The arrested persons have been identified as Alagappan (66), his wife Nachal (60), son Siva (35) and daughter-in-law Aarthi (33). While Aarthi was granted bail by a court as she has an infant, Alagappan, Nachal and Siva have been lodged in Puzhal Prison in Chennai.

ED arrests Alagappan, family in Gautami property case

The ED's action follows a complaint filed by Gautami with the Chennai Police in 2023. She had alleged that Alagappan, a long-time family friend whom she had trusted to manage her properties, misused the power of attorney given to him and allegedly cheated her of properties and funds worth several crore rupees.According to the complaint, Gautami owned a plot of land in Kancheepuram district valued at around Rs 20 crore. She had planned to sell the property to meet expenses related to her cancer treatment and her daughter's future education.

Gautami had discussed the proposed sale with Alagappan, following which he obtained a General Power of Attorney in his name. She later alleged that he claimed the property had been sold for only Rs 6 crore and had misappropriated the proceeds. She also alleged that Alagappan's wife, son and daughter-in-law were involved in the alleged fraud.

Gautami alleged properties transferred without her knowledge

The allegations were not limited to the Kancheepuram property. According to the background of the case, Gautami had also alleged that properties belonging to her in Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Ramanathapuram and Chennai were transferred, purchased or partitioned without her knowledge. She further alleged that substantial amounts were siphoned from her bank accounts using powers of attorney and other documents.

Following her complaint, several cases were registered by different police agencies in Tamil Nadu. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Chennai Police took up the investigation and later traced Alagappan and his family members to Thrissur in Kerala. Alagappan, Nachal, Siva and Aarthi were arrested by the CCB and remanded in custody before subsequently securing bail.

ED launches money laundering probe

The ED later registered a case to investigate the money laundering aspects of the alleged property fraud. The central agency is examining whether the assets and funds allegedly obtained through the transactions constitute proceeds of crime under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The probe is based on nearly seven FIRs registered by various police agencies in Tamil Nadu in connection with allegations against Alagappan and his family.

As part of the investigation, the ED recently conducted searches at around six premises linked to Alagappan and his family. The searches were carried out at locations including Velachery, Karpagam Avenue, Anna Nagar and Poonamallee in Chennai, besides premises in Karaikudi and Madurai.

Gautami appears before ED

Following the searches, the ED summoned Gautami to clarify details regarding documents and financial transactions seized during the raids. Gautami subsequently appeared at the ED's Chennai office and provided her statement to the officials.

The investigation is now focused on tracing the alleged financial transactions, examining the properties involved and determining the role of Alagappan and his family members in the alleged diversion of assets and funds. Meanwhile, with the latest arrests, the ED is continuing its investigation into the money laundering allegations arising from the property dispute.

The programmes were organised across six police districts — Flower Bazaar, Washermanpet, Pulianthope, Anna Nagar, Koyambedu and Kolathur. Police interacted with public and explained the risks associated with drug use, including its impact on health and families.

They also sought public cooperation in preventing drug abuse and making Chennai a drug-free city. More than 2,000 participants pledged their support for the police campaign and took an oath to work towards preventing drug abuse.

The meeting, scheduled at the transport commissioner’s office on August 27, follows consultations held by the transport department with autorickshaw unions, drivers, consumer organisations and officials. The department had also directed regional transport offices to obtain representations from unions and drivers on the proposed fare revision.

Federation coordinator, S Balasubramanian, said, “All major autorickshaw unions have submitted a common proposal of Rs 60 for the first 1.5 km and Rs 30 for every subsequent kilometre.”

They have also sought a waiting charge of Re 1 per minute and a night-time fare of 1.5 times the normal tariff. “The meter fare has remained unchanged for 13 years despite a substantial increase in fuel, maintenance and other operating costs. All the unions have arrived at the same demand after considering the expenses involved in running an autorickshaw,” he added.

He pointed out that the government had earlier convened a tripartite meeting involving unions, consumer organisations and officials after the transport minister indicated that the chief minister wanted the fare issue addressed. The unions had submitted detailed representations covering drivers’ working hours, income, expenditure and vehicle maintenance costs.

The federation has also approached legislators, including MLAs from CPI and CPM, seeking their support for the fare revision. Balasubramanian said that the unions expected the government to take a decision during the ongoing Assembly session.

The second major demand is a clear policy on bike taxis. Balasubramanian said that the government had previously approached the court seeking restrictions on bike taxis, citing passenger safety and the absence of mandatory third-party insurance. “Bike taxis continue to operate through app-based aggregators despite the lack of a regulatory framework. We want the government either to enforce the existing restrictions or regulate the sector by making permits, driver badges, vehicle fitness and third-party insurance mandatory,” he stated.

Transport department had recently seized 52 vehicles allegedly operating as bike taxis and registered cases, he said, but added that enforcement alone would not resolve the issue. The unions have also proposed a government-backed app for autorickshaws to ensure transparent fares and reduce commissions charged by private aggregators.

Balasubramanian ensured that the unions were ready to cooperate with meter-based operations if a realistic tariff was notified and strictly monitored. “Nearly five lakh families depend on autorickshaw driving. The government should recognise this as a livelihood issue and announce the revised fare without further delay,” he appealed.

The final pier, P814, was cast near Medavakkam-I Metro station.

The stretch around Medavakkam includes some of the tallest piers in the package, reaching about 29 metres. The alignment crosses the existing Medavakkam Flyover at this height and includes a 57 metre steel girder span along a 125 metre radius curve.

Medavakkam-1 and Medavakkam-2 Metro stations are also being built at about 29 metres above road level. CMRL is now progressing with the erection of the remaining U-girders and construction of station buildings.

The infant was allegedly sold after middlemen lured the mother with promises of money, taking advantage of her financial difficulties. Police have launched an investigation to trace the person who purchased the baby and determine whether others are involved in the incident.

Mom forced to sell newborn

Pavithra, a resident of Villivakkam, had delivered a baby girl at a private hospital in the area. Police said she had separated from her husband and was struggling financially, leaving her unable to settle the hospital expenses.

Taking advantage of her situation, two alleged middlemen, Andal and Dhanalakshmi, reportedly approached Pavithra and persuaded her to sell the newborn. Police suspect that a doctor at the hospital was also involved in facilitating the transaction.

The two-day-old infant was subsequently allegedly handed over in an illegal arrangement, prompting police to begin an inquiry after receiving information about the incident.

Case registered under six sections

Following an investigation, Villivakkam police registered a case on Thursday (August 27) against Pavithra, Andal, Dhanalakshmi and the doctor under six sections of law, including provisions relating to child trafficking and illegal adoption.

A special team led by the Villivakkam Assistant Commissioner of Police has intensified the investigation. Police are attempting to trace the person who allegedly purchased the child and ascertain whether the accused are part of a larger network involved in illegal baby sales.

The rescued infant will be produced before the Child Welfare Committee, after which necessary steps will be taken to place the child in the care of a children’s home, police said.

The seven corridors, together stretching about 11,000 km, handle around 41% of Indian Railways’ total traffic, despite accounting for only about 16% of its rail network, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

The three corridors involving Chennai are Howrah–Chennai, Chennai–Mumbai and Delhi–Chennai. The other corridors are Delhi–Howrah, Mumbai–Delhi, Mumbai–Howrah and Delhi–Guwahati.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,19,520 per sovereign and Rs 14,940 per gram, after a decrease of Rs 70 per gram.

Earlier on August 26, the price of 22-carat gold stood at Rs Rs 1,20,080 per sovereign and Rs 15,010 per gram.

Silver prices remain unchanged

Meanwhile, silver prices also remain stable, and continue to sell for for Rs 265 per gram (Rs 2,65,000 per kg) on August 27.

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

Gold remains significantly higher compared to last year. Prices have increased from Rs 75,120 per sovereign (Rs 9,390 per gram) on August 27, 2025, to Rs 1,19,520 per sovereign (Rs 14,940 per gram) on August 27, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 45,400 per sovereign or about 59.10 per cent .

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

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

August 24, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,20,240 | 1 gram - Rs 15,030

August 22, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,19,600 | 1 gram - Rs 14,950

Silver price over the last five days:

August 26, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 265

August 25, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 265

August 24, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 275

August 22, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 270

August 21, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 270

The CEC will also interact with members of Electoral Literacy Clubs from educational institutions, including schools.

He is also scheduled to meet the media, during which he is expected to respond to questions regarding the by-elections to six Assembly constituencies, which have remained vacant for the past two months.

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 Thursday.

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 26 - Rs 107.77

August 25 - Rs 107.77

August 24 - Rs 107.77

August 23 - Rs 107.77

August 22 - Rs 107.77

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

August 26 - Rs 99.55

August 25 - Rs 99.55

August 24 - Rs 99.55

August 23 - Rs 99.55

August 22 - Rs 99.55

The workers are seeking job permanency, a mandatory weekly day off, quality housing with basic amenities and withdrawal of criminal cases registered against workers and union leaders during the 2025 protests.

On Tuesday, the workers had sought permission to hold a peaceful demonstration on the campus. Loyola Mani, chairman of the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation, assured them that permission would be granted.

Health minister KG Arunraj said on Wednesday that ministers were actively holding discussions with the protesting cleanliness workers. He assured them that a decision on their demands would be taken soon.

A Asraf, a cleanliness worker, said the government had allowed them to protest inside the Ripon campus, however, the space was inadequate for the gathering.

"While we welcome the consideration shown by the ministers, no formal written agreement has been provided to us regarding the demands currently under consideration," he said.

In the early hours of Tuesday, a gang arrived at an ICICI Bank ATM on the Sriperumbudur-Kundrathur Highway near Pudhupedu village, near Somangalam. They used a welding machine to cut open the ATM and escaped with around 10 lakh in cash.

Although the robbery occurred in Kancheepuram district, the area falls under the Tambaram City Police Commissionerate. Following the incident, the Tambaram police registered a case and formed more than three special teams to trace the robbers. They found that the gang had arrived in a black car and removed its original registration plate, took the number plate from another car parked along the roadside and fitted it onto their vehicle before fleeing the spot.

The investigation gained a breakthrough when the black car was spotted in Telangana on Tuesday evening. Later that night, police at a toll plaza attempted to stop the car for inspection. But, the men pointed a handgun and threatened the police before speeding away.

The toll plaza staff chased the vehicle in another car for a considerable distance, when the suspects abandoned it in a forested area and fled. A Tambaram special police team reached the location and seized the abandoned black car. A number plate and other forensic clues have been collected for examination.

Police suspected the black car itself may have been stolen, and that the gang may have used another stolen vehicle to go to Mumbai. Additional teams have been deployed to Mumbai and other areas as the search continues.

The Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has been laying drinking water and sewage pipelines across North Chennai, under the Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam (VCVT), launched by the previous DMK government. However, delays in completing the works have raised safety concerns among residents ahead of the northeast monsoon.

On Jagjivan Ram Nagar Main Road in Sathya Murthy Nagar, Vyasarpadi, work on a sewage pipeline began in July after residents sought replacement of ageing pipelines following three consecutive road cave-ins. “Due to the rain, the road has become slushy, and heavy machinery left on the roadside frequently causes injuries. Officials must complete the work immediately,” said N Sakthi, a resident.

The situation is worrying on Jagjivan Ram Nagar 3rd Street, with overflowing sewage forcing children to jump through the street. Sakthi said that a CMWSSB field official had attributed the seepage to ongoing pipeline works, during which some main pipelines had been temporarily blocked.

A senior CMWSSB official said, “Sewage pipeline installation has been completed on 117 streets in the Tondiarpet zone, while work on the remaining 15 projects is expected to be completed by the end of August.”

Residents of Gandhi Nagar in Vyasarpadi said that although the main sewage and drinking water pipelines had been completed, household connections were yet to be provided. “We still depend entirely on tanker lorries for our daily drinking water. There are also no underground electrical cable lines in these narrow streets. We have no choice but to draw power by tapping into the main distribution box,” said Vijaya, a senior citizen.

Another resident added that such EB connections posed a serious safety risk, particularly during the monsoon, as children frequently play on the streets.

In Muthamil Nagar 4th Block, 98th and 111th Streets, along with KMA Main Garden Road, streets have deteriorated. “Driving through the interior streets of KMA Garden is a bumpy experience as the roads have become extremely slippery after rain,” said G Naresh, a member of the Muthamil Nagar 6th Block Welfare Association.

Residents also flagged the slow progress of renovation work at the tank ground in Sathya Murthy Nagar. Though work began two months ago, high-mast and floodlights are yet to be installed and key structural works remain pending.

Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Commissioner GS Sameeran said that the civic body had allotted Rs 125 crore for restoring 2,000 interior roads and 97 bus route roads across the city. Another Rs 24 crore had been earmarked for immediate patchwork and emergency road restoration during the monsoon across all zones. “CMWSSB executed the road cuts for utility laying. Once they complete their work and officially hand over the stretches to the GCC, road restoration will begin immediately,” he added.

A senior GCC official said that lights would be installed at the Sathya Murthy Nagar tank ground immediately. “The Rs 1.3 crore playground renovation will also resume at full pace after the old tank structure at the site was demolished. I will inspect the hazardous household EB connections linked to the Gandhi Nagar distribution box and take corrective action soon,” she added.

Complaints were received that the employees were demanding money for new connections to houses and commercial establishments, transfer of service connections and replacement of faulty electricity meters.

Based on that, a DVAC team conducted a search and secured Rs 59,000 from an assistant divisional engineer and Rs 10,000 from another employee. The duo were directed to appear before DVAC and explain the source of the cash. As they failed to provide a satisfactory explanation, DVAC recommended departmental action against them.

Hussain ran a travel business and there were also financial transactions between the duo. Recently, the woman had cut contact with him, after which he sent audio recordings of their conversation and threatened her. A police team traced Hussain to Guntur and arrested him.

Police said that the victim, who lived with her husband and a three-year-old son, had been distressed after she received messages on her phone from different numbers, in which the person threatened to share her obscene pictures to her husband.

She had informed her husband about the calls and blocked the numbers. On Tuesday, the husband left for work and had called her in the afternoon to check on her. Since, he did not answer or return his calls, he alerted his neighbours who found it locked from inside.

Neighbours broke open the door, entered the house and found her unconscious. Virugambakkam police reached the scene on information and moved her to a hospital where she was declared as brought dead.

Upon examining the woman’s phone, police found that she was in contact with Hussain, who ran a travels business and there were also financial transactions between them. Recently, she cut contact with Hussain after which he sent audio recordings of their conversation and threatened her.

Established in 1993, the hospital will continue providing tertiary and quaternary cancer care while expanding into cardiology, neurology and neurosciences, gastroenterology, pulmonology, spine and orthopaedics, urology, critical care and internal medicine. 

The upgraded facility has 300 beds, including 51 critical care beds, five operating theatres and a Cath Lab. It also features an advanced Cath Lab, a 24/7 dedicated stroke care unit, Tamil Nadu's first Zoom Endoscopy system, an advanced bronchoscopy suite and a specialised Sleep Lab. Existing oncology services, including CyberKnife, TrueBeam, bone marrow transplant (BMT), CAR-T Cell Therapy and Da Vinci robotic surgery, will continue to operate. 

Health Minister Dr KG Arunraj was the chief guest at the event, and Health Secretary Dr Darez Ahamed was the guest of honour. Dr Arunraj stressed the need for integrated healthcare systems, noting that patients with complex conditions often require coordinated, cross-speciality care. He also thanked Apollo for being among the first organisations to contribute Rs 1 crore to the government’s ‘Nalam TN’ initiative. 

Apollo Vice Chairperson Dr Preetha Reddy said that the expansion would extend the hospital’s legacy of specialised cancer care to comprehensive healthcare for entire families. Managing Director Suneeta Reddy said that bringing multiple specialities under one roof would facilitate seamless multidisciplinary care and improve patient outcomes.

The deceased were identified as Ravi (55), and his son Ayyanar (25), both natives of Tiruvannamalai. Police said the duo had been engaged by Sowcarpet-based businessman Prashanth to clean and desilt the well at his house.

Ravi entered the well using a temporary staircase to remove the silt. While working inside, he inhaled the gas, fainted and fell into the water. On seeing his father collapse, Ayyanar entered the well in an attempt to rescue him. He too inhaled the gas and collapsed, police said.

On receiving information, police and personnel from the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS) reached the spot. Fire personnel entered the well wearing safety equipment and brought both men out.

They were rushed to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, where doctors declared them brought dead.

Police sent the bodies for postmortem. Elephant Gate police have registered a case and are investigating.

The stretch around Medavakkam includes some of the tallest piers in the package, reaching about 29 metres. The alignment crosses the existing Medavakkam Flyover at this height and includes a 57 metre steel girder span along a 125 metre radius curve. Medavakkam-1 and Medavakkam-2 Metro stations are also being built at about 29 metres above road level.

CMRL is now progressing with the erection of the remaining U-girders and construction of station buildings.

What happened at the first meeting?

The first tripartite meeting was held in Chennai on July 9 to discuss revised fares. More than 30 trade union representatives and 90 representatives from passenger organisations participated in the meeting.

What are the fare demands?

Trade unions demanded that the minimum fare be increased to Rs 70, while representatives of passenger organisations sought a minimum fare of Rs 50.

What will happen at tomorrow's meeting?

Following the first meeting, the government has prepared a final report on the proposed new fares. The second tripartite meeting will discuss the report before the new fares are finalised and announced.

The yellow metal is currently priced at Rs 1,20,080 per sovereign and Rs 15,010 per gram, after a decrease of Rs 20 per gram.

Earlier on August 25, the price of 22-carat gold stood at Rs 1,20,080 per sovereign and Rs 15,010 per gram.

Silver prices remain unchanged

Meanwhile, silver prices also remain stable, continue to sell for Rs 265 per gram (Rs 2,65,000 per kg) on August 26.

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

Gold remains significantly higher compared to last year. Prices have increased from Rs 74,680 per sovereign (Rs 9,335 per gram) on August 26, 2025, to Rs 1,20,080 per sovereign (Rs 15,010 per gram) on August 26, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 45,400 per sovereign or about 60.79 per cent.

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

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

August 24, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,20,240 | 1 gram - Rs 15,030

August 22, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,19,600 | 1 gram - Rs 14,950

August 21, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,18,800 | 1 gram - Rs 14,850

August 20, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,16,800 | 1 gram - Rs 14,600

Silver price over the last five days:

August 25, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 265

August 24, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 275

August 22, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 270

August 21, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 270

August 20, 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 Wednesday.

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 25 - Rs 107.77

August 24 - Rs 107.77

August 23 - Rs 107.77

August 22 - Rs 107.77

August 21 - Rs 107.77

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

August 25 - Rs 99.55

August 24 - Rs 99.55

August 23 - Rs 99.55

August 22 - Rs 99.55

August 21 - Rs 99.55

According to police, Special Sub-Inspector (SSI) Karuppasamy was on duty at NSK Nagar signal junction on Sunday night, when he noticed an unclaimed bag lying on the road.

Upon inspection, he found the bag contained Rs.34,000 in cash, a purse with a bank ATM card and 40 small books related to jewellery chit scheme collections. The SSI waited for some time at the spot for the owner to return, and when no one turned up, he secured the bag and handed it over to the Arumbakkam Police Station.

Probe revealed that the bag belonged to Mohan (26), a collection agent working in the marketing section of a jewellery shop in Anna Nagar. Mohan had collected chit funds from customers on Sunday and was riding his two wheeler on his way back to the office when the bag fell on the floor.

Senior police officers appreciated SSI Karuppasamy for his prompt action.

We speak to them about their favourite Onam memories and how they are celebrating this year.

‘Making Onam special with the people around me’

My memories of Onam are all about being with my family. All my relatives would come together, so it always felt like one big family get-together. We would play games, make the pookkalam and prepare the Onasadya together.

Everyone would dress up in traditional clothes and there was so much fun and excitement throughout the day. I love the tradition and belief behind Onam that our beloved King Mahabali comes to visit us once a year.

That makes the festival even more special and meaningful. For me, Onam has always been about family, traditions, food, laughter and togetherness.

Since I’m staying away from my family, this year feels a little different and honestly, a little difficult. It won’t be as colourful or grand as the way we celebrate it back home. But I’m lucky to have my friends and a few Malayali families here in Chennai, so we’re planning to get together, cook a proper sadya and celebrate Onam together.

I’m trying to make it just as special and colourful with the people around me.

Even though I can’t celebrate with my entire family this year, I’m looking forward to creating new memories with the people I have here.

One thing I love about celebrating Onam in Chennai is how welcoming and comforting everyone is, even when you’re away from your family.

There are so many Malayalis here, and you can see people celebrating Onam with the same warmth and enthusiasm as they would back home. I’ve also seen different Malayali communities coming together to celebrate, which is really beautiful.

And I love seeing Tamil people joining in and cheering along with us. Chennai makes you feel at home during Onam, even when your actual home and family are far away.

- Sneha Haridas, lifestyle influencer

'I look forward to inji puli and appam'

My mom is from Kannur and my dad is from Palakkad, and I have been celebrating Onam in Chennai.

This is my favourite festival and we look forward to the celebrations every year.

We make a pookkalam with a different design each day for all 10 days of Onam. We also keep a Thrikkakara Appan (or Onathappan) in the centre of the pookkalam.

Getting dressed in my favourite kasavu mundu, decorating the pookkalam and preparing the special dishes for sadhya are some of my favourite parts of the festival.

We invite friends and family home for the sadya and my mom prepares all the dishes. We usually have vendakka pachadi, sambar, aviyal, olan, upperi, unniyappam and several other dishes.

I especially look forward to the inji puli and appam. After the sadhya, we make something called 'pulinchoru' for dinner. We mix leftover dishes such as olan, inji puli, rice, kalan, upperi and sambar in a kadai and have it for dinner. It may sound unusual, but I love it!

For dessert, ada pradhaman is my favourite. My mom also makes jackfruit payasam, which is another special treat during Onam.

- Nikitha M Babu, entrepreneur

'I continue Onam traditions with my daughter'

We invite friends over for Onasadya every year, and I continue the tradition with my mom and daughter.

Everyone looks forward to sitting down and sharing a meal together. We start the morning by making the pookalam and I always look forward to the sadya too. Aviyal is one of my favourites, but I love inji puli the most.

And when it comes to payasam, it has to be palada. Growing up in Chennai, I feel our traditions have remained much the same. As I grew older, my role changed too. I started helping my mom with the preparations and now I take more responsibility for setting things up.

My daughter is growing up watching us and becoming part of these traditions too. That, for me, is what makes Onam special.

- Varsha Menon, architect

'What is Onam without your chosen family?'

This Onam, I couldn’t make it to Kerala for the festivities. With the holidays falling in the middle of the week, getting a ticket home was akin to winning a lottery.

While my family back home was sad that I wouldn’t be joining them, I’m glad to have my Chennai Malayali gang here to make up for it.

Thankfully, our Onam celebrations began at the office with a pookalam and the much-awaited sadya. Our HR team did not disappoint the food felt surprisingly homely.

We spent the rest of the day playing games, celebrating with our non-Malayali colleagues and sharing the spirit of Onam with everyone around us.

But what is Onam without celebrating with your chosen family? My friends and I got together at home and, working together, pulled off our own little Onam celebration, a home away from home.

To wrap up the day, we went to catch Nivin Pauly’s latest film, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit. Two hours of laughter later, I felt like I had ended my Onam exactly the way I wanted to, surrounded by my Chennai family.

- Gouri, PR professional

‘Onam has taken on a new meaning in Chennai’

I never imagined not being home, not being in Kerala for Onam.

But adulthood has a way of surprising you. Growing up, I spent every Onam with my family, enjoying the usual traditions like homemade sadya, making DIY pookkalams, dressing up in traditional attire and having photoshoots with cousins.

Even during my initial years in Chennai for work, I held on to that tradition. I would book my train tickets well in advance and plan my Onam holidays around being back home in Kerala.

But after marriage, over the last couple of years, moving our base here and slowly starting to build a home here meant our circle of friends grew too. With it, the excitement around Onam took on a new meaning.

Hosting friends at home has now become one of the best parts of celebrating Onam in Chennai.

An early morning ride to the Koyambedu flower market to pick out flowers, setting up the onapookkalam together, cooking the sadya as a group and trying our best to recreate the taste of home, this has become our new way of celebrating Onam.

Onam, whether back then in Kerala or now in Chennai, is something we always try to make special, holding on to all its charm, warmth and happiness.

- Gopika, Communication professional

--- As told to Merin James

Major General Luong Dinh Hung, Vice Commandant of the Vietnam Coast Guard, called on Director General of the Indian Coast Guard Paramesh Sivamani, AVSM, PTM, TM, during the ongoing visit of the Vietnamese delegation to Chennai.

The meeting was subsequently held at the Coast Guard Regional Headquarters in Chennai. The Indian delegation was led by DG Paramesh Sivamani, while the Vietnamese delegation was headed by Major General Luong Dinh Hung.

The meeting provided a platform for the two maritime forces to discuss matters of mutual interest and explore ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. Discussions focused on enhancing professional cooperation, expanding maritime engagement and improving operational coordination between the two Coast Guards.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to sustained engagement and closer cooperation to contribute towards maintaining a safe, secure and sustainable maritime environment. The meeting is part of the ongoing bilateral maritime engagements between India and Vietnam aimed at strengthening cooperation between their respective maritime security forces.

Traders attributed the price surge to the El Niño conditions, unseasonal rains in Maharashtra, and a shortage in the supply of goods from neighbouring states. Ahead of the festival season and with the shortage continuing, prices may surge up to Rs 80 and even Rs 100 per kilogram.

SS Muthukumar, president of the Koyambedu Semi-Wholesale Vegetable Traders Association, told DT Next, "We were getting 1,400 tonnes of onions per day from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh; on Tuesday, we received only 700 tonnes.”

"Usually whenever there had been a shortage, the state government, through the Horticulture and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection departments, used to procure vegetables from Maharashtra and sell to traders. The TVK government will now have to take similar steps."

According to the Department of Consumer Affairs’ statistics, India's national average retail onion price has reached Rs 42 per kg, a 19% increase from July and a 45% jump from last year. Onions were sold for just 33 per kg in Chennai last year. Wholesale prices have surged to Rs 2,897 per quintal, compared to last year.

This spike is driven by severe supply chain disruptions across the crop calendar; in the rabi crop, a shortfall, harvester damage from El Niño, unseasonal rains, and hailstorms halved onion production in key states like Maharashtra, severely depleting the government's primary buffer stocks harvested in March and April.

Following the delay in kharif, supply arrivals from Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh typically bridge the seasonal supply gap before the main October harvest. However, delayed monsoons slowed fresh supply, causing arrivals from major hubs like Nashik and Kurnool to plummet and wholesale prices to reach Rs 500 per 10 kg.

To boost supply, the central government raised its procurement price to Rs 26.45 per kg. Yet, rapidly escalating prices in Nashik caused official procurement to fall short of its 2-lakh-tonne target. To mitigate the deficit and stabilise retail rates, the government is now transporting onions via special ‘Kanda Express’ trains from Nashik to major consumer centres, including Delhi, Chennai, Kochi, and Guwahati.

With demand expected to rise during the upcoming September to October festival season, average onion prices will be high until the new Kharif crop arrives, said traders at the Koyambedu market.

The complainant, Chitra (28) of Bojarajan Nagar, Old Washermenpet, works as a contract nurse at the Government Kasturba Hospital in Triplicane.

In June 2025, one of the accused, Sasikala had visited hospital for treatment and after interactions with Chitra, Sasikala promised her a staff nurse job at a government hospital. Sasikala also managed to convince her friend, a male nurse at a private hospital in Bangalore, that he could get a Health Inspector job. Through him, she contacted a woman promising her a teaching job.

Believing Sasikala, the three victims paid Rs 20 lakh in cash and online transfers since January 2026. However, Sasikala stopped attending Chitra’s phone calls and dodged her and threatened her when she demanded the money back after which the victims filed a police complaint.

Police arrested Sasikala (40), her husband, Hussain alias Kumar (43) and their daughter, Divya Darshini (22). Enquiries revealed she was a clerk at a lawyer’s office and Kumar works as an online food delivery executive. All three were produced before a magistrate and remanded to prison.

The same couple is also accused of duping two other persons of Rs 9.19 crore, police said. CCB registered a case based on a complaint from a senior executive at Repco Home Finance Limited.

In 2016, the couple, Sasikala and Devendran of Anna Nagar, had approached Repco’s Anna Nagar branch and obtained two mortgage loans totalling Rs 3 crore by pledging original documents of eight houses on September 29, 2016.

During an audit in 2026, Repco found the original documents missing.

Investigation revealed that while Rs 2.26 crore loan was still pending, Anna Nagar Branch manager RG Harinath Karthik had issued a fake receipt showing full repayment and cancelled the mortgage.

The couple then pledged the same documents in another private bank and obtained Rs 21 crore.

In two other cases, the same couple cheated N Navaneeth of a real estate firm of Rs 6.19 crore after taking his property documents on the pretext of business development and obtaining a third-party collateral loan.

They also cheated another businessman of Rs 3 crore by giving him unregistered agreement of already sold houses.

After investigations, a police team arrested the accused, Devendran (51), his wife Sasikala (43), and Harinath Karthik (51) of Perungudi. All three were produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody.

Based on a tip-off, officials stepped up surveillance at the international arrival terminal on Sunday (August 23).

Customs officials monitored passengers and noticed a woman passenger from North India (35), who had travelled to Thailand as a tourist and was returning to Chennai.

Her behaviour raised suspicion, and officials stopped her for questioning. As she gave evasive answers, she was taken to the Customs office for examination.

Women Customs officials searched her fully and found many packets of processed Thai food products inside her luggage. On examining the packets, they discovered that the packets had been used to conceal high-grade hydroponic ganja.

A total of 14.5 kg of the contraband was recovered, with an estimated international value of 14.5 crore. The woman was arrested, and the drugs were seized.

During questioning, Customs officials found that she was a carrier for an international drug trafficking network. Officials also suspected that she had previously similarly transported drugs and managed to pass through Customs without being detected.

Officials are now investigating who was supposed to receive the consignment after it was brought to Chennai.

Police said that she died by suicide as she was stressed about an unidentified caller threatening her with obscene photos and videos on the internet. The deceased woman lived with her husband at Mathiazhagan Nagar in Saligramam.

The couple lived in a rented house in Saligramam. Probe revealed that the woman received phone calls on Monday evening from two phone numbers. The caller claimed that he had obscene video clips of her and threatened to send them to her husband.

The woman informed her husband about the calls and blocked the numbers. On Tuesday (August 25), the husband left for work on Tuesday morning and he called her in the afternoon to check on her. Since, he did not return his repeated calls, he alerted his neighbours who went to the house and found it locked from inside.

Neighbours broke the door open and entered the house and found the woman unconscious. Virugambakkam police reached the scene on information and moved the woman to a hospital where she was declared as ‘brought dead’.

Police are investigating the circumstances that led to her death and examining the calls and the two mobile numbers used to threaten her.

Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call --- Sneha, Chennai: 91-44-2464 0050, 91-44-2464 0060; Maithri, Cochin: +91 239 6272; Sumaitri, New Delhi: 2338 9090; Aasra, Mumbai: 9820466726; Fortis MentalHealth: 8376804102.

The accused, Saravanan, is the son of the house owner. The three women, who work at a private company in Vanagaram near Maduravoyal, had been staying in the house arranged by their company.

According to their complaint, Saravanan had been looking at them inappropriately whenever they left for or returned from work. Suspecting that something was wrong, they checked the rooms and found a hidden camera inside an electrical switch box.

The women alleged that Saravanan had connected the camera to his mobile phone and was monitoring the footage. They subsequently lodged a complaint with Vanagaram police.

Based on the complaint, police registered a case and arrested Saravanan. During the investigation, police found that the camera had allegedly been installed inside the switch box and connected to Saravanan’s mobile phone.

Police seized the mobile phone and the hidden camera from the house. Further investigation is under way.

Organised by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the inaugural conclave also witnessed the launch of the Centre of Excellence on Biodegradable Packaging Materials (BioPack) at IIT-M.

Department Secretary Tejveer Singh, who inaugurated the event, said, “Stronger industry-academia partnerships are crucial to translating laboratory research into market-ready products as India pursued the Viksit Bharat@2047 goal. Import substitution and greater domestic value addition are need of the hour. More products should be processed within the country to strengthen self-reliance. Targeted R&D and industry-backed research clusters can help expand India’s global footprint.”

Singh also announced that CHEMCONNECT would become an annual event, to be held during July-August to review progress across the Centres of Excellence established by the department.

IIT-M Director V Kamakoti said that institutional collaboration was essential to taking technologies from laboratories to practical applications. “The chemical sector of the institute will provide support through reverse pitching, under which industry will present its challenges to research institutions,” he added.

The BioPack facility will focus on sustainable innovation, capacity building and research in eco-friendly packaging materials. Singh and Kamakoti also released the CHEMCONNECT 2026 compendium.

The protest followed a dispute over access to the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) headquarters.

Workers said that they had been granted permission by GCC Commissioner GS Sameeran during a meeting with School Education Minister at Kalaivanar Arangam on Monday (August 24).

However, when they arrived at the Ripon building on Tuesday, police blocked the gates.

According to the workers, they attempted to approach the Commissioner to seek clarification, but the main gate was closed again.

Protesters then pushed open the gate and entered the campus, where they continued their demonstration.

Speaking to DT Next, union member K Suresh said that the workers were not seeking to cause inconvenience to the police and were willing to hold a peaceful protest near the east gate, close to Victoria Hall.

“We only want permission to hold a two-hour attention-seeking protest inside the campus, where other unions had gathered earlier,” he added.

Workers also alleged that they had been unable to stage protests at different locations as the police had detained them whenever they assembled.

The UUI has submitted an 11-point charter of demands, including extending one-year maternity leave for women cleanliness workers having a third child and providing menstrual leave to local body and rural school workers.

It has also sought an increase in the daily wage from Rs 751 to Rs 832, reinstatement of 13 workers among the 1,400 workers whom the Corporation had earlier agreed to take back, office space for the union and a food allowance.

Workers said that 7 more demands, including permanent jobs for contractual cleanliness workers, a weekly day off, quality housing with basic amenities, withdrawal of the Supreme Court case challenging HC orders in favour of cleanliness workers, and withdrawal of criminal cases filed against workers and their leaders during the 2025 protests, had not been considered.

An ICICI bank ATM is located near Puthupedu village along the Sriperumbudur-Kundrathur Road, within the limits of Somangalam Police Station.

Police said that the robbers arrived in a vehicle at around 2.45 am and began cutting the ATM using a welding machine. After accessing the cash compartment, they stole the money and fled from the spot in the same vehicle. The ATM did not have a security guard. Instead, it was monitored through CCTV cameras connected via the internet the bank’s central control room in Mumbai.

When the robbers began tampering with the ATM, an alarm was triggered at the control room, which immediately alerted the Tamil Nadu Police, who informed the Somangalam police.

However, the police were not given the exact location of the ATM. As a result, the night-duty patrol searched several ATMs in the area before reaching the targeted ATM. By then, the robbers had completed the operation and escaped with the cash.

Senior police officials and bank representatives rushed to the spot and initiated an investigation. The ATM had been replenished with cash only on Monday evening. Hence, the stolen amount is suspected to be more than Rs 10 lakh.

The robbers have sprayed a chemical substance on the CCTV cameras to prevent their faces from being recorded. However, police are examining the available footage with the help of technical and forensic teams to identify the suspects.

Preliminary CCTV footage shows one person entering the ATM while covering his face with a shawl. Police are investigating whether other members remained outside to keep watch or whether only one person entered the ATM during the robbery. The possibility of the involvement of a gang from northern India, including the suspected Bavariya gang, is also considered.

Special teams from the Tambaram City Police Commissionerate have intensified the investigation.

Launched from the Secretariat, the 130 low-floor AC e-buses are among the first batch of phase two of the World Bank-supported procurement of 750 AC e-buses.

The MTC procured them for Rs 1,337 crore under the Gross Cost Contract model. Of the 130 buses, 80 will be operated from MTC’s Alandur depot and 50 from its Central depot.

As part of efforts to reduce vehicular pollution in Chennai, MTC is operating 625 low-floor electric buses, procured at a cost of Rs 697 crore, through five depots.

The new services will connect key destinations including Chennai airport, Kilambakkam bus terminus, Siruseri IT Park, OMR, Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Mamallapuram, Guindy, Anna Nagar, Pattabiram, Kundrathur and Poonamallee, and ply from Alandur and Central depots.

The 80 buses from Alandur depot will operate on 15 routes: MAA1 (Chennai Airport-Kilambakkam), MAA2 (Chennai Airport-Siruseri IT Park), MAA3 (Chennai Airport-Adyar bus stand), 113 (Red Hills-Guindy Thiru Vi Ka Estate), 76V (Koyambedu-Siruseri IT Park), D70 (Ambattur Industrial Estate-Velachery), 500P (Pallavaram-Chengalpattu), 570R (Alandur Court-Siruseri IT Park), 114R (Red Hills-Guindy Thiru Vi Ka Estate), 515P (Pallavaram-Mahabalipuram), 119 (Guindy Thiru Vi Ka Estate-Semmancheri TNUHDB), 170C (Thiru Vi Ka Nagar-Guindy Thiru Vi Ka Estate), 9M (Thyagaraya Nagar-AGS Officer’s Colony), 70V (Koyambedu-Kilambakkam) and 105 (Tambaram West-Siruseri IT Park).

The 50 buses from Central depot will operate on 10 routes: 2C (K Kannadasan Nagar-K Kannadasan Nagar), 7H (Island Ground-JJ Nagar East), PP21 (Island Ground-Kilambakkam), 29A (Perambur BT-Anna Square), 40H (Anna Square-Pattabiram), 40A (Anna Square-Pattabiram), 88Kct (Parrys Corner-Kundrathur bus stand), 221 (MGR Central-Tiruporur), 72 (T Nagar-Tiruverkadu) and 25 (Anna Square-Poonamallee).

Separately, 1,614 new buses are being procured for the six STUs at an estimated cost of Rs 756 crore. As the first phase, 120 new buses procured at a cost of Rs 55.58 crore were launched on Tuesday.

Transport Minister A Vijay Tamilan Parthiban, Chief Secretary M Saikumar, Transport Secretary L Nirmalraj, MTC managing director T Mohan and senior government officials were present at the event.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,20,080 per sovereign and Rs 15,010 per gram, after a decrease of Rs 20 per gram.

Earlier on August 24, the price of 22-carat gold stood at Rs 1,20,240 per sovereign and Rs 15,030 per gram.

Silver prices decrease

Meanwhile, silver prices decreased by Rs 10 to Rs 265 per gram (Rs 2,65,000 per kg) on August 25.

On August 24, silver was sold at Rs 275 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 74,440 per sovereign (Rs 9,305 per gram) on August 25, 2025, to Rs 1,20,080 per sovereign (Rs 15,010 per gram) on August 25, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 45,640 per sovereign or about 61.31 per cent.

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

August 24, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,20,240 | 1 gram - Rs 15,030

August 22, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,19,600 | 1 gram - Rs 14,950

August 21, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,18,800 | 1 gram - Rs 14,850

August 20, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,16,800 | 1 gram - Rs 14,600

August 19, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,640 | 1 gram - Rs 14,205

Silver price over the last five days:

August 24, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 275

August 22, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 270

August 21, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 270

August 20, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

August 19, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 250

Beans prices alone has decreased by Rs 10, and is now at Rs 80 when compared to August 25 market price.

According to traders, tomatoes, potatoes and other vegetables continue to be sold at the same prices as on August 25 (Tuesday).

What are the prices of essential vegetables?

Onion - Rs 60 per kg

Tomato: Rs 20 per kg

Potato: Rs 35 per kg

Ginger: Rs 180 per kg

Coconut: Rs 56 per piece

Shallot: Rs 70 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 50 per kg

How much do herbs cost today?

Coriander: Rs 5 per bunch

Mint: Rs 5 per bunch

Curry leaves: Rs 25 per kg

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 24 - Rs 107.77

August 23 - Rs 107.77

August 22 - Rs 107.77

August 21 - Rs 107.77

August 20 - Rs 107.77

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

August 24 - Rs 99.55

August 23 - Rs 99.55

August 22 - Rs 99.55

August 21 - Rs 99.55

August 20 - Rs 99.55

Karthik was employed as a car driver at a private company. According to the police, Karthik met with the accident on his way to Tiruvanmiyur on East Coast Road (ECR) from Palavakkam early on Monday.

As he approached Vembuli Amman Temple at Kottivakkam, he reportedly lost control of the motorcycle and hit the metal barricade. Karthik sustained severe head injuries that killed him on the spot.

Alerted by passersby, the Adyar traffic investigation wing personnel (TIW) recovered the body and sent it for a post-mortem examination to a government hospital. The police have registered a case and are investigating whether overspeeding caused the accident. 

The guests of honour were Vivek P Dhanda, Chief Traffic Warden, TN Police Traffic Wardens Organisation. International basketball player and I-Tax official PN Bopanna and SuperOps Technology senior accounts manager M Sebastian Richard, both alumni, were special invitees.

Principal and Correspondent Reverend Brother G Louis Alex led the event. The programme began with flag hoisting, parade inspection and a March Past by the Thomas, Gabriel and Montfort houses, followed by an Olympic Torch Relay. Mayilvaganan formally declared the meet open.

The inaugural ceremony featured the symbolic release of pigeons and balloons. LKG and UKG students also presented a Montfort Olympic Parade, delighting the audience.

Mayilvaganan highlighted the importance of sports, particularly athletics, while Dhanda stressed the role of sports and road safety. The alumni shared their school experiences and encouraged students to uphold discipline and perseverance.

Track events including the Tiny Tots Run, 100m, 1,500m and 4x100m relay saw enthusiastic participation. Primary students presented a Mass Drill, Floral Dance and Tribal Dance.

The prize distribution honoured students who excelled at national, state, district and international levels. Individual and Overall Championship awards were also presented.

An announcement to this effect was made by PWD and Highways Minister Aadhav Arjuna during the Assembly session.

The department will initially prepare detailed project reports (DPRs) for both projects at an estimated cost of Rs 20 lakh each.

The 1,720-metre-long, Rs 88.65-crore Y-shaped Vyasarpadi ROB was taken up by the Highways Department in 2010 and was originally scheduled for completion in 2013. However, land acquisition issues delayed the project and it could be completed only in 2017.

The four-lane ROB starts at Basin Bridge Road and splits into two two-lane arms, one leading to Erukkancheri High Road and the other to Sathyamurthy Nagar Main Road near Kalyanapuram.

However, traffic approaching the ROB from Moolakadai gets choked near Vyasarpadi market, as vehicles have to enter the narrow Kalyanapuram Second Street to reach the Sathyamurthy Nagar arm. Vehicles coming from Basin Bridge also face congestion after landing and are forced to take Muthu Mudali Street to reach Erukkancheri High Road.

A senior Highways Department official said traffic near Vyasarpadi market remained congested throughout the day. "We will conduct field studies to understand the traffic pattern and carry out a feasibility study before preparing the DPR. We will examine various alignment options to extend the existing ROB," the official said.

The proposed extension towards Madhavaram is expected to improve connectivity between Vyasarpadi and Madhavaram, Puzhal, and the northern suburbs.

Basin Bridge widening

The Basin Bridge has been a longstanding bottleneck for vehicles from North Chennai proceeding towards Central and Broadway.

During question hour in the State Assembly on April 16, 2025, Perambur MLA RD Sekar of the DMK had urged the government to widen the bridge, citing severe congestion caused by vehicles heading towards Central and Broadway.

Responding to him, the then Public Works Minister EV Velu had said that the government would examine whether the Basin Bridge could be widened or a new bridge constructed. He had said work would be taken up that year if found feasible.

Traffic diversions have also been in place on the stretch for several years to ease congestion. Vehicles from Basin Power House Road are barred from proceeding towards Mint and have to turn left towards Basin Bridge-Erukkancheri High Road before taking a U-turn under the Vyasarpadi flyover.

Similarly, vehicles travelling from Vyasarpadi cannot take a right turn towards Basin Power House Road and have to travel up to Moolakothalam junction to make a U-turn. The diversions have added to travel time, as motorists have to cover additional distance to reach their destinations.

The Highways Department has now proposed widening the narrow bridges at Basin Bridge junction, which serves as an important link between Korukkupet and Vyasarpadi and central Chennai.

The GNT Road corridor connects the areas with Mint, Walltax Road and other parts of the city.

The railway bridge, the bridge across the Cooum, and the bridge across Otteri Nullah restrict the carrying capacity of the road at the junction. A DPR will be prepared for widening these structures, with the initial cost estimated at Rs 20 lakh.

"Traffic has been choking at Basin Bridge for several years. It should have been done much earlier. Now it will be taken up," the official said.

With the second airport delayed further, the real question isn’t how much Meenambakkam can be stretched in the short term, it’s why Chennai has been planning a second airport for years, and how soon that requirement becomes unavoidable.

A proposed Terminal 5 at Meenambakkam could eventually push capacity to about 55 million passengers a year. But the city has been planning a second airport regardless, not just to handle more passengers, but to expand cargo capacity and keep pace with competing metros.

“While upgrading the existing facility buys crucial operational runway, Chennai undeniably needs a second airport to support its expanding industrial, manufacturing, and services footprint long-term,” P Ravichandran, chairman, CII Southern region.

An AAI forecast had projected the city’s traffic rising to 46.49 million by 2032-33, with aircraft movements reaching 3.24 lakh. The same projections put Chennai at 50.97 million by 2031-32. TN’s own 2023-24 policy note said that the Chennai airport was expected to reach saturation by 2028.

Separately, aviation consultancy CAPA India has stated that Chennai and Kolkata were likely to breach saturation by 2032, calling this an indicator of urgent need for secondary greenfield airports at both cities.

The gap is clearest when Chennai is set against the other major southern metros. Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport handled 44.47 million passengers in 2025-26, up 6.2%, with international traffic alone growing 23.9%. The airport’s Terminal 2 was built with a 60 million capacity ceiling.

Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport handled roughly 30.5 million passengers, growing 10.5%; its existing terminal has a 34 million capacity, with expansion planned to take that to 80 million in next five years.

Chennai, by contrast, handled 23.02 million passengers in 2025-26 against a capacity of roughly 30 million, and moved 3.79 lakh tonnes of cargo in FY24-25; well behind Bengaluru’s 5.32 lakh tonnes. Chennai’s 1.56 lakh aircraft movements trailed Bengaluru’s 2.81 lakh.

“Chennai has historically competed with these cities for investment, industrial relocation and talent, and sustained momentum on airport infrastructure will be important to protect that competitive position,” Mehul H Doshi, president, CREDAI Chennai.

The city’s cargo traffic is tied directly to the manufacturing and industrial base built up around the city; electronics, automobile components, machinery and other high-value goods form the core of its air freight. The state’s policy documents have specifically cited growing freight movement and the needs of time-critical industries while making the case for a greenfield airport.

The Parandur plan, developed by TIDCO with Louis Berger envisaged a dual-airport system operating alongside the existing one, with an initial capacity of 20 million passengers by 2029, scaling to 50 million by 2036, 70 million by 2043 and 100 million by 2047. The master plan included a 2.3 lakh sq m cargo terminal and truck-docking area, 28 Code-C cargo aircraft stands with 14 more Code-F stands planned for the future, and dedicated MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) infrastructure.

The search for Chennai’s second airport has already consumed years. Now the government has to run that process again: identify a new site, and take it through feasibility, technical and environmental assessments before construction can even begin.