The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Special prayers, feast at temples mark I-Day

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 16, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Special prayers, feast at temples mark I-Day

Special Correspondent

Tricolour hoisted in Central, State Government offices

CHENNAI : Special prayers, Ministers and MLAs participating in community feast at temples and the hoisting of the tricolour in Central and State Government establishments and party offices marked the 60th Independence Day celebrations in the State.

At the BJP office here, the former national president, M.Venkaiah Naidu, hoisted the national flag.

He called upon the people to remain united and involve themselves in nation building and safeguarding freedom and democracy.

The CPI (M) central committee member, A.K.Padmanabhan, hoisted the national flag at the party headquarters.

A seminar `Have we attained real independence' marked the day's celebrations at the Nationalist Congress Party office here where the party's State president, G.P.Sarathy, unfurled the tricolour.

The general secretary of Tamil Nadu State Indian Union Muslim League, Hakeem S.A.Syed Sathar, hoisted the national flag at the party office.

After unfurling the tricolour at the Chennai Port, its Chairman, K.Suresh, said the port proposed to award a gold coin worth Rs.5000 to each employee during its 125th year, which is being celebrated this year. Clearance for the proposed Second Container Terminal (SCT) was expected soon, he added.

At the Southern Railway headquarters, General Manager Thomas Varghese hoisted the national flag. He said gauge conversion works of Tiruchirappalli-Karaikudi, Manamadurai-Rameswaram, Vriddhachalam-Salem, Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli and Quilon-Punalur sections, and doubling of Ernakulam-Mulanturutti and Pallippuram-Shoranur sections and MRTS work up to Velachery would be completed this year.

As running of longer trains resulted in cost reduction and revenue increase, a project to extend the length of platforms at 63 stations had been taken up. Similar work for 39 stations had been proposed. Forty-eight stations would be upgraded to model stations.

The ICF General Manager, P. Raja Goundan, unfurled the tricolour at the administrative office lawns. He said during the current year a higher production target of 1,200 coaches had been set which included prestigious projects such as luxury coaches for the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, Diesel Electric Multiple Units for Jammu and Kashmir, Self-Propelled Accident Relief Train, Garib Rath and coaches for the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation.

The General Manager, Indian Oil, Southern Region, M. Nageswaran, hoisting the tricolour at the corporation office exhorted the employees to develop their competence and inter-personal effectiveness with the ultimate objective of enhancing customer care.

The Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd. will implement key strategic initiatives that included capacity expansion at the Manali Refinery, installation of Resid Upgradation and Euro-IV projects, said Managing Director K. K. Acharya after unfurling the national flag at the corporate office.

The Executive Director, ONGC, C.S.Jain, unfurled the tricolour at the headquarters here and said new technologies such as Q-Marine and Seabed logging were being inducted in the offshore parts of Cauvery and Krishna Godavari basins.

The Chief Commissioner of Central Excise, Chennai Zone, A.C. Buck, hoisted the national flag at the headquarters office. At the Customs office, Chief Commissioner J.K. Batra unfurled the tricolour.

At the Income-Tax office, Chief Commissioner of Income-Tax S.K.Dutta unfurled the tricolour.

Celebrations at

airport complex

The Chennai Airport Director, Dinesh Kumar, hoisted the national flag at the airport complex and took the salute. He advised employees to exercise adequate caution and care in the wake of increased security threats.

State Election Commissioner D.Chandrasekaran hoisted the national flag at the Commission's office. At the State Express Transport Corporation, its Chairman, Debendranath Sarangi, unfurled the tricolour. Madras University Vice-Chancellor S.P.Thyagarajan hoisted the national flag at the university. Saplings were also planted in front of the Centenary Auditorium. to mark the celebrations.

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