Rs 310 drop in Mumbai-Bangalore AC bus fare

MUMBAI: The fare of the Mumbai-Bangalore AC sleeper coach reduced have has dropped by Rs 310 per seat - a 14% reduction in price.

With the current season being lean, the MSRTC has lowered its fares from the existing Rs 2,180 per commuter to Rs 1,870 to beat the competition from private operators, who are also known to lower their fares at this time of year. When contacted, MSRTC managing director Deepak Kapoor said, confirmed the "sudden" reduction in fares.

"We had to do it, keeping in mind the interests of our passengers. During off-season, most private operators lower their fares. We therefore cannot keep our fares constant through the year. To make it more competitive, we have reduced the fares by more than Rs 300. The reduction in price is a is a huge saving, especially for those travelling with families or in groupsand large families and groups, for passengers, specially those who travel in a group or family." Kapoor added.

The state's first ever AC Sleeper bus has been a hit with commuters. "We have two buses commuting between Mumbai Central and Bangalore daily in both directions,'' he said. The buses are expected to fetch additional revenue to the tune of four crore rupees annually, sources said.

Tickets can be booked online for the seats/berths. The USP of the new buses were not just the sleeper berths, but the fact that the fares were kept fixed (Rs 2,180 per seat). In comparison, private bus operators keep increasing the fares for Bangalore, and it is close to Rs 4,000 per passenger during peak season and festival rush. But now, even the MSRTC buses will charge Rs 310 less.

The state bus undertaking is mainly targeting business commuters and software professionals as these buses will go via Pune and Kolhapur. There are 32 luxuriously furnished sleeper berths in the Volvos. The bus leaves Mumbai Central depot at 1 pm and reaches Bangalore next day at 7 am. The return service from Bangalore starts at 4.30 pm and reaches Mumbai the next day at 10.30 am. The total distance travelled between Mumbai and Bangalore is 1,016 kms.

The transport corporation also has plans to "We also plan are determined to introduce AC sleeper coaches on other prominent long-distance routes such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad very soon," Kapoor added.

Modern machines to help speed up civic body's tree plantation drive

AURANGABAD: The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is all set to purchase two modern machines to speed up the ongoing drive of planting 1.5 lakh saplings in the city. Vijay Patil, the AMC's garden superintendent, said on Monday the post hole digger machines would help the civic body plant more saplings in the season. "We have already placed the order for the machines, which will be in our possession in next two-three days," he said.

The civic body initiated the drive in the city from June 5 on the occasion of World Environmental Day and planted saplings in open spaces and road dividers.

Patil said the machines have a capacity to dig 400-500 holes every day for planting saplings. "It is a machine that can be mounted on tractors and operated by one person. Holes of various sizes can be dug up with ease, which will accelerate the process. At present, we are digging up holes manually that takes a lot of time. A single worker can dig only 15-20 holes in a day, which makes the target of planting 1.5 lakh saplings in the season quite impossible. With the help of these machines, we can now plant more than 1,000 saplings every day," he said.

"The AMC has planted around 17,000-18,000 saplings so far and we have nearly 120 days to achieve the set target," he said.

He said the civic body has planted 10,000 saplings on its own while various schools, colleges, NGOs and individuals helped in planting 7,000-8,000 saplings.

"The civic body would now tap the large area in Chikhalthana and plant about 25,000 saplings. We are also encouraging NGOs and entrepreneurs to participate in the drive," Patil said, adding, "Students of municipal schools are taking active part in the drive. Besides, we are also providing saplings to all the AMC-run hospitals, libraries and offices asking the concerned officers to plant saplings on their premises."

Manisha Choudhary, environmentalist and member of Deepshikha Foundation, said the AMC should not only focus on planting saplings but should also take efforts to make sure that they survive.

3 more districts enter National Capital Region fold

NEW DELHI: The National Capital Region has undergone another expansion with three more districts - Mahendragarh and Bhiwani (both in Haryana) and Bharatpur (Rajasthan) - added to it on Monday. This brings the number of districts in the NCR to 19, with the total area increasing by 34% to 45,887sq km.


And there are other districts waiting to join the elite club. Haryana wants Jind and Karnal in NCR, while UP is pushing for the inclusion of Mathura-Vrindavan.

Government sources said Monday's inclusion was dictated by contiguity with existing NCR boundaries and 'good' rail and road connectivity to the national capital and other major cities.

Move aims to ease Delhi's burden

The NCR Planning Board, which took the decision under the chairmanship of union urban development minister Kamal Nath, claimed the expansion would help in dispersal of economic activities and reduce pressure on Delhi's health, educational and economic infrastructure. However, except for Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurgaon, the dispersal being talked about has remained in theory. It is no secret that the plan to shift central government offices to NCR cities has failed completely. It's not these offices but corporate organizations which have shifted base to Gurgaon and Noida.

Despite the cheap loans that come to a district with an NCR membership, the lack of infrastructure and planned growth in cities such as Meerut, Bulandshahr, Baghpat and Hapur remains glaring. Moreover, the abject failure to resolve transport as well as law and order issues between Delhi and its immediate neighbours points to lack of coordination between administrations wi8th often different political masters.

Sources said the biggest parameter of prosperity in most NCR districts were "real estate prices". The NCR tag could prove to be a goldmine for realtors and builders in the areas where infrastructure remains pathetic and the resolve to change things largely absent.

"The demand of constituent states in the NCR to include more areas will increase due to political reasons. The recent requests came from MLAs or parliamentary secretaries," said an official who did not wish to be named. TOI asked some of the political leaders and bureaucrats who attended the meeting on how the NCR tag would benefit the districts. Most did not give a satisfactory answer. An official said the biggest benefit was that districts would have access to funding from NCRPB at a cheap rates. "They can avail loans for infrastructure projects at 7-8% interest. Fund availability makes cities and government capable of taking up infrastructure augmentation projects," he added.

While most cities have failed in exploiting the opportunity to get low-interest loans, Haryana has taken almost 70% of the total loans that NCRPB has disbursed. The official claimed that once a district is a part of NCR, the board motivates the state government to plan infrastructure at par with Delhi. "There is also focus on having a proper plan conforming to the regional plan," he added.

NCR's expansion also does not seem to have helped in decongesting Delhi. Chief minister Sheila Dikshit had said people from neighbouring states come, work here and use the infrastructure. Her Haryana counterpart, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has claimed the opposite. He has said the Haryana sub-region has fulfilled NCR objectives by not only checking the flight to Delhi but causing reverse migration.

However, Kamal Nath seemed to agree with Dikshit that the other constituents of NCR need to create adequate social infrastructure to reduce the burden on Delhi.

Indian-owned football club qualifies for Danish Superliga

PTI

New Delhi: Denmark's Indian-owned football club,

F C Vestsjælland, has qualified for the Danish Superliga, the country's top-tier and one of Europe's well-known leagues.

It is the first time the club has made it to the Danish top division.

Anglian Holdings, an NRI-owned multi-national corporation with diverse global investments, had acquired a strategic stake in FC Vestsjælland, and had simultaneously invested in I-League club Shillong Lajong FC, with the intent of creating a pipeline for bi-directional exchange of talent, knowledge and expertise between the two clubs.

Post the promotion of FC Vestsjælland (also known as FC Vikings), the corporation aims to intensify its efforts towards bringing European footballing knowhow to Shillong Lajong FC and the rest of India.

It has already begun using the experience to help Indian clubs and players.

Anglian-supported player, Netan Sansara, is the first PIO to make it to the Danish Superliga.

F C Vestsjælland, a club based in Slagelse, Denmark, has capped off a remarkable season by qualifying for the Superliga.

F C Vestsjælland was established in 2008 as an offshoot of the Slagelse Football Club & Sports Association (SB&I) – and makes it to the premier football division in Denmark within 5 years of its formation.

Commenting on the promotion, Kurt Andersen, President, FC Vestsjælland, said, "We are thrilled to be a part of the Superliga next season and are extremely proud of what the team has been able to achieve. I think it is nothing short of amazing that within 5 years of being formed, we have climbed our way to the top-most football league of Denmark."

Dhruv Ratra, CEO – Sports & Marketing, Anglian Holdings, said, "We are delighted for FC Vestsjælland's players, staff and fans. It really is a remarkable achievement for the club to ascend so rapidly. We are also extremely happy that our player Netan Sansara has become the first PIO to reach the highest level of Danish football."

Kevin Rudd appoints record number of women in cabinet

Melbourne: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Monday unveiled his new cabinet, including a record number of six women, along with the first ever Muslim in the country's parliament.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce swore in the ministers this afternoon before a first cabinet meeting in Canberra.

Rudd named six women to his cabinet, the largest number in Australian parliamentary history.

Days after he dramatically ousted the country's first woman premier Julia Gillard, the 55-year-old Rudd named 11 women ministers out of the 30 all up on the frontbench - and six in cabinet.

In another first, 43-year-old Ed Husic was elevated to a senior role and named parliament secretary to the Prime Minister as he become the first ever Muslim to be sworn on to a federal government frontbench.

Rudd staged a remarkable comeback by winning a caucus vote by 57 to 45 last week, three years after Gillard toppled him in a similar showdown to become the first woman premier.

Rudd said he wanted the "best players on the field" and his new ministry has been chosen on merit and it outpoints the opposition on quality and experience, local media reported.

He pledged to work for a "stronger, fairer Australia... and never ever, ever allow the fair-go to be thrown out the backdoor."

The women ministers include newcomers Jacinta Collins as minister of Mental Health and Ageing, Tasmanian MP Julie Collins as minister for housing, Homelessnes and status of Women and Catherine King as minister for Regional Australia.

Following the appointment of the women, Rudd today said women in his ministry were there based on their talents, not their gender.

"I'm a guy who believes in meritocracy, and when you find people of merit, they should be promoted," he said.

Some of his key supporters Joel Fitzgibbon and Kim Carr have returned as Agriculture Minister and Industry and Innovation Minister respectively whereas some supporters of Gillard continue to remain in Cabinet with different roles.

The 20-member cabinet includes finance minister Penny Wong, health minister Tanya Plibersek and families minister Jenny Macklin.

Meanwhile, a new poll, the first since Rudd's return as Prime Minister, has ranked him in a significant lead as the country's preferred leader.

Galaxy poll published in News Limited papers says 51 per cent of respondents believe Rudd would make the best prime minister, compared to 34 per cent for rival Tony Abbott.

Fifteen per cent of those surveyed were uncommitted.

Rudd's position shows an 18 per cent jump from Gillard's position in March. Rudd has said he was heartened by the boost Labor has received. In a statement, he said it was encouraging to see voters already responding to his brand of "positive, policy-driven" politics.

However, the poll shows the opposition Coalition still leads Labor 51 per cent to 49 per cent, on a two-party preferred basis.

PTI

MP announces Rs 5 lakh for kids orphaned in Uttarakhand tragedy

Bhopal: Amid an emotional reunion of stranded pilgrims with their families, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday described the tragedy in rain-ravaged Uttarakhand as "terrible" and announced a relief of Rs five lakh to the children, who lost their parents in it.

"I have never seen a disaster of such a magnitude. It was terrible, much bigger than the Bhopal gas tragedy," Chouhan, who arrived at the airport along with 167 stranded pilgrims in a special plane, told reporters.

After landing, the Chief Minister along with his wife Sadhna, welcomed all the stranded pilgrims by offering them garlands and directed officials to ensure proper arrangements for their onward journey to their respective towns/villages by bus.


The state government will provide an assistance of Rs five lakh to those children who have lost both their parents, Chouhan said while narrating the horrific tale of Snehlata from Gwalior, who lost her mother and father in the tragedy.

"Snehlata's story is very heart rending. She was constantly crying for her parents who were missing since the tragedy struck the hill state," Chouhan said.

"The state government will not only take care of Snehlata and her sister Ayushi for their entire life, but also look after other such children," he said.

Besides, the state government will also provide an immediate assistance of Rs 50,000 to the families of those missing and another Rs 1.5 lakh after a week if they were not found, by relaxing the mandatory seven-year period for providing relief in such cases.

A total of 741 are still missing from the state and of them, the government has a list of 593 pilgrims along with their photographs, Chouhan said, adding that efforts were on to identify the remaining missing persons.

The state has so far evacuated 1,301 pilgrims by special planes. One more flight will arrive tomorrow and another day after with stranded persons, he said. The Chief Minister said that besides the pilgrims from MP, the state's rescue teams have also rescued 1,810 pilgrims belonging to other states without any discrimination.

The state government's choppers rescued 292 pilgrims of Madhya Pradesh and 247 of other states, Chouhan said while praising the efforts of the two pilots, who, despite not having much experience of flying in difficult terrains, did a commendable job.

Chouhan said the rescue team has so far evacuated 5,330 stranded pilgrims and has made arrangements for food and other facilities for over 7,200 people in the relief camp, set up at Gayatri Pariwar's premises in the hill state.

"There were many pilgrims who insisted on camping in relief camps in the hope that their missing relatives would soon join them and therefore we allowed them to remain there for some more time," he said.

The CM has urged his Uttarakhand counterpart to continue the relief and rescue operation till all the missing pilgrims are found.

The state government has also decided to adopt a village in Uttarakhand for rehabilitation, but the decision on which village would be adopted will be taken later on in consultation with the Uttarakhand government, he said.

In view of the magnitude of the tragedy, Chouhan has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to declare it as a national calamity so that entire nation can pool resources for rebuilding the hill state, he said.

On queries regarding rebuilding of Kedarnath temple and allegations of negligence, the Chief Minister said this was not the time for doing politics on the issue.

However, he said that the Uttarakhand government should have remained more alert when it was warned about heavy rains by experts.

PTI 

Goa to ban Plaster of Paris Ganesh idols again

Panaji: The Goa government proposes to impose a ban on Ganesh idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP) which, after immersion, end up polluting the water source, state Environment Minister Alina Saldanha said on Monday.

The state has imposed a ban on PoP idols earlier too, though such idols continue to have a market as they are relatively cheaper and have a good finish.

Saldanha, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a government function in the capital, said: "PoP does cause a lot of pollution. The decision (to ban PoP idols) will be taken soon, much before Ganesh Chaturthi, so that people have enough time on their hands to get the right idols."


The PoP idols, often containing gypsum, sulphur, phosphorus and magnesium as well as lead paints, disintegrate slowly and, in the process, poison the waters of lakes, ponds and rivers, as well as choking the beds of water bodies.

Last year, after the state government banned the idols, it also started selling eco-friendly Ganesh idols through its handicrafts corporation.

Ganesh Chaturthi, which is scheduled for September 09 this year, is one of Goa's most popular religious festivals.

IANS