August 27, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,17,800 | 1 gram - Rs 14,725

August 26, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,20,080 | 1 gram - Rs 15,010

Silver price over the last five days:

August 31, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

August 29, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

August 28, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 265

August 27, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 265

August 26, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 265

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 31- Rs 107.77

August 30 - Rs 107.77

August 29 - Rs 107.77

August 28 - Rs 107.77

August 27 - Rs 107.77

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

August 31 - Rs 99.55

August 30 - Rs 99.55

August 29 - Rs 99.55

August 28 - Rs 99.55

August 27 - Rs 99.55

Varun had visited Mylapore to attend a wedding and parked his car on the roadside. After the event, he returned to the vehicle and found that it had been opened with a duplicate key.

A gold chain, a laptop and an expensive wristwatch, together worth several lakhs of rupees, were missing, according to a complaint with the Mylapore police. Police perused CCTV footage from the area and zeroed in on Jalaluddin (49) of Washermanpet, arrested him and recovered some of the stolen valuables.

Probe revealed that Jalaluddin was a serial offender and had targeted several such cars using duplicate keys. He was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody.

Residents said that the stagnant water had also increased mosquito nuisance, particularly during the evening and night.

The water has begun emitting a foul smell, affecting commuters, traders and customers. Shopkeepers said customers were finding it difficult to enter and leave their premises due to the accumulated water.

Shopkeeper Ajith Kumar said, “We informed Corporation officials that water was unable to flow through the SWD in this area. No action has been taken so far. The stagnant water is turning green and emanating a stench. Customers visiting the fruit shops, juice shops and tea stalls here are facing difficulties.”

Shanmugam, a resident, said that people had to walk over the stones placed in the stagnant water to cross the area. “At times, there is a risk of people losing their balance and falling, which could lead to accidents,” he said.

A Corporation official said the old SWD had limited capacity and that desilting work was carried out whenever blockages occurred. “As Metro Water works are under way in the area, it’s not possible to construct a new SWD at present. Desilting work will be carried out in the existing drain to remove blockage,” the official said.

Residents who have lived there for decades say the issue has worsened since the Ponneri Highway was widened into a 100 ft road, with trucks “owning” the service roads.

According to the Manali Phase-I and Phase-II Residents Welfare Association, which represents a neighbourhood of more than 15,000 families, it has been reaching out to authorities seeking removal of unauthorised container parking yards. But their repeated complaints have not changed anything on the ground.

The problem isn’t confined to one stretch. Vacant land and buildings in the Phase-I and Phase-II area continue to be used as container godowns, heavy-vehicle parking yards and repair garages, pushing larger vehicles onto surrounding residential roads. Containers and heavy vehicles are parked on the 40 feet, 60 feet, 80 feet, and other residential roads.

Association secretary Kannan, who has lived in the area for around 40 years, said container activity has changed the neighbourhood’s character over the years. “There are many unauthorised container yards, and 76 transport companies here,” he said.

Residents cite a Madras High Court order (WP No 19503 of 2017 and WMP No 21053 of 2017) that bars residential plots from being used for commercial activity. However, Kannan added, that has not stopped people owning one or two grounds of land from renting out their plots for parking.

“We live amidst garages now,” fumed Nandhagopal, another resident. A walk through the lanes reveals at least 10 garages operating in a single stretch. Residents lamented the constant battle with dust and round-the-clock traffic, and the absence of safe roads to travel on.

This is affecting public transport as well. An MTC bus conductor said that container and empty lorries are routinely left along the service road by drivers who return home for a week or 10 days at a stretch. “A trip from Minjur to Broadway that should take 1.40 hours now takes over two hours,” he said. “By the fourth trip of the day, services run roughly 1.20 hours behind schedule.”

That is, a bus due to start its final Broadway-bound trip of the day by 7 pm is often still at Minjur. “Even though there are plenty of buses now, the public cannot use them because of this traffic,” he said.

Many residents say they have to start their journey 15-30 minutes earlier than necessary but still reach the destination late.

The association alleged that the officials and government have not taken any action. “They have not understood our plight. It’s their negligence. How can they allow commercial activities in residential areas?” Kannan asked.

Residents now demand a joint field inspection by the CMDA, Greater Chennai Corporation, Revenue Department, Urban Development Department, Transport Department and police, along with a written Action-Taken Report and permanent monitoring to keep the neighbourhood residential.

Attempts by this reporter to reach GCC officials proved futile.

The deceased was identified as H Yogamaya, daughter of Hari Prakash, an auto driver, and Sumithra.

The police said Hari Prakash had left for work when the incident occurred. Sumithra was cooking in the kitchen when the child wandered into the bathroom and fell headfirst into a water-filled bucket.

Realising the child was missing, Sumithra searched the house and found Yogamaya unconscious in the bucket. She rushed her to a nearby private hospital, where doctors declared the child brought dead.

Speaking at the sixth edition of the Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG) Women’s Symposium in Chennai, she said that questioning injustice and speaking up for one’s dignity and rights was essential.

The symposium titled, ‘The Century of Women Starts with Me: From Awareness to Action’, focused on the role of women in driving social and economic progress and highlighted how individual action can bring about change in families, workplaces, communities and society. Addressing the gathering, she added: “Even if such ideas are met with resistance at first, they are the ones that ultimately drive meaningful social progress.”

Jaya Rao of BSG highlighted that the symposium was being held at a time when women across the country were forming self-help groups and taking up entrepreneurial ventures, challenging traditional ideas that confined them to secondary roles.

“The century of women will not be shaped by awareness alone, but by the courage to translate conviction into action. When one woman takes a determined step forward, she can inspire change in her family, community, and society,” she stated.

The symposium also featured women leaders who shared experiences and perspectives on women’s contribution to creating a more equitable, compassionate and progressive society.

The discussions were held against the backdrop of India’s ambition to become a developed nation by 2047.

Kalpana Sankar, MD-CEO of Varashakti Housing Finance and co-founder of Hand in Hand India, highlighted the importance of women’s economic empowerment.

Organised by the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI (WSAI) and the Centre for Outreach and Digital Education (CODE), the workshop is titled ‘Metabolic Modelling-From Pathways to Predictions’.

The in-person programme will combine classroom lectures with practical sessions using tools such as COBRApy to analyse and interpret metabolic models of individual organisms and microbial communities.

It will provide participants with practical exposure to systems biology and metabolic engineering.

The workshop is open to final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers, faculty members and industry professionals with a background in, or interest in, biology and metabolic modelling.

Applicants will be shortlisted based on their statement of purpose, educational background and relevance to the workshop’s focus.

The workshop is convened by Karthik Raman of WSAI and Meiyappan Lakshmanan, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, IIT Madras.

Faculty, postdoctoral researchers and PhD scholars from the Centre for Integrative Biology and Systems Medicine (IBSE) and WSAI will conduct the sessions.

Last date to apply is September 4. More details are available through the workshop announcement. Queries may be sent to events@dsai.iitm.ac.in

The branch was inaugurated in the presence of actress Nandita Swetha and actors Mahat Raghavendra and Darshan, who joined the Kosmoderma team and guests to mark the occasion.

Dr Chytra Anand, Founder and President of Kosmoderma, said, “Every individual deserves care that understands their unique skin and aesthetic needs. Anna Nagar marks an exciting new chapter for us in Chennai, taking our expertise closer to a larger community, where science, innovation and compassion come together to inspire confidence.”

The branch offers clinical dermatology, aesthetic medicine, skin rejuvenation, pigmentation management, acne care, anti-ageing treatments, laser procedures, hair restoration and body aesthetics, with each treatment plan tailored to the patient’s specific goals.

“Beauty and confidence are personal to every individual. I’m delighted to celebrate this milestone with Dr Chytra and the Kosmoderma team, and to see a brand that brings together expertise and technology continue to grow here,” Nandita Swetha said.

Actor Mahat Raghavendra said, “Kosmoderma has built a strong reputation for expert-led, personalised aesthetic care. It’s exciting to see the brand continue to grow in Chennai. I wish Dr Chytra and her team the very best for this new chapter.” 

A division bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan said that it would pass orders after hearing both sides.

Stalin had approached the court seeking directions to the Election Commission of India to conduct 100% counting of VVPAT slips and verify all 286 EVMs used in the constituency during the Assembly elections.

Of the 14 EVMs taken up for verification, two stopped working immediately, which, he argued, required technical diagnosis.

Stalin had also pointed out lapses in the chain of custody of another EVM, including blank address tags on the carrying cases of the Ballot Units and Control Units, and seals being affixed on the reverse side.

Despite these lapses, the District Election Officer declared that the verification process had been completed successfully and in accordance with the prescribed procedure. He therefore sought to set aside the District Election Officer’s order, order a recount and declare Babu’s victory void.

During the hearing, senior counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing for Stalin, argued that the ECI conducted the EVM verification only after 45 days had elapsed from the declaration of the election results, thereby preventing Stalin from filing an election petition.

He submitted that the petitioner could not be left without a remedy merely because the prescribed time limit had expired.

Appearing for the ECI, senior counsel Dama Sheshadri Naidu opposed the plea, arguing that Stalin should have raised his doubts over the EVMs at the outset and could not approach the court after delaying the exercise of his rights.

He submitted that the Supreme Court had already ruled against 100% recount and that allowing the plea would open a Pandora’s box, leading to similar petitions being filed by others.

When the court asked why Sibal had not approached the ECI earlier, he submitted that a letter was sent to the ECI within seven days of the results being declared, as directed by the Supreme Court.

He said it was then for the ECI to verify the machines, but the verification was conducted only after 45 days, preventing Stalin from filing an election petition.

After hearing the matter, the court said it would consider the maintainability of the issue and pass orders.

Meanwhile, Stalin withdrew his writ petition challenging certain provisions of the ECI’s standard operating procedure (SOP) for verifying 5% of EVMs after the High Court pointed out that he had challenged the older procedure that was in force in 2024 instead of the 2025 SOP.

The bench granted Stalin liberty to file a fresh petition challenging the latest SOP.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,14,960 per sovereign and Rs 14,370 per gram, after a decrease of Rs 135 per gram.

Earlier on August 29 morning, the price of 22-carat gold stood at Rs 1,16,040 per sovereign and Rs 14,505 per gram.

Silver price unchanged

Meanwhile, silver prices remained unchanged at Rs 260 per gram (Rs 2,60,000 per kg) on August 31.

On August 29, silver was priced at Rs 260 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 75,760 per sovereign (Rs 9,470 per gram) on August 29, 2025, to Rs 1,16,040 per sovereign (Rs 14,505 per gram) on August 28, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 40,280 per sovereign or about 53.16 per cent .

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

August 29, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,16,040 | 1 gram - Rs 14,505

August 28, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,17,200 | 1 gram - Rs 14,650

August 27, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,17,800 | 1 gram - Rs 14,725

August 26, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,20,080 | 1 gram - Rs 15,010

August 25, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,20,080 | 1 gram - Rs 15,010

Silver price over the last five days:

August 29, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

August 28, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 265

August 27, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 265

August 26, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 265

August 25, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 265

The project was launched in 2005 by Cent­ral Gov­ern­ment Employ­ees’ Wel­fare Hous­ing Organ­isa­tion (CGEWHO) under the Min­istry of Hous­ing and Urban Affairs, with 1,304 units ori­gin­ally planned. However, CGEWHO com­pleted only 572 units in 2012.

The lay­out was sub­sequently mod­i­fied in Decem­ber 2014 to facil­it­ate con­struc­tion of 1,220 addi­tional flats under Phase III, com­pris­ing stilt plus 10 floors. Con­struc­tion of Phase III began in 2017 and con­tin­ued until June 2025. Res­id­ents said the con­tinu­ous move­ment of heavy vehicles car­ry­ing con­struc­tion mater­i­als dur­ing the eight-year period severely dam­aged the com­mon approach road and internal roads.

“The relent­less move­ment of heavy vehicles caused severe dust pol­lu­tion and turned our internal roads unmo­tor­able with deep potholes,” lamen­ted res­id­ent VN Sainath. “Acci­dents involving two-wheel­ers occur fre­quently, and the road poses a grave threat to chil­dren com­mut­ing on school buses.”

Though the Chen­nai Met­ro­pol­itan Devel­op­ment Author­ity (CMDA) issued a com­ple­tion cer­ti­fic­ate in June 2025, res­id­ents said that internal road work was incom­plete. AOWA rep­res­ent­at­ives alleged that the neces­sary clear­ances were issued without an inspec­tion of the actual site con­di­tions.

Res­id­ents said that repeated com­plaints to the local CGEWHO project office and its head office in New Delhi had failed to eli­cit a response. They have now appealed to Chief Min­is­ter C Joseph Vijay to inter­vene and ensure that the roads are laid imme­di­ately, before a ser­i­ous or fatal acci­dent occurs.

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 Monday.

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 30 - Rs 107.77

August 29 - Rs 107.77

August 28 - Rs 107.77

August 27 - Rs 107.77

August 26 - Rs 107.77

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

August 30 - Rs 99.55

August 29 - Rs 99.55

August 28 - Rs 99.55

August 27 - Rs 99.55

August 26 - Rs 99.55

The continuous parking along the two roads has occupied space meant for pedestrians, forcing them to walk on the carriageway.

Vehicles parked on both sides have also reduced the space available for moving traffic, particularly near turns, making it difficult for motorists to negotiate the stretches safely. Some vehicles have reportedly remained parked in the area for several months.

There are three GCC’s parking facilities for battery-operated vehicles (BOV) operating on Anna Main Road for the past 4 years. After these facilities were introduced, residents’ vehicles that were previously parked along the roadside are now being parked on the carriageway.

A senior Corporation official said, “The GCC had provided a BOV parking facility on around 10 feet of public space along Anna Main Road for the purpose of accommodating BOV vehicles.”

A local shopkeeper, Anand, said that residents had been parking vehicles along the road for several years as some houses lacked parking facilities. “Earlier, vehicles were also parked on the footpath. Bollards have now been installed, but vehicles are still being parked on the road, obstructing the pedestrian space,” he added.

Another resident, Monisha, said that some vehicles remain parked in the area for months. “At night, men consume alcohol and urinate near parked vehicles. We’re unable to walk along the pedestrian space. The parking should be regulated and the space meant for pedestrians should not be used for parking,” she said.

The GCC official added that repeated letters and reminders had been sent to the traffic police seeking action against the roadside parking. Bollards were installed at some locations around four months ago to prevent vehicles from being parked on footpaths.

“However, vehicles continued to be parked along the roadside, particularly near turns close to a Tasmac outlet, posing a risk to motorists,” he pointed out. “Another reminder will be sent to the traffic police to take appropriate action for a permanent solution.”

A senior traffic cop said that vehicles parked in violation of rules were being removed regularly and fines imposed. “But, motorists continued to park at the same locations even after being fined. Measures will be taken to install barricades in the area to prevent vehicles from being parked there,” he averred.

A fire broke out at the site once again on Sunday around 11.30 am, leaving nearby residents severely affected by heavy smoke pollution and breathing difficulties. Firefighters eventually brought the blaze under control. 

According to the FNRCWA, frequent fires at the Kodungaiyur dump yard, followed by firefighters dousing the flames and the GCC issuing explanations, have become a recurring ordeal. TK Shanmugam, president, FNRCWA, said, “This is the third incident in a one month; yet, officials have failed to provide concrete explanations. The civic body must clarify the true underlying cause of these fire accidents to the public.”

He added that besides hastening the completion of the bio-mining process to clear legacy waste from the site, the administration must protect residents by making the dump yard entirely waste-free. “Until bio-mining operations are fully completed, continuous monitoring, robust fire safety measures, and smoke pollution prevention mechanisms must be put in place,” he opined. “The lives and health of Kodungaiyur residents should not be compromised.” 

Attempts by this reporter to reach GCC officials for clarification on this matter were unsuccessful.

The Indian Army Headquarters Dakshin Bharat Area had organised a specially curated show at the memorial on August 29. Following an encouraging response to the inaugural public presentation, it was decided that the show will now be held for the public on every Saturday, said the Defence Department.

The audiovisual presentation, featuring Tamil subtitles, narrates significant chapters of India's military history, highlighting the valour, sacrifice, and service of the armed forces, and also their continuing role in safeguarding the country's sovereignty, unity, and integrity.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening the connect between the armed forces and citizens, particularly children and youth, while fostering patriotism, gratitude, and national pride, the department said in a statement on Sunday.

School students, NCC cadets, soldiers' families, tourists, and members of the public participated in the inaugural presentation and appreciated the Tamil subtitles.

Located near Fort St George, the Victory War Memorial is being developed as a centre for remembrance, military heritage, and public education. Visitors can also view military artefacts, including a decommissioned T-55 main battle tank, and replicas of Indian naval vessels INS Anjadip and INS Vikrant there at the memorial.

The department said the initiative would promote greater awareness of the country's military heritage, honour fallen heroes, and inspire younger generations to uphold the values of service and nation-building.

Duraipandian (26) of Madurai, an HR manager at a private firm in Sipcot, and his colleague, Yuvaraj (23) of Panruti, went to a theatre in Oragadam to watch a movie and were returning to their residence in Vallam along the service road of the Chengalpattu–Sriperumbudur highway when the accident happened.

Police investigations revealed that while moving near a private hospital, another bike coming in the opposite direction at high speed collided head-on with their bike. The motorists on the other bike were identified as Monish of Erode and his friend Darshan.

All four sustained injuries and were shifted to the Sriperumbudur Government Hospital, where Duraipandian and Yuvaraj died without responding to treatment.

Monish and Darshan, who were in critical condition, were referred to Chengalpattu Government Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. Darshan died on the way to the hospital, said the police, adding that Monish is undergoing treatment.

The Oragadam police have registered a case, recovered the bodies, and sent them for post-mortem examination. Further investigation is under way.

One of the racers rode dangerously close to another two-wheeler, and the family riding the other bike had a narrow escape from a fall. Alarmed by this, other motorists alerted the police.

The Koyambedu traffic personnel rushed to the spot and, with the help of other motorists, intercepted several riders. While some managed to flee, the police caught 10 people and later handed them over to the Anna Nagar Traffic Investigation Wing.

The detained youth were identified as Adithya (23), Rahul (27), Kumar (28), and Senthamizh Selvan (20). Six minors were also secured.

Officials said the youth had formed a WhatsApp group to organise bike races and had assembled at Vadapalani. Further investigations are under way.

Sai Modish, a government school student, lived with his mother Sugirtha Lakshmi in NGO Nagar near the Collectorate. According to the police, the incident occurred on Wednesday when he was out to play cricket. Several groups were playing cricket at the time, and a stray ball hit Sai Modish on his head.

He collapsed on the spot and was rushed to the Kanchipuram Government Hospital and later shifted to the Chengalpattu Government Medical College Hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday while undergoing treatment. The Kanchi Taluk Police have registered a case and are investigating further.

Daily, thousands of motorists struggle through the damaged stretch, which serves as a vital entry and exit route for the residential complex. An intersection for vehicles moving from Navalur side towards Thoraipakkam in OMR takes a left turn to reach Semmencheri, the Perumbakkam resettlement site, and other residential complexes.

Lack of proper street lighting along the service road has compounded the danger for night commuters. Recently, a car’s back wheel got stuck in a deep pothole, forcing residents to issue an urgent appeal to the Highways Department before major accidents occur. 

“For over a year, we’ve had to think twice before stepping out,” said Maha Renuprakash, an OMR resident. “The temporary patch-up works done by the officials don’t even last a single day. With the monsoon setting in, a car recently got stuck on the service road and had to be pulled out. Will authorities step in and fix this permanently?”

Meanwhile, workers at a nearby site claimed that apartment complexes occasionally discharge accumulated rainwater directly onto the street, worsening stagnation. Addressing the issue, an official stated, “Storm water drain and sewage pipeline installations are under way at Nookampalayam Link Road to connect with Rajiv Gandhi Salai. Once these underground works are completed, relaying of the road works will begin immediately.”

According to the provisional road accident analysis for June 2026, Chennai recorded 1,996 accidents and 257 deaths up to June this year, against 2,051 accidents and 237 deaths during the same period in 2025. The rise in Chennai's road deaths appears to be linked more to the severity of crashes than their frequency.

The Chennai figures stand in contrast to the overall state trend. Tamil Nadu recorded 37,292 road accidents till June 2026, up from 35,226 in the corresponding period of 2025. This represents a 5.86% increase, or 2,066 additional crashes. Yet fatalities declined marginally from 9,498 to 9,461, a fall of 0.39%.

The numbers also put Chennai at the top of the list of major cities for both crashes and fatalities. Tambaram followed with 1,027 accidents and 256 deaths, while Avadi recorded 729 accidents and 118 deaths. Salem reported 561 accidents and 138 deaths.

At the district level, Coimbatore had the highest accident count at 2,078, followed by Chennai at 1,996, Cuddalore at 1,907 and Chengalpattu at 1,902. Coimbatore also topped the fatality chart with 494 deaths, followed by Chengalpattu with 472 and Madurai with 469.

Two-wheeler riders continued to be the biggest contributor to road fatalities. They accounted for 16,702 accidents, or 44.79% of all crashes, and 4,180 deaths, accounting for 44.18% of fatalities till June.

Reluctance to helmet use remains a major concern. Of the 4,180 people killed in two-wheeler crashes, 1,136 deaths were linked to non-wearing of helmets. The figure was 803 during the corresponding period last year.

Chengalpattu recorded the highest number of such deaths at 82, followed by Krishnagiri and Coimbatore with 68 each and Madurai with 64. Chennai recorded 25 deaths attributed to non-wearing of helmets, as against 21 in 2025. The analysis also points to driver behaviour as the overwhelming contributor to road crashes.

Of the 37,292 accidents recorded till June, 34,587, or 92.75%, were attributed to driver fault. Driver error was also linked to 8,746 deaths, or 92.44% of all fatalities.

State highways emerged as the biggest accident hotspots, accounting for 12,164 crashes and 3,068 deaths. National highways under NHAI accounted for another 9,998 crashes and 2,985 deaths. Together, state and national highways accounted for nearly 64% of accidents and fatalities. Village roads also saw a sharp deterioration, with accidents rising 17.07% to 4,692 and deaths increasing 8.13% to 1,250.

Enforcement data presents another contrasting trend. Driving licences suspended for the six traffic violations, identified by the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, fell from 48,358 till June 2025 to 41,402 till June 2026, a decline of 14.4%.

Of the suspensions in 2026, mobile-phone use while driving accounted for 10,524 cases, followed by red-light jumping at 9,155 and over-speeding at 8,623. Together, the three accounted for nearly 70% of all suspensions. Suspensions for red-light jumping recorded the biggest fall, dropping by 3,469 cases from 12,624 to 9,155.

Action against over-speeding declined by 1,959 cases, while suspensions for carrying persons in goods carriages fell by 1,698. Drunk driving was the exception, with licence suspensions rising from 6,120 to 8,223, a 34.4% increase.

The Senate meeting, which is required to be held twice a year, has not been convened for nearly a year due to a court case. After the restrictions were lifted, the university announced that the meeting would be held on July 30. However, it was postponed without any reason being given.

Members were subsequently informed that the meeting would be held on August 28. It has now been postponed for the third time this year, again without a new date being announced.

The Senate's approval is required for the university's budget and administrative expenses. Only after approval can funds be allocated to more than 80 departments to carry out academic and other activities.

With the fund allocation yet to be approved, departments with laboratories, including Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology, have been unable to purchase essential materials.

With postgraduate classes already underway, some science departments have reportedly been unable to procure laboratory materials needed for practical sessions. In some departments, professors are buying materials out of pocket to help students carry out laboratory work.

However, professors in certain departments are unable to cover expenses out of pocket, affecting the academic activities of science students.

Speaking to DT Next, university professors said they were unaware of the reason for the latest postponement and urged that the Senate meeting be convened immediately to ensure the university's functioning is not hampered.

Higher Education Department officials, however, said the Senate meeting was likely to be held within a week and denied any shortage of laboratory equipment in the departments.

This newspaper had earlier carried a write-up, even while the previous government was in power, urging the release of the Thiruppugazh Committee report on flood management in Chennai. But nothing has happened. Why are governments hesitant to make expert committee reports public? They are not meant to gather dust in the Secretariat or to be sent to government archives for future research. Such indifference sends a wrong message, as experts in future will be reluctant to head such panels, feeling it is a waste of time. On the contrary, if reports are made public (unless state secrets are involved), it triggers a healthy discussion, and the government benefits from a wider perspective. We have a right to know the contents of matters involving direct public interest. Otherwise, courts may one day ask the government to file status reports on flood control actions taken based on the report.

Changing probe agency requires loss of faith, political interference or powerful accused

I seek your personal view on an issue concerning the Ankit Tiwari case. More than two years after the alleged bribery case came to light, the Supreme Court is still considering whether to transfer the investigation to a central agency. Given the wider scrutiny the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has faced over its raids and allegations of political selectivity in some actions, what could be holding up a clear decision in this matter? Are there constitutional or legal complications involved in transferring the probe to another agency, particularly when the objective is to ensure an independent, fair and transparent investigation?

Residents have raised concerns over the missing facility, which plays a critical role in providing early childhood education and healthcare in both rural and urban areas.

According to residents, former Chief Minister MK Stalin officially inaugurated the reconstructed housing project built for Rs 307.24 crore on March 2. Before that, around 1,476 families lived in the settlement, which had 10 anganwadis and one vaccination centre.

With 1,800 families moving into the newly constructed complex, the beneficiary population, including young children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls, is expected to rise significantly

D Reshma, a resident of the complex, said, “Earlier, we had many anganwadis here. After being allotted the new tenements, we found there are no anganwadis. Many women work as domestic help; so sending their children to an anganwadi for basic learning would be a huge help. Due to a lack of space, six centres have been merged and are operating out of just 3 units in a nearby housing complex.”

Echoing her concerns, a senior citizen piped in: “I used to send my granddaughter to the anganwadi near the tenement opposite Muthumariamman Temple. When I asked the staff about the overcrowded classroom, they said they had requested more rooms, but none have been allotted yet.”

Ward 170 Councillor KR Kadhir Murugan told DT Next that children, mothers, and pregnant women face severe hardship regarding basic healthcare, nutrition, and vaccination services. “No space has been allotted for an anganwadi centre. When questioned, TNUHDB officials claimed they had handed over the land to the Greater Chennai Corporation. Although a request was submitted through the ICDS a year ago, TNUHDB has not taken responsibility for allocating space.”

A November 2025 letter from the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of Project 11, Mylapore, to the Councillor noted that 10 anganwadi centres previously managed by the TNUHDB were demolished during reconstruction. Seven of those centres, formerly located in H and R blocks, were torn down. Out of the original 10, space has been allocated for only 3 centres, leaving 7 requiring new space allocations.

With 1,800 families moving into the newly constructed complex, the beneficiary population, including young children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls, is expected to rise significantly. Restoring the remaining 7 centres will directly benefit hundreds of families relying on early childhood education and maternal healthcare.

Murugan added: “On August 28, at the council meeting, I raised this issue during the Zero hour. Commissioner GS Sameeran said that the issue was taken into consideration and will be addressed after discussing with the TNUHDB officials.”

A senior official in the TNUHDB stated that if provisions were allotted for the ICDS centres at the tenement, “it will be opened and brought to public use. I will check with the officials and take necessary actions in this regard”.

The deceased was identified as Nagarajan (32), a resident of Kodambakkam. Nagarajan was employed in a private firm in Taramani. On Saturday morning, he went to his office as usual, and was riding to another location along Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR) towards Madhya Kailash when the accident happened.

According to the police, a rashly driven van that was trailing Nagarajan's two-wheeler rammed into the bike from behind. In the impact, he was thrown to the ground and sustained grievous injuries. Other motorists intercepted the van and secured the van driver and handed him over to the police.

Nagarajan was rushed to a hospital where he was declared as brought dead. The police said the van driver, Prabhu (30), was subjected to medical tests, which confirmed that he was driving under the influence of alcohol.

The Mylapore Traffic Investigation Wing (TIW) registered a case against Prabhu. He was produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.

According to Customs, an AirAsia flight from Thailand via Kuala Lumpur landed at Chennai airport in the early hours of Sunday. Officials were monitoring passengers and stopping those found suspicious for questioning.

The 48-year-old passenger arrived in a wheelchair, cleared immigration, collected his baggage from the conveyor belt, and attempted to exit through the Green Channel claiming he had no goods to declare.

However, the Customs officers deployed there found him to be suspicious and stopped him. During questioning, they found that the man had no medical condition requiring a wheelchair, which gave rise to the suspicion that he was using the wheelchair as a ruse to avoid scrutiny.

He was taken to the Customs office for a detailed examination. On checking his baggage, officers found six parcels containing three kilograms of hydroponic ganja. The value of the seizure is estimated to be Rs 3 crore. The passenger was arrested and the narcotic substance was seized.

During interrogation, officials learned that he was acting as a mule for an international drug trafficking network and had booked wheelchair assistance with fake medical documents to bypass Customs check.

The officials are now investigating whom the consignment was meant for and whether more persons are involved in the smuggling network.

The organisation received photographs and details of 245 locations from 157 volunteers as part of a six-week public survey launched on June 29. The findings were compiled into a report released on Saturday and submitted as a complaint to the state government and Chennai Corporation authorities, said its coordinator Jayaram Venkatesan.

The failure to mill or remove existing road surfaces before laying new ones was a major reason for the problem, it said, noting how road levels rise with each resurfacing, while houses and other infrastructure remain at their original elevation.

In Alisoor village in Uthiramerur taluk of Kancheepuram district, the existing cement road was allegedly not removed before wet-mix material and paver blocks were laid last month. Due to this, some houses that were already below road level were pushed nearly another foot lower.

In Mugalivakkam, several houses were found to be more than two feet below the road, according to the report. Residents face the risk of rainwater and sewage entering their homes during the monsoon, it said.

The elevated roads have also affected access to houses. Residents who earlier climbed steps to enter their homes now have to descend from road level, posing difficulties for elderly people and wheelchair users, the organisation said.

Arappor Iyakkam also flagged the safety risk posed by recessed manholes. When only the road surface is raised, manhole covers can remain below the new level, creating depressions in the middle of roads and increasing the risk of two-wheeler accidents.

Residents are also being forced to spend large sums to raise the floors of their houses to prevent flooding, said the organisation, claiming that some households had spent up to Rs 40 lakh on such works.

The group alleged that the problem was also leading to avoidable expenditure by government agencies, which subsequently have to raise footpaths, sewer manholes and electrical boxes to match the new road levels.

A resident from Tiruvallur district told the organisation that residents' objections to road works were often ignored, and alleged that instead of taking action against contractors, some officials had even advised some affected homeowners to demolish their houses and rebuild them.

Citing several such cases, Arappor has sought mandatory milling of old roads before resurfacing and said tender documents should specify the required excavation depth. It also demanded that the elevation of roads should be measured before and after works with reference to mean sea level and the details be published online.

The organisation proposed making photographic and video evidence of old-road removal and elevation measurements mandatory before contractors are paid. It also sought compensation of up to Rs 40 lakh for homeowners whose properties are pushed below road level due to irregular road works.

It called for an expert committee to examine existing problem areas and work out a long-term plan to address houses already left below road level, including reducing the elevation of major roads wherever required.

The report has been sent to the Chief Minister, and the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, the Highways ministers, senior officials of the Municipal Administration and Water Supply, Highways and Rural Development departments, and also the Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner.

The accused, Manik Uddin Laskar and his wife Bhagabati Majhi, were brought from Guwahati to Chennai by an IndiGo passenger flight at around 9 p.m. after the Tambaram City Police obtained transit warrants from the respective courts where they were produced.

The victim, a 38 year old woman, Hayatun Nisha, was staying with the suspects in Guduvanchery.

The couple were taken from Chennai airport to the Tambaram City Police Commissionerate under tight security for further interrogation.

The woman's dismembered body parts, with the head missing, were found packed in a red suitcase in a rear coach of the Tamil Nadu Express at Agra railway station on August 5.

During the investigation, the Tambaram City Police traced the suspects to Assam and Manipur. The police found that Laskar and Majhi, who had been staying in Guduvanchery near Chennai, were allegedly involved in the murder.

The flight, which departed from Chennai airport in the morning, reportedly encountered strong winds and adverse weather conditions as it approached the Andaman Islands.

Unable to land, the aircraft remained airborne for a considerable period, circling over the area, before the crew decided to return to Chennai.

The flight eventually landed at Chennai airport in the afternoon. As the weather conditions did not improve, the airline subsequently cancelled the service for the day and informed passengers that they would be flown to the Andamans on Monday morning at 9.10 am.

Not happy over the way in which their day panned out, passengers objected and demanded accommodation and food for the night. Following discussions with airport officials, arrangements were made to accommodate them at hotels in Chennai.

Of the 176 passengers, 31 chose to return to their homes and said they would report at the airport on Monday morning. The remaining 145 passengers were taken by vehicles from the airport to various hotels in the city.

The murder came to the police’s knowledge on Sunday after members of the public alerted officials about the body of a man with severe injuries near a crematorium in Kelambakkam.

The deceased was identified as Shahul Hameed (24) of Kelambakkam, an A-Category rowdy with over a dozen criminal cases against him including a murder case in 2020. The officials shifted his body to a government hospital for a post-mortem examination.

During their investigations, the police found that Shahul had come out on bail only on Thursday (August 27). Around 9.15 pm on Saturday night, he borrowed cash from a relative, reportedly to buy liquor.

On Sunday, the police arrested V Arun (31) and M Srikanth (35) of Thaiyur, A Surya (32) of Egattur, and Abdul Rahman (25) of Kelambakkam.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that there was previous enmity between Shahul and the accused over turf-war, claimed the police.

The arrested persons were produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody. Meanwhile, the police are hunting for other suspects involved in the murder.

The issue has reportedly worsened with food delivery agents, whose online shopping office functions from Isana Tower near the bus stop, park their motorcycles along the roadside. The parking facility at the tower is said to be inadequate to accommodate the vehicles of all employees.

A resident, Vikram, said, “Two-wheelers are being parked in rows around the bus stop, leaving little space for us to use the footpath. We’re forced to walk on the road, which is risky, particularly when traffic is heavy.”

The encroachment has also affected bus operations too. The space available for buses to pick-up or drop-off passengers has reduced, with buses sometimes having to stop without sufficient space along the roadside. This has caused inconvenience to passengers boarding and alighting from buses.

The manager of Isana Tower said that the two-wheelers parked outside the building belonged to Zepto. “The company had initially sought parking space for 80 two-wheelers, but it increased to around 130, resulting in a shortage of parking space,” he stated.

Separate parking spaces were allotted to other offices functioning in the building. “As the parking issue involving Zepto continued, the company has been advised to shift its office to another location. Zepto has informed the building management that it plans to move to another location within three months,” he added.

Traffic police officials told DT Next that two-wheelers parked illegally in the area had earlier been removed and fines imposed on those responsible. “Appropriate action will be taken against those continuing to park their vehicles illegally in the area,” an official said.

In Shastri Nagar, particularly on 5th, 10th and 15th Streets, and 15th Street in New Thiru Vi Ka Street, electrical wires are exposed along the pathways used by residents every day.

People lamented facing difficulties while passing through the area, as the wires remain exposed without proper protection.

Since the area has a large number of residential houses, open power lines have caused concern among the public. With monsoon on the way and intermittent showers in the city, residents are anxious over safety. They said rainwater and moisture could lead to electrical leakage, posing a risk of electrocution to pedestrians. The risk could increase further when rainwater accumulates in the area.

A resident, Sugandhi, 15th Street in New Thiru Vi Ka Street, said, “The wires have been exposed here for more than a year. Despite several complaints, no action has been taken yet. Hundreds of families live with children and senior citizens. These wires should be properly secured.”

Concurring with her was another resident, Perumal, who added: “The wires were removed when stormwater drain work was carried out. Later, they were not properly restored even though it was on a public pathway.”

A senior TNPDCL official told DT Next, “The wires were placed externally during the stormwater drain works. Locations where such issues have been reported will be inspected and necessary action will be taken. Once the works are completed, the exposed wires will be properly arranged and secured in a safe manner.”

Which vegetable prices increased today?

Shallot – Rs 80 per kg, up by Rs 10 (compared to August 25)

Which vegetable prices decreased today?

Drumstick – Rs 30 per kg, down by Rs 20 (compared to August 25)

What are the prices of essential vegetables?

Onion: Rs 58 per kg

Tomato: Rs 20 per kg

Potato: Rs 35 per kg

Ginger: Rs 180 per kg

Coconut: Rs 60 per piece

Shallot: Rs 80 per kg

What are the prices of other vegetables?

Green chillies: Rs 60 per kg

Beetroot: Rs 60 per kg

Snake gourd: Rs 30 per kg

Spinach: Rs 5 per bunch

Drumstick: 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 kg