Madurai Readers Mail

It is disturbing to see devotees discarding used clothes into the sea after performing rituals at several locations in and around Rameswaram, including Pamban, Thangachimadam and Dhanushkodi.

This practice not only pollutes the marine ecosystem but also affects the sanctity of these pilgrimage centres. Merely erecting warning boards may not be sufficient. The local administration should step up enforcement and also undertake sustained awareness programmes, including announcements and meetings at temples, to sensitise devotees to the environmental consequences of such actions and encourage responsible behaviour.

K. Natarajan,

Tahsildar Nagar.

Illegal parking

The haphazard and illegal parking of share autos right opposite the Government Rajaji Hospital at Goripalayam has once again become a serious threat to pedestrians and motorists.

Taking advantage of the ongoing Goripalayam flyover construction and the reduced deployment of traffic police at the junction, share auto drivers are parking their vehicles indiscriminately, causing congestion and endangering public safety.

Hospital visitors, patients, and emergency vehicles are the worst affected.

More worryingly, residents have expressed concerns about the sale of ganja at the very spot where these autos are illegally parked, raising serious law-and-order and safety issues.

The city administration must take immediate and sustained action against errant share auto drivers and ensure that the area opposite Government Rajaji Hospital remains safe, orderly, and free from traffic violations and illegal activities.

M. Jeyaram,

Sholavandan.

Passenger hardship

A large number of people travel daily by train between Madurai and Chennai, and most lower- and middle-income passengers can afford only non-AC sleeper class. However, Southern Railway recently introduced a special Pongal festival train between Kanniyakumari and Tambaram on January 13 and 20 with 18 AC III-tier coaches alone.

During festival seasons, passengers are often left with no option but to travel in AC coaches at exorbitant last-minute fares. This causes hardship to elderly travellers, who also find AC travel uncomfortable during the winter months.

Railway authorities should introduce more superfast trains with adequate sleeper-class coaches on a permanent basis to ensure affordable and comfortable travel for all sections of passengers.

T.R. Pratap Chandran,

Villapuram.