Latest news with #C.RobertBruce
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
MP's plea to give up plans to merge Anna University's Regional Office with Tirunelveli Government Engineering College
Member of Parliament C. Robert Bruce has appealed to the Minister for Higher Education Govi Chezhiaan not to merge the Anna University's Regional Office here with the Tirunelveli Government Engineering College considering the welfare of the rural students of this region and the teaching and non-teaching staff working there. In a memorandum submitted to the Minister recently, Mr. Bruce said the government was contemplating to merge the Anna University's Tirunelveli Regional Office, which is now offering five courses and Master of Business Administration programme to 393 students, with Tirunelveli Government Engineering College. Though late Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi established it as separate Anna University in 2007 for providing quality education to the rural students with low cut-off marks from southern State, it was later transformed into a 'Regional Office' of Anna University with its headquarters in Chennai by the AIADMK government. Moreover, the AIADMK government also scrapped the postgraduate and the Master of Computer Application courses offered by Anna University's Regional Office. Consequently, 185 students were denied the opportunity of doing their postgraduate programmes and MCA. If this Regional Office is merged with Tirunelveli Government Engineering College, it will badly affect the students being trained under the Chief Minister's 'Naan Mudhalvan' scheme. Moreover, the merger will also affect 70 non-teaching staff working in the Regional Office now. Above all, the 33 research guides of Anna University's Regional Office including 20 women will have to be transferred to some other colleges and it will deny the students, especially the women, hoping of doing their Ph.D. in Tirunelveli. Hence, the State government, should allow the Anna University's Regional Office to function here as separate entity and reintroduce the MCA and other postgraduate programmes, Mr. Bruce appealed.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tirunelveli MP seeks introduction of additional overnight train to Chennai
C. Robert Bruce, MP, has appealed to the Southern Railway General Manager R.N. Singh to introduce a shadow Nellai Express train to connect Tirunelveli with Chennai as the existing service, which is serving the people for more than 50 years, has a heavy rush every day. Moreover, the MP has also reminded the General Manager of the earlier promise of extending the Bengaluru – Madurai Vande Bharat Express to Tirunelveli. In a petition submitted to Mr. Singh at the MPs meeting in Madurai on Thursday, Mr. Bruce said that due to unavailability of accommodation in Nellai Express, people are forced to travel in omni buses which collect a hefty fare. Hence, a second overnight train should be operated on the Tirunelveli -Chennai route. Moreover, the tri-weekly Shencottai – Tambaram and Nagercoil – Tambaram tri-weekly express trains should be operated every day as the existing train services operated from Nagercoil and Shencottai to Chennai are generating a huge revenue to Indian Railways with good occupancy. During his visit to Tirunelveli on September 20 last, the General Manager had promised to extend the Madurai – Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express to Tirunelveli, which is yet to be fulfilled. Besides the extension, this train should skip Tiruchi so as to enable the passengers to reach Bengaluru three hours in advance. Since the Tambaram – Tiruchi – Madurai – Tirunelveli – Nagercoil section has become fully electrified double line, the Tiruchi – Thiruvananthapuram Intercity Express may be extended to Tambaram with minor adjustments in timings and increased speed. The Ernakulam – Okha bi-weekly train should be extended to Tirunelveli or Thoothukudi via Shencottai for serving the passengers of Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts. In the wake of consecration of Tiruchendur Lord Subramaniya Swami Temple to be held in July 2025, the Southern Railway should create more amenities in Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur railway stations besides operating additional trains of Kollam – Tiruchendur via Punalur, Shencottai and Tirunelveli; Thiruvananthapuram North to Tiruchendur via Nagercoil and Tirunelveli; Palani to Tiruchendur via Tirupparankundram; and Tiruttani to Tiruchendur via Villupuram, Swamimalai and Tirupparankundram. Weekly circular trains may be operated to connect all six abodes of Lord Muruga for the benefit of devotees. The Madurai – Punalur Express should be extended to Karaikal via Dindigul, Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam so that pilgrims from southern districts can easily reach Tirunallar Saneeswaran Temple, Velankanni Church and Nagore Dargah. The Thiruvananthapuram – Tirunelveli Train via Nagercoil, which was discontinued in mid-1980s, should be revived with revised timings. The Kanniyakumari – Chennai Central Express, which was operated via Katpadi, Jolarpet and Salem prior to gauge conversion, is now being operated via Tiruchi and Vriddhachalam. Hence, this train should be revived and the railways must upgrade the weekly Chennai Central – Nagercoil Express as a tri-weekly service via Madurai, Dindigul, Namakkal, Karur and Salem without touching Tiruchi. Since the air-conditioned buses being operated by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation between Nagercoil and Tirunelveli enjoy 100% occupancy round-the-clock, MEMU services should be operated between Thiruvananthapuram and Tirunelveli via Nagercoil, the petition read.
The Hindu
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
DISHA meeting reviews development schemes being implemented in Tirunelveli
Member of Parliament C. Robert Bruce reviewed the progress of various development schemes, which are being implemented in the district with Central funding at the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting held here on Tuesday. As the Ministry of Rural Development is implementing 34 types of development schemes such as Prime Minister's Housing Scheme, Swachch Bharat Movement, Jal Jeevan Scheme, Prime Minister's Rural Development Scheme, MP Local Area Development Scheme, Tamil Nadu State Rural Livelihood Programme, National Agro Development Programme, Prime Minister's Crop Insurance Scheme, etc., in the rural areas of each district, the implementation and the progress of these schemes were reviewed at the meeting. The welfare and the development schemes, which are being implemented in the district through social welfare, school education, integrated child development, consumer protection, industries, differently abled welfare and highways departments were also reviewed at the meeting. Mr. Bruce, after reviewing the progress of the works and the welfare schemes, urged the officials to expedite the works. 'We have the responsibility of executing all these works within the stipulated deadline with superior quality so that the target groups will benefit at the right time,' Mr. Bruce said. The MP also exhorted the officials to identify the right beneficiaries while enrolling so as to improve their livelihood with the assistance from the government. 'If we play our role effectively, we can transform and rejuvenate their living conditions. They can start their livelihood activities with our assistance and guidance, which will bail them out from poverty,' he said. District Collector R. Sukumar, Tirunelveli Corporation Commissioner N.O. Sukhaputra, Mayor G. Ramakrishnan, Project Director of District Rural Development Agency Saravanan, Project Director of Mahalir Thittam Lakkuvan and senior officials of various government departments were present at the meeting.
