Senior Citizens of Chennai can travel free in Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses

Senior citizens in Chennai will soon be able to travel free in non-airconditioned Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses 10 times every month. The scheme will come into effect on February 24, the birthday of chief minister Jayalalthaa. The scheme will be first implemented in Chennai, and depending on the response, will be extended to other cities and towns in the state.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 19 February 2016.

Under the scheme, those who are aged 60 and above can avail of the scheme and can get tokens and identity cards from the MTC depots and offices concerned. Each senior citizen will be eligible to get 10 tokens every month after they fill in an application with photograph.
As per the 2011 census, Chennai had 4.57 lakh people aged 60 or above and, subsequently, the population of the elderly has increased because of several areas on the outskirts being merged with the city corporation. As a result, the number of people who make use of MTC buses has also increased, with the corporation plying more buses from the heart of city to Chengalpet or beyond.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Moody wants bows and arrows to eliminate Big Daddy (satire)

Didi and her books in Book Fair (satire)

Lord Shiva waits for his patisapta (satire)


Brazil declares war on mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus

The FMCG world belongs to Baba Ramdev - worship noodles instead of yoga

Beggar of Mehsana with a heart of gold – gifts gold earrings to 10 poor girls


“The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar” - Disney’s upcoming television movie

'Avatar 2', sequel to 'Avatar' of 2009 expected to release in December 2017

Aamir Khan no longer the face of Incredible India


Bomb attack kills 9 persons in Cairo near road leading to Egyptian pyramids

Woman with fake passport in a British Airways flight from Ibiza leads to panic

Tourists to Morocco told by Foreign Office to be vigilant about possible terror attacks

Rains play havoc in Tamil Nadu - leaves at least 31 dead

At least 31 people have lost their lives in the past two days in rain related incidents. There was extensive flooding in Tamil Nadu as the North East Monsoon continued to be active in several parts of the state. The worst affected were the Cuddalore District which itself accounted for 27 deaths due to drowning. There was also serious disruption in the basic infrastructure, including power supply. This has prompted Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to depute a team of ministers and officials to look after and supervise the relief work. This has been reported in ibnlive.com dated 12 November 2015.

Tamil Nadu usually receives 440 mm of rains during the North East monsoon season between October and December. But, in the present case, it has received 300 mm of rainfall in the past three days due to a deep depression. Of course, Cuddalore district gets an average of 697 mm rain and, so far, it has received 500 mm of rain. The Chief Minister has said that as part of relief work in Cuddalore district, common kitchens have been set up and 29,000 people housed in safe locations. the administration has also taken measures to prevent spread of infectious diseases for which 37 mobile medical camps have been put in operation and 90 veterinary medical teams are on the job. Moreover, damaged roads are being rebuilt by the Highways Department. Many fishing boats (vallam) have been washed away into the sea due to floods in Gedilam river in Cuddalore district and some of these have been located with Coast Guard support.

(Image source wikimediacommons.org)

Moody wants ODIs in Silicon Valley (satire)

Fight fire with fire - have ‘Award Return Festivals’(satire)

Moody in the mute mood (satire)


Mad rush for tourists stranded in Egypt to return home

Study reveals that online shopping is good for health

Inmates use mouse to carry drugs between cells in Brazil prison


Amitabh Bachchan to inaugurate 21st edition of Kolkata Film Festival

Sandra Bullock planning an all-female version of Ocean's Eleven

Horror Museum in Colorado could be a money spinner


Bomb in Airbus A321 responsible for Sinai Peninsula crash and 224 deaths

Two Russian TU-142 Bear aircraft shooed off from USS Ronald Reagan

Iran has already executed 700 this year and the figure could cross 1000 by year end