Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Reader's Mail

Swift action by

Aavin officials

On making a complaint on March 19 at 4-00 p.m. to the Aavin regarding short quantity of supply of milk, Aavin immediately made an enquiry over phone and sent officers K. Muthukumar, AGM and Unnikrishnan, Deputy Manager around 6-00 p.m. They not only replaced the milk sachet but also explained the action taken by them to redress the complaint. Again at 6 p.m. on March 20, a team lead by Subramanian, DGM called on me and tested the quantity of the milk supplied which was found OK.

I shall be failing in my duty, that too, when I myself am a retired Senior Officer of the Government Audit Department, if I do not appreciate the prompt action taken by the Aavin management. Congratulations to the team lead by B. K. Prasad, IAS, the Chairman and Managing Director of Aavin.

M. K. Rangarajan,

Chromepet

Police officer's action hailed

A few weeks ago, a Toyota Qualis hit my car near the Sub-registrar's office in Kamaraj Street 2nd Avenue and drove away without ascertaining the damage to my car. I reported this to G. Ramachandran, Inspector of Police (Traffic), Shastri Nagar and he took immediate steps to trace the vehicle from the licence number I provided. A few days ago he called me to his office to meet the owner and driver of the vehicle. I advised them and warned them about the hit and run before I let them go.

I would like to place on record the efforts taken by Mr. Ramachandran, Inspector of Police (Traffic) on my complaint and compliment him for his sincerity and hard work.

Sqn. Ldr. V. S. Subramanian (IAF Retd.),

Besant Nagar

Road not re-laid

In our area, which is an MMDA approved layout, some of the streets have been black topped except a small portion. In spite of our repeated reminders, the Panchayat union authorities at Thiruninravur have not taken care of our request.

The government has sanctioned lakhs of rupees for re-laying roads. Why is this step-motherly treatment being meted out when almost all the nearby roads are being re-laid?

S. Venkateswaran,

Secretary,

Saraswathi Nagar Residents Welfare Association

Thiruninravur

Raise road level

The small causeway linking Tiruvallur Railway station and Manavalanagar was partially washed away in the monsoon rain and flood. However, the Public Works Department, acting swiftly, re-laid it with red sand immediately. But the height has not been restored to its original level. The cyclist cannot negotiate it easily as both the ends are very steep. It is therefore requested to raise and widen this small bridge to allow traffic to pass through smoothly.

N.B.S. Manian,

Secretary,

Residents Welfare Association,

Manavala Nagar,

Thiruvallur

Streetlights repaired promptly

Thanks to the letter published in this column on March 27, 2006, the Electricity Department swung into action immediately. They restored the streetlights diagonally opposite the entrance of our street as well as at the entrance of 4th Seaward Road, Valmiki Nagar.

The officials also called on us after setting right the lamps. We are thankful to them for their promptitude.

We are certain that letters published in your daily receive the utmost attention at the hands of the authorities concerned.

J. K. Sitharaman,

President,

Subramaniam Avenue Welfare Association,

Thiruvanmiyur

Provide direct bus service

At present there is no direct Bus from Nangallur to Mylapore/Mandaveli. Hence I request the Metropolitan Transport Corporation authorities to introduce a new `M' Service or extend the present M21G route up to Nanganallur. If this is done, both the public as well as the MTC will be much benefited.

N. Venkataraman,

Nanganallur

Consumer-friendly official

For past more than four months, the street lights in 61st Street, Ashok Nagar (Div. 123) were not burning. Repeated representation to the AE, West Mambalam, did not yield the desired result.

I then met the ADE-Zone VIII at Kodambakkam who was courteous and promised prompt action. To our delight quick remedial measures were taken and power supply restored. What transpired in this episode was - (1) there are also consumer-friendly officials in the organisation, and (2) the underground cable, which is in a deplorable condition, needs to be replaced immediately.

S. Krishnamoorthy,

Ashok Nagar

Entrance, usage fees at parks

The Corporation of Chennai is striving its best to make our city a green and clean city. They have made a tremendous job by creating parks in every corner from North Chennai to South Chennai, many of which were inaugurated by the Chief Minister.

No doubt the Chennai Corporation is deploying its own manpower and funds from its own exchequer. But, I find that some self-interested persons meeting people in such parks and starting Associations/Clubs/Trusts collecting membership subscription/entry fees etc. and selecting their own people as Secretary/Treasurer with the aim of making money from the visitors/walkers in such parks.

Even educated and Government officials fall prey to this. In some of the parks nearer the posh areas, the said people even engage a person to collect money and control the people who come in. This is a gross violation of norms of Corporation of Chennai, which do not allow collection of money from the public for enjoying the facilities of the parks. If this is allowed to go on, within a short time the parks will be occupied/encroached/seized by the so-called Associations/Clubs/Trusts, which are mushrooming day by day.

This happens only because of ignorance of the public about the maintenance of parks. Therefore, I request that the Commissioner of the Corporation of Chennai and the authorities concerned to take immediate initiatives to create awareness among the general public through newspapers, posters and T.V. channels that all the parks are being maintained by the Corporation and no money needs to paid for entering, walking and using the park.

R. Thulassiraman,

Nesapakkam

Monitor the reserved coaches

I regularly travel by the Vaigai Super Fast Express. Every day people holding tickets to travel in unreserved coaches enter the reserved coaches and sit in the middle or near the door, which is hugely inconvenient for the regular passengers. Also some persons bolt into the toilets to escape the traveling ticket examiner.

For making reservation we have to wait nearly one to two hours in the queue. With the beggars, vendors having free access to the reserved compartments, passengers have to be very careful and keep a watch on their baggage. All this defeats the purpose of purchasing reserved railway tickets.

The vestibule makes it easy for miscreants to enter one coach and exit into another coach.

I request the railway authorities to take proper action.

R. Chandrasekar,

Chromepet

Poor customer service still

Unlike the old monopoly days of Chennai Telephones, the attitude of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL), which is facing stiff competition from all quarters, has shown a welcome change at least with senior officials. What is disheartening is that despite the all out efforts taken by the General Manager and other senior officers, the attitude of some of the staff especially the personal assistants of senior officials, contribute to the negative image of the department.

For instance when I saw the advertisement for One India I readily opted for the scheme but from some other source found out that the `Free Calls' available otherwise are not allowed under this scheme, which makes the scheme not very useful for customers like me. The absence of this important information in the advertisement is akin to taking the customers for a ride. Again the application of any of the optional schemes beneficial to the customer is being withdrawn and we are forced to select one of the other schemes, which may not be beneficial to the customer.

I feel that the re-introduction of the flexible optional scheme would be better. When I wanted to convey this to the Deputy General Manager and I tried the DGM (SW)'s number, all that I got was a rude reply from the DGM's office, saying the officer was not the authority concerned.

K.A. Vijayaraj,

Saidapet

Install a working signal

The traffic signal on Blacker's Road near Bata Junction is not functioning. Moreover, the single post signal near Khadims facing Blackers Road is not visible from Bata Junction, due to the police booth in the way.

This causes much hardship to drivers of vehicles those who are coming from Blackers Road to Mount Road, leading to accidents.

So, I urge authorities to fix a proper signal at the Bata Junction.

S. Sekar

Anna Salai

Bus services need improvement

For the residents of Ashok Nagar and in and around Postal Colony and Brindavan Street in West Mambalam, Route No. 12G is the only bus service available to get to Anna Square (via) Mylapore Luz. As these buses originate from KK Nagar, they are almost full when they reach Indian Bank bus stop or Brindavan Street. It is practically a stampede by commuters at these stops to board buses especially on this particular route.

Consequent to the cancellation of 12G Express services and also route numbers 12D, 12M (from KK Nagar) 12K (from Vadapalani) and 12A (from T.Nagar), it is quite common to find a big crowd literally swarming a bus when it approaches bus stops en route.

I therefore urge the MTC authorities to restore not only the 12G Express service, routes 12A, 12M and 12K but also increase the fleet strength on route 12G to help the commuters utilise the public service with greater ease.

S. Jayabalan

West Mambalam

Extend bus services to Chitlapakkam

After the opening of the road over bridge at MIT Gate, Chromepet, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) authorities have abruptly stopped bus services operating via Chitlapakkam, East Tambaram, Tambaram depriving the commuters of Chitlapakkam of convenient bus services.

While agreeing with MTC about its inability to augment the services, there is no harm in extending the bus route to the already served areas (G 70, 18 M were already running up to Saligramam).

By extending these services up to Chitlapakkam, Varadharaja Theatre (i.e. one more stop) and return via same route up to Hasthinapuram, the MTC will generate more revenue besides satisfying the needs of the people of Chitlapakkam.

S.K. Bargavvan,

Chitlapakkam

Act before it is too late

We understand that the entire MIT road over bridge work, including laying of service roads and construction of stormwater drainage are likely to be completed by the middle of April. Sanitary and garbage clearance work will be done by the Pallavapuram Municipality. Even the power charges of sodium vapour lights of the flyover will be paid by the municipality.

But, it is not known as what the highways is going to do with the vacant portion lying under the bridge. It is reported that the highways department is going to go in for "landscaping" of the area through sponsors. If so we welcome it and the highways should do it early! Some vendors and traders have already started occupying the vacant spaces. If the highways department allows this to happen, and if they do not evict the encroachers at the early stages of occupation, later it will be a tough task for them to vacate them. The highways department should know that if the vendors are allowed to occupy the vacant space, they are sure to form an association and affiliate it to a political party, and then nothing can be done to evict them.

V. Santhanam,

President,

Pallavapuram People's Welfare

& Social Service Centre

A road in bad shape

The pathetic condition of the road connecting Sholinganallur and East Coast Road needs to be immediately looked into by the panchayat. Thousands of vehicles use this road every day to reach various call centers, Information Technology companies and the Prathyankara temple.

The secretary, local administration, should make a personal visit and see the condition of the road.

Mahalaxmi Subramaniam,

Sholinganallur

Automatic signal needed here

Valasaravakkam is a fast-developing area with complexes, apartments, and residential houses. But because of the transport bottlenecks, especially lack of train services, the residents are put to great hardship.

Vehicular traffic has increased greatly with thousands of vehicles speeding along, violating the traffic rules, and making crossing a difficult and challenging job.

Automatic signals on Arcot Road are the only solution and they are urgently needed to facilitate crossing of the road easily.

M. Rajagopalan,

Valasaravakkam

Burial ground in bad shape

The burial ground at Ramakrishnapuram, Chitlapakkam, is in a very bad state. There is no water available inside the cremation ground. There is no place to sit and perform the last rites. Thousands of polythene bags, other waste items are strewn over the burial ground. There is stagnant water in the backyard emitting a foul smell. Will the authorities concerned do the needful?

R. Sukumaran,

Madambakkam

Kancheepuram's neglected bus stand

Kancheepuram is famous for many things, especially its Silk Production Centre and its famous Siva-Vishnu Temples. Every day thousands throng the city; the bus stand situated in Big Kancheepuram is the gateway for cities such as Chennai, Thanjavur, Tiruchi and Kumbakonam.

The condition inside the bus stand is appalling, because of the vendors.

They range from purveyors of fancy articles to fruits sellers. The leftovers are thrown in the open inviting flies and mosquitoes.

Although entry inside the bus stand is prohibited for two wheelers and cars one can see people being dropped near the footboards of the outgoing buses. The parking bay is conveniently used by the pushcart sellers and for parking of two-wheelers.

Last but not least, the tower clock is stuck at 4.30 on its three faces. Neither the Administration nor the private jeweller who donated the instrument has cared to repair the clock. The siren system, which was in vogue earlier, to signal the time at 5 a.m., 12 noon and 8 p.m. has been done away with for reasons unknown.

A prominent zebra crossing needs to be marked outside bus stand to help people to cross the road fearlessly.

N. Kannan,

Kancheepuram

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