Chennai-Mysore high speed rail to have 2 stops in TN

Chennai-Mysore high speed rail to have 2 stops in TN

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 24.12.2020

The Chennai-Mysore (via Bengaluru) high speed rail line being planned will halt at seven stations before reaching Mysuru as per the initial alignment and plan prepared by the National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRC).

These stations will be Poonamallee and Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu, Chittor in Andhra Pradesh and Bangarapet, Bengaluru, Channapatna, Mandya and Mysuru in Karnataka. A depot to maintain trains is being planned at Poonamallee.

A multi-model transit hub linking railways, metro rail and buses is likely to be planned to link the line to the city.

These decisions will be taken after a preparatory survey for the alignment is completed in a few months. The National High Speed Rail Corporation has floated a tender to identify an agency to do a preparatory survey for the line.

High speed trains will run at a maximum speed of 350Kmph and operational speed of 320Kmph. It is likely to have standard gauge tracks like the metro rail network. Train capacity is 750 passengers.

A National Rail Plan (NRP) policy which was prepared by RITES–AECOM JV has proposed 13 corridors in total (existing and extensions) with a combined total length of 7,897km. It has also fixed 2,051 as the deadline for Chennai – Bengaluru – Mysuru (462km) high speed rail but it is likely to be implemented much before as the paperwork like survey for land, alignment, preparation of detailed project report is progressing fast.

The corridor is likely to reduce travel time between the three cities to one and a half hours. The high speed rail is unlikely to reach the city limits due to land acquisition issues.

UK man dies at sub-jail in Poonamallee

UK man dies at sub-jail in Poonamallee

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:24.12.2020

A 68-year-old UK citizen who had been arrested for staying without valid Visa documents collapsed and died in Poonamallee sub-jail on Wednesday.

Police said David Antony was secured in Dharmapuri on December 5 on suspicion and investigation revealed that he did not have valid documents to stay in the country. He was arrested and lodged in the sub-jail in Poonamallee.

However, on Wednesday morning, he was collapsed, and the fellow inmates alerted the prison official. David Antony was rushed to Poonamallee Government Hospital. Doctors examined and declared him dead on arrival.

His body was later sent to Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) hospital for postmortem.

The Poonamallee police have registered a case and further investigation is on. When contacted, an officer said that cause of death would be known only after postmortem.

It may be recalled that 41-year-old Mahalingam, arrested for peddling ganja died in Saidapet sub-jail two weeks ago.

NEET forgery: Man, daughter on the run

NEET forgery: Man, daughter on the run

Chennai:24.12.2020

The Periamet police have summoned for a third time the father-daughter duo against whom a case of cheating and forgery was registered for faking the NEET scorecard.

The two are absconding. A special team is camping in Paramakudi, their hometown. Earlier this week, the Periamet police had sent summons to the MBBS aspirant and her father.

Police have booked the man and his daughter for allegedly trying to secure a medical seat y forging the scorecard and the provisional rank list.

On November 30, the aspirant, Deeksha, who had scored only 27 marks in NEET, reached the counselling centre in Chennai with her father Balachandran, a dentist. She posed as another candidate and said she had scored 610 marks in NEET. She told the authorities that she had not received a call for counselling. However, during verification, authorities found that the girl had scored poorly in NEET and thus was not called for counselling. TNN

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No board exams at least till Feb ’21

No board exams at least till Feb ’21

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  23.12.2020

The government on Tuesday ruled out the Class X and XII Board exams 2021 at least till February and said dates will be announced later after factoring in the pandemic situation in the country and consultations with stakeholders. Usually, the practical exams are conducted in January and theory exams begin every year in February and conclude in March.

The government is yet to decide on the Class X and XII 2021 Board exams schedule, while ruling out the exams in January (practical) and February in view of the prevailing Covid-19 situation on Tuesday.

Usually the practical exams are conducted in January and theory exams for the vocational courses begin every year in mid-February and conclude in March-end.

In an online interaction with teachers, Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal said, ““Keeping the current situation in mind, it has been decided that the board exams for classes 10 and 12 will not be conducted till February next year. CBSE is making necessary preparations for conducting the 2021 examinations. A decision on the exam schedule will be taken later after assessment of situation and more consultations with stakeholders.”

The TOI had on October 10 first reported that the Board exams of 2021 may be shifted by 45-60 days to make up for the academic losses due to the pandemic.

Moreover, assembly polls are slated to be held in four states and Puducherry during April-June next year. With no clarity on board exam dates yet, several schools have already conducted pre-board exams online to keep the students prepared. CBSE had earlier this month announced that 2021 Board exams will be conducted in written mode and not online.

Schools across the country were closed in March to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. They were partially reopened in some states from October

15. However, a few states have decided to keep them closed in view of a spike in number of infections. Most education Boards, including CBSE, CISCE, Telangana and Gujarat have also reduced their syllabus by up to 30% in view of academic losses.

The minister had an interaction with students on December 10 and answered questions about various concerns regarding the conduct of upcoming Board exams. During that interaction Pokhriyal said: “The CBSE is yet to take a decision on the dates for conducting board examinations including practicals. In case, students are not able to do practicals in classes before the examinations, alternatives will be explored.”

HEALTH CONCERN

Docs’ allowance hiked, up to ₹1 lakh a month

PROTEST IMPACT

Docs’ allowance hiked, up to ₹1 lakh a month

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:23.12.2020

In a relief for doctors in the health and family welfare department, the government has issued an order increasing their special allowance.

The allowance varies depending on the doctors’ qualification and experience in government service. Now, it ranges from Rs 30,500 for a newly recruited MBBS/BDS doctor to Rs 1,03,500 for a specialised one with over 25 years of service.

Karnataka Government Medical Officers’ Association members had staged protests in September, demanding a hike in pay scale, on par with that of Central Government Health Services. With this order, a new recruit will get a monthly salary of Rs 91,500 as against the earlier Rs 82,000. The highest monthly pay will be for super-specialist doctors (Rs 2.4 lakh, which includes Rs 1,03,500 as special allowance). According to officials, only 13 doctors in the state get this salary.

However, not all doctors are happy with the order. “The government has not completely agreed to our demands of pay parity with CGHS. It had recruited specialist doctors through a bidding process earlier and paid them Rs 4 lakh per month. Our salaries are still not on par with them. The government has increased allowance at the entry level (MBBS graduate), from the existing Rs 21,000 to Rs 30,500. Just a Rs 9,500 salary hike is not justified,” said KGMOA members.