208 Summer spacials on Konkan Railway

For clearing the summer rush traffic, 208 special trains will be run via Konkan Railway route.

1. CSTM – Karwar – CSTM Daily :0109 Dn CSTM – Karwar train will run ex-CSTM from 5.4.2009 to 8.6.2009and train no. 0110 Up Karwar-CSTM will run ex-Karwar from 6.4.2009 to9.6.2009. 0109 Dn will leave from CSTM at 2355 hrs and reach Karwar at 1400 hrs next day. 0110 Up will leave from Karwar at 1500 hrs and reach CSTM at 0420 hrs next day. The train will halt at Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Roha, Mangaon, Khed, Chiplun,
   Savarda, Sangameshwar Rd, Ratnagiri, Vilawade, Rajapur, Vaibhavwadi Rd, Nandgaon Rd, Kankavali, Sindhudurg, Kudal, Sawantwadi Rd, Pernem, Thivim, Karmali, Madgaon, Canacona, and Asnoti. The train has 16 coaches.
2. Dadar (T) – Ernakulam – Dadar (T) Weekly :0165 Dn/ 0166 Up Dadar (T)-Ernakulam-Dadar (T) weekly special train will run ex-Dadar (T) on every Wednesday from 8.4.2009 to 3.6.2009 and ex-Ernakulam on every Thursday from 9.4.2009 to 4.6.2009. 0165 Dn will leave from Dadar (T) at 1245 hrs and reach Ernakulam at 1555hrs next day. 0166 Up will leave from Ernakulam at 2315 hrs and reach Dadar(T) at 0435 hrs on third day.The train will halt at Thane, Panvel, Roha, Khed, Chiplun, Ratnagiri,Kankavali, Kudal, Sawantwadi Rd, Pernem, Thivim, Karmali, Madgaon,Karwar, Ankola, Kumta, Honnavar, Bhatkal, Byndoor, Udupi, Surathkal,Mangalore Jn, Kasargod, Kanhangad, Payyanur, Kannur, Tellichery, Mahe,Badagara, Quilandi, Calicut, Tirur, Kuttippuram, Shoranur, Trichur, andAlwaye. The train has 16 coaches.
3. Dadar (T) – Kochuveli – Dadar (T) Weekly : 0167 Dn/ 0168 Up Dadar (T) – Kochuveli – Dadar (T) Weekly special will run ex-Dadar (T) on every Saturday from 4.4.2009 to 6.6.2009 and ex- Kochuveli on every Monday from 6.4.2009 to 8.6.2009. 0167 Dn will leave from Dadar (T) at 1245 hrs and reach Kochuveli at 2100 hrs next day. 0168 Up will leave from Kochuveli at 0850 hrs and reach Dadar (T) at 1640 hrs next day. Halts: Thane, Panvel, Roha, Khed, Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Kankavali, Kudal, Sawantwadi Rd, Pernem, Thivim, Karmali, Madgaon, Karwar, Ankola, Kumta, Honnavar, Bhatkal, Byndoor, Udupi, Surathkal, Mangalore Jn, Kasargod, Kanhangad, Payyanur, Kannur, Tellichery, Mahe, Badagara, Quilandi, calicut, Tirur, Kuttippuram, Shoranur, Trichur, Alwaye, Ernakulam Town, Kottayam, Changanaseri, Tiruvalla, Cheganner, Mavelikara, Kayamkulam,Kollam, and Varkala. The train has 16 coaches.
4. CSTM – Madgaon – CSTM Superfast Weekly : 0121/0122 CSTM – Madgaon – CSTM Superfast Weekly train will run between CSTM and Madgaon. It will run ex-CSTM on every Friday from 3.4.2009 to 5.6.2009 and ex-Madgaon on every Saturday from 4.4.2009 to 6.6.2009. 0121Dn will leave from CSTM at 2215 hrs and reach Madgaon at 0705 hrs next day. 0122 Up will leave from Madgaon at 0845 hrs and reach CSTM at 1735 hrs same day. The train will have 15 coaches. The train will halt at Thane and Ratnagiri.
   
5. CSTM – Madgaon – CSTM Superfast Weekly : 0123 / 0124 CSTM – Madgaon – CSTM Superfast Weekly train will run between CSTM and Madgaon. It will run ex-CSTM on every Saturday from 4.4.2009 to 6.6.2009 and ex-Madgaon on every Sunday from 5.4.2009 to 7.6.2009. Train no. 0123 Dn will leave from CSTM at 2215 hrs and reach Madgaon at 0705 hrs next day. 0124 Up will leave from Madgaon at 1910 hrs and reach CSTM at 0405 hrs next day. The train will have 15 coaches. The train will halt at Thane and Ratnagiri.

[via Konkan Railway press release]

BSNL lowers mobile tariffs to 50 paise for local, STD, SMS

Initiating another round of tariff war, state-run BSNL on Sunday announced a new plan offering local and STD call at just 50 paise a minute across all the network, while the charges would be 20 and 30 paise for BSNL to BSNL.

BSNL's new tariff plan "India Golden Fifty", offering local and STD call at just 50 paise would be available from March 1. and the scheme, along with BSNL's 3G mobile services in the state, was launched by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

BSNL Chairman Kuldeep Goyal told reporters that the Golden Fifty plan would be available to consumers for a monthly rent of Rs 375 inclusive of taxes.

Slumdog Millionaire wins eight Oscars

'Slumdog Millionaire' sweeps eight Oscars at the 81 st Academy Awards including Best Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Film Editing, Original Score, Original Song, Direction and Motion Picture. Indian music maestro A R Rahman brings home two awards with his Jai Ho... composition.

Obscure Indian congratulate AR Rahman and Pookutty on their Oscar win. We wish AR Rehman to reach new heights in the year to come. Jai Hind! Jai Ho

Olympus introduces Mju Tough series

Olympus has introduced a new range of Mju Tough compact cameras in January 2009. Olympus’ new range is freezeproof, waterproof and shockproof and will be renamed from Mju SW to Mju Tough .

“Since some of our cameras even go beyond shockproof and waterproof – certain models are freezeproof and crushproof as well – we needed a name that was more reflective of the true nature of the SW series. The Mju TOUGH brand lets our customers know what these cameras truly have to offer: strength that’s always ready to go, even in the most extreme conditions”. explained Miquel Angel Garcia, Managing Director Marketing at Olympus Imaging Europa GmbH.

Janshatabdi Express to run daily now on KR route

After the starting of weekend special trains between Mumbai and Goa, passengers have one more reason to smile. The Ministry of Railways has decided to increase the frequency of train no.
2051/2052 CSTM – Madgaon Janshatabdi Express on Konkan Railway route from 6 days a week to daily w.e.f 18 February, 2009.

Happy journey!....

[via Konkan Railway press release ]

Related posts

• Weekend special trains to goa on konkan railway
• Special train for Anganewadi Yatra
  

Highlights of Interim Union Budget 2009-10

The following are the highlights of the interim budget for 2009-10 presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

• Growth forecast at 7.1 per cent for 2008-09
  
• Total expenditure for FY'10 seen at Rs 9,53,231 crore
  
• Plan expenditure estimated at Rs 2,85,149 crore.
  
• Non-Plan expenditure pegged at Rs 6,68,082 crore.
  
• Revenue expenditure at Rs 8,48,085 crore.
  
• Centre's net tax revenue pegged at Rs 5,00,096 crore.
  
• Revenue deficit 4 per cent of GDP.
  
• Fiscal deficit at 5.5 per cent of GDP.
  
• Major subsidies estimated at Rs 95,579 crore.
  
• Two per cent interest subsidy for exports extended till Sept for employment oriented sector.
  
• Defence allocation at Rs 1,41,703 crore.
  
• Rs 30,100 crore allocated for rural employment scheme.
  
• Bharat Nirman allocated Rs 40,900 crore.
  
• Rs 12,070 crore for National Rural Health Mission.
  
• Rural drinking programme allocated Rs 7,400 crore.
  
• Rural sanitation programme gets Rs 1,200 crore.
  
• Rs 14,000 crore for rural infrastructure development.
  
• Mid-day Meal scheme allocated Rs 8,000 crore.
  
• Rs 6,705 crore for Integrated Child Development Scheme.
  
• Sarva Sikhsha Abhiyan allocated Rs 13,100 crore.
  
• Urban renewal mission gets Rs 11,842 crore.
  
• Government to recapitalise public sector banks.

Highlights of Railway Interim Budget 2009-10

• This is UPA's last rail budget in its term
• Railways has a Rs 90,000 cr profit in last four years
  
• 10,500 cr allocated for pension requirements
• 6th Pay Commission to hike expense by Rs 13,500 cr
• Steep fall in container traffic
• Work on Delhi-Mumbai freight corridor started
• Rlys to invest Rs 35,900 cr in 2009
• Railway connectivity to Kashmir initiated
• Passenger growth up 14 pct
• Passenger trains to have 22 pct more capacity
• Efficiency of passenger and goods wagons to be hiked
• Goods trains to have 78 pct added capacity
• 4 Railways inquiry call centres set up
• Electrification of 1000 km of rail lines completed
• Wagon production to be hiked from 6600 to 15000
• Railways invested Rs 70,000 cr out of surplus
• Railways to invest Rs 2,30,000 cr in 11th plan
• Railways reported Rs 25,000 cr cash surplus last year
• Revenues have risen by 39 paise a tonne/km since 2001
• Costs have fallen by 7 paise a tonne/km since 2001
• Gaps in the network will be bridged: Lalu
• Railways got loans at 4 pct
• Accidents come down from 325 in 03-04 to 194 in 07-08
• Railways has grown freight at the rate of 8 pct over last 5 yrs
• Research on for bullet trains
• FY10 operating ratio seen at 88%
• Mumbai-Bikaner superfast bi-weekly
• Nizamuddin-Bangalore Rajdhani tri-weekly
• Lalu gives 2 pct cut in AC and mail train fares
• Forty-three new trains announced
• Laid 1100 kms of new rail lines
• Bhubaneshwar-New Delhi Rajdhani becomes 4 days a week
• New Delhi-Ahmedabad Rajdhani becomes daily

[via Financial Express]

Pink chaddi campaign and the gang of weirdos

There is a campaign going on as a reaction to Srirama Sene's attacks on pub going youths. The campaign is started by a journo from Tehelka stead and it is as weird as the the recent history of Tehelka journos. It is named as 'pink chaddi' and started by Nisha Susan.

The kind of people who support this idea, is as usual reacting before thinking type. The blogspace used by campaign is bombarded by the messages which doesn't support the idea and Nisha has taken care to remove these messages while proclaiming the right of freedom of speech and expression.

All this excercise is to support the freedom of going to pub. Tomorrow, I sure they will get together and make simialr effort in support of infamous rave parties. Poor thing Nisha doesn't understand that with freedom you have to take responsibilities also. But these dumbos of these days don't understand anything beyond the material lusts.

Related posts

• Pub culture and Srirama Sene
  

SaReGaMaPa Lil Champs concluded

SaReGaMaPa Lil Champs the Zee Marathi talent search show concluded in a mega festival. The mega final spots shared by all the contestants from finals viz. Arya Ambekar, Prathamesh Laghate, Mugdha Vaishampayan, Rohit Raut and Kartiki Gaikwad, and Kartiki being hailed winner amonth them. She got 2 lakhs as a price money and rest of them 1 lakhs rupees each.

The show has been epitome of a reality show where the format, contestants, and selectors were of exceptional qualities. It was in a stark contrast to the popular hindi shows on similar track. The selectors, examiners duo of Avadhoot Gupte and Vaishali Samant were class apart in their knowledge about music, rendition and appreciation of the contestants.

Weekend special trains to goa on konkan railway

Train journey to Goa via the picturesque Konkan Railway route has become all the more pleasurable with the introduction of Special Weekend trains for the first time on Konkan Railway route. Passengers looking for a quick break at Goa on weekends can now look forward to having a higher chance of getting confirmed train reservation to Goa and back. Starting next weekend i.e 13th February, 2009, special Superfast Weekend trains will be run between Mumbai and Goa to clear extra rush of passengers to Goa and back.

0105 CSTM- Madgaon Superfast special train will be run every Friday from 13/2/2009 to 20/3/2009 and train no. 0107 CSTM-Madgaon Superfast special train will be run every Saturday from 14/2/2009 to 21/3/2009.

For the return Madgaon-CSTM journey, train no. 0106 Superfast special will be run every Saturday from 14/2/2009 to 21/3/2009, and train no. 0108 Superfast special will be run every Sunday from 15/2/2009 to 22/3/2009.

There will be total 24 trips of these weekend special trains. Train no. 0105 Dn and 0107 Dn will leave from CSTM at 22:15 hrs and reach Madgaon at 07:05 hrs next day. Train no. 0106 Up will leave from Madgaon at 08:45 hrs on Saturday and reach CSTM at 17:35 hrs same day. Train no. 0108 Up will leave from Madgaon at 19:10 hrs on Sunday and reach CSTM at 04:05 hrs next
morning. The weekend special trains will have commercial halt only at Thane and will have 15 coaches.

Related posts

• Special train for Anganewadi Yatra
  

Special Train for Anganewadi Yatra

Good news for passengers ! For the convenience of passengers going for Anganewadi Bharadidevi Yatra on Konkan Railway route, four special trains will be run between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CSTM) and Karwar on Konkan Railway route.

Special train no. 109 will be run ex-CSTM on 17/02/2009 and 21/2/2009.
Special train no.110 will be run ex-Madgaon on 18/2/2009 and 22/2/2009.
109 Dn will leave from CSTM at 2355 hrs and reach Karwar at 1400 hrs next day.
Train 110 Up will leave from Karwar at 1500 hrs and reach CSTM at 0420 hrs next day.

The train will have 17 coaches and will halt at Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Roha, Mangaon, Khed, Chiplun, Savarda, Sangameshwar, Ratnagiri, Vilavade, Rajapur, Vaibhavwadi, Nandgaon, Kankavali, Sindhudurg, Kudal, Sawantwadi, Pernem, Thivim, Karmali, Madgaon, Canacona, and Asnoti.

Idea's Lifetime prepaid @ Rs. 25

Following Mtnl,Airtel & Vodafone’s approach to lower its lifetime prepaid start-up amount, Idea announced its lifetime prepaid Recharge at Rs 25 with some extra stuff like Free Night calling and lower local call charges for Mumbai Circle.

After Rcom’s GSM start up in Mumbai, Idea takes the competition head-on it is offering extremely lucrative offers with this “NEW POWER PACKED LIFE LONG’.
Here are the details:

Life Long Recharge-MRP Rs.25
Talk Time-:Rs.5
Validity-: Life Long

Tariff for first Six Month-
All Local Call @ 60 paisa
All STD Call @ Rs.1
All Local SMS @ Rs.1
All National SMS @Rs.1.50
FREE Night Calling- Idea to Idea FREE form 11pm to 6am (for 2 months)

Tariff after six month-:
All Local call @ Rs.1
All STD call @ Rs.1.50
All Local SMS @Rs.1
All National SMS @Rs.1.5

Reliance GSM Tariff Plans

Reliance GSM plan Details for Andhra Pradesh,Chennai, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka,Kerala,Maharashtra,Mumbai,Punjab,Rajasthan,TamilNadu,UttarPradesh(East),Uttar Pradesh(West).

This is the Base Tariff which is common for all the above circles.

• All Local/Intra Circle Calls Rs.1.00
• All STD Calls Rs.1.
• All Incoming & Local Outgoing calls Rs.1.00
• STD Outgoing calls Rs.1.50
• Local Rs.1.00
• National Rs.1.50
• International Rs.5.00
  

Customer Experience Pack is a special limited period offer which gives Free talk time,Free Night calling to all local/intra circle Reliance CDMA & GSM phones between 11pm and 6 am for the first 90days from the date of activation.Which varies from circle to circle.

Free Talk Time On Daily Basis For 90 Days From The Date Of Activation

* Andhra Pradesh :Rs 5 will be credited.
* Chennai:Rs 5 will be credited.
* Gujarat:Rs 10 will be credited.
* Haryana:Rs 10 will be credited.
* Karnataka:Rs 5 will be credited.
* Kerala:Rs 5 will be credited.
* Maharashtra:Rs 10 will be credited.
* Mumbai:Rs 10 will be credited.
* Punjab:Rs 10 will be credited.
* Rajasthan:Rs 10 will be credited.
* TamilNadu:Rs 5 will be credited.
* UttarPradesh(East):Rs 10 will be credited.
* Uttar Pradesh(West):Rs 10 will be credited.

BSNL revised GPRS charges

BSNL revise GPRS usage charges for prepaid and postpaid mobile services.

The prepaid GPRS usage charges while at home and while roaming has been revised to INR 0.05 per 10 KB from INR 0.02 per KB.

The postpaid GPRS usage charges under option I while at home have been revised to INR 0.03 per 10 KB from INR 0.01 per KB.

While at home,the usage charges for postpaid service under GPRS Plan option II have been revised to INR 0.05 per 10 KB from INR 0.02 per KB. The usage charges while roaming under GPRS Plan options I, II and III have been revised to INR 0.05 per 10 KB from INR 0.02 per KB. The new tariffs will be applicable from 1 February-2009.

Raj Thakre and Hindi and English electronic media

It is surprising that there are no after shocks in the media particularly Hindi and English electronic media. Raj has taken potshots at the approach of media in all the controversies where ever his involvement is. He targeted a Aajtak advertisement about TRP and pointed out how the media twists the political statements and creates controversies to gain TRP.

The shameless honchos in Hindi media, who were seen very partisan in reporting during those controversies. Labeling Raj Thakre as Hitler and preparing charge sheets on him. Is it the game of tapping insecurity of North Indians? Thakre's anger seems to be more at political organization of North Indians by Samajwadi Party and Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam. He attacked vehemently on Uttar Bhartiaya Diwas, stating it is no where celebrated in the North India and has become a political tool in the hands of UP and Bihari politicians in Mumbai.

At the ground level the Maharastrians in majority hate the North Indian ( read UP and Bihari) influx in Mumbai. As it is affecting the demography of the city and create overburdening on civic amenities. The landlocked city is already on shortage of land mass for housing and other civic amenities like water supply and sewage treatment. Rising crimanalities and some reports of base of terrorism in Ajamgadh district of Uttar Pradesh increases the anger again.

Pub Culture and Sriram Sene

Sriram Sene's deplorable act in Manglore is condemnable and has been condemned by many. By deplorable I mean no body has any right to take the law in hand. The so-called 'secular' english media at forefront of raising this issue. But the issues raised by Sriram Sene's action are very concering in the indian society.

The pub culture is rot brought by modernity and no bar life styles, and if somebody is using this issue to make it accetable then it is equally deplorable.

Wasted interests in the electronic media are using every opportunity in these election times to make the fast buck. The CNN-IBN group which seems to be sold out to Congress has used this issue to attack the BJP government in Karnataka. They have done it consistently in near past and seems never bother about the watchfull spectators, who can differentiate the real reporting and cooked up stories.