Date:27/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/27/stories/2005012712040300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Tricolour unfurled, medals awarded

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, JAN. 26. The 56th Republic Day celebrations in the city were marked by unfurling of the tricolour, marchpasts, speeches and award of medals.

Metrowater started early. At 9 a.m, the Minister for Publicity, Information and Local Administration, K.P. Anbalagan, hoisted the national flag. The Transport Secretary, R. Karpoorasundarapandian, did the same at the State Express Transport Corporation premises.

The Chennai Corporation did it at 10.30 a.m. Corporation School students later took out a parade in bright blue uniforms.

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation organised a more elaborate affair. After the Transport Secretary finished with the preliminaries, the Corporation went about honouring the crew of 15B bus of Tondiarpet depot, who returned Rs. 24, 863 left behind by a passenger. On the list of honours were technical staff who maintained fuel efficiency and drivers who had 20 accident-free years. There was "pomp and show" at the Mylapore P.S. Higher Secondary School celebrations. Meritorious NCC cadets and scouts received medals. The images of last month's tsunami haven't died down. A sum of Rs.13,300, which was given as incentive to MTC check inspectors, was routed to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for tsunami victims. Sivananda Sevashram observed a two-minute silent prayer and took a solemn oath to help survivors of the tsunami.