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Time of India
05-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
Piped natural gas is changing lives in Coimbatore
Coimbatore: Around 4,000 residents in the district are now free from the hassle of booking liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders and waiting for their delivery, thanks to Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), which has started providing them with piped natural gas (PNG). "Switching to piped natural gas has made our lives so much easier," says K Malathi, of Vellalore, who has been using PNG for the past 10 months. "Earlier, my husband and I, both working, had to wait uncertainly for the delivery of LPG cylinders. We also had to depend on delivery boys to carry the cylinder to our apartment on the first floor. Now, we don't face that hassle." For the same cost as an LPG cylinder that lasted about three months, the couple says their PNG supply comfortably lasts for four months. "It's more convenient, and saves us time and effort," says Malathi. The IOCL has laid a network of underground steel pipelines for 103 kilometres in the district from the City Gas Station (CGS) at Pichanur near Madukkarai. It draws gas from Kochi to efficiently deliver natural gas to residential areas. "Residents in areas such as Vellalore, Malumichampatti, Kaniyur and Arasur were provided connections within a year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Key to a Healthier Heart (Most People Ignore) Undo In the next two months, supply is expected to begin at Cheran Ma Nagar, Kalapatti, Vilankurichi and Nehru Nagar. Next phase will cover Saravanampatti, Chinnavedampatti and Vellakinaru areas. Our plan is to provide at least three lakh connections across the district by the end of 2030," said an IOCL official. PNG consists of more than 90% methane and is a lighter fuel, he says. "In the event of a leakage, it evaporates into the air. For safety purposes, the pipeline is equipped with a safety valve every kilometre." IOCL offers three schemes for domestic customers, with billing based on meter readings every 60 days. Customers are not allowed to make cash payments either for new connections or regular billing. Only online payments are accepted through UPI, debit/credit cards, net banking and mobile wallets. IOCL has also started supplying PNG to industries. A Jaganathan, manager of a firm at Malumichampatti that makes SAARC cases, military cases and roto-moulded protective cases, says the burner pressure in PNG is higher compared to LPG, which is an advantage for their operations. "When we used LPG, the low pressure often led to production losses. In contrast, PNG provides high pressure along with an uninterrupted 24x7 supply. There is no need to maintain an inventory of LPG cylinders, and maintenance issues are significantly reduced. Gas consumption is also lower with PNG, making it at least 12% to 15% more cost-effective" he says. According to the IOCL officer, three industries have already been provided connections. "Six industries at Arasur are expected to be connected in the coming days. PNG connections will also be extended to educational institutions, hotels and bakeries in a phased manner."
New Indian Express
25-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Paramedical students demand probe into credentials of institute in Coimbatore
COIMBATORE: The district administration has been urged to conduct a probe into the university affiliation of a paramedical institute located near Kinathukadavu on the outskirts of Coimbatore city. Students claimed it lacks recognition from any university in the state or outside. At least 50 paramedical students on Thursday petitioned the district collector, urging the district administration to inquire whether their institute has valid recognition. They petitioned the collector after the college administration failed to conduct the exams. K Malathi (name changed), a student in Trichy district, told TNIE that the college, established in 2022 as an institute of medical science offers 18 paramedical and nursing courses and currently has around 250 students. "During admission in 2023, the authorities stated that the college has approval from a university in Rajasthan. Believing this, I enrolled in a four-year course. A first-semester exam was conducted, and the results were released on a private website. A second-semester exam was also conducted, but the results were never published," she alleged. "During the second year, college authorities, despite claiming exams would be conducted, failed to hold examinations for the third and fourth semesters. The institute has only eight teaching faculty and the principal has not been appointed. Students, who pay around Rs 60,000 to Rs 80,000 to the college, doubt whether the college was operating with proper recognition. Even when we asked about it, college authorities gave no reply," she said.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Tamil Nadu govt urged to set up competitive exams coaching centre in Coimbatore
COIMBATORE: Aspirants preparing for UPSC, TNPSC, railways, banking and SSC examinations have urged the Tamil Nadu govt to establish a free coaching centre in Coimbatore. The free coaching centre, established by the govt at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in March 2023, was later shifted to the Government Arts College and eventually shut down. "No further steps were taken to resume classes. We don't know the reason for the closure," said an aspirant. Currently, aspirants make use of the RS Puram Central Library and the Knowledge and Study Centre in Aadis Street in Ward 83 of the Coimbatore Corporation's central zone. Around 300–350 aspirants, many from rural backgrounds, use these facilities daily to prepare for competitive exams. However, the city lacks a dedicated free coaching centre that provides structured guidance and access to study materials, according to them. "Many students preparing in libraries are from rural areas. If we had access to free coaching, many of us could clear exams in one or two attempts. Without proper guidance on what to study, current trends and updated data, preparation takes longer," said D Prakash of Sulur. "Those from Tamil medium backgrounds struggle to find materials and notes in Tamil. A coaching centre would help bridge this gap. It would foster a community of aspirants, facilitating peer learning. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo We need a permanent centre offering structured, year-round preparation, expert guidance, study materials, mock tests and discussion sessions. This would significantly improve the pass percentage from Coimbatore," said K Malathi of Saibaba Colony. When contacted, district collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar said, "We are working on a plan to revive the govt coaching centre. We are currently looking for a suitable location. We aim to bring in a dedicated team and resource persons for coaching and guidance. A detailed plan will be announced and implemented within a month." Corporation commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran said tenders had been invited to establish two Mudhalvar Padaippagams in the west and north zones. 'There is a growing demand for such study centres. Also, we are identifying additional spaces within the city limits to set up more study centres for competitive exam aspirants. Providing coaching facilities in these centres is under consideration," he added.
