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.

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.

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.”

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 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 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.

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

The deceased has been identified as T Srinivasan (54), a resident of Thousand Lights Cochin House police quarters.

He was the SSI at Triplicane Traffic Enforcement police station. He is survived by his wife Renukadevi and son Surya, police said. 

On August 15, Srinivasan was deployed for traffic regulation duty near the Kannagi statue on Marina Beach.

Around that time, an over-speeding car rammed into him while he was standing on the roadside, grievously injuring him.

He was rescued and admitted to the Government Omandurar Medical College Hospital for treatment. He had been under intensive care for the last two weeks but died on Saturday. 

The Anna Square Traffic Investigation Wing police have registered a case and are investigating. Police said they are tracing the car and its driver who allegedly fled after the accident.

The meetings will be held in the Mylapore, Ambattur, Tondiarpet and KK Nagar divisions, where consumers can submit complaints related to power supply and other electricity services and seek redressal.

In Mylapore, the meeting will be held at the Executive Engineer (Operation and Maintenance) office at the 110 kV Valluvar Kottam substation on MGR Road (Kodambakkam High Road), near the Metro Water station.

The Ambattur meeting will be held at the Executive Engineer (Operation and Maintenance) office on Third Main Road, at the substation premises in Ambattur Industrial Estate.

In Tondiarpet, consumers can attend the meeting at the Executive Engineer (O&M) office at 805, TH Road, opposite the clock tower.

The KK Nagar meeting will be conducted at the Executive Engineer (O&M) division office on the second floor of the 110 kV KK Nagar substation premises on Anna Main Road.

Superintending Engineers of the Chennai Central, West, South and North distribution circles have urged consumers to attend the meetings and submit their grievances for necessary action.

Launched in Delhi, the initiative aims to identify 100 high-potential ideas and create a structured pipeline to take them from ideation and validation to prototypes, pilots, investment, market entry and global scale.

Union Minister of State (Independent charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary, in a message read out at the event, said India's next chapter would be written not only by those who find jobs but also by those who create them.

"The energy to build new enterprises is not limited to our metros, it is alive in every district, every small town, every college campus," he said, adding that the mission would seek to give young people in smaller cities the same opportunity to build world-class products as their counterparts elsewhere.

IIT Madras director V Kamakoti said India's ambition of becoming a technology superpower required encouraging ideas emerging from every part of the country. Bharat Ascend, he said, would democratise opportunities to turn such ideas into products with socio-economic value.

IIT Madras Dean (Global Engagement) Preeti Aghalayam said the initiative would bridge local ingenuity and global opportunity by connecting innovators with the institute's research, industry and international networks.

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 Sunday.

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 29 - Rs 107.77

August 28 - Rs 107.77

August 27 - Rs 107.77

August 26 - Rs 107.77

August 25 - Rs 107.77

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

August 29 - Rs 99.55

August 28 - Rs 99.55

August 27 - Rs 99.55

August 26 - Rs 99.55

August 25 - Rs 99.55

While one of the suspects, Manik Uddin Laskar was arrested by a special team of the Tambaram police from Manipur, the second suspect, Manik’s wife Bhagavathi Maji, was arrested by another special team from Assam.

Both accused were brought to Chennai by train and are currently being questioned at the Guduvanchery police station. The head of the deceased woman has yet to be recovered.

The case came to light on August 5, when the Tamil Nadu Express, which had left Chennai Central for New Delhi, stopped at the Agra railway station. The Railway police opened an unattended suitcase inside a coach and found the dismembered body parts of a woman, with the head missing.

The Agra Railway Police registered a case. Special teams comprising personnel from the Agra Railway Police, Chennai City Police and Tambaram Police were formed to trace the perpetrators behind the crime.

Tracking the trail of polythene bags used to pack the body parts, the police zeroed in on the two suspects from CCTV footage from various stations. The bags belonged to a popular textile store in Chennai.

The probe led the police to a house near Masjid Street in Guduvanchery, where the murder is suspected to have taken place. The victim has been identified as a woman from Odisha, and she had been staying at the house along with the suspects.

As the murder was suspected to have occurred within the Tambaram Police Commissionerate limits, the Agra Railway Police requested the Guduvanchery police to register a murder case.

As the murder was suspected to have occurred within the Tambaram Police Commissionerate limits, the Agra Railway Police requested the Guduvanchery police to register a murder case.

Today, Kase's cheeses have earned international recognition, including a Bronze for Lavender Fields at the 2022 World Cheese Awards and a Silver for an Alpine-style washed-rind cheese in 2023. But for Namrata, the significance lay less in the medals and more in what they made possible. “Instead of asking, ‘Can we make cheese in India?’, we could ask, ‘What kind of cheese can we make because we are in India?’”

Cheese, Chennai-style

Unlike European regions where cheesemaking developed alongside local climates, milk and microbial environments over generations, Chennai's heat and humidity present a different set of challenges. Temperature and humidity can affect fermentation, moisture loss, rind development and ageing. But rather than attempting to recreate a European cheese exactly, Namrata says, “You cannot simply reproduce a European recipe and expect the same result. You have to understand the principle behind the style and adapt it to your milk, climate and conditions.”

For Chef Goku, who has worked with Kase across collaborations and pop-ups, that distinction matters. “The idea should be to understand the technique and then see what happens when that technique meets Indian milk, Indian climate and Indian terroir.”

And that experimentation can result in cheeses that look beyond the conventional cheese board.

The taste of time

What happens after the milk enters the cheesemaking room is perhaps the part consumers see least. Depending on the style, the curd is worked, drained or pressed, salted and then moved into an ageing environment. There, the cheese is turned, washed, brushed and monitored as microorganisms and enzymes change its flavour and texture.

Namrata says ageing can range from three days to three years, depending on the cheese. A Parmesan-style cheese, for instance, may require years to develop its final character. And perfection isn't necessarily achieved in one attempt.

“Some cheeses have gone through dozens of iterations, and even then I wouldn't say there is a final version. Cheese can teach you something every season.”

When kanji meets cheese

One of the cheeses that stayed with Chef Goku is Rice Fields, a washed-rind cheese whose rind is washed using rice kanji water. He once paired it at a Kochi pop-up with a salad of vallarai, forest ferns, siru kilangu and coconut, dressed with kadaranga lime. The combination worked because the cheese didn't have to stand apart from the food.

“Indian cuisine already has so much fermentation, acidity, spice, bitterness, sweetness and texture. Cheese can become another layer within that language rather than something that sits separately on a cheese board,” says Goku.

He also points to Mor Milagai and Banon with lotus leaves as examples of cheeses where local ingredients become part of the cheese's identity.

Cheese lovers assemble

For Chennai's cheese enthusiasts, the difference is increasingly apparent. Suneethi Raj, founder of LocalXO, says, “Processed cheese is generic,” noting that it has its place in nostalgic dishes such as chilli cheese toast and Indian-style sandwiches. But for pasta, pizza or eating cheese plain, she finds that artisanal varieties offer a completely different texture, flavour profile and mouthfeel.

Her advice to newcomers? “The ingredient list — look for varieties free from emulsifiers and preservatives.” She says education, access and price remain barriers to artisanal food, though Chennai's audience for such products has grown through food markets, supper clubs and pop-ups.

Shreeya Jayaraman, who discovered a wider world of cheese while studying in Wisconsin, puts the appeal more poetically: “A cheese holds memories of what it’s been through and tells its story on your palate.”

Having eaten Käse for nearly a decade, her favourite is its pickled feta. She also points to its idli podi cheddar and kimchi-infused cheese, describing Käse as a home-grown brand that is “bringing the world to Chennai and Chennai to the world.”

Chef Goku sees the shift from the perspective of someone working with these cheeses in a kitchen. He says Kase has helped introduce customers to the idea that cheese doesn't have to mean only familiar imported varieties. “I’ve seen people who started as customers become interested enough to eventually explore cheesemaking themselves. The next step is not just convincing people that Indian cheese is as good as European cheese. It’s getting people to say, ‘I want this because it is Indian cheese,’” says Chef Goku.

But can everyone afford it?

Artisanal cheese remains a premium product. Namrata says processed industrial cheeses can cost around Rs 350–600 per kg, while Kase's natural cheeses range from approximately Rs 2,300 to Rs 6,000 per kg, depending on the variety and ageing.

Price is a factor, she says, but not the only one. Awareness and familiarity also determine whether consumers seek out artisanal cheese.

Kase primarily sells through its online store and select partner outlets, while tasting opportunities are available through events and open houses. The brand also supplies the hospitality industry, including hotels, as part of its B2B business.

The road connects West Tambaram and Sriperumbudur via Darkas, Naduveerapattu and Somangalam. It also sees heavy traffic as many use it to avoid the toll on the bypass road. It is also known as Kishkinta Road, as the popular amusement park is located along the road.

With residential areas, educational institutions, and factories along the road, which sees heavy footfall, commuters claim the road is full of potholes, with several portions of the carriageway damaged. The road margins are also filled with mud, slush and uneven patches, making it difficult for two-wheeler riders.

The situation worsened after roads were dug along both sides of the road a few months ago for stormwater drain works, and several portions have not been properly restored.

Residents said accidents have become frequent on the stretch due to the narrow carriageway and poor road condition. A few days ago, a Tambaram Corporation employee returning home on a two-wheeler after completing his night shift died in an accident after colliding with another vehicle.

With traffic increasing, residents said the existing road is inadequate to handle the volume of vehicles. They have urged the authorities to widen the road into a proper two-way carriageway and relay the damaged portions without further delay.

Ramamoorthy, a Tambaram resident, said they have been submitting petitions to all the departments and officials concerned, but there has been no proper response. The officers should act swiftly and make sure the road is repaired soon, he said.

Officials from the Highways department said the Tambaram-Somangalam road comes under the Rural Highways department.

They said widening the road requires Forest department clearance, which makes immediate expansion difficult.

However, steps are being taken to repair the damaged portions of the road.

NHAI has already issued a work order for the Tiruneermalai entry and exit, which is aimed at providing seamless connectivity to the Madras Export Processing Zone (MEPZ), airport and southern parts of the city.

An additional entry and exit at Kallikuppam, near Menambedu, is planned to improve connectivity from Ambattur to areas north of the Chennai-Tiruvallur railway line. The Kallikuppam access is expected to come as a relief to residents along the Ambattur-Puzhal Road.

The service road along the Chennai bypass currently ends at Kallikuppam because of a railway track, forcing local motorists to take longer routes. Residents have been demanding either a road overbridge (ROB) on the service road to provide continuous connectivity to Ambattur or direct entry and exit points on the bypass.

The revamp will also bring changes to the tolling system. The existing Vanagaram toll plaza will be shifted to Tiruneermalai, while the Surapattu toll plaza will be replaced with a staggered tolling arrangement at Athipattu, near Decathlon, and Menambedu, according to an NHAI tender document. The two new tolling locations will use a barrier-free Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system, allowing vehicles to pass through without stopping at toll booths.

FASTag-equipped vehicles will be identified as they pass through the tolling zone, while cameras will capture registration numbers and facilitate electronic toll collection. For vehicles without FASTag, or where the tag is invalid or cannot be read, automatic number plate recognition will be used to identify the vehicle. E-notices will be generated when toll collection cannot be completed electronically.

The system is expected to reduce queues and improve traffic movement on the bypass. Camera-based monitoring will also help verify transactions and identify vehicles in cases where electronic toll collection fails.

NHAI had floated bids last year for shifting the Vanagaram toll plaza to Tiruneermalai along with several road safety measures. These included a six-lane vehicular underpass (VUP) at Vanagaram Junction, allowing local vehicles to cross using the service roads on either side without entering the main carriageway. This is expected to reduce disruption to through traffic and improve road safety.

A new causeway across the Cooum river between Ambattur and Maduravoyal was also planned to improve local connectivity, complementing the existing structure on the opposite side of the bypass.

NHAI is rolling out barrier-free MLFF technology at 16 toll plazas across the country, including three in Tamil Nadu: Nemili and Chennasamudram on NH-48 and Paranur on NH-45. Trial runs are under way at the three existing Tamil Nadu locations and they are expected to become operational shortly, an NHAI official said.

The proposed tolling points on the Chennai bypass have an indicative annual electronic toll collection of Rs 111.49 crore at Tiruneermalai and Rs 90.35 crore at Athipattu-Menambedu, based on 2025-26 figures cited in the tender document.

A large portion of the Vyasarpadi canal along Shastri Nagar First Street is covered by water hyacinth. The growth is so dense that the surface of the canal appears almost completely green, reducing the space available for water to flow.

As a result, water remains stagnant in the canal for long periods. Further, bridge construction work is currently under way on Anna Salai in Shastri Nagar, with parts of the water path blocked at a bridge near the location. This has led to increased water stagnation along Shastri Nagar First Street.

Residents fear that if heavy rain continues, stagnant water from the canal could enter nearby residential areas. Prolonged water stagnation could also increase the breeding of mosquitoes and other insects.

A resident, Sridhar, said, “Water hyacinth has been growing here for the past five months. Some people also dump garbage near the canal at night. This further obstructs the flow of water. Foul odour and mosquito menace is an everyday nuisance.”

Concurring with him was another resident, Murugan, who piped in: “Due to the bridge construction work nearby, the path of water flow is blocked in some places. So, rainwater is stagnating in residential areas. The bridge construction work should be completed at the earliest.”

A senior Corporation official told DT Next that one side of the construction work on Anna Salai in Shastri Nagar has been completed, while work on the other side is currently under way. “A request has been made to bring a robotic excavator to remove the water hyacinth. Once the equipment arrives, the water hyacinth removal work will be carried out using the robotic excavator,” the official added.

At a three-and-a-half-hour review meeting held at Ripon Building on Saturday, additional chief secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, directed officers and civic agencies to ensure 100% completion of works in canals, waterbodies, SWDs and silt catch pits by the end of September or the first week of October.

Following the directions of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, ministers and monitoring officers have been assigned to each zone to oversee flood mitigation measures and emergency rescue operations.

An MAWS official said that the monitoring officers would carry out zone-wise inspections of desilting and other flood-prevention works. “The first phase of desilting will be completed before the monsoon; second phase will be taken up closer to the monsoon,” the official said.

Bedi also instructed officials to coordinate with ward councillors, MLAs, residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) and the public while executing the works. “Monitoring officials have been told to give due respect and regard to public representatives, RWAs and the common public,” the official said.

The GCC and Water Resources Department (WRD) were asked to ensure quality in canal desilting works. The Highways department was directed to expedite cut-and-cover canal works in southern parts of Chennai. Tangedco officials were told to rectify exposed cables and bury them underground wherever necessary.

The government has sanctioned Rs 100 crore for monsoon preparedness. The works include desilting 1,671 km of SWDs and 1,10,082 silt catch pits, repairing damaged roads, deploying high-capacity motor pumps and recruiting 1,000 workers, five for each of the city’s 200 wards. The GCC has identified 207 vulnerable locations and is implementing site-specific engineering measures, including modular storage tanks and dedicated discharge pumps, in areas considered prone to flooding.

For emergency rescue operations, 311 boats have been kept on standby. Of these, 36 belong to the GCC and 275 are fishing boats. Trained crews will be deployed along with the boats.

The civic body is also preparing 215 flood relief centres and 111 community kitchens to ensure they can be made operational immediately during emergencies. The Integrated Command and Control Centre, 1913 helpline and GCC’s social media channels will function continuously to receive and address public complaints during the monsoon.

The GCC will also launch a dedicated Volunteers Registration App in the first week of September to enrol volunteers directly for relief and rescue operations. More than 1,000 volunteers and 721 RWA members are being on-boarded.

Four fishermen from Rameswaram were arrested by the Sri Lankan Coast Guard in July 2024 for crossing the maritime boundary and fishing in Sri Lankan waters. A month later, a Sri Lankan court released three of them.

However, one of them had been arrested for crossing the maritime boundary and fishing for the second time. He was sentenced to two years in prison, and was released on August 17 and handed over to officials of the Indian embassy in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, six fishermen from Kanniyakumari were fishing in the sea off the Mandapam area of Rameswaram on May 10 when the Sri Lankan Coast Guard arrested them for crossing the maritime boundary. They were lodged in prison.

Following directions from the Indian government, officials of the Indian embassy held discussions with Sri Lankan authorities regarding the release of the fishermen. Then, all were released on August 22 and handed over to Indian officials. Officials then arranged for all seven fishermen to travel to Chennai.

They were received by officials from the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department at Chennai airport and were sent to their hometowns in government-arranged vehicles.

Police said that the action was taken based on a video evidence submitted by an activist to the city police’s ITPU (Immoral Trafficking Prevention Unit), which showed an elderly man sexually exploiting a young girl.

Police sources said that a pen-drive with the video was sent to the ITPU in October 2025 and a case was registered, but action was delayed for several months. Police identified the man in the video as prominent industrialist, R Veeramani and began probe.

Investigations revealed that he had rented a house in Teynampet where he sexually exploited several minor girls and women while video evidence is available for one act of sexual abuse. Police found that Veeramani had entrusted the management of the rented property to his associates, Mahendra Simhan (64) and his wife, Shanthi (60).

The case was registered by the Central Crime Branch’s Anti-Vice Squad on October 7, 2025, based on a complaint filed by a social activist. Police said that the investigation later established the identity of the man seen in the recording and the case was subsequently revived and transferred to the ITPU, which arrested the trio.

City police are also probing if the minor was sexually abused by more than one person. The top brass has further ordered an inquiry to ascertain why action was delayed on the complaint since October 2025. The arrested persons were produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody.

He had served as additional secretary and financial adviser in the Union Ministry of Steel before being repatriated to TN. 

During his career in TN, he was district collector of Villupuram, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, and has also worked in urban development and city governance in the Chennai Corporation. His appointment comes as CMRL is advancing the ambitious phase II Metro project, involving major corridors across Chennai and its suburbs.

The new MD will be responsible for steering ongoing construction, coordinating large-scale infrastructure works and strengthening Metro services as the network expands. MA Siddique, outgoing MD, worked during a period of rapid project development when he took charge in June 2022.

Siddique has taken over as additional chief secretary in the Finance Department after TVK formed the government. 

According to police, the complainant Rajesh (31) had taken a house in Korukkupet on lease for Rs 4 lakh from February 2025.

On June 15, officials from a private bank arrived and sealed the house, stating that the owner had mortgaged it for Rs 59 lakh and had defaulted on repayment and hence the property was being attached. Rajesh then found that the owner and his family had collected lease amounts from four other tenants in the same building in a similar manner.

Based on his complaint, RK Nagar Police registered a case and began investigations. Probe revealed that the property owners, Venkatesan, his wife Deepika (31) of Arivoli Nagar, Coimbatore, and her mother Maheshwari (53) knew that the property was liable to be attached for non-payment of loan, but still rented out five portions of the house to five persons, including Rajesh, and had collected Rs 31.5 lakh as lease amount before absconding.

Police arrested mother and daughter, and recovered Rs 3 lakh cash from them. They were produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. Search is on for Venkatesan, who is absconding.

The programme focused on preventing accidents, identifying unsafe practices and working conditions, complying with statutory safety requirements, adopting safe systems of work, and ensuring effective supervision at construction sites.

In February, a 23-year-old construction worker from Jharkhand, L Soray Ganjhu, died after falling from an elevated structure near Arcot Road in Valasaravakkam. Reports said he fell from a height of around 50 feet while working on the Phase-II corridor. Officials subsequently examined whether mandatory protective equipment, including safety harnesses and safety nets, had been provided and used.

Another serious accident occurred in August last year near Sholinganallur, where two workers fell from an elevated structure during a load-testing operation. Bikee Paswan (23) died, while fellow worker Santosh Lohara suffered serious injuries and was hospitalised. Reports said the accident occurred after a cable or rope associated with the testing equipment failed.

In June, a 43-year-old motorcyclist, C Ramesh, was killed near Manapakkam when two large I-girders from an under-construction structure collapsed onto the road. CMRL subsequently ordered an internal inquiry and a safety audit. The agency later imposed a Rs 1 crore penalty on the contractor after its inquiry held the contractor primarily responsible for the safety lapse.

There have also been accidents involving workers during earlier phases of the Phase-II project. In June 2022, 45-year-old contract worker K Ravi died after soil caved in while he was working in a deep pit at a Metro construction site in Medavakkam. Police registered a case in connection with the incident and booked three persons for alleged negligence.

The latest safety programme therefore comes against a backdrop of repeated construction-related accidents, reinforcing the need for strict monitoring at every stage of Metro works. “With construction continuing across several parts of Chennai, adherence to safety procedures will remain critical not only for protecting workers but also for ensuring the safety of motorists, pedestrians and residents living close to construction sites,” said a CMRL official.

Unlike a conventional car rally, this one is built around trust and teamwork. The event is not a race, but a time-speed-distance rally in which participants have to rely on their visually impaired navigator to find their way. “This is not a race, but a time-speed-distance rally. The tulip chart and speed chart will be given in print and you will have to follow the instructions given by the visually impaired navigator,” says Bipin Bhatia, Management Committee member, Madras Motor Sports Club.

Each team is made up of four members that include a driver, a visually impaired navigator, a rider who notes down the navigator’s instructions, and a fourth member who guides the driver, calculates the speed and answers the questionnaire. The real challenge begins just before the rally. “Two minutes before the start, you will be given a docket containing the route chart, speed chart, a minute-to-minute chart, a printed questionnaire and a time card. The marshals will note down your time when you check in at the designated time controls,” explains Bipin.

The route chart will give participants the part distance, total distance and a description of the route. From there, teams have to follow the navigator’s instructions and stick to the prescribed route. There are also a few rules to follow along the route. Participants cannot stop in the middle of the road and must move to the left if they need to stop. Stopping before a marshal or driving in a zigzag manner is not permitted. Participants are also expected to be patient when there are cars ahead of them, as marshals may take up to 20 seconds to record each car’s time. Losing the time card can result in disqualification or exclusion, while wearing seatbelts throughout the rally is mandatory. “The rally is for the visually impaired and the navigators look forward to taking part in it every year. Participants have to follow the navigator’s route and instructions and avoid using Google Maps,” he adds.

Another woman suspect, identified as Bhagawati Maju, who is suspected to be involved in the murder, remains at large. Police have intensified the search for her. Meanwhile, efforts are also under way to recover the victim's head, which has not yet been traced.

According to police, the incident came to light on August 5 when the Tamil Nadu Express, travelling from Chennai Central to New Delhi, stopped at Agra railway station. Railway police found an unclaimed suitcase containing the dismembered body parts of a woman in one of the coaches.

Following the discovery, the Agra Railway Police registered a case and began an investigation. Special teams were subsequently formed in coordination with the Chennai City Police and Tambaram City Police after clues pointed to Chennai.

Police trace murder to Guduvanchery

During the investigation, police found polythene bags bearing the name of a popular textile shop in Chennai inside the suitcase. CCTV footage collected from railway stations reportedly showed a man and a woman, leading investigators to focus their probe on the Chennai suburbs.

Further inquiries revealed that the murder had allegedly taken place at a tiled-roof house near Mosque Street in Guduvanchery, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Tambaram City Police.

Police broke open the lock of the house and conducted a detailed search. Investigators found that three persons from Odisha, a man and two women, had been staying at the house.

According to the investigation, the victim's body had been dismembered and the remains were allegedly placed in a large vessel, mixed with maida and tied to a ceiling fan. The circumstances surrounding the disposal of the body are being investigated.

Prime suspect brought to Chennai

As the murder occurred in Guduvanchery, the Agra Railway Police requested the local police to register a separate murder case. The Guduvanchery police subsequently registered the case and formed special teams to track down the suspects.

The team eventually traced Manik Uddin Laskar to Manipur and arrested him. He was brought to Chennai by train and is now being questioned by police to establish the circumstances leading to the murder and the involvement of other suspects.

Police are also continuing their search for Bhagawati Maju, who allegedly fled the area after the incident.

With the victim's head still missing, another team is conducting searches at various locations to recover it. Further investigation is under way to establish the identity of the deceased and determine the exact motive behind the murder.

The teacher, who works as a science teacher at Maraimalai Adigal Government Higher Secondary School in Pallavaram, was transferred to the Government Girls' Higher Secondary School in Triplicane.

Teacher transfer counselling halted amid court case

General transfer counselling for teachers working in government primary, high and higher secondary schools is usually conducted through the Education Management Information System (EMIS) portal. The transfer counselling process for the current academic year had been scheduled for June. However, the counselling was subsequently halted following court orders.

Amid the delay in the general counselling process, the transfer granted to the Law Minister's wife has reportedly raised questions among other teachers.Teachers have questioned how the transfer was granted when the general counselling process itself had been stopped. There has also been criticism that the transfer could have been influenced by the location of the Minister's official residence on Greenways Road in Chennai.

Vacancy remains at Pallavaram government school

Meanwhile, teachers have raised concerns over the vacancy created at Maraimalai Adigal Government Higher Secondary School following the transfer.According to the report, no replacement teacher has been appointed to the post for the past two months. As a result, the existing teachers are reportedly handling additional responsibilities.

The school has a large number of students, and teachers have pointed out that the student-teacher ratio is already a concern. With the vacancy remaining unfilled, the workload on the teachers has increased further.

Teachers raise concerns over students' learning

Teachers at the school have said that the absence of a replacement has affected the teaching and learning process.They pointed out that existing teachers are required to take additional classes and manage the workload created by the vacant post. This, they said, could have an impact on students, particularly as the school has a considerable number of students.

Teachers have urged the authorities to fill the vacant post at the earliest and ensure that the academic activities of the students are not affected.The issue has also led to questions among teachers over the transfer process and the need for transparency in teacher postings, particularly when general counselling remains suspended.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,16,040 per sovereign and Rs 14,505 per gram, after a decrease of Rs 295 per gram.

Earlier on August 28 evening, the price of 22-carat gold stood at 1,17,200 per sovereign and Rs 14,650 per gram.

Silver price decreased

Meanwhile, silver prices also decreased by Rs 5 to sell for Rs 260 per gram (Rs 2,60,000 per kg) on August 29.

On August 28, silver was priced at Rs 265 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 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

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

Silver price over the last five days:

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

August 24, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 275

In Shastri Nagar, particularly on 5th, 10th and 15th Streets, and 15th Street in New Thiru Vi Ka Street, electrical cables 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 has 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, on 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 cables 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 cables will be properly arranged and secured safely.”

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 Saturday.

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 28 - Rs 107.77

August 27 - Rs 107.77

August 26 - Rs 107.77

August 25 - Rs 107.77

August 24 - Rs 107.77

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

August 28 - Rs 99.55

August 27 - Rs 99.55

August 26 - Rs 99.55

August 25 - Rs 99.55

August 24 - Rs 99.55

But what awaited him here was alert Air Customs officials and a lengthy stay behind bars for smuggling 1.6 kg of high-grade hydroponic ganja, estimated to be worth Rs 1.6 crore.

The Customs officials, who were monitoring the passengers who arrived from Bangkok early on Thursday (August 27) morning, found a passenger to be moving suspiciously and intercepted him.

After finding his replies evasive, they took him for a detailed search. When they opened his baggage, the officials found 1.6 kg of the high-grade ganja concealed inside. The value of the drug is more than Rs 1.6 crore, officials said.

During the investigation, they found the youth, who had travelled to Bahrain for work a few months ago, was lured into drug smuggling after he ran out of money and was unable to afford an air ticket to return home.

Preying on such people in distress, a gang part of an international drug smuggling ring approached him and offered to arrange his return journey.

The task he had do in return was simple: Firstly, it would be a slightly longer journey home, as he should travel from Bahrain to Bangkok. There at the airport, he would receive a parcel containing medicines, which he should bring on his trip to Chennai.

Here, someone would collect the parcel from him and he would receive money in return. Lured by the offer, the desperate youth agreed to the plan.

The Customs officials arrested the passenger and launched an investigation to bust the drug-smuggling network.

Officials are now questioning him to identify the person who was supposed to collect the parcel at Chennai airport, as well as the individuals who handed it over to him in Bangkok.

Vijay inspected the three sections of the prison complex housing undertrials, convicts, and women prisoners.

While interacting with the inmates, who were engaged in different works, he enquired about their condition and the facilities provided to them, sources said.

He also inspected the kitchens and the food served to prisoners, clothing storage areas, and medical facilities, and visited the facilities for male and female inmates.

Relatives were not allowed to meet prisoners during the inspection as a security measure.

During his interaction with prison officials, Vijay said many inmates had ended up in prison due to their circumstances.

Emphasising the need to give prisoners an opportunity to reform, he directed officials to provide vocational training, education, and activities based on their interests.

He also stressed the importance of reading and asked authorities to maintain an adequate collection of books in the prison. Vijay later inspected Puzhal police station, where he discussed the law-and-order situation with the officials.

The inspection followed the discussion of the Prison Department's demands for grants during the ongoing budget session of the Assembly.

The government has also sanctioned additional body-worn cameras for prison personnel and introduced a new stitching allowance for prison staff.

According to department data, 23,608 inmates were lodged in 125 prisons across Tamil Nadu, including nine central prisons.

Prisons and Correctional Services Director-General Sandeep Rai Rathore IPS, West Chennai Joint Commissioner Disha Mittal and Kolathur Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Kannan were present during the inspection.

During the council meeting, Rajan said that the water samples collected from 48 locations across the zone were sent for laboratory testing.

“The results showed that samples from 46 locations were substandard and had high levels of E coli bacteria,” he said.

The samples were collected from several neighbourhoods, including Nolambur, Valasaravakkam, Mogappair West, Porur, Ramapuram and Maduravoyal. “Residents in these areas have raised serious concerns over water safety. E coli contamination in drinking water pipelines indicates sewage mixing or pipe leakages, which can cause severe waterborne illnesses,” Rajan said.

The test reports were submitted to the Corporation Commissioner Sameeran, who assured the council that an immediate investigation would be carried out and detailed laboratory testing undertaken in all the identified areas.

“PMC personnel are being used for surveys and monitoring even for routine road and footpath works. Why can’t the Corporation engineers handle them?” asked Councillor C Velu.

Citing works in three streets in his ward, Velu claimed that the roads had deteriorated soon after they were laid and since then had not been relaid. “If the Corporation has capable engineers, why should money be spent on PMCs? Retired Corporation chief engineers can be engaged on contract to oversee works, he stated.”

Other members, including the Deputy Mayor M Magesh Kumaar also questioned the functioning and quality of PMCs, asking whether the problem was with the consultants or with the way their reports were being handled by Corporation officials. Responding to the councillors queries, Corporation Commissioner GS Sameeran explained that the PMC system was introduced when Gagandeep Singh Bedi was head of GCC, primarily to support major storm water drain projects and address shortages in the Corporation’s engineering manpower.

“PMCs were also a mandatory requirement under agreements for projects funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Germany’s KfW. Removing them from such projects would therefore not be possible without affecting the funding arrangements,” he said.

The Commissioner also pointed to the sharp increase in its capital works, from around Rs 800 crore earlier to as much as Rs 3,500 crore in the previous year, saying PMCs were brought in partly to support project implementation and monitor key performance indicators.

Councillors said that they were not seeking the removal of PMCs from projects where they were contractually required by funding agencies. They demanded that PMCs should be avoided for Corporation-funded capital works, particularly smaller projects, where the civic body’s own engineers could undertake supervision and quality checks.

A statement said VIT is the first Indian university to enter into such an agreement with the prestigious US institution.

The MoU was signed recently in the presence of Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, Consul General of India in New York. VIT Founder-Chancellor Dr G Viswanathan and Sen Soulaymane Kachani, Dean of Academic Affairs and Global Partnerships, Columbia Engineering, signed the agreement.

The partnership will provide engineering students with international academic pathways and opportunities to pursue globally oriented programmes at both institutions.

Describing the agreement as a landmark development, Viswanathan said the collaboration marked a defining moment in VIT's history and reflected its commitment to providing globally competitive education.

"We are proud to become the first Indian university to establish a dual degree programme with one of the world's most prestigious institutions. This collaboration reflects VIT's unwavering commitment to providing globally competitive education and creating transformative international learning opportunities for our students," he said.

The partnership will strengthen academic collaboration between the two institutions and provide students an exposure to international learning and engineering education.

VIT Vice-President Dr GV Selvam and Director of International Relations Dr R Seenivasan were also present during the MoU signing ceremony.

According to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), Jayakumar had applied for a metro water connection to his residence in Zone 3, Division 29, CMWSSB, Ponnianmmanmedu.

Murugan, Assistant Engineer, Zone 3, Division 29, allegedly demanded Rs 6,000 for processing the application.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, Jayakumar approached the DVAC’s Chennai detachment and lodged a complaint. A case was registered and a trap was organised on Friday (August 28).

During the trap operation, Murugan was allegedly caught receiving Rs 6,000 from the complainant. He was arrested and subsequently remanded in judicial custody.

He added that “The rising prices of tea, coffee and milk at private outlets have made it difficult for poor and low-income people to afford them regularly. Many senior citizens have the habit of consuming tea or coffee in the morning and evening.

As these beverages are currently not provided, they are facing inconvenience.” Velu stated that providing tea, coffee or milk at a nominal price would be useful for them, and other economically weaker sections. Amma Unavagams already provide breakfast, lunch and dinner at subsidised rates.

The flag-hoisting ceremony and chariot procession will be held on August 29 from 4.30 p.m., while the grand chariot procession is scheduled for September 7 at 7.30 p.m. The flag-lowering ceremony will be held on September 8.

Traffic restrictions will be imposed on roads around 6th Avenue (Beach Road), 2nd Avenue, 3rd Avenue, 4th Main Road and 7th Avenue during the processions.

Vehicles approaching from the ECR and OMR will be diverted via Adyar Bus Depot, Indira Nagar 2nd Avenue and Indira Nagar 1st Main Road towards LB Road. Buses will be diverted through M.G. Road and Shastri Nagar 1st Main Road.

Parking facilities have been arranged at Olcott Memorial Higher Secondary School, Arignar Anna Government Higher Secondary School, Besant Nagar 2nd Main Road, 4th Avenue and 17th Cross Street.

The traffic police have advised motorists to avoid Elliot’s Beach and adjoining areas on the three procession days, anticipating heavy pedestrian and vehicular movement.

According to the FIR registered on August 24, 2026, Sanjay Bapurao Chinchghare, who was then working as a District Valuation Officer in the Income Tax Department’s Valuation Cell in Chennai and is now a Superintending Engineer/Planning with the CPWD, and D. Manjunathan, then an Assistant Valuation Officer-I in the same cell and now an Assistant Engineer with the CPWD, allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy with Subhash Chander Rana, partner of AKS Engineering Company.

The FIR states that the officials allegedly demanded Rs 9 lakh from Rana for issuing a favourable valuation report for his company’s property at Ambattur Industrial Estate. The property valuation had been referred to the Income Tax Valuation Cell by the National Faceless Assessment Centre in New Delhi.

According to the FIR, Rana met Chinchghare at his Chennai residence on January 4, 2023, in connection with the pending valuation report. Chinchghare allegedly demanded Rs 9 lakh in the presence of Manjunathan and instructed Rana to pay the amount to Manjunathan.

Later that evening, Manjunathan allegedly received Rs 9 lakh from Rana at a hotel in Ashok Nagar in return for a favourable preliminary valuation report.

The ACB has booked the accused under Sections 7, 7A, 8 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, read with Section 120B of the IPC. The FIR states that the case has been taken up for investigation.

The deceased, Anbazhagan, also known as Maina Kutty, was a resident of Thiruneermalai. He was serving as the district organiser of the VCK's Volunteers Wing.

On Friday morning, as Anbazhagan was talking to friends near the Ambedkar statue in Thiruneermalai, close to the DMK zonal office, a gang of six unidentified men wearing helmets came there on three bikes.

They hacked Anbazhagan repeatedly with sickles and fled the spot at high speed. The onlookers immediately alerted the 108 ambulance service. A medical team that arrived at the spot examined Anbazhagan and declared that he had already died.

On information, the Shankar Nagar police rushed to the spot and sent Anbazhagan's body to the Tambaram Government Hospital for post-mortem examination. Police sources said Anbazhagan was facing several cases, including three of murder.

The police suspect that previous enmity could have been the motive behind the murder. The police have registered a case and are trying to identify the killers with the help of CCTV in the locality.

“Sundharapuram and Shivarajapuram in Pulianthope area, each with 14 streets, face severe road-cut issues. The Metro Water department continues with their works while the issues remain unresolved,” said Ward 78 Councillor C Velu.

He also strongly criticised the Corporation’s failure to collect the outstanding charges owed by Metro Water for cutting the roads at the council meeting. “If the money from Metro Water had been collected, the GCC would not be facing the cash crisis,” he said. “The Corporation must stop auditing and funding redundant schemes and instead, focus on recovering these dues to restructure the city’s financial position.”

However, GCC Commissioner GS Sameeran said that the Corporation was currently unable to collect the dues as the payment from Metro Water was linked to funds to be received from CMDA. “Metro Water has to pay around Rs 80 crore to us as road-cut charges,” he added. “There are many such works across North Chennai, but the exact number of roads involved will require a detailed assessment.”

Sameeran had mentioned that Metro Water was executing major infrastructure works under the North Chennai Development Scheme and that works worth more than Rs 3,500 crore had been released. “To prevent these public works from stalling, Metro Water was permitted to carry out road cuts in anticipation of approval,” he pointed out. “CMDA, which ultimately has to fund and pay GCC for the road cuts, is facing a shortage of funds, preventing Metro Water from handing over the charges to the civic body.”

Despite the pending payments, Sameeran defended the decision to permit the road cuts, stating that Metro Water’s infrastructure works were for public benefit and should not be delayed. The Corporation, meanwhile, is left awaiting the road-cut revenue, even as questions remain over the restoration of roads after the utility works.