The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Coach position

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Tuesday, Feb 09, 2010
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Coach position

At Madurai railway station, electronic display of coach position is indicated only for Pandian Express in the first platform and there is no display of the same for other trains. However, one must appreciate the railway authorities for maintaining the platform as well as the railway tracks neat and clean. But no steps have been taken to eradicate mosquito menace which is more acute in all the platforms at night. Steps should be taken by the railway authorities to eradicate mosquito menace to ensure the comfort of rail users.

R.G. Rethinam,

Madurai

Sickening sycophancy

Thank you for reflecting the views of the people on the birthday celebrations of a V.I.P. in Madurai recently in the article, ‘Hoardings invite wrath’( The Hindu, February 2). As the CPI(M) district secretary has pointed out, birthdays could be celebrated, but only as per law without causing problem to the public.

But, of late, these celebrations, particularly by the ruling party people, have really become a source of nuisance and inconvenience to the public. They also result in criminal wastage of money. The numerous hoardings and arches erected throughout the city, including on the arterial roads and platforms, much against the Court directives and orders, did cause traffic snarls and many found it extremely difficult to reach their destination in time. The office-going people and the students were the worst affected. On either side of the road from Periyar bus stand to Rajah Muthiah Mandram, including on the Albert Victor bridge, tubelights were burning all through the night and in some places even in the morning.

At a time when the State is reeling under power scarcity and load shedding is in force, such blatant misuse of power cannot go unnoticed.

And, in order to help the celebrations to go uninterrupted, power cut was not enforced that day. To top it all, people were allowed to have a free ride in city buses.

Such celebrations have also become occasions to display one’s unbelievably excessive attachment to his/her leader, bordering on sickening sycophancy. It is time that we realised that democracy and hero worship cannot go together.

D. Samuel Lawrence,

Thiruppalai

Driving licence for old people

It is learnt that there is a move to stop issuing and reissuing driving licence to people aged above 75 on the assumption that there will be impediment in their vision and hearing. It cannot be denied that there are people who are having clear vision and sound hearing ability in that age group. I am an example for that in the sense that I am driving an old 1969 model Ambassador car for the last 23 years within the city and long distances, without feeling any hardship both mentally and physically even though I am in the same age group. So, in my opinion, there must be a proper and reasonable criterion for issuing driving license, on the basis of medical opinion and physical verification and not on age factor alone. I am told that in western countries this is the practice in vogue. I hope that our Governments will adhere to suggestions and sentiments expressed by senior citizens while amending the Motor Vehicle’s Act.

M. Peter,

Vilangudi

Prices of foodgrains

It is shocking to find prices of foodgrains soaring every month. Central ministers are issuing statements every now and then that they are taking steps and prices will come down. One minister says the prices will come down in the next fiscal year. It means it will not come down in another 12 months. The Planning Commission says prices will come down in April. Another minister says price escalation is inevitable as the food production has declined.

Whom should we believe? The Reserve Bank of India, it its fiscal policy released recently, has increased the CRR rate to curtail money circulation. Will it succeed? Definitely not. Trading is not conducted with white money alone. More than half of the transactions is carried out with black money. Huge stocks of essential commidities are stocked in godowns by black marketeers. Though there is a mechanism to check and prevent hoarding, in reality, this is not happening. The reasons are well known both to the traders and rulers. The inflation has touched a staggering 17.5 per cent If the government fails to crack its whip by restricting stock holding and banning online trading, prices will not come down in the near future.Unless the traders and the Government are sincere, the prices will not come down.

C H V Pathy,

Iyer Bungalow

Safety of pedestrians

There is a perennial flow of traffic on Vakkil New Street and North Veli Street. Pedestrians, who want to go to Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and vice-versa from Simmakkal side practically find it difficult to cross these roads. The ordeal is felt more by women, children and old people during peak hours. Previously, there was a median on North Veli Street and it was to certain extent safe to cross in two laps. Now it has been removed.

The authorities observe Road Safety Week just for seven days in a year and the remaining days things go haywire.. The Government is providing crores of rupees to the representatives of the people for the development of their constituencies. The public would be grateful to them if they provide permanent facilities for the safety of pedestrians at vulnerable points as mentioned above as well as near railway station, TPK Road (near shopping complex bus stand) and near St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School and ever cherish the era of their tenure.

S. S. Subramanian,

Anna Nagar

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