Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 21, 2008
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Monday, Jan 21, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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Tamil Nadu
We were recently in Mumbai for holidays. Coming out of a movie in Andheri (West), we hailed an autorickshaw to go back home in Lokhandwala Complex about 1.5 km away. Before getting in, the driver told that he did not have one-rupee change, as the fare would be Rs. 9, and if we offered him a 10-rupee note, he would not be able to give us the balance. We said, “don’t bother, keep the change”, and we got in. Reaching our destination, he apologised and drove away. When can we ever get such honest auto-drivers in Chennai? If only our transport officials travel by autorickshaw for a whole day all over Chennai, they would realise the hardships Chennaiites are put to. But then, if it is true that most of the autorickshaws are owned by the police themselves, the officials will run the risk of being recognised. A concerted effort by the transport authorities, punitive measures against errant auto drivers, who do not flag down their meters, and a concentrated dialogue (three-way) among the authorities, drivers unions and the suffering public can go a long way in mitigating the sufferings of the public. K.P. Mahalingam Kilpauk Lights not burning in subwayI would like to bring to the notice of officials concerned the problem I face while going to office. Working at the Guindy Industrial Estate, I use the subway to go to office from the Guindy Railway Station. Many times I find the lights not burning in the subway. It is a scary experience for people to cross the dark subway. I request the authorities to do the needful. C. Karthika Ullagaram Suggestion for RailwaysHere is a suggestion to improve the railway services. II Sleeper, III AC, and II AC, in addition to the First Class and First Class AC, are the reserved classes available currently. However, while the common man travels generally by the first three classes, the first two options are the ones which are predominantly used. The difference in fare between III AC and II Sleeper makes travel by II Sleeper the more preferred class. III AC is the compulsory alternative when there is overbooking in II Sleeper and also for people who look for more comfort. Then travelling in the AC Class may not go well with people who have health problems. Besides, there is also a section of people who do not go for AC Class because of the high fare but would certainly care for more comfort than what the sleeper class provides now. With these in mind, a suggestion is made here to introduce a Non-AC II Deluxe Class which would bridge the gap between II Sleeper and III AC. Railways could increase the comfort level for this class to be in between II Sleeper and III AC while increasing the fare proportionately. Additional coaches could be added if possible for this class or out of the 12 to 16 coaches that are allotted for II Sleeper, 25 per cent could be allotted for this class. This may open up more affordable options and also bring in more revenue for the Railways. L.R.P. Sarathy, Ashok Nagar Extend bus routeThe Metropolitan Transport Corporation has introduced several new routes. One of them is M1A from Nanganallur to Tiruvanmiyur via Vanuvampet, Madipakkam and Velacherry. When welfare associations sought introduction of a new route from Tambaram to Tiruvanmiyur via Nanganallur, the MTC decided to introduce the service from Nanganallur, leaving the stretch from Nanganallur to Tambaram with no bus service when the left-out stretch has good patronage. It would be of great help to commuters if the MTC considerd extension of route through provision of bus service from Tambaram to Tiruvanmiyur (via) Nanganallur through christening this extended route M1A (Ext). This extended route may be provided with bus services during rush hour in the morning and in the evening. It is hoped that the MTC would favourably consider this as this service is sought only for rush hour. Q. S. Krishnamoorthy Nanganallur Restore speed-breakerThe fourth street off Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai was laid at heavy cost by six Indian Oil officers and surrendered to Chennai Corporation in early 1970s. A speed-breaker was then provided to regulate the speed of four-wheelers and to protect human lives, at the end of the street branching off to two bylanes. The speed breaker since vanished. Now new houses and apartments sprang up. Four-wheelers multiplied. They reach the bylanes to turn back to the street towards their destination. To avoid mishaps, speed-breaker is a must. Will the Corporation restore it in addition to taking up the task of repair and maintenance of the street which is now in bad shape. K.N. Narayana Pillai Mylapore Auto driversVolumes of letters by public and counter-statements by the police authorities concerning the issue of autorickshaw drivers fleecing the passengers have appeared in these columns without even a marginal improvement in their attitude towards public. The autorickshaw drivers still continue with their rude behaviour by not using the meters and demanding exorbitant fares. The bargaining on this count has become the order of the day. When the law-enforcing authorities can bring about a change in various other matters, why are they not able to do anything on this? In other States such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, etc. auto drivers are courteous by accepting only meter fares and obeying the rules. Will the authorities look into this? N. C. Seshadri, Narayanapuram Pedestrian crossing neededThe traffic on the city link road at West Velachery/ Adambakkam is nowadays high and pedestrians find it very difficult to cross the road to enter into the NGO Colony bus terminus or to go to the temple and Chennai Central Co-operative Bank on the other side. Likewise, it is also difficult to cross the road from the bus terminus to reach Canara Bank and for students to Mount Christian Matriculation School, Adambakkam. I, therefore, suggest that a crossing be provided opposite the bus terminus for pedestrians to cross the road so that vehicles coming from both sides may slow down to pave the way for pedestrians. T.V. John Alwin, Adambakkam Replace busesChromepet-Hasthinapuram is an important bus terminus for Chromepet residents. There are two bus routes — 52-B (Chromepet to Broadway) and 52-C (Hasthinapuram-Broadway) — which are popular. Though there are nine buses in these routes, all of them are old and in rickety condition. They are not fit for the road or for the commuters. The commuters are unable to rely on them since these buses stop in the midway because of frequent breakdowns. Recently the MTC has introduced many new buses and also replaced many old buses all over the city except in Hasthinapuram. The old and rickety buses (52-B, and 52-C) have never been replaced. Will the MTC do the needful soon? V. Santhanam President, Chromepet New Colony RWS
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