Air Travel in India may get Heavy on Pocket

Air Travel in India may get Heavy on Pocket
The Times of India

Bangalore, Aug 19: Air Deccan’s Bangalore-Hubli route, which witnessed the low-cost carrier’s inaugural flight four years ago, is proposed to be terminated. Reason: Kingfisher Airlines has proven to be more profitable on this sector, and is seen as a better bet on the route.

In other words, what many customers feared is beginning to happen. The recent marriages between low-cost and full-fare airlines — Kingfisher-Air Deccan and Jet-Sahara — are leading to some serious rescheduling of flights to improve the profitability of the airlines. For customers, it implies the withdrawal of low-cost options that they have enjoyed for some years.

“A team from both sides (Air Deccan and Kingfisher) are looking at how best we can service various routes profitably, by drawing on each other’s strengths,” says Capt G R Gopinath, executive chairman of Deccan Aviation.

Garry Kingshott, acting CEO of JetLite (formerly Air Sahara and now a low-cost airline), says the new schedule for JetLite, which will come into effect from September 1, “has been developed with Jet Airways to ensure that there is no cannibalisation”.

Intense competition has led to most airlines bleeding, and rationalisation looks inevitable. The routes likely to be hit the most are the high-traffic ones between New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. These three cities alone account for 60% of the country’s passenger traffic, with over 80% of the traffic being corporate travellers.

“When you are catering to a business market, frequency of a full-service carrier plays an important role in staying competitive,” says Kapil Kaul, CEO of Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation (CAPA) India.

According to sources, Jet and Kingfisher will increase frequencies on these routes during peak hours (morning and evening), even as JetLite and Air Deccan reduce their frequencies during these hours. However, the latter frequencies during lean hours may increase.

Just a few months ago, Air Deccan was planning to make itself more attractive to business travellers. But at least on high-density business travel routes, Deccan is unlikely to take the idea forward. High-traffic routes are witnessing near 30% rates of growth, fuelled by corporate travel and small enterprise business travellers.

Says Gaurang Shetty, VP (marketing) of Jet Airways, “We would like to introduce flights every half hour between Mumbai and New Delhi as that is the densest route in the country.”

Low-cost airlines are expected to focus more on tier II towns, where demand for lowcost travel is seen to be rising by 25%. JetLite, in its new schedule, has increased its number of flights from 90 to 134, but 60% of the increase is into tier II cities.

Air Deccan has recently increased frequency on its Chennai-Coimbatore and Chennai-Madurai sectors. These sectors that were earlier serviced by ATR aircraft, have now been upgraded to one ATR, and one Airbus A320 aircraft for each sector.

STRATEGY RETHINK

Intense competition has led to severe bleeding by airlines, and rescheduling looks inevitable

The Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai sectors are likely to be hit most as they constitute 60% of all airline business

Jet and Kingfisher may increase frequencies on these routes during peak hours (morning and evening), even as JetLite and Air Deccan reduce their frequencies during these hours. However, the latter’s frequencies during lean hours may increase

Jet Air says it will introduce flights between Mumbai and New Delhi every half-an-hour.

Digital work in Central library initiated

Digital work in Central library initiated
New Kerala.com & UNI

HUBLI, Aug 18: Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti today inaugurated the process for renovation of central library into a digital library at a cost of Rs.2.5 crore and hoped that it would be a model digital library in the state.

Speaking at the function he said such libraries were limited to only Bangalore and Mysore, but now Hubli-Dharwad would also have a model library that would help people, children and students.

Revenue minister Jagadish Shettar who presided over the function expressed happiness over the renovation of the library into a digital library and sought people cooperation in maintaining and utilizing the library.

NRI’s query under RTI Act gets response

NRI’s query under RTI Act gets response
The Newindpress.com

Friday August 17 2007 11:48 IST
HUBLI: Going by the facts revealed under the Right to Information Act by an official of the State Industries and Commerce Department, the proposed IT/ITeS Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Hubli by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) seems like a non-starter.

The company itself has shown lukewarm response and even the Central Government has stopped granting in-principle approval for IT SEZ projects.

The State Government had cleared the proposal of TCS to establish an IT/ITeS SEZ on 50 acres in Hubli-Dharwad with an investment of Rs 120 crore. The project was cleared at the State High Level Committee meeting held on Aug 28, 2006. Responding to an application filed by Nagesh Taverageri, an NRI from Hubli living in California, under the Right to Information Act seeking information on the status of the SEZ project granted to IT bellwether TCS, the Deputy Director (SEZ) has said that the company has to acquire the land to be allotted by Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation and Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board participating in the auction.

So far, the company has not informed the progress of land acquisition to the State Government. And till now, the company has not filed the SEZ Form A application with the Union Ministry of Commerce as the proposed land is not in possession of the company. ‘‘Submitting of SEZ Form A is prerequisite for the formal approval of IT SEZ,’’ the office said in a reply.

On the information sought on expediting the process, the reply is ‘the ball is in the TCS court.’ The officer said: ‘‘If the company takes possession of the land and submits the SEZ Form A application with Government of India, the State will recommend the proposal to the Centre for granting formal approval.’’

JSW fuels BPO revolution in Bellary

JSW fuels BPO revolution in Bellary
Source : Moneycontrol.com

2007-08-17 12:51:53
Celebrating the 60th year of Indian Independence, Honorable Home Minister of Karnataka Shri M. P. Prakash inaugurated JSW’s new 100 seater BPO at Bellary. Capable of employing over 300 young graduates the BPO will be run under the aegis of JSoft Solutions Ltd, the newly formed software arm of the JSW Group. The JSoft Solutions venture is part of an ambitious youth empowerment initiative started by Mrs. Sangita Jindal, Chairperson of JSW Foundation.

Aimed at providing localised employment and to empowering the youth, JSoft Solutions, has planed to set up such centers in other cities of Karnataka like Hospet, Hubli and Raichur.

A 300-seater BPO, with a capacity to employ 900 people, is slated to start operations by January 2008 near Toranagallu, where JSW Steel Limited is located. Initially the center will cater to non-voice processes, which will later be upgraded to a full fledged voice BPO.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Sajjan Jindal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of JSW Steel Ltd, said, “On the auspicious occasion of our 60th year of Independence it gives me great pride to initiate this youth empowerment project to generate localized employment. I would like to assure all Kannadigas of employment in even the tier-III cities and district talukas. Preferential employment for the Indian Girl child in these JSoft centers is another priority area for us.”

The Hon’ble Minister announced plans for setting up an Earth Station at Bellary to give a quantum boost to the IT Industry and make it a technical hub.

Later in the day, the Bellary Chamber of Commerce & Industry felicitated Mr. Sajjan Jindal & Mrs. Sangita Jindal for their sterling contribution to the fields of Industry and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Mr. Jindal also announced future plans to scale up the Bellary BPO into a 1000-seater operation with due support from the Bellary Chamber of Commerce & industry. This would open up new avenues of employment to the youth who were forced to migrate into the cities, Mr. Jindal added.

The Rural BPO revolution was started with the launch of Datahalli at Vidyanagar under the aegis of the JSW Foundation. It has provided job opportunities to numerous rural women above eighteen years of age. The BPO at Bellary has already hired 100 men & women.

NRI seeks info on SEZ under RTI Act

NRI seeks info on SEZ under RTI Act
The Newindpress.com

Tuesday August 14 2007 13:04 IST
HUBLI: A Non-Resident Indian from Hubli has filed an application with the Indian Embassy at Washington DC, USA, seeking information on the status of Karnataka Government’s decision on clearing the proposal of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Hubli under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Nagesh Tavarageri, California-based techie, who launched the online campaign to make Hubli-Dharwad an IT destination, appraoched the Government under the RTI Act to know what actually the Government is doing to implement its decision. Ever since the government evinced interest to develop tier-2 cities in the State, Tavarageri and his friends abroad from the twin city set a mission for the development of Hubli-Dharwad in all aspects. They had even submitted an online petition to the President of India requesting the President to include Hubli-Dharwad under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. In the application submitted to the Public Information Officer at the Indian Embassy, Nagesh has stated that though the Cabinet of Karnataka gave its clearance for the SEZ by TCS Ltd on Aug 28, 2006, hardly has there been any progress in the pursuance of the said project.

Nagesh has sought information on following specific information:

What is the current status of the SEZ project granted to TCS, for Hubli-Dharwad?

Has the Department of Commerce and Industries forwarded the file pertaining to SEZ project granted to TCS, in Hubli-Dharwad, to the Board of Approval (BoA) for SEZ?

If the details of the project have not yet been submitted to the BoA SEZ, what is the reason for not submitting the same to Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry?

Who is the bureaucratic authority responsible for the undue delay caused in this regard?

If the same details have already been submitted to the BoA SEZ, I would like to have all the related details of such submission to the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

If the details of the project have not yet been submitted to the BoA SEZ, what steps are being taken by the authorities, to expedite the process with a sense of urgency?

People's movement for honest officers

People's movement for honest officers
Times of India

13 Aug 2007, 0432 hrs IST,
BANGALORE: A people's movement is gathering momentum in two towns of the state, protesting the transfer of two upright officers. The battle lines seem to be drawn between people's power and the powers that be.

Residents of Hubli-Dharwad and KGF towns have stomped the streets in protest against the transfer of honest officials in whom they say they ‘saw hope'.

While people staged rasta-rokos to criticise the transfer of IAS officer and Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) commissioner, P Manivannan, residents of Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) have decided to observe a bandh to protest the transfer of IPS officer K V Sridhar. The Kumaraswamy government had effected their transfers last week.

But, why are people taking to the roads in support of only these two officers? The answer is simple: These officers distinguished themselves with their integrity, their grasp of people's problems and sincere efforts to find solutions.

Manivannan, for instance, chose not to be the typical bureaucrat who worked in an air-conditioned room. Instead, he was on the field each day for over 12 hours, interacting with people. In fact, when he took over as commissioner three years ago, the twin cities of Hubli-Dharwad were described as a ‘big village' because of lack of development, which was only increasing people's frustration.

Even before people could realise what was happening with HDMC, Manivannan restructured the internal administration by giving thrust to decentralisation. He spent Rs 30 crore on construction of roads. Next, he took on the builder-lobby through a demolition drive against illegal buildings. The builder-politician nexus got him transferred in July 2006, but public protests forced the then Dharam Singh government to cancel his transfer. His deft handling of grievances brought him to the public eye. So much so, when the Kumaraswamy government transferred him recently, people became suspicious. The government had to say that it was a routine transfer effected once in three years.

In the case of transfer of KGF superintendent of police K V Sridhar, the residents of the once-mining town are not enthused about the government's decision. In the last 14 months, the town has seen four IPS officers. Sridhar was first posted as SP to KGF on May 20 last year, but was shunted out within four days following political pressure.

The police administration in the town degenerated as everything was controlled by local politicians. But people saw hope when Sridhar was posted again as SP on July 9 this year. He got the lower-rung policemen to respond to people's problems. Nine personnel were suspended for dereliction of duty. A police party deployed to provide security to a politician's under-construction house was withdrawn. He curtailed the influence of the cable mafia. But before people could smile, transfer orders were issued to him on August 8.

Irked, the residents have appealed to the government to reinstate him. They have called for a KGF bandh on Monday.

Manivannan and Sridhar's cases are a pointer to the fact that people do protest when government uses the power of transfer to shunt upright officers.

rakesh.prakash@timesgroup.com

Rain gives fresh lease of life to lake

Rain gives fresh lease of life to lake
The Newindpress.com

Tuesday August 7 2007 13:16 IST
HUBLI: Baaro Sadankerige, the famous lyric penned by poet Dr D R Bendre still echoes in every person residing in Dharwad. Sadhanakeri Lake, the inspiration for Bendre, is brimming with water for the first time.

The lake was on the verge of extinction. This beautiful lake is also a habitat and breeding ground for migratory birds too. Lush green trees surround the lake. The chirping of birds add to the charm.

In rainy seasons the lake abounds in splendour. Now it is almost full with fresh water. ‘‘We never saw this lake this full. With more rains predicted this week, we expect more inflow,’’ said Kartik, a resident.

If the lake is de-silted, it may look more attractive, and lure tourists, says Bharat, another walker around this place. However, this historical lake faces a number of problems.

‘‘Nearby people dump garbage into the lake posing great threat to the water body. Public awareness needs to be created to save the lake,’’ said Smriti, a housewife.

‘‘We used to go to different far-off ponds or lakes to catch fish, but this time the lake is full with a variety of fish in it. We can sight other small aquatic species here,’’ said Shabuddin, a fisherman.

Citizens take road to insurance

Citizens take road to insurance
Deccan Herald News Service

Hubli:For the first time in the history of the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), people of a residential area in Hubli have insured a road asphalted by the corporation a few months ago...

For the first time in the history of the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), people of a residential area in Hubli have insured a road asphalted by the corporation a few months ago.

The corporation had asphalted the Thimmasagara Temple Main Road under the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF). This road is an arterial road connecting PB Road to Unkal Hosur Road situated in the heart of Vidyanagar, which falls in Ward No 43 (Zonal No 9).

Subsequently, the residents came out with the novel of idea of insuring that stretch of road and approached the HDMC authorities.

Welcoming the residents’ initiative, Commissioner P Manivannan agreed to insure that road on behalf of the HDMC.

Later, the residents also got a no objection certificate (NoC) from the corporation and approached the Oriental Insurance Company, who insured the road for Rs 2 lakh with an annual premium of Rs 303. The residents contributed equally to pay the premium.

They felt the need to insure the newly asphalted road in order to reduce the burden of maintenance.

The total sum assured is Rs 2 lakh and in case of any claims for the damages mentioned in Standard Fire and Special perils policy schedule, the amount would be directly remitted to the HDMC account.

The people here opined that the corporation has helped them a lot in many things and it was also their duty to do something in return to help the civil body.

The residents are now planning to plant saplings on either sides of the road for further development.

No insurance would be paid if anybody digs up the road to lay water pipelines or for underground drainage system. The residents could claim insurance for any possible road damage caused due to pipeline burst. In such a situation, the insurance money would be deposited to the HDMC’s account from which the road can be rebuilt.

NRI sets up centre for Social Entrepreneurship

NRI sets up centre for Social Entrepreneurship
The Hindu - Staff Correspondent

His trust will open seven Indian Institutes of Public Health

A NEW CHAPTER: Gururaj Deshpande, chairman of Sycamore Networks, U.S., unveiling a plaque during the bhoomi puja of Deshpande Centre for Social Entrepreneurship in Hubli on Saturday.

HUBLI: The bhoomi puja for the “Deshpande Centre for Social Entrepreneurship” said to be the first of its kind in the country was done here on Saturday.

The centre, which is the brainchild of Gururaj Deshpande, chairman of Sycamore Networks, U.S.; aims at creating a common platform for exchanging and improving the best ideas and methodologies adopted among various non-governmental organisations and those from abroad.

The centre is being promoted by Mr. Deshpande and his wife Jayashri Deshpande, who are trustees of Deshpande Foundation. Its building will come up on the campus of BVB College of Engineering and Technology, Hubli.

A formal function was held here on Saturday to mark the occasion in which apart from the couple, S.C. Deshpande, chairman of K.L.E. Society Prabhakra Kore, Commissioner of Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation P. Manivannan, and principal of the college Ashok Shettar were present.

Mr. Gururaj Deshpande explained the objectives behind establishing the centre. Initially, the around 50 non-governmental organisations had been selected by the centre already and they would be intermingling with “change agents”, including dedicated students from abroad and those who have successfully implemented their ideas to bring about changes in the field of their work, he said.

Dr. Deshpande said the foundation would be funding the activities of the centre but would rope in other agencies and foundation. He said all the programmes implemented by the NGOs would require technology support, where the services of the engineering institute like BVBCET would be utilised. The projects would be in the field of education, agriculture, water, and micro finance.

Mr. Deshpande said that with the assistance of the Centre, and Bill Gates Foundation seven Indian Institutes of Public Health (IIPH) would be set up. About Rs. 200 crore had been mobilised for the purpose, he said.

He said the first IIPH would be in Hyderabad.

KLE planning to start engineering college at Hubli

KLE planning to start engineering college at Hubli

The New Kerala.com and UNI

Hubli, Aug 4: The prestigious Karnataka Lingayat Education (KLE) Society, spearheading the education field in the state was planning to start an engineering college here for Information Technology (IT), Society Chairman Prabhakar Kore said today.

Talking to newspersons, he said the society had already purchased 15 acre of land for the purpose but clearance from the government was awaited to convert it into the non-agriculture land.

He said "we have planned to start the college from this academic year but now it will be postponed to next academic year.

He urged Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar to clear the land.

The engineering college will have an intake of 2,500 students, will begin with admission for 250 students in the next academic year as per the norms, he added.

Artificial hike in land prices in Hubli -Dharwad

Artificial hike in land prices
The Newindpress.com

Saturday August 4 2007 12:22 IST

HUBLI: Although the City Development Plan (CDP) has nothing to do with real estate, the realtors are creating an artificial hike in land prices in the city.

The soaring land prices could be attributed to the much-hyped IT investment and airport upgradation, as the realtors and land investors are manipulating the land prices for land banking purpose at the cost of the commoners dream to have a plot in the city.

Admitting the artificial hike in land prices, M F Samoji of Ganesh Real Estates said that the city has been witnessing a huge growth in the number of developers and realtors in recent times, following the overall growth of the city. However CDP is yet to be recommended for revision by HDMC.

Shashikumar, Deputy Director of Town Planning, HDMC said that CDP has nothing to do with the real estate business.

As per the section-25 of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, the CDP can be revised every ten years and there were clauses to revise it before completing the tenure following the sudden and unexpected growth in the city.

The present CDP drafted in 2003 does not see any unexpected and sudden developments for premature revision as the equation of land and population has not gone beyond the calculations of CDP in HDMC limits, he said.

“Both realtors and land investors who acquired land at lesser price are falsely forecasting land scarcity to get more for their layouts coming up on the outskirts”, he stated. Local ministers and media are to be blamed for this artificial hike in prices, as both gave a wrong picture of the IT potential of the city, said Ashok Bhat of Ashok Real Estates.

The magic of Vastu consultants has also been playing a key role in the artificial hike in land prices, particularly in Gokul Road area as it comes under the North-Eastern zone which is said to be auspicious for residences.

Ashok Kheny, MD of Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) on his recent visit to the city had stated that the soaring land prices had disrupted the development work in the city and sought the intervention of authorities concerned to check the price.

Online Campaign to Retain HDMC Chief

Online Campaign to Retain HDMC Chief
By Manu Aiyappa - Times of India



DHARWAD-HUBLI: Some like-minded residents have embarked on an online campaign to garner public support and demand the state government to extend the services of Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Commissioner P.Manivannan, who is due to be transferred in October.
"He has changed the face of Hubli-Dharwad in a span of three years. Another two years of his stay will work wonders for the twin-cities", Sunil Nalavade, the brain behind the online petition venture said.

Nalavade has created an online petition, (http://www.petitiononline.com/HDCOMMMP/petition.html) to mobilize public support to seek a two-year extension considering his performance in Hubli-Dharwad. He is also planning distribution of posters, pamphlets and banners urging people to support the cause.
"The public usually raise their voice whenever an upright officer is transferred by the government. The government will not heed such requests until such agitations turn violent or results in the damage of public property. So, we thought we will take up the matter now itself", Nalvade said.
Online petition has now emerged to be a popular and accepted mode of campaigning. Nalvade and others hope that once the issue comes in the public limelight and is picked up in the media, there will be no going back. As expected, petitions are pouring in. Nalvade said the online petition is now close to 300.

Interestingly, it has also become a platform for serious discussions where people are exchanging various points of view. For instance - "He (Manivannan) has done so much for the city and he deserves an extension. Or, at least, he should be allowed to accomplish his incomplete missions of regularizing illegal buildings and giving shape to citizens committees" - was one among the many petitions posted online.
There are others too - "HDMC, whose image as a non-performing body, reinvented itself as a proactive and development-driven agency under his period. He deserves an extension", "We never ever had in our dreams thought that HDMC will get a coveted certificate such as ISO-9001, 2000. Give him two years, he will take it to greater heights".

One of the prime concerns expressed by the petitioners, however, is that will the Special Commissioner, Ajay Nagabhushan, manage to continue Manivannan's good work."How can a person, without experience of working in any major municipal corporation of the state, manage the HDMC, touted as the second biggest municipal corporation in Karnataka", asks a petitioner.
Interestingly, a petitioner argues that if the state government transfers Manivannan, it should be seen on a positive side. If he is given greater responsibility by the government, the state as a whole will benefit along with Hubli-Dharwad".

Note: This article appeared on Times of India / Dated 8/1/2007, Bangalore edition.