Category: Business

Business

J&K Govt temporarily suspends anti-militancy ops in bid to give tourism a fresh start in Valley

Editor

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti-led Jammu and Kashmir government has asked security forces to temporarily suspend all anti-militancy operation in the Valley till the 64th Annual Convention Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), which is being held in Srinagar after 30 years, concludes. The forces were also asked to suspend anti-militancy operations till Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba was in the Valley. Gauba is in the state for two days. Amid simmering tensions in the Valley, around five hundred delegates from across India are camping in Srinagar for the TAAI convention…

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TAAI dwells on high Airfares, Tourist Security

Editor

Delegates address impediments to tourism sector Even as the ongoing Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) convention has brought fresh ideas and insights to the local stakeholders, the delegates also took up contentious issues facing the Valley’s tourism sector. Besides its routine business, the convention, which is being held here after a gap of three decades, also talked of measures to address the stumbling blocks to the growth of local tourism, especially security concerns of tourists and soaring airfares in the peak season. Universal Federation of Travel Agents Association (UFTAA)…

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Aditya Ghosh, IndiGo President calls for 24×7 Srinagar airport

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Asks Govt to lower sales tax on aviation industry Calling for having a fully functional Srinagar airport, President of the InterGlobe Aviation Limited, DBA IndiGo, Aditya Ghosh Tuesday said there was need to have a 24-hour operational Srinagar airport despite security issues. Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural event of the 64th Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) convention at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, Ghosh called for the need to reimagine the aviation industry and the travel and tourism market. The TAAI convention is being held…

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Convention aimed at bringing Kashmir on global tourist map: TAAI President Sunil Kumar

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Buoyed by the support of Jammu and Kashmir government, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) on Saturday said that the current convention being held in valley will promote “visibility” of the region on global tourism map. In a press conference, TAAI President Sunil Kumar who was flanked by tourism minister Tasaduq Mufti expressed confidence that the conference will boost tourism in Kashmir. “…We are very confident on behalf of TAAI that once you see this convention concludes successfully the visibility of Kashmir as tourism destination will multiply many times and…

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GST one of the most complex, has second highest tax rate: World Bank report

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GST is one of the most complex with the second highest tax rate in the world among a sample of 115 countries which have a similar indirect tax system, says the World Bank The goods and services tax (GST) implemented by the Narendra Modi government from 1 July last year is one of the most complex with the second highest tax rate in the world among a sample of 115 countries which have a similar indirect tax system, the World Bank said in a report. India’s GST structure has five…

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Pay & Accounts Office system rolled back to appease ‘Contractor Mafia’

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The government was forced to roll back the Pay and Accounts Office (PAO) system after a strong opposition of contractors and engineers. The PAO system was supposed to simplify the process of government payments. According to this new system, the operational staff of the Finance department would have streamlined the payment system and ensured payments in a specified period. The system was being integrated with Budget Estimation, Allocation and Monitoring System (BEAMS) for better check of budgetary allocation and authorized expenditure. However, after the removal of Haseeb Drabu as the…

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Drabu should come clean on Kashmir remark: JKCC

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Even as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today sacked Haseeb Drabu as a Cabinet minister, the Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee (JKCC) said the PDP leader should still come clean on his remark that “Kashmir should not be seen as a political problem.” “Drabu should clarify his stand when he says that Kashmir should not be seen as a conflict zone…he looks to be eying for some higher position by behaving as a new ambassador of New Delhi. This appears to be a failed attempt to hoodwink the international community…

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Free Wifi, other facilities at Tulip Garden this year

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Visitors to Asia’s largest Tulip Garden on the banks of Dal Lake here can enjoy free wi-fi access, in addition to many other new facilities, when the garden opens to public later this month. The Tulip garden will be thrown open to public on March 25. “With the need of staying connected increasing by the day, the floriculture department, in collaboration with the BSNL, is providing free wi-fi connectivity to visitors,” Floriculture Director Mathoora Masoom told PTI. Masoom said several other initiatives have been taken to make the visitors, a…

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Hyacinth terrace, fountain new attractions at Tulip Garden

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Even as Tulip Garden is all set to open its doors to the public later this month, a new hyacinth terrace and fountain channel will be the added attractions at the famed tourist spot this spring season. The garden, which is located in the foothills of the Zabarwan range overlooking the Dal Lake, may also open ahead of schedule with around 1.2 million different flower varieties. “This year’s added attraction will be the new hyacinth terrace having five to six varieties of the flower. Visitors will also see a fountain…

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NHAI awards Rs 939 Cr contract to Ramky Infrastructure for ring road around Srinagar

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The National Highways Authority of India has awarded a Rs 939-crore project for the construction of the proposed Srinagar ring road to Ramky Infrastructure, the government said today. “The NHAI has issued the letter of award for construction of the proposed ring road/ bypass from Galander to Crossing of the Sumbel Road on the Jammu-Srinagar highway (NH-IA),” the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement. The 42.10-km project with a cost of Rs 939.41 crore has been awarded to Ramky Infrastructure and would be implemented on engineering,…

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