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Bigger New Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z At Rs 1.85 Lakh To Woo Buyers

The Pune-based Bajaj Auto on Friday introduced the biggest Pulsar - the NS400Z, positioned as a performance-focused motorcycle priced at Rs 1.85 lakh at the Delhi showroom. Bookings are now open with a down payment of Rs 5,000 and deliveries will start in the first week of June. The middleweight Pulsar will compete with the likes of the Triumph Speed 400, KTM 390 Duke and the upcoming Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450. Pulsar started the shift in the culture towards sports motorcycles in India, said Rajiv Bajaj, MD, Bajaj Auto, while unveiling the model, adding that this was the right time to launch what is being called as the biggest Pulsar ever. The new bike is powered by a 373cc liquid-cooled engine and it is mated to a six-speed gearbox, producing 40 PS power and 35 Nm of torque. The bike has ride-by-wire electronic throttle, with four ride modes - Road, Rain, Sports and Offroad - to optimize ride power. The high-performance Pulsar will have a top speed of 154 km/h. The Pulsar range has been a key product in Bajaj Autos portfolio for over 24 years, with 1.8 crore units sold over two decades. The company claimed that the new Pulsar has been improved with an LCD display, lap timer, traction control and advanced braking system (ABS). The Pulsar NS400Z is a great motorcycle for riders looking to start their biking journey or upgrade to a higher-capacity motorcycle, said Sarang Kanade, President - Motorcycle Business, Bajaj Auto.

Deccan Chronicle 4 May 2024 12:37 am

NCP-SCP's alleged supporters beat lawyer in Pune; police register FIR

NCP-SCP's alleged supporters beat lawyer in Pune; police register FIR An FIR has been registered against alleged workers of the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for thrashing a government pleader (lawyer) in Baramati after a road rage incident, police said on Friday. According to the police, since the lawyer belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, the FIR has been registered under various sections, including the SC and ST Act, at Baramati Police Station. Pune Rural Police SP Pankaj Deshmukh said, After receiving a complaint from the victim, we have registered an FIR against 17 people (2 identified and 15 unidentified) for beating him in a road rage case. We have also received a cross-complaint from the other side. The process of registering the FIR is underway. Further investigation is underway. Two identified accused are Suresh Gosavi and Amol Chowghule; 15 others are unidentified, the police said. The 35-year-old victim identified as Ajit Chandrakant Bansode, who works as a lawyer in a local court in Baramati, said, Today morning while I was travelling from my office to court, a car dashed my car from behind. I saw these people who were going for an election campaign for a political party and when I asked them how you were driving the car, they came out of their car and started abusing me. When I told them that I'm a lawyer and they could not talk to me like that, they started beating me. They called some people from nearby Kanheri village to beat me and then they fled. After this, I went to the local police station to register a complaint against them. In a complaint filed with the police, Bansode alleged that one of the women from that group who came out of the car told me that she is the sarpanch of Kanheri village and they are going for the election campaign of Supriya Sule. He further alleged that another woman threatened him, saying, We will see you (ham tujhe dekh lenge). Another woman from the group said she is the daughter-in-law of Suresh Gosavi and held my collar and started beating me. They also took Rs 5,000 cash from my car, Bansode said. Further investigation into matter is underway. (ANI)

devdiscourse 3 May 2024 11:29 pm

Will PM Modi scrap the limit on reservations, asks Rahul Gandhi

Will Modi ji speak on whether he plans to remove the 50% cap on reservations? he asked. He was addressing a rally in Pune city as part of campaigning for the Congress (and the MVAs) Pune Lok Sabha seat candidate

The Hindu 3 May 2024 10:47 pm

Will PM Modi scrap 50 per cent limit on reservations, asks Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a rally in Maharashtra`s Pune, asked PM Modi whether he would scrap the 50 per cent limit on reservations in the country

Mid Day 3 May 2024 10:30 pm

A question that brought this filmmaker back to Pune

The Indian Express 3 May 2024 9:27 pm

IndiGo announces additional flights between Delhi to Phuket from June 1

IndiGo increases Delhi-Phuket flights to 14 per week, focusing on market access, direct connectivity, and diverse tourism opportunities in Thailand, fostering stronger bilateral ties.

The Times of India 3 May 2024 9:14 pm

Will PM Modi scrap 50% limit on reservations, asks Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi, a leader of the Indian National Congress, questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the possibility of removing the 50% cap on reservations in the country during a rally in support of Congress candidate Ravindra Dhangekar for the Pune Lok Sabha seat. He emphasized the importance of preserving the Constitution, warning that altering it would drastically change India. Gandhi also criticized PM Modi for his remarks about Sharad Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, calling it insulting.

The Economic Times 3 May 2024 7:43 pm

First constitution park inaugurated in Pune

The Times of India 3 May 2024 6:40 pm

Indian Army And Punit Balan Group Unite To Establish India`s First Constitution Park

The Constitution Park serves as a significant initiative by the Indian Army, particularly the Southern Command, to enlighten Puneites about their civic responsibilities, saidLt. Gen. Ajai Kumar Singh, GOC-in-C of the Southern Command.

Zee News 3 May 2024 6:25 pm

In Fond Memory of Shri Harith Budhraja

He pursued learning with fervour, earning a degree in engineering from Pune University in May 2000 with 1st class with distinction and 7th in order of merit.

DNA India 3 May 2024 4:13 pm

Tata Technologies Q4 Results: Revenue Falls Marginally, Profit Misses Estimates

Consolidated top line of the Pune-based ER&D firm fell 1% sequentially in Q4 to Rs 1,301 crore.

Bloomberg Quint 3 May 2024 4:03 pm

How Did Bengaluru and Pune Go From Being Cities With Good Weather to Hot Boxes?

Bengaluru had its second hottest day in 50 years in April. Pune will see 40-42 degrees Celsius in the next few days.

The Quint 3 May 2024 2:42 pm

350 km Sunday ride on my Interceptor 650: My observations & experience

BHPian parrys recently shared this with other enthusiasts. So, I went for a 350+ km ride on Sunday with the Interceptor 650. Ride Details: Thane - Panvel - Lonavala - Pawana - Tamhini Ghat - Kolad - Mandwa - M2M Ferry - Thane. Total distance covered, 363.2 kms.Here are some observationsStarted to get a hang of the weight. Now I am able to lean into a corner more confidently. Did overshoot a couple of corners, but nothing scary. As the mind always keeps telling me you are on an INT 650 & not 390 ADV anymore.The touring seat kept me happy. Did not have a sore bottom after coming back home.Do miss the gear position indicator. The INT 650 is so smooth higher up in the revs as well, that sometimes I was riding in 5th, and then noticed that I still had another upshift left. So I hope, RE offers this with their updated meters on the newer models.Love looking at the needles. Hard on the throttle, nothing more satisfying than watching the speed & RPM needle climb. And the dials look good to me.Riding posture for me, my height of 5'8''; no problem at all. At times I feel that the tank is LONG, when I look down. It makes me wonder does this make me sit too far? But the posture, I find nothing wrong with it.It does heat up at slow speeds. No denying that fact.End up kicking the left bend pipe often while trying to get the side stand down.Not even once have I used the USB charging yet. I must at least try to see if it is functional.Ceat Tyres - HORRIBLE. Not enough grip for fast cornering. Forget corners, while riding at 80-90 kmph, I once encountered a very very small wet patch. The tyre went sliding for a split second. Experience helped me maintain the line, but a scary moment for sure. Especially when you have no traction control. RE must surely reconsider the rubber. These Ceats, I will plan to change soon.Headlight looks good, when you look at it. The illumination at night, very poor.Mileage, around 27 kmpl. Not bad at all. Including slow crawls, high revving speeds and cruising too. Satisfied.Brakes surprised me. Even with the weight, I now have enough confidence to put the anchors down. Decent bite for my riding style.On Sundays, we bikers spend thousands of rupees. Why? To ride our motorcycle for hours. Food cost is almost 10-20% of fuel cost. But worth it. Every single time. Most of you here on this post, might have seen the Tanners Pride custom leather tank protector. It went flying off at triple-digit speeds. Thank god it did not hit someone else riding behind. Never going the magnetic route ever again. This was my first and last time. And this, while flying off, or when I picked it back and placed it on the tank; HAS SCRATCHED THE TANK. So it has defeated the whole purpose. Tamhini Ghat route is so beautiful. It was raining last weekend around Pune. So we got lovely weather throughout this section. Even after having seen that scratched tank, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. The bike kept flowing smoothly, and the AEW 102s kept playing some sweet music. I can never get tired of this. My dad owned a Yezdi Roadking when I was a kid. I guess I have had a thing for twin pipes since then. Looks iconic. Or maybe, twin pipes look right (symmetry). Also noticed, the number plate mounting is crooked. Need to fix it soon. Mesh gear always. Summer or winter. This is my Rynox set. My other RevIt is also maximum mesh. So, here's the heartbreaking bit from Sunday. Scratches on the tank. 2-3 spots like these. I think I had tears in my helmet when I saw this. The cut was deep. So no amount of detailing could resolve this. So had to go the PPF way. Not my thing. But no choice. Got a black PPF. Surprisingly, it matches the colour 100%. But, one will always notice the PPF cut / edge line. Which again, troubles my OCD. Before I placed the magnetic tank cover, I had also ordered this unit from Sahara Seats. So this is a placeholder, to ensure that I don't spot those PPF cuts easily. The PPF is cut wider than this cover, so the cover does not damage the paint. My friends say I have gone crazy. More to follow, about how I maintain my tank. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Team-BHP 3 May 2024 2:15 pm

Times Fresh Face Pune auditions

A student dances on Husn by Anuv Jain

The Times of India 3 May 2024 1:47 pm

Supriya`s victory will reduce support for Modi by one MP in Parliament: Pawar

Campaigning on Thursday for Sule in Pune district`s Purandar tehsil, which comes under the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, he also flayed the BJP over farmers` issues

Mid Day 3 May 2024 12:44 pm

Express train searched for 40 minutes in Bhopal after passenger spots suspicious object

Manish Arora, a resident of Delhi was travelling in Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express and pulled the emergency chain at Mathura Junction so that his mother could finish breakfast before alighting on the platform. (Photo: File I Representational) Manish Arora, a resident of Delhi was travelling in Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express and pulled the emergency chain at Mathura Junction so that his mother could finish breakfast before alighting on the platform. (Photo: File I Representational) Bhopal: A Jammu-bound train was searched for 40 minutes at Rani Kamalapti station in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal on Friday morning after one of the passengers claimed that there was a suspicious object onboard, an official of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) said. The Pune-Jammu Tawi Jhelum Express was searched at Rani Kamalapati station around 9 am, but the information turned out to be a hoax, RPF commandant Prashant Yadav said. One of the passengers onboard the train informed the ticket checker about the presence of a suspicious object, following which the train was halted at Rani Kamalapati station, he said. However, nothing suspicious was found during the search, which lasted for about 40 minutes, and the train left for its destination at 9.40, the official said. The passenger is being interrogated, he added.

Deccan Chronicle 3 May 2024 12:40 pm

Pune youngsters shine at the Fresh Face finale

The city finale of JOY Times Fresh Face Season 15, powered by AcneStar Gel, was high on talent, glamour, and entertainment. After competing against students from different colleges in the semi-finale, 23 finalists from Pune took the stage to compete for the title. The finalists showcased diverse and flawless performances from beatboxing, acting and dancing, to ballet, yoga, and mime, in the talent round

The Times of India 3 May 2024 12:29 pm

Chopper crashes while landing in Raigad; was to fly Uddhav Sena leader Sushma Andhare

The helicopter was manufactured in 2002 by Bell 407 and belongs to a Pune based chartered aviation company

The Hindu 3 May 2024 12:16 pm

Elgar Case: DU Professor Hany Babu Denies Bail Plea Withdrawal in SC

Elgar Case: DU Professor Hany Babu Denies Bail Plea Withdrawal in SC Delhi University's associate professor Hany Babu on Friday withdrew from the Supreme Court his plea seeking bail in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case. A bench of Justices Bela Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal took note of the submission of of the lawyer appearing for Babu, who said five other co-accused have been granted bail in the case. ''The counsel for the petitioner states that there is a change in the circumstance and would not like to press the present petition and approach the high court,'' the bench noted. The top court had earlier sought a response from the Maharashtra government and the NIA on his plea against an order of the Bombay High Court which rejected his bail plea. The high court on September 19, 2022 had rejected the bail plea filed by Babu. The NIA, which is conducting a probe into the case, has accused Babu of being a co-conspirator in propagating Maoist activities and ideology on the instructions of leaders of the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation. Babu was arrested in July 2020 in the case and is currently lodged at the Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai. The case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave, held in Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31, 2017, which police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon Bhima war memorial located on the city's outskirts. One person was killed and several others were injured in the violence. The case, in which over a dozen activists and academicians had been named accused, was initially probed by the Pune Police and later taken over by the NIA. Babu approached the HC in June this year, challenging an order of the special NIA court here which rejected his bail plea earlier this year. Babu, in his plea, had said the special court had ''erred'' in holding that there existed prima facie incriminating material against him. The NIA had opposed the bail plea, arguing Babu actively participated in activities to promote Naxalism and wanted to overthrow the government.

devdiscourse 3 May 2024 12:09 pm

Reading cinema

KOCHI: Every film is a foreign film, foreign to some audience, somewhere around the world. It is through subtitles that an audience can experience different languages and cultures. And behind every foreign film that brings a culture to a viewer is a subtitler. These lines are from the short documentary The Invisible Subtitler.And yes, through subtitles we not only follow the plot but also the people and their lives beyond the screen. Whether its a French art film, a Mexican series, or a Hollywood action thriller, subtitles offer more than just a translation these one-inch strips of text at the bottom of the screen serve as a tool for cultural immersion, letting us explore, understand, and connect with worlds beyond our own. However, there lies one challenge. Not everyone in a multilingual country like India can read the rapidly scrolling English letters. The solution? Regional subtitles. The origin of regional subtitles traces back to 1993 when Doordarshan began adding them to movies from the Indian Panorama and broadcasting them. We had movies with English subtitles at the beginning. The regional subtitling practice was initially adopted in states like Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. We did it with the help of The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) during the 1980s, says Baiju Chandran, senior journalist and retired director of programmes at Doordarshan. In the late 1990s, Doordarshan began incorporating subtitles in various other regional languages, including Malayalam. The NFDC utilised the LIPS software (The CDAC developed the Language Independent Program Subtitles in Pune)to create regional subtitles, says Lakshmy Narayanan, one of the earlier subtitlers at NFDC. As a result, local channels in their respective languages could select the appropriate language for subtitles alongside the movies. Money Heist, Spanish series However, in Kerala, the scene is a bit different. Its the film societies and amateur groups that have been crafting Malayalam subtitles. The beginning follows thus: In October 2012, a group of movie enthusiasts from the Facebook film groupCinema Paradiso Clubembarked on a remarkable journey by producing Malayalam subtitles for MajidMajidis film Children of Heaven.The idea was led initially by members of the club, Sreejith Parippai and Gokul Dinesh. It took us three days to finish the task. We watched the movie with the English subtitles on. Yes, our subtitle had several mistakes and we didnt concentrate on decoding any cultural references or humour. Our motive was purely on introducing the thought to movie buffs and later grow the initiative according to peoples interest, says Sreejith. For the duo, the inspiration to make foreign content accessible to people from all walks of life came from a few articles. Especially, the articles published in periodicals discussing Malayalam subtitles by C S Venkiteswaran. Also, the successful efforts of Irumpanam School in creating subtitles for students was another turning point, says Sreejith. He is speaking about a film club at Irumpanam Vocational Higher Secondary School in Ernakulam, which screened Akira KursawasDreams with Malayalam subtitles for the students. This was way back in 2010. The initiative was the brainchild of their Malayalam teacher, Sanal Kumar. After releasing the first movie with subtitles on Cinema Paradiso ClubsFacebook page, Sreejith and Gokul were dissatisfied with its low reach. We recognised the need for a dedicated platform beyond the regular social media. So, we established a blog and formed a group called M-SONE (Malayalam Subtitles for Everyone).Many from the Cinema Paradiso Club also joined the blog, says Sreejith. C S Venkiteswaran M-SONE has now released 3,331 movies with Malayalam subtitles. All thanks to a team of 597 translators. The members claim that the total subtitle count may be over 7,000 if series episodes are also counted. Now anyone can contribute subtitles to movies. The earlier members of the group serve as the admins and they cross-check and verify the subtitles, adds Sreejith. Its not an easy task, especially since one is doing it out of pure passion. One such person, Ameya Shaji (name changed) has been a contributing member of M-SONE for a while now. According to her, dependingon the duration of the movie and the time she has in hand, it would take at least three to one week to provide subtitles for a movie. Most subtitlers use a software called Subtitle Edit. However, they dont just translate words literally, they analyse the dialogue in each scene to capture the full meaning without losing the core message. The software will have timestamps and the subtitler will translate the dialogues and save it asa.srtfile, Ameya explains the process.The groups subtitle collection is available on their website for all to download. Malayalam subtitles are not restricted to these online groups. The Open Frame Film Society, Payyanur, has also been at the forefront of promoting cinema through Malayalam subtitles. Their efforts have resulted in subtitling approximately 50 classic movies, including Hiroshima Mon Amour, Charulatha, Knife in theWater, TokyoStory and Death byHanging. It has completed three hundred other films too. P Premachandran, a higher secondary Malayalam teacher and a member of the film society, says the efforts have eased language barriers.When we organise film festivals, the older population can understand the craft better if we add Malayalam subtitles. In one such workshop, critic K F Mathews pointed out that he could acquire deeper knowledgeof the 1956 film Night In Fog, thanks to the subtitles, he says. Also, many older people drop by the Payyanur film festival as they dont want to miss out on experiencing a foreign movie in their mother tongue. Plans are now afoot at the society for its 9th Film Festival. Premachandran says the societys efforts have also facilitated the screening of academic films with Malayalam subtitles in many schools across Kerala,says Premachandran. He says, Malayalam subtitles is a way to introduce school children to world cinema. With subtitle files that are in WhatsApp groups to introduce classics and film related to education to young children. Afterall, cinema is also a tool for education, he smiles. The challenges Malayalam subtitling groups grapple with ethical dilemmas, and one of the most prominent issues is piracy. Interestingly, the acceptance of Malayalam subtitles owes much to the availability of foreign films on platforms like Telegram and Torrents. The audience for Malayalam subtitles often overlaps with those who consume pirated content. Another significant challenge faced by subtitlers lies in translating profanity. Rendering them into Malayalam without offending the audience is no small feat, especially as the viewers include schoolchildren to older audiences. Sreejith discusses another aspect double translation. Foreign films undergo double translation when rendered into Malayalam.Subtitlers, who are often unfamiliar with the original text, rely on English subtitles for their translations. And that means the authenticity and originality of the text is questionable. During this process of double translation, numerous words and meanings are inevitably lost, Sreejith says. Diversity in captions National award-winning film critic C S Venkiteswaran, however, ponits to an interesting phenomenon. There are several versions of Malayalam subtitles available for the same movie reflecting different dialects or slang. Hence, viewers from various regions in Kerala can select the version that truly speaks to them. Its all about the abundance of choices. Providing ample options ensures that viewers can find the one that suits their preferences, he says. Rajeev Ramachandran, a senior journalist and audio-visual translator, emphasises the importance of subtitles with closed captions and audio descriptions. Closed captions enhance inclusivity by providing a cinematic experience for the hearing impaired. However, modern cinema extends beyond mere dialogue it encompasses scenes, actions, and the audio track, all of which significantly contribute to the narrative. For me, closed captioning is akin to translating a visual and auditory cinematic concept into a different language, he says.

The New Indian Express 3 May 2024 9:55 am

Supriya's victory will reduce support for Modi by one MP in Parliament: Sharad Pawar

PUNE: Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Sharad Pawar has said that victory for his daughter Supriya Sule, his party's Lok Sabha candidate from Baramati, would reduce support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi by one MP in Parliament. Campaigning on Thursday for Sule in Pune district's Purandar tehsil, which comes under the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, he also flayed the BJP over farmers' issues. Three-term MP Sule is pitted against NCP candidate Sunetra Pawar, her sister-in-law and wife of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. We have given candidature to Supriya Sule so press the button next to her name on EVM in the election (on May 7). Your vote will not only determine her victory, but ensure that there is one more MP who is not supporting Modi, the senior Pawar said. The former Union agriculture minister said under the BJP government at the Centre, the condition of farmers has become miserable. If we want to change the scenario and have a farmers-centric approach in policymaking, then change needs to be brought, he said. The veteran political claimed the BJP-led dispensation is not in favour of giving remunerative prices to farmers for their agricultural products.

The New Indian Express 3 May 2024 9:47 am

In Maharashtra, stalker attacks student & her family with cutter, held

A private company employee, 28, arrested for attacking a college student, her parents, and sister with a cutter after being accused of stalking her. The student suffered seven stitches to her hand.

The Times of India 3 May 2024 9:42 am

Man torches mom-in-law's scooter over interference, 15 other vehicles damaged

Resident damaged vehicles in fire, torching mother-in-law's two-wheeler. Quarrels led to wife's relocation. Man ignited fire due to intervention, causing damage. Police case filed, fire brigade called, affecting building.

The Times of India 3 May 2024 9:41 am

Maharashtra farmers fight water scarcity in villages near Baramati with smile

Water scarcity plagues villages near Baramati despite political representation, leading to agricultural challenges and forced migration. Residents cope with limited water supply, highlighting the persistent struggle against drought-like conditions and unmet promises.

The Times of India 3 May 2024 9:40 am

Police foil suicide bid

The Times of India 3 May 2024 5:34 am

Cops wife loses 28L to flat bait

The Times of India 3 May 2024 5:30 am

Cong mantri tried to frame me in Malegaon case: Yogi

The Times of India 3 May 2024 5:29 am

4,500 EVMs to be procured from Nagpur and Parbhani

The Times of India 3 May 2024 5:21 am

Vote for Sule to limit Modi supporters

The Times of India 3 May 2024 5:20 am

Inapt to call Sunetra an outsider: Shaina NC

The Times of India 3 May 2024 5:02 am

Crooks dupe woman, siphon off 18L loan

The Times of India 3 May 2024 4:42 am

Should have split from uncle in 04: Ajit Pawar

The Times of India 3 May 2024 4:42 am

EV maker Eka Mobility to invest 600cr in Pune plants

The Times of India 3 May 2024 4:41 am

Passengers: Run Azad Hind on time or cancel it for good

The Times of India 3 May 2024 4:39 am

Software engineer loses 12L in fake money laundering case

The Times of India 3 May 2024 4:35 am

Sharad-Ajit shadow Pawarplay in Baramati

The uncle is the undisputed ruler of this domain, his calculations are always accurate, and his political insight is still consulted, openly or secretly, for nearly every decision in Maharashtra. The nephew, who has quickly grasped things, has learned every strategy from him, but his aspirations are evidently not aligned with the principles of the clan.

The Times of India 3 May 2024 4:19 am

Mothers Recipe launches Taste ka Dhamaka Campaign

Jammu Tawi: Mother's Recipe, famous for its tasty flavors, is thrilled to announce the start of its lively Taste ka Dhamaka' campaign in Pune. To connect with Punekar and share the goodness of their new range of sauces, Mother's Recipe has decked the Pune buses running through the city with colorful ads featuring their convenient [] The post Mothers Recipe launches Taste ka Dhamaka Campaign appeared first on Northlines .

The Northlines 2 May 2024 11:24 pm

The joy of zipping around Kochi in India's only water metro boat service

For Anita Sharma, a native of Pune, who is in Kochi with her family on vacation, the highlight of her trip to God's Own Country was her journey on board the Kochi Water Metro to Fort Kochi. The views are picturesque and calming. The lush greenery of the mangroves provides a stark contrast to the city life we left behind, she says. Anita adds, Local life unfolds along the water's edges: fishermen in small rowboats cast their nets and villagers go about their daily routines, seemingly undisturbed by the gentle hum of our passing boat. What impressed her the most was travelling in the Water metro's air-conditioned boat. It is indeed impressive, a gushing Anita says. The Water Metro not only provided a convenient and sustainable mode of transport but also a memorable travel experience through the heart of Kochis enchanting waterways. The Water Metro in Kochi, the first of its kind in India, celebrated its first anniversary on April 28 . Its popularity has grown by leaps and bounds with a total of two million passengers using its services during the year. Offering a comforting ride with stunning views through the backwaters of Kochi, the Water Metro offers services on five routes: High Court-Bolgatty-Mulavukad North to South Chittoor, Vypeen-High Court, South Chittoor-Eloor-Cheranalloor, Vytilla-Kakkanad and High Court-Fort Kochi. Perhaps the most picturesque route is the High Court-Vypeen and High Court Fort Kochi routes where you can chance upon tourist boats, ships, skyscrapers, the iconic bridges of Marine Drive, and the Chinese nets through the wide windows of the solar-powered, air-conditioned vessel that produces almost zero sound and vibration while cruising along the Vembanad Lake. The Vytilla-Kakkanad and High Court-South Chittoor routes offer a more serene, rustic backwater experience, allowing one to cut off from the din and dust of the city. The calming journey is through the lap of greenery -- the boat disappearing into the watery world of villages, with glimpses of Chinese fishing nets, fishermen in action, and various species of birds. Within six months of beginning its service, the Water Metro hit a ridership of 1 million on October 16, 2023. According to Kochi Water Metro officials, more routes will be operational by August-September. Travel enthusiast and a member of the State Planning Board, Santhosh George Kulangara, said that Kochi Water Metro is not just a means of transportation but also revolutionizes the water transportation picture of the city. Many foreign countries are connected by waterways including New York, Tokyo and Sydney and these cities give a lot of importance to enhancing their water transportation. Kochi, surrounded by the backwater and the Arabian Sea has a huge potential in water transportation both in terms of tourism and public transportation, he says. I think Kochi has a similarity with the city of Venice in Italy. Both the cities are surrounded by islands and they can be connected to the mainland via waterways. In Venice, boats operate between stops just like how our private buses operate. During my visit to Venice over two decades ago, I thought that Kochi too could have a similar model. Today, we have one, through Kochi Water Metro, with world-class standard boats, fully air-conditioned offering a sustainable mode of transportation, said Kulangara. According to him, tourism will benefit from the launch of a water metro service in the new routes that will take tourists to the interior of Kochi and explore the real village experience. Amid the hype, one of the challenges faced by Kochi Water Metro is the pricing. The State water transportation body operates boats on the same routes at a much lower price and that is more affordable to the common man. The question that arises then is whether the Water Metro can sustain the passenger footfall after the initial enthusiasm dies down. The Kochi Water Metro Limited's managing director Loknath Behere brushes aside such concerns. We are offering monthly passes to daily commuters, which will cost them Rs 10 for a trip. For a daily commuter, monthly passes are affordable and offer a comfortable and safe journey, he told The New Indian Express . Manjummel Boys to Aadujeevitham: Malayalam films are hitting it out of the park and how!

The New Indian Express 2 May 2024 8:24 pm

Man has no pending case; attended PFI PC before it was banned; issue him passport: HC

The Bombay HC ordered the Passport Authority to issue a passport for Elliyas Mohammad Gause Momin, present at a PFI press conference in Pune. Despite opposition, the HC emphasized his acquittal and lack of pending cases for passport verification.

The Times of India 2 May 2024 7:21 pm

New Force Gurkha SUV launched at Rs 16.75 lakh

Pune-based Force Motors on Thursday launched the much-awaited 3-door and 5-door Force Gurkha SUV priced between Rs 16.75 lakh and Rs 18 lakh respectively at pan India showroom. Buyers can pre-book a test drive of the new off-roader by visiting their nearest showroom or through the companys website by paying a token amount of Rs 25,000. Indias diverse geography offers innumerable opportunities to explore and experience, from snow-capped peaks to deserts, scenic coastlines, tropical rainforests, wildlife sanctuaries, and ancient architectural heritage sites. The Force Gurkha is a unique vehicle that is equally comfortable doing daily commutes, highway drives, and overlanding across the country, said Prasan Firodia, MD, Force Motors. Picture Source : By Arrangement The newly introduced 5-door Gurkha promises to be more practical, with a lot of improvements, top-notch safety, and advanced features for those who are looking for an all-purpose SUV. Compared to the 3-door, the new vehicle now flaunts a bigger size and improved road appearance and is available in multiple colour options, including Red, White, Green, and Black. The Force Gurkha is powered by a 2.6-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine that produces 138 BHP and 320 Nm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and a 4x4 system. The company claims that the improved power and torque enable it to cruise on expressways at triple-digit speeds. The new Gurkha offers a ground clearance of 233 mm, which is said to be the highest in the segment. It can drive up a 35-degree incline and can wade through 700 mm deep water. The Gurkha also gets new independent suspension at the front, fully locking mechanical differentials on both the axles and electronic shift-on-the-fly.

Deccan Chronicle 2 May 2024 7:17 pm

Pune Based Rasayu Cancer Clinic Signs MoU with Uttarakhand State Government for Ayurveda and Cancer Treatment

Business Wire India In a significant step towards integrating Ayurveda practices with modern healthcare, Uttarakhand Ayurveda University, under the auspices of the Ministry of AYUSH (Government of Uttarakhand) has recently entered into an MoU with Pune based Rasayu Cancer Clinic. The aim of this collaboration is to empower government doctors in AYUSH in Uttarakhand with specialized training in Ayurveda and Cancer. This is an unprecedented achievement not only for Rasayu, but also for the field of Ayurveda. To mark this occasion, a 4-day workshop was conducted by Ayurveda experts at Rasayu Cancer Clinic Pune recently. Dr. Yogesh Bendale, Dr. Avinash Kadam and Dr. Priyanka Shirole participated in this workshop. The workshop was inaugurated by Dr . Pankaj Kumar Pandey , Secretary - Ayush & Ayush Education , Uttarakhand . Dr. Yogesh Bendale, President of Rasayu Group Pune Prof. Dr. A.K. Dr. Tripathi, Vice-Chancellor of Uttarakhand Ayurveda University, Dr. Anup Gakhkhard, Dr. Krishna Kumar Pandey, Assistant Drug Controller, Dr. Ajay Gupta, Founder of Research Department of Uttarakhand Ayurveda University, Dr. Avinash Kadam, Head of Research and Education Department of Rasayu Group were present on this occasion. In this effort to provide safe and effective cancer treatment, the collaboration also aims to introduce the principles of Ayurveda and actual patient therapy, research and published papers based on research findings. Recognizing the importance of early cancer detection, this specialized training can help these doctors develop advanced knowledge and skills in treating cancer using Ayurvedic principles. Dr. Pankaj Pandey expressed hope that this will be an important step for coordination between Ayurveda and modern medical methods. The program was attended by Ayurveda Medical Officers from Uttarakhand. Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey said that for the benefit of patients, there should be mutual cooperation and not conflict between different systems of medicine. He appreciated the work that Rasayu Cancer Clinic is doing to build confidence with its research and publishing on a global platform and spreading Ayurveda. He also said that doctors and patients in Uttarakhand have got an opportunity to treat cancer through Ayurveda. Dr. Yogesh Bendale said that most of the cancer patients in India are diagnosed at a more advanced stage, so there are more challenges in treating these patients. Ayurveda treatment in such patients improves the overall outcome and improves the patient's quality of life. In these cases, Ayurveda has great potential to provide safe and effective treatment to cancer patients. Dr. A.K Tripathi highlighted the modern research in cancer immunology and emphasized the role of Ayurveda Rasayan therapy which has the potential to improve outcomes in cancer patients. Also, the collaboration between Uttarakhand Ayurveda University and Rasayu Cancer Clinic will help train future Ayurveda doctors in the field of Ayurveda oncology and guide them in using research-based treatments. Rasayu Cancer Clinic (RCC), renowned for evidence-based Ayurveda and cancer therapy, played a vital role in this collaboration. RCC has more than 25 years of experience in treating cancer patients through Ayurveda. Rasayu Cancer Clinic has developed various treatment systems based on chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer patients in different stages and advanced stage cancer patients. This treatment can be easily taken by the patients and any doctor can successfully use this treatment for his patients in the country or in the world. For this Rasayu has developed computer technology (oncology software) based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. This will enable RCC's experience and expertise to help doctors attending the workshop to remotely monitor the ups and downs in patient's condition. This will also help with skill development. As part of this important initiative, a team of experienced doctors from Rasayu Cancer Clinic imparted their experience and expertise to government Ayurveda doctors in Uttarakhand through this comprehensive workshop. Simultaneously, an MoU was signed between Rasayu Cancer Clinic and Uttarakhand Ayurveda University for therapeutic, educational and research purposes in Ayurveda Oncology. Dr. Yogesh Bendale said, This partnership is a very important step in our mission to harness the research-based potential of Ayurveda to fight cancer. Dr. Bendale is nationally and internationally renowned for the Ayurvedic treatment of cancer and chronic diseases. He has more than 40 patents to his name for various diseases and has participated in many international conferences on cancer as well as publications in research journals. https://www.rasayucancerclinic.com/

BusinessWire India 2 May 2024 5:56 pm

India, Indonesia to hold 7th Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting

India, Indonesia to hold 7th Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting The seventh Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting between India and Indonesia will be held in New Delhi on May 03, 2024. The meeting will be co-chaired by Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane and Secretary General of Ministry of Defence, Indonesia Air Marshal (Retd.) Donny Ermawan Taufanto, MDS. Both sides will exchange views on regional and global issues of shared interest. The India-Indonesia friendship, which was elevated to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018, has widened the scope of bilateral relations to allow for new collaboration in the realm of defence industry, science and technology etc. The defence relations form a significant pillar to this growing partnership. Defence engagements between the two nations have diversified to include wide-ranging contacts between the services, military-to-military exchanges, high-level visits, capacity building and training programmes, cooperation in UN Peace Keeping, ship visits and bilateral exercises. The defence cooperation agreement signed in 2001 between India and Indonesia stipulated the establishment of the JDCC to explore and identify potential areas of cooperation, matters of common interest, initiate, coordinate, monitor and control the approved cooperative activities. The Secretary General, who is on a visit to India from May 02-04, 2024, will also undertake discussions with Indian Defence Industries in New Delhi and Pune. (With Inputs from PIB)

devdiscourse 2 May 2024 4:32 pm

Maharashtra SET 2024 Answer Key & Objections Out: Check Your Answers and Raise Objections

Savitribai Phule Pune University has released a notification for the 39th Maharashtra State Eligibility Test (M-SET) 2024 for the post of Assistant Professor in the Universities and Colleges of Maharashtra & Goa States. Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria and are interested in this opportunity can apply online after reading the notification carefully.

Naukrinama 2 May 2024 1:20 pm

Ratnagiri Jets Aim To Double Championship Streak At Maharashtra Premier League

Maharashtra Premier League Player: Ratnagiri Jets snagged a total of seven players at the Maharashtra Premier League Player (MPL) auction to complete their squad. The defending champions went to the auction with the most retained players out of all the teams (15) and had a clear vision of the gaps that they needed to fill for the upcoming season. The managements auction strategy was simple and focused on the skill set that the team needed. The gaps identified by the Ratnagiri Jets drove the decisions that they made at the auction successfully as they picked up a replacement wicketkeeper in the form of Abhishek Pawar because the number of matches have almost doubled this season. The team needed another fast bowler, Piyush Kamal and the most exciting new signee came in the form of SatyajeetBachhav, undoubtedly one of the best left-arm spinners in the state. We began as defending champions, but that is the distant past. Our focus is on the present, as our responsibility to prepare for the contest began a while back and will never end. We look forward to the challenges this new season brings, said Ranjit Pande, head coach. In Season 1, our unity and dedication propelled us to victory. Now, as we announce our Season 2 lineup, the responsibility weighs even heavier on our shoulders. But with the same unwavering teamwork and commitment, we're ready to take on the challenge, aiming higher and flying further as Ratnagiri Jets, said Rakesh Navani, team owner of Ratnagiri Jets. Led by Azim Kazi, a seasoned campaigner for Maharashtra, the Ratnagiri Jets won the inaugural season of the MPL which made the decision very easy to retain most of the squad. The first season showed the willingness of the players to put their hand up for the team and there was a total of 5 different Man of the Matches that the team won. The bowlers of the team have been stand-out performers with Kunal Thorat bagging 2 wickets vs the Solapur Royals, Divyang Hinganekar getting a scalp and scoring a crucial 46 off 15 balls to win against Chhatrapati Sambhaji Kings, Captain Azim Kazi cleaned out 3 wickets vs the Eagle Nashik Titans, and Vijay Pawale also took home the man of the match awards for their crucial two wickets each versus the Puneri Bappa and Kolhapur Tuskers respectively. The second edition of the MPL will begin on June 2 and Ratnagiri Jets aim to repeat their performance by solely focusing on the processes that were responsible for winning them the cup the first time around. The team has started training together and will continue to build on the plans that have been laid out by the coaching staff. Ratnagiri Jets squad: Abhishek Pawar (WK), Akhilesh Gawale, Azim Kazi (C), Dhiraj Phatangare, DivyangHinganekar, Kiran Chormale, KrishShahapurkar, Kunal Thorat, Nikhil Naik (WK), Nikit Dhumal, Piyush Kamal, Pradeep Dadhe, Preetam Patil, Rohit Patil, Sahil Churi, Sangram Bhalekar, SatyajeetBacchav,Tushar Shrivastav, Vaibhav Chowghule, Vijay Pawale, Yash Borkar, Yogesh Chavan

CNMSports 2 May 2024 1:10 pm

Ajit Pawar downplays PM Modis wandering spirit remark about senior Pawar

During his rally in Pune, the PM sardonically alluded to the 83-year-old Sharad Pawar as a roving, restless spirit (bhatakti atma) who was responsible for Maharashtras chronic political instability

The Hindu 2 May 2024 10:54 am

Rishi takes on a detective role in mystery thriller

Rishi, the actor of 'Operation Alamelamma', who is currently juggling between the Telugu and Kannada industries, is gearing up for the release of 'Ramana Avatara'. Meanwhile, the actor is equally creating a buzz with 'Rudra Garuda Purana'. The film, directed by KS Nandeesh ('Dear Vikram'), will mark the first production venture of Ashwini Lohith under the banner of Ashwini Arts. The initial glimpse of 'Rudra Garuda Purana' was unveiled by Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar, who extended her best wishes to the team. The first look unfurls multiple layers, hinting at a narrative rich in human complexities, while weaving mythological undertones into its imagery. In the film, Rishi portrays Rudra, a detective delving into a mysterious crime. The poster depicts Rishi and Lady Justice, both blindfolded, against the backdrop of a blazing bus. Returning to his cop role after Hemanth M Raos 'Kavaludaari', produced by PRK Productions, Rishi will yet again be seen in the khaki avatar. Priyanka Kumar, who made her debut with Suris 'Bad Manners', will appear alongside Rishi in 'Rudra Garuda Purana'. The film also features Vinod Alva, Avinash, Shivaraj K R Pete, Giri, KS Shridhar, Ashwini Gouda, Ram Pavan, Vamshi, Aakarsh, Joseph, Prabhakar, Gautam Mysuru, Sneek Shyam, and Ranganath Bharadwaj, along with comedy stars Jagappa, Prasanna Handrang, Radvi and others in supporting roles. The shooting for the film has already concluded, and its post-production work is underway. 'Rudra Garuda Purana' is slated for a July release.

The New Indian Express 2 May 2024 10:25 am

Brought home a 2024 Nexon DCA : 4 pros & 4 cons post 1,000 km

BHPian RPRIME95 recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Been a while since I wrote my first ownership thread - Lola is home - My TVS Apache RR310 BS6 ownership review That particular purchase was made in August 2020 and brought home in September 2020. Since then, I have completed my P.G.D.M and moved to Pune for a new job opportunity. Within a year, Pune's renowned traffic made one thing very clear. The RR310 was not a bike that should be used daily in stop-go traffic. Add in the dry weather and well, I never would have thought I would miss 'sweating' as much as I did. And so began the itch for something with a roof, that is large enough to house my healthy frame comfortably and be spacious yet compact. Stage 1 - The Deliberation For a quick backstory, my family already owns a car. It is a Tata Tiago XTA (2017). And I love that car. It's peppy when required, the AMT is great and the handling is the crown jewel. Honorable mention to the splendid Tata suspension. The only problem for me, it's small size which makes it uncomfortable for long drives. So I knew I had to go up. The search area was quite clear. Start from Punch/Altroz/i20 and go up to Creta/Seltos if needed. But what I did not anticipate was the seating position and comfort in some of these cars. Let us look at them one by one. Disclaimer: I was looking for an automatic only. No Manual. Any type of Automatic was ok for me. 1. Tata Punch This was a no-brainer at first. Has a newer ALFA platform than the Tiago, is taller, comes loaded with features, and the top automatic variant is priced under 12 lakhs OTR. Looks like the perfect buy on paper, but the reality is quite different. Test drove the top variant with a sunroof and it was not a problem. I had more than sufficient headroom and a good view out of the windscreen. The driving felt pretty similar to the Tiago, just taller. However, it lacked that cohesive feel from the interior. The infotainment looks too small, the center console looks like Tata forgot to add it until very late in the process and the door trim abruptly ending midway looked like an afterthought. Hence the Punch lost its lustre in my mind and I took it off the board. 2. Hyundai i20 N Line Why not the standard i20, you may ask? For the price, it has less overall features than the Altroz and does not look any better. This is where the N Line shines. Smashing paint scheme (especially in Thunder Grey), loaded with features and a fantastic engine-gearbox combination. Only 2 issues here. The price is the same as mid-spec variants of C-SUVs and the center console interferes with the left knee. Deal breaker right there. 3. Tata Altroz Originally, this was my first choice before the Punch. The only reason it is down at number 3 is the absence of an automatic in the iTurbo variants. Test drove a dealer vehicle as well as a colleague's car, recently purchased. Both were 1.2 NA Automatic. Two words, butter smooth. The only issue was the infotainment. But there was hope. Tata had shown the Altroz racer at the Auto Expo with the large infotainment screen. The only reason I need to wait it out. But days turned into months without any indication of a launch date or even spy shots of a test mule. Still held hope until it's bigger brother broke cover. 4. Hyundai Venue N-Line Great car, fantastic engine-gearbox, cool points for ADAS Level 1 and fabulous paint scheme. The downsides? Too much chrome on the exterior, severely lacks features and very cramped interiors. 5. Tata Nexon Facelift Tata just pulled out the rug from under its rivals at the launch. I was following it on Carwale website when a particular detail caught my eye. 10.25inch customizable instrument cluster with Navigation display? Brain immediately went 'Audi'. I know Mahindra already had a version of it on their XUV7OO, but this felt something else. Then the variant list came out. And the top two almost immediately eliminated all consideration of any other car. Only the Sonet facelift was pending. Did not have much expectation from it. Boy, was I wrong. Nevertheless, the Nexon was decided and pre-booked. Adrenaline was high until prices were out. The facelift was almost 2 lakhs pricier than the outgoing Red Dark edition. Yes the DCA was carrying a hefty penalty but this was quite a large sum. Only then I realised, I had to save up. Everything this size was similarly priced, even though less equipped. The plan was shelved. 6. Kia Sonet The launch of the facelift brought me back. By this time, I had saved up more and received a good yearly bonus. Test drove the GT Line and was blown away. This car felt like a segment above. Interiors were amazing, the engine-gearbox was fantastic as before and the overall quality of fit and finish was great. Price was also in the same league as the Nexon with similar features. Space was a bit cramped but something I could live with. Not a deal breaker. This time, the company/dealer policy turned me away. For reference, the actual car costs less than the top spec Nexon. But you have to get about Rs. 25000 accessories as minimum with the actual amount quoted of Rs.40000. I dislike too much chrome and unnecessarily expensive mats, visors and so on. That 40k would have been grudgingly paid and I did not want that. 7. Hyundai Creta/Kia Seltos Great cars with their own minor niggles. I felt the dashboard was too low in the facelifted Seltos and lowering my seat did not help. As for the Creta, my cousin owns one and I have driven it on multiple occasions. Never gelled with the car and the test drive confirmed the same. Add in the fact that the only Automatic variants available were either CVT or iMT, the size and features did not justify the extra investment. Stage 2 - The Decision At this point, it was clear that the 2 best options were the Kia Seltos and the Tata Nexon. Both had the right feature set, were priced within 10-15k of one another and the overall reviews for the service and sales were on par with others. An important thing to remember at this point is that I was not looking to buy the top variant of either car. I was comfortable with an AMT so my initial enquiry was for the Creative+ AMT variant of the Nexon and the HTX DCT of the Sonet. Here the Nexon had better features but the Sonet had the edge on the interior. Test drove both and both were similar. Neither blew me away or let me down. But one thing became clear, it did not feel special. So I started to look at the top variants and their pricing. Here the Sonet was at a disadvantage since the Sunroof was not optional plus the fact that Kia was unwilling to quote me a price without accessories. One point in Kia's favor though, their insurance includes some great add-ons, even if the quoted price is on the higher side. Anyone buying a Kia should try and negotiate there for a better deal. Anyway, the Nexon could be specced without a Sunroof at the top end, so I was leaning towards it although it was sad that I would miss out on the JBL speaker system with the Subwoofer. The only question that remained was finances. A loan was necessary as I am also planning to purchase a home soon. So out came the calculator app. Thankfully the difference in EMI from my original amount for the Creative+ and the new amount for Fearless+ was only around 1.8k since the downpayment was staying the same. That sounded good to me and a quick calculation confirmed it to be within the monthly budget. It was decided. A Tata Nexon Fearless+ would be joining the garage. The only decision remaining, perhaps the most important one, was the choice of color. There are 4 shades on offer - White, Grey, Red and Purple. White was stunning but too common so it was out. The Grey was a bit too dark than what I would have liked plus I had seen a few on the road and it was honestly not that appealing. So it came down between Red and Purple. My RR310 is also Red, so that was a disadvantage from the start and Purple was the halo color, which meant a lot of people would be buying that. Fearless Purple Colour Other colours available for Fearless variants This tumbling went on for a few days until one random moment caught me. My first bike was a Brilliant Blue Bajaj Discover 100T. The second one was a Racing Red RR310. How great it would be to get my car in a color that was an almost perfect mix of the two. Fearless Purple (yes that is what they call it) was set in the heart and soon on the booking sheet. A Fearless Purple Tata Nexon Fearless+ (one too many 'fearless' in there) was coming home. Stage 3 - The Purchase With all decisions done, popped down to the 'good' Tata dealer and made my booking. They offered a test drive once again, which I promptly accepted. They, however, did not have Fearless+ (without a sunroof) with them and upon asking why, all I got was the fact that it is not as popular as Fearless+ S or just Fearless S. Hence Tata refused to send out a TD vehicle. While it would have been good to drive the exact variant, I understand that Tata has to prioritize and not send every variant as a TD vehicle. This however planted a seed of doubt about the manufacturing of the car and what exact car would I be allotted. As soon as the booking was done, the loan guy came up, shared his number, and sent the list of all required documents. The interest rate was between 8.8% and 9.1% depending on the bank and my CIBIL score. I started to research and having informed my parents, they suggested taking the loan with our bank, which we had a banking relationship with for over 30 years now. They were also offering an interest rate of 8.5%, which sounds good on paper but is practically useless as I found out later. But at the time I got swayed and started the loan process. By this time I had already collected and scanned all required documents, so I sent them over. I was hoping that our existing banking relationship would result in a smooth loan process and approval, but boy was I wrong. An important detail here is that I stay in Pune, but the branch local to my family is in Palghar. Logistics became a hassle. Sometimes the bank would accept virtual documents, other times they demanded a physical copy. Not to mention all the stamp papers and forms I needed to sign. This meant an unplanned trip home. I also had to pay the down payment before, since the bank refused to sanction the loan until they saw a payment receipt for the same. It was about this time I regretted not taking the loan from the dealership. Probably would have gotten the car a week early. Signed everything, got it all approved, and came back. Surprisingly, the car had also arrived. And what a huge sigh of relief after analyzing the chassis number. Manufactured in March 2024. Could not ask for anything more. Scheduled a PDI for the next day. As expected, the car was not clean but I could still see all the panels (with a torch of course). The car had no fuel so driving it was out of the question. Carried the TeamBHP PDI checklist with me and everything was in order. I also managed to get a good deal on the insurance. Opted for HDFC Ergo General Insurance with the following add-ons: Zero Depreciation, Engine and Gearbox Protection, Return to Invoice, Consumables Protection, and Roadside assistance. Was originally quoted Rs.74,000 for the same without any add-ons. They gave an Rs.20,000 discount to sweeten the deal. But I managed to get a quote from the HDFC Ergo website and they matched it. The final quote was Rs.46,279 with the add-ons. One new thing I learned was that the instrument cluster cannot be navigated if fuel is below reserve level. Weird quirk but something to keep in mind. I signed off on the car and asked the bank to disburse the loan amount. The dealer started the registration process almost immediately after they received the funds and a tentative delivery was set for 27th March 2024. I also confirmed some accessories. The regular stuff like mats, mud flaps, air freshener, and so on. I also opted for a body coating, engine coat, and 3M underbody coating. All totaled around Rs.18,500 after the discount. The total breakdown is as follows :Ex-showroom price - Rs.14,29,990RTO - Rs.1,78,081TCS at 1% - Rs.14,299Insurance - Rs.46,278Fastag - Rs.600Extended Warranty - Rs.22,000Accessories - Rs.18,500Total OTR Price - Rs.17,09,749Final Stage - Taking DeliveryOriginally I planned to take delivery on 9th April, when we celebrate Gudi Padwa (Marathi New Year) as it is one of the most auspicious days for us. This was based on a timeline of 30 days to delivery from booking. However, the car came to the stockyard in a week which caused a lot of hurry in getting everything cleared. And I did not want to keep the car with the dealer any longer than necessary. So the date was changed to 28th March, which also happened to be an auspicious day for us. But since I had work and could not take a day off, I asked for the earliest possible delivery i.e. 11 am. However, my luck being the great opportunist it is, I was running approximately 30 minutes late. Which delayed everything as other deliveries were also planned in the showroom and since they had only 3 bays, I had to wait. This particular dealer has a unique delivery experience. Their location does not allow them to host grand reveals and rollouts so they do all the fanfare at the showroom along with document handover. Then they take you to the stockyard where they have 3 delivery bays and everything else needed to hand over the car. While this would not be an issue as such, the entry-exit road to the stockyard is smaller than a 1BHK in Mumbai. How they deliver a Safari is a question I have been pondering ever since the PDI. Plus the delivery area, while airy has no lighting to speak of. So inspecting the car was a task and a half. But all looked good except for the missing neck pillows I ordered. They were out of stock so I was told they would be given later. Not a problem as it was an optional item for me anyway. Garland and all was fixed, number plates attached, and pooja done. All within about 30 minutes. Fantastic!! I checked the tire pressures, corrected them, started the car, checked all the displays and functions, took the customary photo with the key (small and large), and off I went. I feel very fortunate to say that both my acquisitions have been painless deliveries and I was in and out within an hour and a half. Dropped off the SA back at the showroom since I had to go there anyway and headed straight for a fuel pump. After a nice helping of Power95 from HP, drove out, pulled over shortly, threw some air punches , and went back home after. Had to return to office so did not have much time to admire the new ride. That duty rested with the next couple of days, a long pleasant weekend. Photos from delivery Photo of the car just after arriving for delivery First delivery photo The 'actual' delivery photo One for the memories The Accessories Game I had a wishlist created on Amazon after I booked the car. Had added some important and some want-to-have items. The ones I would need immediately were a good washer fluid concentrate, screen guards for the displays, and a protective layer for the door handle cavity. I wanted to get a separate tire inflator but since I could not use the bike and car simultaneously, I decided to stick with the same one I already owned. Also grabbed a key skin since I dislike key covers extensively and a custom keychain. I thought of getting a boost pack and jumper cables but with a new car, I could hold off on those for at least a year or two. All of the above was applied to the car early next morning (couldn't sleep). Then my OCD kicked in and I removed all the plastic seat covers and celebratory ribbons. Then folded them up nicely and stowed them away in the boot. If anyone has a link to a good OBD2 scanner tool that they have personally used, do send a private message. I would like to have one for contingencies. Now some of you might be thinking, did he miss buying a dashcam? Well yes and no. I had pre-ordered a dashcam from a company called Woodman. Renowned for their infotainment units. It was dual-channel, FHD front and 720p rear at just Rs. 6500 and they claimed it was made in India. Well, I was bound to make one mistake and this was it. Immediately after it was delivered, I noticed that it was Made in China (not an issue but would like to have known beforehand) and the rear camera was a heavy, metal-bodied external unit designed to be mounted as the sole backup camera. The mount was very flimsy and I was sure it would get dislodged within a few weeks since it used screw hinges on either side for sturdiness. And the worst part, the company claimed that a hard-wire kit was free but failed to mention that it was the only power apparatus you would get. There was neither a 12V car charger nor a spare USB power cable. At this point, I am fuming. Thankfully one of my colleagues wanted this camera and didn't mind the hardwire-only solution. So I sold it to him and ordered a 70mai A500 Pro Plus, which I should've done in the first place. Also got an emergency seatbelt cutter-window hammer combo from AmazonBasics. Preliminary driving impressions (500 km) I had a chance to go up to Wai near Mahabaleshwar for a long drive and the below impressions are based on that LikesBuild Quality - Doors shut with a nice thud and the cabin is cozy enough to make you feel safe yet not claustrophobic.Interiors - Almost every control you need is an arm's length away. The touch points are mostly soft-touch materials and everything else is hard plastic. The seats are very comfy for me (I am over 6 feet tall) and everything is visible clearly. I can also sit behind myself comfortablyFeatures - The infotainment screen is nice and slick, as is the instrument cluster. Speakers are just fantastic and no other car comes close in audio quality. 360 camera is amazing.Powertrain - Smooth, Torquey and Quick. Vibrations are controlled nicely and there is very little noise during normal driving. Road noise is also insulated properly and only concrete roads come through slightly.DislikesTouch Controls - They are incorrectly executed and the lack of a separate display for the AC only exacerbates the issuePowertrain - Turbo lag is evident since you are pulling about 150-200 kg more than the Altroz with the same power. Also the engine revs to just 5,500rpm at redline. Could have been higher. The gearbox complicates matters. It feels like a 5-speed DCT with overdrive gears on both ends. 1st is too short and 7th is lethargically long.Drive Modes - I found Eco mode to be the best for city usage. City mode is great for making a quick getaway from a signal and on mild inclines. Sport mode is too twitchy (probably due to the first gear) and should be reserved only for overtaking.Fit and Finish - It feels as if the QA/QC tested 95% of the car and signed off. While the remaining 5% does not affect the car's ability, it hampers the perception of the car and the brand. When the market evolves to a higher standard, this will become a huge issue.An important detail to note here is that the cluster is actually 9.6 inches across and not 10.25 inches. This might be the reason most reviewers have complained about the font size. Having driven both the new Sonet and Nexon back to back, the font is the same size but the screen is not. It feels okay to me and is as crisp as the infotainment unit. Overall a great place to spend long distances in. Is the performance more than adequate? Yes. Is it smooth? Yes. Will it feel like the Hyundai or Volkswagen twins? No. But at this price point and feature set, it doesn't have to. Now comes the great question, Kitna deti hai?. My SA and everyone else told me not to expect any magic until after the first service. They were somewhat true. Overall my first 500 km gave me a total of 12.1kmpl (City + Highway). Not great not bad. Let's see what the next 500 km has in store. Overall, a solid 9/10 for the car. Deducting one point for the famous Tata niggles and service experience. Why only one point, you may ask? While it is not perfect, I have personally seen worse clown shows in brands regarded highly for service experience and fit-finish. Hence I will reserve final judgment until after the first paid service. For a more detailed review, I would direct you all toward the official Team-BHP review of the Nexon facelift here. Are these problems or just niggles? Let's discuss a few niggles I have observedGlovebox - It takes a royal 53 seconds for the glovebox to fully open on its own. I timed it since it was starting to piss me off. Will have it checked during the first service.Auto Headlamps - Quick to turn on, lazy to turn off. The 'ON' trigger is very low and sometimes the lights come on if you pass under a sufficiently large tree. On the other hand, the 'OFF' trigger is ridiculously high. you could be in direct sunlight but you are facing away from the sun, it takes a while for the lights to turn off. The problem? All the interior lights dim and you cannot see much at a glance since the dim light makes the white lettering illegible under moderate sunlight.Monostable shifter - Needs the safety switch pressed to engage any drive mode. You can return to Neutral without it. But best advised to use the switch at all times. The issue is with the design. While it looks fantastic, one cannot grip it as confidently as a traditional gear stick. Which makes you lose pressure on the safety switch and the car then refuses to shift. Needs some time getting used to.Steering switches - The toggles on the steering are a hassle for anyone who's driven anything else with steering controls. They have square edges, a smooth metallic finish, and a weak center spring. Which translates to accidentally pressing the button more often than toggling it. It is quite frustrating for someone with large hands like myself. Might get used to it, might not.Auto up-down driver window - No idea who wrote this piece of code, but that person was probably angry at Tata. There is no definite pattern as to how it works. If I figure it out, Ill let you guys know.Front passenger wiper - You cannot, and I mean you cannot lift the passenger side wiper without damaging the hood. Firstly, it is blocked by the hood when closed. If you somehow manage to pull it up, it rests on the edge with considerable pressure. I already have some scratches on there. Not sure if this is just with my car or a wider problem but it is outstandingly stupid. Will get it checked in the first service.Aside from point 6, nothing on the list screams bad engineering. Can I live with all of these? Yes. However, the question most people ask is, do I have to? This I feel is a personal choice and most petrolheads choose to look away. But everyone else is fine and the sales numbers show it. The Verdict For me, the Nexon ticked most boxes right. I have established that it is not perfect at all and I presume that I will experience even more niggles over the next 4-5 years of ownership. Does that mean I regret my purchase? Absolutely not. I would still recommend anyone who is shopping within 18 lakhs OTR to have a look at this car. Maybe they like it, maybe they do not. But will it tick enough boxes for them to pull the trigger? Yes it will. Which is exactly what the Nexon is made for. Jack of all trades, master of very few. Tata knows it has a long long road ahead of it to be anywhere near the likes of Hyundai, Volkswagen, and Suzuki. But they also know what Indians value at their core. Hence it should be no surprise when the Nexon sells as much as it does. The modern-day more car per car. For anyone who has decided on the Nexon but is unsure whether to go ahead or not, just do it. I am looking forward to many thousands of kilometers with Ellie and the journeys that will take me through them. If nothing else, it will definitely be invigorating Photo Gallery First wash! Continue reading BHPian RPRIME95's review for more insights and information.

Team-BHP 2 May 2024 10:05 am

I wanted to bring out the texture of Leh 'In Retreat' says Maisam Ali

CHENNAI : Director Maisam Alis 'In Retreat' is all set to have its world premiere in LACID (Association for the Diffusion of Independent Cinema), the parallel, independent sidebar in Cannes. It will be the first Indian film to play there. The unconventional film is set in Ladakh and plays with the ideas of time and space, geographical expanse, and the sense of belonging and disconnect. The themes are explored through a middle-aged man who returns to his hometown after a long absence but gets late for his brothers funeral. A product of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Ali is the batchmate of Payal Kapadia whose debut feature 'All We Imagine As Light' plays in the Competition section of the Cannes Film Festival this year. He spoke to CE about all that went into the making of In Retreat. Excerpts: Debut films are supposed to emerge from a personal space. Does it hold true for In Retreat? The idea came to me in the film school. My forefathers, originally from Kashmir, were traders. They lived in Ladakh but would also travel for trade to parts of Central Asia and China. My father did MBBS in the 80s, went to Iran and practised there. I was born in Iran and then we moved back to Ladakh. I moved out of Ladakh because of studies, work etc. From all this came the ideas of home and the feeling of disconnect. I also remember seeing somebody like the lead character when I was in fifth or sixth standard. Somebody who had come back. I heard a few things about him, how he was roaming around, just trying to make small talk, and I felt a kind of sadness for him. Sometimes, small things create a big impact. The memory stayed with me. Maybe I felt this person was a distant version of myself. More than the story, the film is about ideas. Is it the kind of cinema that excites you? I wouldnt go so far as to say cinema of ideas. Im just trying to create a larger experience. Also, in the film, there is a sense of disconnect which I like. The disconnected scenes have their own identity, yet they are connected, while still disconnected. Then there is this girl who is doodling and a person roaming in the shadows, being there but not being there. What is the relationship between them? They are also connected in some sense, in time. I also feel cinema must be rooted in realism. The word realistic might be a cliche but realism is an interesting element for me, I hold onto it to make films. How did you approach Leh in terms of capturing it on camera? Ladakh is a tourist place, and its images are of a certain nature. It was very important for me to not to have that. I wanted to bring out the texture of the place. I chose small pockets in the town, where I had some sense of history and memory. Apart from the lead actor Harish Khanna, are most of the cast picked up locally? Casting was done, in a sense, to create a realistic feel. So, there are a lot of non-actors and local actors. The kid is my nephew, my cousins son. Then there are my other relatives also. In that sense, it became more personal. Coming to the writing, it is often metaphorical, and poetic. Theres one of Mahmoud Darwishs poemsIf I were another on the road. I felt it was very apt there. Other than that, there is my own writing. But it is not about making it very conclusive. Just poetic fragments here and there, like the film, like the images. Its about suggesting something. Going back to cliches about Ladakh. It is popularly imagined as a Buddhist land. You show the Muslim side, the azaan Ladakh is a beautiful mix of Muslim and Buddhist communities. The mannerisms and the rhythm of life are very Asian. Its very Japanese, like (Yasujiro) Ozus cinema. The Buddhist way of life is full of patience and compassion. Maisam Ali How important is it for you as a filmmaker to get featured in ACID? In todays world, film festivals are the perfect place for arthouse cinema, and a lot of them are listening to what the market is saying. But my film is not the kind that is big, with big names, that would typically go to a big festival. So, for a film like this to get selected, it is giving hope to many people. My peers, filmmakers, who want to do authentic, original work, are happy and hopeful.

The New Indian Express 2 May 2024 9:30 am

What is Ankylosing Spondylitis And Why Is This Condition Known As A Youngster's Disease?

Dr Shweta Khopde Vidhate, Consultant Rheumatologist, DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune shares all you need to know about Ankylosing Spondylitis

News18 2 May 2024 7:03 am

April Car Sales Up Marginally to 3.38 Lakh Units

Pune : After a record all-time high numbers in fiscal 2024, passenger vehicle wholesales during April grew marginally 1.76 per cent year-on-year at 3.38 lakh units due to high base of last year and lukewarm retails during the electioneering season in the country. The auto industrys total car wholesales dispatches were 3.32 lakh units in April 2023, monthly data from the companies showed on Wednesday. Each month, automobile makers in India release wholesale numbers, or vehicle sales from factory gates to dealers. The auto sector carries more than 50 per cent weightage in calculating the countrys economic growth. The SUV segment continued to contribute a major chunk of volumes at 1.81 lakh units, which is 53.5 per cent of the total passenger vehicles sold in the domestic market. The total SUV sales grew by 15 per cent on an annual basis in April 2024. Maruti Suzuki reported flat wholesales in April at 1,37,952 lakh units as against 1,37,320 units sold in the same month last year. The flat sales in the passenger vehicle industry were due to high base this fiscal year compared to last yea and also the election phase the country is going through, Partho Banerjee, senior executive officer, marketing and sales at Maruti Suzuki said in a virtual call. The sector will see a revival in the market after the new government formation, he said. Banerjee also asserted that the industry will grow in single digits during the entire fiscal. Hyundai Motor dispatched 50,201 units last month compared with 49,701 units dispatched to dealers a year ago. Tata Motors wholesales also grew 2 per cent at 47,983 units as against 47,107 units last year. Toyota Kirloskar Motor reported robust sales at 34 per cent year-on-year at 18,700 units in April as ag-ainst 13,896 units sold in the same month last year. Honda Cars registered total sales of 10,867 units in April as compared to 7,676 units in the same month last year. Wholesales at MG Motors marginally declined at 1.4 per cent at 4,485 units last month compared with 4,551 units it sold in the same month last year. The companys EV portfolio contributed 34 per cent of the total units sold in this period.

Deccan Chronicle 1 May 2024 11:56 pm

Tourist lady from Pune killed, another injured in Sonamarg road accident

A tourist lady from Pune was killed while another person was injured after being hit by a vehicle in Sonamarg area of Central Kashmirs Ganderbal district on Wednesday, officials said. An officials told Rising Kashmir that a fatal road accident in Sonamarg area of Central Kashmirs Ganderbal district resulted in the death of a 67-year-old []

RisingKashmir 1 May 2024 8:27 pm

Travel tips If you want to spend some time with your spouse before marriage, then you can go to these places.

If your marriage is fixed then get to know your life partner before tying the knot with them. You can spend the days between engagement or marriage in understanding your partner. After the marriage is fixed, you can talk to your partner on a phone call, and know their likes and dislikes. Spend time with them to understand their lifestyle and behavior. If there is some time left for marriage, then you can plan to travel somewhere with your partner. You will be able to understand your fianc on this trip. Plan a trip with both of your friends, family, or siblings. If you want to go on a trip with your partner, then you are being given many options to travel here. Visit these places with your fiance before marriage. If you are traveling with your fianc before marriage, then plan a road trip. This type of trip is more enthusiastic and romantic. Before marriage, you can go to these places on a road trip with your partner. Mumbai to Pune journey If you are a resident of Mumbai then plan a road trip to Pune with your fiance. You can enjoy beautiful views through the mountains and greenery. The view here looks very attractive during monsoon. The journey from Mumbai to Pune is approximately 200 kilometers. You can spend very special time with your partner during the journey. Delhi to Rishikesh There are a few months left for the wedding, so take a weekend trip to Rishikesh with your partner. You can travel from Delhi to Rishikesh by bus, train, or your car. Before marriage, make your partner feel comfortable with yourself, and to make him/her a good friend, you can enjoy river rafting, and trekking in Rishikesh. You can also spend relaxing time on the banks of the Ganga in the evening. Jaipur You can visit the beautiful city of Rajasthan, Jaipur with your fiance. You can also do your wedding shopping from here. Along with traveling, you will also be able to prepare for your wedding. You can buy a beautiful wedding lehenga and dupatta for the wedding. Delhi Before marriage, you can go to Delhi with your fiance for sightseeing and wedding shopping. You will find many beautiful places to visit in Delhi. One can visit India Gate, Red Fort, Akshardham Temple, Hauz Khas Villa, and many beautiful parks. If you want, you can get a pre-wedding photoshoot done in these parks of Delhi. Here, by getting a photoshoot done with your partner before marriage, you will be able to make each other's company memorable. (PC: Pixabay, social media)

Kalam Times 1 May 2024 7:51 pm

Indian Army and Punit Balan Group develop Constitution Park in Pune

The park was inaugurated by GOC-in-C, Southern Command, Lt Gen Ajai Kumar Singh.

The Economic Times 1 May 2024 7:33 pm

American Express to Unveil Expansive One Million Square Feet Campus in Gurugram

American Express to Unveil Expansive One Million Square Feet Campus in Gurugram Global payments company American Express on Wednesday announced it will open its nearly one-million square feet campus in Gurugram, Haryana. The company has additional facilities in Gurugram as well as in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Pune. Its employees will begin moving to the new facility, located in sector 74A Gurugram, in phases, starting from the end of this month, the company said in a statement. The campus reflects American Express dedication to fostering a dynamic work environment, it said. ''American Express in India continues to develop in-country capabilities by leveraging our global expertise and local talent, fostering new opportunities and innovation for customers worldwide,'' said Sanjay Khanna, CEO and Country Manager, American Express, India. The new office building provides a modern, energy efficient workspace, Khanna added. ''Our new India campus is the largest office weve built from the ground up globally, and the facility is a fitting reflection of the American Express brand and the kind of workplace where our colleagues can thrive,'' said Gagandeep Singh, Senior Vice President, Global Real Estate and Workplace Experience, American Express. American Express in India provides support for every division of the company, in addition to delivering innovative products and services to customers in India.

devdiscourse 1 May 2024 7:07 pm

Greater Kailash Killing: Incharge PP Suspended; 6 Including Gola Shah Held

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 1: Taking strong note of killing of a 39-year-old man in Greater Kailash locality, who was attacked by a group of people in the presence of police over a land dispute on Tuesday, SSP Jammu, Dr Vinod Kumar, has ordered the suspension of incharge Police Post Greater Kailash Puneet Sharma. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel Six people, including the notorious land grabber Ravinder Kumar alias Gola Shah, have also been arrested in this case [] The post Greater Kailash Killing: Incharge PP Suspended; 6 Including Gola Shah Held appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Daily Excelsior 1 May 2024 6:47 pm

Entertainment: Aamir Khan First Film Holi!

Aamir Khan First Film Holi: Bollywood's Mr. Perfectionist Aamir Khan has been in the industry for more than 36 years. Aamir Khan is not only an actor but also a director and producer. But do you know that Aamir Khan, who gave superhit films like 'Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak', 'Lagaan', 'PK', '3 Idiots', was made by the star 'Maharashtra Bandh'. Yes...not we but Aamir Khan himself has said this. Aamir Khan recently told on 'The Great Indian Kapil Show' that if 'Maharashtra Bandh' had not happened that day, he would not have been a star. Maharashtra Bandh made a star! Aamir Khan has talked many things about his personal and professional life on 'The Great Indian Kapil Show'. One of which is the story of his becoming a star. Aamir Khan Movies said- 'Three days before my theater play, the entire Maharashtra was closed. And because of this he could not go to rehearsals. The director then asked me to leave the show. I had tears in my eyes because I was thrown out two days before the play. I could not join Intercollege. Then two people came to me, they offered me a film diploma in Pune Institute, I immediately boarded the bus and came back after finishing the shooting. Another student, who was working as an editor, saw that film and was impressed with my work and gave me a film. Aamir Khan's first film Aamir Khan (Aamir Khan First Film) said- 'After watching those two films, director Ketan Mehta cast me in Holi (1984). After watching Holi, Mansoor and Nasir Sahab said - let's make a film with it and then they got the idea of doing a film with me because I was a good actor and such doom became doom. Aamir Khan also said- 'If Maharashtra had not been closed that day, I probably would not have become a star.' Let us tell you, for the last few days, Aamir Khan has been seen talking openly about his films and career.

Kalam Times 1 May 2024 6:16 pm

Investment Surge in Housing Sector: Rs 5,743 Crore Invested in Q1 2023

Investment Surge in Housing Sector: Rs 5,743 Crore Invested in Q1 2023 Investments in residential real estate jumped more than three times in January-March to Rs 5,743 crore, contributing 63 per cent to the overall inflow in the real estate sector, according to Cushman & Wakefield. In its capital markets report released on Wednesday, real estate consultant Cushman & Wakefield highlighted that the investments in real estate rose to Rs 9,124 crore during the first quarter of the current calendar year from Rs 8,830 crore in the year-ago period. Of the total investment, the inflow in the residential segment jumped to Rs 5,743 crore from Rs 1,735 crore. In the office assets, the investments grew marginally to Rs 2,248 crore from Rs 2,180 crore. However, the investments in mixed-use projects fell to Rs 865 crore from Rs 1,645 crore. The Industrial & Logistics segment, too, witnessed an inflow of Rs 268 crore, a sharp fall from Rs 2,170 crore in the first quarter of 2023. Hospitality projects did not garner any interest from investors during January-March 2024 as against Rs 1,100 crore in the year-ago period. Somy Thomas, Managing Director, Valuation and Advisory and Capital Markets, Cushman & Wakefield said, ''Q1,2024 witnessed another strong quarter of capital inflow into the Indian real estate sector, with the residential sector dominating on the back of renewed customer and investor confidence.'' ''This strong performance has attracted investor attention, leading them to put money into a market projected for further growth,'' said Thomas. Domestic investors' uptick in investment numbers continued in the March quarter, which will provide further protection from any potential global headwinds, the consultant said. ''As we enter the new financial year, we expect this momentum to continue, with potentially more diversified investments in the future,'' Thomas said. As per the report, the investment in real estate stood at around Rs 9,130 crore (USD 1.1 billion) in January-March this year, which was 39 per cent lower than the preceding quarter and 3 per cent higher year-on-year. ''Residential sector dominated with 63 per cent of quarterly investment. In absolute terms, it is almost double the quarterly average for residential seen in the past eight quarters. Almost 48 per cent of investment in the residential sector was focused on early stages of development across top cities,'' the consultant said. The uptick in the share of domestic investors witnessed in 2023 continues in Q124, with their share accounting for 57 per cent of total quarterly investments, whereas foreign investors and collaborative (or mixed) deals comprised the remaining. Bengaluru emerged as the leading city, commanding a 25.6 per cent share in investments. Pune secured the second position in investment volume, claiming a 14 per cent share. ''Equity investments' share in total investments stood at 58 per cent, rendering it the lowest share that equity has seen in over eight quarters, largely driven by high-interest rate environment and global geopolitical uncertainties. Conversely, debt investments surged to double the quarterly average level of the last eight quarters, and almost all of that was directed towards the residential sector,'' the report said.

devdiscourse 1 May 2024 4:28 pm

Pune Airports new terminal opens this month

Pune is gearing up to unveil its new airport terminal in the first week of May, according to the Airport Authority of India (AAI). Initially, during the testing phase of the opening, only two airlines, Air India and Air India Express, have been designated to operate from the new terminal. During the initial testing...

travelbizmonitor 1 May 2024 4:19 pm

MSCE Pune Class 5, 8 Scholarship Results 2024 released at mscepune.in, direct link to download

The Maharashtra State Council of Examination (MSCE), Pune, has announced the long-awaited results for the Class 5 and Class 8 scholarships 2024. The results were released on the official website of MSCE Pune, providing a direct link for easy access to all the participants. Students eagerly awaited these results as they symbolize recognition for their hard work and dedication. With the announcement, a wave of anticipation and excitement swept through schools and households across Maharashtra.

The Times of India 1 May 2024 3:35 pm

Greater Kailash Killing: Incharge PP Suspended

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 1: Taking strong note of killing of a 39-year-old man in Greater Kailash locality, who was attacked by a group of people in the presence of police over a land dispute on Tuesday, SSP Jammu, Dr Vinod Kumar, has ordered the suspension of incharge Police Post Greater Kailash Puneet Sharma. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel Pertinently, Avtar Singh son of Sardar Singh of Kaluchak was attacked by a group of people around 6 pm [] The post Greater Kailash Killing: Incharge PP Suspended appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Daily Excelsior 1 May 2024 3:07 pm

AstraZenecas Covishield vaccine: Plea filed in SC to examine side effects

NEW DELHI: A plea was filed by lawyer, Vishal Tiwari in the Supreme Court seeking examination of AstraZenecas Covishield vaccine, its side effects and risk factors by constituting a team of expert doctors from AIIMS. Tiwari, in his fresh plea, a copy accessed by this newspaper, filed in the top court, sought directions to constitute in the interest of health safety, a medical expert panel comprising of doctors from All India Institute of Medical Science, Delhi. The panel must be headed by its Director and supervised by the retired Justice of Supreme Court to examine the Covishield vaccine, its side effects as well as risk factors. I seek directions to the Union of India (UOI) to establish a vaccine damagepayment system for the citizens who got severely disabled as a result of a vaccination Drive during Covid-19. The SC should pass directions to the UOI to compensate the people who are severely disabled or died because of the side effects of Corona vaccine administered to them during Covid-19, said Tiwari in his plea filed before the top court. The plea was filed by Tiwari as it was recently revealed that Covishield Vaccine had caused and may cause side effects in rare cases. Pharmaceutical company and developer of this vaccine, AstraZeneca has said that its AZD1222 vaccine against Covid-19, which was made under licence in India as Covishield, could cause low platelet counts and formation of blood clots in very rare cases. AstraZeneca has accepted a link between the vaccine and Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), a medical condition characterized by abnormally low levels of platelets and the formation of blood clots. AstraZenecas vaccine formula was licensed to Pune-based vaccine maker Serum Institute of India (SII) during the coronavirus pandemic for the manufacture of Covishield. More than 175 crore doses of Covishield have been administered in India, the plea said. AstraZeneca admits its Covishield vaccine may lead to rare side effect The UK-based media organisation, The Telegraph , reported recently that a case was lodged last year by Jamie Scott, a father of two, who was left with a permanent brain injury after developing a blood clot and a bleed on the brain that has prevented him from working after he received the vaccine in April 2021, the plea said. Further quoting the report, it said that in all, fifty one cases have been lodged in the High Court in the UK, with victims and grieving relatives seeking damages estimated to be worth up to 100 million. In court documents from February, AstraZeneca denied that TTS is caused by the vaccine at a generic level. However, itadmitted to the possibility of TTS as a result of its vaccination in veryrare cases, the plea said. In India a large number of Covishield were administered to the citizens during the Covid-19 vaccine drive upon the approach of theGovernment and on the assurance of its safety for health, Tiwari said in his fresh plea. In India, after Covid-19 there have been increase in the cases of death due to heart attacks and sudden collapse of persons, the plea said and added that there have been number of cases of heart attack even in youngsters. Now after the document filed in the UK court by the developer of Covishield, we are compelled to think upon the risk and its hazardous consequences of Covishield vaccine which have been administered to the citizens at a large number, the plea added. Tiwari thereby pleaded to the apex court to direct the government to take immediate steps for the sake of the safety and health of Indian citizens. The issue has to be looked upon by the Union Government on priority so that in future no risk may occur regarding the health and life of Indians. Seeking damages for the vaccine's aide effects, he said that even in some countries like the UK there is vaccine damage payment system for people who get severely disabled due to vaccination.

The New Indian Express 1 May 2024 2:07 pm

Maharashtra Premier League: Ratnagiri Jets look to double their championship streak

Maharashtra Premier League: Ratnagiri Jets look to double their championship streak The Ratnagiri Jets snagged a total of seven players at the Maharashtra Premier League Player Auction to complete their squad. The defending champions, Ratnagiri Jets went to the auction with the most retained players out of all the teams and had a clear vision of the gaps that they needed to fill for the upcoming season of the MPL. The management's auction strategy was simple and focused on the skill set that the team needed. The gaps identified by the Ratnagiri Jets drove the decisions that they made at the auction successfully as they picked up a replacement wicketkeeper in the form of Abhishek Pawar because the number of matches has almost doubled this season. The team needed another fast bowler, Piyush Kamal and the most exciting new signee came in the form of Satyajeet Bachhav, undoubtedly one of the best left-arm spinner in the state. We began as defending champions, but that is the distant past. Our focus is on the present, as our responsibility to prepare for the contest began a while back and will never end. We look forward to the challenges this new season brings, said Ranjit Pande, Head Coach. In Season 1, our unity and dedication propelled us to victory. Now, as we announce our Season 2 lineup, the responsibility weighs even heavier on our shoulders. But with the same unwavering teamwork and commitment, we're ready to take on the challenge, aiming higher and flying further as Ratnagiri Jets, said Rakesh Navani, Team Owner, Ratnagiri Jets. Led by Azim Kazi, a seasoned campaigner for Maharashtra, the Ratnagiri Jets won the inaugural season of the MPL which made the decision very easy to retain most of the squad. The first season of the MPL showed the willingness of the players to put their hand up for the team and there was a total of 5 different Man of the Matches that the team won, which is a testament to the number of match winners that Ratnagiri Jets can boast of. The bowlers of Ratnagiri Jets have been stand-out performers with Kunal Thorat bagging 2 wickets vs the Solapur Royals, Divyang Hinganekar getting a scalp and scoring a crucial 46 off 15 balls to win against Chhatrapati Sambhaji Kings, Captain Azim Kazi cleaned out 3 wickets vs the Eagle Nashik Titans and Vijay Pawale also took home the man of the match awards for their crucial two wickets each versus the Puneri Bappa and Kolhapur Tuskers respectively. The second edition of the MPL will begin on June 2 and the Ratnagiri Jets aim to repeat their performance by solely focusing on the processes that were responsible for winning them the cup the first time around. The team has started training together and will continue to build on the plans that have been laid out by the coaching staff. Ratnagiri Jets Final Squad: Abhishek Pawar (WK), Akhilesh Gawale, Azim Kazi (C), Dhiraj Phatangare, Divyang Hinganekar, Kiran Chormale, Krish Shahapurkar, Kunal Thorat, Nikhil Naik (WK), Nikit Dhumal, Piyush Kamal, Pradeep Dadhe, Preetam Patil, Rohit Patil, Sahil Churi, Sangram Bhalekar, Satyajeet Bacchav, Tushar Shrivastav, Vaibhav Chowghule, Vijay Pawale, Yash Borkar, Yogesh Chavan. (ANI)

devdiscourse 1 May 2024 1:31 pm