Day: April 4, 2016

PDP, BJP to axe important faces in Mehbooba Govt?

Editor

As officials at the Jammu and Kashmir Raj Bhavan and the civil secretariat skipped their Sunday holiday to address protocol and legal issues related to Monday’s swearing-in of an elected government, intense speculation did the rounds on who will get a berth or will be axed in new council of ministers. Governor N.N. Vohra formally invited Mehbooba Mufti, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief, on Saturday evening to be sworn-in as the new chief minister of the state on Monday. Initial reports about the composition of the council of ministers…

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Govt mulls separate bus corridor in Srinagar

Editor

In its endeavor to streamline the traffic system in Srinagar, the Government is mulling to construct separate bus corridors—the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS). Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a high-quality bus-based transit system that delivers fast, comfortable, and cost-effective services at metro-level capacities. It does this through the provision of dedicated lanes, with busways and iconic stations typically aligned to the center of the road, off-board fare collection, and fast and frequent operations The plan has been envisaged by the Town Planning Organization (TPO) Kashmir in revised Master Plan…

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Jewellers remain on strike

Editor

There is no let-up in the ongoing strike by jewelers with the traders saying the strike is causing daily loss of Rs 1.5 crore in Kashmir. Meanwhile, a team of Valley jewellers will leave for New Delhi tomorrow to participate in the protest at the Jantar Mantar. “Our strike entered day 33 today and we will not call it off till our demands are met. Tomorrow, president of the association Bashir Ahmad Rather will lead a team from here to the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi where jewelers and gold…

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SMC sits on encroachment of footpaths

Editor

Failure of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to remove encroachments from footpaths in Srinagar is taking a heavy toll on pedestrians. In absence of regulation, footpaths across the summer capital have been occupied by street vendors. The problem is severe is city centre areas including Lal Chowk, Hari Singh High Street, Amira Kadal and Batamaloo. At Ghanta Ghar, the street vendors have even occupied roadsides hampering smooth flow of vehicular movement. “It is ironical that vendors have occupied both sides of footpath at Lal Chowk. There is hardly any space…

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Students to face axe on bunking school for 7 days

Editor

In the backdrop of the authorities’ failure to control the menace of ‘bogus’ admissions in high and higher secondary schools in Kashmir, the school education department has decided to strike off a student’s name from rolls on staying away from classes for seven consecutive days. Officials said that a meeting was held at the Directorate of school education here, during which the menace of “bogus admissions” was discussed. “Several students secure admission in government schools but do not attend the school and rather go for private coaching. These students never…

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Mehbooba to be sworn in today as first female CM

Editor

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti will be sworn in today as the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, also becoming the first-ever Muslim woman Chief Minister, heading a coalition government with BJP in the only Muslim-majority state. The 56-year-old leader, daughter of PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, will take oath of office at Raj Bhawan in Jammu today at 11.00 am. Mehbooba Mufti assuming office will be a landmark event in the history of Jammu and Kashmir as well as rest of the country. Governor NN Vohra yesterday invited…

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No word yet on who made it to new council of ministers

Editor

As PDP president Mehbooba Mufti prepares to take charge tomorrow as the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, there is no word yet on who all made it to the council of ministers. “We are all in Jammu for the swearing-in ceremony but we have not been informed yet as to who all are going to be included in the council of ministers tomorrow. At least I have not been informed yet,” an influential PDP leader and a former minister told . He said the PDP president has…

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