FASTag cards fail to speed up transactions at toll plazas

The introduction of FASTag cards has failed to speed up transactions at toll plazas across Tiruchy district, as several vehicles without these RFID tags enter FASTag lanes by mistake.

Published: 18th January 2020 01:07 PM 

Representational Image

By Jayakumar Madala

Express News Service

TIRUCHY: The introduction of FASTag cards has failed to speed up transactions at toll plazas across Tiruchy district, as several vehicles without these RFID tags enter FASTag lanes by mistake.

With the rules stating vehicles could be charged double the toll fare for entering FASTag lanes without the RFID tags, several vehicles have been found exiting the toll lanes at the very last moment once informed of the additional charges.

“Vehicular movement comes to a standstill several times a day. This is because a few vehicles enter the FASTag lanes and exit after the driver is told of the toll being double. With huge cars making U-turns in the narrow toll lanes, there have been frequent delays,” said an employee at Samayapuram toll plaza.

With the possibility of tempers flaring when double the toll is charged, employees said they have been advised to remain calm and to educate vehicle owners.

Community certificate row: TNPSC pulled up by HC

While allowing the petition of the candidate AK Anand, the court noted that the Commission had taken the decision to reject his application after it had received the community certificate.

Published: 19th January 2020 05:35 AM 

Madras High Court (File Photo | D Sampath Kumar/EPS)
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has pulled up the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission for refusing appointment to an aspirant to the post of civil judge (direct recruitment) for not submitting his community certificate within the stipulated time.The Commission’s decision to reject the candidature of the petitioner appears to be too rash and apathetic, the court said while adding that the Commission cannot abdicate its constitutional responsibility and deal with the claims of reserved candidates in such a cavalier fashion.

This is a fit case on hand that the action of the Commission in rejecting the candidature of the petitioner to be discountenanced outright, the court observed. “In the court’s opinion, the decision is born out of bureaucratic callousness and insensitivity, stifling the constitutional right of the candidate,” said the division bench while hearing the case earlier this week.

While allowing the petition of the candidate AK Anand, the court noted that the Commission had taken the decision to reject his application after it had received the community certificate. In such circumstances, the rejection was extremely unfortunate and amounted to shirking its responsibility in carrying out the constitutional mandate of providing reservation to the down trodden community. Further, the manner in which the Commission rejected the candidature of the petitioner in haste, does not show it in good light as the Commission is expected to adopt the principle of fairness in action.

Private college faculty want tax refund from Anna University

Staff say they don’t earn enough to qualify for tax after university makes deductions in their payment

Published: 20th January 2020 03:06 AM 

Anna University (File Photo | EPS)

By Sushmitha Ramakrishnan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Faculty of private engineering colleges affiliated to Anna University have demanded that the varsity refund tax funds deducted in their remuneration for various examination duties. They claim that most engineering faculty do not earn enough to fall under taxable slab. A circular dated November 26 announced, “As per the procedure in force, 10 per cent of the renumeration as income tax from the faculty members and remitted into the COE’s TAN No. CHE*******D for income tax,” the circular said. The circular concerns about 15,000 exam evaluators across the State. This had caused unrest among faculty members as most of them made less than Rs10,000 from examination evaluation and claimed their income levels did not qualify for taxation.

While varsity officials had clarified to Express in December that they will not deduct if a faculty does not fall under the taxable slab, funds were deducted from remuneration of most. “Some faculty members from Anna University had submitted a declaration to the Controller of Examination with their income status and we have not deducted for those who do not fall under the tax slab,” said a senior source from the varsity adding that they have not discussed refunding at this point.

“Private college faculty do not earn enough income to fall under the taxable slab. It is not fair for colleges to deduct tax from us,” said KM Karthik, president of All India Private Engineering College Employees Union.The examination paper evaluation for November 2019 engineering exams started on November 28. Teachers, who evaluate these papers roughly earn between Rs1,200 and 1,400 a day. Most of them engage in evaluation for about 5-8 days and earning between Rs5,000-8,000.

“It is impossible for 15,000 faculty members from across the State to individually submit a declaration to the controller’s office in Chennai. The varsity neither announced any format to submit a declaration nor asked faculty if they fall under tax slab,” said Karthik. However, It is unclear at this point if Form 16 A will be issued to employees from private engineering colleges who are being taxed, as they are not direct employees of the university. “We are unsure if we can claim reimbursement from I-T Department,” said Karthik.

FASTag comes into effect at 35 toll gates across Tamil Nadu

About 25 per cent of the lanes in 13 toll plazas will be converted into hybrid allowing motorists to pay user fee both in cash and through FASTag.

Published: 17th January 2020 06:41 AM 

The Union government last year made it mandatory for all vehicles using toll plazas to be fixed with FASTag cards. (Photo | EPS)
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: FASTag-enabled user fee came into effect in 35 toll gates on national highways across the State on Thursday. However, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has extended the deadline for mandatory electronic toll collection at 13 toll gates till February 14.

About 25 per cent of the lanes in 13 toll plazas will be converted into hybrid allowing motorists to pay user fee both in cash and through FASTag.

“Barring one lane at the extreme left in both directions for cash payment, all other lanes in 35 toll gates will accept user fee only through FASTag,” said NHAI sources.

The move comes in the wake of NHAI informing the government that high cash transaction was recorded in these 13 toll plazas since FASTag system was partially implemented from December 15.

Later, the deadline for FASTag was extended till January 15 owing to shortage of devices. Cash payment lanes in these 13 toll plazas witnessed a huge vehicular pile-up since implementation of FASTag. Three toll gates between Tambaram and Padalur on Chennai - Tiruchy NH are allowed for cash payment till February 14.

Lack of battery cars puts senior citizens in distress

Senior citizens and differently-abled people have a very tough time commuting along long platforms in Tambaram suburban station for years now.
Published: 18th January 2020 06:27 AM

Senior citizens are having a tough time at Mambalam station | Ashwin Prasath

By Madhumitha Viswanath

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Senior citizens and differently-abled people have a very tough time commuting along long platforms in Tambaram suburban station for years now. Repeated requests to Southern Railways to provide battery car facilities to ferry people still remains unheard, said frustrated residents. It is the third-most important terminal in Chennai, trains from Tambaram station transport around three crore passengers and sees a daily footfall of 75,000 people. Most find it very difficult to walk for a distance of 500-700 metres to reach the exit from platforms 5,6,7 and 8.

A year ago, Southern Railways’ Women Welfare Organisation had donated two battery-operated vehicles at Tambaram station. Due to lack of maintenance, this service was used only for a few months. After that these vehicles were left neglected at the station. A Sathik Basha, a resident of Medavakkam has been fighting for this issue from July 2019 after he saw senior citizens struggling to commute inside the station.“Trains like Vaigai and Pallavan Express have more than 20 coaches and halt very far away from exit. People struggle to walk such long lengths while carrying heavy luggage. Porters exploit senior citizens by charging Rs 450 to ferry them till exit,” said Sathik, who has reached out to MLA, MP of South Chennai and to top officials in Southern Railways regarding this issue.

According to railway norms, stations where express trains halt and those that have platforms more than 500 metres must have battery cars. Similarly, regular passengers who commute from Mambalam suburban station too face the same struggle. Two to three express trains halt here. Also, Mambalam station is used by more than one crore passengers.

“Many senior citizens who are unable to walk don’t use foot over bridge. They wait for a train to halt and walk through it to reach the other platform. Railways can consider providing smaller electric vehicles that can be driven along narrow platforms,” said 80-year-old T S Thyagarajan, a regular commuter.

A senior official from Southern Railways said that work is under progress to implement proposals to make Tamabaram station more comfortable for passengers. “Around 10 lifts, new escalators and battery cars will be soon installed at Tambaram station. The DRM is aware of problems and a solution will be provided. We will inform him about Mambalam station’s problems too.”

Coming soon, e-scooters at four Chennai metro stations

To avail the service, those interested can download the ‘Flyy’ App from google play store.

Published: 19th January 2020 06:29 AM

For representation purposes

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Chennai Metro Rail has added another form of feeder service to provide last mile connectivity for its passengers. Electric scooters will be available from four metro stations- Alandur, Nandanam, Guindy, and Little Mount for starters. Coming months, 6000 more scooters are going to be added covering the remaining metro stations.

To avail the service, those interested can download the ‘Flyy’ App from google play store. The vehicles will be available for rent at `1 per minute. The scooters can be used from 7 am to 9 pm in the above mentioned stations. “The passenger can drop off the scooter anywhere within the Flyy zone. Each detination point chosen by the user will have a fixed zone within which they can drop off the scooter,” said an official.

This initiative is being carried out by CMRL in association with Flyy rental services to provide a green alternative as opposed to fuel-run vehicles. CMRL is currently operating share autos, share taxi, cabs and tempo travelers as modes of last mile connectivity.

Fetal medicine department inaugurated at MMHRC

‘Advanced technology has helped us treat major issues’

20/01/2020, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

With marriages taking place between close relatives ranging from 20% to 30% among South Indians, there are high chances of birth defects and greater cases of genetic disorders for the child, said doctors at the Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre (MMHRC). Other causes include late pregnancies and complications that the mother may have.

In order to provide assessment of fetal growth and well-being, and management of fetal disorders and abnormalities, MMHRC had inaugurated a Department of Fetal Medicine, said Chairman, S. Gurushankar.

Speaking to members of the press, Dr. Gurushankar said that mothers who often have blood pressure, diabetes and other infectious diseases need not pass them on to their children as the ingrown baby can be treated with proper diagnosis early on in the pregnancy within eight to 12 weeks.

Head of the newly formed department, S. Padma, said that although the team has been performing intense diagnosis of foetus with detailed scans in the past, there were several complications which may arise, including the improper formation of organs, problems relating to the presence of amniotic fluid and issues like Down Syndrome.

“Advanced technology has helped us treat major issues and selectively terminate pregnancies of foetuses which may go on to have a complicated life ahead,” she said.

She added that experimental surgeries inside the uterus are being performed outside the country and will soon arrive to India. The fetal medicine department, she said, would be prepared to deal with all stages of pregnancies.

T. Mukuntharajan, Interventional Radiologist, said that if more people end up consulting doctors in early stages of pregnancies, complications for the parent and child can be averted.

He said that MMHRC had the equipment and infrastructure to handle complex cases.