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Chennai women took to the pickleball court to celebrate world sari day
World Sari Day brought women of all ages together, blending tradition, sport and community on the pickleball court
Discover Chennais unique Christmas celebrations: Traditions and festivities
Forget what Christmas is supposed to look like. In Chennai, it smells of the sea, plum cake and hot chocolate. Here are 12 ways the city keeps the season merry
Allu Arjun to reunite with Trivikram for grand mythological epic
Chennai: If rumours doing the rounds in the industry are to be believed, Icon Star Allu Arjun and acclaimed filmmaker Trivikram Srinivas are set to reunite for a spectacular mythological epic, marking their fourth collaboration together. This ambitious project, industry insiders say, will be based on a powerful script originally conceived for Allu Arjun. The Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
The VELS Group of Institutions and Companies marked a major milestone with the grand inauguration of the VELS Trade & Convention Centre at Chembarambakkam, Chennai. Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh felicitating Dr. Kamal Haasan, MP (Rajya Sabha), in the presence of Thiru.Thangam Thennarasu, Honble Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu The VELS Trade & Convention Centre was formally inaugurated by Thiru Thangam Thennarasu and Dr. Kamal Haasan, and the event was presided over by Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, Founder-Chancellor of VELS University and Chairman of VELS Group of Institutions and Companies. The dais also featured Dr. A. C. Shanmugam, Founder-Chancellor, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute, alongside the chief dignitaries. A World-Class Convention Destination in Chennai The VELS Trade & Convention Centre, Chennai, is a world-class convention and event venue featuring four expansive convention halls with a total built-up area of 3.5 lakh square feet. Designed to host large-scale trade fairs, exhibitions, international conferences, corporate events, political meetings, award ceremonies, weddings, summits, and major cultural programmes, the facility stands among the largest convention centres in Tamil Nadu. Built with contemporary architecture and state-of-the-art infrastructure, the fully air-conditioned convention centre can accommodate up to 20,000 guests at a time and provides parking for nearly 6,000 vehicles, ensuring seamless access and convenience for large gatherings. The centre also offers a dedicated open-air event space with a capacity of 20,000 attendees, making it ideal for music concerts, live performances, festivals, and mega public events. Supporting facilities include luxury guest houses, multi-cuisine restaurants, 20 fully equipped indoor shooting studios, a 15,000 sq. ft. open dining space, 15 designated exhibition stall spaces, and advanced CCTV surveillance with a centralised monitoring system, ensuring safety, comfort, and operational efficiency. VELS Film City: Strengthening Chennais Entertainment Ecosystem Complementing this landmark facility is the VELS Film City, the only integrated film city in Tamil Nadu. Spread across a vast campus, it includes outdoor shooting locations, end-to-end production facilities, guest accommodations, and VELS Theatres, a six-screen multiplex with a dedicated food court. Together, these facilities reinforce the VELS Groups growing presence in the entertainment, arts and creative industries. Strategically located in Chennais growing business corridor, the VELS Trade & Convention Centre is poised to become a preferred destination for exhibitions, conferences, entertainment events, and film productions, contributing significantly to the citys event, tourism, and creative economy. In his address, Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh conveyed that the Honble Union Finance MinisterSmt.Nirmala Sitharaman and Honble Minister of State Shri L. Murugan were unable to attend due to prior commitments and had extended their warm wishes for the success of the event. He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Honble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru M. K. Stalin, for deputing Thiru Thangam Thennarasu to grace the occasion. Addressing the gathering, Thiru Thangam Thennarasu highlighted Tamil Nadus strong economic momentum, noting that the state has achieved double-digit economic growth, driven by sustained infrastructure investment and active participation from private institutions such as the VELS Group. He emphasised that such initiatives play a vital role in job creation and long-term development. In his special address, Padma Bhushan Dr. Kamal Haasan observed that Chennai has emerged as a pan-India hub for film production. Encouraging the younger generation to take Tamil cinema to greater heights, he expressed confidence in the future of the industry. Referring to Ms. Kushmitha Ganesh, Vice President, Vels Group of Companies, he said that while there were earlier concerns about the fading glow of Tamil cinema, the leadership and creativity of the younger generation reassure him that the industry is poised for national and global recognition. Distinguished Guests The ceremony witnessed the presence of several distinguished personalities, including former Minister Veeramani; Shri L. K. Sudheesh, Deputy General Secretary, DMDK; Shri Jaynthilal Chalani, President, Gold and Diamond Jewellery Association; actors R. Parthiban, Senthil and Sripriya; VGP Santhosham; leading academicians; and representatives from business, trade bodies and cultural organisations. Social Responsibility of VELS Reaffirming its commitment to social responsibility and inclusive growth, the VELS Group distributed welfare kits to 1,000 students from orphanages, along with lunch, during the inauguration. A special screening of an actor Rajinikanth film was also organised at VELS Theatres for these students, reflecting the institutions continued focus on community development and humanitarian service. velsgroup.in
Dental college staff booked for sexually harassing student in Chennai
CHENNAI: A 23-year-old first-year dental student at a private college in Kundrathur has accused a senior administrative officer of sexual harassment and the hostel-in-charge of criminal intimidation. Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections, including the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, and launched a search for the accused. Police said the student alleged that the college administration had initially assured her of arranging a scholarship in an attempt to silence her, which she declined. On December 18, the hostel in-charge, Jhansi, allegedly asked her via text message to meet Ramamoorthy, the colleges administrative officer. When the student met him the next day, Ramamoorthy allegedly took her to a place without CCTV coverage, made inappropriate remarks and proposed a relationship, promising personal favours in return. He also threatened to reduce her internal assessment marks and fail her in examinations if she disclosed the incident, the complaint stated. The student further alleged that after she shared the incident with a friend, Jhansi confiscated her mobile phone, checked her call records, verbally abused her in front of male staff members, and forced her to write declarations that she was not subjected to harassment. Though the phone was later returned, the student deleted the text exchanges between her and Jhansi out of fear. Distressed, she informed her parents. When her mother attempted to meet the administrative officer the next day, she was denied permission. The student and her mother then approached the police. Police said cases have been registered for obscene acts, criminal intimidation, and harassment of women, and efforts are on to secure the accused.
Chennai man accused in assault case held in Mumbai
CHENNAI: A 41-year-old man accused in a sexual assault case reported from Adyar was arrested at the Mumbai International Airport on Sunday after returning from China. The accused, Gopal (41), a resident of Royapuram in Chennai, was detained by immigration officials on the basis of a Lookout Circular issued by the Chennai police. A police team travelled to Mumbai, secured his custody, produced him before a court in Chennai on Sunday. He was remanded in judicial custody. According to police, the case relates to a complaint filed by a 23-year-old woman from Puducherry, who was staying at a womens hostel in Thiruvanmiyur and working at a firm in Besant Nagar. In January, while she was walking to work, a man on a two wheeler allegedly followed her, blocked her path and offered her a ride. When she refused, he sexually assaulted her and fled. Based on her complaint, the Adyar all women police registered a case under relevant provisions of BNS and the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act.
Fresh claims regarding Panchaloha idol theft at Sabarimala before SIT
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With new revelations coming up in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case, the special investigation team probing the case has been met with fresh claims that could further complicate the investigation. A businessman, named earlier by Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, has reportedly told the SIT that the first accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, had close links with D Mani, an antique collector based in Chennai. It is learnt that in his statement, the businessman alleged that apart from gold, two panchaloha idols believed to be from Sabarimala were sold to Mani by Potti. Sources said the claim, if found credible, could point to wider and possible international links in the case. The SIT will now be verifying the authenticity of the statement. The businessman has also reportedly claimed that the deal happened in Thiruvananthapuram in 2020 between Mani, Unnikrishnan Potti and a top official linked to Sabarimala. However, this version directly contradicts the statements earlier given by Govardhan, a jeweller and one of the accused, and by Potti himself. Both Govardhan and Potti had told SIT that the stolen gold was melted and did not remain in solid form. The SIT now faces the task of verifying these conflicting accounts, especially since it has already collected gold samples believed to be part of the stolen consignment.
Chennai businessman arrested for filming neighbour in bathroom
A businessman was arrested in Chennai for secretly filming his neighbour, a dentist, while she was bathing. The 57-year-old man was caught by the woman's mother on his terrace with a smartphone. Following a complaint and escalation, police registered an FIR and took him into custody.
Victoria hall gets back its lost glory, opened to public in Chennai
CHENNAI: Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated the renovated Victoria Public Hall, located on EVR Periyar Salai, on Tuesday. He also laid the foundation stone for the construction of council hall on Ripon Buildings premises at an outlay of Rs 74.7 crore. Built in 1888 in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style, Victoria Public Hall was designed by renowned architect Robert Chisholm and constructed by Namberumal Chetty. The two-storey structure features a main roof at a height of 19m and a central tower standing at 34m. The hall, named after Queen Victoria, has for over a century served as a key venue for public gatherings, cultural programmes and civic activities. Corporation officials said that an online booking system will be introduced to enable visitors to register in advance. Beyond its architectural significance, the hall holds a special place in Tamil Nadus social and political history. It has been a major venue for social movement gatherings and political meetings, including those of the Justice Party, and is widely regarded as a cradle of the Dravidian movement, a corporation official told the TNIE . In May 2023, the Greater Chennai Corporation undertook a comprehensive conservation, revitalisation and seismic retrofitting project at a cost of Rs 32.6 crore under Singara Chennai 2.0. Though the work was given a 24-month deadline, it overshot by seven months. The official said the restoration was carried out to preserve the buildings original architectural character while enhancing its structural safety and functionality. The project included structural repairs, seismic strengthening, complete roof restoration, interior and exterior conservation works, upgrading of building services and architectural faade lighting. With a built-up area of around 2,200 sq m, the restored hall now meets modern safety standards while regaining its historic grandeur.
Sexual harassment case: Tamil Nadu college administrative officer, hostel in-charge booked
A first-year dental student in Kundrathur has accused a senior administrative officer and hostel in-charge of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation. The student alleges the officer made inappropriate remarks and proposed a relationship, threatening academic repercussions if she refused. The hostel in-charge reportedly confiscated her phone and verbally abused her.
The story of a struggle to have a memorial after Ambedkar in Chennai
During then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhis stint as CM of the State, he got an arts and science college in Vyasarpadi in north Chennai named after Ambedkar
Holiday season 2025: Breaking generational trauma in dysfunctional families
They step into festivals with hearts already bruised, carrying silence instead of joy. From homes where love was conditional, chaotic or never available, they still learnt the art of holding themselves together, not because they are healed, but because someone else needs them to be. Old wounds almost always resurface during celebrations: laughter feels rehearsed, prayers feel heavy, and memories tend to haunt. Yet they stay. They choose not to unravel. They swallow the ache so the room can feel lighter for someone else. That someone is sometimes their child waiting for reassurance or a younger sibling looking for steadiness, and some other times, it is their own frightened reflection asking not to be abandoned. So, as the holiday seasons lights grow brighter, these they-s tell stories of choosing restraint where they were taught rage, of choosing tenderness where they inherited neglect. And in these stories, they admit how heavy it is to carry wounds they did not create, yet still refuse to pass on. Their stories revolve around boundaries gently held, new traditions carefully built, and festivals redefined. But above all, they speak of learning to steady their emotions before the season arrives, and giving grief the permission it needs to heal themselves, too. For Arulmozhi V, a domestic abuse survivor who raised her son alone, the nights leading up to the holidays posed the biggest challenge. I would feel so alone, and I would cry myself to sleep. My pillow was almost always soaking wet. I allowed myself to cry, hoping that there would be no tears left to shed when my son would wake up because I would have to put up a happy front for him, she says. Recalling the first holiday season after her violent husband abandoned her and her child, she speaks of how the excessive crying caused her vision to blur. The doctors said that since I cried a lot, a nerve in my eye had torn a little and was causing my vision to blur. I had to undergo treatment for it. Allowing space for grief also came with the pressure of making ends meet. She admits to the intense stress of figuring out how to afford a Christmas that felt enough, how to make the celebrations appear grand, and how to place a gift in her sons hands. Somewhere between budgets and heartbreak, she found herself wishing that small, material joys might compensate for the dysfunction he was growing up around. Meanwhile, for Deepika V*, a mother of two who lives with her in-laws, the days before festivities are all about regulating her emotions. All my in-laws want during festivals is compliance, and that should come without questions, suggestions, or any kind of resistance. If anyone breaks away from their routine, even when done unintentionally, they will start showing faces, arguing and so on, spoiling the mood for everyone in the family, she shares. So, Deepika and her spouse would prepare themselves mentally to comply, and oftentimes, even ignore and accept the elders whiplash of emotions. If we fight or argue, we will be making the celebrations worse for our kids, which we are totally against, she reasons. Wilson, a father of two, belonging to a conservative Catholic household, withdraws from the noise of the holidays and turns to his creative work, both as a refuge from past trauma and as a conscious choice to contain his emotions, so they do not spill over and become inherited wounds for his wife and children. While the world rushes with shopping and glitter, Wilson builds a crib the old-fashioned way. It is his labour of love: collecting haystacks, finding the right soil, and hunting for waste materials to repurpose. He would mix these into the earth, sow mustard seeds, and wait for them to sprout. Lately, he has also been experimenting with crafting entire Christmas villages from scratch. Redefining celebrations After regulating their emotions and moods comes the responsibility of taking on new weights. Wilson believes that breaking the cycle for his family comes with breaking the inherent societal bias. Raised in a patriarchal home where festive duties fell largely on the women, Wilson now maintains that roles and expectations should not be defined by gender. If there is a need, there will be sharing, he says. He emphasises more cooperation than hierarchy and how his partner, children, and relatives step up naturally. His celebrations at home are now shaped less by excess and more by adjusting. Deepika, on the other hand, confesses to trying to disrupt the rigid-celebrations by setting boundaries, even if they are not always stringent. She admits to choosing the homes of trusted family members or cousins during festivities, so her children grow up learning that festivals are about togetherness. I want my kids to look forward to festivals and celebrations. I dont want them to ignore, duck their heads, endure bad moods and arguments, and dread festivals in general, Deepika says, adding that she has been deliberately making excuses to ensure that her children dont spend a majority of their time during festivities with their paternal grandparents. She believes this is the first real disruption she is taking on deliberately, though it scares her, unsettles her, and leaves her uncomfortable. These boundaries, she says, are bringing with them new traditions. Since at home, the children are only used to watching food being made, and prayers commence at a set time, celebrations at her chosen familys houses involve more play, visits to places like the beach or the mall, presenting and receiving gifts and food, among other things. For Rhea Mathew too, building new traditions have been pivotal in breaking the cycle of holiday trauma she experienced while growing up in her parents catholic home. As a parent raising her child in an agnostic household with her spouse, Rhea consciously chooses to diverge from rigid customs, often agreeing with her partner to let celebrations unfold in new and spontaneous ways. Their on-the-go, flexible plans are not just for convenience but ways to heal. This heals me too, but more importantly, it ensures that my daughter experiences holidays not as templates bound by pain and tradition, but as open spaces for joy, presence, and togetherness, she says. As new traditions taking root is helping some, for others, keeping old traditions alive was essential to keep the holiday spirit alive. Arulmozhi explains that she needed to do all the things her son was used to doing during Easter, Christmas, and New Year, when the family stayed together, so he wouldnt feel any void. When we were a family, we spent Christmas mornings at the Church. After the mass, we would come home, and everyone would work around the house, essentially cooking and cleaning. Then we would eat kari soru and distribute cake to all our neighbours and family. Christmas evenings always entailed going for a movie, to the beach, or some touristy place, she says, adding that she continued these traditions with her son in the years she remained a single parent. While Deepika and Arulmozhi stay strong for their children, Namitha Rachel Sheri, a student who defines her family dynamics as maladaptive, does so for herself first. She calls herself a holiday toolkit full of reminders and routines. Breaking the cycle is a very internal process. More than the festivities themselves, for me, the challenge was building agency over celebrations. It is about realising that I am an active participant and not an observer, and that festivals are meant for me too. So, I celebrate everything first by myself. These celebrations look like treats to days I splurge on all my hobbies. After that come celebrations with my friends and family, she adds. Ultimately, breaking the cycle, they all agree, isnt easy. But they want to endure the process, even if they have to do so quietly, so that they all grow old knowing chaos and dissonance as stories that ended, and not as stories that continued. *Name changed
Man of the moment: K Gowtham speaks following his retirement announcement
The hall at the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) in the city briefly fell silent before it was filled with camera flashes and the sharp rhythm of shutter clicks. Standing under the lights, with KSCA president and former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad by his side, and in the presence of his close friends and family members on Monday, all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham announced his retirement from competitive cricket. As the noise of the press conference faded and the evening light settled, Gowtham, looking calmer and perhaps a little lighter than he was minutes before, sat down to reflect. Inside the hall, though emotions lingered, clarity began to take shape. Retirement does break hearts and it was emotional for me as well. But there are things Im genuinely looking forward to, especially spending a lot more time with my family, he says. As he looks back, theres one feeling that remains unshakable, the moment he wore Team India colours. Every cricketer dreams of playing for their country. I was fortunate to be one of those. At that moment, you just want to freeze time and hold on to it forever, he reflects with sparkle in his eyes. Even as he steps away from the pitch, Gowtham isnt stepping away from cricket. Instead, he will be staying within the system, mentoring, contributing and nudging the next generation forward. Cricket has given me everything. If there is an opportunity, I want to be around the game, he shares. Gowtham during his stint with CSK Starting with Rajasthan Royals, the 37-year-old ruled the Indian Premier League (IPL) and went on to be a part of league biggies, including Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kings XI Punjab. He became the most expensive uncapped player in the history of IPL back in 2021, when he was signed by CSK for a whopping `9.25 crore. CSK is also the one who instantly softens his tone. Choosing one is tough from the IPL teams. But, I would say CSK felt more like a family. Fun, surprises, ups and downs, just like a real family, he admits. Yet the format that leaves the deepest imprint on his heart is the long, quiet burn of red-ball cricket, which, he thinks, he has contributed towards quite decently and will also miss the most. Perhaps that explains the emotional resilience that shaped his journey, as he speaks about the low points and sporadic opportunities during his IPL appearances ,My life has been a lot more failure than success. But that made me mentally strong. It taught me to control only what I can. I lived by that, he reveals. The boy who walked into the academy at 13 never really left; he only grew up with the game. He smiles, remembering Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh as his childhood heroes, adding that he was nicknamed Bhajii for imitating Singhs style. I was a ball boy then. I was fortunate enough to bowl to Sachin during a series against Australia at Chinnaswamy. He was busy then, obviously. He is serious when he prepares and we would be fooling around. When I started bowling, he said, Arey Bhajji, tumhara competitor agaya! (Hey Bhajji, here comes your competitor!). With the retirement, Gowtham isnt saying goodbye, hes simply turning a page, toward family, mentorship and a quieter yet deeper connection with the game, with his future plan being to keep contributing to the game. And in that lies the grace of his next innings.
How T.N. Seshans airport arrival led to standoff with Jayalalithaa and attack on a star hotel
In the morning on November 27, 1994, the then Chief Election Commissioner of India T.N. Seshan landed at Madras Airport from New Delhi. What should have been a routine arrival quickly turned into a standoff with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
Messy Christmas: How chaos and distance in dysfunctional families disrupt celebrations
Its Christmas Eve. A Italian-American family gathers for their traditional feast of the seven fishes. Carmy, the youngest son, who has been working as a chef abroad, comes home to find his mother, Donna, spiralling in the kitchen. Her mood swings wildly between tearful and explosive as she frantically prepares mountains of food. His older brother Mikey seems agitated, almost manic, picking a fight with his mothers boyfriend over something trivial that quickly turns vicious. The house fills with relatives, friends, and neighbours. Everyone talks over everyone. Pots slam, and the noise is overwhelming. When the sister makes a mistake and asks their mother if shes okay, the mother screams, Do I not look okay?. The room freezes. After a moment of pause, the mother drives her car into the dining room, smashing the feast through the wall. Dinner is over before it begins This is a fictional scene from the Emmy-winning series The Bear . But what it portrays is a reality in many families. Perhaps that is why it is one of the most disturbingly chaotic episodes in TV history. Festivals, apart from all the glitter and glory, are also a time for the concealment of wounds and their sudden ruptures. There is the quiet accumulation of past hurt. For some, Christmas arrives with a countdown for survival. Ray* stopped going home for Christmas five years ago. She experienced something unpleasant during the festival and has not celebrated since. Christmas feels like something to get through. Home doesnt feel emotionally safe when Im reliving that memory. So I prefer staying away, she says. For Kevin*, visiting his native place in Madurai was always about endurance. His uncle physically abused him and his sister when they were children. They were clueless. And then he would buy them ice cream and soup. They thought it was normal. They never told their father, knowing it would become a family issue. There were times when you felt so vulnerable, and your mother couldnt do anything. Everyone sees it, and its normalised. Even now, I dont have closure, Kevin says. The labour no one sees Gender roles are rigidly enforced during festivals, observes Ruchika*. As a child, she climbed lofts and fetched decorations. It even came with a sense of validation that she was physically capable. But after a certain age, I was strictly told not to involve myself in decorating. My younger brother had grown older. It became his territory. Suddenly, these tasks were no longer appropriate for women, she says. Asking for help, especially from Ruchika, was always difficult for her mother. Theres this belief that daughters are meant to be married off, that educating them doesnt benefit the household, she says. Observing a similarity, Kevin notes that at his native place, women did most of the household work cooking, serving, and cleaning. Men bought groceries, and women served men and children first, and ate later. Namitha recalls Easter lunches that were served at her fathers house. My female cousins and I would set tables and serve while my brother sat comfortably and opted out, she says. When she questioned it, she was told to stay quiet and not embarrass the family. I remember feeling unheard and isolated while everyone else laughed and ate, she says. At Ruchikas home, she often became the emotional buffer. If her parents fought, she mediated. Otherwise, their frustration was taken out on her. Maintaining the mood of the house became my responsibility. That labour is invisible. When my brother drives my parents somewhere, his act of taking them out is praised. My emotional labour just disappears into thin air, she shares. This is probably why some, like Komal K, associate festivals with exhaustion long before they begin. I have to go through an excruciating amount of physical labour of planning and (sometimes) preparing food that will be liked and approved by everyone, serving it according to each of their preferences, while also keeping kids engaged so that they dont create a mess in my home, or hurt themselves, she says, adding I become a person I dont recognise. I put up a fake smile and talk to relatives who have wronged me. The house fills with noise fights, tears, phone calls to distant relatives, even threats of ending relationships. Grief is repeatedly brought up, even after she has learned to live with it. Crying is not an option. If she tries to assert her boundaries and says no to not seeing relatives, elders ask her Why do you want to spoil everyones happy mood on an auspicious and happy day? No one asks about my happiness, she says. Once everyone leaves, Komal and her sister go to a nearby park and cry. Before they recover, another festival arrives. For many of us, like Komal, not every festival ends in togetherness. Some end simply in making it through. *Names changed How to get through the holidays Have a leave early plan: Decide how long youll stay and stick to it. No matter what, eat your food: Remember the Snickers ad? You do not want to be both hungry and emotionally overwhelmed. Perfect the long bathroom break: Phone in hand, with deep breaths, pretend youre replying to a work emergency and take breaks to protect your peace. Create a private ritual: Long showers, solo walks, journaling or doodling, headphones on and listening Rilke poems, Visions of Gideon or Idhuvum Kadandhu Pogum . Choose your screen comfort: A Charlie Brown Christmas for softness. Wednesday or Mean Girls when you need to activate be-a-bitch mode (politely, internally). Movies where other families are worse, also help. Mute social media for the day: Other peoples perfect tables, matching co-ords, and forced smiles do not need to sit next to your reality. Laugh wherever you can: Save all your favourite memes. Star those funny group chats. Internally, change everything bizarre in your house as dark comedy. Remember, humour is first aid. Cry and be there for yourself: Seek help and dont be afraid to do that. Remember: opting out is also a choice.
Chennai Corporation eyes 75 crore a year by allowing ads at 1,400 locations from 2026
According to an official in the Revenue and Finance Department, advertising and bid notice has been sent to private agencies who would be interested
Sexual assault case accused held at airport in Mumbai
A Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued with his details and circulated to airports, and a final report was filed before the court
Secondary grade teachers to go on indefinite strike demanding equal pay for equal work
Velachery residents want mini-buses to be operated on Station Service Road
Advocates to lay siege to HC over mandatory e-filing system
CM unveils renovated Victoria Public Hall
Harassment by SI: SHRC orders 1L compensation
Real-time route maps in coaches to guide metro riders effectively
City college-goers win NASA space apps challenge
OPS says he would never be part of an alliance led by EPS; vows to end political journey of EPS
Woman blocks Vijays car over TVK post row
Salem meet not an official event: Anbumani camp
SIR: GCC distributes 2 lakh new voter application forms
Avadi cop under scanner for selling ganja to peddlers
Over 47K to take asst prof exam on Dec 29
Keeladi findings are ambiguous and incomplete, says 114-page ASI report
Chennai Corporation to setup lounges, distribute tiffin boxes for conservancy staff
Couple found dead at rented house near Kundrathur
Five arrested for assault on man at Neelankarai
Two transgender persons arrested for extortion
Nurses detained as theirstrike enters sixth day
Dayanidhi Maran seeks rescheduling of CA exams in T.N. due to clash with Pongal celebrations
Tamil Nadu elections: Piyush Goyal, EPS reopen NDA talks
Piyush Goyal met Edappadi K Palaniswami in Chennai. They discussed seat-sharing for the 2026 assembly elections. The BJP and AIADMK aim to strengthen their NDA alliance. Both leaders expressed confidence in a victory against the DMK. Plans are underway to connect with Tamil Nadu's people and address their aspirations for growth and jobs.
Airfares Go Through Roof Due to Flight Shortage During Festive Rush
With schools and colleges closed for the festive season, passenger movement from Chennai and its suburbs has increased sharply in recent days.
Advocates oppose mandatory e-filing system; to lay siege to HC on Jan 7
Advocates in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will lay siege to the Madras High Court on January 7, 2026, protesting mandatory e-filing in subordinate courts. The Joint Action Committee demands the withdrawal of the e-filing circular until adequate infrastructure is in place, citing high costs and technical issues. They are also boycotting e-filing training sessions.
Stalin urges Union govt to get Rameswaram fishermen released from Lanka
Minorities living in fear, DMK is the only party that can protect minorities
EPS to resume campaign on December 28
DMK has strength, ideology, and resolve to oppose authoritarian forces, says Stalin
At a Christmas event organised by theDMKinPerambur, the Chief Minister says the minority communities in the country are living in a sense of fear. He also lists the initiatives taken by his government for their welfare
Councillor, two others, booked for assaulting autorickshaw drivers in Vellore
Initial inquiry revealed that separate autorickshaw stands affiliated to the DMK and the VCK have been operating near the new bus terminus, off Chennai - Bengaluru Highway Road (NH48) near Katpadi bridge for the past few years
Vijay's car was stopped by TVK workers protesting district-level post allocation at TVK headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai, led by Thoothukudi functionary Ajitha.
Entries open for The HinduMargazhiMusic Contest
To enterthe contest,participantsshouldsubmita video oftheir performance athttps://newsth.live/margazhi2025or scan the QR code
Piyush Goyal meets Palaniswami, NDA plans 2026 Tamil Nadu strategy
Chennai: NDA constituents in Tamil Naduthe AIADMK and the BJP on Tuesday initiated preliminary talks ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls in the state, with saffron party leader Piyush Goyal holding talks with AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami here. Speaking to reporters after the discussions, Goyal said he discussed with Palaniswami, the plans for the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
E-waste policy nosedives in TN; 95% enters dumpyards
The Indian Government's 'Erotic' Ban That Fueled Radio Ceylon's Dominance
Radio Ceylon, once a cultural powerhouse, captivated Indian listeners by defying a 1950s AIR ban on film songs. Its popular Hindi service and iconic shows like 'Binaca Geet Mala' forced AIR to compete. Announcers like S P Mylvaganam became stars, influencing Tamil language and culture, leaving an enduring legacy.
American Author Translates Ancient Tamil Thevaram Hymns with Indian Professor
An American author, John A Loud, and retired professor V A Vidya are collaborating to translate the 7th-century Thevarams in Madurai. Loud, with decades of Tamil language experience, emphasizes accuracy in capturing the hymns' linguistic and philosophical depth. Their project aims to make these ancient devotional texts accessible, hoping to preserve their cultural significance for future generations.
Prestige Estates buys 25-acre land in Chennai to build Rs 5K cr worth housing project
The company has acquired the land parcel in Medavakkam, Chennai. The acquired land parcel offers a development potential of approximately 5 million square feet, with an estimated top-line revenue potential of over Rs 5,000 crore, Prestige Estates said in a regulatory filing.
BJP and AIADMK start seat sharing discussions for next year assembly elections in TN
Union Commerce and Industry Minister and BJP Tamil Nadu election in-charge Piyush Goyal met AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami in Chennai for the discussion
Zuno General Insurance , a new-age digital insurer committed to making insurance easy, friendly and transparent, today shared increasing early traction for Zuno SmartDrive, its app-led usage-based car insurance (UBI) launched in March 2025. In less than nine months, Zuno SmartDrive users have logged over 1 crore kms, signalling a clear shift towards behaviour-driven, personalised insurance among Indias new generation of drivers. Zuno Smart Drive To share the benefit of UBI with a larger audience, Zuno has launched its flagship initiative of Zuno Driving Quotient (ZDQ) Challenge to non Zuno users too. In this 5-day free trial, customers can simply download the Zuno app, complete a five-day driving assessment and receive a personalised driving score at no cost. This score unlocks additional discounts on car insurance and gift vouchers, making Zuno the first insurer in the country to offer a large-scale, app-based, pre-purchase driving test that delivers real, measurable financial benefits to customers. The feature marks a major step in usage-based insurance adoption, as young India increasingly embraces behaviour-driven, personalised motor insurance. Launched in March 2025, Zuno SmartDrive has already captured over 1.5 lac trips from digital-first drivers across the country, with an average score of 92%. Early participation has been dominated by users aged 2840, signalling strong traction among Indias most mobile, tech-savvy consumers. Zunos telematics driven model also shows that behaviour, not geography or type of car, is the most reliable predictor of risk. Across regions, two driving patterns consistently bring scores down are frequent hard braking and rapid acceleration. These behavioural markers have emerged as the strongest indicators of trip quality and future risk, regardless of where a driver lives or drives. Among the most striking findings: Major metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata, showed an average driving score of 91%. This might be due to congestion, peak-hour density and erratic traffic flow. Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and Tamil Nadu emerge as Indias safest driving states, with consistently low rates of harsh braking and rapid acceleration and each maintaining average driving scores above 92%. Speeding was more prevalent in Pune and Kolkata, while harsh braking was frequently observed in Guntur and Vizianagaram. These findings reveal how real-world driving environments shape behaviour across regions. Shanai Ghosh, MD & CEO, Zuno General Insurance said, With SmartDrive, we want to build a fair, transparent and personalised insurance experience that truly reflects how young India drives. The early numbers show that young India is driving safer, smarter and more mindfully, and theyre getting rewarded for it. Our focus is to keep building a simpler, more intuitive and rewarding ecosystem where good drivers finally receive the benefits they truly deserve, making roads in India safer . Indias road safety crisis shows little sign of easing. Provisional data for 2024 released by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) indicates that the country recorded over 4.7 lakh road accidents and more than 1.7 lakh fatalities during the year, underscoring the continued risk on Indian roads. Some states are yet to share the data post which the final data will be released by MoRTH. Despite incremental improvements in select states, unsafe driving behaviour, over speeding and low compliance with helmets and seat belts remain dominant contributors to fatal accidents. The challenge is consistent with final MoRTH data for 2023, which reported 4.81 lakh road accidents, 1.73 lakh deaths and over 4.6 lakh injuries nationwide; that works out to roughly 20 deaths and 55 accidents every hour. Together, the data highlights an urgent need to shift focus from reactive protection to prevention-led, technology-driven road safety solutions. At Zuno we have adopted this mission to encourage India to drive safer. Zunos Smart Drive App provides customers with real time feedback on their driving quality and nudges for safer driving behaviour. Zunos telematics insights also highlight notable exposure trends: Drivers with top-tier scores between 96 and 100 show a striking 40% lower claims risk, underscoring how consistent, disciplined behaviour behind the wheel directly translates into fewer incidents. The data also dispels some common assumptions. Gender has almost no impact on driving safety. Women recorded an average score of 92.83%, only marginally higher than men at 92.81%, indicating that both groups demonstrate virtually the same risk profile on the road. When drivers take their trips matters as well. High-scoring behaviour (80100) is most common during weekday , daytime driving, reinforcing the well-known risks associated with night-time travel. Structured, predictable daytime journeys tend to support steadier driving patterns and safer outcomes. Across regions and vehicle types, two behaviours emerge as the strongest predictors of lower scores and higher risk: Frequent harsh braking, and High, rapid acceleration. Regardless of where a person drives, these two actions consistently signal a risky trip. Seasonal behaviour also tells an important story. Even with changing conditions, rain does not turn safe drivers into risky ones. Those with high scores (80100) maintain similarly strong performance across both summer and monsoon seasons, showing that core driving habits remain stable despite weather shifts. Zuno SmartDrive car insurance also includes Indias first real-time crash detection feature. It uses advanced mobile telematics to automatically sense an accident and trigger an alert to Zunos support team. Once triggered, the team coordinates emergency support, roadside assistance and priority claims handling, ensuring that help reaches the customer without requiring them to make a call. About Zuno General Insurance Zuno General Insurance, formerly known as Edelweiss General Insurance, is a new-age digital insurer with an aspiration to reimagine Insurance to make it easy, friendly, and transparent. Amidst all the jargon and seriousness, Zuno is the friendly voice speaking in a language you understand, and listening to what you have to say, stepping in at the right time, so that you dont have to worry when things dont go as planned. Zuno is the friend you can always turn to for help, with the confidence that we will have your back at all times. At Zuno GI, the focus is on building trust through digital solutions that are intuitive and responsive, using consumer insights and data analytics to drive innovation and experience. Our consumer insight driven strategy focused on customers experience; innovative solutions and an intuitive digital platform differentiate us in a competitive market. Zuno GI started operations in 2018. We have over 8 million customers and a growing omnichannel distribution on digital rails. The company has presence across key digital marketing places and partnerships with Maruti, Tata Motors, Mahindra, Skoda, Volkswagen, Jeep, Royal Enfield, PolicyBazaar, Turtlemint, PhonePe, Insurance Dekho, Fedbank Financial Services, Dvara KGFS, Repco Home Finance, Renewbuy, Bajaj Capital, Anand Rathi Global Finance, Avanse Financial Services, Spinny,Nido Home Finance, ECL finance, Mehsana Urban Co-Operative Bank, PolicyBoss, Jio insurance brokers, Coverfox, ORIX leasing & financial Services India Ltd, SMAS auto leasing India Pvt Ltd.s www.hizuno.com .
The Greater Chennai Corporation is recruiting 311 contractual healthcare professionals for its City Urban Health Mission by January 5, 2026. The drive aims to bolster public healthcare with roles ranging from Medical Officers and Nurses to specialized therapists and administrative staff. Selection will be merit-based following interviews and document verification.
Kauvery Hospital launches SOS feature on mobile app for faster emergency care
The feature enables users to receive immediate medical support with just a single tap, and without the need to remember emergency numbers or explain their location during critical moments
Watch: Actor Vijay's car stopped in Chennai as TVK members protest district post allocation
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This was Mr. Goyals first visit to Tamil Nadu after being appointed by the BJP high command as the partys election in-charge for the State to oversee organisational activities for the 2026 Assembly elections
Does Chennai have enough shared spaces for competitive exam aspirants?
Piyush Goyal to visit Chennai, to meet TN Guv, Edappadi K Palaniswami
Goyal will also meet AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami
Drunk man makes hoax bomb threat to CM Stalin's residence
CHENNAI: A man was arrested for making threat calls to Chief Minister MK Stalin in a drunken condition. The Selaiyur police later arrested the man, identified as Vinoth Kumar, from outside a Tasmac outlet on Camp Road. The threat call, claiming bomb had been placed at the residence and in the car of Stalin, was received at the police control room on Sunday evening. The police said the caller identified himself as Vinoth and abruptly disconnected the call. An intensive search at the CMs residence on Chitharanjan Road revealed that the threat was a hoax. Vinoth was arrested and sent in judicial remand on Monday.
Deputy CM Udhayanidhi inaugurates night shelter for urban homeless at Marina
CHENNAI: Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday inaugurated a night shelter for the urban homeless at Marina Beach. The shelter has been built in an area of 2,500 sq ft at a cost of `86.40 lakh. Udhaya also distributed 15 items, including mats, pillows, and bedsheets, to each of the 86 homeless individuals who are currently accommodated at the facility. The shelter is equipped with basic amenities such as separate toilets and bathrooms for men and women, lockers for storing personal belongings, drinking water facility and electricity. Speaking to reporters, Udhaya said the facility is expected to significantly benefit homeless individuals, including those who sell handicrafts, balloons, flowers, and other items on the beach. At the end of the day, many of them are forced to sleep in the open, exposing themselves to the harsh weather conditions. The facility, he said, would provide them with a safe and secure place. He also said discussions are under way to establish similar shelters in other places. According to an official release, the city corporation already operates similar shelters for the homeless at 45 locations across the city. Speaking on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Udhayanidhi reiterated his strong opposition to the exercise. From the beginning, we have been opposing the SIR. The timeframe is insufficient. Our chief minister has clearly pointed out how a large number of votes were removed in Bihar after a similar exercise, he said. He alleged more votes than expected have been removed during the revision in Tamil Nadu, highlighting that 97 lakh votes have been deleted across the state, including 14 lakh votes in Chennai alone. He said a meeting of DMK district secretaries was held on Sunday, during which instructions were given to closely monitor the exercise and take steps to add back the deleted voters (for various reasons) to the electoral roll. Udhayanidhi also urged the public to check whether their names appeared on the electoral rolls. They can contact our BLA-2 representatives until January 18 to have their names added back, he said.
CM Stalin directs officials to complete Vadapalani - Poonamallee metro by February 2026
CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday directed officials to complete the Poonamallee - Vadapalani stretch of the Phase II Metro Rail project by February. He was reviewing the progress of 27 schemes that fall under the iconic projects of the department. According to a press release, there were 155 schemes under the iconic projects category which has now increased to 288 schemes under 24 departments. They are being implemented at a cost of Rs 3,17,693 crore. A total of 85 schemes are now completed for public use, while the remaining are at various stages of execution. At a review meeting with secretaries of six departments, Stalin assessed 27 schemes being implemented at a cost of Rs 87,941 crore and instructed officials to ensure their completion by January 2026. Among the projects reviewed were integrated drinking water schemes in Sivaganga, Madurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Ramanathapuram, Dindigul, Virudhunagar and Thoothukudi districts under the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, along with development works at the Vandiyur Lake in Madurai. Stalin also reviewed the progress of the Kuthambakkam and Chengalpattu bus stand construction works under the Housing and Urban Development department, as well as the skywalk being built to facilitate pedestrian movement across the highway near the Kilambakkam bus terminus. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, chief secretary N Muruganandam and senior officials from various departments attended the meeting.
CM Stalin to inaugurate renovated Victoria Public Hall in Chennai on December 23
CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin is set to inaugurate the renovated Victoria Public Hall, at EVR Periyar Salai, on Tuesday around 7 pm. Following the inauguration, an online booking system, enabling visitors to register in advance, is planned to be launched. Built in 1888 in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style, Victoria Public Hall was designed by renowned architect Robert Chisholm and constructed by Namberumal Chetty. The two-storey structure, measuring 48 metres in length and 24 metres in width, features a main roof which is 19 metres high and a central tower measuring 34 metres. The building has been a major venue for social movement gatherings and political meetings, including those of the Justice Party, and is widely regarded as a cradle of the Dravidian movement, a corporation official told TNIE. In May 2023, the Greater Chennai Corporation undertook a comprehensive conservation, revitalisation and seismic retrofitting project at a cost of `32.62 crore under the Singara Chennai 2.0 scheme. Though the work was given a 24-month deadline, it extended further seven months. The official said the restoration was carried out carefully to preserve the buildings original architectural character while enhancing its structural safety and functionality. Following the inauguration, the hall will be opened to the public as an exhibition space showcasing the rich history of public gatherings and social movements associated with it. The exhibition will feature detailed write-ups, audio-visual presentations and displays, also featuring the engineering and conservation efforts involved in revitalising the historic structure.
Railway users seek better station amenities as zonal panel meets after three years
CHENNAI: After a gap of nearly three years, the meeting of the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) of Southern Railway was held in Chennai on Monday. The meeting was presided over by general manager RN Singh and attended by members from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. The previous, 128th ZRUCC meeting was held on October 14, 2022. During the meeting, Madurai MP Su Venkatesan urged the railways to reopen the medical assistance centre at Chennai Egmore, which was closed due to ongoing station redevelopment works. In response, the general manager directed officials to inspect the progress of the works and take steps to reopen the facility. Similarly, South Chennai MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian raised concerns over garbage accumulation at the Puzhuthivakkam MRTS station, which is yet to become operational. She also called for the early transfer of the MRTS to the Tamil Nadu government to improve services. Railway officials said the memorandum of understanding between the state government and the railways is in its final stage and is expected to be completed soon. Members from the six divisions of Southern Railway placed several demands, including the provision of lifts and escalators, additional train stoppages, and the extension of MEMU services. Responding to the demands, the railway officials said matters such as additional stoppages and train extensions fall under the jurisdiction of the railway board and would be forwarded accordingly. R Pandiyaraja, a former ZRUCC member, criticised the railways for not issuing advance notice for the meeting, which, he said, prevented members from collecting passenger demands. He also pointed out the railways had convened only one meeting for the 2024-26 term, scheduled to end in June next year. Medical aid centre Madurai MP Su Venkatesan urged the railways to reopen the medical assistance centre at Chennai Egmore, which was closed due to ongoing station redevelopment works. The GM directed officials to inspect the works and take steps to reopen the facility
Minister KN Nehru checks feasibility of boat ride in Madhavaram lake
CHENNAI: Minister KN Nehru on Monday checked the feasibility of introducing boat rides in Madhavaram lake, being rejuvenated at a cost of Rs 11.78 crore. He inaugurated a newly constructed high-level flyover across the Puzhal reservoir at Vadaperumbakkam, built at an estimated cost of Rs 22.41 crore. The newly constructed bridge, which is expected to benefit nearly 1 lakh residents of Madhavaram and Manali areas, measures 190 metres long and 7.5 metres wide, allowing two vehicles to pass simultaneously. The minister also inaugurated an animal birth control centre at Chettimedu village in Manali, constructed at a cost of Rs 1.61 crore. Spread across 3,582 sq ft, the facility includes 26 rooms, accommodating 20 dog kennels in a room, a surgical theatre, laboratory, kitchen, storage space, and a security room.
Mixing religion, policy is threat to democracy
CHENNAI: Justice Zak Yacoob, a retired judge of the South African Constitutional Court, warned that the dangerous blending of religion and policy threatens the core of democracy. Speaking at the Arappor Iyakkam office in Nungambakkam on Monday, he delivered a lecture titled Free and Fair Elections: The South African Experience, drawing parallels between his countrys history and the current challenges faced by India and Tamil Nadu. Justice Yacoob observed that despite laws promoting equality, deep-seated communal tensions remain a major hurdle for fair elections. He noted that political parties often exploit these divides to stay in power. The retired judge also described corruption as a deadly systemic failure fuelled by collusion between big business and law enforcement. To show the human cost, he cited the assassination of Babita Deokaran, a whistleblower in South Africa who was killed after exposing a multi-million-rand hospital scam. The theft of these funds left patients sleeping on floors while essential medical equipment was never purchased. Criticising modern election laws for lacking day-to-day accountability, Yacoob argued that voters should not have to wait five years to hold leaders responsible. He challenged Chennais young lawyers to choose their conscience over high salaries to help the poor find justice. Encouraging a slow but steady social change, he stated, The fact is the job is possible; it being very hard doesnt mean it is impossible. The event was attended by human rights advocates Sudha Ramalingam and V Suresh, along with Arappor Iyakkam convenor Jayaram Venkatesan.
Sabarimala gold theft row: New doubts rise as jeweller claims he donated gold plate door in 2019
KOCHI: At a time when former presidents of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) are facing a probe into the alleged disappearance of gold from the Sabarimala temple, Govardhan, a jeweller from Ballari arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), has claimed that the newly gold-plated door frame was donated by him in June 2019. He stated that he donated 184g of gold, valued approximately at Rs 9 lakh. UB Group chairman Vijay Mallya had sponsored the gold cladding of the temple, including the roof, pillars, inscriptions, dwarapalakas, and doors,in 1999. The disclosures made in Govardhans bail plea, filed before the High Court on Monday, have added to suspicions that the original doors and frames were replaced with gold-plated frames in 2019. According to Govardhan, the door frame was handed over to Unnikrishnan Potti to be taken to Sabarimala. He later returned to Ballari and subsequently visited Sabarimala to attend the poojas and the assembly of the door frame. The bail plea also stated that there was no pecuniary loss to the TDB, as the entire gold obtained from Smart Creations was returned in full to the Board in 2019. Despite this, when the SIT visited his shop and residence in Ballari on October 24, they forcefully seized 474.970g of 24-carat imported gold, valued at Rs 59,40,449.79. Govardhan further claimed that a total of Rs 1.40 crore was spent by him on poojas, offerings, donations, and the gold seized by the SIT. The bail petition was filed through senior advocate P Vijayabhanu and advocate Thomas J Anakkallunkal. According to the petition, Govardhan became acquainted with Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused in the case, in 2007. Subsequently, at Pottis instance, he made several donations to Sabarimala. By the end of 2018, Potti informed him that the Sreekovil main door was proposed to be replaced and asked whether he would like to sponsor it. Considering it a rare honour and privilege, Govardhan agreed. The gold-plating work was carried out at Smart Creations, Ambattur Industrial Estate, Chennai. He stated that he incurred approximately Rs 35 lakh towards the entire project, including procurement, labour, and transportation. Govardhan further submitted that after the completion of the dwarapalaka work in September 2019, he was informed by Pankaj, managing director of Smart Creations, or by Unnikrishnan Potti, that 474.97g of gold extracted from the cladding remained at Smart Creations. He then arranged to collect the gold through Kalpesh, an employee of Shenky, owner of Shri Kalikund Jewellers, Chennai, who handed over the gold to him in Ballari. At the relevant time, gold was valued at about Rs 14,97,288, calculated at approximatelyRs 3,120 per gram for 22-carat gold. As directed by Unnikrishnan Potti, the amount was remitted through demand drafts in favour of the executive officer, Sabarimala, Sree Dharmasastha Annadhana Trust. The court will hear the bail plea on Tuesday, December 23.
Swiggy Instamart's 2025 report reveals diverse quick commerce usage, from Rs 10 printouts to Rs 4.3 lakh iPhones, with a top spender reaching Rs 22 lakh. Tier-II cities like Rajkot saw significant order growth, while daily essentials like curry leaves and eggs were frequently reordered. Mondays emerged as popular gifting days, and a Bengaluru customer tipped Rs 68,600.
Indias longest double-decker viaduct to come up in chennai
CHENNAI: Indias longest double-decker viaduct, comprising a six-lane elevated highway on the lower deck and a metro corridor on the upper level, has been proposed for an 18.4-km stretch between the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) at Kilambakkam and Chettipunniyam near Mahindra City on GST Road in Chennai. The state government has granted in-principle approval to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for constructing the six-lane elevated corridor with pillars designed to accommodate a future metro line. Once completed, it is expected to be the longest double-decker viaduct in the country, and possibly the world. Currently, the longest double-decker viaduct in the metro category is a 5.6-km stretch on Kamptee Road under the Nagpur Metro project. The decision for the proposed corridor was taken at a recent meeting chaired by Chief Secretary N Muruganandam with the state highways, CMRL, NHAI and other officials last week. Tenders to be invited after revised DPR gets nod After the completion of the Airport-KCBT Metro line for 15.46 km, which is yet to receive approval from the union government, the second phase of the metro project will be taken up from KCBT to Chengalpattu, official sources said. At present, under Corridor 5 (Madhavaram-Sholinganallur) of Chennai Metro Rail Limiteds Phase II project, CMRL has constructed a 3.14-km-long, four-lane elevated flyover on Mount-Poonamallee Road between Mugalivakkam and Ramapuram (MIOT hospital). The structure also accommodates a metro line above the highway, though this stretch is yet to be opened to the public. According to sources from the NHAI, concerns over the alignment for future metro expansion along the Kilambakkam-Chengalpattu stretch have been resolved by the state government. The government has granted in-principle approval for constructing the 18.4-km elevated corridor from the KCBT to Chettipunniyam. Earlier, the proposal had included a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) along the highway to ease congestion in the southern Chennai corridor without significant land acquisition. The state government has now agreed to share the additional costs involved in providing structural provisions for future metro expansion, a NHAI official told TNIE. The official added that the detailed project report (DPR) will be revised to incorporate the updated metro alignment. Once the revised DPR receives necessary approvals, tenders will be invited, the official said. The proposal to build the elevated corridor was first mooted in 2022, but progress was delayed due to issues related to the metro alignment for future expansion in South Chennai. The dedicated bus lane proposed on the elevated corridor is likely to be retained in the revised DPR, the official added. Originally, the project envisaged entry and exit ramps at three locations, with the total cost estimated at Rs 3,400 crore. It may be recalled that two months ago, the state government approved the extension of the Chennai Metros Blue Line from the airport to KCBT, with stations planned at Pallavaram, Chromepet, Tambaram and Vandalur. Funds were also allocated for land acquisition and utility shifting.
Criminals claim digital arrest of girl to scam parents of 75K
Drunken man makes hoax bomb threat to CMs house
Fresh peas abound at Koyambedu
Year-end guide to declutter spaces
After the holiday season, our homes are usually flooded with dcor, gifts, and warm twinkling lights. Yet the urge to have a clutter-free, breathable space that inspires with its simplicity to start the year fresh is undeniable. Here is a guide for your spaces to be New Year ready! Letting go This is easier said than done, but it works wonders once mastered. Its not only about letting go of items to clear space but also about making room for things in the future that would bring joy. From decorations, crockery to clothes, we store piles with the thought of putting them to use sometime in the future. The more we dive into the practice of letting materialistic items go easily, the lesser we purchase. This helps with the overall mindset shift of wanting less. Dont skip the walls When it comes to clearing spaces or organising them, we usually focus on closed storages or big in-built structures like bookshelves. But, walls too hold a lot of clutter. That painting you bought years ago that does not have happy memories, or the old photograph that reminds you of a time you would rather forget? Change them, give them away, or keep your walls as canvases that have room for better moments. By decluttering walls, visually, a lot of breathable space is created. This is underrated, and it helps create a spaces that grow with your evolving self. Minimalistic approach This is not specific to this time of the year, rather it is an approach that helps live in spaces that inspire and regulate the mind without being overwhlemed. Aside from buying minimal holiday dcor, this philosophy should be applied to daily life. It helps remove items that add weight and not cheerfulness. This is a great way to cleanse and make your spaces feel lighter. Declutter for breathing room The sense of order is akin to new beginnings, and the spaces we live in are key to our well-being. Thus, having a clean space is a non-negotiable. Start by limiting the number of decorations added with each festival. Opt for pieces that complement the space and dont overwhelm it. Do not fill storage to its maximum capacity and leave room for the years to bring more memories to cherish. Opt for the one item in, one item out rule to help keep things in check. Strategies to de-clutter The easiest approach would be to do this space or room-wise. Take one step at a time and section out your day to exercise this. Empty every closet or shelf you are working with, and divide them into three piles keep, donate, and discard. Dont be lenient about this throughout to achieve a space that would have room for more valuable additions. If something hasnt been used in the past year, it does not have a purpose, clearly! With the year coming to an end, and more time spent at home, your spaces should reflect the years experiences. The goal is not to fill the void that is left by the items removed, but to embrace the openness and potential they reveal. Have a happy and clean New Year!
Choosing the right grass for your garden
A lush green lawn is still the dream backdrop for most Indian homes, terraces, and housing societies. But behind that soft green carpet is a very practical question: which grass should you plant? Two options commonly offered by nurseries today are carpet grass (ready lawn rolls) and Paspalum grass (often pronounced and sold locally as prosopyllum). Both are green and beautiful, but they behave very differently once they are in your soil. Carpet grass: Instant lawn for harsh sun Carpet grass is what most people picture when they think of a ready-made lawn. It usually comes as pre-grown slabs or rolls, often around 6 ft X 1 ft in size, that can simply be laid on a prepared surface of red soil. Within a day, your bare patch of earth can look like a finished, manicured lawn. These carpets are ideal for areas with intense, direct sun open terraces, front lawns without trees, or building entrances that get full-day light. Many common carpet varieties are based on warm-season grasses like Bermuda or Korean carpet lawn, which love strong sun and can handle heavy foot traffic. However, the same lawn that looks so perfect on Day one has one big weakness: water stress. Ready carpets need regular irrigation, especially in the first few weeks when they are trying to bond with the soil below and extend their roots. If watering is neglected and the carpet dries out badly, large patches can die off. Once that happens, they usually do not bounce back on their own those dead sections must be cut out and replaced with new pieces, which means extra cost and a patchy look for some time. In short, carpet grass is like instant photography: beautiful and quick, but it needs consistent care to stay that way. Paspalum (Prosopyllum): Slow starter, strong survivor The second option, Paspalum lawn grass, behaves very differently. Instead of arriving as a ready carpet, it is typically planted like paddy small seedlings or clumps are dibbled into the soil at regular spacing, and over time they spread and knit into a continuous lawn. Paspalum prefers bright light but not the harshest, full-day sun. It does well in areas with a few hours of shade, such as between buildings, under light tree cover, or east-facing gardens that get morning sun and softer afternoon light. Modern Paspalum varieties are known for their good drought and salt tolerance and their ability to recover from stress once water is available again. As climate extremes and water shortages become more common, Indian gardeners will increasingly need to match grass not just to aesthetics, but to sun, soil, and water reality on the ground. A little understanding at the time of planting can save a lot of money, heartache, and replanting later and keep our cities greener, sustainably. Which one should you choose? Think of these two grasses as two personalities Carpet grass Carpet grass is the showstopper for new projects that need an instant finished look Perfect for full-sun sites like terraces and open lawns Best for homeowners or societies ready to commit to regular watering and maintenance Paspalum Paspalum is the practical workhorse for semi-shaded or bright-but-not-scorching spaces Best for plots where water supply may be inconsistent Works for people willing to wait a few months for coverage in exchange for a more forgiving, come-back-from-stress lawn This is the crucial difference If a carpet lawn dries up, the dead patches usually need to be replaced. If Paspalum dries and turns brown, the root system often survives; with improved watering, the grass can regrow and fill in again over time. While Paspalum doesnt give you that instant before-and-after photo in a single day, it rewards patience with better resilience and lower replacement costs in the long run, especially where water supply is uncertain.
North Chennai to World Cup: Back-to-back carrom champions rise through struggle and skill
Carrom is a quiet theatre of geometry and nerve, a powdered square where whites and blacks wait their turn, and the red queen holds her breath in the middle. A flick of the finger sends intent gliding across the wooden board, and the collisions of coins echo like measured decisions. It is a game of patience and precision where control and calm take centre stage. The carrom board has always been a staple in Tamil homes and schools, often brought out between homework, during holidays, and in the evenings, teaching the players the importance of focus and precision. But on the silver screen, the game was rarely allowed this innocence. Cinema repeatedly pushed carrom into dimly lit rooms, claiming it was almost exclusively for rowdies and villains from Baashha , where gangsters gather around a board like a council of power, to Kaakha Kaakha , where villains play with casual cruelty. For every such loaded symbol that cinema fixes in place, resistance inevitably follows sometimes loud and confrontational, and other times, quiet and transformative. In the case of carrom, it is the latter: a series of powerful wins that is gently undoing decades of stereotyping. Youngsters today, especially young women from North Chennai, are reclaiming the board not merely at home or in schools, but in tournaments and games, representing the country on the world stage. And in the lineup of these youngsters stands the recent world champion, L Keerthana. After securing three gold medals at the Maldives this month and winning the World Cup, the 22-year-old returned home to a grand welcome from her neighbourhood. The scale of the victory, however, brought with it a flood of media appointments. When she sits down with CE, her answers come out polished and precise almost templated, as though carefully rehearsed so no name on her mental list of gratitude is missed. I want to thank my family, my late father, especially, for teaching me the game when I was just six years old. Then my mentor, Nithiyarajan, who motivated me and helped me get back on my feet when I was at my lowest. Then my coach, Maria Irudayam sir, Amudhan sir from the Chennai District Carrom Association (CDCA), Chief Minister MK Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, and Thiruvottiyur MLA KP Shankar. But a few questions in, away from glaring lights and watchful cameras, Keerthana begins to ease into the conversation, her guard softening, her voice opening up to reveal the person behind the victory. The high that follows a grand win is familiar to every champion, but the road that leads there is rarely shared. The path this young woman speaks of was shaped by poverty and grief and sustained by persistence, made possible by the immense support of her mentors. Multiple restarts Keerthana practised the game from a young age. She rose to represent clubs, the district, and the state, but then came the fall. Her fathers death, a failed Class 10, the loss of both studies and sport, and the Covid lockdown that pushed her family into poverty. She took up work in a steel patra unit. But a few months later, she found her way back. Despite long workdays, she either woke up before dawn to practise or would play late into the night, slowly reclaiming the game that had once slipped from her hands. Nithiyarajan says, For her, it was like what they say in Tamil, Thottil palakkam sudugaadu varaikum (Habits formed in the cradle last until the cremation ground or death). When she was young, she used to teach my son to play. I couldnt let her end her carrom career while my son was going for tournaments and games, and so, I decided to support her and take her to tournaments. With his support, Keerthana restarted, returning through a state match in 2022 and rising swiftly to the nationals in Mumbai, where she finished third. That season, Nithiyarajan stepped in to cover her expenses, and soon after, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) recognised her talent, offering a one-year contract, 2023-24, with a steady stipend that allowed her to train and play without worry. But when the contract ended, the support fell away, and poverty once again pushed her back into work. This time around, I joined as a carrom teacher at a private school, Keerthana says, adding that she restarted once again in 2025. In this stretch, she went on to win the nationals for Tamil Nadu after a decade-long gap, and then carried that momentum all the way to a World Cup victory. But Keerthana isnt the only one keeping the momentum alive. Just a year ago, Khazima M Basha became the youngest-ever womens world carrom champion. Interestingly, the two back-to-back World Cup winners have been neighbours since childhood and even played for the same club until very recently. We have known each other since we were children, and we are friends. I am really happy that she won the World Cup this year, Khazima says, adding how they didnt just share the same streets and practice halls, but a journey of friendly rivalry and mutual inspiration. Keerthana was felicitated by the CM Stalin and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin Vada Chennai and carrom These wins from North Chennai immediately raise questions about what that region is doing differently and correctly to produce top players. Nithiyarajan points out that numerous clubs are actively introducing children to the game, and many working-class parents are seeing it as a pathway to scholarships and government job opportunities. But does this mean the talent is coming solely or to an overwhelming extent from North Chennai? Maria Irudayam, the two-time World Carrom Champion and nine-time national champion, who is now the secretary, Tamil Nadu Carrom Association, disagrees. Players are coming from across Chennai, not just from Vada Chennai. We have no numbers to prove that the talent is solely coming from Vada Chennai, either. Many players from here have played till nationals, but undeniably, the wins, especially these last two years World Cup wins, have come from the players here, he says. In fact, Maria believes that the theory of North Chennai harbouring this talent could have held even in his youth, when board rooms were everywhere. Just within two streets of his then-residence in Periamet, he recalls, there were four or five board rooms. But over time, as police began encountering individuals with criminal records frequenting these spaces, authorities started requiring licences for board rooms and with that, the harmless game of carrom gradually became tagged as a rowdys pursuit, he says. Asserting that talents are coming from across the city, he informs that the other regions producing notable carrom talent in the state include Coimbatore, Tiruchy and Madurai. Many promising juniors are coming out of Villupuram district too, he adds. Keerthana and Khazimas wins, however, have brought some state-led infrastructural support to Vada Chennai. After Khazimas win, for instance, Udhayanidhi Stalin improved the board room facility run by her father. It now runs with complete air conditioning and multiple carrom boards with stands and chairs, buzzing with up-and-coming players. Despite better infrastructure to help players, the talents emerging from Vada Chennai often share familial backgrounds similar to Keerthanas. Many children here are coming from the same kind of background as I. They are learning at clubs and trying to win big. I will continue to play my game but also teach those children so they come up in life too, she notes. And when asked how she hopes the sport will change circumstances, she speaks of a simple yet heartfelt dream: a better home, with space to display her medals and trophies. Many of my big trophies are at the club because I have no place to keep them at home. The smaller cups are all stored away in huge vessels that we dont use. I wish that I would soon shift with my family to a better house, and build a few shelves on the wall there to display my victories, she says, glancing at her wrist watch shaped and designed like a carrom board. Every tick marks the end of the time she set aside for this interview, yet with each passing second, it also seems to draw her modest dream nearer, almost as if the game itself were quietly steering her toward it.
EPCH organizes 2nd edition of Handicrafts Expo Narsapur 2025
Excelsior Correspondent NARSAPUR, Dec 22: The 2nd edition of Handicrafts Expo Narsapur 2025 organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) was inaugurated today at the International Lace Trade Centre (ILTC), Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh. The Expo was inaugurated today by Bommidi Nayakar, MLA, Narsapuram. The inaugural ceremony was graced by the august presence of Chadalavada Nagarani, Collector, West Godavari District along with Lakshman Rao Atkuri, Regional Director, O/o Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) Chennai, Ministry of Textiles, GoI, K N [] The post EPCH organizes 2nd edition of Handicrafts Expo Narsapur 2025 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
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