Awareness about
PRTC buses
This is in reference to the news item ‘40 new buses for PRTC’ (September 3, The Hindu ). This is indeed a good move by the Puducherry government and one can see that buses are plying from the bus stand. However, the people of Puducherry are unaware of the routes and the timings. It would be helpful if these are displayed in major newspapers as well as important bus stops. Only if awareness is created can the public make good use of such services. I agree with a reader’s mail which had suggested equipping the buses with GPRS and GPS facilities. Hope PRTC takes suitable steps in this regard.
Kalpana Rao
Lawspet, Puducherry
Suggestions for
Smart City
Following the invitation to give our suggestions for establishing the Oulgaret Municipality as a Smart City, we have the following recommendations. All streets should be provided with adequate street lights with LED bulbs. New buildings must install equipment which consumes less power. Rooftop solar power must be encouraged through subsidy and loans. Close monitoring of daily removal of household waste and cleaning of drainage system. The drainage system must be redesigned to ensure there is no water clogging during rains. A strict enforcement of cattle-free streets. More dustbins must be installed on streets.
Tree planting must be encouraged through corporate social responsibility. High-tech public toilets must be constructed to end open defecation. There must be stringent action against display of banners and placards. Electric vehicles for public transport will reduce two-wheeler movement and reduce pollution. A system to ensure cars can be bought only after verification of parking facility. Irregular parking must be penalised. Implementation of encroachment-free markets. Auto rickshaw fares must be regulated. Government staff must be encouraged to ride cycles with incentives. Encourage online submission of petitions to all departments and acknowledgement of online complaints within two hours of submission. Response time must be fixed for solving all petitions. Surveillance cameras should be installed in all streets to ensure safety. An emergency cell must be established addressing disaster management-related issues. Encourage payment of all taxes online and incentivising online payments to reduce people movement, pollution and transparent governance.
Puducherry Bharathi Nagar Makkal Nalavazhvu Sangam
Karuvadikuppam, Puducherry
Readers can send their mails to pondy.thehindu@
gmail.com and The Hindu, No. 135 Mission Street, I Floor, Puducherry 605 001.
