MTC terminus to come up at Kilambakkam before March

 MTC terminus to come up at Kilambakkam before March

36,200sqft Facility Will Cater To Buses From Vandalur

Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com

Chennai:07.12.2020

Commuters struggling to board MTC buses at the congested Vandalur zoo junction can from March use a spacious facility in neighbouring Kilambakkam. Delay in construction of the mofussil bus terminus for south-bound fleets at Kilambakkam has helped speed up completion of an MTC terminus on the same premises.

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), which is executing the mofussil terminus project, now plans to open the MTC terminal before March 2021. This will pave the way for shifting MTC buses from outside Vandalur zoo on GST Road to the built-up facility in Kilambakkam, helping ease congestion at the key junction.

The mofussil terminus was scheduled to be completed by March 2021, but the still raging Covid-19 pandemic has ensured construction will now be finished by December 2021. This has now helped the CMDA focus on finishing the MTC terminus, which was included in the mofussil project to benefit long-distance bus passengers alighting at Kilambakkam.

A housing and urban development department official said the government wanted to know if the MTC terminus could be finished by monthend. “But, it will take three months to complete all the work. It (MTC terminus) will be first facility to be inaugurated at Kilambakkam,” he said.

The MTC terminus will have 11 platforms over 36,200sqft, where buses from Vandalur zoo would be shifted. In 2002, after the CMBT came up at Koyambedu, buses on routes 15B and 27B, which were operating from Arumbakkam to Broadway and Anna Square, were shifted there.

Currently, buses on routes 19V, 21G, 70V and 91V, operated from Vandalur zoo to Sholinganallur, Broadway, Koyambedu and Thiruvanmiyur, are parked on both sides of GST Road at Vandalur troubling commuters due to absence of a shelter or terminus. It is also a bottleneck for motorists.

K Revant Kumar, a resident of Kandigai in the southern suburbs, said the problem had become severe after a bridge at Vandalur was opened because it is hard to turn from Vandalur-Kelambakkam High Road towards Tambaram on GST Road beneath the flyover, thanks to the parking of MTC fleets.

SOMETHING GOOD: Delay in construction of the mofussil bus terminus at Kilambakkam lead to authorities choosing to set up an MTC depot there

PhD, MPhil scholars get extension

 PhD, MPhil scholars get extension

Chennai: 07.12.2020

In view of the Covid-19 lockdown, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has given another extension of six months for MPhil and PhD students who are supposed to submit their thesis by December 31 this year.

“Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the universities have remained closed for the past several months. Therefore, the students have not been able to conduct their research or experiments in the university laboratories nor were they able to access library services that are critical for completion of thesis,” UGC said in an announcement.

"In the larger interest of the research scholars, a further extension of six months may be granted by universities till June 30, 2021.” TNN

MP keen on ties with TN in medical education

MP keen on ties with TN in medical education

The minister explained various measures of State government, including Covid control measures, medical camps for cyclone-affected people and sanitation arrangements.

Published: 06th December 2020 03:08 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Madhya Pradesh Medical Education Minister Vishvas Kailash Sarang, who is now in Tamil Nadu, has urged Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to facilitate a collaboration between the two States for knowledge transfer in medical education.

Addressing media persons at DMS campus in Chennai on Saturday, Sarang said he would request Palaniswami to arrange for the former’s visits to some of the medical universities in Tamil Nadu. “Medical universities in Tamil Nadu are very well-developed, and I would like to visit them for a possible collaboration and knowledge sharing,” he said. “TN has created very good health facilities.

In a federal system, all States must be open to borrow knowledge from each other, and that’s why I am here.” Earlier on the day, Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskar showed the MP minister the 108 Covid Control Centre and Covid Control Room at the DMS campus.

The minister explained various measures of State government, including Covid control measures, medical camps for cyclone-affected people and sanitation arrangements. Vijayabaskar told media persons that close to 8,456 medical camps were conducted during the cyclone – of which, 3,657 were mobile camps and 4,799 static camps.

“2.95 lakh people have benefitted from the camps,” he said. Speaking on chlorination of water, the minister said that the checks were being conducted at various points across the State, and action would be taken on tankers transporting water without chlorination.

Father's death motivated this TN girl to become a doctor

Father's death motivated this TN girl to become a doctor

“One day, he died of a cardiac arrest. I resolved to become a doctor that day,” she recalls.

Published: 06th December 2020 03:15 AM 

S Ashika

By Express News Service

One of the oldest memories S Ashika has is of her father developing seizures. “He had a very rare medical condition. He had a cyst in his heart,” Ashika says, adding that he had to undergo an open heart surgery when she was just a little girl. 

“My mother could not afford the treatment while still sending me to school. So she decided to work as a helper at a hospital.” Her father, despite the surgery, continued to have seizures and developed chest pain often. “One day, he died of a cardiac arrest. I resolved to become a doctor that day,” she recalls.

She was, however, overcome by fear on seeing how hard her mother struggled to raise her with finances on a tight string. “There are many poor people like me, who suffer indirectly when deadly diseases take away our parents. There is very little awareness about such rare conditions,” says Ashika.

After taking free NEET coaching at Thakkalai Government Higher Secondary School in Kanniyakumari district and scoring 155 in NEET, she secured MBBS admission this year. “The government has not just realised our dreams, but has also made studying in government schools a matter of pride.”

‘I will become a dentist and work in rural areas’

‘I will become a dentist and work in rural areas’

“I started preparing for NEET after my mother’s death and scored 141. It is only through the government’s quota that I reach a height which I never thought I could,” she said.

Published: 06th December 2020 03:16 AM 

K Reshma

By Express News Service

Barely a few months ago, K Reshma’s mother suddenly died of cardiac arrest. Her father, S Kumaresan, who is a tailor, struggled to make ends meet. Reshma said she thought people from poor families like hers could never dream to be a dentist. 

“I started preparing for NEET after my mother’s death and scored 141. It is only through the government’s quota that I reach a height which I never thought I could,” she said. “I will become a dentist and work in rural areas and serve the poor,” Reshma said.

A student of Thikkuruchi Government Higher Secondary School., she scored 429 in her public exams. Similarly, as their family survived on a meagre income from a petty shop, both SS Rahul and his elder brother always dreamed of becoming doctors. However, his brother could not clear NEET in 2017, the year it was announced. 

“My brother went on to study pharmaceuticals. It is only because of the 7.5 per cent reservation that my dream become a reality,” said Rahul. “My parents worked really hard to educate me and my brother. I will work hard to serve the people. I benefited from this reservation policy, and, in return, will serve the needy,” Rahul said.

Government issues SOP for reopening colleges and conduct of classes

Government issues SOP for reopening colleges and conduct of classes

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had recently announced that the colleges and universities will be allowed to function from December 7.

Published: 06th December 2020 03:23 AM 

Representational image. ( Photo | EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: As colleges prepare to reopen their gates for final year undergraduate students and medical students on Monday, the State government has issued a detailed Standard Operating Procedure for the conduct of classes.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had recently announced that the colleges and universities will be allowed to function from December 7. Classes for programmes other than medicine, arts and science, engineering, agriculture, fisheries and veterinary, will continue online.

According to the new SOP, universities, colleges and hostels within containment zones will not be allowed to conduct classroom sessions, and teachers and students from containment zones should also not attend the classes. Institutions have been asked to prepare a plan to handle the gathering of students, following all safety measures, including disinfection.

No more than half the total students’ strength should be present in the class at any time and students can visit their respective departments in small numbers for consultation after seeking prior permission. In-person classes will be voluntary and colleges should continue facilitating education in distance mode. Teaching hours can be extended to ensure that safety measures are followed.

A six-day schedule will be followed so that classes can be conducted in phases, and by maintaining social distancing. All extracurricular activities should be avoided, wherein physical distancing is not possible. Spitting on campus will be a punishable offense. Colleges should inform all students and faculty of the Central government’s web portal Manodarpan, in which mental health help can be found.

Nandana's dream came true, thanks to 7.5% quota

Nandana's dream came true, thanks to 7.5% quota

She lost her dad when she was barely 15, and was raised by her single mother who made ends meet working as a tailor.

Published: 06th December 2020 03:30 AM |

RJ Nandana

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: She lost her dad when she was barely 15, and was raised by her single mother who made ends meet working as a tailor. She was poor, went to a modest government school, but was not afraid to dream big. She wanted to become a doctor, serve the poor and needy who lack access to quality healthcare.

If not for the State government’s 7.5 per cent quota, her dreams would have remained as just that — mere dreams. The quota added meaning to all her hardwork. Meet RJ Nandana, a native of Kanniyakumari, who is now enrolled in a medical college.

Her mother Jayakumari managed to ensure her daughter’s education is not affected at any point. But, all their efforts hit a wall when the lockdown was imposed to contain Covid-19. Jayakumari lost her job, and even ensuring their daily needs are met became a challenge. Nandana moved to her uncle’s house to prepare for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

This year, she managed to clear the test. “But, had the government not given us quota, my dreams could not have materialised,” says Nandana, a sentiment shared by almost all students who made the cut for medical education under the new quota. She also says that on completing MBBS, she would work only at a government institution and serve the poor and needy.