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

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 05, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Reader's Mail

Increase EMU service frequency

The lack of sufficient suburban EMU services between Chennai Beach and Tambaram on Saturdays, Sundays and other public holidays requires immediate action by Southern Railway officials. Though Saturdays and Sundays are holidays for Government employees, there is an unmanageable rush of commuters in trains for the following reasons: (1) private sector employees far outnumber the Central and State Government employees, (2) people in large numbers have shifted from the City to the suburbs, (3) on weekends and holidays, there is an increase in the number of commuters out to shop, irrespective of whether there is a festival on or not, (4) the ever-increasing number of tourists, both national and international, who prefer train travel.

Though the train frequency is greater during mornings and evening peak hours, the frequency is woefully inadequate during the stretch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. resulting in overcrowding in compartments.

Though many letters in this regard have appeared in these columns, no remedial action has been taken so far by the Railway authorities to provide relief to the hapless commuters. It would be helpful if the services are made available at least every 15 minutes on weekends and holidays.

J. Manohar Singh

Adambakkam

Re-lay overhead

power lines

We wish to bring to the authorities' attention the parlous state of the overhead power lines in our area, which are more than 25 years old and frequently snaps, giving rise to many anxious moments to the residents.

The line running through Karumari Amman Nagar 1st Street has snapped more than twice, and has joints in four places. The line in Karumari Amman 40 feet main Road has also snapped twice and has got six joints and the line in Ist cross snapped during Aadi procession the year before last and has about 2-3 joints.

As the frequent snapping of the line poses a threat to the lives of the residents, we appeal to the authorities to immediately re-lay the entire lines.

N. Rajagopalan

Madambakkam

City residents and TV channels

Chennai is the only city in India, which requires set top box under conditional Access (CAS) system to view international and national pay channels.

This system was introduced in all metropolitan cities on a trial basis, but implemented only in Chennai by the previous Government as a result of which it is only the people of Chennai who are unfortunate enough to be deprived of the pleasure of watching the channels.

Understanding the agony of the Chennaites, the same Government made it one of its election promises that if voted back to power again, it would take over from the private cable operators and offer the channels at an affordable cost to consumers.

However, the people of the State did not give a mandate to the party to rule again. Now that the World Cup soccer is round the corner will the present Government come out with a plan to enable the people of Chennai to view all the channels at an affordable cost?

T.M. Shakir

Anna Salai

Open rail booking office at CMBT

The Chennai Metropolitan Bus Terminus at Koyambedu has become a busy traffic junction, serving as the destination or transit point for tens of thousands of passengers every day from all parts of Tamil Nadu and neighbouring States. Many of these passengers would like to continue their journey by train to other places in the country.

Currently, they have to travel to the Egmore or Central stations or other railway booking offices in the city to book their tickets for travel. For many passengers new to Chennai this poses severe problems. A railway booking office at the CMBT will go a long way towards alleviating the hardships of these travellers. It will also serve as a convenient facility for residents of Koyambedu, Virugambakkam, Vadapalani, Arumbakkam and other nearby localities. I request the railway authorities to arrange to open a booking facility at this venue as soon as possible, with adequate manpower and separate counters for the senior citizens and physically handicapped people.

Dr. R. S. Raghavan,

Virugambakkam

Neglected Manali New Town

This refers to the news item: "Builders hail satellite townships proposal" in your of May 29, 2006.

They rightly pointed out that "Manali New Town," which was founded as a satellite township was a failure since it has no rail links. Even though there is enough land space to link Ennore and Manali New Town en route to Athipattu, no Government has taken steps to do so.

There is not only no rail link, but the bus services are also very poor, with only a few buses — and that too damaged vehicles — which break down often, leaving people of this are to depend on two wheelers or share autorickshaws. Moreover, the only link from this area to North Chennai is the Ponneri High Road, which is not only narrow, but also has to contend with the hundreds of container lorries. This makes driving on this highway a nightmarish one. At the least, the road should be widened, to compensate for the absence of a rail link.

Further, the drainage system in the area is not properly maintained; also the silt is not cleared before the rains, which causes overflow on the roads leading to health hazards. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) continues to neglect the area, though it continues to collect maintenance charges.

Another major problem is the pig menace. Pigs are reared in the nearby Eachankuzhi and Vichur villages they have a free run of the area.

Will the new Government address the problems of the township?

S. Somasundar,

Manali New Town

Provide basic amenities

The Ambattur Industrial Estate III main road from Sundaram Clayton Industries up to Hindustan Photo Film Industries, road is in bad shape. During the heavy rain earlier, Ambattur was flooded and this road got damaged badly. When the matter was taken up with the Ambattur Municipal authorities, we were told told that maintenance, repairs and relaying of roads and street lights are taken care of by the Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO). But till date, no official has bothered to provide better road and streetlights.

Nearly one lakh women are employed in Ambattur Industrial Estate, and they find it difficult to return home after their work; moreover, this has led to an increase in chain snatching incidents. Will SIDCO and Ambattur Municipality, which collect taxes from the Industries, also realise it is their duty to provide the basic facilities?

T. Gunaseelan,

Ambattur

Swift action

by authorities

The senior citizen who was killed in GST Road accident on May 28, 2006 was a resident of our colony. As soon as we heard the news about the road accident, we rushed to the spot and helped the family of victim. We would like to share our rare experience with your readers.

Normally, when there is a road accident, and that too a fatal one, the victim's family, which has been traumatised, has to run from pillar to post to get the victim's body, after the post mortem and other police formalities. If the victim is a VIP or a rich person, there is no problem. But, if the victim happens to be poor or middle class it would take a minimum of 12 hours to get back the body and a minimum amount of Rs. 10,000/- will have to be spent.

But, the public will be surprised to know, that the body of the senior citizen was handed over to his family within four hours of the accident, and that too without any money having to be spent. The Tambaram Traffic Investigation Team, led by Inspector Mr. Krishnamurthy completed all police formalities in a record time of one hour and the Chromepet Government Hospital Medical Team also did their work in another hour. Though it was Sunday, both the traffic police and GH Medical Staff carried out their duties with remarkable speed. Our Association appreciates and thanks them for their excellent co-operation!

V. Santhanam,

President,

Chromepet New Colony Residents

Welfare Society

Promise not kept

Responding to the letter written by the Chitlapakkam Residents Welfare Association Co-ordination Committee of October 16, 2005, the Divisional Railway Manager's Office through letter No. M/G.50/S/1008/05 dated January 5, 2006 informed us that the matter had been examined in detail and the authorities concerned had already been informed to open one more counter to issue tickets as well as make provision for a platform shelter and lighting arrangements at the earliest at Tambaram Sanatorium Railway Station.

Five months have passed, but the above assurance remains only on paper. We request the railway authorities to take immediate action to deliver on their promise.

S. Chandrasekaran,

Joint Secy.,

Chitlapakkam Annanagar

Residents Welfare Association

Streamline

auto-rickshaws

The Tamil Nadu Government, which is showering various benefits and concessions to farmers, the poor and downtrodden should also consider the plight of the middle class, especially senior citizens and arrange to crackdown on autorickshaw drivers who fleece the public. They should make it mandatory tamper-proof meters with the rates approved by the Government as is done in the other States.

Another great ordeal for senior citizens is collecting the monthly interest on their deposits by standing in the queue for hours together in the post office. Many aged persons faint unable to withstand the strain. While Andhra Pradesh Postal Circle has organised service at the doorstep, we do not have even the basic minimum facilities here.

I request our Union Minister who has done so much in the Telecom sector to intervene and modernise the postal services.

V. R. Sundaram,

Saidapet

Make auto meters compulsory

With the new Government taking over, commuters who take autorickshaws are hopeful that the new regime will issue suitable orders, making it compulsory for autorickshaws to operate with metres. At the moment, autorickshaws are running without meters and the public is helpless in dealing with the auto drivers, who demand unreasonable fares for taking them, with no concern for distance, time and place. In fact many people are loath to engage autos and prefer to travel in town buses despite the crowd and inconvenience. The new Government may consider raising the minimum fare and fix revised fares and issue orders, making it compulsory for all autos to operate by meter and collect fares accordingly. The public will be grateful if this problem is solved early.

C. Bhaskaran,

Adyar

Provide wheelchairs

at airport

I was surprised to read about the letter on wheel chairs in this column on May 15, 2006. I write about my experience. My wife (69) & I (77) went to the U.S. in 2004 at my son's invitation. On the onward journey, a friend who accompanied us throughout the journey guided us and so there was no problem at Dubai and London airports where we had to change planes. On return journey we had to travel alone. My son had requested the London and Dubai airport authorities through e-mail to provide assistance to us. On getting out of the planes at London and Dubai, airport employees were standing with a placard with our names and took us to the waiting lounge and back to the boarding gates in battery charged trolleys free of charge. When such is the case in London and Dubai, why should the airport charge for the wheelchair that too at an exorbitant rate of Rs. 500/- to come out of the airport — a mere distance of about 50 metres.

Why can't they arrange wheel chairs free of charge for disabled and senior citizen?

D. S. Santhanam,

Villivakkam

Shortage of stamp papers

Stamp papers of lower denomination continue to be in short supply in Chennai as a result of which people are facing difficulties.

Stamp papers in the denomination of Rs. 10, 20, 50 & Rs. 100 are very scarce, and especially Rs. 50 & 100 are not available for the past several months, forcing the people to go for higher denomination stamp papers, thereby incurring additional expenditure.

This in turn is creating a shortage among the vendors, who are unable to answer to the public, so we request the authorities to take urgent steps and arrange for the availability of the lower denomination stamp papers.

K. K. Jain,

Mint Street

Restore direct bus service

Chennai Egmore railway station is an important junction from where many south-bound trains arrive or depart.

The people of Mandaveli, R.A. Puram and Mylapore have no direct bus to Egmore. They have to catch two buses to reach Egmore. In the past, there were several bus services such as 23A, 23B and 23E to Egmore. Now all the services are have been withdrawn for reasons best known to the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) authorities.

It would be a nice gesture if the Government/ authorities introduce a direct bus service from Mandaveli to Egmore which will mitigate the hardship of the public having children & luggage in reaching the railway station.

B. Ganesan,

R.A. Puram

Provide speedbreakers

Balaji Nagar Main Road in Kolathur, starting from Kolathur Four Road junction goes up to Balajinagar about 4 km away. Motor vehicles on this road are speeding at 60 to 80 km per hour endangering the lives of students and pedestrians. The Zonal Officer IV of the Chennai Corporation, who is in charge of this 62nd Division, is requested to put up speed breakers on this road.

N. Samsundar,

Kolathur

Vendor menace at rail station

Mambalam railway station is the busiest among the suburban railway stations, catering to hundreds of commuters all through the year. Most of the office goers board the trains at this station after doing their bargain shopping at Ranganathan Street adjacent to the station, on the eastern side.

Vendors who sell flowers, fruits, eatables, garments and cheap cosmetics for women dominate the entrance to the station from this side. In fact the place is a veritable mini-market. This causes great inconvenience and innumerable hardship to the commuters, especially office-goers who rush to board the train from office. The situation worsens during holidays when commuters throng Ranganathan Street quite unmindful of the sweltering heat and the entrance is converted into a garbage spot by these vendors.

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) men carry out perfunctory clean-up campaigns once in a while. If the Railway authorities crack down the vendors permanently, it would afford free access to the station.

R. Ramadurai,

West Mambalam

Adambakkam

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