The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Readers' Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 19, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Readers' Mail

Not fair to generalise

Sir, — I took an auto from Ashok Nagar to Mandaveli some days ago. In my hurry I left behind the jewels and Rs. 10,000 in cash on the auto. The driver had somehow found my address and returned everything. So it is not fair to generalise that all auto drivers are cheats.

May drivers of such integrity increase.

K. Padma,

Ashok Nagar

University's stand strange

Sir, — Recently I learnt from an advertisement of the Bharathiar University that those who had got degree under the open university system are not eligible for various courses it was offering under the distance education scheme. Not only have I taken a degree from the open university but the system is also approved world-wide. Since the system is important, Parliament passed a bill, which paved the way for emergence of Indira Gandhi National Open University.

The UGC, which is the controlling authority of all universities, allows the Postgraduate degree holders of the Open University System to take its National Eligibility Test for lecturership, conducted twice every year.

P. Dravida Mary,

Virugambakkam

Makes law evasion easy

Sir, — A few days ago, I saw a hit-and-run by a motorcycle rider. He hit a women crossing the road, stopped for a few seconds and seeing the victim injured, drove away. I saw the number plate of the vehicle on which written in Tamil were "Tha, Aha, Uoo". There was no English alphabet and numbers. When that is the case it is very difficult to identify the vehicle for follow-up action.

I have also noticed some vehicle number plates written in the owners' mother-tongue i.e., Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, etc.,

This will make it difficult for any one, and also the people from other States or even the police to watch and note the number of the errant vehicle for any further action. The police wings and the Transport Department should implement the rule for uniform number system and the alphabet of a particular language.

N. R. Srinivasan,

West Mambalam

Why the discrimination?

Sir, — With a confirmed reservation ticket, I travelled by the West Coast Express from Chennai to Coimbatore on June 20. On boarding the coach S12, I found it like an unreserved compartment with no cushion seats. When 11 coaches were well furnished, why should the last coach alone be different for the worse? What is the purpose in booking tickets in advance?

K. Subramanian,

Nanganallur

What is right, wrong?

Sir, — I am a student residing at Padi. On July 1, I went to Mambalam to do shopping. Around 6.00 p.m., I had to go to Egmore by train. At the Mambalam railway station ticket counter, a woman told me that a ticket from Mambalam to Egmore costs Rs. 10. I bought the ticket. On returning home, I was told by my father that the ticket costs only Rs. 5. And the rate printed on the ticket was only Rs. 3.

A Karthik,

Padi

Rail commuters' plea

Sir, — The last train leaving Anna Nagar at 8.25 p.m. reaches Beach at 9.15 p.m. The last train to Tiruvanmiyur starts from Beach at 8.10 p.m. Commuters from Anna Nagar bound for Tiruvanmiyur and the stations enroute after 8.10 p.m. have to depend on other modes of transport. It is therefore suggested that the last train from Anna Nagar at 8.25 p.m. be extended to Tiruvanmiyur. Or a connecting train to Tiruvanmiyur may be arranged from Beach after 9.15 p.m.

R. Sampath,

Villivakkam

Roofless platform

Sir, — Ten days ago I had to wait for a BG train for Tambaram at 2 p.m. at the Kodambakkam railway station. The other commuters and I suffered much in the hot sun because there is no roof for the platform.

R. Sriram,

Chromepet

Slipshod work

Sir, — Recently the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has taken up sewerage treatment works in Postal Colony, Gopalan Street, and Mahadevan Street in West Mambalam. These are busy streets, linking Ashok Nagar with T.Nagar. The CMWSSB has entrusted the work to a private agency. Since the pipes were big, they had to dig up 10-12 feet deep. Though the work was completed, the dug up portions were not closed properly. Whenever there is a sharp shower, the streets become unmotorable and even walking becomes very difficult. There is no proper supervision by the Board. No red lights are kept near pits.

R. Muralikumar,

West Mambalam

Curious phenomenon

Sir, — The Syndicate bank branch, located on GNT Road, Thurapallam Bazaar in Elavur, Gummdipundi taluk, is often deprived of telephone connection. How the telephone goes out of order is quite unknown when all other instruments in adjacent and surrounding buildings continue to function smoothly.

This phenomenon persists for the last six months and our complaint to the BSNL, Gummudipundi, exchange is of no avail. We are forced to use cell phones.

This alternative, as is known, is not viable as that of the landline operation for smooth bank transaction. BSNL's indifference makes us lose customers.

Manager,

Syndicate bank branch,

Thurapallam Bazaar,

Elavur

Waiting for refund

Sir, — I wrote to the BSNL requesting the disconnection of my telephone (26530187) on March 22 this year. The telephone was disconnected on March 29. I applied for refund of deposit on April 12.

The deposit is yet to be refunded. When I enquired at the BSNL office at Anna Nagar East, I was told that the cheque would reach me `shortly'. I have taken voluntary retirement due to poor health and the delay by BSNL to refund the deposit amount is causing much hardship to me.

T. Mahadevan,

Nolambur

Railways reply

With reference to the letter `different logic' that appeared in these columns on July 12, Mr. S. Krishnamoorthy, Chief Public Relations Officer, Southern Railway writes.

At Nungambakkam Railway Station, provision has been made for a new booking office on the foot over bridge. The passengers after buying the ticket should negotiate the foot over bridge to the other end and take the path leading to foot over bridge on the BG side.

This inconvenience has to be tolerated for four months till the BG line under construction is commissioned. For these four months, we have increased the BG services from the earlier number of 132 to 172. We have provided services every 10 minutes during peak hours and every 15 minutes during non-peak hours. Further, we have co-ordinated with State Government authorities to run special buses to augment the capacity in the peak hours.

The MTC is running 60 additional services during the peak hours from important areas like Tambaram, Guindy and St. Thomas Mount to bring commuters to the Chennai Beach area and similarly take them back in the evenings.

(Letters for this column can also be sent by e-mail to letters @hindu.co.in with full postal address. They should be marked "Reader's Mail.")

Ashok Nagar

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