Chennai: Bridge works choke bus terminus in Vijayanagar

By B Anbuselvan | Express News Service | Published: 18th January 2018 02:31 AM |



Vijayanagar bus terminus was demolished to make way for a bridge that connects Taramani link road with Velachery bypass road | Express

CHENNAI: The Velachery Vijayanagar bus stand is gasping for space after a portion of it has been demolished by the state highways department to construct a double-decker bridge.The terminus, which has been squeezed, suffered a blow when Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) also dropped a proposal to shift it to Velachery MRTS railway station owing to administrative constraints.

Aiming to reduce traffic congestion during peak hours on the Tambaram- Velachery main road and Velachery - Taramani link road, in 2013 the state highways department proposed to build two bridges at Vijayanagar junction connecting Taramani link road and Velachery bypass road and Velachery - Tambaram road at a cost of Rs 90 crore.

A 640 metre-long two-lane flyover was to connect Velachery Bypass Road (100 feet road) with Velachery - Tambaram main road near Velachery MRTS station and the second flyover was to link Taramani link road with Velachery Bypass road.After a delay of three years, construction work for the first bridge was started in 2015 and the second bridge in 2016.

To erect pillars for the bridge that connects Taramani link road with Velachery bypass road, the state highways department demolished a portion of roof of Vijayanagar bus terminus a week ago. A pillar also was erected at the entrance of bus terminus.Since then, buses from Velachery bypass road and Tambaram - Velachery road enter the bus stand negotiating a narrow road, thus increasing traffic snarls during office hours. Bus commuters are also forced to stand in the scorching sun.

The bus terminus connects most areas of Southern Chennai, including Tambaram, Medavakkam, Ponmar, Kelambakkam, Madipakkam, Pallikaranai, Kilkattalai and Chromepet, Sholiganallur and Perungudi. It handles about 50,000 commuters a day.A section of bus commuters fears that if the bus terminus continues to function without adequate space, it will worsen vehicular movement.

They say buses from Tambaram and Medavakkam have smooth passage up to Pallikaranai and later they get caught up in traffic jam from MRTS station to Vijayanagar bus stand. During office hours, buses get piled up on Taramani link road, Velachery bypass road and Tambaram road up to two to three km.

“It takes nearly 45 minutes to an hour to reach the terminus from Pallikaranai. MTC should shift a few buses to nearby places to reduce traffic congestion,” said S Shanmugam, a retired school teacher and resident of Erikkarai street, Velachery.

Another commuter of Velachery, K Krishnamurthy, a banker, said about 20 MTC buses are getting parked in Velachery - Taramani link road and bypass roads throughout the day occupying the congested roads.

“Buses are already choking vehicular movement. The bridges will ease traffic congestion only if buses are taken off the roads,” he added.

Earlier, MTC had plans to shift the bus terminus to Velachery MRTS station and it was dropped later owing to issues pertaining to land acquisition and other administrative constraints.“As of now, the construction works are being done without any disruption to bus operations. The bus terminus will continue to function in the same location and buses parked on Taramani link and Velachery main road,” said an official.A senior official of state highways department said 50 percent of the works have been completed for the second flyover and plans are on to open it for traffic by the middle of this year.

New mofussil bus terminus at Kelambakkam may cost Rs 985 cr

By C Shivakumar | Express News Service | Published: 19th January 2018 04:03 AM |



Desired (21.6m) width carriageway road connecting to mbt site

CHENNAI: The proposed new mofussil bus terminus at Kelambakkam for south-bound buses is expected to cost the exchequer Rs 985 crore, according to official sources.The conceptual master plan proposal which was submitted before the steering committee earlier in January had estimated the total capital expenditure and operational expenditure at Rs 985 crore. Of this, the project cost works out to Rs 325 crore, while operational expenditure would be Rs 660 crore. This includes the cost of building of main terminal which is estimated at Rs 175 crore.

The project is proposed to be taken up in two phases. Under the first phase, a commercial centre will be developed along with the bus terminus and once the work is completed, the second phase of the commercial centre will be taken up along with an additional commercial centre.The total revenue to be generated through the bus terminus is estimated at Rs 1,020 crore.

This comes even as the technical committee of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, which has approved the 66-acre plan for the bus terminus earlier, suggested the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model for the new terminus. It was also suggested that the Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation can take over the project on a cost-sharing basis.Sources pointed out the poor maintenance of the Koyambedu bus terminus, which is being directly administered by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, and hoped that the BOT model, though it may lead to a small user fee, would offer better facilities to passengers. However, it is for the government to decide, sources added.

Under the first phase, the commercial area, which will come up in 8.79 acres, will include malls with food court, multiplexes and a hotel.Meanwhile, the consultant has suggested laying of 21.6-metre carriageway road connecting the bus terminus through the forest area linking Vandalur to the Kelambakkam Road.

The proposal also suggests building a flyover linking the Urapakkam Railway Station with the proposed bus terminus to have a regular shuttle service between the terminus and the railway station. There is also a suggestion to build a 300-metre one-way walkator to ferry the passengers from Urapakkam railway station to the proposed Kelambakkam terminus as well as a 225-metre long pedestrian network linking the station.

However, the biggest challenge before the proposed terminus is to overcome the legal issues pending before the Supreme Court. Once the terminus is ready with the expansion of the National Highway along the stretch and proposed development of lands belonging to Arulmigu Nadeeswarar Temple at Nandhiavaram village in Guduvanchery, the topography will undergo a change.

Malls and multiplexes

Under the first phase, the commercial area, which will come up in 8.79 acres will include malls with food court, multiplexes and a hotel

Two-phase work

The project is proposed to be taken up in two phases. In the first phase, a commercial centre will be developed along with the bus terminus and the second phase of the commercial centre will be taken.

Gateway to south

The capital and operational expenditure for bus terminus to cost the exchequer Rs 985 crore

The project is proposed to be taken up in two phases
The project is likely to generate revenue of Rs 1,020 crore

The conceptual master plan proposes a 300-metre one-way walkator to ferry the passengers from the Urapakkam railway station to the proposed Kilambakkam bus terminus
There is also a proposal to build a 225-metre-long pedestrian network linking the station

Schoolboy death: Principal and PE teacher arrested in Chennai 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Jan 19, 2018, 2:15 am IST

Police investigations have confirmed that M. Narendran was made to do 'duck walk' as part of a punishment for coming late for school. 


Parents protest in front of the school in Perambur seeking action against the teacher. (Photo: DC)

Chennai: Police on Thursday arrested the principal and physical education teacher of Don Bosco higher secondary school, Perambur, in connection with a class 10 student's death, who swooned on the school premises on Wednesday. 

Police investigations have confirmed that teenager M. Narendran (15) was made to do 'duck walk' as part of a punishment for coming late for school.

Thiru Vi Ka Nagar police had registered a case under section 174 CrPC (suspicious death) after it was initially reported that the boy swooned during prayer meeting. There were no external injuries on his body.

Narendran had come late to school by over half an hour after which PE teacher Jay Singh had given him corporal punishment along with a few others. It is then that Narendran had collapsed on the ground after which he was moved to a hospital nearby, where he was declared brought dead.

The boy’s parents were informed by a few of his classmates that Narendran was made to do duck walk after which the parents filed a police complaint. On Thursday, police perused CCTV footage from the school, which confirmed that the boy was meted out corporal punishment.

Based on the available evidence, police arrested school principal Arul Lourdusamy and physical education teacher Jay Singh on Thursday. They were booked under section 304 (a) of IPC (causing death due to negligence), said a senior police officer.

As the news of the boy’s death spread, parents and kin of the boy staged a protest outside the school on Thursday. The school management had declared a holiday on Thursday.

CCTV camera reveals PE teacher punishing student
A day after a school boy died, school authorities and teachers have maintained that M. Narendran (15) had collapsed during the prayer meeting.

However, probe by the district educational authorities and police at the school on Thursday showed that the boy had indeed collapsed during the corporal punishment by the physical education teacher and the same was captured on the CCTV camera.

In a preliminary inquiry, teachers and management of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School in Thiru. Vi.Ka. Nagar had maintained that the boy swooned at the prayer meeting. On Thursday, officials including Chief Educational Officer Manoharan went to the school and analysed the CCTV footage.

“It has revealed that Jai Singh had given corporal punishment for the class 10 student Narendran for coming late. Along with some other students he was asked to do 'duck walk’ which he did for some distance and then collapsed,” an official involved with the inquiry told this paper.

The officials immediately suspended physical education teacher Jai Singh.

The district education officials said they will also initiate action against the headmaster.

“We have given instruction umpteen times not to give any corporal punishment to students inside the classrooms and the school campus. Yet some schools are still practising it. We will reissue the circular again directing the schools to do away the practice,” an official said.

Pay Rs 8 lakh compensation to paralysed woman: Forum 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Jan 19, 2018, 2:19 am IST

The insurance firm was ordered to pay Rs 8,24,471 to the petitioner and to indemnify Dr Varalakshmi’s negligence.


 
Sujatha developed hypertension but no drug was prescribed to control it. The hospital prescribed her drugs unsafe for a lactating woman, which led to brain damage, paralysing her permanently.

Chennai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (North), directed an insurance firm to pay Rs 8.29 lakh as compensation to a woman paralysed following surgery at a private hospital.

The forum directed the firm to indemnify the surgeon’s professional negligence.

In the petition, U. Sujatha of Purasawalkam, submitted that she had consulted Dr P. Varalakshmi of Narayana Hospital, Purasawalkam, on January 19, 2011.

Sujatha was expected to deliver a baby on August 30, 2011. She was admitted to Narayana Hospital on August 18, 2011, and developed labour pain. Without obtaining consent from Sujatha and her family members, Dr P.Varalakshmi performed surgery (lower segment cesarian section) and delivered a female baby at 9.50 am. The hospital staff manipulated the report, changing the elective to emergency surgery.

Sujatha was discharged from the hospital on August 22, 2011. In the discharge summary, the hospital advised her to take iron and calcium tablets for three months. At the time of discharge she was having hypertension. The hospital did not prescribe suitable drugs to control it. The hospital prescribed her drugs unsafe for a lactating woman. Sujatha sustained brain damage, which paralysed her permanently.

She was transferred to Apollo Hospital, Chennai for further treatment at much cost. She was discharged from Apollo on September 22, 2011. The petitioner stated that she cannot survive without a helper. Narayana Hospital staff gave her reports only after intervention by senior police officers.

In their reply, Narayana Hospital management denied deficiency in service. Dr P.Varalakshmi stated that due to threat of rupture, emergency LSCS was done. Consent from Sujatha and her mother was obtained for surgery.

M/s Oriental Insurance Company Limited stated that the firm had issued professional indemnity policy to Dr.P.Varalakshmi to cover her individual professional negligence. The insurer was liable only to the extent of professional negligence by Dr Varalakshmi. Sujatha’s medical records were not signed by Dr Varalakshmi.

The bench comprising president K.Jayabalan and member M.Uyirroli Kannan held that Dr Varalakshmi committed deficiency in service. However, Narayana Hospital, had not committed any deficiency.

The insurance firm was ordered to pay Rs 8,24,471 to the petitioner and to indemnify Dr Varalakshmi’s negligence. The bench also directed Dr Varalakshmi to pay Rs 5,000 to the petitioner.

Madras HC reprieve for conductor dismissed over 30 paise

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

 

Published Jan 19, 2018, 2:26 am IST

 

The finding of the labour court was neither perverse nor lack of support with any materials, the judge said.

 

 Madras HC not only upheld the Labour court order but also directed the management of Metropolitan Transport Corporation to pay 50 per cent wage arrears from the date of the award till his superannuation.

 

Chennai: A conductor, dismissed from service for shortage of 30 paise in a day’s collection during inspection, got reprieve from Madras high court as it upheld an earlier favourable labour court order.

Madras HC not only upheld the Labour court order but also directed the management of Metropolitan Transport Corporation to pay 50 per cent wage arrears from the date of the award till his superannuation.

Justice R.Suresh Kumar gave the directive while dismissing the petition filed by MTC (Chennai Division-I), challenging the award passed by the Labour court dated February 11, 2002.
M.K. Dananjayan was appointed as a conductor on August 1, 1986. On August 3, 1993, while he was in duty, a sudden inspection was undertaken, where the team found shortage of 30 paise in collection.

After holding enquiry, he was dismissed from service. He approached the labour court, which directed the management to reinstate him in service and pay 30 per cent back wages. Aggrieved, the management filed this petition in 2002 and obtained an interim stay.

Finding that the petition was pending over 15 years, Justice Suresh Kumar took up the matter and though there was no representation on behalf of the conductor, after hearing the counsel for MTC, passed the current order.

The judge said the labour court has concluded that as per the standing orders which were in vogue in the management, if the shortage was Rs 20, the same can be permissible. Here in the case on hand, the alleged shortage was only 30 paise. On perusal of the award, especially the reasoning given by the labour court in its finding to reach the conclusion, this court was of the view that the finding of the labour court, was neither perverse nor lack of support with any materials, the judge added. The judge said if at all the conductor was guilty of any shortage of amount, which was lesser than `20, even according to the standing orders of the management, no action needs to be taken against such erring employee.

Coimbatore: 3 private hospital doctors booked for ‘careless surgery’ 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Jan 19, 2018, 3:17 am IST

: In a shocking development, city police have lodged complaint against three doctors of a private hospital. 
 

A case was lodged against the three doctors Dharmendhra, Vinodh and Kannadasan under section IPC 337. (Representational image)

COIMBATORE: In a shocking development, city police have lodged complaint against three doctors of a private hospital here after they allegedly left pieces of cotton and gauze inside the body of a four-year-old boy during a kidney surgery.

Police said that Vinodkumar, 38, an engineer of Dindigul in a petition to the city police commissioner K. Periaiah recently, sought action against three doctors of a private hospital near Ram Nagar here, who performed a kidney operation on his son Vishnu, and carelessly left cotton and gauze pieces inside after the surgery, leading to serious health problems for the boy.

While Vinodh took his son to the same hospital after a couple of weeks as the boy was unwell, struggled to urinate and a distended stomach, doctors took a scan but failed to acknowledge their carelessness and procedural lapse during the surgery.

Responding to Vinodh’s complaint, the commissioner directed the Kattoor police to take immediate action.

A case was lodged against the three doctors Dharmendhra, Vinodh and Kannadasan under section IPC 337 (causing hurt to any person by doing any action so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life). 

Doctors say surgery is better than wearing slings in treating shoulder dislocation 

Pushpa Narayan | TNN | Jan 18, 2018, 18:32 IST

CHENNAI: When an 18-year-old swimmer came to the emergency room with a dislocated shoulder and MRIs revealed a torn ligaments and displaced bones, orthopedician Dr Ram Chidambaram suggested an immediate surgery, although a traditional approach would have meant complete rest with hands in a sling. 

Dr Chidambaram said that without surgery there was a 90% chance of recurrence of shoulder dislocation in the swimmer. He was also at risk of early onset of arthritis.

"A keyhole surgery will solve the problem once for all. We use just three sutures to anchor the bones and repair the ligaments. These sutures are at least 15 times stronger than stainless steel," said Dr Chidambaram, director of MIOT centre for sports medicine, shoulder and upper limb surgery.

Surgery is a preferred treatment not just for this teenaged swimmer, but for most patients -- young and old - says Dr Chidambaram.

"When there is pain and damage to the bone or muscles we must choose scalpel over sling. The outcomes have been very good. We have done a complete shoulder replacement on an 84-year-old woman and she can rotate her shoulders to 180 degrees," he said.

In the next couple of days, a team of doctors, in association with Indo-German Orthopedic Foundation, will speak to surgeons in the city on why they must not hesitate to use their scalpels. "It's high time we gave the upper limb its due," said hospital chairman Mallika Mohandoss.

"In most developed countries patients go in for surgeries to regain normal movements as soon as they suffer injuries. But people here adjust their range of activity and accept disability just to avoid surgery. The idea of a conference came because we have turned a new leaf in many patients who have remained disabled for long," she said.

Orthopedicans, however, say delayed surgeries can be complicated and expensive. At the meeting, doctors from countries such Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands will discuss shoulder problems. Over 600 participants -- orthopaedic surgeons, physiotherapist and postgraduates - will attend the conference, which will be held on the hospital's Ramapuram campus.