Tamil Nadu

Open train ticket

Janshatabdi superfast train runs from Coimbatore to Kumbakonam. This train helps office-goers and pilgrims. The train has become popular after reduction in fare. But an open ticket is not issued for this train. This causes hardship to those who have to travel at short notice. In many trains an extra coach is attached. But in Shatabdi there is no such facility. At times some reserved compartments in the train are empty. One or two general compartments should be attached to this.

V.S. Ganesamurthy,

Erode.

On July 18 all street lights were burning till 8.30 a.m. in and around Vijayaraghavan Nagar, Salem. This has been a problem with main areas in Salem city. Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) has displayed bill boards at various places reminding the public that saving electricity is as good as producing it. Both the TNEB and the Salem Corporation should take prompt action to stop wastage of power.

P. Pomman,

Salem.

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi recently issued a clarification on the complaints lodged by PMK regarding exorbitant fees collected by self- financing engineering and medical colleges. The Chief Minister has denied the charge that the Government is acting as a friend of cats and at the same time guarding milk. (There is a saying in Tamil: ‘Palukkum kaval, Poonaikkum nanban’). But the way things are taking shape indicates that the saying is applicable to the Government’s dealings with these colleges.

Many politicians have unofficial shares in the collections of these colleges. Benami transactions are done to secure huge, regular and steady flow of money for personal and party expenses. Ironically, those who are involved in the collection of money happen to be the guardians of law. In such a milieu, a corruption-free educational system will remain a distant dream.

Subbiah Karmegam,

Salem.

It is almost more than a year since a highmast lamp was erected in the traffic island of Thiruvagoundanur bypass of the NH.

The lamp is yet to be commissioned. This had been brought out in this column six months ago. The traffic island is dark, the road with heavy traffic is highly accident-prone and road widening towards the Central Bus Stand and Salem Junction is going on. Will the concerned authorities commission the lamp immediately?

Anirudh,

Salem.

Conversion of metre gauge line into broad gauge between Podanur and Dindigul, which was announced in the last year’s railway Budget, still remains a dream. Rs. 30 crore was allotted for this work this year, but this amount has been diverted for conversion of the metre gauge line into the broad gauge between Dindigul and Madurai when there is already a broad gauge line in service between Dindigul-Madurai connecting Karur and Erode. Because of the work on the second line between Dindigul and Madurai, three express and three passenger trains between Palghat/Podanur-Madurai have been cancelled, while the train service to Coimbatore remains suspended from May 15, 2006. Passengers in Pollachi, Udumalpet and Palani are finding it difficult to travel to Coimbatore and Madurai as even 100 more buses cannot compensate for the suspension of all trains.

G. Chandrasekaran,

Udumalpet.

India has made many strides in various fields such as space technology, information technology, education, broadcasting, sports, printing and publication, hotel management etc. But drainage and waste management system is yet to be improved in many places.

G.N. Devaraj,

Bhavanisagar.

With reference to the photo under the caption ‘For a cause’ (July 18), which shows cadres of Dalit Panthers of India pressing their demands, including permission to enter all temples, I do feel that there is no need for them to seek permission from anybody because it is their birthright and they can walk into any temple without fear or favour.

P.U. Krishnan,

Ooty.

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