Kol restos limit alcohol to4 pegs during puja season
New puja roll of honour after change in regime
IIT expert roped in to assess flyover paint risk
Sasthi footfall: New crowd-pullers steal a march on old favourites
Clubs, civic bodies launch zero-waste Durga Puja
Barrier-free pandals welcome disabled visitors
Underprivileged kids go pandal-hopping with TOI
Paediatrician saves flyer after suspected heart attack on Paris-Del flight
S Bengal got 8% more rain this monsoon, north 13% less
The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case involving alleged financial irregularities and manipulation...
Kolkata restaurants ride Durga Puja rush, stay open well past midnight
Renowned eateries have already started staying open well past midnight, as the Durga Puja crowd makes a beeline to savour their sought-after dishes
SRFTI suspends classes till Nov 13, orders students to vacate campus
Community Durga Puja and politics are interlinked in Kolkata for centuries
After its win in Assembly polls, Bengal BJP leaders take control of Pujas ousting TMC By Tirthankar Mitra KOLKATA: Time was when Durga Puja, the biggest festival of Bengal was performed at the ancestral houses of zamindars and big traders, both of whom had made their fortunes in the services of the British [] The post Community Durga Puja and politics are interlinked in Kolkata for centuries appeared first on Northlines .
RSS expands Bengal footprint, opens 5,000 shakhas in 10-day drive
SC grants bail to former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh
Minister plans sports zones under flyovers and bridges
8 lakh beneficiaries added to Annapurna Yojana on Panchami
Your Didi is with you: Mamata condemns Dipke detention
EC summons TMC factions for symbol dispute hearing on Oct 30
After attack on home, now Bikash gets death threat call
EC to publish integrated draft Bengal voter roll, with tribunal-included names, on Nov 12
Andhra's Kalamkari Art Takes Centre Stage At Kolkata's Durga Puja Pandal
Kalamkari art form from Andhra Pradesh is finding a new canvas in Kolkata Durga Puja as the 74 Pally Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee in Kidderpore features the art known for its hand-drawn and hand-painted motifs in its Puja pandal.
22, 24 carat Gold prices remain steady across metro cities on October 16
Kolkata: First-ever Durga Puja with theme Ram Ki Ayodhya; Guv Ravi graces the inauguration
Kolkata: First-ever Durga Puja with theme Ram Ki Ayodhya; Guv Ravi graces the inauguration
Todays Gold Rate in India October 12: Gold prices down in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru
22, 24 carat Gold prices down across metro cities on October 12
Bengal govt to be custodian of 'enemy properties': CM Suvendu
Kolkata's Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that the Centre will assign enemy properties to the West Bengal government. These properties include various assets left by individuals who migrated to enemy countries. The Ministry of Home Affairs has approved this decision after recent discussions at the BIMSTEC meeting. The state government plans to use revenue from these properties for local development projects.
Durga puja 2026: Skip the Kolkata queues with luxury tours
From convoy-led pandal-hopping to cruises on the Ganga, this year curated Durga puja tours aim to offer visitors easier access to the city, encouraging them to look beyond Howrah Bridge and experience Kolkatas cultural fabric. Phuchkas included
Adorned with lights and steeped in lore, Durga Puja pandals open for devotees across nation
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) Durga Puja celebrations officially began in several parts of the nation as Navratri reached its sixth day. The pandal doors were opened to the public, drawing thousands of devotees seeking blessings. The city of Jamshedpur in Jharkhand transformed into a vibrant hub of devotion, joy, and celebration as community-led festivities reached their peak on Friday. Major socio-cultural and religious organisations, including the Hindi Club, Ranikudar, Sri Sri Rankini Mandir, Sri Utkal Durga Puja Committee, Agrico Puja Committee, and Tuiladungri Puja Committee, unveiled massive, intricately designed pandals. Elaborate thematic decorations, synchronised light displays, and traditional Vedic rituals have deeply immersed the local residents in the spirit of worship. Jamshedpur boasts a legacy of hosting approximately 500 distinct Durga Puja celebrations across the city, making it one of the region's largest cultural congregations. Local organising committees have deployed dedicated volunteers and coordinated infrastructure to manage the heavy footfall, ensuring safety and accessibility for families and visitors. As the multi-day festival progresses, the entire city remains unified in a rare blend of community bonding and spiritual reverence. As the nation marked the sixth day of Shardiya Navratri 2006, dedicated to Maa Katyayani, pandals were adorned across cities in West Bengal and other states, including Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Devotees were seen hopping between pandals and seeking blessings of the Goddess. Speaking to IANS at the unveiling of Goddess Durgas idol at Kolkatas renowned Tala Barowaris 106th Durga Puja celebrations, a devotee and organiser, Abhishek Bhattacharya, said, We worship the Shakti in three forms: one is Durga, one is Saraswati, and one is Lakshmi. We know through the Puranas and Vedas that Shakti possesses the divine power of Dasha Maha-vidya and Navadurga - the Navadurga of Uma. This is what we have tried to portray in our pandal. Furthermore, in Uttarakhands Kashipur, a seven-day Durga Puja festival has been organised from October 15 to 21, featuring religious rituals, cultural performances, bhajan evenings, and community feasts, with the inauguration by Mayor Deepak Bali. In Jharkhand, JMM general secretary Binod Kumar Pandey and party spokesperson Manoj Kumar Pandey inaugurated the Durga Puja pandal at Harmu Panch Mandir near Harmu Chowk by cutting the ribbon. Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, artist Hafizuddin Ahmed spoke to IANS and narrated how he has been making Ravan effigies for Dusshera for the past 50 years. I make effigies of Ravana, I make Tazia, I do set/scenery design work, and if any order comes from the film industry, I handle that too. As for how many generations, he said, I watched my father work, and he told me that his father and grandfather also used to do this same work.
Gold and silver prices today, 16 October: Check the latest 24K, 22K gold and 999 silver retail rates across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and other major Indian cities, along with MCX market updates.
Kolkata Durga Puja pandals highlight devotion and social themes
The News Mill
Kolkata mall enters Pujo map with Jatra-themed celebration
22, 24 carat Gold prices up across metro cities on October 9
Odisha to continue with ballot papers for rural polls, EVMs for urban
A house-to-house survey for the preparation of electoral rolls for the upcoming Panchayat and Municipal Elections2027 will begin on October 26
Kolkata Court Orders Mahua Moitra to Remove Defamatory Posts Against Chief Secretary
A Kolkata court has ordered MP Mahua Moitra to delete social media posts labeling the chief secretary as a vote thief. Kolkata Court Orders Mahua Moitra to Remove Defamatory Posts Against Chief Secretary
Kolkata Film Institute Vice Chancellor Allegedly Manhandled Amid Protest
The VC's office was vandalised on Wednesday night, causing extensive damage. Stones were allegedly thrown at the office, shattering windows, while water and air-conditioning lines were cut, the institute said in the statement.
SRFTI rusticates 6 students for assaulting VC, vandalising office
Muslims off committees barring pockets, shared Durga Puja tradition frays in Kol
JU Starts Engineering Decentralised Counselling & Spot Admission
Health Scheme: 5 AIIMS Centres Added, Oncology Op Rates Fixed
Work On Kona Expressway Flyover Piers To Pick Up Pace During Puja
Display Of ICU Bed Status Must, Bengal Govt Tells Hospitals
Civic check at 4 Park Street restaurants, food samples collected
Fewer buses, cabs and packed metro leave commuters in the lurch
Revellers brave Panchami rain, throng pandals since morning
Rainbow roads lose sheen as skid scare forces safety fixes
24-Hour control room at Nabanna, districts
Airfare @ Rs 8.5k, bus ticket @ Rs 4.5k, puja trip to N Bengal pinches pockets
Bengali diaspora transcends borders, hosts Durga Puja celebrations across Europe, US
Pujas pay tribute to Mahanayak with posters, lobby cards and installations
UCO Bank net profit rises 27% to 786 crore in July-September quarter
Public sector UCO Bank on Thursday reported a 27 per cent rise in net profit to Rs 786 crore for the second quarter ended September 30. The Kolkata-based lender earned a net profit of Rs 620 crore in the same period last fiscal year. Total income increased to Rs 8,170 crore in the second quarter from Rs 7,421 crore a year ago, UCO Bank said in a regulatory filing. Interest income improved to Rs 7,286 crore in the September quarter of FY27 from Rs 6,537 crore in the year-ago period. Operating profit also increased to Rs 1,872 crore against Rs 1,613 crore in the same quarter a year ago. On the asset quality front, the bank's gross non-performing assets (NPAs) moderated to 1.96 per cent of gross advances at the end of September 2026 compared to 2.56 per cent a year ago. Net NPAs or bad loans came down to 0.18 per cent at the end of September 2026 compared to 0.43 per cent at the end of September 2025. However, provisioning against bad loans rose marginally to Rs 444 crore during th
Rainbow Paint Off The Roads, Flyovers In WB After Mishap
The locations were Gariahat Flyover in south Kolkata and a road at Shahid Bhagat Singh More in Asansol in Burdwan West.
Rajkummar Rao to join Sourav Ganguly at his childhood Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata on Mahashtami
The team of Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story is set to mark its first major public appearance in Kolkata during Durga Puja. Actor Rajkummar Rao, who plays former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly in the upcoming biopic, will join Ganguly on Mahashtami to visit some of the pandals the cricketer has been visiting since childhood. Ever since the makers announced Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story, the film has drawn attention. Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and produced by Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg, the film features Rajkummar Rao in the lead role as Ganguly. It is scheduled to release in theatres on May 14, 2027. With Durga Puja celebrations underway across Kolkata, the film's team is planning a visit to the city on Mahashtami. The occasion will bring Ganguly and Rao together in public for the first time since the film's announcement. Rao is expected to travel to Kolkata on Monday to take part in the festivities. During the visit, he will accompany Ganguly to several prominent Durga Puja pandals in South Kolkata. The itinerary includes local pandals that Ganguly has frequented since childhood, where the two are expected to offer prayers and interact with local residents. Select members of the film's crew will also join them during the visit. The appearance comes as the makers look to connect with audiences in Bengal during one of the state's biggest cultural celebrations. By bringing the actor and the former cricketer together at the festivities, the team will also have an opportunity to engage with cricket enthusiasts and moviegoers ahead of the film's theatrical release. With the biopic scheduled to arrive in cinemas in May 2027, the Mahashtami visit will offer audiences in Kolkata an early opportunity to see Rao and Ganguly together as the film's promotional activities begin to take shape. Also Read : Rajkummar Rao on working with his FTII classmate Jaideep Ahlawat in Prahaar, We share a comfort zone because we have spent so many years together
New BC Roy Mkt opens, 100 of 416 stall owners shift wares
Poster row: Presi probe report in 15 days, wont tolerate such acts, says min
Tata Power plans Rs 2,500 crore investment for 500MW solar project in Bengal
Woman dies after fall from 9th floor
HC rejects Indranils anticipatory bail plea in massArt case
Left book stall vandalised, 88-yr-old, others assaulted in South Kolkata
HC okays CPM book stall, warns selective policing breeds anarchy
Mothers name off voter list no ground to stall sons police verification: HC
Calcutta High Court orders release, repatriation of Bangladeshi convict
Waterspout near Gangasagar bathing ghat triggers panic
Dont let anyone spoil festive mood: CM to cops, committees
Spear Corps Commander visits Assam Rifles in Manipur
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 15 (IANS) Lt Gen Girish Kalia, general officer commanding (GOC), Spear Corps, visited a forward post of the Assam Rifles in Manipur on Thursday and reviewed the prevailing security situation in the area. He was briefed by local commanders on the operational preparedness of the troops manning the porous India-Myanmar border. India shares a 1,643 km long border with Myanmar. Of this, 398 km are in Manipur. Fencing of the border has started, and nearly 55 km has been completed in Manipur. The government plans to complete the fencing by 2028. However, there are challenges that authorities are facing during the fencing work. Terrain is an issue. Several stretches along the border are hilly and forested. There is also resistance from militant outfits that use the border to move between the two countries. An Assam Rifles patrol was recently ambushed at a spot where fencing work is underway in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. A soldier lost his life in the attack. There have been attacks on the Assam Rifles in Manipur as well. In July this year, two soldiers were killed after a convoy was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the Ukhrul district. This happened close to the India-Myanmar border as well. The GOC's visit comes at a time when the valley-based Meiteis are continuing to demand the ouster of the Assam Rifles from the state, accusing the force of favouritism towards the hill-based Kuki-Zo community. They have also claimed that the Assam Rifles failed to manage the ethnic conflict effectively. Even the Nagas in the state have raised their voices against the Assam Rifles in recent times after clashes broke out with the Kukis. On October 15, 2026, even when Lt Gen Kalia was visiting Manipur, Leishiyo Keishing, the Naga People's Front MLA from Phungyar, accused the 11 Assam Rifles of dereliction of duty. He, along with a team, was returning to Imphal after a tour of border areas when residents of Chassad allegedly blocked public movement, leaving nearly 20 vehicles, including his convoy, stranded for nearly two hours. This happened at the Kamjong market, where residents blocked roads at two locations using stones and other large objects. The blockade was lifted after the intervention of Kamjong Police, Border Security Force (BSF) and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel. A Casspir armoured vehicle was deployed to clear the obstructions. After crossing Chassad, Keishing alleged that Assam Rifles personnel had failed to intervene despite their responsibility to protect border residents and maintain security. He also accused the force of focusing on business activities instead of its assigned duties. Over the last few days, the Assam Rifles has made attempts to reach out to both Naga and Kuki community leaders to ease tensions between the two communities.
Kolkata court asks Mahua Moitra to immediately delete objectionable post targeting current Bengal CS
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 15 (IANS) A court in Kolkata on Thursday directed Mahua Moitra, the Trinamool Congress-Mamata Lok Sabha member from Krishnanagar constituency in Nadia district of West Bengal, to immediately delete two derogatory social media posts made by her about the current West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal over the latter's role in the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise when he was the State's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). In the social media post, Moita described Agarwal as Vote Chor (Vote Thief). Agarwal first served a legal notice to Moitra over the posts and subsequently filed a defamation suit against her demanding a libel compensation of Rs 10 crore. The matter came up for hearing at a lower court at Alipore in South Kolkata on Thursday and at the end of the hearing the judge of the court said that Krishnagar Lok Sabha MP will not be able to share any new post on social media making any defamatory comments against the Chief Secretary and will also not be able to re-share any old social media post related to the same matter. The court also said that the social media posts that Moitra made on October 3 and October 6 must be deleted within 24 hours of receiving the court order. The Trinamool Congress-Mamata Lok Sabha MP will be given a notice to explain why the court will not uphold the ban on her comments. The judge of the lower court also said that Moitra's posts not just criticised the SIR process but also accused the Chief Secretary of illegal acts as the then West Bengal CEO. However,, the court added that the Krishnanagar MP was unable to present any suitable evidence in the court to support such serious allegations. As a result, the court said that there were doubts about the legal basis of those allegations. The court added that everyone had the right to discuss or criticise the SIR in the scope of public interest but behind that criticism, defamatory comments against any government official were not acceptable at all. In that regard, as per the court's observation, Moitra's social media posts were objectionable and therefore she must delete the post within the next 24 hours. Moitra gave a reaction to the court order on social media. I will be filing a vacating application to reinforce my right to call a 'Vote Chor' a 'Vote Chor', the Trinamool Congres-Mamata Lok Sabha MP in a social media statement said while reacting to the court order.
22, 24 carat Gold prices remain steady across metro cities on October 4
UCO Bank sees 26.7% growth in net profit
Monsoon withdraws from Tripura with 17% rainfall deficit
Paint washed off Kolkata flyovers after skidding videos go viral
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation removed the rainbow-coloured paint from the Gariahat and Chingrighata flyovers after at least three motorbikes skidded on the surface; Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul said anti-skid paint had been used as part of a Durga Puja beautification drive
Kolkata High Court Denies Bail to Former Minister Indranil Sen in Money Laundering Case
The Kolkata High Court has rejected Indranil Sens bail plea amid an ongoing ED investigation into alleged money laundering activities. Kolkata High Court Denies Bail to Former Minister Indranil Sen in Money Laundering Case
West Bengal has ordered a probe after motorcyclists reportedly skidded on Kolkatas freshly painted Chingrighata flyover during rain, prompting renewed questions about road safety.
The Invisible Heroes Behind Kolkata's Durga Puja
The Adani Durga Puja preview extended support to eight shortlisted puja pandals across Kolkata to fund artists behind the masterpieces that become landmarks during the pujo.
CM Adhikari credits BSF-police coordination for curbing border crimes in Bengal
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 15 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday said improved coordination between the Border Security Force (BSF) and state police had helped curb border-related crimes in the state's districts adjoining Bangladesh, while asserting that barbed-wire fencing work was progressing at a brisk pace. Adhikari also urged people to refrain from child marriage, citing the high incidence of early pregnancies in Murshidabad and assured that lack of funds would not hamper the districts overall development and tourism potential. Adhikari made the remarks while inaugurating a community Durga Puja in Lalbagh in Murshidabad district, a minority-dominated region bordering Bangladesh. Cross-border crimes such as illegal infiltration, cattle smuggling and narcotics trafficking were rampant in this region earlier. Now, the BSF and the state police are working in close coordination. That is precisely why such crimes have already been brought under control to a great extent. At the same time, work on erecting barbed-wire fencing along the border is also progressing in full swing, the Chief Minister said. Referring to the high incidence of child marriage and early pregnancies in Murshidabad, Adhikari appealed to residents not to marry off their daughters or sisters at an early age. He reminded them that child marriage was a punishable offence under the law. Without naming anyone, the Chief Minister also cautioned that certain vested interests might attempt to disrupt the festive atmosphere by engaging in unruly activities during Durga Puja. Both the police and the puja organisers will have to remain alert to such attempts. Recently, two puja pandals in the district witnessed accidents or other unpleasant incidents. Investigations into those incidents are currently underway. I am cautioning the police and the puja organisers in advance. Do not allow anyone to spoil the festive mood of Durga Puja, he said. Adhikari also highlighted Murshidabad's tourism potential and stressed the need for comprehensive development to attract visitors and improve the district's overall prospects. Murshidabad has immense tourism potential. What is required is overall development. From this stage, I guarantee that finance will not be a hurdle to the comprehensive development of the district, he said.
Anupamaa actress Adrija Roy opens up about her emotional connection with Durga Puja
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Oct 15 (IANS) Television actress Adrija Roy, known for her role in Anupamaa, has opened up about her emotional connection with Durga Puja. In an exclusive quote shared with IANS, she said that the festival reminds her of home, family and the little things that make the celebrations special. Adrija said the festive atmosphere brings a unique sense of happiness and positivity that is difficult to put into words unless one has grown up experiencing it. She shared, Durga Puja is very personal to me because it reminds me of home, family and all the little things that make the festival special. There is a different kind of happiness during Puja. The entire atmosphere feels so positive and festive, and I think that feeling is difficult to explain unless you have grown up experiencing it. Looking back, she said the excitement around getting ready, meeting people and being part of the celebrations made Puja particularly memorable. As a child, the excitement was on another level. Wearing new clothes, going to the Puja, meeting relatives and friends, eating good food and just being out for the celebrations made those days so special. Even today, those memories instantly bring a smile to my face, she added. And when it comes to dressing up, Adrija revealed that a saree naturally becomes her favourite choice during Puja. I love wearing sarees during Durga Puja. There is something so beautiful and timeless about dressing traditionally during the festival. If I had no work commitments, my ideal Puja day would simply be getting ready in a beautiful saree, visiting pandals, eating my favourite food and spending the entire day with my loved ones, she concluded. Adrija Roy was born and brought up in Kolkata, West Bengal, in a Bengali family. Before venturing into acting, she represented West Bengal as a national-level sprinter. She later moved to Mumbai to pursue her career in the entertainment industry. Adrija is currently seen playing the role of Raahi in Anupamaa. The show features Rupali Ganguli in the titular role.
BSF DG thanks Bengal CM for land to bolster border infrastructure
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 15 (IANS) Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Praveen Kumar has thanked West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and the state government for providing land for strengthening infrastructure along the India-Bangladesh border. The BSF DG expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister and the state government for providing land for border infrastructure, which will facilitate the strengthening of the border security grid and plugging of feasible gaps in border fencing, a statement said on Thursday. Kumar met Adhikari on October 14 and apprised him of the prevailing security situation along the India-Bangladesh border. India shares a 4,096.7-km-long border with Bangladesh, of which 2,216.7 km lies in West Bengal. The border in the state stretches from the Sundarbans in the south to the strategically important Siliguri Corridor in the north. During the meeting, Kumar briefed the Chief Minister on the operational preparedness of BSF formations in West Bengal and the strategies being adopted to secure stretches of the border that remain unfenced. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, nearly 569 km of the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal remains unfenced. Of this, around 113 km is riverine, where conventional fencing is not feasible. Unlike other states bordering Bangladesh, the BSF operates through two frontiers in West Bengal -- the South Bengal Frontier and the North Bengal Frontier. After coming to power, the BJP government led by Adhikari began handing over land to the BSF for border fencing and the construction of Border Outposts (BOPs). Nearly 1,024 acres across nine districts have been cleared for transfer to the force. The state government has maintained that delays under the previous administration had held up the development of crucial border infrastructure. The coordination between all security agencies to prevent illegal infiltration and other crimes along the border was discussed during the meeting. The need to relocate zero-line villages was also discussed, a source said. Zero-line villages are settlements located within 150 yards of the international border. Many such villages are situated beyond the border fence, while in some areas their presence has made fencing difficult. There are nearly 360 zero-line villages in West Bengal, with a combined population of around 70,000. Their location presents operational challenges for the BSF, which has sought their relocation. Adhikari assured the BSF DG of the state governments assistance in addressing the issue. He also said the government would extend necessary support for the welfare of BSF personnel and their families.
After Viral Skid Videos, Kolkata Scrubs Colour Paint From Flyover Road
Videos of bikes skidding one after another on the slippery road of Kolkata's Gariahat flyover had surfaced on social media
Todays Gold Rate in India October 15: Gold prices down in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru
22, 24 carat Gold prices down across metro cities on October 15
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 15 (IANS) The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will finalise its list of candidates for the forthcoming urban civic body elections, including those to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC), by Diwali, scheduled for November 8. The civic body elections are likely to be held in the last week of November, with results expected to be announced by the first week of December. To minimise dissent and ensure a smooth candidate selection process, the BJP has adopted a multi-tier screening mechanism that combines recommendations from local leaders with applications from professionals, with the final names subject to scrutiny by district- and state-level committees. A BJP state committee member said discussions on the candidates recommended by the party's local leadership would begin immediately after Lakshmi Puja on October 8. The shortlisted candidates are expected to be announced soon after Diwali. The party will draw up its final list from two separate sets of applications. The first will comprise names recommended by local party leaders, while the second will include applications invited from professionals in selected fields, including medicine, law, engineering, media and social work. A drop box has already been placed at the BJP's original headquarters on Muralidhar Sen Lane in north Kolkata to receive applications from professionals interested in contesting the civic polls on the party's ticket. Applicants have been asked to submit their biodata along with their applications. Our central leadership does not want any resentment within the party over the selection of candidates for the civic polls. Therefore, the candidate will not be decided by anyone's single decision. Names will come from the grassroots and then be vetted by the district election core committee and the state-level committee. Only after this process will the final names of the candidates be announced, the state committee member said. The BJP's state leadership will also work on its campaign strategy and identify key issues to be raised during the civic poll campaign. These discussions will take place alongside the exercise to shortlist candidates after Lakshmi Puja.
Bus fares, airfares soar in TN ahead of Ayudha Puja holiday rush
Digital Desk | Chennai, Oct 15 (IANS) Passengers travelling out of Chennai for the Ayudha Puja holidays face sharply higher transport costs, with private omni bus fares rising several times above normal levels and airfares surging on several routes. The four-day holiday stretch begins with the weekend on October 17 and 18, followed by Ayudha Puja on October 19 and Vijayadashami on October 20. With train reservations already full, many residents heading to their hometowns are seeking seats on buses and flights. Passengers complained that the omni bus fares from Chennai to southern districts and other destinations had increased substantially ahead of the festive rush, making travel increasingly expensive for those yet to book tickets. On the Chennai-Kanyakumari route, tickets normally priced between Rs 800 and Rs 1,200 are now being quoted at Rs 3,420. Fares to Tirunelveli have risen from around Rs 1,300 to Rs 3,000, while those to Madurai have increased from Rs 800 to Rs 2,500. For Chennai-Coimbatore services, fares usually ranging between Rs 600 and Rs 1,000 have climbed to Rs 3,500, adding to the financial burden on holiday travellers. Air passengers are also facing steep increases, particularly for departures on October 16 and 17, when demand is building ahead of the extended break. Chennai-Madurai flight tickets available at approximately Rs 3,500 to Rs 5,500 for October 16 are being quoted between Rs 12,026 and Rs 18,626 for October 17. Fares on the Chennai-Coimbatore route, normally around Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,500, have reached approximately Rs 11,000 for October 16 and 17. Tickets to Thoothukudi, usually costing between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,500, are now priced from Rs 11,736 to Rs 13,626. Chennai-Kolkata fares have increased from the usual Rs 6,000-Rs 7,000 range to Rs 14,117. The increase extends to shorter routes within Tamil Nadu. Chennai-Tiruchirappalli tickets, normally priced between Rs 2,300 and Rs 3,500, are being quoted at Rs 6,500 to Rs 9,500 for October 16 and 17. On the Chennai-Salem route, fares have risen from approximately Rs 1,900-Rs 3,800 to between Rs 5,600 and Rs 12,000. ' The simultaneous increase in bus and flight prices has left passengers with limited affordable options, particularly as the full train bookings reduce alternatives for families planning to travel together during the consecutive holidays and festival celebrations across Tamil Nadu and other popular destinations.
Kolkatas culinary chronicler is gone; enter the gimmicky aloo posto burger
KP Constable PET Admit Card 2026 Out - Download PMT PET Hall Ticket at prb.wb.gov.in
KP Constable PET Admit Card 2026 has been released on 15 October 2026 by the West Bengal Police Recruitment Board (WBPRB). Candidates shortlisted for the Kolkata Police Constable and Lady Constable PMT/PET can download their hall tickets from the official website. The physical tests will begin on 28 October 2026. Check the direct download link, test date, venue, reporting time and steps to download the admit card here.
Indias largest red light area in Kolkatas Sonagachi inaugurates Durga Puja
Sex workers say their annual celebration remains a fight for dignity and acceptance, despite growing participation from public representatives and local residents
After political shift, Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja puts spotlight on Syama Prasad Mookerjee
Kolkata Metro Introduces QR Code Ticketing for Seamless Travel
Kolkata Metro enhances travel convenience with QR code ticketing, easing access during the busy Durga Puja festival. Kolkata Metro Introduces QR Code Ticketing for Seamless Travel
TCG chairman by his side, CM Adhikari says group to invest Rs 10k crore in Haldia
Shah On Durga Puja Pandal Hopping This Weekend
Mr Shah inaugurated two Durga Pujas, one at Santosh Mitra Square in central Kolkata while another at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre in Salt Lake in 2025.
Skidding Bikes Spark Road Safety Debate Over Kolkata flyover Rainbow Paint
Social Messages & Inclusive Infra At Kolkata Pandals
From flavours of Kolkata to cultural shows, Durga Puja brings Bengali traditions to Pune city
India to be theme country in 50th International Kolkata Book Fair
