Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 27, 2006
ePaper
Online edition of India's National Newspaper Monday, Nov 27, 2006 ePaper |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| New Delhi |
|
News:
ePaper |
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Jobs | Obituary |
New Delhi
Jungle raj Three-year-old Anant's kidnapping from outside his house at Noida in broad daylight has once again brought to light the awful law and order situation in the National Capital Region. Cases like Anant's kidnapping have become so common that they hardly raise any eyebrows. It is only when some high-profile people are involved that these issues get noticed by the media. How can we be sure that another Anant would not go missing tomorrow?
Railways' ways
K. T. Thampi's letter in these columns (November 13) about the longer time taken now by the Hazrat Nizamuddin-Trivandrum Rajdhani Express brings to mind a similar problem with the prestigious New Delhi-Chennai Tamil Nadu Express. This train was inaugurated with great fanfare on August 7, 1976, by the then Railway Minister Kamalapati Tripathi, and it covered the distance of 2,189 km between Chennai Central (then known as Madras Central) and New Delhi in 28 hours flat, with four scheduled stops at Vijayawada, Nagpur, Bhopal and Jhansi besides four other operational halts en route.
Over the years, going by the Railways' claims, the express trains have been speeded up considerably. The latest railway time-table states that trains are being speeded up by one hour to seven hours. Actually in our country the trains are progressively being run faster, yes, but more stoppages are added at a faster rate due to political interference in the States through which the high-speed trains have to pass. The end result is that the Tamil Nadu Express which covered the distance between the two metros in 28 hours when introduced in 1976 now takes 33 hours even with improved traction and a fully electrified trunk route! The good old Grand Trunk Express which also runs on the same route used to take 38 hours; it now covers the distance in 36 hours. All inter-city trains should be run with few halts in between if they have to benefit the travellers between the metros. It is hoped that the Railways would look into this and reduce the running time of all prestigious trains across the country.
Seal it
"Of the people, for the people and by the people".... a mantra that enthrals everyone everywhere in any democratic country. But what is happening in India's very own Capital?
Ordinary people here lose their sleep worrying how to pay the next semester fee for the children. How to manage the heart operation of the ageing father? How to solemnise the younger sister's wedding? I am not saying the Government is responsible for everyone's misery or worry. The Government actually comes out with offers of free drugs for thalassemia patients and we have regular "Polio Ravivars". But the same Government goes ahead with Operation Sealing and does not care that many lives are paralysed by that one single act. Is it not worth while to seal the Operation Sealing? Or at least resort to sealing after offering alternative measures to those affected by it? But as they say, "the law must be implemented".
Is the law for the people or the people are for the law? Let the keepers of the law give it a thought.
Dr. T. Rajan
Gurgaon calling
Travellers between Gurgaon and Delhi are subjected to misery at IFFCO Chowk in Gurgaon every day.
A flyover is under construction at IFFCO Chowk. Apparently there has been a delay in its completion for various reasons. But the point is that the delay in construction need not lead to a traffic chaos daily at the Chowk.
As things are, anyone coming to Gurgaon through Mehrauli Road is compelled to take a left turn, travel 3 km, take a U-turn, and again travel 3 km before being allowed entry into Gurgaon.
Imagine thousands of vehicles doing this on the highway every day for the past six months! What a waste of precious time, fuel and resources!
With a little imagination this 3-km up-and-down drive could be reduced to half a km. The Delhi Metro railway authorities would have done it. Why can't the authorities in Gurgaon (including the flyover contractor) do it? Is it lack of sensitivity to the sufferings of thousands of citizens?
B. Ramdas
Right on track
With reference to the report, "Muscle, money power rule the roost in PDS, say RTI activists" (October 9), I am directed to inform that
The first batch of applications was received on 19-09-06, followed by the second batch on 20-09-06, the third on 25-09-06 and the last on 26-09-06.
The replies have been issued up to 19-10-06, so the allegation of discouraging people from filing RTI applications seeking information is totally baseless. It has been ensured that the prescribed quantities of specified food articles and superior kerosene are disbursed to the PDS card holders.
Departmental action has been initiated against the errant PDS outlet holders under the provisions of the Delhi Kerosene Oil
Surender Kumar
(Letters for this column may be sent by e-mail to wsins@thehindu.co.in. They must carry the full postal
Printer friendly
page
News:
ePaper |
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | The Hindu ePaper | Business Line | Business Line ePaper | Sportstar | Frontline | Publications | eBooks | Images | Home |
Copyright © 2006, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
