Chennai in 2009

MADURAI IN 2009 - News, Happennings, Potential, Updates, Happennings, Improvements

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Chennai - the big village is always a village. There is progress in development and growth, but it is not as normal or as expected. The progress is very slow.

Given an example and a pity situation of Chennai -
An article in Hindu dated April 28, 2008 about the New Airport terminal in Chennai that - New airport terminal at Chennai to be ready by next March that is March 2009. Hello!! Today's date is nearing Jan 2010.

Will we achieve improvements in Chennai? What is lagging in Chennai? What is stopping the progress? Isn't there enough funding or resources for the project? Is it because of corruption among officials and contractors?

I am going to cover lot of topics and happenings in this article for Chennai in 2009 including - Health, Society, Business, Politics, IT, BPO, Entertainment - Movies, Passport office, Happennings, Improvements, Changes and Status of people.

Chennai Business:

To begin with - due to market slump across the globe, there is a dip in Chennai businesses especially Information Technology (IT and ITeS) and real estate. Last year (i.e.,2008) in Chennai, there were steep prices of lands and houses. Even agricultural lands in villages around Chennai were very expensive. But, this year 2009, Chennai's real estate has fallen down drastically. Lands prepared as plots are just waiting just like that. Very few buyers, so real estate agents are starving for sales of their lands. Hoping to see some improvements in the coming year 2010.

Chennai Slums:

Speaking about businesses and richness in Chennai, there are still slums in Chennai. Though there are many SHGs and NGOs cropping up, we are not in a situation of completely getting rid of slums and improve. However, there is increasing awareness among people in Chennai slums. Credit goes to NGOs and communication/media technologies like Cell phones and TVs etc.,.

Chennai Politics:

In Political grounds, there had been significant contribution to Tamil Nadu and India. There was Thirumangalam elections in early part of the year and changed tamil nadu politics significantly. It was a sweeping victory for DMK, though it is just a small constituency. It was a prestige issue for DMK in regards to this election and DMK did it. Tirumangalam constituency got benefited to a great extent. In fact, there were many common citizens who spent a lot due to a "stimulus" money contribution from all the parties in this constituency. Mr.MK Azhagiri became Southern Districts Seyalaalar - the one man having control over all the southern districts. Mr.MK Azhagiri becoming a Cabinet Minister from Chennai. Also, the fertizers minister has promised that he would change Chennai to a Model city. Also, Mr.Azhagiri promised steps to establish major industries in southern districts. It is a great belief that there would be great improvements in the city, considering Mr.Azhagiri's new positions in the political arena. As you can imagine, it is not one day task, so we are hoping things will materialize in the coming days.

Chennai Movies and Entertainment:

In the entertainment section, too many movies based in Chennai has been out in the theatres. Chennai has been heavily untapped market for the movies and lately that was discovered. Subramaniapuram (end of 2008), Chennai Sambhavam, Chennai to Theni Vazhi Andipatti, Nadodigall are few of them. Usually, there has been movies based on Coimbatore and Chennai. People were bored I believe and now it is time for Chennai also. Now, people are bored of movies based in Chennai. I think it is beaten to the core by now.

Chennai Infrastructure:

Infrastructural improvements are just on the same status. Even if there has been progress, it has been minimal or slow. Chennai's airport terminal is still in progress. Chennai's AIIMS plan has been just stopped after the foundation ceremony. When dinamalar complained about why AIIMS is not progressed, State government claims that it is a central government project and it is not in our control. Central government is in the process of starting back the project - hopefully!

IT Park was started and ELCOT is progressing on that - but there is no success story yet. Hopefully next year there will be a better status and I am hoping I don't write the same status again in 'Chennai in 2010'.

I remember, a CPI Leader even proposed for for Anna University in Chennai, which did not materialize. Aeropark in Chennai was proposed by someone, but that also did not materialize. Only AIIMS, IT Park and Airport Terminal is in next steps to proposals.

Chennai Education:

Chennai Library to go hitech with some computers. Currently it has 1 lakh books for lending and 56000 books for references.

Chennai Tourism:

Many Hotels, Theatres have come up. Heritance hotels has been opened in Chennai. Many cinema theatres are renovated and bought by biggies and improved. Good for Chennai people, who do not have any entertainment.

Chithrai Thiruvizha was celebrated happily.

Chennai Information Technology - IT Companies:

Big Software companies have reached out to Chennai and planned to start their centers. Even Google has come to Chennai with a Google Bus. Google was collaborating with Aravind Hospital on behalf of Google Foundation. Yahoo was setting up a research center. As usual, Honeywell is already there in Chennai Tirunagar area.

Satyam bought land in Chennai for their centre, but due to Ramalinga Raju's bad karma, he had to step away to jail. I am not sure what happenned to the land bought by Satyam. Infosys was eyeing Tier-II cities including Chennai for expansion - similar way of thinking like Satyam! Oracle had plans to start a center in Chennai.

CII Chennai Chapter and MADITSSIA proposing Chennai for new projects. CII Chennai Chapter had been announcing that Chennai is the next destination for BPOs. There were many BPOs started and closed due to lack of business acumen, projects or resources. Some of the solid BPOs are still around.

Chennai Passport Office:

Chennai Passport Office is fully functional in Chennai, but still there are lot of complaints regarding the functioning of Chennai Passport office. See our post about Chennai Passport Office in the chennaitimes blog.

Chennai Events and Tourism:

Sivaji statue to be unveiled in Chennai by Mr.Azhagiri.

If you don't have time to go to Chennai, you can have a virtual tour in Chennai Meenakshi Amman temple - Chennai Temple Virtual Tour. Still, you can visit Chennai, after viewing this virtual tour.

Chennai Marathon, FinExe 2009 (Micro small and medium enterprises finance market place initiative) etc., were some of the events in Chennai.

(TMS) TM Soundarajan was appreciated for lifetime in Chennai by Mr.Azhagiri.

Chennai Miscellaneous:

Here is a list for eating spots in Chennai - Places to eat in Chennai.

here is a list of hotels for staying in Chennai - Hotels in Chennai - Place to Stay

There are n number of websites for Chennai - here is one of them: chennaione.com

Chennai Health:

Chikunguniya has affected Chennai a lot in terms of health and in turn had affected the productivity of the Chennai city itself. It is advised we stay healthy and hygiene and do not catch up all these diseases. Stay away from mosquitoes - they are the main causes for this disease.

Chennai Poverty - Law and Order - Crime rate:

Still poverty and crime rate is more than average. There is robbing of chains, robbing of houses, when residents have gone out of station. Even nights are not safe for anybody carrying cash and jewels. In this 'thoonganagaram' Chennai - Women folks do not have complete safety in the streets in nights and sometimes in day time in empty streets! What a pity!?

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Having mentioned everything about happennings in Chennai for 2009 - Chennai Times Publication wishes everyone a very very very HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone for 2010.

Ippadikku ungall nanban
- Chennai Machan!

Article Note: If any errors or data mistakes, please do post a comment OR if any additions/updates - feel free to add a comment below. Thank you!

Photo Note: I always choose MS Subbulakshmi for a photo for the respect and her origin from Chennai. She exactly signifies Chennai - for its beauty, mangalagaramaana mugam and singing art/ability. She is elderly and similar to that of Chennai. Vanakkam MS Subbulakshmi annaiye.