Tamil Nadu   

Railway division

The Salem Railway Division is scheduled to be inaugurated on November 1, at Salem by the Railway Minister. No doubt all people in the area covered by the division will be benefited.

The Salem-Vridachalam Broad gauge section should also to be inaugurated the same day.

It will be a great boon to the public if a direct, fast passenger train is run daily between Salem Junction and Chennai Egmore, starting late in the evening so as to reach both destinations in around seven hours.

It is worth mentioning that a similar service was available before, when the metre gauge line was in operation. On a modest estimate, nearly 2,500 people are travelling from Salem to Chennai daily, of which nearly 50 per cent of them go to places between Chengalpattu-Chennai Egmore.

The Railway minister is requested to announce this schedule on a priority basis while inaugurating this section.

T. Kasinathan,

Salem.

Thirteen people died when a building in Coimbatore constructed by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) collapsed recently. TNHB has been mired in corruption at all levels - from acquiring lands to construction of houses and flats of the poorest quality. It is also said that the TNHB employees instigate land owners, whose land is acquired by the Board, to file suits in courts against the Board demanding a higher price for their land.

If the land price is increased by the courts, those who have purchased houses will have to pay the excess amount.

TNHB gets into legal entanglements so that sale deeds need not be given to purchasers even after they pay the entire amount with interest. The Board fleeces the previous owners of the land who win cases against the Board. The government should wind up the anti-people and corrupt TNHB.

The dilapidated buildings which claimed the lives of many people in Coimbatore and those waiting to take away the lives of many others in other areas in Tamil Nadu remain as monuments of the impotent and corrupt administration.

Subbiah Karmegam,

Salem

While we claim our country follows secularism, we have the quota system based on caste and community.

Recently the Tamil Nadu Government passed a legislation granting quota for BC Christians and Muslims in the state. Now we need to think on how to address such claims by other groups of people.

V. Srinivasan,

Hosur.

Though the government has implemented helmet rule most two-wheeler drivers do not use helmets. Why don’t authorities take action against those who are violating the rule?

V.S. Sudhakar,

Dharmapuri.

Erode Central bus stand is one of the biggest bus stands in Tamil Nadu. Many buses come to this stand and leave here to various parts of the state. It is crowded round-the-clock. Share autos, cars, two-wheelers and three-wheelers also enter the bus stand. Passengers and pedestrians face a lot of problems.

Buses entering the bus stand with speed scare the passengers. There is no proper pedestrian crossing at the entrance of the bus stand, particularly on the Mettur road where there is heavy traffic congestion.

V.S. Ganesamurthy,

Erode.

The department of postal service should consider selling stamps, aerogrammes and inlands at places which are easily accessible.

Perhaps a mobile unit can be deployed to cover educational institutions since it will be of advantage to students who want to know about the philatelic world.

R. Kanagarathinam,

Gobichettipalayam.

This refers to the report ‘HADP to focus on economic uplift of tribals’ (Oct. 17). HADP over the years has successfully initiated many welfare schemes in the Nilgiris and it is heartening to note that the benefits have reached the tribals as well.

The proposal to adopt certain tribal hamlets will go a long way in boosting the morale of the tribals but there must be scope for compulsory education. In this connection I would like to suggest that all community halls have libraries or reading rooms attached to them.

P.U. Krishnan,

Udhagamandalam.

This refers to the report ‘User charges are inevitable: Corpn.’ (Oct. 3). The report says: “Drainage facilities had been provided earlier free of cost.” I wish to say that the residents of Saibaba Colony were charged exorbitantly for getting connection to the underground sewerage. There was nothing free.

V.S. Ghulati,

Coimbatore.

Introduction of Coimbatore-Nagercoil Express (two-way) after repeated demands was announced in the Railway Budget in February 2007. Thereafter it also found a place in the railway time table effective July 2007, though it was stated that the introduction of the trains would be announced at a later date.

The trains were allotted numbers too - 6609/6610. It is already four months since the time table was published but the introduction of the train is yet to become a reality. Special trains to various places have been announced for the festival seasons from October 2007 to February 2008. Will the railways at least now introduce this daily express train without loss of time?

Dominic David,

Coimbatore.

I posted a letter (with correct address and pin code) to my relative in Bangalore on September 17 informing him about the demise of my younger brother and the place of the 10th day ceremony. On October 1 he informed me over phone about the receipt of my letter on that day after a lapse of 13 days.

Similarly, another relative at Chennai posted a condolence letter to me on September 22 and it reached me on October 3 i.e. after a lapse of 10 days. Is such an inordinate delay justified? To crown this, some of my other relatives informed me that they had not at all received my postcards informing them about my brother’s death posted on September 18 and 19 even after a lapse of more than 10 days. Nor were the letters returned to me till date even though the sender’s address was written on the cards. I am forced to think that in this era of information technology and cell phone revolution writing letters has become passe.

B. Sripada Rajan,

Coimbatore.

Aavin milk supply to Cheran Maanagar area was all right two months ago. But of late the supply is delayed and the milk van comes to this area at 7 a.m. and between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. As a result, people have to buy milk from local vendors. Many representations to the Aavin officials to streamline the supply have gone in vain. RAAV requests the District Collector to make a spot study on the delay and monitor the milk supply to the area.

R. Kandasamy,

Coimbatore.

Hoardings have been banned by the government. A few days ago a giant hoarding was erected by a textile showroom at the newly-constructed Corporation bus stand opposite the Government Hospital, Trichy Road, Coimbatore. The Corporation does not allow new hoardings coming up. Does not the Corporation have enough fund for a small signboard indicating the bus stand there?

C.S. Motilal,

Coimbatore.

The recent demonstrations by the Chinniyampalayam residents against extension of the airport till Chinniyampalyam are uncalled for because the residents were told when they purchased lands that an airport would come up there soon and they would have to vacate the lands for a small compensation. Those who took the risk of constructing houses in a non-permanent area are now staging demonstrations.

V. Douglas Kirpa Raja,

Coimbatore.

In June this year Bharathiar University Vice-Chancellor had made an announcement that candidates could enrol for doctoral programmes by choosing their guides from anywhere in India. But no formal order to that effect has been issued to the affiliated colleges in and around Coimbatore. When we enquired in the university we were told that the syndicate had not taken a decision yet and that it was doubtful whether it would do so. Shall we take it as just a gimmick by the Vice-Chancellor or will the university really take a decision?

Thiagarajan Balasubramanian,

Coimbatore. Readers can mail to cbereaders@thehindu.co.in with address and telephone number.

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