Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Scant attention

Apropos the new item, ‘Sabhas and security matters,’ I must mention that scant attention is paid to the safety of the audience in almost all sabhas.

I had an occasion to go into the matter when I was heading the Fire and Rescue Services a few years ago and later as a member of the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services Commission.

Safety requirements for all assembly halls have been prescribed in the National Building Code.

Even the picture published along with the report shows a major violation. Chairs have been placed in the gangway, between the two rows of chairs, thus obstructing free passage.

In case of emergency, the casualties will be large.

It is a serious breach of the licence conditions, and the licensing authority must take urgent action.

In the Upahar Cinema fire accident case, the Delhi High Court slapped heavy fines on the authorities for their scant regard for public safety.

It is unfortunate that the National Building Code does not have the force of law.

It is only recommendatory, and it should be made statutory.

The licensing authorities must lay down proper safety regulations while issuing licences and then ensure that the licence terms are complied with.

S. Ramani,

Mandavalipakkam

Hundreds of vehicles pass through General Patters Road, but vehicles are parked on both sides, leading to traffic congestion every day.

Vehicle-users struggle to pick their way.

The traffic police should ensure that clear vehicles both in the morning and evening rush hours to facilitate free flow of traffic.

T. Nagarajan,

Anna Salai

Hundreds of lorries are parked at the Senthil Nagar bus stop on the Inner Ring Road. Many complaints have been lodged with the V4- Rajamangalam police station and the V1-Villivakkam traffic police. The commuters waiting for buses have to stand in the middle of the road.

We request the police to take immediate action.

G. Abyvarghese,

Kolathur

Krishna Nagar Colony in ward 13 of the Pallavaram municipality is more than 40 years, yet it lacks drainage.

Despite our representations, even storm-water drain has not yet been provided.

As a result, rainwater stagnates on every street. Will the authorities provide the storm-water drains immediately?

A.J. Ethiraj,

president, Krishna Nagar Residents Welfare Association, Zamin Pallavaram

The residents of Nanganallur are thankful to the MTC for introducing 152L and M18N.

We also request the MTC to introduce 70N (Nanganallur-Avadi) for the benefit of commuters to Ashok Pillar, Vadapalani, CMBT, Mogappair and Ambattur.

N. Raja Rajeswari,

Nanganallur

This refers to the report, ‘Traffic violation-prone zones under the scanner’ (December 15).

Over-speeding and reckless driving are the causes of many road accidents.

To check this trend, speed-limit signs must be installed in all accident-prone areas. The mobile traffic police and ambulance must become more active.

Traffic rule violators must be punished severely.

P.V. Srinivasan,

Sastri Nagar

The speed-humps, both in the city and the suburbs, are painted with yellow and black stripes.

These stripes fade away quickly.

The speed-humps trip two-wheeler riders.

To make them visible, cat’s eyes can be fixed on the slopes. Boards indicating the installation of the humps may also be erected nearby.

J. Manohar Singh

Adambakkam

We welcome the government’s relief measures for the flood-affected.

At the same time, we want a permanent solution to the flooding.

For almost a decade, New Colony in the Pallavapuram municipality has been flooding.

The Veeraraghavan lake near the Chromepet Government Hospital should be deepened and desilted.

A considerable quantum of the rainwater should be diverted, through the GST Road to the Chitlapakkam lake.

The Highways Department should renovate the storm-water drains in the GST Road-Chitlapakkam limits. The Public Works Department, which maintains the Chromepet hospital building, should link the internal drainage canals to the GST Road storm-water drain. Moreover, all storm-water drains in the Pallavaram municipality should be desilted.

V. Santhanam

Chromepet

The MTC is running buses to the nook and corner of the city.

It should introduce a few services from Tambaram to Broadway, through Connemara Hotel, the Museum, Children Hospital and Ethiraj Salai to Broadway.

Though electric train services run to Egmore from Tambaram, at peak hours, all the EMU services are getting full at Tambaram itself.

J. Parthasarathy

Member Royal Society of HFC, Chromepet

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