writingonblog uncensored: Common mobility cards issued as tickets

writingonblog uncensored: Common mobility cards issued as tickets: C Shivakumar Chennai: The smart cards issued by Chennai Metro could be the ones which could be used as common mobility in suburban trai...

Common mobility cards issued as tickets

C Shivakumar
Chennai:

The smart cards issued by Chennai Metro could be the ones which could
be used as common mobility in suburban trains as well as buses.



These cards have been manufactured by Delhi Metro. They could be
programmed as common mobility cards,” said the official.



Interestingly, the common mobility card could not materialise as
discussions are still going on with Metropolitan Transport Corporation
and suburban rail officials. “We hope this could be resolved soon,”
said the official.



“The issue is lack of infrastructure to have common ticketing system.
We have proper barricades and proper checking system which they lack,”
said the official.



Currently, Chennai Metro has 10 lakh of such cards and plans are on to
have a tie-up with State Bank of India to issue these cards. “SBI will
be issuing the Metro Rail cards to its bank account holders,” said the
official.



Plans are also on to tie up with other banks once SBI starts giving
out the cards., which is likely in next two to three months. Talks are
also on with Government officials from the state transport authority,
Centre for Railway Information Systems, Chennai Metropolitan
Development Authority, call taxi operators and representatives of bus
ticket booking websites, the official said..



These contact less smart cards (CSE) has the facility to be used for
32 different purposes. “It could be even used in malls,” said a metro
rail official



Hema, a ticketing operator, said that the cards currently have a
minimum value of Rs 100, of which Rs 50 is a one time deposit. It can
be recharged to a maximum value of Rs 3,000, said Hema, who was giving
out the smart cards at the Koyambedu Metro station.



Interestingly, Chennai Metro has asked her to provide 1,000 cards a
day from the Koyambedu Metro station counter, said Hema, who has
switched her profession of teaching in a private school.



Talking about the nature of her job, she said that currently, they
have staff who work on two shifts. “We will have four people per day
who will look after the operations,” she said.



Talking about the validity of the card, it is learnt that the card
will be valid from the period of last recharge. “the card can be
recharged at ticket vending machines in the station,” the official
added

writingonblog uncensored: Exorbitant fares keep away daily wagers from Metro...

writingonblog uncensored: Exorbitant fares keep away daily wagers from Metro...: C Shivakumar Chennai: The exorbitant fares of Chennai Metro Rail in the 10 km stretch between Koyambedu metro station to Alandur has k...

Exorbitant fares keep away daily wagers from Metro ride

C Shivakumar
Chennai:

The exorbitant fares of Chennai Metro Rail in the 10 km stretch
between Koyambedu metro station to Alandur has kept away many
commuters from trying out their maiden ride on the air-conditioned
train.



A huge crowd barged in when the officials declared it open for the
public around noon, but many were surprised once they came to know
about the fare.



Yet the curiosity did not deter many from buying out the smart cards
that were available.



The minimum fare is Rs 10 and the maximum is Rs 40. “I wanted to
travel but the fares are exorbitant. My whole day salary is Rs 100. If
I give Rs 40 to get a ticket to Alandur then I will have to starve
full day,” said Murugan, a vegetable cart pusher.



Murthy, a vegetable merchant who also wanted to be the first to try
out Chennai Metro, walked out of the queue after getting to know about
the fares. “If it is rs 20 to alandur, it is affordable,” he said. “I
will come some other time to try it out,” he said.



“Chennai Metro is only for the upper middle class, said Yashwant, who
shared his experiences of Chennai Metro while comparing it with other
Metros on which he travelled. “The fares here are exorbitant. Charging
Rs 40 for 10 km stretch is too high. In Delhi metro the fares are Rs
17 for a 7 Km ride,” he said.


Dashageer, a bsinessman, is quite happy with the Chennai Metro. “The
fare is okay and it eases away the congestion. It took only 19 minutes
to complete the 10km stretch which while through road lasts for nearly
30 minutes. Even the auto fares are quite high between the stretch,”
justified Dhasthageer.

 When Express queried whether the fares would be revised, a official
said that it is a policy decision. It has to be taken from the top,"
he added.

A senior official justified the fare and said that it is way low when
compared to international fares. He said even the Delhi Metro is
planning to hike the fares. “If you want the quality of service then
one has to pay for it,” he said.

He said the bus services don’t offer quality service neither it has
quality bus stations. “we have both. Then fares are still low due to
subsidies by the government,” he said.

writingonblog uncensored: Don’t drink and travel in Chennai Metro

writingonblog uncensored: Don’t drink and travel in Chennai Metro: Chennai: Beware! Don’t travel in a metro while you are drunk. As per Metro Rail Operations and Maintenance Act 2002, drunkenness or crea...

Don’t drink and travel in Chennai Metro

Chennai:

Beware! Don’t travel in a metro while you are drunk. As per Metro Rail
Operations and Maintenance Act 2002, drunkenness or creating nuisance
on metro rail will result in fine of Rs 500 besides forfeiture of
fare.



The Act states that the passenger, under alcohol, will also be removed
from the carriage.



Similarly, demonstrations are being banned on Chennai Metro premises.
Pasting posters, writing or drawing anything in the compartment or
carriage would result in six months of imprisonment or fine upto Rs
1,000 or both.



Besides, don’t ever argue with a metro rail official. Obstructing
metro rail official in his duties could result in imprisonment up to
one year or fine of Rs 1000.



Ticketless travellers or those travelling without proper pass or
travelling beyond authorised distance would have to pay fine. If you
travel beyond the authorised distance, you are liable to pay
difference between any fare paid and the fare payable in respect of
the journey made plus Rs 50 fine.



There is also a term of six months imprisonment if the pass is altered
or defaced. Fines as well as two month imprisonment would be for those
who deface public notice, the act states.

Chennai’s date with Metro

 

Chennai:

Chennaites date with Metro Rail became a reality on Monday with

the opening of the 10km stretch between between Koyambedu to Alandur by Tamil Nadu Chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

The dream to board Chennai Metro, which has been eluding Chennaites with the deadlines being extended now and again and officials failing to give an exact time-frame, was realised as people from different walks of life boarded the train.

The hopes for free rides were dashed and instead many of those from the lower rungs of the society had to think twice to board the train as the fares were alarmingly high.

The total cost for a trip between Koyambedu to Alandur is Rs 40 while the minimum fare is Rs 10.

However, the multi-modal integration has been a sham. Though the

stations are well connected to residential areas but lack footpaths

and wherever there is a footpath it is only a foot wide.

Koyambedu Metro Station lacks proper lighting and the flyover linking it to other side of the road is yet to be ready putting into question the accessibility of metro for common man. 

The biggest issue which could hamper the success of metro is in the delay of integration of all public mass passenger transport modes by means of various measures including routing and scheduling, operating feeder services and combined or common ticketing to facilitate seamless commuting options to the public.

Factfile:

1. Nine trains will be operated between Koyambedu and Alandur.

2. The frequency will be a train every 10 minute.

3. The trains will be operated between 6 am to 11pm.

4. The train will stop for 30 to 35 seconds in each station

5. The 10km stretch between Koyambedu and Alandur will be covered in 18 minutes

6. The train speed is on an average 30kmph

7. Each train has four rake

8. The train has the capacity to carry 1276 passengers. Of these 176

could be seated while 1100 can stand throughout the journey

9. Initially, the train is being run manually using Auto Train protection mode.

10. The Metro Train doors programmed in such a way that it will

provide a time frame of 30 seconds for commuters to squeeze inside the train during the peak hours and 20 seconds during the lean hours

Legal luminaries slam new regularisation scheme

Chennai:
As the state government is seeking Madras High Court sanction to new
regularisation scheme to legalise illegal buildings built till 2007, a
section of legal fraternity including a sitting judge and a retired
judge have opposed it stating that the scheme is a one-time measure
and should not be replicated.
 Speaking at a function to release the book ‘External And Ever Growing
Problem of Encroachments’, Justice D Hariparanthamam said that the
1999 regularisation scheme is a one-time measure by Supreme Court by
fixing a cut off date.
“It can’t keep on changing,” said the judge. He also highlighted the
Kumbakonam fire tragedy and said that one doesn’t want this to happen
at Ranganathan Street in T Nagar which could result in huge loss of
life.
The judge also highlighted that the biggest encroacher is the
government and highlighted how the lakes are converted into housing
schemes. “Even the Madas High court was built in a water body,” said
the judge.
He also highlighted how Pallikaranai marshland has been reduced to 400
acres from a 4,000 acre due to encroachment.
Former High Court judge S Jagadeesan, who authored the book, hit out
at the officials for failing to follow the court orders. Urging to the
courts to deal with contempt petitions as soon as possible, the former
judge blamed officials squarely for the encroachments. “Eviction made
under court order should stand forever,” the judge said.
He also said that officials have now become the selling agencies of
government properties for encroachers. He also highlighted how the
traffic police has failed in its duty to ensure the pavements don’t
get encroached. He also said that the regularisation scheme is a one
time measure and can’t be given now and again.
Talking about the book, Jagadeesan said that the book was conceived in
2012 but was later abandoned in 2013 owing to some delay. “But as the
High Court has to pass orders for removal of encroachments even today,
I revived the idea of publishing it for whatever it is worth,” said
Jagadessan.
The purpose of this book is to bring awareness to the public that the
court’s ordersare to be obeyed and the court’s directions must always
be carried out fully and promptly. Recurrence of offences cannot be an
excuse for the officials. It is their duty to see that the court’s
orders are in force forever,”said the former judge.
Former Supreme Court judge A R Lakshmanan, Madras High Court judge B
Rajendran and other legal luminaries also spoke on the occasion.

writingonblog uncensored: Year On, Eerie calm haunts Moulivakkam neighbourho...

writingonblog uncensored: Year On, Eerie calm haunts Moulivakkam neighbourho...: C Shivakumar and Martin Louis Chennai: Residents of Raja Raja Nagar have yet to recover from the shock of one of the biggest tragedy in con...

Year On, Eerie calm haunts Moulivakkam neighbourhood

C Shivakumar and Martin Louis

Chennai:

Residents of Raja Raja Nagar have yet to recover from the shock of one
of the biggest tragedy in construction sector that killed 60 people
last year.



An uneasy calm prevails in the area with most of the residents get
back into their houses before 9.30pm.



“It lacks the earlier cacophony. Now people are afraid to venture out
in the night and are inside home by 7.30pm,” said Jagan, a student of
AM Jain college.



There have also been tales of seeing ghosts in the area which some
locals as well as cops are spreading, said Jagan.



Interestingly, the disaster has sucked out the business of house
owners who let out their property for rent. “I have three compounds.
We used to used to give rooms on rent for Rs 10,000. Now even for Rs
5,000, we are hardly getting any,” says a house owner.



It seems Raja Raja Nagar’s realty value has also diminished. “Nearly
20 houses in teh area are lying vacant as tenants are afraid to step
in,” says Jagan.



Interestingly, residents point out to the imposing 11-storey
unfinished structure, which has has been certified as unsafe, is
forcing the possible tenants to rethink on locating anywhere near the
building. This was part of the twin towers and stood testimony to the
collapse of the other tower.



However, there has also been apathy towards those who bought flats as
well as those whose houses were damaged after the structure collapsed.



Abdul Khader, a techie, said that his house was totally damaged along
with important items. “It can’t be renovated. It has to be built all
over again. Initially, we asked for a compensation of Rs 25 lakh and
now hiked it to Rs 35 lakh as we have been losing our rentals as well
as our peace,” he said.



“We seek the interention of the Chief minister as we were hardly paid
a penny for the tragedy that struck us,” says Khader.



Interestingly, two more houses of his neighbours were demolished in
the tragedy. Besides, the police has also sealed five more houses as
it is claimed that they are located near the unsafe structure. “This
theory of vacating building in the 30 degree radius of the unsafe
structure is ridiculous. It can fall on anyone. Why they have zeroed
in on five houses. Now they have to take a house on rent when they
have their own,” he said.

writingonblog uncensored: IP offices facing staff crunch, says IPAB chairman...

writingonblog uncensored: IP offices facing staff crunch, says IPAB chairman...: Chennai: Intellectual Property office is short of qualified patent and trademark examiners with patent applications piling up, according to...

IP offices facing staff crunch, says IPAB chairman

Chennai:

Intellectual Property office is short of qualified patent and
trademark examiners with patent applications piling up, according to
chairman of Intellectual Property Appellate Board K N Basha.



Delivering the inaugural address during an Interactive Panel
Discussion on Leveraging Intellectual Property for Growth and
Competitiveness’ organised by Southern India Chamber of Commerce and
Industry here on Saturday, Basha said that the delay in granting
patents doesn’t augur well for the country’s economy.



He also highlighted how counterfeit products market is emerging due to
advances in science and Technology. “Estimates suggest that 3-5 per
cent of all products sold in the Rs 2.4-lakh-crore FMCG (fast-moving
consumer goods) market in India are counterfeit,” said Basha.



He also said countefeits remain a problem despite the country having
strong laws to regulate the infringement of intellectual property
rights. He said that Indian copyrights Act is the best and has been
hailed by US.



“there are provisions to protect intellectual property rights but
there is no awareness among the people, Basha said.



He also rued that India’s research and development spend is only one
per cent which is way below the developed ations. “Our college and
Universities file just 5 per cent of patents,” he said.



The draft of Intellectual Property Right Policy is a better legal
system, said Shilpi Jha, senior counsel, South Asia, US embassy. The
draft policy lists many steps to change and improve laws and the
legislative framework, administrative practices, and increase the
commercialisation of IP.

writingonblog uncensored: Moulivakkam tragedy was a wake-up call for develop...

writingonblog uncensored: Moulivakkam tragedy was a wake-up call for develop...: C Shivakumar Chennai: A partially constructed 11-storey building which has been certified as unsafe stands testimony to one of the w...

Moulivakkam tragedy was a wake-up call for developers

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

A partially constructed 11-storey building which has been certified as
unsafe stands testimony to one of the worst building tragedy the city
has witnessed a year ago with the loss of more than 60 lives.



A year has passed since the tragedy happened but the scars still
remain even as Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority is trying to
amend development regulations and ensure that such sort of incidents
don’t happen.



CREDAI’s national chairman for Best Practices T Chitty Babu said that
the incident was a wake-up call for developers as well as authorities.



“It resulted in responsibilities being fixed on every individual be it
builder, developer, buyer or regulator. The whole system got
tightened,” said Babu.



Sources said that now Chennai Metropolitan Development  Authority is
insisting on vetting of the structural design either  by Anna
University or Structural Engineering Research Centre or IIT, Madras
before sanctioning planning permission.



It is also learnt that CMDA has resolved to include representative
from Public works department as one of the member in Multi-storied
building panel meeting. “We are awaiting the orders from the
government in this regard,” said a official.



CMDA is also trying to take the lessons from other Indian  cities in
regulating the developments. Sources revealed that the planning body
is studying the report furnished by five study teams who were deputed
to major cities like Bangaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata
post-Moulivakkam to study the procedures followed in cities in
regulating the development. The report is being discussed with CREDAI
and the government



Meanwhile, the report of the enquiry commission to look into all
aspects relating to collapse of the building at Moulivakkam is likely
to be tabled during the forthcoming assembly session.



This comes after attorney general informed the government about the
assurance given to Madras High Court of tabling the report before the
assembly.



However, the demolition of Block A of Prime Shristi Housing is yet to
be carried out. The demolition of Block A of Prime Shristi Housing
could not be carried out as High court quashed the proceedings of the
collector as well as district magistrate. However, it has not passed
any orders against the demolition.



“The district collector has requested the government for suitable
direction to proceed further,” sources added.

writingonblog uncensored: Excess ethyl alcohol, sediments present in Tasmac ...

writingonblog uncensored: Excess ethyl alcohol, sediments present in Tasmac ...: Chennai: Tasmac officials immediately swung into action after activists questioned the quality of alcohol being sold to consumers after...

Excess ethyl alcohol, sediments present in Tasmac brandy

Chennai:

Tasmac officials immediately swung into action after activists
questioned the quality of alcohol being sold to consumers after a
sample of brandy tested by one of the National Accreditation Board for
Testing and Calibration Laboratories stated that it had high quality
of ethyl alcohol and sediments.



Senthil Armugam, general secretary of Satta Panchayat Iyakkam told
Express that the sample of Day and Night brand of brandy brought from
a shop near T Nagar bus stand had 46 per cent of ethyl alcohol content
as tested by Chennai Testing Laboratory Private Limited. This is three
per cent high than the stipulated requirement of 42.86 pc, he said.



“Not only that, it also had sediments in it which could be injurious
to health,” said Armugam while quoting the Indian Standard of
Alcoholic Drinks (brandy) specifications.



The specifications state that brandies shall be free from sediments,
suspended matter and any ingredients injurious to health.



Meanwhile, Tasmac officials immediately swung to action when the issue
was brought to their light. “We will send the samples to forensic lab
and then confirm the result. Following this we will take immediate
action,” the official said.



He said the test is likely to be conducted on Monday.



Interestingly, Satta Panchayat Iyakkam has been opposing the sale of
alcohol in the state. Armugam says that the sale of alcohol has gone
up in the state from 3,639 crore in 2003 to 29, 672 crore in 2015.



Highlighting, how the Kings Institute rejected the plea of the
activists from his Iyakkam to test the sample of brandy Armugam said
that it is a duty of any institute to test the samples as sought by
the consumer.



Interestingly, 28 states, including Tamil Nadu, has set a parameters
of 42.86 per cent of ethyl alcohol conrtent in alcoholic drinks.

writingonblog uncensored: India, US sign MoUs on health

writingonblog uncensored: India, US sign MoUs on health: Chennai: India and the United States signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on Cooperation on Cancer Research, Prevention, Control a...

India, US sign MoUs on health

Chennai:

India and the United States signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on Cooperation on Cancer Research, Prevention, Control and Management and Collaboration in Environmental and Occupational Health and Injury Prevention and Control, and a Letter of Intent (LoI) on Antimicrobial Resistance Research.

The MoU on Cancer Research and LoI on Antimicrobial Resistance Research were signed by B P Sharma, Secretary (Department of Health and Family Welfare and Department of Health Research), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Prof. K Vijay Raghavan, Secretary (Department of Biotechnology), Ministry of Science & Technology and Richard Verma, Ambassador of the US to India.

While, the MoU on Collaboration in Environmental and Occupational Health and Injury Prevention and Control was signed by B P Sharma and Richard Verma.

 The MoU for cooperation on cancer research prevention, control and management was signed between the National Cancer Research Institute of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology and National Cancer Institute of the National Institute of Health and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), US. 

writingonblog uncensored: Women sailors find it tough to land jobs

writingonblog uncensored: Women sailors find it tough to land jobs: C Shivakumar Chennai: Women seafarers may have conquered the male bastion but then many who aspire a career in the shipping industry ...

Women sailors find it tough to land jobs

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Women seafarers may have conquered the male bastion but then many who
aspire a career in the shipping industry are still being discriminated
as shipping companies prefer men to women while recruiting them.

Renuka who has completed here gradtuation from AMET university is
struggling to start her career in the sea as companies are ignoring
her and prefer her male colleagues.

“For the last one year, I have been searching for a job but could not
find one,” says Renuka.

Interestingly, her seniors are doing well in the shipping sector,” says Renuka.

And it is is true as many of Chennai-based AMET University’s women
sailors are sailing high. Neetu says that women have the capability
but they are being ignored in the shipping sector. “It is high time
the shipping ministry should think of having a special quota for women
in government ships so that we can have more women sailors. There is a
huge discrimination in the private sector,” says Neetu, who is on the
way to become a junior officer in Maersk.

Interestingly, like the men, these women seafarers also face the
problem of agents who promise to get them jobs if they pay Rs 5 to Rs
6 lakh. “I am from a middle class family, how can i afford such a huge
sum. I am qualified to get a job, why should I pay and get it,” she
says.

The agents menace has been one of the major issues bothering the
seafarers as Thursday is being celebrated as Day of Seafarer.

While many institutes are mushrooming, some legally and some
illegally, India is facing a problem to regulate them. V Manoj Joy,
national Co-ordinator, Sailors Helpline, says that while the theme for
this year is ‘Career at Sea’, officials are burying the real issues
facing the sector while painting a rosy picture.

Joy says that students spend around rs 9.5 lakh to complete a shipping
course after which they have to pay to the agents. “Are we encouraging
youngsters to joing the sector,” he reasons.

Interestingly, the shipping sector has been luring youngsters like
Vignesh in the southern Tamil Nadu, who paid a fortune to get enrolled
in a shipping institute in Thoothkudi and later his parents paid
additional two lakh to get his enrolled in a ship for training. “In
the end he met a watery grave with both agents and the institute
refusing to take the blame,” said Joy.

“It is high time these challenges being faced by the young sailors are
discussed so that one gets a clearer picture,” said Joy.

writingonblog uncensored: Disabled denied access as Metro Rail corridor lack...

writingonblog uncensored: Disabled denied access as Metro Rail corridor lack...: C Shivakumar Chennai: As Chennai Metro Rail is expected to start its operation in the 10km stretch between Koyambedu and Alandur, ques...

Disabled denied access as Metro Rail corridor lacks pedestrian friendly footpaths!

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

As Chennai Metro Rail is expected to start its operation in the 10km
stretch between Koyambedu and Alandur, questions over the multi-modal
integration in Arumbakkam, Vadapalani and Ashok Nagar persists.



These stations are well connected to residential areas but lack
footpaths and wherever there is a footpath it is only a foot wide,
according to a study done by Institute for Transportation and
Development Policy.



As per ITDP’s research from the world’s best practices, such high
intensity streets should provide a minimum of 3 metre clear,
uninterrupted pedestrian walkway. However, the footpaths have yet to
be widened. With thousands of passengers are expected to use this
infrastructure in the coming months, the access to the stations is yet
to be thought out completely.



The biggest issue is the delay in notification of Chennai

Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority Act (CUMTA Act). This has
resulted in the delay of integration of all public mass passenger
transport modes by means of various measures including routing and
scheduling, operating feeder services and combined or common ticketing
to facilitate seamless commuting options to the public, sources said.



But Institute for Transportation and Development Policy technical
director Christopher Kost doesnt buy this argument. “Yes the
notification is yet to happen but that doesn’t absolve independent
agencies like Highways department to provide quality footpaths,” he
says.



“Why should not they work independently like Chennai Corporation. The
corporation commissioner regularly conducts the meeting of NMT,” says
Kost.

The issue is that the Metro corridor runs along the most unsafe roads.
And Chennai Metro caters to the pedestrians who have to walk all the
way to get into the train. “But Highway officials have failed to put
their act together in catering to this section,” said Kost.



This kills the basic aim of Chennai Metro which is to reduce the use
of private vehicles on road. According to ITDP study, seamless and
efficient transfer between different transport modes is crucial. If
the wait at inter­modal points are long, the passengers will  prefer
to use their private vehicles.



Interestingly, the MMI committee has failed to put their act together.
Although the committee did conduct a survey of the metro corridor on
January 23 and ITDP has highlighted the isues relating to pedestrian
issues, the Highway officials have been sleeping over it for the six
months.



Kost says that the entire stretch is unfriendly to disabled people.
“While the stations does have ramps but the question is how will the
disabled people reach the station to access Metro Train. There are no
ramps along the footpaths. There is a need for pedestrian ramps,” says
Kost.



In Arumbakkam, Vadapalani and Ashok Nagar, there is no clear
pedestrian route into and through the station area and most of the
stretch lacks footpaths, which should have been designed and laid
early not after the metro rail starts functioning.



There are also too many driveways along the length of the stations
with abrupt curbs make the walking experience equivalent to a hurdle
race, says ITDP study. Best practices vouch for continuous footpaths
even at property entrances.



Interestingly, the street design does not account for seamless
connectivity to other modes of public transport such as MTC bus stops.



In fact there is practically no infrastructure to walk towards them.
Currently most MTC buses and share­autorickshaws ply on the 100 feet
road competing with the proposed metro.



It is not yet clear how the routes of these modes of transport will be
rationalised to act as a feeder network, says the ITDP study.



Other added benefits for passengers would be information integration
whereby passengers would be able to avail real­time information on
various modes regarding connectivity options,

routes, schedules, and fares; as well as fare integration with
integrated payment solutions like smart cards which would allow
seamless access and payment across different modes.

Such levels of integration can only be achieved in the presence of a
strong and unified transport authority

writingonblog uncensored: Naval Submarine to plunge 4,000 metres deep into t...

writingonblog uncensored: Naval Submarine to plunge 4,000 metres deep into t...: Chennai: The search will now be conducted 4,000 metres deep to locate the Indian Coast Guard Dornier aircraft along with three crew membe...

Naval Submarine to plunge 4,000 metres deep into the sea to locate the Coastguard’s Dornier

Chennai:
The search will now be conducted 4,000 metres deep to locate the
Indian Coast Guard Dornier aircraft along with three crew members that
went off the radar on the night of June 8 after state-of-the-art
Multifunctional Support Vessel (MSV) ‘Olympic Canyon’ with integrated
Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) provided by Reliance group drew a
blank while undertaking the underwater visual profiling of 25 miles.



“The Reliance vessel has left for Kakinada after the ROV  searched the
entire area that we had earmarked for it. They scanned the area using
four optical cameras and the search covered 25 miles from corner to
corner,” said Inspector General SP Sharma, Commander,Indian Coast
Guard (East).



It was here for the last five days. Now it has an engagement of its
own. We will use its services as and when it is free,” said Sharma.



Meanwhile, after consulting with oceanographic scientists, who said
that the echoes from aircraft could emanate from the opposite direction, the search is now being concentrated on the eastern side of  the slope underwater.



“This area is 4,000 metre deep and we will be using the Indian Navy
submarine which is now docked in Chennai. The submarine would dive on
Thursday and search for the aircraft in the depth of 4,000 metres to
500 metres,”said Sharma.



He said he also briefed the families of the search and rescue
operation. “They are anxious but appreciate the search and rescue
operations,” he said.

writingonblog uncensored: Metro Nerve Centre Under Test

writingonblog uncensored: Metro Nerve Centre Under Test: Chennai: As Chennai Metro Rail is gearing up for its inaugural 10-Km run between Koyambedu to Alandur by the beginning of next month, o...

Metro Nerve Centre Under Test

Chennai:

As Chennai Metro Rail is gearing up for its inaugural 10-Km run
between Koyambedu to Alandur by the beginning of next month, officials
are conducting trials to check the efficiency of Operation Command
Centre (OCC), the nerve centre of CMRL located in Koyambedu.

Giant screens along with workstations and images of Metro Stations on
the elevated stretch besides the location and movement of trains are
being displayed at the centre located in the administrative building
of Chennai Metro.

“We can control the movement of all te stations from here. There are a
minimum 30 cameras in each station recording the movement of commuters
as well as the station. A bigger station would have 50 to 60 cameras,”
says a metro rail official while scanning the images on the screen.

Interestingly, the OCC will be the place where the entire operation of
Metro Rail will be regulated. It is currently being manned by seven
members and controlled by a chief controller.  If fully operational it
would have a total of 10 controllers. These include two traffic
controllers, a rolling stock controller, a traction power controller,
passenger communication controller, auxillary controller, maintenance
controller, standby TVS and traction power controllers etc.

The high technology OCC centre would be the one which will schedule
the running of trains. The traffic controller would draft the
timetable and enter it into the software around midnight for the day’s
operation. This would also include the fixing of frequencies of
trains. The OCC also has the capability to operate the train under
Auto Train Operation Mode. “Currently, we are conducting the trials,”
said the official while pointing to the location of a train on the
giant screen.

The OCC also has Emergency Trip System where the train could be
brought to halt immediately depending upon speed and braking system.
“The OCC could have detected someone had fallen down which the driver
won’t have. So this mechanism would be brought into use,” said the
metro rail official.

“If there is a back out the trains AC system could keep the train cool
till 45 to 60 minutes and we have to much of a response time to
evacuate passengers,” a metro rail official said.

Interestingly, the OCC will soon be shifted to Nandanam where the new
office of Chennai Metro Rail is coming. This OCC then could be kept as
back-up. “There is also a mechanism to operate it from the stations if
the OCC experiences a failure,” said the official.

Meanwhile, the Metro Rail depot in Koyambedu is nearly ready. It has
automatic train wash plant, stabling shed with tracks to park 36
trains, pit wheel lathe to reprofile the wheels and infrastructure
shed where rescue and diesel shunting locomotives are kept.

Each train before leaving the depot would undergo inspection at
Inspection Bay Lnes before getting the certificate for operation. They
will operate till 11 pm and then will go to automatic train wash plant
and get cleaned up.

writingonblog uncensored: Free Metro Rides for Chennaites?

writingonblog uncensored: Free Metro Rides for Chennaites?: C Shivakumar Chennai: Would Chennaites initially get a free ride on metro rail once the 10km elevated stretch between Koyambedu to A...

Free Metro Rides for Chennaites?

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Would Chennaites initially get a free ride on metro rail once the 10km
elevated stretch between Koyambedu to Alandur is thrown open to
people.

Chennai Metro Rail sources told Express that discussions are going on
whether to provide free rides once the Chennai Metro Rail starts
operation between Koyambedu to Alandur, which is likely to be in the
first week of next month.

This could also make Chennai Metro Rail the first in the country to
offer such a scheme for commuters to get themselves familiarise with
the new mode of transport being introduced in the city.

Officials also said that the fares are also being fixed but refused to
provide any details.

Interestingly, the free ride concept will have to be decided by the
state government. “We don’t know whether it will be for a month or a
shorter duration. It depends on the state government to decide,” said
the official.

Interestingly, Metro Rail is planning to put into use nine trains for
its operations between Koyambedu and Alandur. “The frequency would be
a train every 10 minutes and it is likely that the operation would
start from either 5am or 6 am to 11pm,” said the official.

“The train would stop for 30 seconds in each station and the 10km
stretch between Koyambedu and Alandur would be covered in 18 minutes.

“The train speed would be on an average 30kmph and each four rake
train has the capacity to carry 1276 passengers. Of these 176 could be
seated while 1100 can stand throughout the journey,” said the
official.

Initially, the train would be run manually using Auto Train protection
mode. The auto protection mode would minimise the manual errors like
overspeedin etc. It will then slowly graduate to auto train protection
mode, where it can run automatically through the operation control
centre located in Koyambedu.

There are some 25 trains in the depot in Koyambedu and each has a
warranty of two years. Before the warranty process comes to an end,
the operational parameters have to be set in each train, an official
said.

He also said that Chennai Metro Train doors have also been programmed
in such a way that it would provide a time frame of 30 seconds for
commuters to squeeze inside the train during the peak hours and 20
seconds timeframe during the lean hours.

CBI conducts surprise checks on Govt Medical Store Depot

Chennai:
Central Bureau of Investigation conducted surprise checks on a Central
Government Medical Store Depot, which also hosts a Central Drug
Testing Lab, in Vepery on Monday evening.

A CBI spokesman from Delhi said the checks are being conducted over
certain allegations. He refused to provide any further details on the
nature of allegations.

Officials at the depot confirmed the checks. “The surprise checks were
conducted by CBI between 3pm to 6pm. We don’t have any further details
as to why the searches were conducted,” said the officials.

writingonblog uncensored: Claim on Indian Citizenship to Afghanistan, Pakist...

writingonblog uncensored: Claim on Indian Citizenship to Afghanistan, Pakist...: Chennai: Did National Democratic Alliance government grant citizenship to 4,300 Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan and Afghanistan in i...

Claim on Indian Citizenship to Afghanistan, Pakistan Hindus under cloud

Chennai:



Did National Democratic Alliance government grant citizenship to 4,300
Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan and Afghanistan in its one year
of being in power or was it just 665 citizens from the two countries
during 2014 and 2015?

Information gathered through Right to Information Act states that a
total of 665 citizens from Afghanistan and Pakistan were granted
citizenship in the year 2014 and 2015.

This is contrary to the claims being put forth by the report
attributing government sources that citizenship has been provided to
4,300 Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan and Afghanistan in one
year of National Democratic Alliance being in power.

According to information gathered from Ministry of Home Affairs
through a RTI filed by Vinoth Ranganathan, co-founder of online
RTI.com, a Bangalore-based organisation that helps citizens file RTI,
a total of 248 nationals from Afghanistan got the citizenship in 2014
and 67 in 2015 (till date).

Similarly, a total of 267 nationals from Pakistan were granted
citizenship in 2014 and in 2015, the figure was 83. In total, the
figures from the two countries in the last two years works to about
665. This information was given by Ministry of Home Affairs on June 8, 2015.

“The information provided in the RTI is genuine. I have been tracking
the issue by getting the information through a RTI filed in March as
well as June. The difference is mere 40 numbers,” said Vinoth while
elaborating that the figures of 4,300 has never been substantiated by
any media.

Surprisingly, if one goes by the RTI, citizenship were granted to 800
citizens from 25 countries in the period ranging from 2014 and 2015.
The RTI information highlights that granting of citizenship to
Afghanistan and Pakistan has been a priority of NDA government. It is
learnt that BJP wants to position India as a ‘natural home’ for Hindus
fleeing persecution anywhere in the world, a policy similar to
Israel’s Law of Return that grants only Jews the right to return and
settle there.

This also comes in the wake of reports that there are about two lakh
Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan
living in India.

While granting of citizenship to Pakistan and Afghanistan refugees may
be a priority of the government, the figures as highlighted in media
were in contrary to the official data being released to a RTI query.