Latest news with #Polytechnic
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
‘Dust corridors', crumbling footpaths spell civic mess in Lucknow
LUCKNOW After persistent rain in the state capital, roads are reflecting civic apathy -- many have become narrow and difficult for commuters to tread on, due to potholes, dust, cave-ins, open dumping of waste and other factors. This is despite Lucknow securing the third rank among the cleanest cities in the country in the million-plus population category in the Swachh Shahar Awards 2024-2025. After continuous rain in Lucknow, condition of roads deteriorated, resulting in a 'cloud of dust', near Lohia Park crossing in Lucknow. (Deepak Gupta/HT Photo) As rain continues to lash the city, multiple footpaths have reportedly become vulnerable to cave-ins, roads have disintegrated, many drains remain uncovered and exposed electric wires dangle dangerously from streetlight poles - all pointing to negligence and poor groundwork by municipal authorities. With incidents of injuries and close calls being reported from several zones, commuters face the hazards of crumbling civic infrastructure. Even visits of ministers, bureaucrats and the municipal commissioner have made little difference to the ground situation. A PWD official revealed that road repair work on the Lohia stretch had begun. Negligence in Vibhuti Khand HT's ground checks on Tuesday and Wednesday revealed that some newly built or repaired footpaths caved in after just a few days of rainfall, exposing the substandard construction carried out by civic authorities. In Vibhuti Khand, on the road leading to the Shaheed Path underpass, just opposite Kisan Bazaar, large sections of the footpath have collapsed. Despite being a high-traffic zone, no barricading, warning signs or preventive measures are in place. Waterlogging in the area further obscures the caved-in sections, putting pedestrians and two-wheeler riders at high risk. 'It's a death trap. One mis-step during rain or while walking in low visibility and anyone can fall. Authorities didn't even bother to place barricades,' said Satish Verma, a shopkeeper in the area. Another damaged stretch lies on the road connecting Vibhuti Khand to the IGP intersection, an important route used by thousands daily. Here too, footpaths have caved in at multiple places, and once again, the absence of any safety measures signals gross apathy. Ironically, the area's corporator resides a few metres from both locations, but no remedial action has been taken so far. VIP routes or dust corridors? The rain-hit city isn't just battling showers, but also fighting dust. The road from the Chief Minister's residence to the Polytechnic intersection via Samta Mulak and Lohia Path has become a dust corridor. The top layer of the road has eroded within four days of rain, leaving behind exposed gravel and crater-like potholes. As the rain subsided, thick clouds of dust began rising — causing respiratory discomfort and poor visibility for commuters. On Tuesday and Wednesday, HT witnessed hundreds of two-wheeler riders using scarves, handkerchiefs and even bare hands to cover their faces. 'The dust feels like a sandstorm. I can't breathe properly, and it's getting into my eyes and nose,' said Ritu Pandey, a commuter from Gomti Nagar. Open drains, live wires Open manholes, uncovered drains and exposed live wires are also a hazard. Many roads, especially in Indira Nagar, Aliganj and Gomti Nagar, have broken patches where rainwater has accumulated in open manholes. Worse still, no visible markings or barricades have been placed by authorities. Streetlight poles across multiple areas also have loose or exposed electrical wiring. Residents fear that a single spark or short circuit during rains could cause fatal accidents. On August 4, HT highlighted a cave-in that occurred during the third day of rainfall in a residential area under the Madiaon police station limits. LMC officials attributed the cave-in to a water pipeline leak and claimed to have barricaded the area. However, locals said the repair response came late and the barricades were not sufficient to prevent accidents. When HT brought these issues to the attention of state finance minister and city in-charge Suresh Khanna, he admitted the severity of the situation. 'We want Lucknow to stay on the merit list of clean cities. I will instruct municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar to take immediate action. Life and safety come first,' said Khanna. He added: 'I inspect four wards every month to monitor sanitation and infrastructure and give orders as per the visit.' When HT questioned about the footpath collapses and open drains, mayor Sushma Kharkwal claimed this year saw less waterlogging than last year. 'If there are footpaths that have caved in, I will get them inspected and repaired. For manholes and road issues, please send pictures and addresses. We will act,' she said. The mayor also admitted that many drains were left uncovered this monsoon due to delays in cover installations. 'We could not get drain covers made this season, but we'll fix them post-monsoon,' she added. Municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar, when contacted, said he couldn't confirm whether the cave-ins were directly due to rain. However, he assured that once HT shared pictures and area names, the civic body would initiate inspections. However, many residents feel disillusioned after seeing Lucknow being celebrated for cleanliness in the national rankings just weeks ago. 'It's a joke. Just four days of rain and everything collapses. Is this the third-cleanest city in India?' questioned Anjali Singh, a commuter who was present in Gomti Nagar when HT visited the place. 'We're tired of hollow statements and photo-ops. We need safety, not speeches.'
The Star
27-07-2025
- The Star
Public transport users feel safer with seat belt ruling
The wearing of seat belts is now compulsory in express and tour buses. — Filepic THE enforcement of seat belt use for passengers and drivers on express and tour buses nationwide has received positive feedback. A French tourist, who wished to be known as Farida and was travelling around the country with her husband and three daughters, gave it a thumbs up. 'In our country, it is not mandatory to wear seat belts on city buses and as such, we forgot to fasten up when we arrived in Malaysia. 'It is always good to use the seat belt as it can save lives,' she told StarMetro while waiting for a bus at the Larkin Sentral bus terminal in Johor Baru. Human resource executive Yap See Wei, who commutes between Johor Baru and her workplace in Singapore, described it as a positive step. 'Wearing a seat belt can ensure passengers are not flung out in the event of an accident. 'I always fasten my seat belt, especially for long-distance travel.' She also suggested that stricter action be taken against repeat offenders. Polytechnic student S. Theivaanaath, who was travelling back to Seremban with his sister after a term break, also welcomed the enforcement. Yap (left), pictured with her sister says she feels safer now that the seat belt ruling has been enforced. 'I think it is for everyone's safety. When we wear seat belts, we can reduce the chances of serious injuries or death during an accident. 'Even the bus driver wore a seat belt and reminded us, too. 'So, I think the enforcement is working,' he said, adding that it should be continuous. Universiti Kuala Lumpur student Siti Noorsyahirah Mohammad Yusof said authorities should focus on the conduct of bus drivers. 'I take long-distance express buses weekly to return to my hometown in JB and I have seen drivers playing games, making loud video calls at night on their phones and even hurling insults at other motorists. 'Passengers can be fined for not wearing seat belts but what about the drivers? 'Shouldn't they face stricter consequences since they are the ones who drive recklessly and cause accidents?' She also shared her frightening experience during a trip returning from her campus in Kuala Lumpur to Johor Baru. 'We were all sleeping when suddenly, there was a strong, burning smell. 'A passenger at the back started shouting to alert the driver. 'At first, he ignored it. Only after a while did he stop to check on the vehicle's condition. 'Everyone had been worried that the bus would catch fire if the driver did not stop to inspect the source of the burning smell.' It was reported that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) had enforced the installation and use of seat belts for all express and tour buses starting July 1. This is in line with Motor Vehicles (Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems) Regulations 1978 Amendment (2008). For the first offence of not wearing a seat belt, the fine is RM2,000 or a jail term of not more than six months.
Daily Tribune
14-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
First in Bahrain: Polytechnic Supply Chain Accredited
TDT | Manama Bahrain Polytechnic has become the first educational institution in the Kingdom to receive international accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) for its Master of Science in Supply Chain Management programme. The globally recognised endorsement positions Bahrain Polytechnic as a regional leader in the field, reaffirming its commitment to high-quality, market-aligned education in one of the world's most critical sectors. Rigorous Standards Met The accreditation followed a comprehensive review by CIPS, which assessed the programme against its global standards for procurement and supply education. This included evaluation of the curriculum, quality assurance systems, faculty qualifications, student support mechanisms, and infrastructure. Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin, CEO of Bahrain Polytechnic, said the milestone demonstrated the institution's strategic focus on equipping students with practical, globally relevant skills. 'This is a testament to our deep commitment to providing high-quality education that is directly aligned with labour market needs, not only in Bahrain but also regionally and internationally,' he said. 'This accomplishment opens up broader opportunities for our graduates and enhances the Polytechnic's capacity to support Bahrain's economic vision.' International Recognition CIPS Regional Director for Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific, Sam Achampong, said the recognition reflected the Polytechnic's strong alignment with international benchmarks. 'This accreditation clearly demonstrates their dedication to excellence and their alignment with CIPS Global Standard,' he said. 'It's truly inspiring to see this new partner in our region committed to developing the next generation of highly skilled procurement and supply chain professionals.' Graduate Advantage Dr Lorraine Cowley, Head of the School of Logistics, said the endorsement would offer graduates substantial employability benefits and help fast-track their path toward becoming MCIPS-certified professionals.
Channel 4
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Channel 4
Russian transport minister found dead after sacked by Putin
At least one person has been killed and more than 70 others were injured in a series of Russian drone attacks this morning on Ukraine's second city of Kharkiv – other cities also came under attack including Zaporizhzhia where the Polytechnic university was badly damaged. Meanwhile in Moscow a Russian government minister has mysteriously died.
Otago Daily Times
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Game on
Emerson Davies. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON Logan Park High School year 12 student Emerson Davies, 16, holds a laptop at the 2025 Otago Polytechnic Game Jam yesterday. Polytechnic department of information technology principal lecturer Grayson Orr said the participants had two days to develop a game from scratch that included prompts. The prompts were "green", "floating island" and "villain". This year was the biggest game jam yet with 33 participants with eight groups. Emerson said he was having a lot of fun learning about game development and was considering a career in information technology. His group developed a game in which a frog's parents had been kidnapped by a fly and he had to rescue them.
