Medical colleges reopen, two medicos in virus grip

Medical colleges reopen, two medicos in virus grip

Contacts of the students who tested positive have been isolated

Published: 17th August 2021 03:52 AM 

First year students attending their classes at Government Medical College Omandurar, on Monday | R Satish Babu

By Express News Service

COIMBATORE/TIRUCHY/MADURAI/CHENNAI: Medical colleges across the State reopened for offline classes on Monday after a gap of four months. Around 50 per cent of the total 300 MBBS students arrived at Coimbatore Medical College (CMC) on the first day.

According to officials, all the students must be vaccinated and must produce the certificate and RT-PCR test report while coming to the college. The officials added that some students have gave their samples at the hospital outpatient ward and returned to the hostel.

Meanwhile, in Tiruchy, two MBBS students of KAP Viswanatham Government Medical College tested positive for Covid. It is said that RT-PCR tests were conducted for the students on Friday.

According to the college vice-principal A Arshiya Begum, one of the students has been admitted to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH) and the other was taken home by parents. Students who came in contact with these two have been isolated. RT-PCR tests for paramedical students have been taken on Monday.

In Madurai, the vice-principal of Madurai Medical College Dr V Dhanalakshmi said that medical students of all years, both undergraduate and postgraduate medical courses, returned to classes after nearly four months.

Adhering to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the State government, the students have been split into batches with some attending theory classes and others assigned clinical sessions, to ensure physical distancing, Dhanalakshmi added.

In Chennai, students in the major medical colleges, including Stanley GH, Omandurar GH, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, and Kilpauk Medical College Hospital were welcomed by their deans for offline classes on Monday. Wearing a mask and social distancing were followed during the inaugural event and the students were briefed about their courses by the doctors, sources said.

Tiruvallur GH gets oxygen generator

Tiruvallur GH gets oxygen generator

Minister for Milk and Dairy Development S M Nasar inaugurated a medical oxygen generator plant at the Tiruvallur Government Medical College Hospital on Monday.

Published: 17th August 2021 04:14 AM 

For representational purposes. (Photo | Shriram BN, EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Minister for Milk and Dairy Development S M Nasar inaugurated a medical oxygen generator plant at the Tiruvallur Government Medical College Hospital on Monday.

The plant can generate and supply 333 litres of oxygen per minute with the highest purity and desired pressure, which will support 75 beds round the clock. It fills 60 oxygen cylinders in a day. This would be highly helpful during the pandemic, leading to self-reliance, a press release quoted Dr Arasi Srivathsan, Dean of Tiruvallur Government Medical College Hospital.

“The oxygen generator was airlifted from Denmark and was installed at a cost of `1.2 crore,” the release quoted P Stephen, Executive Secretary, Integrated Rural Community Development Society (IRCDS). Collector Dr Alby John Varghese, VG Raajendran, Tiruvallur MLA and other officials participated in the function.

ஐஆர்சிடிசி சார்பில் ஆக.29-ல் மதுரையில் இருந்து உலகின் உயரமான படேல் சிலைக்கு சுற்றுலா ரயில்: தமிழகத்தில் இருந்து முதல்முறையாக இயக்கப்படுகிறது

ஐஆர்சிடிசி சார்பில் ஆக.29-ல் மதுரையில் இருந்து உலகின் உயரமான படேல் சிலைக்கு சுற்றுலா ரயில்: தமிழகத்தில் இருந்து முதல்முறையாக இயக்கப்படுகிறது

சென்னை  17.08.2021

தமிழகத்தில் இருந்து முதல்முறையாக, குஜராத்தில் உள்ள உலகின் உயரமான படேல் சிலைக்கு ஐஆர்சிடிசி சார்பில் சுற்றுலா ரயில் இயக்கப்படுகிறது. இதில் ஜெய்ப்பூர் கோட்டைகள், உதய்பூர் ஏரிகளைக் காணவும் ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதுதொடர்பாக ஐஆர்சிடிசி அதிகாரிகள், சென்னையில் நேற்று கூறியதாவது:

நாடு முழுவதும் கரோனா பாதிப்பு குறைந்து வருவதால், மாநில அரசுகள் பல்வேறு தளர்வுகளை அளித்து வருகின்றன. நீண்டநாட்களாக வீட்டிலேயே முடங்கியிருந்த மக்களும் வெளியூர்கள், சுற்றுலாத் தலங்களுக்குச் செல்ல ஆர்வம் காட்டி வருகின்றனர். அதன்படி, தேவைக்கு ஏற்ப, ஆன்மிக மற்றும் இயற்கை எழில் மிகுந்த சுற்றுலாத் தலங்களுக்கு மீண்டும் ஐஆர்சிடிசி சுற்றுலா ரயில்கள் இயக்கப்படுகின்றன. மக்களும் ஆர்வத்துடன் டிக்கெட் முன்பதிவு செய்து வருகின்றனர்.

இந்நிலையில், குஜராத்தில் இருக்கும் உலகின் உயரமான சர்தார் வல்லபபாய் படேல் சிலையைக் காண, தமிழகத்தில் இருந்து முதல்முறையாக ஐஆர்சிடிசி சுற்றுலா ரயில் இயக்கப்படுகிறது. ஜெய்ப்பூர் கோட்டைகள், உதய்பூர் ஏரிகளைக் காணவும் ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மதுரையில் இருந்து இந்த சுற்றுலா ரயில் வரும் 29-ம் தேதி புறப்பட்டு, திண்டுக்கல், கரூர், ஈரோடு, சேலம் வழியாக சென்னை வந்து, பிறகு ஹைதராபாத் அருங்காட்சியகம், ஜெய்ப்பூர் கோட்டைகள், உதய்பூர் அழகிய ஏரிகள், குஜராத்தில் இருக்கும் மகாதேவர் கடல்கோயில், உலகின் உயரமான சர்தார் வல்லபபாய் படேல் சிலை ஆகியவற்றைக் காண ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இந்த சுற்றுலா 12 நாட்கள் கொண்டது. போக்குவரத்து, சைவ உணவுகள் உட்பட ஒருவருக்கு ரூ.11,340 கட்டணம். இதற்கான முன்பதிவு தொடங்கியுள்ளது. மேலும் தகவல்களுக்கு 9003140680, 9840948484 ஆகிய எண்களை தொடர்பு கொள்ளலாம்.

இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

Now get building permits within 30 days

Now get building permits within 30 days

Corpn Move To Make Process Smoother For Applicants

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.08.2021

Taking a strong note of residents being made to run from pillar to post for getting building approvals, the city corporation has directed all its zonal officials to ensure the documents are issued within 30 days of receiving applications. The civic body is also considering to move the entire process online to reduce hassles.

A circular from the executive engineer (works) in the corporation headquarters, issued last week on instructions of GCC commissioner to all zonal officers and headquarters engineers concerned, stated that all applications should be dealt with within 30 days unless there are valid reasons for delay.

“Residents and commercial establishments were being made to run in circles without being told what the procedure to obtain building approvals was. The circular will help applicants be informed of the process,” a senior GCC official said.

The circular also gives a clear timeline for processing the applications. Assistant executive engineers are to make a site visit within five days of admitting the application, enter the inspection report online within the next two days and must verify documents within the next five days. If any additional document is needed, a request must be sent to the applicant within 48 hours and the applicant must submit it online within 15 days thereafter. Fee calculation will be done online and the authority will have to provide the approval within 15 days of document scrutiny.

The circular also stated that the corporation is contemplating doing away with the submission of hard copies of documents. Until the process is moved online, a separate counter will be created in every zonal office for receiving documents for applications submitted online, it added. Applicants will be given an acknowledgment with the application number and an entry will be made in the register after receiving the documents.

At GCC headquarters, the document submission counter will be managed by assistant executive engineer on the fifth floor of Amma Maligai.

The powers delegated to zonal officials means that planning approvals for non-high rise residential and commercial buildings (with FSI area of maximum 464.5sqm and ground + first floor or stilt + 2 floors up to a height of 9 metres) can now be sanctioned by zonal executive engineers at zonal offices. They will also process demolition applications.

Only permits for buildings with FSI area above 464.5sqm to 929sqm with 12m height will go to chief engineer (planning) in the headquarters for approval. Buildings constructed to a height of 18.3m will be approved by the GCC commissioner.

Govt staff demand DA revision, stage protest

Govt staff demand DA revision, stage protest

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:17.08.2021

Seeking revision of their dearness allowance (DA) that has been frozen at 17% and will not be revised till April 2022, thousands of staff and officials from state government departments staged protests and wore black badges on Monday to grab the attention of the Tamil Nadu government. The Tamil Nadu government employees association (TNGEA) carried out demonstrations at various government offices in Madurai, Trichy and Coimbatore regions. The state government is supposed to increase DA whenever the Union government does, according to an agreement between the TNGEA and Tamil Nadu government when M G Ramachandran was chief minister.

State general secretary of Tamil Nadu revenue officials association, M P Murugaian said that the Union government that froze DA from January 2019 has announced revised DA at 28% from last month. But the state government has postponed it by eight months, due to which employees are losing around 10% of their salary for this period.

TNGEA Trichy district vice-president V Mohan said that this agreement has not been honoured this time by delaying the increase of DA. “Our association will decide on our next move in the executive committee meeting to be held in Erode on August 21,” he added.

The protesters also sought scrapping of the contributory pension scheme that is in effect from 2004 and introduce the old pension scheme. Their other demand included releasing the Rs 25 lakh compensation for the kin of frontline workers who died in the second wave of Covid-19.

Guru Tamilarasu district president of Tamil Nadu government all department pensioners association said that nearly 7.5 lakh pensioners across the state are affected by the frozen DA.

In Coimbatore, the protests took place at 15 places including district collector office, Thudiyalur ITI, HR and CE office, PF office in Kavundampalam and in front of Sulur taluk office. The association's district secretary B Senthil Kumar and president Balraj led the protest in front of the district administration.

The Tamil Nadu government employees association (TNGEA) carried out demonstrations at various government offices in Madurai, Trichy and Coimbatore regions

Medico hits four people on Ring Road

Medico hits four people on Ring Road

Chennai:17.08.2021

Police in Poonamallee have booked an MBBS student after her car ran amok on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) leaving four people injured and damaging at least five bikes parked on the road on Sunday evening.

The accident took place when the student tried to take the service lane, but her the car plunged onto the main road.

Police said Kavya of Alwar Thirunagar, a fourthyear medical student of a private college, was driving the car with one of her friend. She was on her way to Poonamallee. She lost her grip on the car and instead of applying brakes, she pressed the accelerator.

In the impact, the car rammed the vehicles. The car is said to have hit a group of people standing there, including a 12-yearold girl, who escaped with minor injuries. TNN

Universities should be our oasis in producing Olympians: Thakur

Universities should be our oasis in producing Olympians: Thakur

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

16.08.2021

Sports minister Anurag Thakur has said that Indian universities should give us Olympians if the country has to improve upon its Tokyo Games performance in future Olympic Games. “We need to involve the varsities.

“University should be our oasis of Olympians. If you look globally, look at Stanford, they won 26 medals this time… In the last Olympics in Rio, they won about 27 medals. So we need to learn from them. And that is why Prime Minister Modi started university sports games that are under the Khelo India programme,” Thakur told Times Now’s Rahul Shivshankar.

“One state-one sport, one corporate-one sport. Why not one district-one sport also? We really need to work in that fashion. You look at the small countries and even universities.

They’re working on specific sports and they put their energies, money and infrastructure to win medals in those respective areas. So India also needs to understand which are the games they can do well in,” Thakur added.

Thakur said corporate houses should come forward and adopt Olympic sports. “We need to involve more corporates into this. We need to hold sports federations more accountable and make sport federations more professional in their working and in their approach as well.

“So, the moment we ask the corporate sector to get involved, each corporation should adopt one Olympic discipline and support it with the best of their capabilities at district, state, whatever level they can… We need corporations and business leaders to think sport, if we want our nation to take sports and sportspersons a lot more seriously."

Giving the example of the cricket board (BCCI) Thakur said: “We created a lot of infrastructure in cricket, where we now have a lot of academies, stadiums. Not a single rupee has been spent by any government, it has been created by the BCCI. We can do the same by involving more corporates into this, they can create infrastructure. Globally, you have seen that stadiums are built by many corporations.

“They build them, they own them and give it to the various federations to run them. That can be done here. City corporations can also do it, like the BMC can step forward for instance.”

Thakur said India should look to be among the top 25 countries in the 2028 Olympics.

“When we are celebrating the 75th year of Independence, let us also target for the next 25 years where we want to reach.

“We should have shortterm, mid-term, and longterm goals. As far as the 2028 Olympics is concerned, India should look to be among the top 25 countries and for the next few years we should target being among the top 10 countries in the world.”

PM giving same speech for 7 yrs, but no impact on ground: Cong

PM giving same speech for 7 yrs, but no impact on ground: Cong

New Delhi:  16.08.2021

Congress on Sunday accused PM Narendra Modi of using his Independence Day speech to make announcements without ever following through on them.

Leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said for seven years India has listened to the “same speeches” by the PM with nothing being done for any aggrieved section, including small farmers.

“He announces new schemes, but these are never implemented or seen on the ground. And now, by bringing the three new farm laws, he has spelled doom for the farmers,” he said.

Kharge also took exception to the PM targeting previous regimes on the issues of small farmers and development, saying the country will not progress by criticising Congress from the ramparts of the Red Fort again and again.

“Congress has done a lot of work like providing irrigation systems for the farmers. Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi waived farmers’ debt when the UPA was in power,” he said.

CPM chief Sitaram Yechury said the PM failed to offer an assurance on the Covid situation or the shortage of vaccines.

Congress’s communication chief Randeep Surjewala also took a swipe at the PM over his announcement of Rs 100 lakh crore investment in the infrastructure sector, saying this was merely a repeat of what was announced in 2019. TNN

Govt doc, nurse jailed for taking bribe

Govt doc, nurse jailed for taking bribe

Rajiv.Kalkod@timesgroup.com

Tumakuru:  16.08.2021

A special court in Tumakuru on Friday sentenced a government doctor to seven- year simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 20,000 for accepting a bribe of Rs 4,000 from a patient and refusing to discharge her until the amount was paid.

The court also sentenced a nurse, who acted on behalf of the doctor and accepted money from the family members of the patient, to threeyear simple imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 10,000. The orders were passed by VIIth Additional District and Sessions Court and Special Court for Prevention of Corruption Act Judge S Sudindranath. Dr K Mamata and HS Gangamma, the nurse, have been sent to Tumakuru district prison.

Lokayukta police had trapped the duo on September 8, 2014 inside Kunigal government hospital while accepting the bribe. The patient’s family members had already paid Rs 6,000, but Mamata demanded Rs 4,000 more while refusing to discharge Jayamma. Mamata had demanded Rs 10,000 to operate Jayamma, a widow and farmer from Kunigal, for uterus-related issues in the first week of September 2014. Jayamma’s daughter Nandini had sold their cow to arrange the amount.

Public prosecutor N Basavaraj said the recorded conversation between Nandini and Mamata played a vital role in establishing the allegations. “Nandini had recorded the conversation with Dr Mamata. In one such call, Mamata shouted at her for the delay in paying the balance amount. She also warned Nandini that she would not discharge her mother until they pay the whole amount,” Basavaraj said.

The doctor had taken Rs 4,000 from a poor patient and refused to discharge her after surgery for failing to pay more

Madras in memories serve a different image to city

Madras in memories serve a different image to city

Being the political and cultural hub, Chennai is the epicentre of development and transformation in Tamil Nadu.

Published: 16th August 2021 12:24 AM 

A tram in Chennai and a movie ticket shared by R Bhaskarendra Rao, Madanapalle. (Photo| EPS)

By Sahana Iyer

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Being a political and cultural hub, Chennai is the epicentre of development and transformation in Tamil Nadu. And while we recognise the city in all its metropolitan, technologically advanced glory, there are many whose memories serve a very different image of Madras.

On Saturday, in a talk hosted by The Grey Connect called 'Chennai to Madras' with architect Thirupurasundari Sevvel and SS Sriram as part of their Kadhai Connect series, we rewound the clock on the Chennai of today to reminisce the Madras of the past through experiences and various elements of the city.

The Grey Connect is a community that aims to create fun, eventful and lively experiences for the senior citizen community. The session was based on the social history trails and documentation of the city by Nam Veedu Nam Oor Nam Kadhai.

The evolution

There are several aspects of the city, as Sevvel elaborated through the talk, which induce a sense of nostalgia in these long-term dwellers of the city. Take transportation, which has seen many phases from hand and cycle rickshaws to trains and short-lived trams to buses and autorickshaws.

There was a time when long bus rides cost merely 10 paise, according to a participant, an amount of no value today. Another recounted their unforgettable experience of being one of the first passengers of the electric trains in 1981.

The roads of the city were also frequented by half-decker buses for a short period in 1953, mentioned Sevvel.

Then there are the PCO, ISD booths that were deemed redundant in the 1990s and 2000s with the advent of landlines and mobile phones. These booths were once imperative to communication within and beyond the city but now have been converted to Xerox and other small stores.

"Many have memories of collecting coins and looking for the nearest booth. Now, everyone can connect within seconds on the Internet but there was a time when you had to wait a long time for a trunk call. A lot of people now don’t know what that is like," said Sevvel. Then, last-minute cancellations were rare due to lack of communication and thus, time-keeping was valued.

How we consume content has changed radically in the past years. While everything is now available on mobile devices, many remember a time when going to the theatre with family was a rather celebrated outing.

Displaying a movie stub, Sevvel said that the film tickets that are online now were earlier presented as yellow or pink slips that had little markings regarding seat, air-conditioning and reservation status.

The Blue Diamond Theatre once played continuous movies 24X7, said one of the members of the audience. Arts and theatrics have always been important to Madras, said Sevvel, showcasing an image representing the banner or poster culture of the city.

Building joys

Several other buildings and elements of Chennai's culture the beaches, theatres and halls, banners and posters, and food establishments inspired many memories that we saw bubble to the surface during the talk.

Sevvel shared stories of jannal kadai and mor thatha. An audience member added, "I miss drive-in hotels where we could go and eat and chat as a family. They were popular family outings in the city."

Throughout the talk, the group Sevvel and the audience members shared the smaller joys of the olden days of Madras, from the once-popular rose milk and milk sweets to the masala dosa at Woodlands drive-in; from the outdoor study sessions under trees to the 1 rupee adventures at the Marina Beach; from Buhari's ice cream and falooda to screenings at Prarthana theatre.

The discussion was summarised by Thirupurasundari aptly, when she thanked the participants and said, "These stories are what Madras is; the people's stories, not what you learn in schools and colleges. This is what the actual history of Madras is."

Late COVID warrior Dr P Shanmugapriya bestowed with Kalpana Chawla award

Late COVID warrior Dr P Shanmugapriya bestowed with Kalpana Chawla award

Dr P Shanmugapriya of Anuppanadi Urban Primary Health Centre was eight months pregnant when she succumbed to COVID-19.

Published: 16th August 2021 07:10 AM |

Dr P Shanmugapriya, who posthumously received Kalpana Chawla Award. (Photo| EPS)

By Lalitha Ranjani

Express News Service

MADURAI: Recognition has come calling to Dr P Shanmugapriya (32) who was at the forefront in the battle against the pandemic as she has been posthumously honoured with Kalpana Chawla Award for courage and daring enterprise.

The Medical Officer at Anuppanadi Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) was eight-months pregnant when she succumbed to COVID-19 on May 8. Her husband, S Shanmugaperumal, received the award from the Chief Minister MK Stalin during the 75th Independence Day celebrations held at Chennai on Sunday.

Taking a trip down the memory lane about the love of his life, Shanmugaperumal who runs a pet store told The New Indian Express, "She was born at Odaipatti village in Theni district. We both were classmates from classes VI to X at a school in Chinnamanur. I dropped out of school after class X while she went on to study MBBS at Madurai Medical College. We were in touch occasionally through mutual friends. When we reconnected two years ago, we fell in love and got married in April 2019."

A resident of S Alangulam, Shanmugaperumal, was quick to add that Shanmugapriya was admired by all for her humility. "There was never an instance in which she would make one feel less worthy. She was kind to all," he said.

P Sakkammal (31), the Urban Health Nurse (UHN) at Anuppanadi UPHC who worked closely with Dr Shanmugapriya recalled, "Her joy knew no bounds when she became pregnant. She told us all that her posting at the UPHC turned out to be a lucky charm. She kept saying that as she desired to spend more time with her newborn, she wanted to work until the later stage of her pregnancy."

A stubborn person she was, Shanmugapriya refused to stay away from COVID-19 duty and did not heed to the request of the family to stay indoors by availing medical leave or maternity leave, said the husband.

"She would never listen. To her, duty comes first. She persuaded us by telling us that she would be careful while on duty, by avoiding direct contact with patients. She made us believe that she did," Shanmugaperumal added.

After working at the UPHC until April 30, Dr Shanmugapriya went on maternity leave from May 1. “However, she was hospitalised at a private medical college hospital on May 1 after she developed severe cough,” the husband said.

She was tested positive for COVID and was later diagnosed with 70% lung infection. The doctor was later shifted to Government Rajaji Hospital where she continued to be in critical condition until she breathed her last on May 8.

Sakkammal said that on her last working day at the UPHC, Shanmugapriya bid us good bye saying that the next time they all would meet her with her newborn. "It came as a shock that she was severely infected. We could not meet her at the hospital due to COVID restrictions and also because we had to be at work as the second wave peaked by then. She kept in touch through messages and calls. She was optimistic that she would recover soon," she said, adding that her demise is an irreplaceable loss.

"We should have cared more for her," a guilt-ridden Sakkammal said. The husband said that patient care was her top priority. "Today, I stand with the award in my hand, aloof, without her, who meant the world to me," he signed off choking with grief.

A happy married life cut short by pandemic

Taking a trip down the memory lane about the love of his life, Shanmugaperumal who runs a pet store told The New Indian Express, "She was born at Odaipatti village in Theni district. We both were classmates from classes VI to X at a school in Chinnamanur. I dropped out of school after class X while she went on to study MBBS at Madurai Medical College. We were in touch occasionally through mutual friends. When we reconnected two years ago, we fell in love and got married in April 2019."

Shanmugaperumal, was quick to add that Shanmugapriya was admired by all for her humility

Past issues of an employee can be recorded only if present charges proven: Madras High Court

Past issues of an employee can be recorded only if present charges proven: Madras High Court

The judge stressed that the Labour Commissioner had come to the conclusion that there was no evidence to support the charges against a TNSTC bus driver.

Published: 16th August 2021 07:28 AM 

Madras High Court (File Photo| PTI)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Past issues of an employee can be recorded in the relevant files only if the present charges are proven, the High Court said while quashing the termination of a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus driver.

Justice S Vaidyanathan gave the ruling, while disposing of an appeal from the management of the TNSTC (Villupuram) in Kancheepuram. The TNSTC had challenged an order of the Special Joint Commissioner of Labour in Teynampet, which quashed the TNSTC's order for terminating services of bus driver R Bakthavatsalam for causing a fatal accident.

The judge stressed that the Labour Commissioner had come to the conclusion that there was no evidence to support the charges against the driver. It had been contended by the Corporation that employee had caused two other accidents and suffered punishment.

"Past records can be looked into, provided present charge is proved. As the present charge is not proved, there is no need to look into the past records at all," the judge said and ordered Bakthavatsalam’s reinstatement from August 16.

மாடம்பாக்கம் தேனுபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயில் ஓதுவார் பணிக்கு பெண் நியமனம்: பஞ்ச புராணம், தேவாரப் பாடல்களை பாடி பணியை தொடங்கினார்

மாடம்பாக்கம் தேனுபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயில் ஓதுவார் பணிக்கு பெண் நியமனம்: பஞ்ச புராணம், தேவாரப் பாடல்களை பாடி பணியை   தொடங்கினார்

தமிழகத்தில் முதல் பெண் ஓதுவாராக அரசால் நியமிக்கப்பட்ட சுகாஞ்சனா மாடம்பாக்கம் தேனுபுரீஸ்வரர் கோவிலில் நேற்று திருமுறைகளை ஓதி தனது பணியை தொடங்கினார்.

படம்: எம்.முத்துகணேஷ்

மாடம்பாக்கம்

தாம்பரம் அருகே மாடம்பாக்கத்தில் உள்ள பழமை வாய்ந்த தேனுபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயிலுக்கு பெண் ஒருவர் ஓதுவார் பணிக்கு நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளார். இந்த நிகழ்வு பெண்களிடையே பெரும் வரவேற்பைப் பெற்றுள்ளது.

தமிழக கோயில்களில் ‘அன்னைதமிழில் அர்ச்சனை திட்டம்’ தொடங்கப்பட்டுள்ள நிலையில் அனைத்து சாதியினரும் அர்ச்சகராகும் திட்டத்தை முதல்வர் ஸ்டாலின் நேற்று முன்தினம் தொடங்கி வைத்தார். 58 பேருக்கு அர்ச்சகர்களாக பணி ஆணை வழங்கப்பட்டது. இதில் கரூர் மாவட்டத்தை சேர்ந்த கோபிநாத் என்பவரது மனைவி சுகாஞ்சனா என்ற பெண், ஓதுவாராக நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளார்.

இவர் தற்போது தாம்பரம் சேலையூரில் வசித்து வருகிறார். இவரது கணவர் கோபிநாத் டிசைனிங் இன்ஜினியராக பணி புரிந்துவருகிறார். ஒரு பெண் குழந்தை உள்ளது. தற்போது இவர் இந்துசமய அறநிலையத் துறையின்கட்டுப்பாட்டில் உள்ள மாடம்பாக்கம் தேனுபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயிலுக்கு ஓதுவாராக நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளார்.

சிறுவயதில் பாடல்களை நன்றாக பாடுவார் என்பதால் இவரது பெற்றோர் கரூர் மாவட்ட அரசு இசைப் பள்ளியில் சேர்த்துள்ளனர். பள்ளியில் பாடல்களை சிறப்பாக பாடி பயிற்சியை சிறப்பாக முடித்துள்ளார். தமிழகத்தில் முதன்முறையாக பெண் ஓதுவாராக இவர் நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள நிலையில் பலரும் பாராட்டுகளை தெரிவித்து வருகின்றனர்.

நேற்று முதல் பணியில் சேர்ந்த சுகாஞ்சனா காலையில் பஞ்ச புராணம், தேவாரம், திருவிசைப்பா, திருப்பல்லாண்டு, பெரியபுராணப் பாடல்களை பாடினார். இதைத் தொடர்ந்து மாலையும் பூஜைகள் முடிந்த பிறகு பாடல்களைப் பாடி பக்தர்களை பக்தியில் ஆழ்த்தினார். பெண் ஒருவர் ஓதுவாராக மாடம்பாக்கம் கோயிலில் நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள செய்தி வேகமாகப் பரவியது. இதனால் ஏராளமான பக்தர்கள் இவர் பாடுவதைக் கேட்டு பக்திப் பரவசம் அடைந்து செல்கின்றனர்.

இதுகுறித்து சுகாஞ்சனா கூறும்போது, "கரூரில் அரசு இசைப் பள்ளியில் பயிற்சி பெற்றுஒரு பள்ளியில் இசை ஆசிரியராக பணிபுரிந்து வந்தேன். சமீபத்தில் பத்திரிகைகளில் விளம்பரத்தைக் கண்டு ஓதுவார் பணிக்கு விண்ணப்பித்தேன்; பணி ஆணையை பெற்றுள்ளேன். எனக்கு வாய்ப்பளித்த தமிழக அரசுக்கு நன்றியை தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கிறேன். இந்த பணி எனக்கு மிகுந்த மகிழ்ச்சியை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது. இதன்மூலம் இறைவன் முன்பு பாடல்களைப் பாடும் வாய்ப்பு கிடைத்துள்ளது.

ஒரு வீட்டில் பெண் படித்து இருந்தால் அந்த குடும்பமே முன்னேறும் என்பார்கள். அதுபோல் பெண் பக்தி நெறியில் சிறந்து இருந்தால், அந்த குடும்பத்தினரும் பக்தி நெறியில் வளருவார்கள். இதனால் சமுதாயத்தில் நல்ல அந்தஸ்து கிடைக்கும். வாய்ப்பு கிடைக்கும் போது குழந்தைகளுக்கு இறை பாடல்கள் பாட பயிற்சி அளிப்பேன்" என்றார்.

27,000 சதுர அடி கட்டடங்களுக்கு உள்ளூரிலேயே அனுமதி பெறலாம்!

DINAMALAR

பொது செய்தி

தமிழ்நாடு

27,000 சதுர அடி கட்டடங்களுக்கு உள்ளூரிலேயே அனுமதி பெறலாம்!

Added : ஆக 16, 2021 00:12

சென்னை-'சென்னைக்கு வெளியில் உள்ள பகுதிகளில், 26 ஆயிரத்து 909 சதுர அடி வரையிலான தளபரப்பு உடைய கட்டடங்களுக்கு, உள்ளூர் அளவிலேயே ஒப்புதல் வழங்கலாம்' என, நகர், ஊரமைப்பு துறையான டி.டி.சி.பி., உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

ஒப்புதல்சென்னை பெருநகருக்கு வெளியில் உள்ள பகுதிகளில், கட்டுமான திட்ட அனுமதி வழங்கும் பொறுப்பு, டி.டி.சி.பி.,யிடம் உள்ளது. இதில், பொது கட்டட விதிகளின் அமலாக்கத்துக்காக, சில அதிகார பகிர்வுகளை டி.டி.சி.பி., வழங்கியது.இதன்படி, அதிக உயர மில்லாத கட்டடங்களுக்கு உள்ளூர் நிலையில் ஒப்புதல் வழங்க அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டது. ஆனால், இந்த நடைமுறை பின்னர் மாற்றப்பட்டது.இந்நிலையில், டி.டி.சி.பி., இயக்குனர் சரவணவேல்ராஜ் பிறப்பித்துள்ள உத்தரவு:அதிக உயரமில்லாத கட்டடங்கள் வகையில், 26 ஆயிரத்து 909 சதுர அடி வரையிலான தளபரப்பு உள்ள கட்டடங்களுக்கு, கள அலுவலர் நிலையிலேயே ஒப்புதல் வழங்கலாம்.இது, 18.3 மீட்டருக்கு மிகாத உயரம் உள்ள குடியிருப்பு, வணிக, நிறுவன கட்டடங்களுக்கு பொருந்தும்.

நடைமுறை

இதே போல சிட்கோ, சிப்காட் தொழிற்பேட்டைகளில் உள்ள மனைகளில், 29 ஆயிரத்து 909 சதுர அடி வரையிலான தளபரப்பில் உள்ள 18.3 மீட்டர் உயர கட்டடங்களுக்கு, மாவட்ட அலுவலர்கள் ஒப்புதல் வழங்கலாம்.நகர பகுதியில் 5ஏக்கர் வரையும்; ஊரக பகுதிகளில் 10 ஏக்கர் வரையிலான மனைப்பிரிவு திட்டங்களுக்கு தலைமையகத்தில் தான் ஒப்புதல் பெற வேண்டும். ஆனால், இந்த வரையறையில், குடும்பத்துக்குள் பங்கு பிரிப்பது, சொந்த உபயோக மனைப்பிரிப்புக்கு, மாவட்ட அலுவலர் ஒப்புதல் வழங்கலாம். இந்த புதிய அதிகார பகிர்வு நடைமுறைகளை, உடனடியாக அமல்படுத்த வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு அதில் குறிப்பிடப்பட்டு உள்ளது.

முதல் பெண் ஓதுவார் நியமனம்

DINAMALAR

பொது செய்தி

தமிழ்நாடு

முதல் பெண் ஓதுவார் நியமனம்

Added : ஆக 15, 2021 23:39 | 

சென்னை:ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகள் பழமை வாய்ந்த தேனுபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயிலில் முதல் முறையாக பெண் ஓதுவார் நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளார்.

தமிழகத்தில் 'அனைத்து ஜாதியினரும் அர்ச்சகர் ஆகலாம்' என்ற திட்டத்தின் கீழ் ஹிந்து சமய அறநிலையத்துறை கட்டுப்பாட்டிலுள்ள கோயில்களில் காலிப்பணியிடங்கள் நிரப்பப்படுகிறது. இதில் செங்கல்பட்டு மாவட்டம் மாடம்பாக்கம் பகுதியில் உள்ள ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகள் பழமை வாய்ந்த தேனுபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயிலில் முதல் பெண் ஓதுவாராக சுஹாஞ்சனா 28 என்பவர் நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளார்.

கரூர் மாவட்டம் வேலாயுதம்பாளையம் பகுதியில் பிறந்து வளர்ந்த சுஹாஞ்சனா 2019 செப்டம்பரில் சென்னை கிண்டியில் டிசைன் இன்ஜினியராக வேலை செய்யும் கோபிநாத் 31 என்பவரை திருமணம் செய்தார். சேலையூர் பகுதியில் வசித்து வரும் இவர் தேவாரம், திருவாசகம் இரண்டையும் கற்றுத் தேர்ந்தவர்.இந்நிலையில் சுஹாஞ்சனா நேற்று தன் பணியைத் துவங்கினார். அவர் மந்திரம் ஓதும் வீடியோ பரவி வருகிறது.

TN Pollution Control Board second best in country: Study

TN Pollution Control Board second best in country: Study

Oppili.P@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 16.08.2021

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has been adjudged the second best board in the country.

New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which ranked State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBSs)/ Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) based on public disclosure, studied them for 18 parameters over a period of one year.

Lab infrastructure and accreditation, latest technical publications, show cause and closure notices, public hearing, waste management and action plan for pollution control were some of the important criteria used for ranking the boards.

TNPCB chairman A V Venkatachalam told TOI that the CSE collected the data for its study from two sources. The first is website of state PCBs/ PCCs and the annual reports of each board. The organisation, which collected the last of its data in June this year, in its report said: “We have carried out this study based on the list of indicators and rating criteria.”

It further said that the rationale of this scoring methodology was to give more weightage to statutory indicators which must be available in public domain like information on board of members, number of board meetings, directions, consent information, compliance status of industry, inspection, accounts and financial details and manpower details.”

The SPCB/PCC website is an important source for the dissemination of information among various stakeholders and the people. A good website keeps all the information under the relevant heading for easy navigation so that anyone can easily access environmental information available on the SPCB website, whenever required.

Every state board must establish a laboratory to enable the board to perform its functions efficiently under the Water and Air Acts. It is also important that all SPCBs/PCCs share at least basic information about their laboratory on their websites like number of laboratories in the state, accreditation of lab, parameters which can be analysed in lab and contact details.

Of 34 SPCBs/PCCs, those in Tamil Nadu, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram provided a significant amount of information on laboratory infrastructure and accreditation of their laboratories, the report said.

The TNPCB has been taking all proactive measures to improve its functioning. Soon more new projects including an early warning system will be launched, Venkatachalam said.

Doctor, transgender and scientist among awardees

Doctor, transgender and scientist among awardees

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

16.08.2021

Fight back discrimination and overcome hurdles. That was the message from Grace Banu to her community after receiving the state’s best transgender award from chief minister M K Stalin on the 75th Independence Day on Sunday.

“The transgender community is facing discrimination in everyday life. Though the government is extending welfare schemes, the lack of awareness and support is undoing it. Several transgenders are trying to come up in life, but several systemic hurdles deny them opportunities,” the 30-year-old engineering graduate from Tuticorin told TOI.

Grace was pivotal in the passing of the court order that allowed transgenders to appear in the TNPSC examination.

The CM presented Dr Kalpana Chawla Award for courage and daring enterprise to Dr P Shanmuga Priya, a medical officer in Annuppanadi primary health centre in Madurai, posthumously. “It would have been a joyous occasion if my wife had been alive,” said P Shanmugam, Shanmugha Priya’s husband, who received the award. The government had conferred the award “in appreciation of her brave, courageous and selfless service” during the pandemic.

Dr Shanmuga Priya, who was pregnant, tested positive for Covid-19 on May 1 and succumbed on May 8.

Veteran Communist leader and freedom fighter N Sakaraiah was honoured with Thagaisal Thamizhar Award for his contribution to society. The CM called on the veteran leader at his residence on Saturday and presented the award.

Prof M Lakshmanan of the department of Non-linear Dynamics, school of Physics, Bharathidasan University, Trichy, has been awarded Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Award for single-handedly forming an active research group of young scientists of international standard in non-linear dynamics.

The CM also presented the Covid warrior medal to 33 frontline workers from six departments for their service during the pandemic.

Working on combo of Covaxin, nasal vax: BB

Working on combo of Covaxin, nasal vax: BB

16.08.2021

Bharat Biotech is working on a combination of Covaxin followed by a nasal vaccine that if administered can act as a booster dose, according to its chairman and managing director Dr Krishna Ella. While Covaxin was found to be significantly effective against the Delta variant, the Centre will take the final call on whether there is a need for a third dose of Covaxin to enhance the immune response, Ella said at the TIMES NOW India at 75: The Freedom Summit.

The company expects significant data on the combination in the next two months which can then drive the future course of action based on regulatory approvals and policy decision regarding booster shots.

“We are working on a combination of Covaxin followed by nasal, so that Covaxin primes the system of innate immunity and then the boost by the nasal which produces three immune responses – the IGG, the IGA and then mucosal immunity. All three immunities are powerful and can protect a person from getting infected,” Ella said. According to Ella, if the nasal vaccine works out well, production capacity is also likely to double. At present, Bharat Biotech is supplying around 2 crore to 2.5 crore doses of Covaxin per month, which is projected to increase to around 5.8 crore doses over the next few months.

Garbage, bad roads ail Pozhichalur

Garbage, bad roads ail Pozhichalur

Groundwater Has Become Polluted

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.08.2021

Pozhichalur, a neighbourhood of around 50,000 people, is just a12-minute drive from the airport. But years of neglect and an almost defunct local body have made the place unliveable, say residents. In spite of repeated petitions to the state government, the roads are in terrible shape, groundwater is polluted and sewage is let out into a pond, they complain. Governed by a village panchayat, Pozhichalur comes under Chengalpet district.

Mano Bala, a resident, said that most of the roads remain unpaved and the quality of groundwater is not good as sewage seeps in. “There are no storm water drains. The rainwater flows off to the side of the airport because of the slope of the terrain,” he said. Several people had moved into the loaclity because of its proximity to the airport, but many have also sold their houses and shifted out dye to the appalling civic conditions, he added.

Kumaran S from JJ Nagar said that the groundwater was black due to sewage seepage. “Houses that have come up near a pond let out sewage into it. The panchayat officials warn the people but they do not take action against the violators,” he said.

Bala said several people had fallen and got injured because of the bad roads. “My father fell from his motorcycle and could not walk for several months because the roads are not paved,” he said.

The residents had filed a petition to the CM’s cell recently as there had been no improvement in the civic amenities over the last few years. Nothing much had changed since they first petitioned the government more than four years ago.

Nothing much had changed in the area since TOI covered the issue in 2018.

K P Subramanian, former professor of urban engineering at Anna University, said Pozhichalur may need special attention because haphazard development may take place because of speculation in land value increase as it is closer to Chennai corporation limits. “Unless it is corrected in the beginning by offering basic infrastructure, it will be difficult to regulate later,” he said. The condition can improve if Tambaram is made into a corporation, he added.

Senthil Arumugham, who contested from Pallavaram in the assembly election, said a lot of housing development had happened in Pozhichalur though it is a panchayat. “There are no elected local representatives. People do not have a platform to air their grievances.”

YEARS OF NEGLECT: Unpaved roads lined by garbage at JJ Nagar near Pozhichalur in Chennai

Ex-IAS officer is adviser to TN e-Governance Agency

Ex-IAS officer is adviser to TN e-Governance Agency

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.08.2021

The state government has appointed former IAS officer P W C Davidar as adviser (digital and simplified governance) to Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency. The state government order said Davidar was being roped in based on the request of chief executive officer of TNeGA that a senior person having administrative experience of handling various departments of government may be appointed as the adviser on digital and simplified governance.

The appointment comes in the wake of an increased thrust on e- governance and digitisation of the functioning of government departments. The order recalled that TneGA is aimed at offering services in ‘anytime, anywhere model,’ to citizens. This entails transformation of government processes, migration of paperbased file processing to e-office, creation of e-dashboards and decision support systems for increased efficiency.

J&K HC | Statutory rules or executive orders would override an advertisement by Service Selection Board

J&K HC | Statutory rules or executive orders would override an advertisement by Service Selection Board

CASE BRIEFS  HIGH COURTS

Published on June 18, 2019By Devika Sharma

Jammu & Kashmir High Court: Ali Mohammad Magrey, J. while dismissing the present writ petition directed the respondent Service Selection Board to proceed ahead with the selection process in accordance with a communication dated 03-08-2018.

The facts of the case are that in the year 2015, a requisition was sent by the Director for direct recruitment of vacancies to the Service Selection Board (the Board) for the post of Junior Anesthesia Assistant, for which qualification was “10+2 with Science and Diploma in Anesthesia Technology from SMF or any other recognized Institute” for the districts Baramulla, Pulwama, Budgam and Kupwara. On the basis of these requisitions, the Service Selection Board advertised the posts of Junior Anesthesia Assistant on 02-12-2015.

On 18-12-2015, the Directorate of Health Services informed the Secretary to Government, Health & Medical Education Department that due to an error the qualification for the post of Jr Anesthesia Assistant was incorrectly mentioned. On 26-03-2012, by a Government Order (GO), it was communicated that the correct qualification is 10+2 with Diploma in Anesthesia/ Operation Theatre Technology; however, degree holders in Anesthesia/ Operation Theatre Technology would be preferred. Thereafter, by this order Board allowed the candidates to participate in the selection process. Years later, on 30-12-2018, a provisional selection list was notified on the basis of the Government Order dated 26-03-2012. Aggrieved by this notification, petitioners filed a representation before the Government which was forwarded to the Board. For clarification, the Director-General, Health services informed the Government that the qualification as per the GO dated 26-03-2012 be taken as the qualification for the said post. The Board was instructed/communicated dated 29-06-2018 to first appoint applicants who hold Diploma in “Anesthesia Assistant Technology” and if seats are not filled then the ones who have Diploma in “Operation Theatre Technology”. This communication was stayed by an order of the Court dated 04-07-2018. The Government withdrew its communication dated 29-06-2019 and instructed the Board on 03-08-2018 to start making selections by Government Order dated 26-03-2019. It is the last communication dated 03-08-2018 which has been questioned by the petitioners and seek a ‘Writ of Mandamus’ commanding the respondent Board to give effect to the notice dated 30-12-2017.

The respondent/Service Selection Board after stating the facts pleaded that the power to make selections is conferred to them by law. It was also contended by the Board that its sole work is to recruit therefore it cannot add or subtract any qualification and that a list of qualifications for a post is the prerogative of the concerned department/State and the Board has no role in laying down of qualification for a post.

It is well settled that prescribing qualifications is regulated by rules and regulations governing the field, however, in absence of such recruitment rules, the Government has the powers to notify the qualification by virtue of executive orders.

The post of Junior Anesthesia Assistant has no place in the J&K Non-Gazetted (Sub-Ordinate) Service Recruitment Rules, 1992, therefore, the Government came up with the notification through an executive order.

In the cases Malik Mazhar Sultan v. U.P. Public Service Commission, (2006) 9 SCC 507 and Ashish Kumar v. State of UP, (2018) 3 SCC 55 it was declared that in case variation between advertisement and statutory rules occurs, statutory rules would take precedence.

After taking note of the above facts and law laid down in the above cases, the health department directed the Board to make the selection as per the GO dated 26-03-2012.

The Court dismissed the petition for having no merit. [Javid Ahmad Mir v. State of JK, 2019 SCC OnLine J&K 542, decided on 03-06-2019]

Government Orders Cannot Override Statutory Rules: HC

Government Orders Cannot Override Statutory Rules: HC

Published: 20th October 2014 06:03 AM 

By Express News Service

THE Hyderabad High Court has ruled that executive instructions or government orders cannot override or contradict the statutory rules.

“Where the rules are silent, administrative instructions can be relied upon. The administrative instructions operate when there are gaps in the rules and they are meant for supplementing the rules or legislation,” the court said.

A division bench of the High Court headed by justice KC Bhanu made these observations on a batch of writ petitions challenging an order passed by the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal in 2010.

As for the case details, the tribal welfare department of the erstwhile AP government issued a GO (Ms No.3 dated January 10, 2000) providing for 100 per cent reservation in appointments to the posts of teachers in schools situated in the Scheduled Areas. The powers vested in the governor under V Schedule of the Constitution were invoked. The said GO was challenged before the tribunal which allowed the petition. Aggrieved over this, some of the tribal teachers filed petitions in the High Court.

Meanwhile, the government issued a memo dated December 19, 2009, saying that the GO would cover the appointment of teachers not only by direct recruitment but also through promotion. The said memo was challenged by the non-tribal teachers working in the tribal welfare institutions, who were expecting promotions to the post of headmaster. The tribunal allowed the application and held that the said GO did not cover the promotion to the post of headmaster.

The petitioners contended that it is the responsibility of the state to see uplift of the tribal people within the Scheduled Areas and that the said GO specifically provides for appointment of teachers in the schools in the above areas by 100 per cent reservation in favour of Scheduled Tribes (STs). Though the post of headmaster is promotional, ‘teacher’ includes headmaster and unless one becomes a teacher, he could not be appointed as headmaster. The notification in the said GO has a overriding effect over the service rules.

On the other hand, the government contended that the appointment of teachers would be made in the vacant posts in the schools of the scheduled areas by way of direct recruitment or promotion as provided under Rule 4 of the AP state and subordinate services rules, 1996. The government said it is competent to issue administrative orders in the field where the same is not covered by statute or statutory rules. The tribunal has not appreciated the relevant material in a right perspective and quashed the memos issued by the government. It urged the court to set aside the impugned order

Afte hearing the case, the division bench said that as per the rules the headmaster can be a teacher, but a teacher cannot be a headmaster.

“Executive instructions can supplement a statutory rule or cover areas to which the rule does not extend but cannot run contrary to statutory provisions or whittle down their effect. Executive instructions may supplement but not supplant statutory rules,” it ruled.

While allowing the petitions, the bench said, “We have no hesitation to hold that the government is well within its competence to issue the impugned memo and the same is perfectly valid and legal. The memo issued by the commissioner of tribal welfare is only consequential proceedings. Though it is stated that GO 3 is prospective, which is contrary to the said GO, which reads that the government considered to re-issue the said orders retrospectively from November 5, 1996 keeping in view the provisions of the V Schedule of the Constitution. Therefore, the impugned order is liable to be set aside”.

.

Now, driving tests at night to shorten waiting time

Now, driving tests at night to shorten waiting time

Sidhartha.Roy@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:15.08.2021 

Want to get a permanent driving licence? You may have to wait for a period of two weeks to more than two and half months for a slot, depending on where you live in Delhi. The Delhi government now plans to conduct driving tests at night to shorten the waiting time.

While Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) are on their way out with the Delhi government offering ‘faceless services’ for all transport-related transactions, applicants would still need to visit an automated driving test track to get a permanent driving licence.

To curb the spread of Covid-19, the Delhi government’s transport department has reduced the number of slots offered at test tracks to ensure social distancing. This, however, has resulted in a long waiting period to appear for a driving test in most of the busy zones. If one fails the stringent test at the automated tracks, it means an even longer waiting period.

As on Saturday, August 14, one can get a slot for a driving test on August 28 at the tracks near Sarai Kale Khan (South) and Surajmal Vihar (East II) RTOs. Slots at Mall Road (North) and Sarai Kale Khan (Central) are available on September 9 and 22, respectively. However, at most other busy RTOs, the latest slots are available from October 1to 10 at Rajouri Garden (West II), Mayur Vihar (East), Rohini (North West II) and Vasant Vihar (South West) and as late as October 27 at Loni Road (North East).

“The idea has been in the pipeline for some time now and many discussions have taken place in the department. What is first required to make the automated driving test tracks operational at night are high-mast lights,” a senior transport department official said.

“Apart from sensors on the ground, cameras on high poles also capture the driving test. Both are needed for a computerised analysis and then finding if an applicant has cleared the test or not,” the official stated.

“Very powerful lights are required at the centres to ensure that the cameras are able to capture images as efficiently as they do in daylight. Once the high-mast lights are installed, an assessment can be made of the viability of carrying out driving tests at night,” he added.

At present, driving tests start between 8 and 8.30 am at test tracks and go on till around 2 pm, till all the applicants for the day have given their test. “There will be separate shifts in the near future to cater to more demand while ensuring there is no crowding at test centres. Initially, the timing of the tests will be increased to 8 pm and if possible, even up to 10 pm in the next phase,” he said.

STEP IN RIGHT DIRECTION: The transport department has reduced the number of slots offered at test tracks to ensure social distancing