Toll plazas on ECR and OMR to be FASTag-ged
The state highways department is planning to introduce the NHAI’s RFID-based FASTag in all the toll plazas, including OMR and ECR. With the rise in vehicle traffic along the IT corridor, authorities are planning to double the local tag lanes which can be later turned into FASTag lanes. The authorities are planning to issue RFID- based tags that can be fitted to the windshield of the vehicles, to ensure ease of traffic.
Source: The Times of India
798 buildings along ECR unauthorized
The posh Olive Beach bungalows along the Muttukadu coastline, have been termed illegal. The layout, located between the Muttukadu lagoon backwaters and Bay of Bengal, is on no-development zone, as per the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) classification.
Pulling up the regulators while hearing a case on unauthorised construction along the Muttukadu coastline, the High Court said the departments had “totally abrogated their duties and responsibilities,” and that their only duty was to “rather abet unauthorised constructions. The court has ordered disconnection of power supply to one of the bungalows, which had illegally placed groynes along the shoreline to protect the building from coastal erosion.
Source: The New Indian Express
MTC deploys small buses in regular service
Out of the 200 small buses that were launched in 2013, over 180 are now being operated as regular buses, according to MTC officials. The rest are stalled due to the high absenteeism of the drivers.
Ever since the launch, there was a steady increase in the demand for small buses that covered the inner localities of the city, but MTC silently converted the small buses to regular services, inconveniencing many commuters. According to rule 248 of the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, state transport corporations including MTC can operate services only along the routes approved by the transport authority and failure to comply attracts a fine of Rs 2500. More than 1500 buses have been booked for this offence in the past.
Source: The Times of India
50 illegal shops near Mylapore temple demolished
After receiving several complaints from the residents, around 50 shops, mostly flower shops, from North Mada Street, South Mada Street and East Mada Street in Mylapore were demolished. Most of the shops that were illegally functioning had been around for more than 15 years.
A Chennai Corporation official said that demolition drives would continue in the city to remove encroachments from pavements. On November 19th, the civic body had evicted two temples that were encroaching the pedestrian pavement on Anna Main Road in KK Nagar.
Source: DT Next
Traffic offences rise by 50% over last year
As many as 33,42,492 cases of traffic violations, including ones involving helmet-less and drunk driving, were booked by the Greater Chennai Traffic police until November 26, 2019. The fine amount collected also increased by about Rs 5 crore over last year. In 2018, the total number of cases booked by the city traffic police was 22,26,717 and the fine amount collected was a little over Rs 24 crore.
According to Additional Commissioner (Traffic) A Arun, the surge in numbers in the last two years is largely due to the cashless fine payment system, which was introduced in May last year.
Source: DT Next
[Compiled by Sandhya Raju]
the highways authorities should demolish a small portion of structure in the maduravoyal to harbour express elevated high which is stalled on various reason as it causes huge traffic jam on peak hours causing precious time of lakhs of commuters but also swallows huge foreign exchange in importing petrol and diesel. the demolishing and constructing the small wall like structure will cost one or two lacks only but the traffic consumes thousands of litres of petrol and diesel. neither the politician nor the government officials are much interest in clearing the traffic jams though many high ranking officials commute daily in this route.
NHAI issuing it free what about people who purchased already by other sources? Tag price amount paid by those must credited to Fastag account.
Why compulsory deposit? Even Re. 1 less in account would not allow to pass through.Deposit must be buffer for contigency & can be used automatically and replenished when recharge.
Anyway deposit is absurd because Fastag is lifelong and no need to surrender unless vehicle is out of service.
In fact no need validity period as it is for the life of vehicle. Do not understand the logic to purchase it everytime post validity unless damaged.
Openly looting the common man and keeping deposit amount without interest for no reason.
Threat to charge double is masteratroke!
First of all why OMR should have toll gate. Since the place is handed over to corporation. OMR road does not have any addition features that toll road should have. Toll road should have SOS facilities. Toll road should have parking facilities. When it rains water are stagnating.
Govt also helps banks especially private like icici,hdfc etc.,by authorising themto sell fastag.When this is getting paid throughout our life ,it should be without any deduction in the name of cost of Tag than allowing banks to sell with commission.
Went to NHAI toll plaza in Porur. They ran out of stock. There are only Airtel and Paytm agents who sell for RS. 50 charge with no guarantee that the tag will work! Very poor implementation. Instead RTO can give the tag for free to all vehicle owners. Let the owners charge/topup.