Hey..
Ever since I landed in Chennai for my vacation many have been asking me what do I find different there. There are definitely reasons behind that question. The primary one being the fact that Iam an ardent lover of this city . The other reason being that I have been away for more than 2 years and Chennai is supposed to have undergone major transformations during this time.
I spent quite a considerable time at Chennai during my vacation. I re-lived by bachelor life - stayed with friends, roamed on motorcycles, late-night movies, erratic eatouts at Karpagambal mess and Murugan Idly shop, arguing with the auto driver, travelling in the vendor compartment of the electric train... I thought Chennai still remains the same.. Or, does it ?
The crazy expansion of the IT corridor has indeed changed things dramatically. Adding to the fact that there are too many NRIs who have come back after the dot-com disaster, the westernization of the city is on a rapid pace. There must be about tens of thousands of IT organizations in the Old Mahabalipuram road - the place is seeing action since the Pallava period only now. Townships are being constructed at every piece of land available and the city limits is almost near Chengelput now. IT organizations fit the description of factories during second world war - transporting millions of worker back and forth every day to their facilities outside the city. The road is to be converted to a six-lane in the upcoming years.
Metro system has grown with the MRTS plying till Tiruvanmiyur. The raliway stations are amazingly huge and constructed keeping the future traffic in mind. As a titbit, with the conversion to broad gauge, some of the compartments have been merged - the first class and the ladies-special compartments are now on the coach !! ;)
Everyone carries a mobile. AirTel, Reliance and BSNL wars have proved beneficial for the user community and there is absolutely no one without a mobile. You can call auto-wallahs with a mobile at the same time finish all your ICICI transactions through your cellphone. Saree purchases over Rs500/- at Kumaran Stores earns a family plan with Hutch ! This is a mega change for me, since I used cellphone last at Chennai when the outgoing was still Rs 8/-.
Though Chennai roads are still the same wrestling to take the huge traffic, the suburban & NH roads have been renovated. The NH-45 renovation for about 100 kms is better than the NJ-Turnpikes - the ride is absolutely smooth with no bumps, there are rest areas at every 25 km, there are spacious toll booths. This road is much better than the EC highway. The 4 wheeler traffic at Chennai has increased with Santros, Indicas and Citys plying about everywhere. The number of star-hotels have almost doubled since the last I was there. (It is still a pity that the much awaited Oberoi towers is still half-baked).
Westernization - recreation of US - seems to be the focus. With Radio-Mirchi FM (the voice of RJ-"Mirchi Suchi" is simply addicitive) where there are traffic alerts during peak hours, the Spencers & Shppoers Stops recreating the atmosphere of Tysons Malls, huge Multiplxes featuring tens of movies at exhorbitant prices, terrific customer service at every place, young girls sporting skirts and sleeveless tops - except for the hotting up summer, there is little difference between Chicago & Chennai...
Yes. Darling Chennai has of course changed - dramatically, amazingly, enjoyably...
But all this apart, when Superstar's Chandramukhi was released, there was the feverish activity, ultra-size cutouts, auto processions, prayers offered in temples, prayers offered to the Superstar, long & huge lines outside every cinema hall - the craze hasnt gone down even by a bit for the 50-something old hero who hasnt made a screen appearance for more than 3 years !
Certain things wont change.
Chao..
I spent quite a considerable time at Chennai during my vacation. I re-lived by bachelor life - stayed with friends, roamed on motorcycles, late-night movies, erratic eatouts at Karpagambal mess and Murugan Idly shop, arguing with the auto driver, travelling in the vendor compartment of the electric train... I thought Chennai still remains the same.. Or, does it ?
The crazy expansion of the IT corridor has indeed changed things dramatically. Adding to the fact that there are too many NRIs who have come back after the dot-com disaster, the westernization of the city is on a rapid pace. There must be about tens of thousands of IT organizations in the Old Mahabalipuram road - the place is seeing action since the Pallava period only now. Townships are being constructed at every piece of land available and the city limits is almost near Chengelput now. IT organizations fit the description of factories during second world war - transporting millions of worker back and forth every day to their facilities outside the city. The road is to be converted to a six-lane in the upcoming years.
Metro system has grown with the MRTS plying till Tiruvanmiyur. The raliway stations are amazingly huge and constructed keeping the future traffic in mind. As a titbit, with the conversion to broad gauge, some of the compartments have been merged - the first class and the ladies-special compartments are now on the coach !! ;)
Everyone carries a mobile. AirTel, Reliance and BSNL wars have proved beneficial for the user community and there is absolutely no one without a mobile. You can call auto-wallahs with a mobile at the same time finish all your ICICI transactions through your cellphone. Saree purchases over Rs500/- at Kumaran Stores earns a family plan with Hutch ! This is a mega change for me, since I used cellphone last at Chennai when the outgoing was still Rs 8/-.
Though Chennai roads are still the same wrestling to take the huge traffic, the suburban & NH roads have been renovated. The NH-45 renovation for about 100 kms is better than the NJ-Turnpikes - the ride is absolutely smooth with no bumps, there are rest areas at every 25 km, there are spacious toll booths. This road is much better than the EC highway. The 4 wheeler traffic at Chennai has increased with Santros, Indicas and Citys plying about everywhere. The number of star-hotels have almost doubled since the last I was there. (It is still a pity that the much awaited Oberoi towers is still half-baked).
Westernization - recreation of US - seems to be the focus. With Radio-Mirchi FM (the voice of RJ-"Mirchi Suchi" is simply addicitive) where there are traffic alerts during peak hours, the Spencers & Shppoers Stops recreating the atmosphere of Tysons Malls, huge Multiplxes featuring tens of movies at exhorbitant prices, terrific customer service at every place, young girls sporting skirts and sleeveless tops - except for the hotting up summer, there is little difference between Chicago & Chennai...
Yes. Darling Chennai has of course changed - dramatically, amazingly, enjoyably...
But all this apart, when Superstar's Chandramukhi was released, there was the feverish activity, ultra-size cutouts, auto processions, prayers offered in temples, prayers offered to the Superstar, long & huge lines outside every cinema hall - the craze hasnt gone down even by a bit for the 50-something old hero who hasnt made a screen appearance for more than 3 years !
Certain things wont change.
Chao..
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