The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Reader's Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 02, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Reader's Mail

Housing complex

in disrepair

During my recent visit to Chennai I found that the once beautiful housing-cum-shopping complex built by Tamil Nadu Housing Board at 180, Luz Church Road, Mylapore, presenting a bizarre look. It consists of 144 houses and 44 shops. On enquiry I came to know that the tenants of the houses have formed an association and each family pays Rs. 400 per month as subscription for the upkeep of the building. Unfortunately, the office-bearers do not pay attention to the maintenance of houses and the streets surrounding them, leading to their rapid deterioration. The streets inside the complex are in bad shape, lights are dim and sewage pipes are leaky. The environment is polluted and unhealthy. The park to the north-west of the buildings is nearly gone. At this rate, the day is not far off when the whole complex will turn into a concrete slum with horrible living conditions.

Of the 44 shops in possession of the TNHB in the heart of the complex about 10 are occupied. The rest are vacant.

To tide over the situation in the housing sector of the complex it is necessary to have only service-minded people as office-bearers of the association.

It would be better if both residents' association and the TNHB act cohesively to bring original grandeur to the complex.

R. Soundararajan,
Nagapattinam

Rude, discourteous behaviour

On March 24 (Thursday) around 9 p.m. at the Koyambedu Bus Terminus 25 to 30 passengers were waiting for bus to Srikalahasthi. Among them were ladies, senior citizens and children. The driver of bus route No. 200 (Registration No. TN-21 N-0628) Chennai to Tirupathi was providing false information to passengers bound to Srikalahasthi that all the seats in his bus had been reserved.

The information given at the counter and that given by the driver was contradictory. (Initially most of the seats were vacant).

The people who got seats were compelled to pay fare up to Tirupati while the rest were forced to stand for a tedious three-hour journey.

The driver and the conductor behaved rudely. I request the transport authorities to take appropriate action against such staff.

C. D. Mani,
Pallavaram

Technical

expertise vital

Balcony collapses, sunshade collapses and building collapse are now regular news items in our dailies.

The tragedies are due to the apathy and carelessness of the unscrupulous elements in the building construction trade.

The technical expertise of qualified Civil/Structural Engineers have to be utilised whether it is a new construction, renovation or demolition of a building, with proper supervision.

The associations of Civil Engineers should insist that the Corporation/Government should compulsorily have a panel of Civil/Structural Engineers in each Division of Corporation or Municipality who would be given the powers (responsibility) of advising and supervising a demolition, construction or an alteration and given part of the fees, which is collected for sanctioning a demolition or construction. The building inspectors' role in identifying violations is very important and stringent punishment for violation should be provided.

G. J. Jeyaraj,
Korattur

Water supply still

a pipe dream

This has reference to "Water Supply Problem Continues "(The Hindu, 21-4-2005).

We the residents of Ayanavaram located close to the Kilpauk Water Works (CMWSSB) have not been getting the piped water supply for almost eight years now.

The worst affected area warranting piped supply are part of Konnur High Road, Officer's colony, Railway Quarters, United India Nagar, P.E. Koil Main Street, P.E. Koil North & West Mada Streets besides the tail end Gandhi Nagar, Tagore Nagar in Ayanavaram.

It is most unfortunate that CMWSSB Officials including the Minister for Rural Development and Local Administration who invariably hear public grievances do not find a permanent solution to the long pending dream of the Ayanavaram residents.

President,

Exnora Innovators' Club,
Ayanavaram

Construct pedestrian subway

People, especially the invalid, physically handicapped and mentally challenged persons find it very difficult to cross the Durga Bai Deshmukh Road, between Satya Studios Bus stop and Andhra Mahila Sabha due to continuous flow of heavy traffic even during non-peak hours. At this point a traffic policeman is highly essential to help the public. The density of traffic is bound to increase in the coming days with construction of Mani Mandapam for late Sivaji Ganesan, nearby. A traffic signal or a pedestrian subway is needed.

M. S. Jayaraman,
Chennai

Post office upgraded

Sir, — The postal authorities should be complimented for paying attention to upgrading the Mylapore Post Office and other installations. In fact, it is long overdue. Post offices have played, and will continue to play, an important role in our society. The postal staff are a good bunch, like AIR people. They touch the lives of millions of common men and women day after day, week after week and month after month. They, and the general public whom they serve, deserve clean, and well-lighted office environment. .

V. R. Varadarajan,
Mylapore

The problem of change

In MTC buses, conductors find it difficult to give 50 paise back as change, leading to frequent quarrels with passengers. MTC authorities could issue paper tokens in denominations of 25 paise and 50 paise, which could be exchanged in bus depots or utilised as change in other buses. This method will reduce friction between passengers and conductors.

K. Ravi,
Alwarthirunagar

Traffic congestion

We would like to draw the attention of the traffic police authorities to the congestion on the Muthukrishnan street off Pondy Bazaar, Chennai. The street, if cleared of haphazard parking of bikes, cars, cycles and hawkers, can act as a gateway to Pondy Bazaar reducing the traffic on Dr. Nair Road and G. N. Chetty Road. The police remain mute spectators to the problem.

J. Christopher,
Porur

Nagapattinam

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