Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

R.T.I. photocopy charges

The Chief Minister was magnanimous in reducing the R.T.I. application fees from Rs. 50/- to Rs. 10/- on public request. Secondly payment of R.T.I. fees by affixing court fee stamp to the value (Rs.10) to give relief from expensive bank Demand Drafts was also permitted in the public interest.

However, the Rs. 2 per page of photocopy charges fixed for extracts can be reduced to nil up to 10 pages and thereafter Re. 1 per page as the commercial “Xerox” shops charge 50 pase to Re. 1 per page. Government should be a “service provider” rather than a “revenue” seeker when it comes to the R.T.I.

Dr. M. Sundaramurthy

Indira Nagar

At Nandanam signal point, traffid jams are common, making it an ordeal for the motorists coming from Chamiers Road (Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Road), especially in the evenings. Vehicles line up endlessly, causing traffic chaos, for want of a signal to cross. The signal is operated manually, and not enough time is given, and after allowing a few vehicles the constable on duty immediately change the signal to allow vehicles to move from other directions. Because of this, MTC buses and other vehicles wait for a long time at the signal. It is suggested that, except on days on which VIPs pass this route, the signals should be set to run automatically with timer so that the traffic is not held up for a long time. Will the higher-ups in the traffic police department look into the matter?

S. Rajan

Saligramam

A stretch of about 200 feet on Senkeni Amman Koil Street near the junction with Vandikkaran Street, Guindy, has not been blacktopped for quite some time. When it rains, this stretch becomes slushy with lots of potholes and protruding stones, resulting in great difficulty for drivers and commuters. The authorities concerned are requested to help by blacktopping this portion immediately.

At Little Mount, with the elimination of signals, a large number of vehicles heading for Adyar, Indira Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Santhome, etc. have to take a right turn from Anna Salai to reach the road, which leads to Raj Bhavan.

At the turning point, a large chunk of the road still remains un-tarred, which results in congestion of vehicles as only the tarred portion at the bend in being made use of. Will the authorities concerned attend to this urgently?

J. Manohar Singh

Adambakkam

Chromepet is a thickly populated area next only to Tambaram. But there are no adequate postal facilities in the area. Not even a post box has been provided in Purushotam Nagar and Bhuvaneswari Nagar areas. The residents of these areas find it difficult to post letters and they have to go to Radha Nagar near Chrompet railway station to post their mail.

Women and Senior Citizens are put to a lot of hardship in posting their letter making trips to Radha Nagar in the hot sun. Will the postal authorities look into the matter and put up a post box in the Pillaayar Koil at Purushotham Nagar, Chromepet?

G. Pichai

Chromepet

With more people using the public transport, the Government has introduced a number of deluxe (MTC) buses with automatic door functioning system. But unfortunately, the buses introduced are eating into the share of ordinary affordable buses i.e. the white board, L.S.S., M-Service and Express buses in which the bus passes are valid. As a result of this constraint, the poor merchants (who carry labourer’s pass), college and school students have to wait for a long time for low fare buses, which in turn makes for delays and overcrowding. In the effort to increase the commuters from the upper classes, the government should not ignore the needs of regular commuters who are dependent on the low-fare MTC buses.

I therefore suggest that either the pass holders may be allowed to travel by deluxe buses by just paying the difference in amount, or the frequency of ordinary buses should be equally increased.

S. Prem Kailash

Saidapet

It has become a routine for the commercial organisations in Chennai to use avenue trees to advertise their products by nailing bill boards on them. The practice of fixing bill boards by driving nails into the tree trunk/branches not only shortens the life and injures the cambium layer, which stores nutrients to feed trees, but also can be a conduit for insects/diseases.

Vigorous action is warranted against the offenders to prohibit the continuing misuse of trees as media for advertising, besides their destruction by vandals.

In this context, I wish to suggest the Tamil Nadu Government to establish a ‘Tree Authority’ as successfully enforced in our neighbouring States like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra for promoting an effective and sustainable greenbelt in a metro like Greater Chennai!

K. Ramadoss

Ayanavaram

The public, especially the parents of the children who are studying in the Anjuham Higher Secondary School, West Mambalam are in an embarrassing situation when they pass by cinema posters containing obscene pictures pasted on the western side of Jubilee Road.

No action has been taken either by the Government or by the local leaders to prevent the pasting of cinema posters near to the schools.

The innocent minds of the school going children especially the adolescents get attracted/diverted from studies which will certainly affect their academic future. The Government/authorities concerned should take immediate action to book the offenders immediately which will help to create a good environment/ atmosphere around the schools.

V. P. Ramesh

Ashok Nagar

Of late, the Transport authorities have withdrawn the bus services on Route No.17A, plying between Koyambedu Bus Stand and Broadway, adding to the list of several routes already withdrawn, on the pretext of ‘poor patronage’. Office goers, who reside in the areas around Koyambedu and Virugambakkam, depend on the route to get to Gemini flyover and Mount Road. In the absence of the service, they have to avail of the share autos as an alternative.

The plying of share autos carrying passengers throughout the day only confirms that bus services in the vicinity for various destinations with proper timings at the starting point are financially viable.

Such a move will also be of immense benefit for commuters.

V. Rajagopal

Virugambakkam

The busy stretch of Medavakkam Main Road between Vellalar Street in Adambakkam and Kilkattalai has not been widened for long, leading to frequent traffic snarls and mishaps. Encroachments and parking of vehicles on both sides have narrowed the road further which makes driving an unpleasant experience during peak hours and walking or road crossing, a nightmarish experience for pedestrians.

I request the authorities concerned to take immediate action.

M. V. Saranath

Ullagaram

The letter about ‘Autorickshaws and fare meters’ (Reader’s Mail of 11-6-07) has highlighted what the commuters are experiencing. Even after the introduction of the new digital meter, the difficulties of the public are yet to be solved.

The solution is to add a printer to the meter which can give the date, registration number of the auto, time of starting, time of shopping, distance travelled and the actual fare. It should be mandated that only after getting a printed bill, should the passenger have to pay the fare. When STD booths are giving bills, is it too much to expect such an arrangement for the auto meters also?

S. Krishnamurthy

Kilpauk

Meters in most autorickshaws have no lights. The passengers are unable to read the exact fare from these dark meters at night. The authorities should insist that all vehicles should have lights in their meters.

The meter should be fixed at a convenient height above the seat to make the fare-reading easy. The driver’s name should also be displayed by the side of the meter.

P. V. Srinivasan

Sastri Nagar

I read in the daily that there was a plan to build a subway at the railway crossing, which leads to Adambakkam, by the Alandur Municipality. As a resident of Thillai Ganga Nagar, I would like to share my woes of crossing the subways during the rainy season. It is a nightmare for every resident of Nanganallur and Thillai Ganga Nagar during the rainy season. On behalf of all the residents of the area, I request the authorities to reconsider their decision of building the subway. Instead they can build an overbridge.

M. Sriram

Nanganallur

The condition of the Chennai-Tirupathi National Highway (NH205) Road in front of Ambattur Telephone Exchange is very bad. This road was badly affected during last monsoon’s heavy rains. Till today Highway Officials have not even bothered to repair this particular stretch.

Two-wheelers find it difficult to negotiate the stretch and frequent accidents are taking place. I request the National Highways authorities to repair the road immediately.

T. Gunaseelan

Ambattur

Of late the commuters using Suburban Trains in the Tiruvellore-Chennai Beach has increased manifold. Many Central, State Government offices and big business establishments are situated around the Marina Beach. As a result, the population using train services in this sector is growing day-by-day. At present, the train services are infrequent and there are only few trains in the mornings and evenings with practically no service during noon hours.

It is high time that the frequency is increased during peak hours so that at least there is a train once in every half-an-hour.

A few services from Tiruvanmiyur to Tiruvellore and Tambaram – Tiruvellore will be a boon to the public. Will the Railways do the needful?

S. Seethalakshmi

Perambur

Tamil Nadu Government was pleased to issue a G.O. No. 579 dated 15-9-06 through which pensioners more than 75 years and above were able to get arrears of pension as lump sum of more than Rs.2 lakh and above for a period of 18 years commencing from 1-6-88 to date.

The lump sum arrears now received by the pensioners are for a period of 18 years. Most of them are aged 80 and above and receive this amount at the fag end of their life. It is cruel to recover Income Tax at the rate of 20% from these pensioners without considering that this amount paid to them is for a period of 18 years.

If the amount of arrears is calculated year wise for 18 years it will not exceed the Taxable limit. We request the Central Government to render justice to them by giving exemption from income tax.

D. Dasaratharaman

President,

Tamil Nadu Public Health

Retired Officials Association

Choolaimedu

Mettukuppam of Nerkundram Panchayat is surrounded by a lot of residential colonies and commercial establishments, but there is no bank in this area to cater to the needs of the residents and merchants.

We have to go either to Arcot Road, Alwarthirunagar or Chinmaya Nagar for banking purposes. There is a State Bank of India branch at Kaliamman Kovil Street, Chinmayanager and if only an extension counter is started at Mettukuppam it will be of immense help for the area people. Will the State Bank of India look into this matter?

S. T. Suganthakumar

Koyambedu .

Re “Newly married couple killed in accident” on June 13, I submit the following in public interest. Some time ago, the Taluk Office Road, part of Sardar Patel Road i.e. from Raj Bhavan Junction to Halda Junction, part of Anna Salai i.e. from Halda Junction to Little Mount Junction were made one way to help flow near the Raj Bhavan-Little Mount-Anna Salai.

Though this new arrangement has proved useful in facilitating traffic flow to some extent, it is dangerous for the following reasons.

a. Lack of road discipline among the road users

b. lack of proper lighting on the stretch

c no lane marking,

d. the roads are uneven on all sides so also on the median since the median is removed on account of one way

e. there is no proper policing round the clock

f. there is no speed limit boards or traffic signs

g. encroachments on pavements on Taluk Office Road

Unless the aforesaid deficiencies are rectified as early as possible on this stretch this new one way arrangement is a bane rather than boon. Strict enforcement of traffic rules on this stretch is a must, otherwise old system of vehicle movement may be restored to save precious lives.

E. P. Parthasarathy

Saidapet

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

“Social Security Bill falls short of expectations”
R.T.I. photocopy charges
Noted mathematician remembered
An opportunity to relive the past
SOS Day celebrated
Anti-chikungunya drive kicks off
Two-day workshop held
Build an enduring Sarvodaya society: M.S. Swaminathan
Training programme for lawyers
Chennai Today
Tours to Adi Kailash
Accent on efficient use of blood
TNOU courses
National Association of Deaf seeks common sign language
Search on to trace physically challenged boy
Jayachitra to head Film and Television Producers’ Guild
Singapore woos Indian tourists
‘Min Marathon’ held
Doctor, nurse assaulted
Gang assaults official liquidator
Scholarships distributed
Traffic system modified
Lecture on ‘Madness, Genius and Creativity’

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu