Every year Chennai gets hotter … we have
started fearing the Chennai summer … the mercury was shooting up and the
hottest part of the year in May – June – famously dreaded as ‘Agni Nakshatram’
("fiery star") or as ‘Kathiri Veyyil’ – commenced this Sunday, 4th
May 2014.
There was to be some respite as this morning
Chennaites woke up pleasantly .... it is raining, yes rains – summer rains !
.... yesterday The Hindu reported that
Chennaiites may escape severe water shortage for a few more months. Sufficient
resources in the Veeranam tank in Cuddalore district and Krishna
water from Andhra Pradesh will help the city sustain piped supply on alternate
days. There is news that a deep depression over east-central Bay of Bengal,
which moved westwards and lay centred about 520 km south-east of Paradip in
Odisha on Sunday, is likely to take the shape of a cyclonic storm.
I had posted that some Chennaites would crib
about rains too…. in some ways yes – as there was slush in many streets
rendering them unfit for walking …. and as people reached MRTS station – there
was to be disappointment – as trains were not running in the morning due to
some trouble in OHT along the line.
It is a different World out there –
something on top of Chennai – the first
phase of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) from Chennai Beach to Thirumylai
for a length of 8.55 km. was taken up for implementation by Government of India
as early in 1983-84. It has come a long way since that inaugural run from
Chepauk to Beach … Chennai MRTS route is
largely elevated, with at-grade sections at its terminals. From Beach to Chennai Park Town Chennai Park Town
station, the line's first phase becomes elevated and follows the course of the Buckingham Canal ,
which runs parallel to the Coromandel Coast .
The line remains elevated for the alignment of the second phase up to
Perungudi, after which it returns to an at-grade section at Velachery. The 19
km (12 mi) line from Chennai
Beach
Some more good news for travellers as
clearing the decks for the extension of MRTS phase-II from Velachery to St.
Thomas Mount, the Madras High Court recently dismissed petitions and an appeal
challenging the acquisition of lands for the project.
Railway electrification as a means of
traction emerged at the end of the nineteenth century, although experiments in
electric rail have been traced back to the mid-nineteenth century. MRTS runs on
overhead electrical traction lines ~ and a snag in the lines reportedly caused
non-running of trains this morning, which left the commuters paralysed. The lines reportedly were resumed a little
before 09.00 am.
While we complain on many things – there are
always silent workers – people who go about their work nonchalantly – many a
times with none noticing them…. This morning – standing at Mylapore saw and was
impressed by these conservancy workers – who paid no hoot for the rain – but were
busy cleaning and making the road – more friendly for the Chennaites, who in a
hurry would most likely would have neglected to see them, leave alone
appreciating them
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar .
5th May 2014.
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