Latest news with #GCC-run
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
GCC gyms, no-go for fitness-minded
Chennai: Those depending on gymnasiums run by Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) for their fitness needs have hit a roadblock, as many of them are either locked, broken down, or being misused. For many young people, and even athletes like T Shankar, a district-level football player from Kodambakkam, a private gym membership is far too costly. "A mid-level private gym costs at least 3,000 to 5,000 for three months. My father works as an MTC driver and he is the only earning member. We can't afford a private gym with membership and personal trainer fees," he said. But GCC gym in Trustpuram has been lying shut for more than two years. "The 4,000-odd families here have asked for maintenance of the facility. The Corporation shouldn't start something and then forget about it," said V Harish, a resident. Across areas such as Saidapet, Mylapore Kabali Thottam, Nakkeran Nagar, and Thousand Lights, GCC-run gyms are in a dire state. The city has 216 such facilities across its 15 zones, including standalone units, playground gyms, and women-only EmpoHER centres. Although they are supposed to remain open from 5am to 9am and 5pm to 9.30pm, most of these gyms are locked for most of the day and opened only late in the evening. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai In some areas, locked gyms have become hangouts for tipplers and hubs for antisocial elements, raising safety concerns. Even gyms that remain open are poorly maintained, with broken dumbbells, rusted barbells, torn seats, and manual equipment instead of modern hydraulic machines. There is no potable water, clean toilets, or changing rooms. "Most of the equipment a gym needs, three dumbbell sets up to 100 kg, two treadmills, a Smith machine, cable flyes, and a bench press, can be bought and installed within 5–6 lakh. Hydraulic equipment must be serviced once in six months," said K Vinoth Bhaskar, two-time Mr Tamil Nadu and owner of Spot Gym in Kodambakkam. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Greater Chennai Corporation hosts competitions for students and panel discussions
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) on Friday started a two-day session as part of the International Toilet Festival 3.0 at the Kalaivanar Arangam. A student-focused festival titled 'Toilet Le Dandanakka' and the first day of the 'Loo Conclave' and 'Toilet and Sanitation Solutions Expo' was held with non-governmental organisations WASH Lab, Recycle Bin, and Cheer. 'Toilet Le Dandanakka' was held for 661 students of 124 GCC-run schools, who participated in competitions such as story writing, scrap modelling, collage making, skit performances, persona presentation and elocution on topics centred on toilets, hygiene, and sanitation. The 'Loo Conclave' featured two panel discussions — first titled 'Toilet is a wicked problem', included DMK Thousand Lights MLA Ezhilan Naganathan, Tamil Nadu Housing Board Managing Director G.S. Sameeran, and International Water Association South Asia Operations Manager Prasanna Jogdeo; and second session called 'Toilet Jamming', included Jogdeo and cleaning-tech investors, according to a press release.
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Greater Chennai Corporation begins training newly-appointed doctors
A training session for doctors who have completed postgraduate medical education and have been appointed to serve in the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC)-run hospitals was launched at Ripon Buildings on Friday. The training covers public health operations and medical services within the the civic body, including hospital management. According to a press release, under the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), 155 vacant posts for medical and paramedical personnel were approved for recruitment — five through transfers and 150 by direct appointment of postgraduate doctors. Of the 150 appointed doctors, 113 have joined duty and will serve at GCC-run hospitals for two years. The GCC currently operates 140 urban primary health centres, 200 urban wellness centres, 16 urban community health centres, three maternity hospitals, and one infectious diseases hospital. Chennai Mayor R. Priya, Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran, Deputy Mayor M. Magesh Kumar and officials were present at the first session on Friday.
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu's first ‘Inclusive Design Manual' by Chennai Corporation hopes to make city accessible to all
Across Chennai, many adjust their routines every day, avoiding dim streets, skipping a park visit, or simply staying home. This is not because they want to. It is because the city, by design, is not aligned to their needs. As part of upgrading city amenities, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) recently released the State's first Inclusive Urban Design Manual. The document has data-driven guidelines, placing women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities (PwDs), and gender-diverse people at the centre of urban infrastructure planning. Kalaivani, who works as a nurse at a private hospital in Mettukuppam, said she preferred to cross the road at the traffic signal at night rather than use the nearby foot overbridge. 'I would rather walk than use the bridge with people loitering around.' Aiswarya Rao, founder of Better World Shelter for Women with Disabilities of Dorcas Research Centre, commended the initiative for addressing gender and accessibility concerns in urban planning. 'This is the first time gender is being discussed meaningfully in relation to city spaces. Beach access ramps were set up in two areas, and plans are afoot for one on Thiruvanmiyur beach. Women-only gyms were also established,' she said. However, she acknowledged that Chennai is still a difficult space for PwDs — public toilets remain largely inaccessible, and many roads, parks, and schools do not meet the basic accessibility standards. For instance, pointing to an audit conducted by the centre last year, she said, not a single GCC-run school was fully accessible to PwDs. She also raised concerns about the installation of bollards on footpaths, which restricted wheelchair mobility. D. Gnana Bharathi, a principal scientist at the Central Leather Research Institute who lives with a disability, said the flooring on the ramp at Chennai Central Station posed difficulties. 'The surface is not smooth, and the height difference is around one centimetre. This is said to be installed with the intention of minimising skidding, but an anti-skid or rough-finished surface would have been a better alternative,' he said. He added that the existing tile flooring could be particularly challenging for people with bone-related conditions, as a corrugated or uneven surface becomes difficult to navigate. Field audits covering youth, conservancy workers, women with disabilities, trans and non-binary persons, women traffic police, and more than 725 design evaluations were done to curate the manual. This has ready-to-apply solutions — from guidelines on footpaths and location of toilets, to street lighting and signage — so that the public infrastructure is accessible for every one in the city. It also specifies certain norms for different public utilities. In a note in the manual, Mayor R. Priya wrote: that change begins at home, and that parents must raise their girl children as equally as the boys and not discriminate. She also said people must understand that people must not judge women for their dress and attitude. 'If a woman speaks loudly, it must be understood that it is her characteristic,' she said.'Our parks, playgrounds, streets, bus stops, shelters for homeless persons, and e-Sevai Maiyams are not just facilities — they are essential public services and lifelines. These spaces must serve everyone equally, irrespective of gender, age, ability, or economic background.'
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
GCC's ‘Inclusive Design Manual' hopes to make the city accessible to all
Across Chennai, many adjust their routines every day, avoiding dim streets, skipping a park visit, or simply staying home. This is not because they want to. It is because the city, by design, is not aligned to their needs. As part of upgrading city amenities, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) recently released the State's first Inclusive Urban Design Manual. The document has data-driven guidelines, placing women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities (PwDs), and gender-diverse people at the centre of urban infrastructure planning. Kalaivani, who works as a nurse at a private hospital in Mettukuppam, said she preferred to cross the road at the traffic signal at night rather than use the nearby foot overbridge. 'I would rather walk than use the bridge with people loitering around.' Aiswarya Rao, founder of Better World Shelter for Women with Disabilities of Dorcas Research Centre, commended the initiative for addressing gender and accessibility concerns in urban planning. 'This is the first time gender is being discussed meaningfully in relation to city spaces. Beach access ramps were set up in two areas, and plans are afoot for one on Thiruvanmiyur beach. Women-only gyms were also established,' she said. However, she acknowledged that Chennai is still a difficult space for PwDs — public toilets remain largely inaccessible, and many roads, parks, and schools do not meet the basic accessibility standards. For instance, pointing to an audit conducted by the centre last year, she said, not a single GCC-run school was fully accessible to PwDs. She also raised concerns about the installation of bollards on footpaths, which restricted wheelchair mobility. D. Gnana Bharathi, a principal scientist at the Central Leather Research Institute who lives with a disability, said the flooring on the ramp at Chennai Central Station posed difficulties. 'The surface is not smooth, and the height difference is around one centimetre. This is said to be installed with the intention of minimising skidding, but an anti-skid or rough-finished surface would have been a better alternative,' he said. He added that the existing tile flooring could be particularly challenging for people with bone-related conditions, as a corrugated or uneven surface becomes difficult to navigate. Field audits covering youth, conservancy workers, women with disabilities, trans and non-binary persons, women traffic police, and more than 725 design evaluations were done to curate the manual. This has ready-to-apply solutions — from guidelines on footpaths and location of toilets, to street lighting and signage — so that the public infrastructure is accessible for every one in the city. It also specifies certain norms for different public utilities. In a note in the manual, Mayor R. Priya wrote: that change begins at home, and that parents must raise their girl children as equally as the boys and not discriminate. She also said people must understand that people must not judge women for their dress and attitude. 'If a woman speaks loudly, it must be understood that it is her characteristic,' she said.'Our parks, playgrounds, streets, bus stops, shelters for homeless persons, and e-Sevai Maiyams are not just facilities — they are essential public services and lifelines. These spaces must serve everyone equally, irrespective of gender, age, ability, or economic background.'
