Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 19, 2007
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Monday, Nov 19, 2007 ePaper |
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Tamil Nadu
Most of the Central Government offices and major companies or institutions are located in the Nungambakkam area, such as Shastri Bhavan, Railway Recruitment Board, Railway Officers’ Quarters, E.S.I. Corporation (Ministry of Labour), Loyola College, computer and IT concerns etc. The rush-hour congestion leads most of the train commuters to walk over the railway track at a great risk, in order to reach their offices in time. On behalf of all commuters, I request the railways to construct an escalator between platform Nos. 1 and 2 at the Nungambakkam railway station to enable us to reach our workplaces with ease. V. S. Arunasri Tambaram Lofty principles of yesteryearThe news item in The Hindu about the arrest of a Railway Deputy Chief Inspector on bribery charge brings back to my memory an incident, which occurred in my younger days in 1946, which is quite contrary to the present one. I was then 19 years old, holding a season ticket from Beach to Saidapet railway station. One day I was returning to Saidapet after duty hours. As I was deeply involved in reading a book, I was over-travelling towards Guindy, when a Travelling Ticket Examiner appeared before me and demanded ticket. Then only I realised my folly. I was practically penniless and convinced the official of my innocence. The TTE pitied me and at the same time, he did not want to allow my ticketless travel to Saidapet. So, as a duty-conscious man of principles, he bought me a ticket from Guindy to Saidapet and advised me to be careful in future. Though 60 years have passed, I still think of him with a sense of nostalgia tears. Whither gone are such lofty principles? N. Janardhanan Triplicane Bus bay in MRTS stationsThe proposal to open bus bays in important MRTS stations is really a good proposal. It will certainly improve passenger patronage for the MRTS. Previously the railways entered into an agreement with some road transport operators to carry passengers from some stations to the destinations uncovered by train. Similar outagency arrangements should be undertaken now also. In this case, the passengers can buy tickets from the railways up to their destination and travel for the remaining distance by bus from the bay after completing the train travel. M.S. Raghavan Dindigul Aavin milk supplyThe supply of Aavin milk to Maraimalai Nagar has been invariably delayed for the last three months. It is distributed only around 7 a.m. almost daily, causing much inconvenience to children, students and elders who have to go to schools, colleges and workplaces located in far-off places like Chennai and so normally leave homes by 6. 30 a.m. onwards. Repeated complaints to the authorities have not evoked any response. About four months ago, the authorities swung into action and caught hold of half-a-dozen persons who indulged in malpractices. Later, one day the milk lorry originating from Sholinganallur met with an accident and the supply was made around 11 a.m. Since then, the supply has been habitually delayed. The authorities are requested to gear up the distribution network to supply milk in time. Steps should be taken to reopen the direct selling booth located in the area office to sell all other products such as butter, ghee etc. S. Gopalan Maraimalai Nagar Autorickshaw faresRecently, when I wanted to go to Anna Nagar West from Saidapet West (the distance is 10 km), autorickshaw drivers demanded Rs.150, a rate normally charged by call taxis. The police and the Transport Department had given autorickshaw drivers sufficient time to follow the new rules of digital meters and also taken various stringent measures including impounding of vehicles. However, in the last six months, since the officials have their own limitations, autorickshaw drivers have felt emboldened to harass commuters, also with verbal and physical threats. Following suit, even tourist taxi drivers have tampered with meters and on my recent visit to Kalpakkam, I found the meter showing 40 per cent more than the actual distance travelled. Though the officials have done their best, the problem has now reached the saturation point. Our Chief Minister, who is giving various concessions to farmers, the poor and the downtro/dden, should also consider the plight of middle class people, especially senior citizens, who travel in autorickshaws. V.R. Sundaram, Saidapet West Extension ticketsI wanted to go to St. Thomas Mount on November 14, 2007. As I was holding a season ticket from Chennai Fort to Mambalam, I approached the counter clerk for an extension ticket from Mambalam to St. Thomas Mount in view of such facility being available to the monthly season ticket holders. The clerk tersely told me that only six-rupee-denomination coupons were available, as against the required Rs.4 coupons and advised me to buy the regular ticket as it also cost the same Rs.6. It was a Hobson’s choice for me. This was the third time in two months that I faced this kind of situation at the Fort station. I doubt whether the railway authorities do not have any mechanism to replenish the coupon stock. Alternatively, they can also think of issuing extension tickets from the computer system itself as in the case of tickets. S.R. Badrinarayanan, Kilpauk Metrowater taxThe quantity of water supplied by Metrowater to apartments in a building complex is the same as that supplied to independent houses in Adyar and Sastri Nagar. But each flat-owner is made to pay water tax individually though only one connection is given to the entire complex. I request the Metrowater authorities to reduce the water tax by 25 per cent, at least for all flat owners in a single building. Early action by the authorities in this regard will be welcomed by all. P.V. Srinivasan Sastri Nagar. Electricity bill paymentElectronic systems are in vogue, abolishing the old manual system, for accepting payments from consumers. For instance, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has introduced a number of payment routes such as post office, automatic cheque depositary machine, telephone exchange, nationalised banks, area counters etc. It has recently introduced easy bill outlets. But for electricity tariff payments, there is no system other then paying through fuse call offices or offices located in the same fuse call centres. As a result, consumers have to stand in long queues, and the age-old manual system of preparing receipts after referring to their records is still followed. The Electricity Board has computerised a few fuse call centres, but why can’t it make them all computerised? It can also authorise nationalised banks to accept electricity payments, at least from household consumers or introduce a common collection centre. Will the authorities look into this problem and do the needful? T.T. Varada Rajan Thillaiganganagar Ticket machine neededAt present, there are two ticket counters at the Ambattur railway station. But during rush hour, there are crowds of commuters queuing up at the counters to buy tickets. As the frequency of EMU trains is less, commuters have to wait for half an hour to board the next train. On behalf of commuters, I request the railways to install automatic ticket vending machines at the station. T. Gunaseelan Ambattur ‘Crossing’ difficultiesIt has become a nightmare to cross roads such as College Road and Haddows Road in Nungambakkam. An automatic pedestrian signal near Alliance Franchaise and Meteorology Office will be a boon to the commuters. This is a long-felt need of employees of Shastri Bhavan, FCI and other private establishments. S. Divya Perambur MTC services To MylaporeEleven new MTC buses were introduced from Velachery to various places on August 28. However, people travelling from Velachery to Nanganallur have to go to Guindy Railway Station, take the electric train, get down at Pazhavanthangal and reach their destination. It will be helpful if the MTC introduces a service from Nangnallur to Mylapore via Madipakkam/Velachery 100 feet bypass road/Kotturpuram/Alwarpet/Mandaiveli/Mylapore Tank or alternatively one more service from Velachery to Mylapore through the above areas. One more service from Velachery to Vadapalani bus stand may be introduced to help people going to Virugambakkam/Valasaravakkam/Porur/Sri Ramachandra Hospital . R. Venkataraman Velachery
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