Lockdown over, but MTC bus services struggle for patronage before COVID

Lockdown over, but MTC bus services struggle for patronage before COVID

According to official records, the patronage of MTC buses currently is nearly 17 lakh, which is half of the average patronage recorded before March.

Published: 01st February 2021 02:30 AM 

Government staff boarding a MTC bus in Chennai.| DEBADATTA MALLICK

By KV Navya

Express News Service

CHENNAI: It has been five months since the Metropolitan Transportation Corporation bus services resumed post-lockdown, but the corporation is still struggling to match the average patronage it received before Covid. This has been attributed to more people opting to work from home or choosing to use their own vehicles.

According to official records, the patronage of MTC buses currently is nearly 17 lakh, which is half of the average patronage recorded before March. “The wait for buses has become longer as the fleet has been cut down. While we got a bus every 15 minutes earlier, now we have to wait at least 40 minutes.

It is easier to take the metro or cab,” said K Padma, a resident of Velachery. Figures show that the number of buses on Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) have been cut from 450 to 250 per day. Similarly, services have been cut down in the Mount-Poonamalle belt.

According to official data, MTC receives 83 per cent of its revenue from tickets. MTC officials said ticket sales have dipped for both for normal and small buses. The corporation is currently operating only half of its total fleet of 200 small buses.

“Hygiene and condition of buses are other reasons to avoid MTC. Only for the first fortnight after services resumed, social distancing was followed. After that, there was neither mask-wearing or use of sanitisers,” said P Ramesh, a resident of T Nagar. Moreover, with local trains resuming operations, demand for MTC buses along GST Road, Avadi High Road and Marina Beach has dropped.

Medical Students demand G.O. for fee reduction in RMMC

Medical Students demand G.O. for fee reduction in RMMC

On Sunday, over 100 students staged a protest at Chepauk for the same. They also said they would continue protest till Health Department passes the order.

Published: 01st February 2021 02:46 AM 

Members of TN Medical Students’ Association protesting in Chepauk on Sunday | Sri Loganathan V

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Medical Students Association staged a protest in Chennai demanding that the Health Department pass a Government Order reducing the fees for Rajah Muthiah Medical College (RMMC) in Chidambaram.

The government had passed an order on Wednesday taking over the college. Though Health Minister C Vijayabaskar and Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan have orally assured that the students’ demands would be considered and the fees would be reduced, the students demanded that the Health Department pass a G.O. in this regard. On Sunday, over 100 students staged a protest at Chepauk for the same. They also said they would continue protest till Health Department passes the order.

Pregnant woman dies after taking abortion pill in Tamil Nadu

Pregnant woman dies after taking abortion pill in Tamil Nadu

The baby also died. According to police, Murugesan (43) of Manapparai admitted his wife Sumathi (40) in the Tiruchy GH for stomach problem on Thursday last week.

Published: 01st February 2021 03:43 AM 

By Express News Service

TIRUCHY: An eight-month pregnant woman from Manapparai in Tiruchy died after taking abortion pills without a prescription from a doctor on Sunday.

The baby also died. According to police, Murugesan (43) of Manapparai admitted his wife Sumathi (40) in the Tiruchy GH for stomach problem on Thursday last week.

On checking, a doctor found out that the patient had taken abortion pills without consultation with doctor. Since she was already eight months pregnant, consuming pills resulted in the death of the mother and fully-grown fetus. Sources said that Sumathi allegedly took the decision to abort due to mental stress. Investigation is underway.

Tamil Nadu govt extends lockdown with relaxations till February 28: Here's what's allowed

Tamil Nadu govt extends lockdown with relaxations till February 28:

 Here's what's allowed

Colleges and schools for Class 9 and 11 will resume from February 8. 100% seating capacity in cinema halls from February 1.

Published: 31st January 2021 02:17 PM 

Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami (File photo | EPS)

By T Muruganandham

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Sunday extended the lockdown period in the state till February 28 with more relaxations by adhering to Standard Operating Procedures.

The relaxations included the resumption of classes for students of Standards IX and XI, undergraduate and postgraduate (including diploma courses) from February 8, 100 per cent seating capacity for cinemas/theatres/multiplexes from February 1, permission for devotees taking a holy dip at Rameswaram sea, round the clock functioning of petrol bunks, opening of swimming pools and exhibition halls.

ALSO READ: Full occupancy to be allowed in cinemas from February 1, following COVID protocols must

Social, political, entertainment, sports, cultural, educational and religious gatherings will continue to be allowed with a maximum of 50 percent of the hall capacity or with a ceiling of 600 persons in closed spaces. Earlier, only 200 persons were allowed. For those programmes which are held in open places, 50 percent seating capacity only will be allowed.

Grievance Redressal Days can be observed in all districts.

Sports events, including cricket, are allowed with 50 percent seating capacity.

Stating that the positivity rate had come down to one percent due to the concerted efforts of the Tamil Nadu government, the CM said, "During the past 10 days, new coronavirus cases have been reduced to around 550 per day while the active cases which stood at a whopping 50,000 had come down to 4,629. Now, the lockdown has been extended for one more month considering the views expressed by the District Collectors and members of the Health Experts Committee."

The restrictions on international flight services except those allowed by the Centre will continue. The lockdown will be enforced fully in containment zones across the state.

Sasikala can’t contest polls till 2027

Sasikala can’t contest polls till 2027

01/02/2021

Mohamed Imranullah S. CHENNAI

Former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s close aide V.K. Sasikala, who got released from prison recently after serving a four-year sentence in a disproportionate assets case, can neither contest an Assembly election nor a Parliamentary election till January 27, 2027, though there is no legal bar on her leading a party.

Section 8 of the Representation of the People (RoP) Act of 1951 lists instances where a person will suffer disqualification from contesting elections if he/she gets convicted for certain offences. Section 8(1)(m) brings a conviction under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act of 1988 under the ambit of disqualification

The provision also states that if a person has only been fined by a court of law for offences such as indulging in terror activities, rape, subjecting women to cruelty and promoting enmity between two groups, listed under Section 8(1), he/she will stand disqualified for six years from the date of such conviction. But if he/she has been imprisoned for those offences, then the disqualification will begin from the date of such conviction and continue for a further six years from the date of release from prison.

Since Sasikala was imprisoned besides being fined, she will stand disqualified for six more years from the date of her release. The trial court had found her guilty under sections 109 (abetment of an offence) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, read with sections 13(1)(e) [being in possession of wealth disproportionate to known sources of income] and 13(d) [criminal misconduct by public servant] of the PC Act of 1998.

Petition dismissed as petitioner has no required qualification: HC

Petition dismissed as petitioner has no required qualification: HC

01/02/2021

Staff Reporter Madurai

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court dismissed a petition filed by a man who had sought a direction to the authorities to register his clinic under the Tamil Nadu Private Clinical Establishments (Regulation) Act. He obtained a Diploma Certificate in Community Medical Services in 2005. He had set up the establishment and wanted the recognition.

The court was hearing the petition filed by K. Thangavelu who had completed a Diploma, the certificate for which was issued by the Indian Council of Medico Technicals and Health Care. The application to recognise his establishment was rejected by the Joint Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, Karur district.

The rejection was challenged.

During the course of the hearing, the Standing counsel for the Tamil Nadu Medical Council C. Karthik submitted that a registered medical practitioner is a person who possesses any of the government recognised medical qualification and was enrolled in the register of Council or Board or any other body recognised by the State.

Rule 2 (1) (i) of the Tamil Nadu Clinical Establishments (Regulation) Rules defines a doctor as a registered medical practitioner offering consultation or treatment under Allopathy or AYUSH, it was submitted. Justice G. R. Swaminathan dismissed the petition taking note of the fact that the petitioner had not acquired the required qualification in any of the mentioned systems of medicine

டாக்டர்கள் கோரிக்கை: அரசுக்கு உத்தரவு

டாக்டர்கள் கோரிக்கை: அரசுக்கு உத்தரவு

Added : பிப் 01, 2021 00:21

சென்னை: மத்திய அரசு டாக்டர்களுக்கு இணையான சம்பளம் வழங்கக் கோரிய மனுவுக்கு, தமிழக அரசு பதில் அளிக்க, சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

செங்கல்பட்டு அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரி டாக்டர் பெருமாள் பிள்ளை, மதுரை மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரி டாக்டர் தாஹிர், தேனி மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரி டாக்டர் நளினி உள்ளிட்ட எட்டு டாக்டர்கள், தனித்தனியாக உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் மனுக்கள் தாக்கல் செய்தனர். மனுக்களில் கூறியிருப்பதாவது:மத்திய அரசு பணியில் உள்ள இளநிலை மருத்துவர்களுக்கும், தமிழகத்தில் பணியாற்றும் முதுநிலை மருத்துவர்களுக்கும் இடையே, 40 ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் வரை சம்பள வேறுபாடு உள்ளது.அரசு மருத்துவர்களுக்கான சம்பள மறு ஆய்வு குறித்து, 2009ம் ஆண்டில் பிறப்பித்த உத்தரவை அமல்படுத்தவில்லை.

இதனால், எங்களுக்கு பெரிய அளவில் இழப்பு ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. எங்கள் கோரிக்கைகளை நிறைவேற்ற, அரசுக்கு உத்தரவிட வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, மனுவில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.இம்மனுக்கள், நீதிபதி மகாதேவன் முன், விசாரணைக்கு வந்தன. மனுக்களுக்கு பதில் அளிக்கும்படி, அரசுக்கு உத்தரவிட்டு, விசாரணையை பிப்., 3க்கு, நீதிபதி தள்ளி வைத்தார்.