Praiseworthy act
I read with interest the news report that a driver of a State Express Transport Corporation bus, who violated the traffic rule by driving through one-way at Shencottah, had to regret his action in a court as one of his passengers was a judicial magistrate ( The Hindu , Oct. 14, 2015). The magistrate, as a passenger, was looked upon meanly by the driver when asked to follow traffic rules and his gesture of teaching the driver a lesson was venerable and praiseworthy. It is a lesson to all such drivers. I can guess the fate of an old man as passenger in the place of the magistrate. In such situations, most of the bus travellers keep their mouth shut. Unless bus drivers realise their responsibility over safety of passengers, this kind of violation that may cause accidents will be the order of the day. Violation of traffic rules by government officials while travelling in their official four-wheelers and drivers of State transport and private buses at Samathanapuram corner and Murugankurici traffic signal in Palayamkottai is common and if CCTV cameras are fitted at these vintage points, there may be need for many more judicial magistrates like Raja of Sivagiri.
E. Rajakumar Arulanandham,
Palayamkottai.
Bad condition of roads
The road from Millerpuram Junction to Vikasa School is unmotorable with many pits and holes.
The cuttings across the road still remain only partially covered.
During peak hours, there is heavy movement of traffic and the bad condition of the road poses a threat to road-users, especially schoolchildren and office-goers.
Further, the road leading to Teachers' Colony and the connecting road adjacent to Vinayagar Temple are covered with sand and possibility of skidding is more for two-wheelers.
I request the corporation authorities to plunge into early action and ensure safe travel for the public.
P. Selwyn Basker,
Tuticorin.
Waiting for VIPs
This refers to the news report, ‘Don't involve school children to welcome guests: CEO’ ( The Hindu , Oct. 15, 2015). The Chief Educational Officer, Madurai, must be commended for issuing a circular on the intervention of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that primary school children should not be involved in according welcome to chief guests in school and other public functions. On many occasions, when ministers and other VIPs visit schools, the children are compelled to stand in line for hours together to receive them.
It is well known that most of the VIPs will not attend the functions on the appointed time and it is a pathetic sight to see students standing in line for hours together, carrying flowers and placards, under the scorching sun.
Though the media quite often publish reports of swooning of students in such functions due to physical and mental stress, such things continue to happen much to the detriment of the health of students. It is high time authorities in other districts and the district administration issued a similar circular.
S. Nallasivan,
Tirunelveli.
Shift venue
For years, demonstrations and protests in Vallioor are held near the old bus stand just behind the place where Tiruchendur and Tirunelveli roads converge. Even on normal days, the old bus stand area witnesses heavy traffic and it gets worse whenever demonstrations are held.
Vehicles are parked near the roadside and high decibel speakers make this road prone to accidents. The officials concerned should change the venue of demonstrations or provide an alternative place to park vehicles.
M. Suresh,
Vallioor.
