The Central Crime Branch arrested Srinivasan, 64, of Kolathur and Elanchezhiyan, 50, of Manali for allegedly fabricating fake documents and selling a vacant plot in Kolathur. The plot, 2,605 sq ft, valued at ₹1.5 crore, belonged to Mary Varghese, 65, a retired Joint Director from the Department of Social Welfare. Srinivasan fraudulently used an old document registration number from 1982 from Sembium Sub-Registrar Office to obtain a patta from Kolathur Tahsildar's office. Elanchezhiyan and his mother Prema registered a fake lease document in their names and attempted to sell the property. Mary Varghese filed a complaint with the Chennai Police Commissioner in April. The Land Fraud Investigation Wing registered the case. Srinivasan is a theatre owner in Kolathur; Elanchezhiyan runs a steel shop. Police are searching for a third suspect.

Residents of north Chennai urged the Water Resources Department (WRD) to expedite improvement of the initial 750-metre stretch of Thanikachalam Nagar drain to reduce flooding in Madhavaram and Retteri areas.

They say the current channel is only 10 metres wide. Stormwater drains from Ambattur and Korattur localities link to this channel, which flows into Kodungaiyur drain.

A major portion of the Thanikachalam drain was upgraded last year at a cost of ₹91.36 crore. The drain carries surplus water from Kolathur and Retteri lakes through United Colony, Ramalinga Colony, and Thanikachalam Nagar. It is nearly 3,050 metres long, built in 1998.

The WRD reconstructed the existing channel and built an additional channel in the 750-3,050 metre stretch, improving carrying capacity to 1,000 cubic feet per second.

T.K. Shanmugam, president of the Federation of North Chennai Residents Welfare Associations, said inadequate carrying capacity and encroachments have caused flooding in Madhavaram and Kolathur wards during heavy rainfall. The federation urged building a cut and cover channel with 6-metre width.

A detailed project report for widening the initial 750-metre stretch awaits government approval. WRD will coordinate with the Revenue Department to demarcate boundaries and remove encroachments.

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will maintain and oversee two dialysis centres being constructed by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) at Kolathur and Kondithope. Beneficiaries will be covered under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS); until formal approval, GCC will bear dialysis treatment costs payable to Apollo Hospitals.

Kolathur facility (Thanthondri Amman Koil Street, Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar zone) is a multi-storey facility: first floor has artificial limb centre, second floor physical training centre, third floor dialysis unit, fourth floor patient amenities. Kondithope facility (Basin Water Works Street, Sowcarpet, Royapuram zone) is a comprehensive rehabilitation centre with similar facilities.

Operation and maintenance by GCC; blood purification units operated by Apollo Hospitals; prosthetic foot and physical training centres run by Adinath Trust. CMDA proposed Rs 3 crore each for procuring essential medical equipment for both centres. Following modifications suggested during consultations, additional equipment will be procured using capital funds of the GCC.

• The state highways department has sanctioned Rs 14 crore to build two U-shaped service roads beneath the Padi Road Over Bridge (ROB) on the Inner Ring Road in Chennai.
• The service roads are part of a larger plan to widen the existing three-lane ROB into five lanes and add two lanes on either side of the Inner Ring Road for 1.1 km between Padi ROB and Padi flyover.
• A G.O. for the service lanes was issued on Thursday.
• Officials said all associated works are planned to be completed by December 2025.
• The ROB widening project is estimated at Rs 139 crore and includes widening the 1.1 km approach road on both sides up to the Padi flyover.
• Work on the widening project began last year.
• Jawaharlal Nehru Salai (Inner Ring Road) currently has five lanes, narrows to three lanes at the ROB and further to two lanes near the flyover.
• The bridge is being widened from 27 metres to 53 metres.
• Officials said no land acquisition is required because the work will be done entirely on state highways land.
• The project is expected to improve traffic flow and safer access for residents of North Korattur and Padi.
• The proposed service roads will help North Korattur residents use Thirumalai Square Road to reach the Padi flyover and reduce congestion at Palla Street junction, where traffic currently piles up for over a kilometre during peak hours in both directions toward the Padi and Retteri flyovers.
• After completion, traffic police may consider closing the North Korattur signal on the Inner Ring Road to ease congestion.
• The canal-side land parcels from the Padi flyover toward Kolathur have pits and overgrown vegetation, and lack proper service lanes.
• Workers from nearby industrial units, including the tube manufacturing company at Padi, currently walk along the busy carriageway, facing safety risks.
• The sharp curves on both ramps, ascending from Kolathur toward Padi flyover and descending from Padi toward Kolathur, will be straightened to improve safety and traffic movement.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited has commenced Phase II expansion with three corridors totalling 118.9 km, funded by Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, New Development Bank, and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Corridor 5 runs 47 km from Madhavaram Milk Colony to Sholinganallur, passing through Koyambedu, Porur, and Alandur. It comprises five underground and 39 elevated stations. The 7.8 km underground section with twin 3.9 km tunnels from Kolathur Ramp to Nathamuni Ramp includes five underground stations, executed by Tata Projects Limited.

Four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) named Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, and Neithal will be deployed. TBM Kurinji was launched first, boring 246 meters from Kolathur Ramp to Kolathur Station (upline), expected to complete in June 2025, then be relaunched 1.06 km towards Srinivasa Nagar. TBM Mullai will arrive by end of March 2025 and bore 603 meters adjacent to Villivakkam Railway Station towards Villivakkam Bus Terminus. Remaining TBMs will launch based on site readiness.