MTC rationalises bus routes to improve connectivity

MTC has rationalised its services by making changes in bus routes for Vadapalani, IT corridor, KK Nagar and Vandalur areas.
Published: 24th September 2019 06:15 AM |

By B Anbuselvan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: MTC has rationalised its services by making changes in bus routes for Vadapalani, IT corridor, KK Nagar and Vandalur areas. The recent exercise includes short-termination of a few services to create a new service and renumbering of buses for various routes.

The changes were made to increase the accessibility in highly demanded routes identified by the MTC based on a study, said officials. The study was initiated in February after the patronage fell below 33 lakh a day, from 46 lakh in January last. Buses were introduced in the following routes: 91C (Velachery - Vandalaur Zoo), 66G (Kundrathur-Guduvanchery), 570V (Vadapalani-Kelambakkam), 19V (Shozhinganallur-Vandalur) and 55K (Kandigai to Guduvanchery).

“About 15 buses bearing route No. 570S (CMBT - Kelambakkam) have been transferred to Vadapalani and are operated as 570V (Vadapalani-Kelambakkam). The move was made, based on demand to improve the connectivity with IT corridor,” said a senior MTC official, adding that the changes were also made to decongest the CMBT facing frequent traffic snarls.

Besides, select bus services of 11H, which have so far been operated from Broadway to Iyyappanthangal, have been converted into 11G (Broadway-K K Nagar) and extended upto Iyappanthangal. “Now 11H buses will be operated upto Iyyappanthangal bearing 11G name board. The changes were made after the closure of bridge near RBI on Kamarajar Salai,” added the official. Two new services were created, short-terminating the buses to improve the patronage on the IT corridor and GST Road.

The 19V from Shozhinganallur on Rajiv Gandhi Road will provide link with GST road via Navalur, Siruseri, Pudupakkam, Mambakkam and Kandigai. The 55K buses were introduced from Kandigai to Guduvanchery to run via Keerapakkam, Arungal, Kattur and Karanaipuduchery, said sources.

British Airways directed to pay Rs 94 thousand as compensation for cancelled flight

The forum also said that there was no real effort by British Airlines to pay Rs 600 as per the guidelines and asked them to pay Rs 93,900.

Published: 23rd September 2019 08:17 AM |

The forum also said that there was no real effort by British Airlines to pay Rs 600 as per the guidelines

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Four years after British Airways cancelled a flight due to a technical snag, a consumer forum directed the airline to provide a compensation of Rs 94,000 to Anderson Chellakumar of Anna Nagar.

Chellakumar submitted at the forum that he had booked ticket to attend the “International Familiarization week” to to be held in Glasgow from March 2-6, 2015. He was supposed to travel on March 1.

However, after being issued boarding pass, the flight got cancelled due to a technical snag. Due to this, Chellakumar missed the conference and his other travel plans also got cancelled.

Despite the British Airways offering Rs 600 as compensation and a travel ticket in the Qatar Airways on March 3, Anderson refused the offer and filed a complaint seeking compensation of Rs 5 lakh at the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai ( South).

Denying the allegations, the counsel for British Airlines submitted that an alternative arrangement after two days and a compensation of Rs 600 was offered to Anderson, but he declined it.

However, the forum presided by M Mony consisting of member R Baskarkumaravel observed the guidelines of Directorate General of Civil Aviation in compensating a passenger stating that “Airlines either refund the ticket or make reasonable attempt to make alternate travel arrangements as per the choice of the passengers.”

The forum also said that there was no real effort by British Airlines to pay Rs 600 as per the guidelines and asked them to pay Rs 93,900.

Power shutdown in parts of Chennai on Sept 25

As a part of routine maintenance works, Tangedo will be suspending power supply in areas like Mathur, Thirumudivakkam and Poonamallee.

Published: 24th September 2019 06:04 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: For carrying out maintenance work, power supply will be suspended by Tangedco on Wednesday (Sept 25) from 9 am to 5 pm in these following areas. According to a statement from Tangedco, power supply will be resumed before 5 pm if work is completed. Here is the list.

MATHUR: Apollo Armstrong nagar, Nathiya nagar, China Mathur, Arulananda nagar, Bharathi 1 to 3 street, Devi Karumari amman koil st, Kullakarai st, MGR salai, MMDA 3 rd main road part.

POONAMALLEE: Abirami nagar, V.G.N.nagar, Kaduvetti, Bye Pass road, Poonamallee, Senneerkuppam, Kumunanachavadi, Gorimedu, Mangadu, Bathrimedu, Ragunathapuram, Kandhasamy Nagar, Thirumal nagar, Marannagar, Karayanchavadi, Ambal city.

THIRUMUDIVAKKAM : Sidco Industrial Estate, Sidco, Kalaingar st, Mangalapuram, Royal Castle appartment, Thirumudivakkam main road, Kundrathur bazzar, Part of Murugan koil , Nadaipathai part, Melandai st, Thirumudivakkam, Pazhanthandalam, Erumaiyur village, Kalaimagal nagar, Karpagam nagar, Rajiv Gandhi nagar, Sriukalathur, Nandhambakkam, Kalathipettai, Periyar nagar, Anjugam nagar, Somangalam, Naduveerapattu, Shakthi nagar, poonthandalam, Puthuperu, D.C Nagar, Melathur, Sidco, Vazhuthalampedu part, Thiruneermalai main road, Palm Rivera Appartments, Navins Appartments, Heritage, Perumal nagar, Sambandham nagar, Siva Vishnu nagar, Natham, Arunachaleshwar nagar, Padmavathy nagar, Devagi nagar, Devi nagar, Ishwara nagar, Vazhuthalampedu, Manikandan nagar, Vazhuthalampedu part, Amarprakash Appartment.

UK’s new visa policy may be a boon for Indian students

The UK government’s new visa policy for international students may be a boon for Indians aspiring to do Master’s followed by employment opportunities in the UK.

Published: 24th September 2019 06:13 AM 

By OMJASVIN M D

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The UK government’s new visa policy for international students may be a boon for Indians aspiring to do Master’s followed by employment opportunities in the UK. On September 11, the UK government announced re-introduction of the two-year post-study work visa for international students. This means, students with TIER 4 visa can pursue any Master’s degree of their choice in the UK for one year and stay back to work there for two years.

The number of Indians visiting UK, declined steeply ever since the post-study work visa was revoked in 2012. This restriction allows students only to stay back for four months. Earlier this year, India too acknowledged the decline in a written response to a question posed in Rajya Sabha. Some reasons cited for the decline were withdrawal of post-study work visa, tightened English proficiency requirements and higher tuition fees.

According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, from a high of 22,375 Indians in 2012-13, the number decreased to 16,550 in 2016-17. However, from 15,160 students in 2018, the numbers rose by 40 per cent to 21,165 by March this year.

Welcoming the new visa policy, British Council’s Director of South India, Janaka Pushpanathan said the policy gave students the chance to develop their career in an international marketplace and provided them the opportunity to pursue professions at any degree level and in any field of operation. Students mostly preferred business and engineering courses in the UK. However, there was a growing interest in other subjects too. Professionals in the education and recruitment field believe the new visa policy may benefit Indians and double the number of 2012-13 as they now get to work there for longer.

‘’ Students can get a scholarship waiver up to an average of 25 to 30 per cent of their tuition fees depending upon their merit,’’ said Sanofer Sulthana, Branch Manager, SI-UK in Chennai, a global recruiter. To go to the UK for higher studies, students normally have to take the IELTS which assesses their English proficiency skills. The test consists of reading, writing, speaking and listening sections. “Some UK universities also accept 12th standard English marks of students scoring above 70 per cent in India. Such students may not have to take IELTS,’’ said Sanofer.

Meanwhile, career experts in the UK told Express that students could enhance employment opportunities by engaging with universities’ career support. John Sander, Senior International Officer of UK-based Sussex University, one of the leading universities in the world, said, “Often, South Asian students don’t engage with the career support that they have paid for until towards the end of their studies.’’Using careers service from the day students land in the UK would help them maximise the success of their applications, observed Sander. The new graduate immigration route is expected to benefit students enrolling from 2020-21.

Man running children’s home arrested under POCSO Act

Panel receives complaint that five children were sexually harassed

24/09/2019, STAFF REPORTER, ,TIRUPPUR

A man running a home for children in Perumanallur was arrested on charges of sexually harassing at least five children here on Sunday.

The police said on Monday that the 55-year-old man was arrested on Sunday evening after one of parents of the children staying there filed a complaint with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) last week. The home had 65 children studying between Class VI and Class X.

The accused was booked by All Women Police Station (AWPS) officers in Avinashi under sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was produced in the Mahila Court in Tiruppur and remanded in Coimbatore Central Prison on Sunday evening, according to police.

An official from the District Child Protection Office (DCPO) said all the children were shifted to a home in Koduvai, Vanjipalayam by Saturday night. A team of officials from the DCPO, Perumanallur Tahsildar, Village Administration Officer and police officers, visited the home and arrested the accused.

“The complaint received by the CWC mentioned that five children were sexually harassed,” the official said, adding that further investigation was on.

power shutdown

24/09/2019

In view of the proposed monthly maintenance works to be carried out at the Kuniamuthur sub-station on September 25 (Wednesday), there will be no power supply from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the following areas: Kuniamuthur, Puttuvikki, Edayarpalayam, Sundarapuram part I, BK Pudur Part I, Kovai Pudur and NS Puram.

Students demand action against NEET coaching centre

Allege parents were threatened when they demanded their money back

24/09/2019, STAFF REPORTER ,COIMBATORE

A group of students demanded action against a private coaching centre for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) at R.S. Puram alleging lack of teachers and basic facilities here on Monday.

Submitting a petition to District Collector K. Rajamani during the grievances redress meet, the students claimed that a total of 15 students have paid the course fees ranging from ₹ 55,000 to ₹ 1 lakh to the Centre.

Alleging that the classes were not regularly conducted for the past 10 days, they claimed that the persons at the coaching centre threatened the parents who demanded their money back.

The coaching centre lacks electricity connection and the students are forced to clean the classrooms as there are no workers, the petition claimed.

The teachers for subjects such as biology, physics and chemistry were also not present as their salaries were not paid by the coaching centre, the students alleged.