Delay in subway, flyover construction irks public in Chennai 

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | SUKANTO MONDAL P & BAVANI A

Published May 14, 2018, 6:17 am IST
The State Highways department started the construction of Kovilambakkam signal flyover two years ago, but work stopped after six months.


Kovilambakkam flyover construction at a halt (Photo: DC)

Chennai: Four major infrastructure projects of subways and flyovers aimed to ease traffic congestion in the city have been at a standstill for a very long time now, thanks to poor coordination between State highways and Southern Railways.

The construction of flyovers at Kovilambakkam and Villivakkam has been halted, while motorists plying via Korattur and Annanur level crossing face traffic obstruction due to snail paced construction work on flyovers.


The State Highways department started the construction of Kovilambakkam signal flyover two years ago, but work stopped after six months. Accidents have become common in the vicinity due to the vehicles and construction equipment lying on both sides of the road, allegse a resident of Kovilambakkam.

While at Villivakkam subway, the construction was mooted eight years ago, commuters see no sign of progress even though the traffic police had given approval to divert the traffic for resuming the work.

“Office-goers from Villivakkam, Perambur, Korattur and Kolathur travelling to IT parks in Ekkatuthangal, Taramani and Porur would be largely benefited if the Villivakkam and Korattur subways are constructed soon. Public has to bear the brunt of traffic snarls during peak hours,” says R Dev, a resident of Villivakkam.

Another subway project in North Chennai started five years ago, near Korattur railway station, with the level crossing (LC-4-Korattur) closed since 2013. After the RCC blocks were laid on the tracks, there has been no progress in the construction. Meanwhile, the deadline for the civic project was before 2017, the project remains uncompleted crossing its deadline even after a year. The Annanur flyover project that started in 2012 has been at a standstill soon after the work started. While the railway authorities say that the construction work has been affected due to controversies surrounding the demolition of a temple and a mosque in the neighbourhood to complete the work, residents say that before starting this project, authorities said that all the public property would remain untouched.

Ramanujar, a petty shop owner said, “to save time, many cross the railway track without following the signal, and this is why accidents happen. Trains do not even blow horn or use their beam lights and this leads to accidents. If the flyover gets completed, time and life both can be saved, especially for students of neighbouring schools who use it on a daily basis.”

Residents allege that it takes around 45 minutes to cross without the flyover because every vehicle has to cross the railroad. G Kavitha, an advocate, Madras High Court and a local resident said, “It is very difficult to rescue somebody and take them to hospital. Everybody has to cross the railway track and that consumes more time”.

Southern Railway officials say that removal of encroachments is being carried out at Villivakkam, while Korattur subway would be completed by the end of this year. Authorities remained unresponsive on Annanur subway and Kovilambakkam flyover construction, stating blandly that the work is in progress.

State Highways and Southern Railway officials blamed each other for delaying the projects, which brings lack of cooperation and poor coordination between the authorities to light.

Education loan without sureties not a right: Madras High Court

While the present court order ruled that the sanction of education loan is subjected to the guidelines the banks follow, it is in sharp contrast with the earlier High Court order in the matter.

Published: 15th May 2018 04:18 AM | Last Updated:  


By Express News Service

CHENNAI:Students cannot claim educational loans of higher value as a matter of right without submitting sureties, the Madras High Court has ruled. This is in sharp contrast with an earlier High Court order in the matter, wherein a bank was rapped for refusing educational loan as the student could not produce sureties.

Justice S Vaidyanathan, in a recent order on a petition filed by an MBBS student, said, "The petitioner, as a matter of right, cannot demand a higher amount as loan without any security and that the sanction of loan is covered by the guidelines issued by the bank for availing education loan."

The petitioner and student of Sri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute at Ammapet in Kancheepuram district, R Sanskrit had sought a loan of Rs 63.90 lakh from the Indian Bank. But the bank rejected the application for want of sureties.

Justice Vaidyanathan noted that the student did not have adequate attendance in her college, even though it was acknowledged that she had an economically poor family background and had managed to clear NEET and get an MBBS seat. The judge said the bank was at liberty to process Sanskrit's loan application, based on its internal guidelines.

"The loan application may be processed by the branch of Indian Bank concerned, with respect to each academic year and eligible amount may be sanctioned by the bank to the petitioner in order to enable her to pay fees to the college," the judge said, adding, "If she is unable to get the entire amount as loan, she may have to pay the balance amount from her personal funds."

The court also made it clear that the student might not be permitted to sit for exams, if she failed to pay the fees.

While the present court order ruled that the sanction of education loan is subjected to the guidelines the banks follow, it is in sharp contrast with the earlier High Court order in the matter.

A Division Bench of judges K K Sasidharan and P Velmurugan in February came down heavily on the Indian Overseas Bank for refusing educational loan to a poor farmer's daughter because the student was not able to produce sureties. "The country would be deprived of the service of scientists, doctors, engineers and other professionals, in case financial assistance was not given to the deserving students to come up in life. The educated youth are an asset to the nation and their talents can be utilised for the growth of the country. Banks must realise this fundamental fact," the two-member Bench had observed then.

Safety inspections begin for direct Metro from Chennai Central to Koyambedu, airport

Taking a direct Metro train from Chennai Central to Koyambedu and airport is just a step away as the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety started safety inspection of different lines on Monday.

Published: 15th May 2018 04:11 AM 
 

Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety K A Manohar and his team during an inspection of Metro stations in the city on Monday | D SAMPATHKUMAR

By Express News Service

CHENNAI:Taking a direct Metro train from Chennai Central to Koyambedu and airport is just a step away as the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety started safety inspection of different lines on Monday. He inspected the line between Shenoy Nagar and Central Metro.

By Tuesday evening, the Commissioner and his team aim to inspect upline between Shenoy Nagar and Central Metro covering 5.62 km and downline between Central Metro and Nehru Park, about 2.5 km. On May 18 and 19, he will inspect the 4.5-km stretch between Little Mount and AG-DMS. The inspections are mandatory for authorising operations of the lines.

K A Manohar, Railway Safety Commissioner for Southern Circle, told reporters on Monday that all amenities with regard to passenger safety would be inspected. "We will inspect track parameters, tunnels, stations, calibration of trains and firefighting system," he said.

The lines from Central Metro to Koyambedu and airport via stations on Poonamalle High Road will open, once the inspections are over.

The Central, the upper track level connecting Egmore Metro with Nehru Park, will be inspected along with the concourse level. The lower track connecting Washermenpet and Anna Salai is yet to be ready.

Various parameters

The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety We will inspect track parameters, tunnels, stations, calibration of trains and firefighting systems on Central to Koyambedu and airport

Karnataka assembly polls results 2018: D-day for parties as everyone confident of victory

While exit polls are divided over which party will emerge the single largest, - BJP, Congress and Janata Dal-Secular have expressed confidence of forming the government on their own.

Published: 15th May 2018 03:00 AM | 


L-R: BJP's BS Yeddyurappa, JD(S)'s HD Kumaraswamy, Congress' Siddaramaiah (File Photos)

  By Express News Service

BENGALURU: It is D-day for political parties in Karnataka with the counting of votes for the  assembly elections scheduled to take place today. About 222 constituencies went to polls on Saturday with the state registering a record voter turnout of 72.36 percent. 38 counting centres have been set up across the state with 5 alone in Bengaluru.

While exit polls are divided over which party will emerge the single largest, each of the three major parties - Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress and Janata Dal-Secular have expressed confidence of forming the government on their own. Any party requires a simple majority of 112 to stake claim to form the government.

 While, the Congress has pegged its estimate between 114 and 120 out of 222 seats, the BJP has expressed confidence of getting close to 130 seats. Despite not having candidates in all 224 constituencies
considering its pre-poll alliance with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the JD(S) has hopes of touching at least 50 seats, elevating its position to that of a kingmaker, if not the king. 

 
After months of hectic campaigning, back-to-back rallies, continuous tours of the state, leaders across party encouraged workers to take enough rest over the weekend but not the excitement and nervousness- in equal measure- is back in circles of all parties.

While the BJP has already announced state president B S Yeddyurappa as its CM candidate and the JD(S) has named H D Kumaraswamy, the Congress leadership is mum about its choice of next CM, if the party returns to power.

Amid murmurs of a coalition government being the only possibility in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, who has successfully driven the Congress' campaign from the front, has spoken about his stand on a Dalit CM.

The election for Rajarajeshwari constituency will be held on May 28 and fresh notification for elections in Jayanagar constituency, which was countermanded due to the death of BJP candidate B N Vijayakumar, will be announced later.

No aadal paadal in temple festivals, says High Court 

Staff Reporter Staff Reporter 
 
Madurai, May 15, 2018 00:00 IST
‘There should not be any obscenity’

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, while allowing petitions filed from across the southern districts seeking permission to organise cultural programmes during temple festivals, imposed conditions for conducting the events.

Justice R. Tharani, in her order, said there should not be any kind of obscenity and vulgarity in the songs or dialogues during the performance by any participant. No songs showing affiliation to any political party, community or caste should be played. Consumption of liquor or any such intoxicating substances should not be permitted during the event, the court said.

No flex boards in support of any political or religious leader should be erected during the event.

The function should be held in a peaceful manner, not affecting religious or communal harmony. There should be no caste-based discrimination during the event.

The court also directed that if police officers found any violation of the conditions, they could initiate action in accordance with law and stop such a performance. Also, the police could take action if the events exceeded the prescribed time limit. The organiser would be held responsible in case of any untoward incidents during the event.

The HC said police officials, while considering the representations, could also impose further restrictions or conditions in order to preserve public order and tranquillity.

However, the court refused to grant permission to aadal paadal , the late night cultural event. These programmes were neither customary nor traditional to be granted permission, the court said while dismissing the petitions.

Flight grounded due to technical snag 

MURALI N. KRISHNASWAMY 
 
CHENNAI, May 15, 2018 00:00 IST

A Kuwait Airways flight, KU343/KU344, on the Kuwait-Chennai-Kuwait sector was grounded after a technical issue on Sunday.

The twin-engine wide body aircraft landed at Chennai around 1.30 a.m. and was being prepared for the outbound flight when the problem was detected. The 212-seater jet, an Airbus A330 (9K-APE), was later towed to a remote bay.

Confirming the incident in response to a query by The Hindu , a senior airline official based in Chennai said the second tyre of the main wheel unit was found to be worn out and had to be replaced.

Options to passengers

All 164 passengers were given the option of flying out on the delayed flight or being rerouted on other airlines.

Most chose the first and were put up in a hotel near the airport. A few passengers were rerouted while some postponed their travel plans and were given a full fare refund.

The flight left early on Monday with 137 passengers and an infant on board.

HC orders double evaluation of papers 

Special Correspondent   the hindu
 
CHENNAI, May 15, 2018 00:00 IST

MBBS student moves court on biochemistry theory paper

The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University cannot refuse to take one out of two papers in a subject for double evaluation, when the aggregate of the marks scored by a medical student in the two papers are considered for deciding the marks scored in that particular subject, the Madras High Court has ruled.

Justice S. Vaidyanathan held so while allowing a writ petition filed by a MBBS student challenging the university’s decision to double evaluate only his biochemistry theory paper-I in which he had scored 15 out of 50 marks and not theory paper-II in which he touched 50% by scoring 25 out of 50.

Two resolutions

The university counsel had brought it to the notice of the court that the governing council had passed two resolutions — one in 2014 and the other in 2015, for reintroducing double evaluation system instead of revaluation of answer scripts if a candidate had scored below the zone of grace marks in a subject. In so far as the petitioner’s case was concerned, the judge said the university could have been right in refusing to double evaluate one of the two theory papers in biochemistry if it had been following the practice of treating the marks scored in each of those two papers separately without reckoning aggregate marks. “As long as the aggregate total marks of two papers are taken into consideration for declaring the result of the petitioner, both the theory papers will have to be subjected to double evaluation.”