Tamil Nadu   

Telephone directory

Every time it is a cumbersome procedure for the Telecom Department to issue directory to their subscribers.

So, it is advisable for the department to know from the subscribers whether they require it or not.

In fact, 50 per cent of the subscribers do not require it. Since it is given free of cost, everyone opts for it.

Then the department can give some concessions to those who do not want the directory by way of granting some rental discount at the value of the cost of directory. Then, the burden will certainly come down, to some extent.

Will the authorities in the Telecom Department look into this?

S. Chandran,

Iyyappanthangal

This refers to “clean waterways, a mirage for Chennai?” (The Hindu, 21-4-08).

Even eight years after the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest released Rs.1200 crores for the Chennai City River Conservation Project (CCRCP), the project could not become a success story.

The Tamil Nadu government could not evict the encroachers from the river banks in the city and could not arrest the trend of illegal release of sewage and other wastes into the waterbodies.

Hence, the need of the hour is for the government to establish an exclusive waterway and sewage authority rather than entrusting the management of waterways to government agencies such as the PWD, Metrowater etc.

K. Ramadoss,

Ayanavaram

At present there are only three platforms in the Chennai Central Suburban Station: Platform No. 12, 13, 14.

EMU services are operated towards Arakkonam and Gummudipoondi. As a result, EMU trains have to wait at the Basin Bridge Railway Station for want of signal clearance.

Sometime EMU rakes stationed at the Central have to be shunted to the loop line to give way for incoming trains.

I request the Railway Board to sanction an additional suburban platform for the benefit of the commuters.

T. Gunaseelan

Ambattur

Every two months, it is really an ordeal to pay electricity bills in the TNEB offices.

At Nilamangai Nagar in Adambakkam, the TNEB office is located at a street corner. As the people who gather at the office to remit the bill amounts are in a large number coming from various Nagars, there is no order in the queues formed by them.

Since the space in front of the office is narrow, there is jostling among the queues.

Further, the officials have allotted counters for different numbers of the TNEB cards area-wise, and one has to be at the mercy of those already in the queues to locate the exact counter and join the correct queue as there is no clear indication at the respective counters. It takes not less than one full hour for remitting the bill and the plight of senior citizens (they are in a majority there) can better be seen to be believed.

The operation of computers too has not helped in reducing the time in paying the bill.

One wonders why the TNEB cannot have an arrangement with the branches of banks/post offices so that the consumers can pay their bills with ease.

J. Manohar Singh

Adambakkam

There is a heavy railway passenger traffic from Chennai to Jodhpur, Ajmer and Udaipur via Ahmedabad and all tickets are sold within one hour of opening of ticket counter, even tatkal tickets.

There are no special trains run from Chennai to Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, Ajmer or Udaipur, despite heavy wait lists.

Therefore, we request the railway authorities to operate special trains to clear the heavy rush.

D. Mahaveer Chand,

Tiruvallur

In the Velachery 100 Feet Bye-pass Road daily some accidents are going on.

The main fact that there is no Traffic Police service. Night times in the road no lights are burning.

Day by day the accidents are increasing.

It is suggested that the concerned authorities may look into the matter and provide Automatic Signal Lamps in front of Sri Murugan Kalyana Mandapam, 100 Feet Bye Pass Road, Velachery immediately so that the accidents can be averted.

R. Venkataraman

Velachery

It is saddening to see a photograph of the Admiralty House facing the axe (The Hindu 22-4-2008).

What is more disheartening is that no thought seems to have been spared to see that such a beautiful building of period architecture is kept intact by constructing the new buildings around it without mowing it down.

The PWD invariably signs the death warrant of buildings under its protection when it plans to build big structures.

Restoration of heritage buildings is a discipline in its own right, and the PWD and its associates are hardly the organisations to have expertise in such work.

Even now it is not too late! The Admiralty House can still be saved if only the highest authorities spare a thought for preservation of heritage. It is to be hoped that this would be forthcoming.

N. Harinarayana

Triplicane

As a proud citizen of Chennai, I feel sad over the action of the Government to close down the most prominent and sought-after landmark of the city, Woodlands Drive-In.

Lakhs of Chennaiites including big shots were visiting Woodlands Drive-in regularly.

A great relaxation place in heart of the city, it was a haunt where people from all walks of life freely enjoyed meetings, food in an absolute informal and relaxed atmosphere without having to bother about reservations, appointments and space for parking.

But unfortunately this great place of Chennai is closed.

I am personally in support of the Government to reclaim its land, but what I don’t support is closing down a unique concept of the city.

What government could do is to float a tender and give the place to the highest bidder to run the same concept of a drive in restaurant rather than taking away an enjoyable and relaxation place from the public for which, anyway, there is a great shortage of places where by public can relax in the city.

As I understand from the press the honourable government is going to create botanical garden, which is most welcome idea but doesn’t a drive-in restaurant and the botanical garden compliment each other extremely well.

I appeal to the government to kindly reconsider the decision and continue the ‘drive-in restaurant’ concept, which is unique in the country and perhaps in the world.

Subhash Agarwal

Thiruvottiyur

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Telephone directory

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