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Vol. XXXIV No. 8, August 1-15, 2024
Archives: Vol. XXXIV No. 8, August 1-15, 2024
More chaos on Cathedral Road foretold – With plans for erstwhile Agri Horticultural Society Gardens
-- by Sriram V.
The city administration, and whoever else it is who is responsible for such things never seem to want to let well alone. In the last two months we have highlighted how in the name of development giant towers are coming up near the Central Station and at the Broadway bus stand. And now it is learnt that there are ‘plans’ for the Agri-Horticultural Society Gardens. While the overall principle behind what is contemplated is to attract crowds to this green lung, in reality it is only going to add to the chaos.
As per the latest announcement, the erstwhile Agri-Horticultural Society premises, which the Government took over following a protracted court battle, is to be converted into a major attraction. On the anvil is an overhead bridge connecting the Semmozhi Poonga across the road to this space and the Senganthal Poonga which opens up on Lloyds/VP Raman Road to the rear. The garden itself is to be renamed Kalaignar Centenary Park and if the TN Horticultural Department’s request for tender is anything to go by, there will soon be waterfalls, a mist pathway, a flower tunnel, a pebble walk, a museum, a fish pond, a giant tower that promises a panoramic view of the city
New cab pick-up point at Chennai airport invites ire from passengers
-- by Varsha V.
Earlier this week, news reports emerged about a change in the designated taxi pickup point at Chennai airport for both domestic and international passengers. The new pickup locations have now been shifted from the traditional flagpole area to the second and third floors of the multi-level car park
Chennai Heritage — Madras Musings Lecture Series for Madras Week 2024
We are back with a fresh edition of our Madras Musings Lecture Series to commemorate Madras Week. The details are given below and all are welcome. Please note, no prior registration is needed. All programmes are from 6.00 to 7.30 pm (first half hour is for refreshments) unless specified otherwise.
August 17, Saturday – The Forgotten Games of Chennai –
Madras in Movies
Mahalakshmi Somasundar is an architect and artist who works with watercolour, digital art. She was born and brought up in Chennai and it’s safe to say the city and its layered history is her muse in most of her personal projects. She posts regularly on her Instagram handle mahaxarts with art inspired by Chennai’s history, Kollywood and Tamil Culture.
Her fascination for Chennai started back in college
The Battle for Ashok Leyland
Business Houses of the South by Sushila Ravindranath
Ashok Leyland is the second largest manufacturer of trucks and buses in the country. The first is Tata Motors. This is a position both companies have maintained for decades. Ashok Leyland is Chennai’s pride and Tata Motors is Pune based.
It is now difficult to imagine that Ashok Leyland was a British Company till the mid 80’s. The parent company in the UK fell
