The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Readers' Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 27, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Readers' Mail

`Booking' of seats

Sir, - Today, the daily commuters of 1082 Kanyakumari-Mumbai Jayanthi Janata Express train at Thiruvananthapuram Central are happy after retaining the old timing of the train after a stormy agitation. Now the train departs from the Central at 7-45 a.m. Even if the train leaves at 8. a.m., it will not be much inconvenient to regular passengers.

At present season ticket holders are allowed to travel in sleeper class compartments in this train barring a few which have local reservation from Thiruvananthapuram Central. This facility is a boon for the hundreds of commuters including a large number of women.

But, what is interesting is a new trend of `seat reservation' in the bogies by some passengers. When the train reaches the station in the morning some passengers enter the bogies from both sides of the train within no time using all the force and started booking the seats by spreading their belongings like bag, umbrella, newspaper, plastic carry bags, files, books and etc. Later, they will give these seats to someone whom they thought will be the right persons. Here, the women passengers are fortunate. This trend should be stopped.

- K.P. Ashok Kumar,
Pattom.

Doing one's duty

Sir, - The Central railway station presented a surprisingly clean look on the morning of September 21, the day of the visit of Lalu Prasad, Union Railway Minister. The platform was spick and span, as also the tracks, even. Every official was seen in his designated dress, attending to the duties well. All the unauthorised newspaper sellers normally seen on the station were conspicuously absent.

For once, the public came to know that the railway staff, as in any other governmental outfit, could be made to discharge their duties effectively, if there is a likelihood of those in power noting the lapses.

But then, this is an `one-day phenomenon' and the situation will soon return to the `normal' way — of unclean station and compartments, uncaring staff and what not. Probably, we may have to wait for another visit of the Minister to see our station in tidy form.

Can't our officials do their duties properly, honouring the public whose tax money feeds them?

- N.T. Nair
PTP Nagar.

Clear the road

Sir, - In order to coordinate traffic activities in the city the traffic police station was shifted to Pattom a couple of years back. Now the station itself is creating problems for the public. Vehicles involved in road accident have been parked in front of the station, occupying half of the Pattom-Pottakuzhi Road. Vehicles carrying emergency cases to the Medical College Hospital and even pedestrians are not able to pass these hurdles freely.

The traffic authorities should take appropriate steps to clear the road.

- E. Benjamin,
Poojappura.

Smoking menace

Sir, - It seems the authorities concerned have forgotten court directives banning smoking in public places. Now-a-days one can see people smoking in public places without fear. The Regional Cancer Centre registers 50,000 new cases every year. The State registered around 12,000 cancer deaths a year and one-third of the cancer deaths are attributed to tobacco alone, as per press reports. Considering the seriousness of the situation, the new Government should take immediate action to punish the guilty and safeguard the interests of non-smokers.

- Karamana Manikantan Nayar,
Vanchiyoor.

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