Registered with the Reg. No. TN/CH(C)/374/18-20 Registrar of Newspapers Licenced to post without prepayment for India under R.N.I. 53640/91 Licence No. TN/PMG(CCR)/WPP-506/18-20 Publication: 1st & 16th of every month Rs. 5 per copy (Annual Subscription: Rs. 100/-) INSIDE G Short ‘N’ Snappy G A forgotten re-naming G Anglo-Indian Col. in the INA G Madras Week Programmes G Pala Art in the Museum WE CARE FOR MADRAS THAT IS CHENNAI Vol. XXVIII No. 9 August 16-31, 2018 Is Fort up for adoption? G by The Editor recent report to the above Aeffect had those concerned with this historic precinct rubbing their eyes in disbelief. For those not in the know it said that a conglomer- ate that had “interests in cement, power and sugar” had offered to take over the mainte- nance of the place under the “Adopt a Heritage” (sic) programme of the Central Gov- ernment. Given the business areas in which the group is said to be, it appears that this is the same entity that has been awarded the maintenance of the Red Fort in Delhi, at a throwaway price. That decision raised quite a ruckus, but Chennai being far away from Fort St. George – Will it fare better in private hands? the national capital and with but tepid local interest in the welfare of the fort here, it would appear that the business group Problems ahead of Smart City is more or less assured of getting wo years after it was parks and waste water manage- the contract. That is if the local T launched, the Chennai G by A Special Correspondent ment again in Kodambakkam Government does not object. Smart City Project has come and T’ Nagar. This however seems unlikely at t present, the Chennai Met- relationships? Has an expert alive. According to the The term “Smart” is meant present. There is of course ropolitan Area is 1,189 study been done to assess what AMCHAM-PwC Smart Cities waste management. The invest- Ato convey that “smart cities” are much to be said both in favour with Rs. 1,366 crore. Therefore,sq.km after its notification in needs to be done to result in a Report, of the 44 projects in ment is estimated at about Rs. made capable of collecting and of, and against, the idea. the Smart City by itself is not1975. CMDA intends to expand positive impact on decongestion, Chennai, as of December 2017, 1,366 crore through Centre- analysing vast quantities of data Let us look at the positives and cannot be about makingit to 8,878 sq.km engulfing reduced pollution and improved five were under implementa- State partnership and raising to automate monitoring re- first. The fort as it stands today Singapore out of Chennai inTiruvallur and Kancheepuram quality of life? tion, 32 had not started and the funds from other sources source usages, improving is pretty much in a shambles. five years. Districts and Arakkonam and When the area was expanded rest were in pre-tender stages. including international multi- service quality, and making real Large sections of it are in a state The Smart City ProjectNemili Taluks in Vellore District, to 1,189 sq.km, Government rea- There is no clear indication of lateral funding agencies. If Rs. time decisions on many aspects of collapse including the King’s would smarten the City and notChengalpattu becoming part of soned that a large area was the target completion dates for 500 crore each have been given of city management. This Barracks, Wellesley House, Last by itself make a new smart city ofthe region. The objective is to needed to find the best possible different projects either in the by the Centre and the State, the purpose of the Project is served House on Snob’s Alley and Chennai. This clarification ofanticipate the needs of the popu- location for employment, afford- Report or in the illustrated inference is that only the by the inclusion of an integrated Clive’s Library. Those that are its scope is not to diminish thelation by 2026. able housing and relocation of project details extensively Rs. 366 crore will have to be command and control centre standing are in an appalling Project’s importance. Many Enlargement of the City slums and developing connecti- publicised in the newspapers. It raised from external agencies or that can monitor traffic signals, state of maintenance and that component projects confine theregion, and that too, by over vity. This was primarily to be is known, however, that the Rs. 866 crore, if the State’s own city surveillance and manage includes the Assembly and smartening to one sub-projectseven times seems highly complex achieved by creating satellite Smart City Project has a five- contribution is from borrow- the smart transport system. This Secretariat Building. The sole segment or geographical areaand over ambitious. Reservations towns and peripheral ring roads. year time frame ending 2022. ings. The latter is likely, consid- is indeed an important facility exceptions are Clive’s House but serve as models for easyon some issues cannot be helped. Of five proposed towns, only The Smart City Project ering the flimsy state of the of immense value. (now the office of the ASI), the replication at other locationsHave similar objectives, as were two – Manali and Maraimalai (SCP) has many interesting government’s finances. Still Rs. The expectation from a Exchange Museum and the without having to re-invent thespelt out, been achieved for the Nagar – were accomplished. This features – parks and waste 866 crore is too small a sum, Smart project is different for Church of St. Mary’s. A wheel. Examples of such modelsfirst expansion to 1189 sq.km? If has not been adequate to arrest water management systems, considering Chennai’s needs. each city according to its pre- contract to a private business are the roof-top solar panels inthe answer is in the negative, how the rising overcrowding in pedestrian plaza, cycle sharing The city needs major revamping vailing level of civic develop- house may ensure much needed specific buildings, footpathis an enlarged area a substitute for Chennai city. The object of system, footpath development, of the sewerage and storm water ment. As an example, it is dif- funds and a drive to restore the development of 23 roads insound conception and implemen- making housing in suburbs an restoration of 56 water bodies, drain systems besides infrastruc- ferent for, say, Singapore and structures. Also, even in terms Kodambakkam and T’ Nagar,tation? If the answer is in the attractive option has not been bicycle lanes, multi-level car ture for the collection, treat- Chennai. The installation of of general cleanliness, in which cycle sharing system inaffirmative, would it not be realis- realised. Reports from residents parking, smart classrooms, con- ment, recycling and disposal of information technology consti- aspect the Government has Teynampet and Kodambakkamtic to break the proposed massive in outlying areas indicate that version of SVL (sodium lamps) solid wastes and de-congestion tutes one part, but for most repeatedly come a cropper, such zones, pedestrian plaza in T’expansion into manageable local roads have not been put in to LED (light emitting diodes) and pedestrianisation of the Indian cities smartness implies a private agency may prove a Nagar and Kodambakkam area,modules, of the same size as for place nor has the supply of lights, parking management, hundreds of km of city roads. “basic modernisation and better performer. multi-level parking in Kodam-the first expansion, without serviced land for middle and pedestrianised streets and solid All this cannot be accomplished (Continued on page 2) (Continued on page 2) bakkam and Teynampet, andweakening their organic inter- CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS August 16-31, 2018 Problems ahead of Smart City To Marina or not to Marina ast fortnight’s happenings, decision, claiming that your order. MMM still remem- (Continued from page 1) decongestion and a comprehen- Lespecially the pronounce- Tweedledum had taken it by bers an anecdote wherein a sive plan for safe and pleasant ments of celebrities after they himself, without consulting senior corporate executive quality of life improvements, pedestrian paths and cross- called on an ailing leader of the any of them, thereby leaving from our city had his vehicle such as ensuring cities have overs for the whole City and State, the comings and goings him to face all the flak. MMM delivered to him from the reliable electricity, water retrieving and protecting public and sloganeering would have supposes that this is what manufacturer in the eastern supply, and waste management, spaces from unauthorised and all ideally given much grist to politics is all about. Even more side of our country, after the and promoting walkability. As intrusive use are of utmost this column’s mill. But The interesting was the behaviour obligatory wait of 48 months. such, India’s Smart Cities urgency as the City is already Man from Madras Musings of the lawyers who had filed He was shocked to find a dead does not wish to dwell on that. petitions in the court against lizard stuck on the bonnet and Mission is not truly about smart bursting at the seams. Bare cities in the commonly under- What he on the other hand the laying to rest of the leader what’s more, the vehicle had necessities before smartness. does wish to comment about is of the Tweedledum/Tweedle- been spray painted with the stood sense of the term.” The sums allocated to these the extraordinary behaviour of dee party at the Marina.