Chennai City: get's an additional 700 hospital beds

Chennai city’s public health infrastructure for gentle and child care will see a substantial expansion  very soon. 

fresh buildings at the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (IOG) and Institute of Child Health (ICH) will bring along added beds and better facilities for mothers, newborns and children.

The fresh buildings will add 700 beds to the existing strength of 1,282 beds at the two hospitals. The 169-year-old Government Maternity Hospital, Egmore, attached to IOG, presently has 752 beds and the new six-storey building consists of 400 beds, even as ICH will get 300 beds in addition to its existing 537 beds, said director of medical education, V. Kanagasabai.

“Work on both buildings will be completed soon,” he said. Built on 2,62,000 sq. ft. area, the building at IOG consists of basement, ground and five floors and has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 49.88 crore.

The maternity hospital was established in 1844 on the banks of the Coovum in Chintadripet. It was moved to the present location in Egmore in 1882 due to floods. It was upgraded to an institute in 1952, an officer said.

“From 62 deliveries in 1844, the hospital now performs 18,000 deliveries per year,” he said. The ground floor has been allotted for labour room and postnatal ward consisting of around 150 beds for normal deliveries, while the first floor has post caesarean ward, intensive care unit for mothers, operation theatre and newborn intensive care unit.

The caesarean ward on the second ward will consist of 200 beds, while the antenatal ward on the third floor will have 200 beds. The fourth floor will have 40 beds for assisted reproductive technology, including in-vitro fertilisation and intra cytoplasmic sperm injection. There will be special wards, additional laboratories, faculty rooms, lecture halls, library and auditorium in the fresh structure, officer said.

The building at ICH consists of  8 floors and has come up at a cost of Rs. 18.47 crore. “The construction work has been completed and work to install lifts is going on. There are 7 paediatric units and one floor is being allotted to each unit with 40 beds,” an officer said.

Besides this, the building will have a ward for the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme and an intensive care unit on the ground and first floors, he said.

Donkey’s milk at a standstill in demand in Chennai

To many continue to believe that donkey’s milk boosts protection in newborns; doctors disagree

Vijaya, a resident of Perambur, newly gave her five-day-old great grandson donkey’s milk believing it would clear his throat and cure his cold. She said this was an accepted practice with her family.

Like a Vijaya and her family, many others in the city hold on to this age-old “belief” that donkey’s milk boosts protection and gives clarity of voice to newborns. Doctors decry this practice.

But K. Githa, former professor of neonatology of Madras Medical College, said donkey’s milk had no proven benefits. Many other doctors agree with her. They have come across newborns with complaints of infections due to poor handling of the donkey’s milk administered to them.

“Some say donkey’s milk is the same to mother’s milk but unhygienic handling could lead to infections. I have heard of babies getting aspirated when the milk is compulsorily fed by elders,” V. Kalaivani, superintendent of Government Raja Sir Ramaswamy Mudaliar (RSRM) Lying-in Hospital, said.

“Mothers should feed colostrum (first milk) to their babies. The constituents of donkey’s milk, such as proteins and sugar levels. There are chances of the newborns developing infections. We advise them  do not to give donkey’s milk, sugar water and honey,” Dr. Githa said.

The infections could manifest as diarrhoea important to dehydration especially if the baby was not exclusively breastfed, said T. Srikala Prasad, senior assistant professor of Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children.

The sale of donkey’s milk is now restricted to a few pockets in the city such as Perambur, Royapuram and Mylapore. But the milk is expensive and a few millilitres cost two hundred to four hundred.

The family of Duraikannu, who works at the Chennai Corporation’s dhobi ghat on Veeraperumal Koil Street in Mylapore, sell donkey’s milk regularly. 

“My uncle’s son owns a donkey and we sell milk in the morning. A “paladai” (a small feeding device) of milk costs Rs. 350 to Rs. 400. On certain days, we get 5 customers and there are lean days when we get just two,” he said. He caution that some unscrupulous sellers mixed donkey’s milk with cow’s milk. 

Porkodi from Washermenpet regularly sells donkey’s milk near RSRM Lying-in Hospital in Royapuram in the early on hours of the day. “I milk the animal in front of the buyers. Sometimes, there are 10 customers, mainly from the nearby maternity hospital,” she said. She claimed the milk was good for children distress from fits and cold.

A resident of Mylapore said two families owning donkeys regularly sold the milk on P.S. Sivasamy Salai, Mylapore, but stopped recently. “Several persons used to come for the milk. Some sellers purchase milk from Perambur and sell it here.

Plots Auctioned: Clean industrial plots near Chennai City

The Chennai Metro Development Authority (CMDA) to initiate process in Chithmanur; preference for non-polluting auto ancillary units

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has resolute to initiate the process of auctioning 30 ‘Clean’ industrial plots in Chithmanur, about 45 km from here. The decision was taken at a meeting held past this week.

The size of the plot will range from 1.5 acre to 0.5 acre and the plots are normal to be sold at a price of Rs. 1070 per sq ft. 

Clean industries are classified as those that do not pollute air, water or land resources. “Polluting industries such as leather and pharmaceutical industries will not be allowed in the layout. Auto ancillary industries that do not pollute the neighbourhood will find a place in such layouts,” said a CMDA official. 

Infrastructure, including street lights, roads, storm water drains and sewer network, have been developed in the layout at an estimated cost of Rs. 11 crore. 

CMDA plans to develop more industrial layouts for clean industries along similar lines in other parts of Chennai metropolitan area (CMA). The demand for industrial layouts within the metropolitan area is low and many of the existing plots classified as industrial land use zones have been seeking reclassification of the land for residential and commercial use. A number of builders have been seeking reclassification of industrial land in quickly developing areas such as Perungudi and Ambattur. Such areas have demand only for commercial and residential developments. 

Some other areas such as Kuthambakkam and on the outskirts of the city and within CMA limits have significantly large industrial land use zones.

In order to cope with challenges pertaining to poor response to industrial layouts in CMA, the CMDA will carry out a study on a number of neighbourhoods that have the possible to attract clean industries, sources said.

Clean industries are expected to form a major part of the layouts expected to be developed after the encroachments on 400 acres in Kancheepuram district are cleared. Such layouts are likely to be developed on vacant land belong to the CMDA in areas such as Kattankulathur. 

The CMDA has already developed industrial layouts in localities including Ninnakarai  and Thirukatchur. The last layout was formed by CMDA in Maraimalainagar Sengundram over a decade ago. The CMDA has also sought estrangement of large pieces of government poromboke land in Kancheepuram district for the purpose.

Tamil Govt introduce mini bus service in Chennai

Chennai, October 23:  This is the first of its kind initiative, Tamil Nadu Government CM J Jayalalitha launched 50 ‘Mini bus’(small bus) services in Chennai to connecting  areas without transportation facilities to the near bus stands and railway stations. 

Such a feature, also called the ‘mini bus’ service, is already available in other parts of the Tamil Nadu. 

CM  J. Jayalalithaa flagged off the initiative at a service  here, besides launch 610 new buses for city roads, insisting her Government was faithful to delivering transport services at low costs allowing for that the sector plays a key role in economic growth

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J. Jayalalithaa also gaven pension benefits to 25 retired transport employees and endorsed Rs 257 crore of pension benefits for other retired department employees. 

The ADMK Goverment charged the previous DMK Government with leaving the transport sector ‘on the edge of collapse’ while demitting office in 2011 and said Jayalalitha Government had introduced a slew of  reorganization and revenue-generation process. 

These included replacing old buses with new ones and up gradating services, while the Transport Department had earned Rs 28.13 crore from advertisement revenues, she said.

The Government has set aside Rs 1026 crore to buy 6000 new buses and over 3000 of them had been already purchased and in use, she said. 

With the Central Goverment regularly hiking the price of diesel, Rs 500 crore had been to be paid to the Transport Department this year to meet its ‘financial burden’, though it had not been passed on to the passengers, she add. 

She said a second drinking water plant would be set up at Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur District to draw water for Tamil Nadu Government’s Amma Mineral water scheme, where a litre of bottled water is sell for Rs 10 at bus stands for passengers.

Water scheme was launched last September of this year.

After Cyclone Phailin 18 fishermen reach Chennai

Chennai: 18 Tamil Nadu fishermen, who swam to safety after being caught at sea by cyclone 'Phailin', arrived here on wednesday night.

The fishermen, belongs to Kanyakumari district, were stranded at sea as the cyclone hit Odisha on Saturday. With their boat unable to with stand the rough sea, the fishermen jumped into the sea waters and swam 11 hours to reach shore at Ersama in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha.


They were later taken to the district headquarters after being given first aid, food, drinking water and clothing.

Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa had directed the officials to take the necessary steps to help the fishermens.

The 18 fishermens were first taken to Delhi and, from there, arrived chennai by flight here, Chennai airport sources said.

West Indian Cricket player Bravo's item song in Tamil flick "Ula"

AS well we know west Indian cricketer Dwayne Bravo, who is also an important player of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) IPL team, will dance to a song in a Tamil movie, titled Ula.

he spoke to reporters in Chennai, he said, "Away from home, Chennai makes me feel like I am home. So, I am really grateful to be chosen to be a part of this movie."

He added: "I am really looking forward to it, looking forward to meet new people, looking forward to dancing, and entertaining the people, and I know it's going to be a great success."

On his blogging page, Bravo posted: "Getting ready to start filming for the day, great way to spend my birthday, thanks India! Lights, camera, action time! I am Chennai's newest film star."

Malaysian Airline Malindo enter into Indian sky

Malaysia based Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd is set to fly to Indian destinations as early as next month, to get a piece of the market where its peers, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia Bhd, are enjoying reputable load factors.

The barely 200-day old airline is aiming to begin flying daily to New Delhi and Mumbai by end of November, a source close to the airline told The Malaysian Reserve.

Malindo also aims to fly to three other destinations — Kochi, Chennai and Ahmedabad.

Malindo initially aimed to fly to Kochi and Trichy but has decided to drop Trichy from its immediate expansion plan as “AirAsia is already responding in an aggressive way by offering crazy deals to Trichy,” the source said.

“Malindo thinks this is the best time to expand. Competition will be everywhere, but there’s still space to grow,” the source said.

Malaysian based Malindo airline will operate the Indian flights through its fleet of eight Boeing aircraft.

AirAsia Officials  could not be contacted at press time to comment on Malindo move to India.

Malindo Airlines currently flies Malaysian routes and some international flights to Bali and Jakarta in Indonesia and Dhaka, Bangladesh.

AirAsia may get the heat from Malindo’s Indian flights as Chennai, Kochi and Tiruchirappalli are said to be the no-frills airline’s very strongest Indian routes, while the New Delhi and Mumbai routes were dropped by its sister-airline, AirAsia X in early 2011, citing high operational cost.

The average AirAsia load factor to the three destinations is high, averaging 75%-80%.

However, it is widely expected that AirAsia might be looking to revive the axed New Delhi and Mumbai routes, to establish a strong northern domestic feeder connectivity for the yet-to-be operational AirAsia India.

Malaysia Airlines, on the other hand, operates flights to Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore,kolkata and Kochi among them but the national flag carrier’s brand loyalty, comfort and premium airline service is set to save it from the excess capacity to the subcontinent with Malindo’s entry.

Also Malindo Air is an affiliate of fast-growing Indonesian budget carrier Lion Air and since operations — has stirred the much-monopolised Malaysian aviation market, by offering competitive fares on hot routes with lucrative perks such as free snacks, also luggage allowance and enlarged seat pitches.

Its entry into the market and Malaysia Airlines aggressive selling of seats on its flights has sparked a price war between the Malaysian carriers.

The intensifying competition between Malindo and AirAsia is reported to be part of a wider battle for low-cost carrier dominance between AirAsia and privately held Lion Air, which has placed huge new aircraft orders and plans to use its dominance in Indonesia to expand in Asia.

Drunk Father kills jobless son in Chennai.

CHENNAI: A 58-year-old man stabbed his 33-year-old son to death at Thiru Vi Ka Nagar in north Chennai on Monday night. Police arrested the father, identified as Natarajan.

Police said Kamal alias Yogeshwaran of Paper Mills Road visited his father to celebrate Ayudha Pooja on Monday evening. Natarajan was cutting onions when Kamal reached there. The father questioned the son for remaining jobless, and the duo engaged in an argument over the issue. As the argument continued and suddenly  Natarajan sliced his son's throat with the knife which he used to cutting the onions.

Kamal's mother rushed him to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead.

Kamal's Wife has two daughters.  

Dubai Based Emirates Airlines shifts departures to new international terminal at Chennai airport

CHENNAI: Dubai based Emirates Airlines has moved its operations to the new international terminal at the Chennai airport. Emirates operates three daily flights from Chennai to Dubai, connecting passengers to more than 130 destinations.

The Chennai Airport Departures at the terminal are at level 2, and Emirates' check-in counters are located in the east wing of the terminal and the passengers have to enter through Gate No. 4.

Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Emirates' vice-president, India & Nepal, said: "With its expansive, contemporary design, the new international terminal will offer our passengers greater convenience and exceptional services. The new facility will provide a stimulus to international travel from Chennai and benefit the many international passengers that fly into southern India's largest city on Emirates."

Emirates Airlines operates 21 flights from Chennai to Dubai every week: EK543, leaves Chennai at 4:15am, EK545 departs from Chennai at 9:45am and EK547 leaves Chennai at 9.45pm.  

Japan International Cooperation Agency begins study for Chennai-Bangalore corridor

 Japan International Cooperation Agency

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) along with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), who are the official consultants of the project, on Tuesday announced the launch of the study for the Chennai-Bangalore-Chitradurga corridor.

The study will cover an area of 560 Km spread across  Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, along the corridor between Chennai-Bangalore-Chitradurga and will cost about Rs. 60 crore. The study will help in arriving at the total cost of the project.

The study team will prepare a comprehensive regional perspective plan for the region, along with developing strategy for transforming the region into a globally competitive investment destination through discussions among government/governmental agencies and the private sector of both India and Japan. The study team will also identify suitable nodes to be taken up for industrial development within the target and prepare Master Plan and Development Plan for at least two selected Industrial nodes, along with techno economic feasibility study of early bird projects in the two nodes.

Chief officer of JICA in India developing the infrastructure around CBIC was very important for creating the industrial belt on Chennai - Bangalore corridor."Improved infrastructure is immensely important for attracting investment in the region which will fuel employment and comprehensive development of the whole region,’’ he said.