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

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 22, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Reader's Mail

Postal authorities commended

A few weeks ago, I wrote to the Chief Postmaster General about the hardship faced by customers, especially investors, in P.O. savings instruments at Tambaram Post Office. I received a reply from the Senior Superintendent of Post Offices informing me that an additional counter has been started to mitigate the inconvenience to customers.

I saw the additional counter functioning on my next visit to the post office. A couple of cushioned benches for the comfort of elders were also kept in a welcome change.

I wholeheartedly thank the Postal authorities for their positive response.

P. Swaminatha Krishna,

Chitlapakkam

End the parking menace

I am a resident of Chitrakulam South Street, Mylapore, and wish to bring a problem to the notice of the authorities concerned. Vehicles are regularly being parked in front of our houses, creating congestion and nuisance. Despite our requests not to park the vehicles in the area to allow free movement of transport, there is no let up in indiscriminate parking of vehicles in the area. I request the authorities to take steps to end this parking menace.

S. Kesavan,
Mylapore

Rationalise route numbers, fare, stages

The route numbers given on all MTC buses by the authorities with prefixes and suffixes not only confuse visitors, but even city commuters. In spite of requests from passengers on several occasions the department has not bothered to amend the practice. Moreover, there are so many different colours name boards viz. white, yellow, green, blue and so on, and many categories of service. Do we really need so many categories with different nameplates on the city bus routes? The operation of express buses and luxury buses charging higher fares on city routes make no sense; such express and luxury services should be operated only on long distance routes.

If needed, a nominal fare revision can be thought of once in two years, to make up the loss if any, to the department. The present fare structure of Rupees 2.50, 3.50, 4.50, 5.50 and so on on LSS and Express services, it is neither advantageous nor passenger-friendly, as while buying the ticket one has to tender the exact fare to the conductor, failing which, the balance, which the conductor writes down on the ticket, has to be collected later. Also, the fare stages are set in numbers on all routes; this ought to be curtailed so that the conductors are freed of the time-consuming task of keeping track of the tickets issued at different stages.

S. Rajan,
Saligramam

Natesan Park needs attention

While it is heartening that Chennai Corporation is renovating some landmark parks in the City, it is distressing to note that the local body has been neglecting the famous Dr. Natesan Park on Venkatnarayana Road in T.Nagar. There are mounds of rubbish scattered all round, dead trees, fallen tree trunks and plants withering without water. Will the authorities take immediate action to restore the old glory of this park, used by senior citizens such as me as well as young people in large numbers?

R. Sundaresan,

Secretary,
West C.I.T. Nagar Residents' Association

Take care of devotees' footwear

Devotees visiting the Karaneeswarar Temple in West Saidapet have been complaining of frequent theft of their slippers since the introduction of the free footwear service scheme.

The Temple authorities neither make proper arrangements for free service nor permit someone to take care of the footwear of the devotees who are willing to pay for the service.

During the recent Chithirai festival, hundreds of devotees visited the temple and they were forced to leave their slippers in the vacant space near the entrance. Many of them were stolen.

I request the present Government to scrap this "free footwear service scheme" and leave the decision to the individual temples.

V.R. Sundaram
Saidapet West

EB workers handicapped

On April 17, 2006 at about 6pm, immediately after the street lights were switched on, there was a fire in one of the street lights on the 2nd street of our colony. I immediately contacted by cell phone the AEE who is a kind, soft-spoken and duty conscious officer. He promised to send staff to attend to the fault. He did send a worker but by the time he arrived, the entire unit was burnt.

The point is that our 63 division — which is a large division — is unfortunately manned only by a line inspector for the past two years.

While communication has improved so much with wireless phones and cell phones freely available, in our division there is no mechanism to file complaints or call the staff for emergency work regarding streetlights. The CMWSSB and the Corporation have provided cell phones to all AEs and higher-level officers. But the same has not provided to the staff who are responsible for maintaining streetlights. And ours is one of the very few divisions, which has not been provided with ladder-fitted repair van. The staff have no other go but to accumulate a few complaints before requisitioning a vehicle from nearby divisions.

K. Thiagarajan
North Thirumalai Nagar
Residents' Welfare Association

Upgrade Chitlapakkam to municipality

The erstwhile Chitlapakkam Town Panchayat, with 8,000 houses in 400 streets, 2,100 street lights, two overhead tanks of 4 lakh litres and 5 lakh litres capacity respectively, and water lines running to 50 km with 2,450 house connections has been downgraded as special village panchayat. This is having its impact on maintenance and development.

The actual population of Chitlapakkam was above 40,000 and not 25,292 as per the 2001 census. The total voters then according to the voter's list itself was around 30,000. The Census figure is patently inaccurate. The decision to downgrade Chitlapakkam was taken as the population, as per 2001 census figure, was less than 30,000.

Chitlapakkam is 22 km from Chennai. It comes under CMDA and topographically it is located between Pallavaram and Tambaram Municipalities. The entire population engages only in non-agriculture activities. Residents have been campaigning for some time now, and have also submitted representations to the Committee appointed by the Government for reclassification without much success.

We appeal to the Government to upgrade Chitlapakkam as Municipality.

P. Viswanathan,
Convener,
Chitlapakkam Residents'
Associations Coordination
Committee

Post more staff at rail counters

The computerised passenger reservation centre functioning at Tiruvallur Railway Station premises is always crowded.

As the centre is manned by a single clerk, he is unable to attend to enquiries and issue reserved tickets for train travel at the same time.

Hence posting of one more clerk is urgently needed.

Moreover the working hours are fixed at a stretch from 0800 to 1400 hours. If the counter is kept open both in the morning and evening, it would be of immense benefit to the public.

I request the Railway authorities to do the needful.

N.B.S. Manian,
Secretary,
Residents Welfare Association,
Manavalanagar

Extend Guindy overbridge wall

Despite a barricade put up by the authorities, autos and two-wheelers from Guindy take an illegal U turn at the Guindy Overbridge to reach Race Course Road unmindful of the risk it causes to oncoming vehicles.

I request the authorities to extend the wall of the Guindy Overbridge up to SPIC building to ensure that this does not happen.

M. V. Saranath,
Ullagaram

Remove encroachments on side paths

The side paths in the city are choked by various encroachments, making them virtually unusable by pedestrians. Many traders and shopkeepers use them for an open-air display of their products.

Side paths are also being used to park vehicles such as water tanks, for eateries, and to store construction materials such as sand and bricks, which are dangerous to motorists. Such encroachments mean that pedestrians have to walk on the road, putting them in harm's way.

G. S. Rajan,
Velachery

Unscheduled power cuts

The residents of Mahalakshmi Nagar and surrounding areas in West Velachery are experiencing power cuts every night, ranging from one hour to four hours due to irregular maintenance of power by the EB authorities, particularly in the areas under the Assistant Engineer, Vanuvampet. Even though the installation of three transformers has been approved in principle by the authorities, only posts have been erected so far. Nothing has been done to install transformers in these places to date.

We request the EB authorities to take immediate action.

S. Ambikapathy
Secretary,
Mahalakshmi Nagar Civic Forum
Velachery

No Palar water supply

A few years ago, the residents of Adambakkam and Alandur areas were fortunate enough to get sweet and potable water from the Palar River, which was distributed by the Alandur Municipality through taps installed in their houses, with a water meter attached. The residents happily parted with a hefty sum towards meeting a part of the expenses connected with the introduction of the scheme of distribution of Palar water. However, their happiness was short-lived.

The supply of Palar water became scarce, and supply through their taps dwindled to once in 8 to 10 days. After that, there was no supply.

Then, the Water Supply Board announced that water would be supplied by the Board henceforth to the residents of Adambakkam-Alandur areas. The Palar water was diverted for distribution to Pallavaram and Chromepet areas.

The reason for stoppage of distribution of Palar water in Adambakkam-Alandur areas and diversion to Pallavaram-Chromepet areas is mystifying. It is unfortunate that the water now being received through the taps in Adambakkam-Alandur areas is not potable, gives out a bad smell and can be used only for bathing, washing utensils and clothes.

J. Manohar Singh,
Adambakkam

Low voltage

For the past 10 days there have been heavy power fluctuations and low voltage problem in Senthilnagar/Kolathur. There are two transformers in Senthil Nagar, an area where in which several top level State Government officials are residing.

The EB staff are illegally providing power to local wedding halls, which is what causing the problem of low voltage problem. When we call the EB to complain, there is no response.

G. Abyvarghese
president,
Senthil Nagar Youth & Residents' Welfare Association,
Kolathur
Improve MTC services

I request the new DMK government to do something about the lack of transport facilities from Nanganallur. What the residents of Nanganallur need are: (a) restoration of Route No. 70 — Nanganallur to Tambaram (via) Palavanthangal Subway and Pallavaram, (b) augmentation of route buses on Route 18C Nanganallur to Koyambedu Market (via) CMBT and (c) restoration of Route No. N-66 (via) Palavanthangal Subway and Pallavaram on the route Nanganallur — Poonamallee.

S. Krishnamurthy,
Nanganallur

Improve frequency of train service

The EMU train from Ennore to Tiruvallore every day starts at 6-45 a.m. It comes to Vysarpadi Jeeva around 7-15 a.m. Many students from Gummidipoondi, studying in schools and colleges on the Avadi-Tiruvallur route, depend on the train service but the frequency of the trains is very poor. People who miss the train have to come to Basin Bridge and catch another train, which invariably lead to huge delays. We request the railway authorities to increase the frequency of trains, especially during peak hours.

S. Sabarinath,
Jawahar Nagar

End traffic chaos

Traffic is always chaotic at the junction of Brindavan Street and Thambiah Road in West Mambalam since most of the vehicles coming from Ashok Nagar, KK Nagar and Vadapalani use the Duraisamy Subway. The route is very convenient, especially for those wanting to reach Mount Road and other places via T. Nagar. But the heavy traffic on this stretch causes a lot of hardship to the commuters.

During evening peak hours, the indiscriminate parking of vehicles especially two-wheelers in front of an eatery stop opposite SRM Hospital, worsens the problem.

Though traffic police are posted at this junction, they do not crack down on the haphazard parking of vehicles in front of the eatery.

The traffic police on duty should be issued orders to not allow illegal parking on the road.

S. Jayabalan,
West Mambalam

Increase bus frequency

The 21D bus service from the High Court towards Thiruvanmiyur via Ashtalakshmi Temple and Indira Nagar is infrequent. This greatly inconveniences the commuters, especially during the peak hours.

If a direct bus link is introduced from Chennai Central to Indira Nagar, people going to Santhome beach, Santhome Church and Ashtalakshmi temple will be greatly benefited.

Also, the frequency of the 21D must be increased so that people going to R.A.Puram, Mandaveli will get some relief. We request the MTC authorities to do the needful.

S. Sabarinath
Jawahar Nagar
Chennai-82

Ban two-wheelers in the city

This is with reference to the letter in the Reader's Mail of April 10, 2006 by K.M. Sundaram. The reader has listed various unsafe driving practices, particularly by two-wheelers, such as sneaking into gaps even in traffic jams and trying to hustle ahead blocking free movement of vehicles from the opposite side, and children perched on the fuel tank of two-wheelers. I would like to suggest some remedial measures, though it may not be to the liking of all. One such remedy would be a total ban on all two-wheelers on Chennai roads. If it is felt that this may be too drastic, traffic authorities in Chennai may consider converting all two-wheelers into three-wheelers with suitable seating arrangements so that no child is perched precariously on the fuel tank.

This will go a long way towards minimising accidents.

The two-wheelers should be used only by the traffic/ patrol police.

M. Jayaram,
Nanganallur

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