SETC buses at Koyambedu bus stand in the city | Express

SETC slashes fares for ferrying office-goers

The decision comes after the employees of private companies and government offices faced difficulties in reaching their offices.

Published: 04th June 2020 07:04 AM | Last Updated: 04th June 2020 07:04 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: With MTC buses, metro and suburban EMU train services remaining suspended in view of the lockdown, the State government has reduced the fares for operating State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) buses on contract basis for ferrying travellers.

The decision comes after the employees of private companies and government offices faced difficulties in reaching their offices. Though it has been three days since the private companies outside Chennai city police limits were allowed to function with full strength, a majority of them are still running with skeletal staff, owing to lack of public transportation.

K Elangovan, managing director, SETC, said a fare of Rs 45 per km has been fixed for operating Ultra Deluxe (non-AC) SETC buses on contract basis up to 200 km. “A bus can carry up to 21 passengers per trip and a total of Rs 9,000 would be charged per trip if the bus is operated with full capacity. The maximum distance of transportation is restricted to 200 km.”

So far, the SETC has charged Rs 17,500 for a 100-km run and for the distance beyond that, Rs 40 is charged for every extra km. This leads to a cost of Rs 21,500 for operating a bus up to 200 km. It has now come down from Rs 21,500 to Rs 9,000 per trip.

“As many as 190 buses have been operated for government departments and transporting migrants. Presently, SETC buses are operated for three factories located in the city outskirts,” Elangovan added.

The fare reduction was necessitated as private companies were unable to operate their buses for ferrying their employees from far away places in neighbouring Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Vellore districts.

“Given that, as the MTC and suburban train services may not resume anytime sooner, government decided to slash the fares in a bid to support the necessary transportation,” said official sources.

A Southern Railway official said, “Only those employees nominated by State government are given identity cards for travelling in special local trains.”

Drivers shift gears for livelihood

Drivers shift gears for livelihood

S Dhanapal, who used to work with an app-based cab company, has now switched to ferrying cargo.

Published: 04th June 2020 07:04 AM | Last Updated: 04th June 2020 07:04 AM

By Sahaya Novinston Lobo

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The three-month-long lockdown has changed the lives and livelihoods of many drivers -- of autos and app-based cabs and bikes alike. With no business coming their way for around 100 days, they switched to other temporary occupations.

S Dhanapal, who used to work with an app-based cab company, has now switched to ferrying cargo. “Many people driving trucks and minivans have left for their hometown. There is a need of people who can deliver goods to markets. So, I borrowed a van from my friend and started delivering to grocery stores,” he says.

“I have borrowed money to sustain my family during the lockdown. I got my car serviced at my friend’s workshop, promising to pay him once the lockdown is lifted. And all this happened during summer vacations, when the business, otherwise is the best,” says Gokulabalan of Ambattur.

Finish proceedings against Tasmac official in 2 months: HC

Finish proceedings against Tasmac official in 2 months: HC

TNN | Jun 1, 2020, 04.08 AM IST

Madurai: Taking cognizance of the fact that disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against a Tasmac shop supervisor on charges of selling liquor during lockdown, Madras high court directed the authorities to complete the same within two months. It was alleged that petitioner Kumar, supervisor at the Tasmac shop on West Pirathasanam Road in Karur district, was found trying to sell liquor despite Tasmac shops being asked to close since March 24, when Karur Town police conducted an inspection on April 10. A criminal case was registered based on which the Karur district manager of Tasmac suspended him from service. The petitioner claimed through his counsel that he was not on duty on April 10. However, the standing counsel for Tasmac Karur district manager submitted that disciplinary proceedings have already been initiated and a charge memo issued. Justice J Nisha Banu said it would suffice if the respondent is directed to complete the disciplinary proceedings within two months.

Madurai: Live telecast, N95 masks, sanitisers, wedding planners usher in new trends during lockdown

Madurai: Live telecast, N95 masks, sanitisers, wedding planners usher in new trends during lockdown

TNN | Jun 1, 2020, 04.12 AM IST

MADURAI: Wedding planners in Madurai have come up with special packages suiting the lockdown restrictions and pricing them competitively in order to kickstart their activity after the lull. The two months have been tough for them as people had preferred to conduct marriages at their houses and nearby temples.

Live telecast through website and Youtube channels, thermal scanning, hand sanitisers, N95 masks and getting required permissions are the new additions to the package. With the government yet to allow more than 50 people for marriages, packages are kept as low as Rs 1.49 lakh inclusive of marriage hall. Wedding planners say that they could bring down package price as expenses towards food, thamboolam, electricity charges and time spent in hall will drastically reduce.

R Senthilkumar of Hello Events said that during lockdown people preferred houses and farm houses to conduct marriage, but now inquiries have started coming in to conduct marriages in halls. “To suit the needs of lockdown restrictions we are offering a couple of packages at Rs 1.49 lakh and Rs 1.99 lakh packages, which including hall, e-invitation, food, photography, videography, hand sanitisers, masks, thermal screening, live telecast and chair arrangement with social distancing,” he said. “Live telecast was introduced since many friends and relatives could not take part in wedding. Around 4,000 people can watch through our website,” he said.

They show an awareness video to guests before the function starts in order to sensitise them on how to be cautious to stay away from Covid-19 infections, said Senthilkumar.

S Suresh of MRP Mahal in SS Colony said that he earlier used to charge separately for food, halls and other services. Recently, he has come out with a package to attract customers. “There was no inquiry due to lockdown restrictions for two months. While people concerned about ‘moi’ have postponed marriages, those, who organized functions, also conducted them at houses and temples. There have been a few inquiries in the last few days after I came up with packages suiting lockdown restrictions,” he said.

Two private laboratories in Madurai carry out around 200 Covid-19 tests

Two private laboratories in Madurai carry out around 200 Covid-19 tests

TNN | Jun 2, 2020, 04.31 AM IST

Madurai: At the two private hospital labs approved for Covid-19 testing in Madurai, as many as around 200 Covid-19 tests have been carried out since the labs started functioning. As per protocol, the labs are testing only suspected cases with influenza like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI).

“Week after we received approval, we procured necessary testing kits and started functioning from May 8 onwards. Out of the 150 people tested here so far, a cardiac patient has tested positive,” said J Adel, GM (operations), Meenakshi Mission. The 150 people tested include outpatients and inpatients at the hospital with Covid-19 symptoms. The manager said that as per protocol, only after detailed examination by doctors, those with symptoms are asked to take the test.

At the other private Covid-19 testing lab in Madurai at Apollo Hospitals, officials said that around 40-50 samples have been tested since it started functioning a week ago. “We were strictly asked to test only those with symptoms of Covid-19. Though many Covid-19 patients are asymptomatic, it is not possible to test so many people every day. There is no need to test if someone is simply having a sore throat. We are getting around 5-10 tests done per day now,” said a senior official at the hospital.

The current procedure for Covid-19 testing at private labs involve uploading details of any patient undergoing testing via an app which is monitored by government health officials including the state health secretary and ICMR. The official added that a detailed report from the time of admission to lab test results are updated as and when done to ensure there is no room for ambiguity.

The hospitals are charging Rs 4,500 for a test, which is expected to be revised soon.

Man stuck in Kuwait appeals for repatriation to attend father’s rites

Man stuck in Kuwait appeals for repatriation to attend father’s rites

TNN | Jun 4, 2020, 04.04 AM IST

Madurai: A 36-year-old Melur man, stuck in Kuwait, has urged the state and central governments to take steps to bring him to attend the 16th day ritual of his father, who was hacked to death on Monday. The man, A Raj Kumar, who works as a driver with a private transport company in Kuwait, watched his father’s final rites over phone.

Kumar along with a few hundred employees are staying in a facility provided by the company. Employer has stopped salary due to lockdown and only a part is being paid to take care of their expenses.

There are at least 400 Tamils working in the company and are staying in various locations. While a section of them wants to return home, others want to stay there.

“Although Indian embassy officials from Kuwait talk to me regulalrly over phone, I have not been informed about evacuation so far. Officials from state and central governments should initiate action to enable me to reach my native place,” Kumar said.

Kumar’s father, N Alagappan, 55, from Thumbaipatti near Melur, was hacked to death by a fellow villager Annadurai, when he tried to save his neighbour Murugan.

Cabinet sets up Secretaries’ group to attract investment

Cabinet sets up Secretaries’ group to attract investment

Every Ministry will have a project development cell

04/06/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the setting up of an empowered group of secretaries (EGoS) and project development cells (PDCs) in Ministries and departments for attracting investments to India, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar.

Speaking at a press briefing after the meeting, Mr. Javadekar, referring to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, said: “We know the world’s situation. Industries are thinking to diversify their investments in different localities, so to ensure that investment is enhanced in India, an EGoS has been formed. And simultaneously in every Ministry, there will be a project development cell. This will make India a more investor-friendly destination and we will also hand-hold the new industries.”

$5 trillion economy

He added that the two decisions would help domestic industries and lead to direct and indirect employment.

The government said the decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would “reinforce India’s vision of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25”.

The EGoS would be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and would include the Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade as member convener and the NITI Aayog CEO, the Commerce Secretary, the Revenue Secretary and the Economic Affairs Secretary as members. The Secretary of the Department concerned would be co-opted, depending on the project.