Latest news with #SuratMunicipalCorporation
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Surat CP invokes PASA against 14, including ex-councillor
Surat: Surat police commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut has invoked the Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA) against 14 persons, including three-term Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) councillor Prakash Desai. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The former councillor, who was accused in three FIRs filed by Udhna police for , was shifted to the Rajkot jail after the PASA order. Desai was first arrested by Surat special operations group (SOG) police for allegedly accepting extortion money at his house. The complainant reportedly recorded a video of Desai in the act. According to police, Desai would 'misuse' the Right to Information (RTI) Act and would lodge complaints with the SMC to extort money from businessmen, traders and school owners, threatening them with the demolition of their properties. Desai previously served three terms as an independent councillor from the Udhna ward. In addition to Desai, the history-sheeter Sajid Kothari, alias Sajju Kothari, was also booked under PASA and sent to Bhuj jail. Kothari has a criminal history involving 35 cases, including attempted murder, extortion, abduction, rioting, Arms Act violations, prohibition offences and gambling. This is the seventh time Kothari has been jailed under PASA. He has also been charged under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GujCTOC) Act twice and was previously externed from Surat due to his alleged criminal activities. The others booked under PASA are history-sheeters Rajuram Bishnoi, Shravan Bishnoi, Dipak Yadav, Sunil Sadashiv, Shana Parveen Shaikh, Mehul Parmar, Durgesh Sinh, Alpesh Lashkari, Jitu Tank, Dilip Rathod, Mahesh Nayka and Rizwan Khan. These persons have been shifted to jails in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Bhuj and Mehsana.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Saral pass is back! QR cards replace old system
Surat: The city civic body has resumed the Saral bus pass scheme, which had been suspended for nearly six months since Dec 2024. The service now operates through a prepaid card with a QR code, which will be scanned and verified by bus conductors. Previously, the Saral pass was issued via a Money Card managed by a private bank for Surat Municipal Corporation's (SMC) bus service provider, Siti Link Ltd. However, due to technical issues, the service was halted. "Since the services were suspended, regular Saral pass users were deprived of its benefits. Therefore, we have introduced a new system based on a prepaid card," said Somnath Marathe, chairman of the Public Transport Committee, SMC. The earlier system had around 1 lakh registered users, of which approximately 18,000 were regular commuters. With the service now restarted, these regular users will gradually regain access to the benefits. The majority of users are students, who can obtain the pass for Rs 1,000 per year. The same rate applies to women and senior citizens. Workers holding a Shramik card are eligible for a free pass, supported by govt and SMC subsidies. Since its launch in 2020, the Saral pass has gained popularity due to its affordability and convenience. "We received numerous requests from users to restart the Saral pass service. Although it was suspended due to technical issues, we have now relaunched it with an alternative system developed by SMC," Marathe added.
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
SMC's new HMIS has handled 89,119 patients so far
Surat: Hospitals run by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) have transitioned to a paperless system for patient handling. Patients no longer need to carry physical case papers as their records are maintained digitally. Since its virtual inauguration on May 27 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the new Hospital Management and Information System (HMIS) has been implemented at Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research (SMIMER), Maskati Hospital and 30 urban health centres (UHC). A total of 81,555 outpatients, 1,984 inpatients and 5,580 emergency patients have been handled using the system. SMC health officials say the system will significantly aid hospital managements and patients alike. "We can not only monitor the health scenario over a dashboard, but also provide better health services. We will be able to plan various actions as the data is readily available," an SMC health official said. The HMIS, which cost Rs 38 crore, was implemented in municipal corporation-run hospitals to improve health services through information technology. The initiative focuses on enhancing speed, transparency and efficiency of healthcare services. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Good News: You May Be Richer Than You Think Undo "A patient does not need to carry a medical prescription on paper and save it for future use. It is available on the patient's mobile or by entering the patient's ID at our network hospitals," an official said. Medical records were digitized to create a central database for more streamlined services. The system is being implemented under the Smart Cities Mission at city hospitals and UHCs. It includes digital OPD/IPD registration, electronic health records, pharmacy management, operation theatre management, ICU management, detailed records of diagnostic tests, and others. It will also feature a Picture Archival and Communication System (PACS) for digital storage of radiological images such as sonography and X-rays, 3D viewing and archiving for future reference. Additionally, the Queue Management System (QMS) will provide token-based queue management for patient convenience at SMIMER Hospital. The project includes an e-Health mobile app through which patients can access health records, blood reports, prescriptions and other important information on mobile phones. "This system will connect all healthcare institutions of the SMC with a central database, ensuring seamless treatment for patients and preventing duplication of data. It will result in a quick treatment and discharge process," said an SMC official. Instant availability of a patient's medical history, reports and treatment details allows doctors to make faster and better decisions. With IT systems, tasks such as report generation and discharge processes are accelerated, leading to better healthcare services. Through the mobile app, patients can view billing and treatment cost details as well. Other system features such as dashboards and MIS reports related to health centres and hospital services will allow the monitoring of various service parameters. The availability and analysis of data on treatment, medication, care needs and patient trends will help the health department and SMC plan, improve healthcare services and prepare the necessary medical resources in advance. Patients will receive an E-Health Card and Unique Health ID (UHID). The UHID provided to each patient will allow tracking of health information across SMC facilities.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Seven more test positive for Covid-19 in city, active cases touch 39
Surat/Vadodara: Seven more people tested positive for Covid-19 in the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) area on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases to 89, with 39 active cases. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The cases include senior citizens, a judge, and returning travellers, though all are reported to be in stable condition. Seven are hospitalised, of whom two require oxygen support. Among the newly infected is a 77-year-old retired male from Vesu with a history of high blood pressure, currently under home isolation care. A 71-year-old homemaker from Ghoddod Road, who has both thyroid and blood pressure issues, is also being treated at home and is stable. A 38-year-old female judge from Athwalines, who recently returned from Dwarka on May 25, tested positive. She is under home isolation and responding well to treatment. Other cases include a 24-year-old employed male from Lal Darwaja with a thyroid condition, a 52-year-old diabetic male from Palanpur Jakatanaka, a 40-year-old homemaker from Varachha who returned from Uttar Pradesh on May 25, and a 56-year-old diabetic female social worker from Parle Point who returned from Kolhapur on June 1. As per govt protocol, all patients' samples have been sent to the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Gandhinagar, for genome sequencing to detect any emerging variants. In Vadodara city, six Covid-19 cases were reported in the 24 hours ending Thursday evening — the first in the ongoing wave. All patients showed flu-like symptoms and are under home isolation. According to sources, the infections are sub-variants of the Omicron strain, with low hospitalisation rates. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Of the six, four are from the west zone and one each from the east and north zones. Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) standing committee Chairman Sheetal Mistry said the majority of the population was previously exposed to Covid-19 and vaccinated, which has kept symptoms mild. "There is no need to panic, but people should remain cautious and take necessary precautions," he said. Mistry added that testing and isolation facilities are available at SSG Hospital and GMERS Hospital, Gotri. Both hospitals are equipped with oxygen support, ICU, and ventilators.
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Seven Covid cases reported in Surat
Surat: Seven new Covid-19 cases were reported in areas under the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Wednesday, including four senior citizens. As per protocol, their samples have been sent to the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) in Gandhinagar for genome sequencing. Among the cases is a 48-year-old woman doctor from Pal who is currently in home isolation. A 44-year-old homemaker from Vesu, with a history of thyroid issues, is also isolating at home with stable health. A 67-year-old woman from Varachha with thyroid issues has been admitted to Ayush Hospital. A 68-year-old retired man from Athwa, with a history of high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke is undergoing treatment at Kiran Hospital while a 66-year-old businessman from Adajan, who returned from Mumbai on June 2, has tested positive and is under home care. Others include a 68-year-old woman from Adajan and a 31-year-old man from Limbayat who works in Vapi — both are in home isolation and reported to be stable.
