1. State Pitches for Google Centre
The Tamil Nadu government has requested Google to set up a Google Centre in the State and the internet giant has agreed to consider the proposal, according to State Information Technology Minister M Manikandan. The government has also requested Google to establish ‘Project Loon’ – a high-altitude ‘balloon facility’ that provides internet connectivity – in Chennai, to help ensure communication during times of natural disasters.
Senior Indian officials of Google at the State Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Manikandan said the State government would request Google CEO Sundar Pichai to visit Tamil Nadu. “We want to go and meet him. The Chief Minister is keen to meet him,” he said.
(Source: The Hindu)
2. Chennai Police Crash Birthday Party, Nab 75 Criminals
On Tuesday night, Binu, a murder accused with more than 28 cases against him, got a rather nasty birthday surprise. Policemen gatecrashed his party and nabbed 75 of his friends and peers, all on the run from the law, police said.
Binu had been in hiding for two years, until a group of history-sheeters decided to welcome him back to the world of crime with a party to celebrate his 47th birthday. The party was organised in a lorry shed in Malayambakkam village near Poonamallee, and many alleged criminals were invited.
(Source: The Hindu)
3. Bharathiar Varsity Panel Likely to Be Set up Today
With Bharathiar University being headless following the suspension of its arrested Vice-Chancellor A Ganapathi, the institution’s special syndicate meeting would be held in Coimbatore on Thursday morning to discuss the development.
A decision on setting up a three-member convenor’s committee to administer the affairs of the university to which arts and science colleges in Coimbatore, Tirupur, Nilgiris and Erode are affiliated, is likely to be taken at the meeting. Sources said Sunil Paliwal, Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, would chair the special syndicate meeting.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Knotty Licence Rules Work Against the Disabled
For Chennai resident Shanthi Rani, getting to her workplace is not easy. A computer operator at a photocopying shop, it takes the 43-year-old who has a locomotor disability nearly an hour to get from her home in Moolakadai to her workplace in Parrys by bus. “It is extremely difficult to use the bus,” she said.
Rani is planning to apply for the government’s two-wheeler scheme for women: the deadline for applications has been extended until 10 February, and women with disabilities do not have to possess a valid licence at the time of applying for the scheme. A licence will, however, need to be submitted when the subsidy is released for the vehicle. This relaxation may not be enough for the disabled, activists say. They point out that, presently, the physically challenged can get licences only if they own the vehicle and retrofit it with disabled-friendly modifications.
(Source: The Hindu)
5. Metro Line from Nehru Park to Central Likely by Mid-April
The Chennai Metro Rail Limited is likely to open its fourth stretch — from Nehru Park to Chennai Central — on 14 April, sources said. The final inspection by Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) may take place by 25 March.
Sources said the inauguration will be subject to availability of authorities from the State government. According to CMRL officials, the work is nearly complete on this stretch and various tests have to be carried out before the inspection by CMRS.
(Source: The Hindu)
6. UN Body to Conduct Security Audit at Chennai Airport
The Chennai airport, the fourth busiest airport in the country, is all set to face a major security audit by the UN body — the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) — next month, officials said. In case, the ICAO makes adverse remarks, international airlines may tighten security checks at the transit airports.
From policies in place to equipment with regard to security, a four-member team from ICAO will look at every single facility in the airport. “They will see if internationally prescribed norms are being followed, including regulatory framework, passenger and baggage security, training of security personnel, the entire airport operations and security aspects of aircrafts as well,” an official said.
(Source: The Hindu)
7. Work on Widening of ECR Apace
A major milestone for the widening of the 10.5 km urban stretch of the East Coast Road from Thiruvanmiyur to Akkarai is expected to be achieved by April when the land acquisition process would be completed. Two lanes will be added to the 4-lane facility, easing traffic movement on the road that leads to Mamallapuram and Puducherry.
Sources in the Highways Department said that presently, the valuation of lands is in the final stage and already, an amount of ₹100 crore has been disbursed to hundreds of land owners in the six revenue villages of Thiruvanmiyur, Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Neelankarai, Injambakkam and Vettuvankani. The widening of the stretch is expected to help motorists commute faster.
(Source: The Hindu)
More From The Quint:
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)