Rs 80 for 18-min Metro ride from N Delhi to IGI from today

February Wednesday 23, 2011

From Wednesday you can reach Indira Gandhi International Airport in just 18 minutes and for Rs 80. Finally, after missing several deadlines, the much awaited showcase airport metro expressline is going to open for commuters, especially those bound for the airport. However, the line will be formally

inaugurated later when all the promised facilities will be available.

This 23 km line - the first of its kind that was built on a PPP model in the country - will open for commuters at 2 pm from the New Delhi station. Till the two stations - Dhaula Kuan and Aerocity (NH8) - are opened, the metro train will stop only at Shivaji Stadium station.

As of now, commuters will not be able to use facilities such as baggage check-in and passenger handling - one of the main USPs of the service - as airlines haven't opened their counters at the metro stations.

Passenger check in facilities was proposed at New Delhi, Shivaji Stadium and Dhaula Kuan stations, while baggage handling was proposed at New Delhi and Shivaji Stadium stations.

Delhi Airport Metro Express Pvt Ltd, a special purpose company of Reliance Infrastructure and the concessionaire company for the line, is though hopeful that the long pending issue will be sorted out soon.

Lalit Jalan, CEO of Reliance Infrastructure told Hindustan Times: "Matter is almost sorted out between DAMEPL and DIAL, with intervention of civil Aviation ministry, and soon the facilities will be available at the metro stations."

DAMEPL will also introduce a helpline for commuters' convenience. "The helpline number 30802080 will be active during the operation hours, from 6 am till 10 pm," said a DAMEPL spokesperson.

NRIs to get voting rights

 

Dehradun, February 18
With the Central Government bringing amendments to the Registration of Electors (Amendment) Rules, 1960, the non-resident Indians (NRIs) of Uttarakahand will be able to vote whenever the Assembly elections are announced in the state.
Stating this at a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Radha Raturi said the NRIs who first get their names registered on the electoral rolls will now be able to vote according to the Registration of Electors (Amendment) Rules, 2011.
“The voters will have to get their names registered at the place (residence) mentioned in their passport. Till now, no person could be on the voters' list if she/he was outside the country for more than six months at a stretch. But the news rules now allow NRIs, who fulfil certain criteria, to vote in elections in India,” she said.
She said the application could be submitted directly or sent by post. The process of verification will be carried out through Indian embassies located in different countries.

in brief

1.    Indians among 111 charged in major US healthcare fraud
At least six Indian-origin persons are among over 100 doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals arrested on charges of alleged involvement in a massive Medicare fraud estimated at $225 million.

2.    Working hard to help TVU students: US
The United States on Thursday said it was “working hard” to assist Indian students facing hardships after the closure of California-based Tri-Valley University and resolve the issue in “a fair and just manner”.

3.    Mahindra Satyam moves to settle US suit, to pay $125m
Mahindra Satyam, formerly known as Satyam Computer Services, today said it has agreed to pay $125 million to settle a putative class action suit filed against the company in a United States District

Indian tourists prefer Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore and Frankfurt as transit hubs

Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore and Frankfurt have become popular as preferred transit hubs among Indian tourists. Outbound passengers from India opt to travel through these cities since the last three to four years, as they provide excellent flight connectivity, airline baggage allowance rules, cheaper tickets and reduced travel time.

According to a report by Manju V of The Times of India, for instance, with no direct flights from India to San Francisco, the Silicon Valley-bound IT traffic from cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai opt for the shorter eastern route via Hong Kong to reach the US west coast. Similarly, Indian labourers to Lagos prefer to fly Emirates with Dubai as a transit point. It is the same story for Indian traders and businessmen who found China attractive in the last four-five years.

Dubai airport saw an average of 30 per cent growth in passenger traffic from India every year for the last five years, as there is a good connectivity by Emirates. An added attraction is that Emirates allows 30 kg of free check-in baggage in economy class compared to the 20 kg offered by other airlines.

Germany, for instance, has registered a steady growth in Indian air passenger traffic despite the slowdown. It saw 13.61 lakh passengers in 2009-2010, a growth of two per cent from the previous year.

FEMA slapped on Rahat, his manager

New Delhi, February 19
Charges under the Foreign Exchange Management Act and the Customs Act were slapped on Pakistani Sufi singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his manager Maroof today in connection with recovery of huge undeclared foreign currency from them.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, which detained the duo from Indira Gandhi International Airport on February 13 with allegedly undeclared $1.24 lakh (nearly Rs 60 lakh), has completed its probe and sent the matter for adjudication, which will be done by the Commissioner Customs (Airports), official sources said. The duo will be allowed to leave the country after they pay a penalty to be determined by the commissioner. The foreign exchange will remain confiscated, sources said.
The investigations against event manager Chitresh Shrivastava, who is also under detention, and two foreign exchange dealers of Mumbai, would continue, they added. The agency had questioned Rahat (37) and Maroof about the money recovered and payments received during their shows in the country and the mode of money transfer. It had also questioned a number of other persons in the case, including his event managers.
Meanwhile, DRI sleuths had also raided the premises of “Eyeline Telefilm and Events” in Mumbai, owned by Chitresh Shrivastava, elder brother of Bollywood singer Aadesh Shrivastava.
Sources privy to the investigations claimed the sleuths found Rs 51 lakh in cash from the company besides some documents which could be helpful in the probe being carried out by the DRI.
Rahat and his entire 16-member troupe, including Maroof and the event manager, were detained by authorities. The troupe was on in its way to Lahore via Dubai. Rahat was quizzed by DRI officials for 10 hours on Thursday.
As per norms, no one can carry beyond $ 5,000 in cash and $ 5,000 in other instruments. A person has to declare the amount if he is carrying more than this to the Customs Department. According to sources, the payments by an event manager to Rahat were made in Indian currency and US dollars and these people were allegedly found converting dollars into Indian rupees “through unauthorised channels”. Rahat is rated as one of the top Bollywood playback singers and has several hit numbers to his credit. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer this year for ‘Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji’ from the movie ‘Ishqiya.’

Seminar on RTI Act held in Dehradun

Dehradun, February 18
Any information gains the value only if it reaches the common man and the officials should understand it. This was stated by Prabhat Dabral, Uttarakhand Chief Information Commissioner, while addressing a seminar at the Vikas Bhawan here today.
All the information officers participated in the seminar.Among those present at the seminar were District Panchayat Officer MM Khan, District Education Officer Geeta Nautiyal, Uttarakhand Saving Director in charge Pratap Ram.

Three-day police remand for accused NRI Gurmukh Singh Rode

Tarun Sharma Assault Case 

Jalandhar, February 19
The local court today remanded Gurmukh Singh Rode, an NRI son of a former Akali Dal leader and a close associate of the state Chief Minister, in police custody for three days in the Tarun Sharma assault case.
Rode, son of Jasbir Singh Rode, who kept eluding the police for over 20 days, was nabbed by the CIA staff of the city police on February 16. However, his arrest was not shown on official records. The police had to show his arrest after The Tribune highlighted the case in its columns. A case under Sections 307, 506 and 34 of the IPC has been registered against him.
Sources said due to the alleged political pressure, the police might remove certain sections of the IPC during the ongoing investigation of the case. Rode had allegedly attacked Tarun Sharma, a city-based cloth merchant, on January 6.

Sri Lanka trounce Canada by 210 runs

Mahela Jayawardena bagged the Man of the Match award for his fantastic innings with the bat. Said he just needed a momentum in the middle and glad it came off well. Praised his skipper for a beautiful innings and added it is nice to get off to a good start in the World Cup. And like others, he also praised the ground facilities. When quizzed about breaking Jayasuriya's record, he replied that he had no idea and also added that Jayasuriya is a legend..

Victorious captain Kumar Sangakkara said the openers provided good start and Jayawardena batted beautifully. Added that starting cautiously was a plan to have a look at the Canadian bowlers. Praised bowlers for their superb effort. He also praised the ground facilities and said they are happy with the show they put up here..

Canadian skipper Ashish Bagai, said it was always going to be good task for them and added the two world class batsmen (Sangakkara and Jayawardena) took the game away from them. Further added that lots of players suffered under the energy sapping conditions and said they have enough time in between to get fit. Praised the facility of the ground!.

Hang on for the presentation....

Chasing a stiff target of 333 runs was always going to be a tough task for the Canadians and once they lost the top four batsmen with just 42 on the board, they had no chance. Their technique against the moving balls were completely exposed and the spinners also made them to dance on their tune. They need to quickly fix that area and come out confidently in the next tie. Rizwan Cheema was the only batsman who impressed with his little cameo and apart from that there was no fire in the batting line up. Sri Lankan seamers, specially Perera, were too hot to handle for Canada and the smiling assassin, Muralidaran, also cashed in with couple of scalps..

Sri Lanka have registered an emphatic victory over Canada to start off their World Cup campaign in grand style.

 

TRIVIA

Breaking Sanath Jayasuriya's record, Mahela Jayawardene hit the fastest century for Sri Lanka in the World Cup, off 80 balls, against Canada at Hambantota.

New Zealand crush Kenya by 10 wickets

CHENNAI: New Zealand crushed Kenya by 10 wickets in a totally lop-sided Group A match for a perfect start to their World Cup campaign on Sunday.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

New Zealand unleashed their pace trio of Tim Southee (3-13), Hamish Bennett (4-16) and Jacob Oram (3-2) to bundle out rank outsiders Kenya for a meagre 69 in 23.5 overs and returned to overwhelm the target in eight overs.

There was not much room for batting practice chasing a 70-run victory target but openers Martin Guptill (39) and Brendon McCullum (26) stroked some easy boundaries before completing the chase.

The comprehensive win will lift New Zealand's morale which had taken a beating after a poor build-up that included whitewash in Bangladesh and India, besides a home series defeat against Pakistan.

Earlier, Kenya captain Jimmy Kamande won the toss and opted to bat first before a horror story unfolded in front of his eyes.

Two days before he turns 24, Bennett ran through the top order as Kenya's top half was back in the hut even before the team total had reached the 50-run mark.

Openers Alex Obanda (6) and Seren Waters (16) began cautiously even if run-rate was nothing to write home about.

Southee trapped Obanda in the seventh over before Bennett suddenly took fancy to beating the blade and hitting the pad of the flummoxed Kenyan batsmen, claiming three of his four victims lbw.

Southee dismissed Nehemiah Odhiambo and Shem Ngoche off the last two deliveries of his sixth over but could not get a chance to complete his hat-trick as Oram removed Elijah Otieno for a duck to drop the curtains on the Kenyan innings.

Only three Kenyan batsmen - Waters, Collins Obuya (14) and Rakep Patel (15 not out) - managed double digit scores.

New Zealand missed Kyle Mills' service through a sore back but off-spinner Nathan McCullum recovered from fever to open the attack, a move that is getting increasingly popular among the visiting teams.

Sri Lanka trounce Canada by 210 runs

Perera and Kulasekara took three wickets each after Jayawardene's 100 and Sangakkara's 92 as Sri Lanka trounced Canada by 210 runs in the World Cup.

Sri Lanka vs Canada in ICC World Cup 2011

Canada to take on Lanka today in ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at Hambantota 2 pm

First day, first show, a big hit

n Sehwag clobbers 175 as India post a mammoth 370n Dogged Bangladesh fall short by 87 runsn India open campaign with a convincing win

Mirpur, February 19
India started their World Cup campaign with a bang as they defeated Bangladesh by 87 runs in the opening match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium here today.

TODAY’S MATCHES

Live on Star Cricket Kenya vs New Zealand Chennai 9:30 am

Sri Lanka vs Canada Hambantota 2 pm

Put into bat, India posted a mammoth 370 for 4, with opening batsman Virender Sehwag scoring a cavalier 175 and Virat Kohli remaining unbeaten with 100.
Virender Sehwag unleashed a merciless assault on the hapless Bangladeshi bowlers to notch up his 14th ODI century with a breathtaking array of strokes. Kohli completed his century on the penultimate ball of the innings.

Indian cricketers celebrate the dismissal of Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan at The Sher-e Bangla Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday. India won by 87 runs. — AFP

In reply, Bangladesh scored 283 for nine in their 50 overs. Munaf Patel was the most successful bowler with figures of 4 for 48 from his ten overs.
Kohli had his moment of glory in the run deluge by hitting his fifth ODI century as the Delhi duo stitched a rollicking 203 runs for the third wicket on a placid track.
It was a virtual carnage as Sehwag, who defied cramps and batted with a runner after completing his century, and Kohli gave a stunning exhibition of strokeplay to leave the hosts in a daze.
Sehwag hammered as many as 14 boundaries and five sixes during his 140-ball 175 while Kohli's unbeaten 83-ball 100 contained eigth boundaries and two sixes.

Virat Kohli kisses his helmet after completing his century during the Group B match against Bangladesh in Mirpur on Saturday. — Reuters

Sachin Tendulkar (28) and Gautam Gambhir (39) got the starts but could not capitalise on it, though Tendulkar was distinctly unlucky to be run out.
Sehwag set the tempo by spanking the very first ball off paceman Shafiul Islam through cover to the boundary to begin the innings on a rousing note. He also clobbered the last ball to the boundary as the first over yielded 12 runs.
His opening partner Tendulkar was run out after scoring 28 runs.

Day in stats

India's 370 is the highest team total in a World Cup opener, going past England's 334 in the 1975 World Cup.

Virender Sehwag's 175 is the highest individual score in the opening game of the World Cup, going past Glenn Turner's 171 in the first World Cup.

Sehwag's 175 is the highest score by an Indian batsman against Bangladesh and also the highest score in an ODI in Bangladesh.

The 203-run stand between Sehwag and Kohli is the fifth 200-plus partnership for India in World Cups. Sehwag has been involved in two of them.

This is only the fourth time in 223 ODI innings, and the first time in more than seven years, that Sehwag has played more than 110 deliveries in an innings.

After Sehwag completed his century, both batsmen opted for the batting powerplay and virtually plundered runs at will, picking up Shafiul Islam for special treatment by clobbering him for 18 runs in one over. Abdur Razzak also came in for a battering as Sehwag smashed him for two boundaries and a six in one over to accelerate the pace of scoring.
While Sehwag unleashed his strokes, Kohli played orthodox shots at the other end and completed his 13th ODI half century by taking a single off Rubel Hossain. Sehwag created many batting records during his scintillating knock.
It was the highest score by an Indian batsman against Bangladesh, going past Sourav Ganguly's 135 in 2000 and he also surpassed Tendulkar's 141 which till date was the highest individual score in ODIs in Bangladesh. Sehwag fell at the same score that the legendary Kapil Dev had made 28 years ago. — PTI
Scoreboard
IndiaSehwag b Hasan 175
Tendulkar run out 28
Gambhir b Mahmudullah 39
Kohli not out 100
Yusuf c Rahim b Shafiul 8
Total: 370 for 4
Extras: (b-1 lb-2 w-16 nb-1) 20
Bowling: Shafiul 7-0-69-1, Hossain 10-0-60-0, Razzak 9-0-74-0, Hasan 10-0-61-1, Naeem 7-0-54-0, Mahmudullah 7-0-49-1.
BangladeshIqbal c Yuvraj b Munaf 70
Kayes b Munaf 34
Siddique st Dhoni b Harbhajan 37
Shakib c Harbhajan b Yusuf 55
Rahim c sub b Zaheer 25
Raqibul not out 29
Mahmudullah b Munaf 6
Naeem lbw b Munaf 2
Razzak lbw b Zaheer 1
Shafiul run out 0
Rubel not out 1
Total: 283 for 9
Extras (lb 9, w 13, nb 1) 23
Bowling: Sreesanth 5-0-53-0, Zaheer 10-0-41-2, Munaf 10-0-48-4, Harbhajan 10-0-41-1, Yusuf 8-0-49-1, Yuvraj 7-0-42-0.

ICC World Cup 2011

NRI Headlines will bring full coverage of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 for NRIs living abroad.