The new meter fare for autorickshaws remained only in print on Monday – the day when it was supposed to take effect in Coimbatore. The minimum fare of Rs. 14 fixed by the Government was confined to the chart provided to the autorickshaw drivers by the Regional Transport Office.
As per the new rates, passengers should pay Rs. 14 if the meter reads Rs. 7. A combination of resistance on the part of the drivers and ignorance on the part of the passengers allowed fleecing to continue even on day one of the new fare.
Ignorance
Passengers at the railway station were either not aware of the new rates coming into effect or never got a chance to emphasise it with the autorickshaw drivers. So determined were the drivers to rubbish the new fare that they got away comfortably with their methods of collecting excess fare.
Despite the officials distributing the new fare charts, neither the drivers nor most of the passengers took note of it. While the drivers rejected the fare, many passengers saw no point in arguing with them when there was no scope for winning.
Enforcement
Responding to complaints of the new fare not being enforced on Monday, transport authorities said that the first two days were set aside for the distribution of the fare chart. Enforcement would begin on Wednesday. There was an indication that some stringent measures might be taken if the drivers refused to operate with the new fare.
But, the authorities also provided a hint that they would not rush into action and that was why the first day did not have visible enforcement. More than 1,000 cards were to have been distributed on Monday.
The 6,000 autorickshaws in the city would be covered by Tuesday night. The distribution of the charts on the first two days was expected to serve as an exercise to prepare the drivers to operate with the new fare.
Digital meters
The transport authorities have given time for the drivers to fix digital meters that will be calibrated to the new fare. Till then, the existing meters calibrated to the old fare of Rs. 7 will have to be used. The vehicles having the old meters will have to use the chart containing the new fares. But, the drivers themselves admitted that the meters in most of the autorickshaws either malfunctioned or did not function at all.
Chennai experience
Official sources said there was scepticism among the authorities over the district’s ability to enforce the new fare. Given the fact that the fare, introduced in Chennai on January 26, was rejected by the autorickshaw drivers, there was no illusion here of the drivers accepting the fare without protest.
President of the Federation of Autorickshaw Workers’ Unions of Coimbatore District P.K. Sukumaran said that around 3,000 drivers would stage a demonstration in the city on Tuesday to protest against the fare. “We cannot accept Rs.14 as the minimum fare. We have asked for Rs.20, only this amount is viable for us,” he said.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Friday, August 17, 2007
Hindu Opportunities Fair at Kochi
Leading companies will be scouting for talent at the Hindu Opportunities Fair to be held on August 18 and 19 at the Assisi Vidyaniketan Public School, Chembumukku, Kakkanad, Kochi. This is the first time the fair is coming to Kochi and candidates will be looking at excellent prospects for employment or re-employment. The fair will have Cognizant as the presenting sponsor, and SFO Technologies as the Associate Sponsor. Aptech is the Training Sponsor and the Raymond Shop, Kochi the Grooming Partner. TMI First is the Technology Partner. Participating companies include Allianz Cornhill Information Services, Allsec Technologies, Aryans Infoway, Assyst International, Calpine Technologies, Cordiant Technologies, Citigroup Information Technology Operations, Ford BPO Services, Genpact, Hages Business Solutions, IDSi Technologies India, Ind Sigma Infotech, Intelenet Global Services, KGISL, Larsen and Toubro, Outsource Partners International, Q First Technologies, Slash Support India, Sutherland Global Services, Tata Elxsi, Visual Graphics Computing Services, Wipro Technologies, Wrench Solutions and Zerone Consulting. More companies are expected to join in. The Hindu Opportunites Fair has so far been conducted four times in Chennai and three times in Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Bangalore and Thiruvananthapuram. The other cities where the fair has been held are Vizag, Madurai and Tiruchi. In the four years since launch of The Hindu Opportunites Fair, over four lakh job seekers have either registered or attended the events .
The number of participating companies has averaged 30. Cognizant has been the Presenting Sponsor for every one of them. The Technology Partner, TMI First, will take care of the registrations and other technical requirements for the fair. The event offers excellent opportunities to candidates with good communication skills. They should be over 20 years of age. Fresh graduates and post graduates from any discipline could come in.
The number of participating companies has averaged 30. Cognizant has been the Presenting Sponsor for every one of them. The Technology Partner, TMI First, will take care of the registrations and other technical requirements for the fair. The event offers excellent opportunities to candidates with good communication skills. They should be over 20 years of age. Fresh graduates and post graduates from any discipline could come in.
Inspection in coimbatore engineering colleges
A second spell of surprise visits to self-financing engineering colleges began on Thursday. Thirty two colleges of the Anna University, Coimbatore, came under the scanner.
“Seventeen teams consisting of faculty members from the Government College of Technology (GCT), Coimbatore, were drawn into the inspection work of the Directorate of Technical Education (DOTE). The teams inspected the colleges in Coimbatore, Erode, and the Nilgiris districts”, P. Ramamoorthy, Principal (In-Charge) of the GCT, told The Hindu.
The teams checked the admission process that began in a few colleges on Thursday.Tuition fee receipts of the new entrants were checked to find out whether they had paid Rs. 32,500 for a non-accredited course and Rs. 40,000 for an accredited course or more.
Dr. Ramamoorthy said the visits would continue on Friday when some more colleges would begin admission process.
“Seventeen teams consisting of faculty members from the Government College of Technology (GCT), Coimbatore, were drawn into the inspection work of the Directorate of Technical Education (DOTE). The teams inspected the colleges in Coimbatore, Erode, and the Nilgiris districts”, P. Ramamoorthy, Principal (In-Charge) of the GCT, told The Hindu.
The teams checked the admission process that began in a few colleges on Thursday.Tuition fee receipts of the new entrants were checked to find out whether they had paid Rs. 32,500 for a non-accredited course and Rs. 40,000 for an accredited course or more.
Dr. Ramamoorthy said the visits would continue on Friday when some more colleges would begin admission process.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Exam schedule for Bharathiar University courses
The annual / semester examinations for undergraduate, postgraduate, B. Ed., M. Ed., M.B.A., M.C.A., postgraduate diploma and MoU courses offered under the School of Distance Education will commence on December 10. Application forms for arrear candidates can be downloaded from the university website www.b-u.ac.in; or can be obtained by sending a self-addressed envelope (22 cms x 12 cms) bearing stamp of Rs. 10, superscribing “Request for SDE Arrear Examination Application Form”. It should be addressed to the Controller of Examinations, BU, Coimbatore – 641046.
Sahitya Akademi prize 2006
A retired bank employee from Kochi has been selected for the Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize 2006, for his Sri ‘Ramacharitmanas’ in Konkani. The award, carrying an inscribed copper plaque and Rs. 20,000 cash, would be presented to 68-year-old K. Anantha Bhat at a function in Hyderabad on August 21. “I took one year, four months and 10 days to complete this work,” he added. The Konkani ‘Sri Ramacharitamanas’, of 500 pages, was released on May 16, 2004.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
CHIL plans for SEZ at Saravanampatti
The Coimbatore Hi-Tech Infrastructure Private Limited (CHIL) has planned to develop 1.2 million sq ft of office space at its Special Economic Zone at Saravanampatti for Information Technology (IT) and IT Enabled Services companies.
The SEZ is an initiative of the KG Information Systems Private Limited (KGISL) on nearly 150 acres.
According to B. Jayamurali, vice-president, Corporate Relations of KGISL, at least three IT majors would have their individual campus at the SEZ, occupying nearly 50 acres. Apart from this, CHIL planned to develop office space for other companies, including a portion of ready-to-occupy space.
This would be available either as multi-tenant or as entire block, according to the requirement of the companies. A couple of companies had confirmed their occupation of space at CHIL’s facility.
He said this would be ready by August next. The SEZ was notified by the Union Government in August 2006 as an IT and ITES sector-specific zone.
The SEZ is an initiative of the KG Information Systems Private Limited (KGISL) on nearly 150 acres.
According to B. Jayamurali, vice-president, Corporate Relations of KGISL, at least three IT majors would have their individual campus at the SEZ, occupying nearly 50 acres. Apart from this, CHIL planned to develop office space for other companies, including a portion of ready-to-occupy space.
This would be available either as multi-tenant or as entire block, according to the requirement of the companies. A couple of companies had confirmed their occupation of space at CHIL’s facility.
He said this would be ready by August next. The SEZ was notified by the Union Government in August 2006 as an IT and ITES sector-specific zone.
Science Park to come up at Bharathiar University
To create a science research environment Bharathiar University will set up a ‘Science Park’ on 100 acres on its premises here.
According to G. Thiruvasagam, Vice-Chancellor of the university, the park will come up in collaboration with local industries and technology from abroad.
It will promote research and development by the university in partnership with the industry and also assist in growth of new ventures of companies.
“The science park will aim to make Vision 2020 a reality. It will be managed by professionals who will strive to promote the culture of innovations and competitiveness of the various companies and the university,” he said.
Separate pavilions
The park would have separate pavilions for Agro Park, Medi Park, Tele Park, Space Age Park and Information Technology Park.
The newly inaugurated School of Life Sciences would oversee the establishment and completion of the park by December 2008.
Former professor V. Selvaraj from the Department of Physics would function as the director of the proposed science park.
According to G. Thiruvasagam, Vice-Chancellor of the university, the park will come up in collaboration with local industries and technology from abroad.
It will promote research and development by the university in partnership with the industry and also assist in growth of new ventures of companies.
“The science park will aim to make Vision 2020 a reality. It will be managed by professionals who will strive to promote the culture of innovations and competitiveness of the various companies and the university,” he said.
Separate pavilions
The park would have separate pavilions for Agro Park, Medi Park, Tele Park, Space Age Park and Information Technology Park.
The newly inaugurated School of Life Sciences would oversee the establishment and completion of the park by December 2008.
Former professor V. Selvaraj from the Department of Physics would function as the director of the proposed science park.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Look Half Your Age
The Royal Classic Group has come out with a brand promotion campaign for its products as part of the Independence Day celebrations.
A release from the company said the campaign, called “Look Half Your Age”, would offer a discount equal to half the customer’s age on a product at all the Royal Classic outlets in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Customers aged between 20 and 60 were eligible for this offer, which would end on August 15.
For instance, a 50-year-old customer will get 25 per cent discount on all purchases made at the Royal Classic outlet.
The Royal Classic stores have Classic Polo branded products, t-shirts, shirts, trousers, cargos, denim, jackets and “Smash” branded inner wear.
T-shirts launched
The release added that the group launched three to four new designs of T-shirts, a couple of shirts and a new trouser design every day. Classic Polo products were also retailed through about 1750 multi brand outlets, shop-in-shops and retail chain stores.
A release from the company said the campaign, called “Look Half Your Age”, would offer a discount equal to half the customer’s age on a product at all the Royal Classic outlets in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Customers aged between 20 and 60 were eligible for this offer, which would end on August 15.
For instance, a 50-year-old customer will get 25 per cent discount on all purchases made at the Royal Classic outlet.
The Royal Classic stores have Classic Polo branded products, t-shirts, shirts, trousers, cargos, denim, jackets and “Smash” branded inner wear.
T-shirts launched
The release added that the group launched three to four new designs of T-shirts, a couple of shirts and a new trouser design every day. Classic Polo products were also retailed through about 1750 multi brand outlets, shop-in-shops and retail chain stores.
Results of the Bharathiar University’s examinations
The results of the Bharathiar University’s examinations held in May by the School of Distance Education were published on Saturday.
According to a release from the Controller of Examinations B. Krishnamurthy, the results of the undergraduate, post-graduate, diploma, MBA, MCA, B. Ed., M. Ed. and all Amrita Bharathi courses’ examinations were published at 9 a.m. Mark sheets would be dispatched to the students from August 20. Candidates could also access their results and marks on the following websites: www.b-u.ac.in, www.sasiads.com, www.camet.edu, www.coimbatore.com, www.covai.com and www.kovainews.com, by typing in their register numbers. The UG and PG diploma course candidates were eligible to apply for revaluation; while all candidates could apply for retotalling. Last date for receipt of filled in applications is August 25.
According to a release from the Controller of Examinations B. Krishnamurthy, the results of the undergraduate, post-graduate, diploma, MBA, MCA, B. Ed., M. Ed. and all Amrita Bharathi courses’ examinations were published at 9 a.m. Mark sheets would be dispatched to the students from August 20. Candidates could also access their results and marks on the following websites: www.b-u.ac.in, www.sasiads.com, www.camet.edu, www.coimbatore.com, www.covai.com and www.kovainews.com, by typing in their register numbers. The UG and PG diploma course candidates were eligible to apply for revaluation; while all candidates could apply for retotalling. Last date for receipt of filled in applications is August 25.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Bosch India plans to invest Rs 250 crore in unit
To realise growth opportunities in the IT and ITES space in the country, Robert Bosch India today announced expanding its facility by investing Rs 250 crore.
The facility would become operational by early 2009, a top executive of the company said on Thursday.
The company has entered into agreement with Coimbatore Hitech Infrastructure Private Limited (CHIL) for about 21.88 acres of land, thus making the expanded facility the first unit in the Special Economic Zone here, Friedhelm Pickhard, Managing Director of Robert Bosch, told reporters here.
Construction would start in the last quarter of the year and the first phase would be inaugurated by early 2009, Pickhard said.
With the associate strength of 550 at present, the new infrastructure would pave way to meet the growing demand and would provide employment opportunities to the locals, thus increasing the number to 2,500, he said.
The company would pump in Rs 250 crore in the facility, which would be working on advanced technologies designing new Electronic Control Unit for diesel and Gasoline engines, and other automotive applications such as portable navigation systems, semi autonomous parking systems and adaptive cruise control, Pickhard said.
CHIL, promoted by KG group, is the first private sector specific SEZ notified by the Centre and would be creating 1.2 million square feet of office by August 2008, providing employment opportunities to nearly 30,000 persons, Ashok Bhakthavatsalam, its Managing Director said.
The facility would become operational by early 2009, a top executive of the company said on Thursday.
The company has entered into agreement with Coimbatore Hitech Infrastructure Private Limited (CHIL) for about 21.88 acres of land, thus making the expanded facility the first unit in the Special Economic Zone here, Friedhelm Pickhard, Managing Director of Robert Bosch, told reporters here.
Construction would start in the last quarter of the year and the first phase would be inaugurated by early 2009, Pickhard said.
With the associate strength of 550 at present, the new infrastructure would pave way to meet the growing demand and would provide employment opportunities to the locals, thus increasing the number to 2,500, he said.
The company would pump in Rs 250 crore in the facility, which would be working on advanced technologies designing new Electronic Control Unit for diesel and Gasoline engines, and other automotive applications such as portable navigation systems, semi autonomous parking systems and adaptive cruise control, Pickhard said.
CHIL, promoted by KG group, is the first private sector specific SEZ notified by the Centre and would be creating 1.2 million square feet of office by August 2008, providing employment opportunities to nearly 30,000 persons, Ashok Bhakthavatsalam, its Managing Director said.
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