Category: Business

Business

Tourist arrivals pick up in Kashmir

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After taking a hit during last year’s summer unrest, tourist arrivals have now started picking up in the Kashmir valley. Officials say they have already received advance bookings and are expecting a good increase in tourist footfalls from March-end onwards with the opening of Tulip Garden. “Arrivals have already started picking up. We are expecting a good number of tourists by the time Tulip Garden reopens,” said Director, Tourism, Kashmir, Mahmood Ahmad Shah. Stating that though the arrivals so far were lesser as compared to the corresponding period last year,…

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Contractors to face penalties for delaying in power project

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With the implementation of the Restructured Accelerated Power Development & Reforms Programme (RAPDRP) running behind schedule, the government has directed the Power Development Department (PDD) to impose penalties on defaulter contractors. The Centrally sponsored project was supposed to be completed by the end of 2015-16 but it is still incomplete with allegations of use of poor quality material and equipment being levelled against the contractors hired by IRCON International Limited which was awarded the contract in 2014. The project has seen long delays ever since it was announced during the…

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HDFC, ICICI, Axis to charge you at least Rs 150 after 4 free transactions

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India’s leading private banks said on Wednesday they will charge a minimum of Rs 150 for cash deposits and withdrawals after four free transactions in a month, reviving charges that were kept in abeyance briefly after the government scrapped high-value notes in November. HDFC, ICICI and Axis banks will calculate the fee – aimed at reducing cash dealings – at the rate of Rs 5 for every Rs 1,000 transacted or Rs 150, whichever is lower. HDFC and ICICI sources said the fees will be applicable to transactions outside of home…

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Daily 50 flights to arrive at Srinagar Airport from March onwards

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Airlines’ proposal to double daily in and out flights to 100 welcome step: Tourism Inc After taking a nosedive due to last year unrest, air traffic to Kashmir may witness more than cent percent increase with a record number of 100 flights scheduled in and out at the Srinagar Airport beginning March. Seven airlines operating to Srinagar in their new schedule submitted to Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), New Delhi, have increased their number of flights to Srinagar taking the total count of daily arrivals to the capital city…

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Jonty Rhodes bats for ‘Incredible’ Kashmir

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Former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes, who has been to Kashmir three times, has appeared in a promotional video for Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department, urging people to visit the “incredible” Valley for its “amazing” hospitality and tourist places. “This is my third visit to Kashmir…. I have done heli-skiing in the past and I learnt to snowboard on the hills right behind me,” Rhodes says in the 72-second video shot in the famous skiing resort of Gulmarg this winter. Impressed by the local hospitality and the wide range of…

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India’s own Switzerland, Kashmir is Safe: Tourism Secy

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An amount of Rs 2,400 crore will be invested in Jammu and Kashmir during the next five years to give boost to the tourism sector, which is considered as the backbone of the state economy, with the government laying special focus on unexplored and new regions like Kargil. This was stated by the Secretary, Tourism, J&K, Farooq Shah, on the sidelines of a function in Mumbai last night. Shah, along with other state functionaries was in Mumbai to promote the state’s rich culture, serene beauty and unmatchable landscapes. “The Union…

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Curbs on big fat weddings leave a bitter taste for Valley Chefs

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The state government’s order to check extravagant wedding celebrations has not gone down well with ‘wazas’ (traditional chefs) and other stakeholders while others remain sceptical about the implementation of the government order. Even as people had already started booking wazas ahead of the wedding season that usually starts after mid-April and lasts till October-end, the chefs now fear another year of loss. “Last year, our business took a hit due to the unrest. Now, the government order will again hit us hard and we fear another year of loss. While…

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‘Arbitrary’ checking of vehicles returns on highway, allege transporters

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Transporters and commuters have alleged that arbitrary checking of vehicles returned on the Jammu-Srinagar highway stretch passing through Ramban following the reshuffle in Traffic department. “Traffic cops posted on Jammu Srinagar National Highway especially in Ramban district are violating instructions and orders of the the department by taking advantage of absence of officers transferred in recent reshuffle” sources alleged. They said that cops along with official vehicles can be seen after every ten Kilometers ‘waiting for their prey to extract money in the name of entry from the drivers plying…

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AirAsia begins daily flights between Delhi, Srinagar

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Low-cost airline carrier AirAsia started its operations here today with the launch of its morning and evening daily flights between New Delhi and Srinagar. An official statement said the inaugural flight from New Delhi was received by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti at Srinagar International Airport at 10 am. Another flight to New Delhi was seen off by the Chief Minister soon after. The airline is also planning to connect Srinagar to many other destinations in the country in coming days. Welcoming the initiative, Mehbooba said the new flights would augur…

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JK to get back two power projects from NHPC: Baig

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‘Pak army created hurdles in peace with India’ Senior PDP leader and MP Muzaffar Hussain Baig Monday said the State will soon get back two power projects from NHPC. “We will soon get back at least two power projects from NHPC. It will make the J&K self sufficient economically and we will also be able to sell power to others besides ending electricity crises in the State,” Baig said while speaking at the PDP office, here during the party meeting. He said they have initiated talks with the Government of…

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