Latest news with #K.Kathirmathiyon
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Concerns over Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules permitting hoardings in violation of road safety norms
Concerns have been raised over provisions in the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023, which permit advertisements on medians, flyovers, barricades, and vehicles, allegedly in violation of Indian Road Congress (IRC) safety norms and earlier High Court directions. Rule 322(1) of the Rules allow hoardings and display materials to be installed on a range of public infrastructure, including flyover pillars, road medians, traffic barricades, streetlight poles, and moving vehicles fitted with digital screens. According to IRC 46:1972, advertisements are not permitted within 100 metres of road junctions (50 metres in urban areas), within 10 metres from the edge of the carriageway, or within the right-of-way of highways. Hanging banners across roads and flashing or moving-light advertisements—except for public information—are also prohibited. K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, said the rule overlooks long-standing safety restrictions and judicial orders. 'Advertisements are being permitted in zones considered hazardous under IRC guidelines. These include areas near junctions, along highways, and even directly above carriageways,' he said. 'The rules must be withdrawn in their present form and redrafted in full compliance with IRC guidelines. Road safety cannot be compromised for the sake of revenue. We have urged the government to ensure that future regulations are framed with safety as the primary consideration,' he added. 'In earlier court proceedings in 2011, 2016, and 2017, the State itself acknowledged that advertisements on medians and barricades posed risks to drivers. Despite those submissions, the present rule reintroduces such practices. The High Court had also held that barricades should not be used for commercial advertisements, allowing only informative materials.' He further raised concern over the shift in licensing authority from District Collectors to urban local body officials, stating that it had resulted in reduced oversight and an increase in violations. The rules have been criticised for prioritising local body revenue over road safety, without consulting transport authorities. The Madras High Court has admitted the public interest litigation and directed officials to respond within eight weeks. Corporation officials said the matter will be looked into.
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Mammoth UGD charges upset Coimbatore residents
Residents across Coimbatore city are reporting alarmingly high Under Ground Drainage (UGD) user charges on the civic body's online payment portal, with demands for some properties extending into lakhs of rupees. Coimbatore Corporation had recently passed a resolution stipulating revised monthly UGD user charges, to be assessed based on the size of buildings. As per the revised structure, residential buildings up to 600 are to be charged ₹120 per month; 601 to 1,200 at ₹150; 1,201 to 1,800 at ₹180; 1,801 to 3,500 at ₹210; 3,501 to 5,000 at ₹250; 5,001 to 10,000 at ₹280; and properties above 10,000 at ₹300 per month. However, several residents have discovered significantly inflated figures on the citizen web portal, where property taxes are also managed. P. Srinivasan, a resident of Gandhipark, said, 'The Corporation recently provided me with the UGD connection book, similar to property and water tax documents. Although no payment demand was explicitly made, I checked my account online and was shocked. My building falls within the 1,801 to 3,500 slab, which, as per the newly proposed ₹210 per month, would only amount to approximately ₹22,680 from 2017 to 2025. Yet, the portal shows a demand of ₹3,30,000.' A similar situation was reported by a resident in Nanjundapuram. For an 1,100 sqft building, the expected charge for nine years (at ₹150 per month) should be ₹16,200. However, the total displayed demand was ₹1,36,000. K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of the Coimbatore Consumer Cause, emphasised the need for clarity. 'The State government must clarify the basis on which these charges are calculated, as there is a complete lack of transparency. Given that there were no regular monthly charges for paid UGD previously, when the civic body begins collection, it should be well-prepared to avoid such errors,' he stated. According to a senior Corporation official, any reported discrepancies will be investigated. They aim to ascertain if these are isolated cases or part of a wider problem, with steps taken to resolve them.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Excess fare: warrants issued against MD of TNSTC, Coimbatore, and RTO, Coimbatore North
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Coimbatore, has issued warrants against the Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Coimbatore, and the Regional Transport officer, Coimbatore North, for failure to comply with an order passed on February 15, 2018, in a case of collection of excess fare lodged by Coimbatore Consumer Cause. An execution petition filed by K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary, Coimbatore Consumer Cause, during November 2023, cited the dismissal of an appeal made against the order by the State Consumer Commission and also a review petition in 2023. During 2018, three years after he had filed a case before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Coimbatore, the complainant was refunded the excess fare of ₹6 charged from him for to and fro travel between Vadavalli and Railway Station, along with ₹6,500 towards legal expenses. The petitioner had called for deposit of the excess fare collected during the three-year period in the Chief Minister Relief Fund. The TNSTC, Coimbatore, and the Regional Transport Officer, Coimbatore North, had paid the costs and the TNSTC, Coimbatore, had also deposited the fine of ₹ 10,000 along with interest at 9% for three years amounting to ₹ 7,532 to the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund. A copy of the order was sent to the Chief Secretary and to the Transport Commissioner of Tamilnadu Government to stop such excess collection. However, the TNSTC had claimed that the details of collection from 2015 to 2018 had been destroyed, and, hence, could not file the statement of excess collection. The Hon'ble Commission had, in its verdict cited the Government Rule mandating all the State Transport Corporations to preserve money value documents at least for a minimum period of 8 years as stipulated in the Companies Act 1956. The TNSTC, Coimbatore, had violated the Rule and the order of this Commission, Mr. Kathirmathiyon had contended in his executive petition. The bailable warrants were issued under Section 72 of Consumer Protection Act 2019.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Commuters urge Coimbatore Corporation to provide bus shelters at all stops in the city
Commuters, who rely on public transport in the city have urged the Coimbatore Corporation to install shelters at all the bus stops, stating that waiting under the scorching sun is difficult, especially for elderly people and children. According to sources in the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, there are over 450 bus stops within the Corporation limits. Several of these do not have shelters. 'There are many bus stops on Selvapuram Road without shelters. Standing under the hot sun is difficult, especially for elderly people and children,' said P. Thangamani, a commuter. K. Kathirmathiyon, a civic activist, said, 'The Corporation seems to favour advertisers. In many places, additional bus shelters have been erected to increase advertisement space, even though permission has been granted for only one shelter. The Corporation can remove these extra structures and shift them to places that do not have shelters. This would benefit the public and reduce costs. Even in front of the railway station, there are no shelters, though large crowds gather there with luggage. In the past, there have been instances where former District Collectors directed the Corporation to remove such excess shelters and relocate them. New shelters could then be erected, if necessary.' According to Corporation Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran, around 150 new bus shelters are planned to be installed at various stops under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The project is estimated to cost ₹12 crore and will be funded through a combination of Corporation general funds and private investment. Currently, the project is in the tendering stage. In the meantime, to address immediate needs due to the summer heat, temporary arrangements such as installing green shade nets at bus stops lacking shelters will be considered, based on public requests..
