Tamil Nadu

Trains do not halt here - Reader's Mail

A good number of express and mail trains are passing through Tiruvallur to the western end of Tamil Nadu and famous towns of north India. But only a few of them stop at Tiruvallur, district headquarters.

Passengers of this town and neighbourhood have to rush before dawn either to Madras Central or the Arakonam junction to catch trains. We request Southern Railway to do the needful.

N.B.S. Manian,

Manavala Nagar

Nanganallur, a temple town in the Alandur municipal area, is a haven for many retired persons as it main attraction is the existence of many temples. The fourth main road in this town witnesses heavy traffic.

There is one parallel road, fifth main road, which still remains underutilised. In order to ease congestions on the fourth main road, the road may be declared one-way so that vehicles make use of the fifth main road also.

This is possible as there exist lanes wide enough for lorry traffic to connect both the roads.

It is hoped that priority will be given to solving this problem.

Q.S. Krishnamurthy,

Nanganallur

The introduction of the Postal Department’s “Proof of Address” (POA) cards is welcome, though its cost (Rs. 210) is prohibitive, considering its validity period of 3 years .

Even for a passport, valid for 10 years, its fee is Rs. 1000 only.

It is not known whether the Postal Department’s existent identity card, carrying only a nominal fee, is still in force or not. The department may clarify how it is different from the proposed post card.

Again, will the Civil Supplies Department accept the POA for issuing ration cards, since family card only is now accepted as proof of address for all kinds of transactions.

K. Muthiah,

K.K. Nagar (W)

It is highly pathetic that the TNEB has not “decided” on payment of arrears dating back to June 1988 to the senior citizens of 78 + years of age, even after a lapse of six months from the date of issue of orders on February 1, 2008.

With various ailments afflicting the old age, the pensioners will be grateful to the Board if arrangements are made to settle the entire arrears within a reasonable timeframe, say, before Deepavali 2008.

N.R. Srinivasan

Chitlapakkam.

I read with interest The Hindu report on D.K. Pattammal (‘Laya Kalaa Nipuna’) (August 4).

Many titles and honours have been conferred on her. Bharathiyar songs — Aduvome pallu paduvome’ and ‘Viduthalai Viduthalai’ — which she sang over the AIR, Madras on the midnight of August 14, 1947, when India became free, are fresh in our memory. More than 60 years have passed since then.

It would be a fitting honour to her if the 90-year-old living legend is awarded the ‘Bharat Ratna’. The people of India, particularly ‘Tamil Nadu,’ would be happy.

P.V. Srinivasan,

Sastri Nagar

The Mayiladuthurai-Villupuram railway section, closed in December 2006 for gauge conversion work, has not yet been opened for BG traffic even after nearly two years for technical reasons concerning rail bridges.

Taking advantage of this situation, it is learnt that some omnibus owners of the Cauvery delta region are collecting Rs.300 a ticket for an overnight journey from Chennai to the delta areas. It was just Rs.150 a ticket prior to gauge conversion.

Hence, it is requested that the Railways expedite the BG conversion work.

M.Thiyagarajan,

Adambakkam

The Race View Colony Road connecting Chakrapani Street with Race Course Road at Guindy is in total disrepair. This road, one-third of which is occupied by flats and residential houses, with the rest by private companies, is an important and only alternative to the vehicles heading towards Guindy in the event of a traffic jam on the nearby roads. The Race View Colony Road has not been tarred for a long time. The gravel laid long ago is protruding and puncturing the tyres of vehicles passing through this road. When the nearby roads have been black-topped, one wonders why this road, which is not a very wide and long road, has been neglected. Will the authorities concerned do the needful ?

J. Manohar Singh,

Adambakkam

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