The facility was initially scheduled to be inaugurated in person by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on September 12. However, the inauguration was postponed as he could not attend, and the minister will now inaugurate it via video conference at 11 am on Sunday.

Built by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to make it easier for arriving passengers to board hired vehicles, the plaza was originally scheduled to become operational by October 2024. Work began in September 2023.

Although construction was completed by January this year, the facility remained closed amid delays in obtaining clearances and scheduling the inauguration.

How will the Chennai Airport pick-up plaza help passengers?

Located around 30 metres in front of Terminal 1, the pick-up plaza will allow passengers to board vehicles without walking long distances or changing levels.

Currently, international passengers, who already spend considerable time clearing immigration, collecting baggage and completing customs formalities, also have to wait for battery-operated shuttle services to reach the multi-level car parking pick-up point. As a result, passengers say the process from landing to leaving the airport can take up to three hours.

What facilities will the Chennai Airport pick-up plaza offer?

The new pick-up facility has three seven-metre-wide lanes. Lanes A and B will be used for passenger pick-ups, while Lane C will serve as the exit lane. U-turn points have also been provided, and the two pick-up lanes can accommodate around 28 vehicles at a time.

Uber, Ola, Rapido, Fastrack, Red Taxi, WTi and prepaid taxis will initially be permitted to use the facility. Other yellow-board vehicles may be allowed later once the system is functioning smoothly.

The plaza also has seating for around 150 passengers, drinking water facilities and announcements on flight arrivals and departures.

Out of the 14,15,771 property owners assessed for property tax in the city, 8,12,539 have paid their dues without arrears, the GCC said. The deadline comes months after the Corporation’s special drive in July to improve property tax compliance and is grappling with a severe cash crunch. The GCC’s total bill liability for 2026-27 stands at Rs 3,434.72 crore. 

Corporation Commissioner GS Sameeran said, “Owners should clear their current and pending dues by September 30 and cooperate with the civic body’s essential service operations.” 

The civic body urged the property owners to use its website, mobile application, WhatsApp payment link, QR code on property tax receipts and the WhatsApp chatbot at 9445161913 to make payments.

S Kamala, a resident of Coral Enclave Phase II in Chromepet, said that her flat had been assessed under Pallavaram Municipality since she purchased it in 1996. The property was originally assigned assessment number 007/45429, under which she paid Rs 414 as half-yearly property tax until 2012-13.

Following the creation of Tambaram Corporation, the assessment number was changed to 009/035/902801. Kamala said she could not pay the tax for several years.

On March 22, 2023, revenue officials allegedly told her that the non-payment had resulted in the assessment being removed from the system. A new assessment number, 009/036/902725, was then assigned to the same property. Along with the new assessment, the half-yearly tax was revised to Rs 4,760.

She was asked to clear dues for the period from 2016-17 to 2020-21 at the revised rate, following which she paid Rs 45,140 in March 2023 and Rs 40,106 in August 2023 towards subsequent dues, taking the total to Rs 85,246. Kamala, however, questioned why the assessment itself had to be removed because of arrears.

“They can collect a fine for that instead. Besides that, we’ve paid the penalty, the fine, and everything else,” she said.

When the new assessment 009/036/902725 was created, the property was placed under Ward 036, although it belonged to Ward 035. After raising the issue, the assessment was changed again. She fumed: “How can they remove us from the system without asking us or telling us? Why is my tax so high when my neighbours in the same building continue to pay around Rs 424 as half-yearly tax?”

Kamala has sought an explanation for the cancellation of the earlier assessment, the creation of successive new assessment numbers, the change in ward classification and the basis for the revised tax. She has also sought a refund of the amount collected under the earlier assessments. Despite repeated attempts, Tambaram Corporation refused to comment on the matter.

Officials said 152 of them were remanded in custody.

Officials said police teams led by inspectors began intensive checks and search operations on the night of September 10, which was conducted across various parts of the city.

During the drive, the police secured 185 people with criminal backgrounds and history sheets maintained at various police stations in the city. Officials are conducting further inquiries into their current activities and possible involvement in criminal offences.

Commissioner Amalraj warned that stringent legal action would be taken against anyone involved in criminal activities or acts that threaten law and order in the city.

The action came after back-to-back murders in full public view within a matter of few days, including that of a TVK cadre, who was also a history sheeter. In the second murder reported on September 9 night, a DMK youth wing functionary was allegedly murdered by a party colleague, reportedly over a dispute over Rs 9.5 lakh loan.

While the first murder became political due to the victim’s link to the ruling party and also because of his criminal background, the second one happened a day after the deceased alleged that he was threatened by the Tiruvottiyur inspector. City police officers denied the allegation and maintained that the official had only warned the man and not threatened as alleged.

Police recovered further Rs 42,000 worth counterfeit currency notes from her house.

The outlet manager, Siva became suspicious after she handed him a Rs 500 note after buying milk.

When he questioned her about the note, she allegedly tried to leave, following which he alerted the police.

Police detained Alamelu (46) for further questioning and later searched her house and seized counterfeit Rs 500 notes with a total face value of Rs 42,000.

She was arrested, produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody. During questioning, Alamelu allegedly claimed that she had found the notes in a garbage bin.

Police, however, said the currency appeared to have been kept ready for circulation and are investigating its source and whether others were involved.

Muthu (26), of Tirunelveli, on Saturday at around 3.30 am was transporting a load of jelly stones in a Taurus lorry from Uthiramerur towards Avadi via the Vandalur–Minjur Outer Ring Road.

Meanwhile, a container lorry was stationed on the road near Pattabiram. Failing to notice the stationary lorry, Muthu rammed into it with a loud crash.

The front portion of the Taurus lorry was completely crushed, and Muthu died on the spot.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,13,360 per sovereign and Rs 14,170 per gram, after a increase of Rs 15 per gram.

Earlier, on September 11 evening, the yellow metal was priced at Rs 1,13,240 per sovereign and Rs 14,155 per gram.

Silver price remain unchanged

Meanwhile, silver prices remain at Rs 250 per gram (Rs 2,50,000 per kg) on September 12.

On September 11 evening, silver was priced at Rs 250 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 81,920 per sovereign (Rs 10,240 per gram) on September 12, 2025, to Rs 1,13,360 per sovereign (Rs 14,170 per gram) on September 12, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 31,440 per sovereign or about 38.3% per cent.

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

September 11, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,240 | 1 gram - Rs 14,155

September 10, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,040 | 1 gram - Rs 14,255

September 9, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,160 | 1 gram - Rs 14,145

September 8, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,160 | 1 gram - Rs 14,270

September 7, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,040 | 1 gram - Rs 14,130

Silver price over the last five days:

September 11, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 250

September 10, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

September 9, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

September 8, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

September 7, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

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:

September 11- Rs 107.77

September 10- Rs 107.77

September 9- Rs 107.77

September 8- Rs 107.77

September 7- Rs 107.77

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

September 11 - Rs 99.55

September 10 - Rs 99.55

September 9 - Rs 99.55

September 8 - Rs 99.55

September 7 - Rs 99.55

At Kamakshi Memorial Hospitals, orthopaedic surgeon Dr Deepak Kumar KS, also a knee replacement and Mako Stryker expert, follows a knee-preservation-first approach. “We should not look at replacement as the first and only solution. I believe in exploring every possible avenue to preserve the patient’s natural knee,” said Dr Deepak.

In a first-of-its-kind procedure in Tamil Nadu, he collaborated with Dr Sathish Kumar Thangamani, a fellow in stem cell and regenerative medicine, a senior assistant professor at Stanley Medical College, and consultant at Dr. Kamakshi Memorial Hospitals, to administer an innovative allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy for carefully selected patients with knee osteoarthritis.

With approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), this therapy is an important development in regenerative medicine and expands treatment possibilities between conservative care and surgical intervention.

The therapy, manufactured by Stempeutics Research and made available by Cipla, is designed to leverage the anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory and cartilage-protective potential of mesenchymal stem cells.

For patients with Grade II and III knee osteoarthritis, the availability of an approved regenerative therapy provides another potential option within the continuum of care. Individual treatment decisions, however, need to be based on the patient’s condition, disease severity and clinical assessment.

The incident occurred around 5 am on Thursday when Sathishkumar (25) and Dheena alias Dineshkumar (30), a TVK worker, both from Vyasarpadi, allegedly went to the hospital to see the body of their associate Anand alias 'Pallu' Anand, an alleged rowdy from Ernavur who had reportedly died following breathing difficulties.

According to the police, the two allegedly gained access to the morgue after paying Rs 200 through Shankar, the driver of a battery operated vehicle, to morgue worker Srinivasan and obtaining the key. They allegedly entered the facility and recorded videos of several bodies.

The hospital staff who noticed it alerted Resident Medical Officer Vanitha Malar, who lodged a complaint with the police personnel stationed at the hospital.

Officials arrested Sathishkumar, Dineshkumar, and Shankar, and registered a case under three sections, including one relating to trespass into the government hospital morgue. During questioning, they allegedly said the videos were intended for social media reels. The hospital authorities have recommended departmental action against Srinivasan for aiding them.

The case came to light after Koyilraj Jaisingh (62), a resident of First Main Road in Maduravoyal, lodged a complaint with the Maduravoyal police. He had travelled to Coimbatore on August 25 to visit his daughter and returned home on the night of September 6. When he tried to switch on his air-conditioner the following morning, he found that it was not functioning. On checking outside his house, he discovered that the outdoor unit had been stolen.

Following his complaint, police registered a case and launched an investigation. A special team led by the inspector (crime) of the Maduravoyal police investigated the case and arrested Mukesh (28) of TP Chatram in Shenoy Nagar, and Venkatesh (28) of Pudupet, on September 10.

Officials said the two allegedly travelled in an autorickshaw, identified houses after conducting reconnaissance, and stole the AC outdoor units installed outside the buildings. Besides the complainant's house, they allegedly targeted another house in the Maduravoyal area, said the police.

Two AC outdoor units were recovered from the accused and the autorickshaw allegedly used to commit the thefts was seized.
The two men were produced before a court on September 10 and remanded in judicial custody.

Residents and pedestrians have been forced to walk through the polluted water and are facing unhygienic conditions in the area.

The locality is a low-lying area, due to which sewage often overflows onto the road. The residents said the problem has continued as no proper measures have been taken to prevent sewage from stagnating.

Pedestrians and two-wheeler riders passing through the affected stretch are particularly inconvenienced.

Residents also said the mosquito menace has increased. As sewage has accumulated near houses and shops, the foul smell has made it difficult for residents and shopkeepers to carry out their daily activities.

Despite the bad situation, no official has visited the spot to take action and due to the foul smell, all residents are compelled to keep doors and windows closed all the time

Indira, a resident of the area, said, "Sewage has been stagnating on the road for more than 10 days. So far, no official has visited the spot to inspect the issue and take action. There is a strong foul smell near the houses due to the stagnant sewage. The mosquito menace has also increased. We have to keep our doors closed most of the time because of the smell.

Velu, a tailor shop owner, said, "The stagnant sewage on the road is emitting a foul smell, making it difficult for us to work in the shop. Children and senior citizens have to cross the sewage-mixed water on the road, causing inconvenience. A permanent solution should be found to prevent sewage from stagnating."

Residents said they have developed itching on their legs after walking through the sewage. The issue has also caused hardships for customers visiting shops and people living in the area. They said no action has been taken so far to clear the stagnant sewage.

Meanwhile, an official of the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board said that the work to clear the stagnant sewage will be completed soon to ease the inconvenience.

The directive came during the hearing of a 2023 petition filed by Hariharan, a Pudupettai resident who sought measures to prevent idol immersion in water bodies not designated for the purpose and thereby preventing their pollution.

The bench comprising judicial member Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Prashant Harghava was informed that reports had been filed by all 38 district collectors, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and the Greater Chennai Corporation. The reports stated that inspections were being conducted to prevent the use of plaster of Paris (gypsum powder) to make idols and that such idols were confiscated. Awareness campaigns were also being conducted among the public, according to the reports.

In Chennai, Kasimedu, Tiruvottiyur, Ennore, Pattinapakkam and Neelankarai have been identified as designated locations for idol immersion.

The petitioner's counsel argued that Pattinapakkam and Neelankarai were ecologically sensitive coastal areas and turtle nesting sites. Since the locations fall under the Coastal Regulation Zone, idol immersion should not be permitted there, the counsel submitted.

The tribunal then sought to know why idols intended for Pattinapakkam and Neelankarai could not be diverted to other immersion sites.

The State cited law and order concerns, crowd management and the possibility of religious tensions in certain areas.

The tribunal subsequently said idols cannot be immersed at Pattinapakkam and Neelankarai beaches and directed the government to consult officials and apprise it by September 16 on diverting idols to the other four designated locations.

The case dates back to 2009, when Kannan, an LIC manager in Anna Salai, lodged a complaint with the Chennai City Police Commissioner's Office. According to the complaint, a maturity cheque for Rs 3,22,500 belonging to LIC policyholder V Vijayakumar had been sent to his address in Sowcarpet.

However, unidentified persons allegedly obtained the cheque, created forged documents in Vijayakumar's name, and impersonated him to encash the amount through a bank.

A case was registered by the Central Crime Branch's Video Piracy Cell and Conventional Crime Investigation Wing (VPC-CCIW), and an investigation was launched.

Following renewed efforts by a special police team recently, Prathap (41), a native of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur, was arrested on August 31. Later on September 10, his alleged associate, Arjunan (50) of MG Nagar in Taramani, was arrested.

The police said documents connected to the case were seized from the accused. Both men were produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.

Under the latest directive, every waste generator, including households, commercial establishments, institutions, government offices, apartments and bulk waste generators, must segregate waste into four categories before handing it over to the corporation’s cleanliness workers.

Wet waste, including food and other biodegradable waste, must be placed in the green bin, while dry waste such as paper, plastic, metal, glass and other recyclables must go into the blue bin. Sanitary waste such as diapers and sanitary napkins must be wrapped separately and placed in the red bin. Batteries, bulbs, e-waste, expired medicines, and chemicals must be kept separately as domestic hazardous/special-care waste in the black bin.

The battery-operated vehicles used for collection have also been provided with four colour-coded bins to ensure that the segregated waste does not get mixed after the workers collect it.

The GCC has instructed conservancy workers in all 200 wards to collect only source-segregated waste through the door-to-door collection system.

The directive comes weeks after the corporation launched a 40-day door-to-door awareness campaign in South Chennai, initially targeting 50,000 households across five zones, to encourage residents to segregate waste.

On August 22, the corporation launched the "Segregate Waste–Save Tomorrow" campaign, conducting door-to-door awareness drives. In the first phase, 1,000 households in each of the five zones in the southern part of the city were provided with bags for collecting non-biodegradable waste separately, with the programme planned to be expanded to 50,000 households.

According to the civic body, source segregation would enable better recycling and composting and reduce the quantity of waste sent to landfills.

Failure to segregate waste at source or violation of the 2026 rules may attract penalties and other action under the applicable rules and municipal laws, it warned.

BIN IT RIGHT

• Green bin: Wet waste, including food and other biodegradable waste

• Blue bin: Dry waste such as paper, plastic, metal, glass and other recyclables

• Red bin: Sanitary waste such as diapers and sanitary napkins

• Black bin: Batteries, bulbs, e-waste, expired medicines and chemicals

• 6,150 tonnes municipal solid waste generated daily in GCC limit

• Wet/biodegradable: 28.03%

• Plastics: 9.63%

• C&D waste: 5.05%

• Household hazardous: 0.07%

Developed with AI4Bharat, the models cover four capabilities—speech recognition (Indic-Transcribe), text-to-speech (Indic-Speak), machine translation (Indic-Translate) and optical character recognition (Indic-OCR).

The initiative will enable developers, startups, universities, researchers, technology companies and government agencies to deploy, adapt and fine-tune the models for Indian-language applications, including those involving regional dialects and accents. Bodhan AI and AI4Bharat are using NVIDIA’s NeMo framework to train models for automatic speech recognition, machine translation and optical character recognition.

NVIDIA Nemotron 3.5 ASR has also been post-trained for Indian languages, while NVIDIA TensorRT-LLM and vLLM inference microservices are being used to serve them. “Bodhan AI and AI4Bharat aim to give India’s developers and model builders the best open models they can deploy, adapt and fine-tune,” said Prof Mitesh Khapra, principal investigator at Bodhan AI and AI4Bharat.

NVIDIA senior distinguished engineer Niket Agarwal said, “Open models are essential for developers building technology for the languages and communities they serve. The models will be offered as open-weight releases and through hosted APIs.”

Bodhan AI said that its educational applications would remain free for learners, educators and partner state governments. Its API infrastructure is also intended to operate within India’s digital ecosystem, enabling large-scale deployment and customisation for Indian languages and contexts.

Through their research-design collective Loksutr, based in Madhya Pradesh, the duo then works with artists to turn these narratives into visual forms. Their latest exhibition, 'Myth, Memory, Form,' brings together three such stories, tracing the origins of the Narmada, the Pardhaan Gond community and painting itself.

“The three stories are very different, but they all look at origins and how knowledge is carried forward. We wanted to bring these narratives together through the visual language of the artists and the communities we work with,” says Achyut.

The first of these is the origin story of River Narmada, presented through 24 paintings arranged sequentially. Titled 'The Whispers of Immortality', the work also extends into a monumental canvas, with multiple Pardhaan Gond artists coming together to interpret the story. “The Narmada story is something that has been carried through generations.

When you see the paintings together, they read almost like a continuous story. The sequence was important because we wanted the narrative to remain intact,” shares Apoorva.

The second work, 'The Pardhaan Continuum', looks at the origin story of the Pardhaan Gond community.

Traditionally regarded as custodians of oral traditions within the Gond community, the Pardhaan have played an important role in carrying stories from one generation to another. Loksutr has presented this narrative as a 7.5-metre-long accordion book. “We were interested in the story of the community itself and the role they have played in carrying knowledge. The accordion format gave us the space to present that story as something that unfolds gradually,” says Achyut.

The third body of work, Smriti Sutradhaara, turns the focus towards painting itself. Developed in collaboration with four Odisha Pattachitra artists, it draws from Chitra Lakshana and Chitra Sutra, two early texts that deal with painting and image-making. The story is presented through 21 paintings.

“Here, we were looking at painting as a practice and asking where some of these ideas around image-making came from. We worked with Pattachitra artists to interpret the texts through their own visual language,” says Apoorva

A total of 10 artists have contributed to the exhibition, six from the Pardhaan Gond tradition and four from Odisha Pattachitra. For Loksutr, the collaboration is as important as the final work.

“We are not just documenting knowledge and putting it into an archive. We work with the communities to visualise that knowledge. The artists are part of that process and the work develops through the collaboration,” says Achyut.

The exhibition also brings together two living art traditions. Both Gond art and Odisha Pattachitra continue to evolve through the artists who practise them and Loksutr wanted to bring that continuing process into the conversation. “There is constant adaptation, improvement and innovation within these art forms. What we are bringing to Chennai is the backstory, how it all began and the culture behind these traditions,” says Achyut.

For the duo, the exhibition is also an opportunity to look at what lies behind a familiar visual language. The paintings are not simply illustrations of myths, but ways of presenting knowledge that has existed within communities for generations. “People see a painting or an art form without knowing the stories and history behind it. We want the exhibition to give them a deeper sense of these living traditions and the communities that sustain them,” Apoorva tells us.

Developed over three years, Myth, Memory, Form brings together these different narratives in a single space, showing how oral knowledge can move into paintings and other visual forms while remaining connected to the communities from which it comes. Myth, Memory, Form is on view from September 12 to December 6 at Varija Art Gallery, DakshinaChitra Museum.

It was this gap that three friends, Shravya Sukumar, Susritha Bakkamanthala and Prathibaa Ravichandar, noticed when they started Social Scape, an events and community platform.

The idea came up during a dinner table conversation. “We thought the city could use more fun things to do and new ways to meet people,” says Susritha. That simple idea has now grown into Social Scape, bringing together people who are looking to meet someone new, try something different or simply find a space to belong.

Shravya says the idea came from something the three friends had noticed in their own lives. “We are professionals in our 20s. Once college ends, you might find a dip in the kind of genuine connection you have. In the workplace, there are fewer real connections and friendships that you are able to organically build. That is what we wanted to do through Social Scape. It is not just an events platform. It is a kind of space where people want to come back, meet new people and find their sense of community.”

The team has experimented with different kinds of events since then. They have organised sunrise hikes at St. Thomas Mount, treasure hunts around Anna Nagar, murder mystery game nights, short film screenings and more. The founders also want Social Scape to extend beyond socialising. They have organised activities around causes such as breast cancer awareness and want to continue finding ways to give back to the community.

Prathibaa says the group has also seen a change in who attends their events. “We love seeing a mix of familiar faces who keep coming back, along with new people joining the crowd.” Much of that growth has happened through word of mouth. People who attend the events share details on WhatsApp and often bring their friends along. The team usually has a minimum of around 30 people at an event.

For Susritha, choosing the right venue is also an important part of event planning. “We pick a venue based on the activity we are doing. We have also expanded, with A Nikith Kumar, Rakshan M and T Venavin Sai joining as part of the extended team,” she adds.

Public health doctor and researcher Dr Sylvia Karpagam’s book ‘The Meat of The Matter: How the Politics of Food Shapes Our Health’ deals with many such questions, myths and food habits that often governments, cultures and corporations enforce upon the public. She looks beyond the plate at what and who determines who eats what.

Answering the original question, she says, “Giving soya and millet to children is, firstly, difficult to digest, which means that they won’t feel hungry for a longer time. So, they need to be given digestive food that is nutrient-dense.”

An egg contains 6-8 gms of protein, while a much larger quantity of soya has to be consumed to meet that nutrient requirement. The book, thus, was born out of this necessity to bust myths and misconceptions around food and nutrition, says the doctor. While doing research as a community health doctor, Dr Sylvia and her team visited many parts of the urban and rural areas, including schools, and places where kids eat. In schools, they found that while the mid-day meal programme was not being implemented in many places, there were also structural issues

“For example, handing over the programme to an organisation like Akshaya Patra (owned by ISKCON). We found that it’s an ideological institution that’s openly casteist,” she recalled. “Their menu is devoid of all the items that communities normally eat; they also criminalise food items, saying it causes lust and violence. They also talk to teachers and students about it. A lot of indoctrination happens, which is enabled by the extreme right-wing governments.”

On a light-hearted note, referring to Tamil Nadu’s recent proposal to add chicken biriyani to the mid-day meal menu, she jokes, “So even if it’s chicken biryani served to children, let it be more chicken and less biryani.”

Dr Sylvia explains that communities, over the years, have figured out what nutrition means, what to eat with what they have and maximise even plant-based diets. Humans are biologically built to consume meat on a regular basis. “As humans evolved, so did our digestive tract, and it is not that we have always lived with these systems. Though we cannot consume everything, our grandmothers figured out long back on what works best and how it should be eaten to be had for the best possible outcome,” she opines. “For example, rather than highly processed soya as it is consumed now, the right way to consume it is by fermenting it.”

However, she laments that ideological bias is undeniable when researchers study the communities and their food habits. “There are questionnaires where there is no mention of meat, or food items, other than what the researchers consider a good source of nutrition. So, when the community denies consuming plant-based food, they are declared nutrition deficient. Also, when there’s no question about meat, the community is declared ignorant and their food habits are erased,” she points out.

Often, governments want to fix a deficiency by distributing tablets, but nutrient deficiencies need a holistic approach and they should begin with food.

Dr Sylvia also adds that casteism plays a huge role while creating and implementing policy. “When a Dalit student is stunted or tired all the time, it’s labelled as a result of caste and not because of the lack of nutrition in the children,” she says.

Often, governments want to fix a deficiency by distributing tablets, but nutrient deficiencies need a holistic approach and they should begin with food. “This book is mainly for communities that have been traditionally marginalised and whose foods have been criminalised, to have a reference. So they can say this is the traditional food we’ve been eating, and this is their nutritional value,” she adds.

When asked if there was anything as bad as eating too much meat as human beings, Sylvia says that one can consume the right amount of meat even every day. “There are six food groups, and each group should contribute to your meal, at least four a day,” she explains. “Cereals and millets, like ragi and rice, form one group. Second is pulses and legumes (soya, dals, karamani, peas, rajma, chana). Third is milk and dairy, fourth is fruits and vegetables, fifth is meat, poultry, fish, etc, and the last is fats and oils. One has to consume things from 4 of these categories to have a balanced meal.”

Coming to the vegetarianism question, she says that it’s a misconception that milk and dairy are all plant-based foods; however, they are animal-based. She adds that the flag-bearers of vegetarianism are pushing it on the poor.

“While people glorify the model of vegetarianism, what is being pushed on the poor is a cheap vegetarianism that is nutrient-deficient. Our children deserve better,” she states.

Through her book, she presents research on how some plant-based alternatives are expensive, inaccessible and also do not provide the nutritional value that an animal-sourced food can provide. “Meat-based iron is haem iron that is more easily absorbed by our body than iron from plant-based sources,” she explains. “See, there are no plant-based alternatives for nutrients like B12; you have to look for an animal source. And these sources are cheaper. There is nothing like soya milk; it is merely an extract.”

Vegans, on the other hand, would find it impossible to meet their nutritional requirements.

Stating that the burden of climate change cannot be put on the poor, she says: “My question is, why do we want to compromise on children’s health without making these options accessible for the marginalised? A cow slaughter ban also affects those whose livelihood is through livestock, so what is their choice?”

The 1,380 residential quarters/flats built under the Tamil Nadu Government Servants Rental Housing Scheme and the TNHB Board Rental Flats were meant to be rebuilt to restore services, following the demolition of the dilapidated buildings after a long-drawn legal battle. CMDA's decision is set to change the land use of the site where the flats once stood forever.

The land, part of the 25.55-acre site identified for the project at Foreshore Estate, will be handed over to the Public Works Department (PWD) after the change in classification. "After the TNHB gave the NOC, we are working on reclassification. Once it is done, we are also taking steps to secure Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance," said a senior official from the authority.

The site comprises 21.76 acres under the possession of the Tamil Nadu Housing Board, 0.93 acres belonging to the Greater Chennai Corporation, 1.73 acres of Revenue Department land and 1.13 acres of Tamil Nadu Housing Board land under the possession of the State government.

The respective agencies and the district administration have already given their NOC for the project. Meanwhile, the proposal has drawn opposition from fishermen in Pattinapakkam, who claim the land was originally intended for the rehabilitation of fishing families. Concerns regarding their access to the area and livelihood, the implications for the coastal ecosystem, and the traffic bottleneck it could create have also been raised.

The consultation, titled, A Decade of Implementation and the Way Forward’, was conducted with Justice G Jayachandran, chairman of the Juvenile Justice and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso) Committee. Justices GR Swaminathan and S Srimathy, members of the committee, also participated in the deliberations.

The programme brought together representatives from the judiciary, senior government departments, police leadership, Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), child care institutions and organisations working in the field of child rights. Participants reviewed progress in implementing the JJ Act and discussed measures required to make child protection mechanisms more effective, accessible and accountable. Reflections on the Act’s functioning during the last ten years were also shared during the consultation, along with recommendations for the next decade.

Participating in the discussion, child rights activist Andrew Jesuraj said, “A major focus was placed on preventing children from entering vulnerable situations through early identification and timely intervention. Strengthening the functioning of CWCs, JJBs and child care institutions was identified as another key priority.”

The discussions also highlighted the need to support families and reduce avoidable institutionalisation by expanding adoption, foster care and other family-based care options. Greater attention was sought for children with disabilities and special needs.

With children increasingly exposed to risks online, participants stressed the importance of strengthening safeguards against digital exploitation and emerging forms of abuse. Better coordination among child protection agencies, police, healthcare, education and social welfare departments was also emphasised.

The consultation further underlined the importance of involving children in decisions that affect them and strengthening professional social work services.

The deceased was identified as Munagala Nikhil Reddy, son of businessman Munagala Subba Reddy from Kadapa district in Andhra Pradesh.

Nikhil was pursuing the final year of his MS postgraduate course at a private medical college in Kelambakkam and was staying in a rented apartment near the institution.

Police said the examination results were announced on Thursday night, and Nikhil was reportedly distressed after learning that he had failed in two subjects.

His friends had allegedly tried to console him, telling him that eight students had failed in the examinations and urging him not to lose hope.

The incident occurred around 7 am on Friday. Security personnel and others alerted the Kelambakkam police after Nikhil was found dead.

Police recovered the body and sent it to Chengalpattu Government Hospital for post-mortem examination.

His parents have been informed, and further investigation is under way.

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The case dates back to 2009, when Kannan, an LIC manager at Anna Salai, lodged a complaint with the Chennai City Police Commissioner’s Office. According to the complaint, a maturity cheque for Rs 3,22,500 belonging to LIC policyholder V Vijayakumar had been sent to his address in Sowcarpet.

However, unidentified persons allegedly obtained the cheque, created forged documents in Vijayakumar's name and impersonated him to encash the amount through a bank.

A case was registered by the Central Crime Branch's Video Piracy Cell and Conventional Crime Investigation Wing (VPC & CCIW), and an investigation was launched.

Following renewed efforts by a special police team, Prathap (41), a native of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, was arrested on August 31. His alleged associate, Arjunan (50) of MG Nagar in Taramani, Chennai, was arrested on September 10.

Police said documents connected to the case were seized from the accused. Both men were produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.

Two stolen AC outdoor units were recovered and an autorickshaw allegedly used in the crime was seized.

The case came to light after Koyilraj Jaisingh (62), a resident of First Main Road in Maduravoyal, lodged a complaint with the Maduravoyal police station.

He had reportedly travelled to Coimbatore on August 25 to visit his daughter and returned home on the night of September 6.

When he attempted to switch on his air-conditioner the following morning, he found that it was not functioning.

On checking outside his house, he discovered that the AC's outdoor unit had been stolen.

Following a complaint, police registered a case and launched an investigation. A special team led by the Crime

Branch Inspector of the Maduravoyal police station investigated the case and arrested Mukesh (28) of T.P. Chatram, Shenoy Nagar, and Venkatesh (28) of Pudupet, on September 10.

Police said the two allegedly travelled in an autorickshaw, identified houses after conducting reconnaissance and stole AC outdoor units installed outside the premises.

Besides the complainant's house, they allegedly targeted another house in the Maduravoyal area.

Two AC outdoor units were recovered from the accused, while the autorickshaw allegedly used to commit the thefts was seized.

The two men were produced before a court on September 10 and remanded in judicial custody.

Police teams led by inspectors began intensive checks and search operations on the night of September 10 and continued the operation across various parts of the city.

During the drive, police secured 185 persons with criminal backgrounds and history sheets maintained at various Greater Chennai Police stations. Officials are conducting further inquiries into their current activities and possible involvement in criminal offences.

The Commissioner of Police has warned that stringent legal action will be taken against anyone involved in criminal activities or acts that threaten law and order in the city.

Police said the complainant, Kannan (53), a resident of Chromepet, had previously worked as a general manager at a private company in Valasaravakkam and was currently looking for employment.

According to the police, Kannan became acquainted with the woman, identified as Kanchan Latha Singh, through an online app. On her invitation, the two checked into a lodge in the St Thomas Mount area on August 26.

Later that night, Kannan allegedly found that his gold chain weighing around 2.5 sovereigns and Rs 4,000 in cash were missing. He also discovered that the woman had left the lodge.

Based on his complaint, the St Thomas Mount police registered a case and launched an investigation. A police team examined CCTV footage and tracked the suspect using her mobile phone number, eventually locating her in Bengaluru.

Police travelled to Bengaluru and arrested Kanchan Latha Singh at a lodge on September 9.

Investigators recovered Rs 1.5 lakh, said to be the remaining proceeds after she allegedly sold the stolen gold chain and spent part of the money. Two mobile phones and five SIM cards were also seized.

The woman was produced before a court in Devanahalli and subsequently brought to Chennai.

After further investigation, she was produced before the Alandur court on September 10 and remanded in judicial custody.

What traders say

Traders said lemon cultivation is carried out on a larger scale in the eastern districts compared with Udumalai.

With local supply affected, traders are procuring lemons from markets in Puliyangudi, Tirumalai, Ottanchathram and Palani before selling them in bulk. The shortage in supply has pushed prices up to Rs 300 per kg.

In Kumaralingam, lemons are reportedly being sold for up to Rs 220 per kg.

Ideal conditions for lemon cultivation

In Udumalai in Tiruppur district, farmers cultivate short-, medium- and long-duration crops depending on climatic conditions and the availability and flow of water.

Crops such as coconut, banana, sugarcane, lemon and guava are cultivated in the region.

Lemon, locally known as ‘Rajagani’, is said to have its peak yield between July and December.

Benefits and demand for lemons

Lemons are a source of nutrients such as vitamin C and potassium. They are commonly consumed as part of daily meals and are also used to prepare beverages, particularly during summer.

Lemon juice-based drinks can contribute to fluid and electrolyte intake when consumed with water and an appropriate amount of salt.

The steady demand for lemons for household consumption and food preparation has encouraged many farmers to take up lemon cultivation.

Many passengers have started travelling to their hometowns from Friday itself to celebrate the festival with their families.

People from Tamil Nadu, and those from northern states living in Chennai, and other parts of the State are travelling to their native places. With many choosing to travel by air, there was a heavy rush at the domestic airport on Friday.

Due to the increased demand, airfares from Chennai to several destinations have gone up sharply. Fares to places including Thoothukudi, Madurai, Tiruchy, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata have increased by nearly 3-4 times compared to normal fares.

Though the steep increase in airfares has caused concern among passengers, flights continue to be full, especially during the festival days and other holidays, as many want to spend time with their families instead of being stuck on roads for hours amid heavy traffic.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,12,0120 per sovereign and Rs 14,015 per gram, after a decrease of Rs 240 per gram.

Earlier, on September 10, the yellow metal was priced at Rs 1,14,040 per sovereign and Rs 14,255 per gram.

Silver price remain unchanged

Meanwhile, silver prices also decresaed by Rs 10 to sell for Rs 245 per gram (Rs 2,45,000 per kg) on September 11.

On September 10, silver was priced at Rs 255 per gram.

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

Gold remains significantly higher compared to last year. Prices have increased from Rs 81,200 per sovereign (Rs 10,150 per gram) on September 11, 2025, to Rs 1,12,120 per sovereign (Rs 14,015 per gram) on September 11, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 30,920 per sovereign or about 38.07% per cent.

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

September 10, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,040 | 1 gram - Rs 14,255

September 9, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,160 | 1 gram - Rs 14,145

September 8, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,160 | 1 gram - Rs 14,270

September 7, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,040 | 1 gram - Rs 14,130

September 5, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,520 | 1 gram - Rs 14,190

Silver price over the last five days:

September 10, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

September 9, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

September 8, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

September 7, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

September 5, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

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 Friday.

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:

September 10- Rs 107.77

September 9- Rs 107.77

September 8- Rs 107.77

September 7- Rs 107.77

September 6- Rs 107.77

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

September 10 - Rs 99.55

September 9 - Rs 99.55

September 8 - Rs 99.55

September 7 - Rs 99.55

September 6 - Rs 99.55

The arrested policeman was identified as Ravivarman (43) of Kancheepuram district. He was attached to the computer section in the police headquarters.

Police sources said that the head constable visited a plastic trading company in RK Nagar and claimed that he had come to search for contraband based on a tip-off. After searching the premises, the policeman found 10 boxes of gutkha, herbal medication and Rs 3.3 lakh cash.

When the constable demanded money from the establishment owner, Praveen Kumar (44), the latter sought identity proof, which led to an argument. Police reached the scene after a neighbouring shopkeeper alerted them and both Ravivarman and Praveen Kumar were taken to Korukkupet police station for further inquiry.

Probe revealed that Ravivarman acted on the instructions of another businessman who tipped off the cop about the presence of cash at Praveen Kumar's cash chest.

The other businessman, Keemaram, owed Praveen Kumar Rs 6 lakh, and Keemaram had sent Rs 3 lakh to Praveen through an emissary, Mangilal.

After handing over the cash to Praveen Kumar, Mangilal and Keemaram conspired with the policeman to snatch the cash by threatening to slap a case.

Korukkupet police arrested Mangilal and the head constable, Ravivarman.

The deceased was identified as Madin (19) of Tondiarpet, a first-year BBA student at a private college in Koyambedu. Madin, along with two others, Charanraj (17) and Krishnan (17), were travelling on the same bike from the Rohini Theatre towards VR Mall when the accident happened.

Police said the bike collided with a water tanker travelling from Koyambedu towards Tirumangalam. The three students were not wearing helmets.

Truck driver, Muhammad Iqbal (43) of Nannilam in Tiruvarur district, was arrested by the Koyambedu Traffic Investigation Wing.

The woman, also a GST inspector, filed a complaint with the Tirumangalam all women police station (AWPS), after which a case was registered and investigations were held.

After the inquiry, the police arrested the GST inspector, identified as Sourav, a native of West Bengal. The complainant, a 32-year-old woman from Andhra Pradesh, stated that Sourav has been harassing her for the past few days, and made innuendos and obscene remarks at her.

The arrested official was produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.

In another incident, the Arumbakkam all women police arrested a physical education teacher for allegedly sending obscene messages to a Class 11 student of the same school on Instagram.

The accused was identified as Moorthy (34). The student's mother filed a police complaint after she learnt of the teacher's behaviour. Probe confirmed Moorthy's behaviour after which he was arrested, said officials.

The grievance redressal meeting will be presided over by the respective superintending engineer, said the utility, requesting the public to participate in the meeting.

Residents can raise issues related to drinking water supply, sewerage services, water and sewer tax, and pending new water and sewer connections, and submit petitions directly to officials.

Information on rainwater harvesting and its maintenance will also be provided during the meeting, it said.

Residents and parents had been anxious as the cables remained unattended on the street for over three months, right outside the two centres and the adjacent Sri Venkatesa Perumal Temple.

With around 88 children visiting the centres every day, the residents had raised safety fears.

Ongoing repair works on the road and footpath added to the woes of pedestrians, including toddlers, parents and temple devotees, who had no other go but to navigate the exposed power cables.

Taking quick note of the DT Next report, TNPDCL officials arrived at the spot and laid the cables underground.

Residents and parents welcomed the prompt action, expressing relief over the resolution of the safety threat.

The study, conducted by the Forum for Indian Women Intellect in August, stressed that building toilets alone is not enough and that continuous maintenance must be prioritised.

The survey covered 49 toilets, including 43 under government control and six under private management. Of these, 42 were within Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) limits and seven in rural Dharmapuri district.

By facility type, the study inspected 42 women's toilets, six men's toilets, and one unisex facility.

Findings revealed that only nine government-controlled toilets (22.5%) were reasonably clean and equipped with basic amenities.

Among privately managed facilities, six were classified as reasonably clean, though the report noted that even these fell short of benchmark standards.

Key deficiencies included a lack of basic equipment and disinfectants, absence of sanitation workers, and erratic water supply. Inadequate water was recorded in six facilities, six lacked cleaning staff, and seven lacked cleaning materials.

Broken flooring, damaged doors and latches, poor ventilation, cobwebs, and areas vulnerable to snakes and insects were also reported.

The situation was particularly concerning in several colleges, where poorly maintained toilets surrounded by overgrown vegetation created safety risks for students and staff.

Waterlogging, missing doors, and the presence of venomous insects posed additional hazards, especially for women.

"NAAC guidelines expect one toilet per 25 female students. However, government women's arts colleges themselves neglect or fail to open such infrastructure. Is it fair for NAAC to strictly mandate that private colleges implement these stringent norms when government colleges fail to do so?" asked a private college principal.

In Kodungaiyur, a GCC school reportedly had just one sanitation worker, with toilets cleaned only once daily.

At a nearby GCC Anganwadi, workers faced water shortages and inadequate supplies, often purchasing cleaning materials out of their own wages. Protective gear such as masks was also found lacking.

Facilities across rural and urban TN routinely lacked necessities like water, lighting, ventilation, door locks, dustbins, ramps, and staff. At several locations, residents avoided using the facilities altogether.

"Inadequate sanitation disproportionately affects women, girls, transgender persons, the elderly, and the differently abled. Poor access to safe and clean toilets restricts women's mobility and participation in workplaces and public life, besides contributing to health problems," said P Sivakami, founder and president of the forum.

To fix these gaps, the study proposed 13 measures to modernise toilets, including replacing tiled surfaces with grout-free materials, installing sensor-based taps, flushes, and soap dispensers, adopting doorless Z-shaped entrances, improving ventilation, and creating rear service corridors for upkeep.

It also proposed real-time digital monitoring to track ammonia levels, odour intensity, sensor performance, and consumable availability.

Other recommendations included improved disability access, dedicated maintenance budgets, school sanitation education, awareness campaigns for rural and elderly users, clearer signage, and caretakers where needed.

Emphasising that sanitation must be treated as an ongoing public service rather than a headcount of constructed structures, the report called for dedicated financial allocation and round-the-clock monitoring to keep public toilets functional.

LOCATIONS SURVEYED

• Govt offices/ hubs: Shastri Bhawan, Income Tax Office, ICF office, King Institute (office & nearby Anganwadi), Egmore Rajarathinam Stadium site, Marina Beach, Connemara Public Library, Kilpauk Cemetery, petrol pumps

• Transit/ parks: Trains, railway stations, Harur Bus Stand, Natesan Park, Jeeva Nagar Park gym

• Malls/ IT: VR, Nexus, Phoenix, Express Avenue, private IT offices

• Healthcare: Kodungaiyur Primary Health Centre

• Rural (Dharmapuri): Harur block (Sellampatti, Reppampatti, Theerthamalai, Ethiyampatti) & Pappireddipatti Block (Bethur, Kolagampatti)

After the pipeline that runs through the Grand Northern Trunk (GNT) Road burst on Monday (September 7), the authorities immediately suspended water pumping through the line.

Barricades were set up at the site to prevent inconvenience to the public and motorists, said officials.

As an alternative arrangement, water was supplied through tankers to residents in Manali, Madhavaram, Tondiarpet, and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zones, which normally receive piped water.

Repair crews worked on a war footing to replace the damaged section with a new 24-foot-long, 1200 mm diameter mild steel (MS) pipe, said the Metro Water.

To minimise disruption, additional tankers were deployed alongside those already operating in the affected areas.

Following completion of the repair works, regular water supply has resumed, with an increased volume to ensure smooth supply, it added.

Meanwhile, tanker-based water supply to street taps, water tanks, unconnected areas, and low-pressure zones continued uninterrupted, as usual, CMWSSB officials said.

A day before his brutal murder, the victim had accused the Tiruvottiyur inspector of threatening him, while the police maintained that the official had only warned him.

D Pradeep Raj of Tiruvottiyur, a DMK youth wing cadre, was intercepted and hacked to death by a gang when he was riding his two-wheeler along West Mada Street around 8.30 pm on Wednesday.

According to the police, Pradeep was involved in a quarrel with Naveen, another DMK youth wing functionary, for not repaying the Rs 9.5 lakh that he had borrowed from the latter’s mother.

The dispute worsened last month after Pradeep and gang allegedly manhandled the woman when she asked for the money and he was arrested for assault.

Enraged over this, Naveen planned to attack Pradeep, said the police. His anger grew after Pradeep came out on bail recently and made a plan to install a Vinayagar idol near Naveen's eatery.

Learning of this, the Tiruvottiyur police summoned both groups to the station and warned them against escalating the issue.

When Pradeep threatened the other group inside the station, the inspector warned him, claimed senior officers.

Despite the warning, Naveen and his associates murdered Pradeep on Wednesday, said the police, adding that they have arrested Naveen, his brother in-law and a C-category history sheeter Lokesh, Hari Krishnan, and Jabbar.

Only a week ago, a TVK functionary was chased and hacked to death by a gang in a similar manner near Besant Nagar.

For the past six months, this crucial stretch, which caters to hundreds of vehicles daily heading toward the arterial Rajiv Gandhi Salai, has been in a severe state of disrepair.

According to locals, recent rains have worsened the situation, causing minor potholes to expand.

As the top layer of the road has completely eroded, the loose gravel and exposed stones on the surface pose a significant risk to motorists.

P Sajeevan, a resident of Perungudi, urged the Greater Chennai Corporation to intervene immediately. Emphasising the need for a permanent solution rather than the usual temporary fixes, he added, “The civic body must ensure proper, durable relaying of the road instead of carrying out frequent, substandard patchworks that wash away during the monsoons.”

The poor road condition is also affecting local businesses. Eatery owners along the stretch allege that dust kicked up by vehicles moving over the broken surface is severely impacting their daily operations and food hygiene.

Furthermore, A Subramaniyan, a senior citizen, complained about the complete absence of proper footpaths.

“The limited walking space is encroached upon by eatery extensions, roadside vendors, and unregulated vehicle parking, forcing helpless pedestrians to walk on the dangerous, busy carriageway. I strongly urge GCC officials to take immediate and comprehensive action,” he said.

An official from the Greater Chennai Corporation stated, “The Metro Water Office made a few road cuts and has rectified them. Patchwork will be carried out in the identified stretches across the ward, and the repairs will be attended to soon.”

The move comes amid a surge in fever cases in August and September, during which the city received sporadic rains, which created a conducive environment for mosquito breeding.

A senior GCC official told DT Next that Chennai has recorded more than 6,400 fever cases since August. In just the last two days, around 1,900 fever cases were recorded across the city, with 600 testing positive for dengue.

The corporation has decided to mobilse adequate manpower to combat the outbreak, the official said. “Over 3,700 workers will be involved in this exercise, with 2,076 dedicated specifically to door-to-door house inspections, fogging, and chemical spraying activities," the official said, stressing that public cooperation was critical to curbing transmission.

Commissioner Sameeran has also issued strict operational directives for field teams. Domestic Breeding Checkers (DBC) must report for duty by 7 am daily and attend mandatory gate meetings before heading to assigned beats. Armed with larvicides and inspection tools, these personnel will check home interiors and exteriors including overhead tanks, sumps, wells, cement tubs, refrigerator drip trays, and air conditioner units for larvae.

They are also tasked with inspecting public parks, commercial hubs, schools, hostels, and construction sites while logging active fever cases during home visits.

Simultaneously, health inspectors (HI) have been instructed to conduct morning gate briefings, allocate field beats, and cross-verify DBC logs. These officials must visit the residences of patients diagnosed with fever at government hospitals, GCC clinics, and private facilities to identify local breeding sources. Furthermore, they will oversee chemical fogging operations, conduct student awareness sessions, organize special medical camps in fever hotspots, and track post-discharge patients.

With intermittent rains heightening the risk of stagnant water, Sameeran appealed directly to residents to eliminate breeding sites. Citizens were urged to clear discarded tires, coconut shells, and unused containers, keep water storage units tightly covered, and clean refrigerator drip trays and indoor plant containers weekly.