Shah is scheduled to arrive at the old airport in Chennai at 7.40 pm on Wednesday in a special flight from New Delhi. After being received by officials at the airport, he will travel by road to a private star hotel on the East Coast Road at Kovalam, where he will stay overnight.

The conference of the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Puducherry will be held at the hotel on Thursday. Shah will preside over the meeting and address the gathering.

According to the travel schedule, Shah will leave Kovalam by road at around 2.30 pm on Thursday to return to Delhi and reach the old airport at 3.30 pm. He is scheduled to depart for New Delhi by special flight at 3.45 pm.

The Chennai airport authorities received official communication from New Delhi on Tuesday morning regarding Shah’s visit. Following this, a meeting was held at the old airport on Tuesday afternoon to review security arrangements for the Union Home Minister.

Senior officials of the Chennai airport, security personnel, VIP security officials, Chennai police and officers from the Intelligence Bureau participated in the meeting.

Additional security arrangements will be in place at the old airport on Wednesday and Thursday. Security will also be strengthened along the road routes that Shah is scheduled to take between the airport and Kovalam.

The entire old airport area is expected to remain under an enhanced security cover during the two-day visit.

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

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

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

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

Power cuts disrupt residents' sleep, daily routine

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1.Mannargudi–Egmore Express

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

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

2.Tiruchy, Mumbai and Salem Express trains

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

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

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

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

3.Uzhavan Express to face delays

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

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

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

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

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

Silver prices remain unchanged

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Silver price over the last five days:

August 17, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 15, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 14, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 13, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

August 12, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Perambalur district police were also informed about his detention.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why have fuel prices been increased?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

August 17 - Rs 107.77

August 16 - Rs 107.77

August 15 - Rs 107.77

August 14 - Rs 107.77

August 13 - Rs 107.77

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

August 17 - Rs 99.55

August 16 - Rs 99.55

August 15 - Rs 99.55

August 14 - Rs 99.55

August 13 - Rs 99.55

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Saidapet police have registered a case and are investigating.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The study, led by researchers at the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI (WSAI), analysed microbial sequencing data from more than 4,600 ocean samples collected across tropical, temperate and polar regions.

The analysis offers insights into how marine bacterial communities assemble, interact and maintain resilience in diverse environments. The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal mSystems, found that rare ‘specialist’ bacteria act as important connectors within microbial interaction networks.

Computational analysis showed that removing these organisms substantially weakened network stability, pointing to an ecological role far greater than their abundance would suggest. “Marine microorganisms form the invisible foundation of ocean ecosystems. They regulate nutrient cycling, sustain marine food webs and play a vital role in controlling the Earth’s climate,” said Prof Karthik Raman of WSAI. “Understanding the formation and resilience of microbial communities globally can help inform efforts to protect ocean health and advance the UN goal of conserving marine ecosystems.”

Aarti Ravindran, postdoctoral researcher at WSAI, said that marine microbial communities were largely shaped by random ecological processes, but the balance between randomness and environmental selection varied across latitudes. “Polar communities showed more modular interaction networks, while tropical and temperate communities were influenced by both environmental selection and stochastic processes,” she added.

The study, co-authored by Pranathi Ravikumar, Aarti Ravindran and Raman, combined neutral community modelling, phylogenetic community assembly analysis and microbial co-occurrence network analysis to examine not only which microorganisms occur in oceans but also how they interact. They said that identifying rare microbial groups that contributed to ecosystem stability could strengthen biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts, particularly as climate change alters ocean temperatures and marine ecosystems.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,14,160 per sovereign and Rs 14,270 per gram, after an increase of Rs 50 per gram.

Earlier on August 15, the price of 22-carat gold stood at Rs 1,13,760 per sovereign and Rs 14,220 per gram.

Silver prices remain unchanged

Meanwhile, silver prices remain unchanged and continue to sell for Rs 255 per gram (Rs 2,55,000 per kg) on August 17.

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

Gold remains significantly higher compared to last year. Prices have increased from Rs 74,200 per sovereign (Rs 9,275 per gram) on August 16, 2025, to Rs 1,14,160 per sovereign (Rs 14,270 per gram) on August 17, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 39,960 or about 53.85%.

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

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

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

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

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

August 11, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,000 | 1 gram - Rs 14,250

Silver price over the last five days:

August 15, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 14, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 13, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

August 12, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

August 11, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

Curated by Sanchita Ghosh, Kachchi Mitti began in Chennai in September 2025.

Since then, the exhibition has travelled to many cities, bringing together independent designers, artisan-led brands and small businesses.

The Chennai edition will feature a range of handmade fashion, textiles, jewellery and lifestyle products. Visitors can shop for handwoven sarees, Jamdani, Batik, Kantha, Ajrakh, Ikat and block-printed textiles, along with naturally dyed clothing, handmade jewellery and home décor.

The participating brands have been selected for their focus on traditional skills, original designs and responsible production.

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

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

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

Why have fuel prices been increased?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

August 16 - Rs 107.77

August 15 - Rs 107.77

August 14 - Rs 107.77

August 13 - Rs 107.77

August 12 - Rs 107.77

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

August 16 - Rs 99.55

August 15 - Rs 99.55

August 14 - Rs 99.55

August 13 - Rs 99.55

August 12 - Rs 99.55

A 29-year-old woman who works at a private company had returned home in her car and parked it in a vacant space near TNHB Colony.

When she returned to the car, two men questioned why the car was parked there. When the woman asked why they were speaking rudely, the men allegedly abused her verbally, assaulted her, and also attacked her mother when she tried to intervene.

Based on a complaint, Velachery Police registered a case and arrested one of the accused, Dhamu (43).

Three of the four were traced to Puducherry, while the fourth was detained in Villupuram, said a senior police officer. The police are continuing the search for the remaining six.

On Friday (August 14) night, eleven children in conflict with the law had escaped from the facility, the third such incident this year.

One of them was secured near a railway track later that night. According to officials, those who escaped were in the age group of 14-17.

The escape reportedly followed a failed plan by some inmates to clash with another group inside the home.

They later allegedly scaled the compound wall near D Block using a ladder and bedsheets after the main gate was locked.

Further investigation is under way.

The arrested person, Mohammed Yusuf, lives with his wife, two daughters and son Mohammed Safi at Muthamizh Nagar, 117th Street.

Safi works as a welder but was reportedly not going to work regularly and not giving his salary to the family. This led to frequent arguments between father and son.

On Friday night, an argument broke out over this. As the altercation escalated, Yusuf allegedly attacked Safi with a knife. Other family members intervened and moved Safi to a hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. On Saturday, Kodungaiyur Police arrested Yusuf.

The police officer, Selvaraj (50), was attached to the Chintadripet traffic police station. According to sources, he had allegedly seized a motorcycle and demanded Rs 500 from its owner to release the vehicle.

The owner had lodged a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Special Cell.

Following this, senior police officials moved Selvaraj out of the traffic wing and posted him against a vacancy pending an enquiry.

The preliminary enquiry reportedly found substance in the complaint, following which Selvaraj was transferred to the Armed Reserve. Sources said a departmental inquiry would determine further action against him.

The action is the first known disciplinary measure initiated through the city police's newly established Anti-Corruption Special Cell, which was launched to address complaints of bribery and corruption within the police department.

The cell was set up by Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A Amalraj on August 11 to strengthen transparency and public confidence in the department. While launching the initiative, the Commissioner said the conduct of a few personnel should not undermine the work of the majority of police personnel who perform their duties honestly.

Members of the public can report demands for bribes by police personnel through the cell's dedicated phone and WhatsApp number, 78717-23000. Police have assured that the identity of complainants will be kept confidential and that complaints will be investigated.

Sources said the cell has received several complaints since its launch and at least three other police personnel are facing internal enquiries based on complaints received through the mechanism.

Senior officials recently met bar owners and cautioned them against paying bribes to police personnel. The move comes amid increased scrutiny of alleged corruption within the department.

It may be noted that on August 4, the Chennai police arrested an inspector and another person following a businessman's complaint alleging that the inspector had demanded several lakhs of rupees by threatening to implicate him in the 2024 Armstrong murder case.

Nearly 40 trees were cut, and small greenery was cleared to pave the way for concrete structures. They stressed the ongoing infrastructure works across the parks, destroying the city’s urban green spaces

During the 90-minute protest, members passed resolutions demanding the complete halt of concretisation of public parks across the city. They urged local RWAs to resist replacing open green areas with concrete play amenities, insisting that parks must instead be preserved as natural groundwater recharge zones.

Speaking to DT Next, TD Babu, environmentalist and secretary of AoRWA, criticised the lack of accountability. “GCC commenced SWD works six months ago inside the park, cutting down around 40 trees in the process. We have found no evidence of compensatory sapling plantation anywhere in the park,” he said. “Under the redevelopment drive, native bushes are routinely removed for paved features. Most of the places in the park are concreted.”

Reflecting on the park’s history, resident Subraja noted that the site was originally ‘Arathakuttai’, a natural pond donated by the family of freedom fighter Nageswara Rao to the Madras Corporation before being converted into a park in 1949. “Though the pond was transformed into a park, these new concrete layers prevent rainwater from percolating into the soil. Taxpayers’ money is being wasted on non-sustainable projects,” she lamented.

With the monsoon approaching in a few months, residents expressed fear that tree roots may weaken and fall during heavy rains. AoRWA General Secretary JMS Naga Arjunan pointed out, “Only 40% of the work has been completed so far. The GCC can halt further construction and restructure the design.”

Following the protest, representatives from Mylapore and Mandaveli, alongside AoRWA and Spark, a civic forum, addressed the issues. NGO Nizhal will submit a formal representation to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar next week.

Lifts have been installed in the department buildings housing History, Economics, Bachelor of Commerce (CS), Statistics and Tamil, according to students.

However, they remain non-operational, despite external shaft structures having been constructed three years ago to facilitate easier movement for students with disabilities and staff. The college, known for its historic architecture, traditionally relies on staircases to connect different floors. Students said the non-operational lifts have especially affected those with mobility issues.

According to college data, there are more than 5,000 students at the institution. Presidency College was ranked 15th in the country in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025, down from third place in 2022. Students also pointed to lack of cleanliness on the campus.

A student with vision disability said, “We often depend on friends or walking sticks to move around the campus. Although tactile flooring has been installed, it’s still difficult for us to reach classrooms on the first floor of the main building. If the lift at the Tamil department becomes operational, it will be easier for us to reach our first-floor classrooms and restrooms, as long as they allow us to use it.”

Second-year BCom (CS) and History students said that they had initially welcomed the installation of the lifts but were disappointed by the lack of progress. “We were happy when we saw lifts being built in our departments. However, over the past two years, nothing has progressed except for occasional tests by lift operators,” they rued.

A Priya, an alumna who visited the campus after five years, said that the initiative was welcome but stressed the need for regular maintenance and student cooperation to ensure the lifts remained functional.

A History student said that the prolonged delay had also resulted in some damage to the lift in the department. “Since the lifts remain at a standstill, some people have dented and damaged the lift in our department. We urge the college administration to make them operational instead of just showcasing that our college has lifts,” the student said.

Admitting to the problems, Vice-Principal OR Devanathan told DT Next: “We’re expediting the remaining work, and the lifts will be completed and made fully operational soon.”

With reports on the die-off coming in since Saturday morning, fishermen said the floating carcasses spanned nearly 6-7 km of the waterway, from the Buckingham Canal near Kattukuppam, past the North Chennai Thermal Power Station.

Fishers and the Save Ennore Creek campaign have pointed to thermal pollution from the hot-water discharge of NTECL Vallur as a possible cause.

They said a water-temperature study conducted on August 9 by Kattukuppam fishermen recorded temperatures of 40.8°C and 40.6°C at locations in the Railway Bridge Canal, 585-1,045 metres from the plant's discharge point.

They have now sought a detailed investigation to establish whether the discharge was responsible for the die-off.

The sequence of events also pointed to unusual water conditions, fishermen said. Around noon on Saturday, Kattukuppam fishermen casting nets near the Railway Bridge, about three hours into the falling tide, noticed unusually large shoals of fish.

By 5 pm, as the tide turned, fishermen using stake nets for prawns at Sandi koil, Manja machine, Jalli kuzhi and Subbaralam paadu, further along the creek, reported similar behaviour.

As the incoming tide pushed the creek water inland, dead fish were washed up towards Manali and Kattupalli, with extensive mortality visible across the creek by Sunday morning.

Fishers and Save Ennore Creek campaign have demanded an immediate halt to hot-water discharge from NTECL and North Chennai Thermal Power Station. They have also sought compensation for the damage to their livelihood and the implementation of the National Green Tribunal's July 2022 Ennore Creek eco-restoration order.

RL Srinivasan, president of the Fishermen Co-operative Society, Ennore, said fish deaths linked to suspected industrial discharge had been occurring frequently, but the scale of the latest incident was much larger.

"This has been happening frequently. This time, the magnitude seems much larger. Water mixed with chemicals is being released from the Manali side through a canal. It mixes with the backwaters and, during low tide, flows towards the sea," he said.

Fishermen allege that such potent discharges are being made during the night to avoid detection. They have now launched road blockades in Ennore, demanding action against the recurring pollution of the waterbody.

While officials from the Fisheries Department inspected the site, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board officials, who have yet to ascertain the reason for the mass fish deaths, said initial sampling tests have been completed and the results are awaited.

Madhanagopal, a fisherman from Kattukuppam, said the latest die-off was noticed around 11 am on Saturday and had extended several kilometres. "This is due to fertiliser factories. Because the contaminated discharges enter through the Buckingham Canal, the impact on our livelihood is huge," he said.

A range of fish and aquatic life, including madal, thullal, sankara, koduva and irunka varieties, besides prawns and crabs, had been found dead, he said.

"It first started with the release of hot water decades ago. Now, they are dumping all kinds of chemicals into the backwaters," he said, referring to industrial facilities in the Manali-Ennore belt.

Fishermen said such repeated incidents have been affecting their livelihood. As the community worries about sustaining themselves and educating their children, they have demanded immediate intervention to identify and plug the source of toxic discharges.

One of the slides in the park is damaged, while plastic bottles, paper, food wrappers and other waste have accumulated around the play equipment.

The condition has raised concerns among parents about children playing in an unhygienic environment. The park is frequented by children and residents of nearby neighbourhoods, particularly during the evenings.

The seating facilities inside the park are also poorly maintained. Residents said that daily cleaning was not being carried out properly due to a lack of adequate maintenance staff.

The garbage bins placed outside the park are also overflowing, resulting in a foul smell in the surrounding area. Waste is found near the entrance, inside the park and in the surrounding areas, affecting the overall cleanliness of the premises.

Priya, a parent of a 5-year-old, said, “Residents and children from the nearby areas come here to spend time and play. However, there is a lot of garbage in the park. Due to the unhygienic conditions, we are hesitant to allow our children to play here. The garbage should be cleared daily and the park should be properly maintained.”

Another resident, Mohana, said, “There is a strong foul smell from the garbage bins outside the park, making it difficult to sit inside the park. If the waste is properly collected and removed every day, the foul smell can be prevented and children will not be affected.”

Parents urged the Greater Chennai Corporation to immediately clear the accumulated waste, ensure regular cleaning and repair the damaged play equipment and seating facilities. A senior Corporation official said, “All the garbage inside the park will be completely cleared tomorrow. Following this, the damaged items and seating facilities in the park will be repaired.”

A sanitary inspector said that action would be taken to sprinkle bleaching powder around the garbage bins to control the foul smell. “Steps will also be taken to relocate the garbage bins to another location,” he added.

India’s laws protect constitutional abortion rights despite lawmakers at religious meets opposing them

Presented in collaboration with DakshinaChitra Museum and the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design (IICD), Jaipur, the exhibition features 20 sarees selected from a collection of 56 historic cotton sarees, estimated to be 80 to 120 years old.

For curator Bessie Cecil, the idea for the exhibition had been around for several years. “DakshinaChitra has an amazing collection of Chettinadu sarees. As a researcher, I came to know about it years ago. Indhumathi, who works at DakshinaChitra, was the one who told me about it and from then on, we would often say that we should do something with the collection,” Bessie says.

A few months ago, Bessie met Julie Wayne, a French connoisseur and scholar of Tamil crafts and textiles, who had donated some of the sarees to DakshinaChitra. That meeting brought the idea back into focus. “Indhumathi called me again and asked, 'Why don't we do an exhibition?' It was a very casual conversation, but that is how the whole idea came together,” recalls the curator.

The sarees may be made of a familiar material, cotton, but it is the way they use colour, pattern and weaving that gives them their distinct character. The title of the exhibition refers to three elements central to the Chettinadu textile vocabulary.

"Kodu refers to stripes, kattam to checks and korvai to the technique of joining the body and border of the sari through an interlocking weave. Chettinadu sarees are distinctive for their simple yet striking visual vocabulary of kodu, kattam and korvai. Traditionally woven in cotton, they reflect the aesthetic preferences, social practices and material culture of the Chettiar community,” says Prof Dr Toolika Gupta, Director of IICD.

“Their restrained colour palette, geometric patterns and bold borders demonstrate how visual richness was achieved through a relatively limited design vocabulary and skilled weaving practices,” she adds.

While these individual elements can be found in textiles from other regions, the combination of colours, patterns and weaving techniques gives Chettinadu sarees their own identity. They were also closely tied to the homes and lives of the Chettiar community, with sarees being carefully preserved and passed down through generations.

That history of preservation became an important part of the exhibition. The curators wanted to go beyond the sarees and document the memories attached to them.

“There isn't much written about these sarees. More importantly, we wanted to look at the collective knowledge, the people who are connected to them and their memories. It is a lived experience and that had to become an important part of the catalogue,” says Bessie.

As part of the research, Toolika interviewed Visalakshi Ramasamy, whose family has roots in the Chettiar community of Chettinadu. Her memories offer a glimpse into the community’s way of life and its relationship with sarees and textiles. “Visalakshi's perspective helped us understand the history and traditions of the community through personal memories. It also helped us place these stories in the larger textile history of the region,” says Toolika.

The exhibition also traces the people who helped preserve the collection. Debbie Thayagarajan began collecting the sarees, while Julie Wayne continued the effort after she came to Karaikudi decades ago. Their approaches to collecting were different, but both played a role in ensuring that these textiles survived.

Textile conservator Dingdi says documenting the collection is an important part of the project. “We felt it was time to bring out some information on Chettinadu sarees. There is so much creativity in them and it needs to be appreciated. By doing this exhibition, we are documenting it for the future generation,” she says.

The project will continue beyond the exhibition. IICD and DakshinaChitra are also developing an academic coffee-table book bringing together research, interviews, conversations and personal accounts connected to the sarees and the Chettinad community.

For Toolika, this combination of objects and oral histories is what makes the project significant. “The saree is not simply a textile object. It is part of the social and cultural life of Chettinadu. These personal memories and oral histories help us understand how the sarees were worn, preserved and valued within the community.”

The exhibition will be open from August 21 to 30 at Kadambari Gallery, DakshinaChitra Museum.

After preliminary investigations, police have ruled out drunk driving and ascertained that the person behind the wheel lost control of the vehicle while overspeeding.

The car was driven by a 20-year-old, who borrowed it from his mother. The college students were driving towards East Coast Road when they met with the accident. Personnel on security duty outside Lok Bhavan rushed to their aid and reached them.

Three of them suffered minor injuries and were treated at a government hospital. Adyar Traffic Investigation Wing (TIW) has registered a case and are investigating.

According to wholesale traders, rising fuel prices and increased lorry freight charges have pushed up the prices of several essential vegetables since the first week of August.

Tomato prices recorded one of the sharpest increases, doubling from Rs 12/kg on August 1 to Rs 25/kg on Sunday (August 16).

A kilo of hybrid tomatoes costs Rs 40, a rise from Rs 30. Beans and Ooty carrots increased by Rs 20 each to Rs 90. Green peas recorded the highest price among the major increases, rising from Rs 150 to Rs 180/kg. Onion prices rose marginally from Rs 35 to Rs 38/kg.

Several other kitchen staples also became costlier. Raw mangoes were priced at Rs 70/kg, cucumbers at Rs 40, green chillies at Rs 80 and Ooty beetroot at Rs 60.

However, prices of some vegetables remained unchanged. Drumstick was sold at Rs 30/kg, bitter gourd at Rs 50, brinjal at Rs 40 and okra at Rs 30. Prices of certain varieties of ginger and garlic declined by Rs 10. A kilo of ginger fell from Rs 190 to Rs 180, while garlic dropped from Rs 250 to Rs 240.

A Selvaraj, general secretary of the Koyambedu Tomato Vendors Association, said, “Increase in fuel prices, along with higher lorry rentals and labour charges, contributed to the rise in vegetable prices.”

Homemaker Sarala from Kodambakkam lamented that the increase was “affecting household budgets, particularly for commonly used vegetables such as tomatoes and onions”.

A new MoU was signed at the IIT-M campus, marking the next phase of a collaboration launched in 2022 under the CSR programme.

CIFIL will now focus on emerging areas including AI in financial services, digital payments, blockchain and tokenisation, cybersecurity, regulatory technology, WealthTech, InsurTech, digital lending, data analytics and financial inclusion. The lab will also expand research and develop intellectual property, facilitate technology transfer and support commercialisation of research-led solutions. It will strengthen support for fintech startups through mentoring, faculty expertise, industry networks, research collaborations and innovation challenges. 

“CIFIL was established to create this intersection between industry experience and academic exploration,” CAMS managing director Anuj Kumar said. “The renewed partnership will foster an environment where ideas could become solutions for the financial services ecosystem.” 

IIT-M director V Kamakoti said, “The collaboration can accelerate the development of cutting-edge fintech solutions for Bharat's financial ecosystem. Students will gain through research projects, internships, hackathons, expert interactions and startup mentoring.”

CIFIL will offer certificate programmes in FinTech and personal financial planning. M Thenmozhi, head CIFIL, said: “The lab aims to emerge as a global centre for fintech innovation and develop ventures addressing unresolved challenges in banking, financial markets and financial services.”