Uber Eats plans to expand in Nagpur and more cities

May 14, 2018

Uber Eats, the online food delivery service owned by Uber Technologies Inc., is growing at 50% month-on-month in India, a top executive said, revealing plans to expand into nagpur & more tier II and non-metro cities.

“As urbanization picks up in India, we are going to see more cities like Vizag, Coimbatore, Surat, Nagpur and others offering a great business potential for us. While there might not be immediate demand…in the long run, these cities will grow significantly in terms of users and orders…it is really important for us to be the early entrants there, and tap into the growth potential,” he said.

Launched in India in May 2017, Uber Eats is now present in 13 cities—Mumbai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Bengaluru, Chennai, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Pune, Kochi, Jaipur, Kolkata, Coimbatore and Vizag.

Bhavik Rathod, head of Uber Eats in India, said in an interview that the delivery platform currently has more than 12,000 restaurants with at least 40 new restaurants being added daily. It recently launched in two new non-metro cities: Coimbatore and Vizag.

To be sure, in 2016, online food delivery firm Zomato had paused online ordering in four cities including Coimbatore due to a shortage of orders. However, Rathod said that tier II and non-metro cities have witnessed a growth in the number of new restaurants and hotel chains, opening up new business opportunities for online food delivery platforms.

Rathod refused to share figures on the number of orders and active user base the company has. He, however, said that Uber Eats charges up to 30% commission from its restaurant partners depending on factors such as menu rates, delivery costs and rental prices.

Additionally, Uber Eats will look at expanding deeper within its current cities. Citing an example of Bengaluru, Rathod said that the platform recently went live in Whitefield, a suburb, and that it plans to launch in areas like Yeshwantpur and others in the coming months.

Uber Eats is also leveraging data generated from its core ride-hailing platform to streamline its delivery service, and to decide on new markets and sub-markets. In India Uber’s cab business is present in more than 30 cities.

Rathod said that both Uber Eats and the cabs business utilize the same back-end and engineering team. Uber Eats uses data points such as cab rides and booking density in a certain geographic area and combines it with publicly available restaurant data to estimate potential demand in that area.

“It has taken us by surprise, what the potential the market shows. Since our rides business is already there in these markets, anyone who has a smartphone, and uses Uber for rides, is a potential Uber Eats customer…so we already have access to a consumer base to target,” he said.

The online food delivery segment in India turned fairly competitive after the entry of Uber Eats. Apart from homegrown companies like Zomato and Swiggy, Uber’s immediate rival Ola also signalled its entry into the food delivery segment with the acquisition of Foodpanda in December 2017.

Investors are also pouring funds into the segment as competition picks up. Swiggy raised $100 million from Naspers in February, which was its largest round. Less than two months later, Mint reported that Swiggy is looking to raise as much as $200 million, as the company plans expansion into the grocery delivery segment.

Also Read : Uber to work with NASA on manned urban flying cars

Maharashtra government plans higher investment in micro-irrigation project

May 14, 2018

Maharashtra authorities is planning to pump extra money into micro-irrigation tasks to double agricultural revenue by 2022.

The federal government’s ‘Extra Crop Per Drop’ programme goals to extend effectivity of water use by way of numerous measures, like diversification of crops and a phased shift in agricultural practices. In 2018-19, the state plans to optimise water effectivity by 20 per cent.

The Nationwide Financial institution of Agriculture and Rural Improvement (NABARD), in its annual report 2018-19, states, “Presently, gross space beneath mirco-irrigation is round a million hectares with common space expansed by about 100,000 hectares in 5 years.”

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Finance to revise the schemes to give more priority to micro-irrigation projects to achieve More Crop Per Drop. The state’s budget for irrigation projects and water conservation schemes is Rs 12,000 crore. According to estimates, the state’s overall expenditure after accounting for micro-irrigation will be Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore.

According to the Ministry of Water Resources, “The irrigation potential in Maharashtra is 49.4 lakh hectares, whereas irrigated area was 24.47 lakh hectares. The irrigation potential created by local sectors (minor projects) is 17.32 lakh hectares and utilisation was only 2.07 lakh hectares.”

In the last three-and-a-half years, the state’s priority was to make 25,000 villages drought-free. The state has made 11,247 villages drought-free (water neutral) and plans to make the rest drought-free by 2019 through “jalyukt shivar projects”. Micro-irrigation is a step initiated to bridge the gap between irrigation potential created and utilised.

The state has also decided to bring all the land under sugar cultivation under drip irrigation. The kharif production for 2017 showed an increase in sugarcane crop from 6.33 lakh hectares in 2016 to 9.43 lakh hectares.

ALSO READ : Nagpur Metro’s second phase DPR delayed by 2 months

Vaani Kapoor to star opposite Ranbir in Shamshera

May 14, 2018

Vaani Kapoor, who debuted in the 2013 romcom Shuddh Desi Romance alongside Sushant Singh Rajput and Parineeti Chopra, was last seen opposite Ranveer Singh in Befikre. The movie tanked at the box office and her performance also failed to impress both the audience and the critics. However, she now has two big-ticket projects in the pipeline.

Apart from Shamshera, she will also be seen in another YRF film, alongside Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff. The yet-to-be-titled film will be directed by Siddharth Anand who is best known for films like like Bang Bang!, Bachna Ae Haseeno and Salaam Namaste.

Shamshera is touted to be an action-packed masala movie, making it the first of its kind for both the stars. YRF has also cast the original bad boy of Bollywood, Sanjay Dutt, as the villain and have got the fans charged up with a tweet.

We’ve got an ultimate casting coup! Our upcoming action adventure #Shamshera has a roaring villain against #RanbirKapoor. It’s the one & only #SanjayDutt | @duttsanjay | @karanmalhotra21 | @ShamsheraMovie

— Yash Raj Films (@yrf) May 10, 2018

ITS OFFICIAL… Vaani Kapoor in #Shamshera… Stars Ranbir Kapoor in the title role… Sanjay Dutt to play the merciless villain in the film… Produced by Aditya Chopra… Directed by Karan Malhotra… Starts 2018-end… Shooting will wrap by mid-2019.

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) May 14, 2018

“Vaani plays Ranbir’s love interest in the film and is a very important collaborator in his character’s journey. Her character graph is interlinked to the plot of the film making her a crucial catalyst in our hero’s rebellious mission. Vaani is a perfect fit for the role. She is a fine actor, a fabulous dancer and a gorgeous Hindi film heroine. We wanted someone absolutely fresh to wow audiences on the big screen and she beautifully fits that brief,” Karan Malhotra said in a statement.

A Karan Malhota directorial, Shamshera is all set for a late 2019 release.

Petrol, diesel prices hiked after Karnataka elections

May 14, 2018

नागपुरात पेट्रोलपंप सकाळी ७ ते सायंकाळी ७ वाजेपर्यंतच सुरू

Petrol, diesel prices hiked after Karnataka elections

Prices of petrol and diesel have gone up just a day after the completion of Karnataka assembly elections, confirming the suspicion that the Centre’s decision to freeze the prices were to extract the electoral advantage.

This comes in the backdrop of voting for Karnataka assembly elections getting over on Saturday. Indian Oil Corporation chairman Sanjiv Singh had earlier said that his firm had decided to “temporarily moderate” prices.

The Centre’s Narendra Modi government had announced it was freezing the prices of petrol and diesel on 1 May even though benchmark international rates have gone up by almost $2 per barrel. This had given rise to suspicion that the move was intended to derive electoral mileage in Karnataka.

On Monday, the petrol price in Delhi went up by 17 paise taking the price to 56-month high, while the diesel price crossed Rs 66 per litre. An update by Indian Oil Corporation said that the price of petrol went up by 18 paise in Kolkata and Chennai, while diesel prices have been raised by 21 paise a litre in Delhi, 5 paise in Kolkata, and 23 paise in Mumbai and Chennai.

Terming the development as deception, the Congress party’s chief spokesperson, Randeep Singh Surjewala, said, “Post deception of people of Karnataka and the country by not raising Petrol-Diesel prices for 19 continuous days to garner votes; First salvo of Petrol/Diesel enhancement is fired ! How many more to be fired to fleece the pockets of ordinary people?”

Post deception of people of Karnataka and the country by not raising Petrol-Diesel prices for 19 continuous days to garner votes;

First salvo of Petrol/Diesel enhancement is fired !

How many more to be fired to fleece the pockets of ordinary people? https://t.co/8YvV4oCfpm

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) May 14, 2018

Also read : Maha Metro Nagpur started implementation of Heat Action Plan.

Nagpur Metro’s second phase DPR delayed by 2 months

May 14, 2018

Majhi Metro to run additional trains for Ind-Aus T20I match for Nagpur fans

Nagpur Metro Rail project may appear to be speeding on the right track but there are rough patches ahead RITES, the agency associated with MahaMetro has not yet prepared the detailed project report (DPR) for phase II of Nagpur Metro. The report which was supposed to be readly by April-end will now be ready by June-end.

A source in MahaMetro said RITES would submit the draft this month. “We will suggest some modifications, if any, and then our consultant will submit the final report in June end,” he added.

MahaMetro will send the DPR to state urban development ministry for approval. The ministry will go through it and send it to the state cabinet. After the cabinet approves it, the report will be forwarded to Niti Ayog. After Ayog members are satisfied with the report, it will be sent to the Union cabinet. Phase II will be considered approved only after the Union cabinet clears it.

It is imperative that the DPR is put up before the Union cabinet before 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Phase II stands a good chance of getting cleared as long as Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari is a part of the central government. If BJP does not come to power in 2019, then Gadkari or his successor will find it difficult to get special status for Nagpur.

The second phase will cover a stretch of 48 kilometres, which will cost Rs10,860 crore at today’s prices. It will have five routes, with a total of 34 stations. Most of it will be elevated.

The first corridor will be from Automotive Square to Kanhan. It will be 13km stretch with 13 stations. The corridor will cater to Khasara village, Lekha Nagar (Kamptee), Kamptee Town and Dragon Palace Temple.

The second corridor will connect Khapri to Butibori MIDC. It will be 19km long and will have 9 stations. The catchment area is Jamtha, Dongargaon, Mohgaon, Butibori village, MHADA Colony and Indorama Colony.

The third one is extension of route from Lokmanya Nagar to Hingna Tehsil Office. It is 6km long with six stations and will pass through Nildoh, Gajanan Nagar, Rajiv Nagar, Lakshmi Nagar, Raipur and Hingna village. The fourth is extension from Prajapati Nagar to Transport Nagar. It is 4km long and has 4 stations.

The fifth is a spur from Vasudeo Nagar to Dattawadi. It will be about 5km long with two stations. Its catchment area is Raisoni College, Hingna MIDC, and Dattawadi.

ALSO READ : Krazy Castle removes rides for Metro rail project

At 47.3 degrees Celsius, Maharashtra’s Chandrapur 4th hottest in the world on Friday

May 12, 2018

Chandrapur in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region recorded the highest maximum temperature in the country on Friday at 47.3 degrees Celsius, 4.4 degrees above normal.

Amravati at 44 degrees Celsius, Buldhana at 42.2 degrees Celsius, Nagpur at 44.5 degrees Celsius, and Wardha 45.5 degrees Celsius, all in Vidarbha, recorded their respective highest maximum temperature for the season on the day, the weather bureau said.

Officials from the Nagpur division of India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that hot weather conditions were expected to continue for north central Maharashtra and Vidarbha over the weekend. “From Monday onwards the western part of Vidarbha is expected to get some relief as the weather factors leading to high temperatures are expected to die down marginally. The continuous hot air advection [transfer of heat horizontally through the atmosphere] from northwest parts of the country and lack of moisture in these areas has allowed temperatures to escalate this high,” said AD Tathe, director, Regional Meteorological Centre, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Nagpur.

He said that locations in Rajasthan such as Bundi, Phalodi, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Barmer and Sawai Madhopur, all recorded average maximum temperatures at 44 degrees Celsius. “Chandrapur has recorded abnormally high temperatures this season, and Friday’s maximum temperature has been the highest for the location and the country. Citizens need to ensure they are hydrated, and avoid prolonged outdoor activity,” said Tathe.

Meanwhile, the day temperature in Mumbai was a degree Celsius above normal. While Santacruz recorded 34.6 degrees Celsius, 1.2 degree Celsius above normal, 34.2 degrees Celsius was recorded at Colaba, 0.7 degree Celsius above normal. The minimum temperature was almost a degree Celsius above normal at Colaba at 27.7 degrees Celsius but close to the normal mark at the suburbs at 27 degrees Celsius.

The pollutant-measuring indicator – air quality index (AQI) has been in the ‘satisfactory’ category for almost a fortnight. Mumbai recorded an AQI of 72 on Friday, which is expected to increase to 93 on Saturday.

The weather bureau predicted a partly cloudy sky in Mumbai for Saturday due to the presence of a cyclonic circulation over southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Lakshadweep area, which is pulling moisture along the Konkan coastline.

ALSO READ : Krazy Castle removes rides for Metro rail project

Krazy Castle removes rides for Metro rail project

May 11, 2018

Krazy Castle amusement park owner Haldiram Foods has started dismantling some of its rides so that Metro can dig the foundation of its pillars of Sitabuldi to Subhash Nagar stretch viaduct.

One ride has been removed and more will follow suit. Work on construction of three pillars in the designated parking area has already begun. The park has, however, not been closed down and will remain open till school summer holidays end.

Sources in MahaMetro said that as Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), owner of the land, was delaying officially handing over the land, the Metro officials had directly held talks with the concessionaire Haldiram Foods. “Haldiram owners were very cooperative and agreed to remove their rides so that our work does not get delayed. We have started work on the basis of minutes of the meeting held by Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari on this issue,” said a source.

Kamal Agrawal of Haldiram said that they had agreed to remove the rides in public interest. “We don’t want to delay the project, which is vital for the city. However, we are firm on our demand for compensation. We must either get money or alternate land,” he added.

Initially, MahaMetro had sought only one-fourth of Krazy Castle land. It had offered to relocate the park rides at its own cost. However, Haldiram turned down the offer. According to the concessionaire if the rides were relocated and pillars came up within the park, it would lose its charm and he would suffer a loss. Haldiram, therefore, proposed that either the viaduct be shifted outside the park or NIT take back the entire land and pay compensation to it.

Left with no option, MahaMetro asked the NIT to hand over the entire land in January this year. In February, Gadkari directed the NIT to hand over the entire land to MahaMetro. The Metro agency would construct a new amusement park and Haldiram would be handed over the food court in this park as compensation.

ALSO READ : Bogibeel – India’s Longest Road-Rail Bridge To Be Inaugurated By Year-End

Bogibeel – India’s Longest Road-Rail Bridge To Be Inaugurated By Year-End

May 10, 2018

India : Bogibeel bridge in the Dibrugarh district of Assam. — Bogibeel bridge in the Dibrugarh district of Assam.

Bogibeel – India’s Longest Road-Rail Bridge o Be Inaugurated By Year-End

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the country’s longest road and rail bridge connecting Dibrugarh in Assam to Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh by the end of the year.

While the construction-related work will be completed by the end of July, electrical and signalling work on the bridge will require two more months. The bridge is 4.94 km long and 32 metres above the water level of the Brahmaputra river.

The bridge, which is the second longest in Asia, has three lane roads on top and double line rail below.

India and China share a nearly 4,000 km border, with almost 75 per cent in Arunachal Pradesh. As of now, the rail and road link to Arunachal is through three Assam bridges — Jogighopa in Bongaigaon district, Saraighat near Guwahati, and Kolia-Bhomora between Sonitpur and Nagaon.

This means that a cargo from Dibrugarh in the north-eastern corner of Assam takes over a 600 km detour merely to cross the Brahmaputra.

The other alternative is crossing by ferry, but it is not suitable for heavy cargo and due to monsoons for six months between May-October, ferry services often remain disrupted.

“Now, to go from Dibrugarh to Arunachal Pradesh by train, one has to go via Guwahati with more than 500 km detour. With this bridge, the journey will be less than 100 km,” said Singh.

Approval for the bridge was granted in 1996 and construction was initiated in 2002 by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance government. Apart from bringing economic benefits for the region, the bridge will serve an important purpose for the armed forces. It will enable troops stationed at the China border to get supplies from Tezpur.

ALSO READ : Uber to work with NASA on manned urban flying cars

Maha Metro Nagpur started implementation of Heat Action Plan

May 10, 2018

Maha Metro Nagpur has started implementation of Heat Action Plan.

As per the plan, the labourers engaged in Metro Rail works will not work from 12 noon to 4 pm. Due to prevailing heat wave conditions in the region, it has become very unbearable for the labourers to work in afternoon hours.

The new working hours will continue till the end of June. The other organisations have already implemented the Heat Action Plan but Maha Metro implemented the same from May 8.

The rising temperature had adverse impact on human body and could cause sunstroke. Under this plan, all contractors who are part of Maha Metro project have been instructed to give a break to the workers in the afternoon.

A special emphasis will be given to employees’ safety under the heat action plan. Mercury soars in the month of May and continues to remain around 45 degree Celsius. The work timings have hence been revised and the contractors have been advised to stop work from 12 noon to 4 pm, especially where workers have to work in the open.

This has been done as temperature is at its peak from 12 noon to 4 pm. Considering the increasing temperature and to maintain a balance between working and non-working hour, the contractors have also been asked to fix working hours from 7 am to 12 noon in the first half and from 4 pm to 9 pm in the second half. The speed of project work would remain unchanged, workers would get respite from the scorching Sun.

The action plan includes installing shades at the workplace to protect workers from heat; similarly drinking water facility has also been provided. While workers are being trained to overcome heat-related issues, mock drill is also being conducted to make them aware of the steps being taken in case of sunstroke.

The implementation of Heat Action Plan – which involves changing working hours, while simultaneously providing facilities at work sites – has been widely hailed by workers, who are working with contractors for Maha Metro at different sites across the city.

ALSO READ : Health Department of NMC develops Smart Health Centres in city

Bioscopewala Official Trailer Out Today : Danny Denzongpa in lead role

May 9, 2018

Bioscopewala Official Trailer OUt Today :

In Deb Medhekar’s Bioscopewala, Danny Denzongpa stars as the titular character, a man who makes a living by letting customers peek into his portable movie projector. He strikes up a friendship with a young girl (played by Geetanjali Thapa as an adult), but at some point, loses touch with her completely.

The film also stars Adil Hussain, Tisca Chopra and Sunil Doshi, and is scheduled to be released on May 25.

Bioscopewala is the latest adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore’s 1892 short story Kabuliwala, about the bond between a Pashtun trader of dry fruits from Kabul and Mini, a young girl in Kolkata who reminds him of his daughter.

The trailer is poignant and evokes the same emotion of Kabuliwala — of pain, separation and longing. Even in the two-minute-long trailer, Denzongpa is a delight to watch as he brings to life the much-loved character of Kabuliwala. The trailer captures several stages of his life and he stands out in each of them.

The story was first adapted by Tapan Sinha in Bengali in 1957. Chhabi Biswas played Rahmat. In 1961, Balraj Sahni played the lead role in the Hindi adaptation directed by Hemen Gupta.

Another adaptation was for an episode for the 2015 television series Stories by Rabindranath Tagore. Mushtaq Kak plays the protagonist.

Minnie’s story comes alive in #Bioscopewala; an adaptation of Tagore’s Kabuliwala. Watch now – https://t.co/2dyGW9digb Everyone has an incomplete story. #WhatsYourStory? @_AdilHussain @tiscatime #DannyDenzongpa #GeetanjaliThapa @SunilDoshi @DebMedhekar @starindia @AllianceMediaIN

— Fox Star Hindi (@foxstarhindi) May 9, 2018

Fox Star Hindi also shared first poster of Bioscopewala yesterday (the day after Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary).

A day after #RanbindranathTagore‘s birth Anniversary, presenting the 1st poster of #Bioscopewala – An adaptation of Kabuliwala! Trailer releasing tomorrow at 11am. @_AdilHussain @tiscatime #DannyDenzongpa #GeetanjaliThapa @debmedhekar @SunilDoshi @starindia @AllianceMediaIN pic.twitter.com/TIGvBALsYi

— Fox Star Hindi (@foxstarhindi) May 8, 2018

ALso Watch Official Teaser :

ALSO READ : Pics : Sonam Kapoor – Anand Ahuja wedding

Health Department of NMC develops Smart Health Centres in city

May 9, 2018

Health Department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), that is always under fire for not maintaining its hospitals and dispensaries, is getting technical and financial help of Tata Trust to improve the present infrastructure to create patient-friendly environment in these establishments.

With this magnanimous help, the Smart City can have Smart Dispensaries and Health Centres envisaged under National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). This has also increased the number of patients in these Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHC).

This is a pilot project of Tata Trust, one of the oldest, non-sectarian philanthropic organisation, working in the several fields for last several years. Tata Trust has improved the basis infrastructure of these health posts by installing air conditions to create better working conditions for the employees and patients.

NMC develops Smart Health Centres in city

There is a separate area for registration of patients and waiting area has proper chairs. The system is digitized and every patient gets token number to visit the doctor. His/her data is digitally stored for next visits. Tata Trust delegates are making these small but effective changes in the health posts to improve the treatment quality.

Tata Trust has also ensured improvement in the existing infrastructure of Health posts. Buildings got a new quote of paint, vitrified tiles have been used in place of old tiles and available space has been demarcated to give a corporate look or private clinic look. The trust has taken help of architects for maximum utilization of available space in the present infrastructure and they have done miracle.

NMC is providing health facilities for just Rs 10 per patient with free medicines. The blood sugar test, Hemoglobin tests and other facilities are also available at rates much cheaper than private hospitals. The vaccination is also provided to children at nominal cost.

ALSO READ : Nagpur Municipal Corporation kick-starts the drive to clean Nag River & Others

Vidarbha pacer Rajneesh Gurbani selected in India ‘A’ team

May 9, 2018

From scalping 39 wickets in the Ranji Trophy to impressing in the Irani Cup — life has been good for Vidarbha pacer Rajneesh Gurbani.

And, the 25-year-old has been rewarded for his hard work with a spot in the India A squad for the three four-day games in England. It can be mentioned here that right arm pacer Gurbani has played an important role in Vidarbha’s Ranji Trophy victory this season. So far in 11 first class matches he has claimed 56 wickets. In Ranji Trophy final against Delhi at Indore he became only the second bowler to claim a hat trick in a Ranji final – after Tamil Nadu’s Kalyana sundram against Bombay in 1972-73.

While talking to media, 25 year old bowler said, ” I feel very happy that I have been selected in India A! team. Actually I was expecting India ‘A call and now my dream comes true.

The youngster, who shot to fame with his feat in the Ranji Trophy, is looking forward to meeting Rahul Dravid, who will coach the A side.

“I have always dreamt of playing under him (Dravid). I have heard a lot about him, but could not meet him so far. So, it is very exciting to have him as the coach of the team,” Gurbani tells Sportstar on Tuesday.

He also makes it clear that he will put in all the efforts to learn the nitty-gritty’s of the game from the former India captain. “I will try to learn everything from him (Dravid). This is a big moment for me,” the pacer adds.

In the squad for the four day matches, skipper Karun Nair will be assisted by young talents such as Ravikumar Samarth and Mayank Agarwal of Karnataka, Abhimanyu Easwaran of Bengal and Mumbai’s Shaw among others in batting while Shahbaz Nadeem, Ank it Rajpoot, Mohammad Siraj, Navdeep Saini and Rajneesh Gurbani are the pace bowlers.

ALSO READ : Khasdar Krida Mahotsav Walkathon event for the fitness enthusiasts on May 27 in Nagpur

Uber to work with NASA on manned urban flying cars

May 9, 2018

Uber teams with NASA to make flying cars a reality

Uber Technologies Inc. announced a partnership to study urban manned aircraft in conjunction with the U.S. space agency NASA, following a partnership last year that focused on unmanned drones.

As part of the deal, Uber will share its data with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to move the world closer to developing air traffic management systems for a world with flying cars.

Uber made the announcement as it kicked off its second Uber Elevate conference in Los Angeles. While Uber isn’t building these vertical takeoff and landing vehicles itself, the company is striking partnerships with manufacturers, battery companies and others who, together with Uber’s ride-hailing network, could make it possible to summon a flying taxi via the Uber app.

“Urban air mobility could revolutionize the way people and cargo move in our cities and fundamentally change our lifestyle much like smart phones have,” Jaiwon Shin, associate administrator for NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, said in a statement.

Uber has set a goal of testing these electric flying vehicles by 2020 and a commercial launch in 2023. The company has produced its own designs, talked to local governments and is trying to lay the foundation for a future in which people travel across cities in the sky.

Top U.S. regulators are scheduled to speak at the conference — either in person or via video — including U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and acting Federal Aviation Administration head Dan Elwell. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti spoke Tuesday morning via a recorded video. Uber Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi is scheduled to speak Wednesday.

Flying cars have attracted the attention of other technology companies. Alphabet Inc. CEO Larry Page has made investments in companies working on flying cars, like startups Kitty Hawk and Zee.Aero. Flying cars give Uber an opportunity to plan optimistically for the future while its other foray into futuristic vehicles faces significant challenges. Its autonomous car program has stalled, following a fatal collision with a pedestrian in March.

ALSO READ : Saturday Club Global Trust Nagpur Chapter Hosted Their Chapter Meet

Pics : Sonam Kapoor – Anand Ahuja wedding

May 8, 2018

sonam kapoor at wedding venue — Sonam Kapoor

Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja got married in an intimate, traditional Anand Karaj ceremony today morning (8 May).

After a star-studded mehendi and sangeet ceremony on 6 and 7 May, the couple headed to Sonam’s aunt’s bungalow in Bandstand, Bandra where the Anand Karaj (Sikh marriage ceremony) took place. The families will now lunch together before getting ready for the reception, to be held at The Leela in Mumbai.

Father of the bride, Anil Kapoor, was seen greeting the media waiting outside the wedding venue.

Sonam’s cousins Janhvi, Khushi, Arjun and Anshula are all set to welcome the baaraatis.

Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor at Sonam Kapoor wedding with dad Boney.

Arjun Kapoor at Sonam's wedding. — Arjun Kapoor at Sonam’s wedding.

Kareena Kapoor, Swara Bhasker and Jacqueline Fernandez at Sonam Kapoor’s wedding

Karan Johar also arrived!

Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor outside Sonam's wedding venue — Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor outside Sonam’s wedding venue

Sonam is the eldest of Anil Kapoor’s three children. Her sister Rhea is a filmmaker and brother Harshvardhan is an actor. Actors Arjun Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor and Mohit Marwah are Sonam’s cousins. Anand Ahuja belongs to a Delhi-based entrepreneurial family. Anand is the managing director of Shahi Exports and also owns wardrobe label Bhane, a brand which Sonam often sports.

India refuse to play Day-Night Test in Adelaide

May 8, 2018

Cricket Australia confirmed that the Adelaide Oval Test against India would be a day match as the latter has refused to play a day-night match after expressing concerns over playing with the pink ball.

Adelaide Oval Test would be played from December 6-10 at Australia. “We can confirm that we have received advice from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that it is not prepared to participate in a proposed Day-Night Test in Adelaide this summer,” a CA spokesperson said.

However, he added that CA is committed to hosting at least one day-night Test each summer. “Whilst we appreciate some Adelaide fans may be disappointed, we know how popular the Adelaide Test is and look forward to hosting India there in December. We are committed to hosting at least one Day-Night Test each home summer as part of our continued focus to grow Test cricket, and we are excited about the Day-Night Test against Sri Lanka at the Gabba in January.”

BCCI secretary Amitabh Chaudhary had written to Cricket of Australia saying that India is not yet prepared to play with the pink ball and would favour playing the Adelaide Test with the conventional red ball.

“I am directed to say by the Committee of Administrators that India would begin to play in the format only in about a year’s time. Under the circumstances, I regret to say that the proposed D/N Test cannot be played and all Tests will have to have the conventional structure,” Mr. Choudhary wrote in his e-mail to Cricket of Australia.

In an interview to a radio station, CA’s CEO James Sutherland told that India’s hesitance to play the pink ball Test was principally a result of their desire to win the series. Australia has not lost a solitary Test match under lights played at home. South Africa was also hesitant to play their 2016 Adelaide test under lights, dreading the hosts would have an out of line advantage. Afterwards, they lost the match by seven wickets.

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NMC is ready to create infrastructure for school bus stops

May 8, 2018

Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is ready to create infrastructure for the schools for pick and drop facilities for the students. The civic body has submitted a list of 500 probable bus stops to Regional Transport Office (RTO).

It may be mentioned that RTO had directed School Managements to provide list of the designated bus stops for the students nearer to their locality as per the directions of Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court. The court had directed Transport Department to ensure safety of the students as well as parents.

Mayor Nanda Jichkar called a meeting of all the stake-holders to resolve the issue in her chamber at NMC on Monday. DCP Traffic, RTO Officers, Transport Department officials of NMC and senior corporator Sunil Agrawal were present in the meeting. RTO has sought list of existing bus stops from Joint Director Education.

The bus stoppage will be finalised by the School Bus Security Committee headed by Commissioner of Police and RTO is Member-Secretary and Regional Transport Authority (RTA) headed by District Collector, DCP Traffic and RTO. Presently, the buses are passing through small and narrow roads creating traffic jams for the other vehicles. The big buses used by the school management created chaos to the traffic and also poses danger to the students and others. In several cases, it was found that the students were killed by the school buses due to negligence of the driver as road was narrow.

It may be mentioned that all the schools will have to constitute a School Transport Committee to provide safe transport facilities to the students. The committee will also decide bus stops, check all the documents of the bus operators and drivers, availability of first aid-box in the bus. NMC has already 158 bus stops all over the city. The school managements can make some payment to the civic body for the using of their buses on these bus stops.

ALSO READ : Nagpur Municipal Corporation kick-starts the drive to clean Nag River & Others

Nagpur Municipal Corporation kick-starts the drive to clean Nag River & Others

May 8, 2018

Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has kick-started cleaning drive of Nag River, Pili River and Pora River on Monday. All three rivers have significant historical importance and flow inside the city covering a major portion of the second capital.

These rivers are highly contaminated since entire sewage of the city is discharged in it without any treatment. Every year, the local body undertakes drive to clean the river before the onset of monsoon. The drive will conclude on June 20.

Nag River cleaning drive began near KDK College, Nandanvan on Monday morning. MLC Anil Sole, MLAs Sudhakar Kohle, Krishna Khopde, Deputy Mayor Deepraj Pardikar, Standing Committee chief Virendra Kukreja, Ruling Party leader Sandip Joshi, Leader of Opposition Tanaji Vanve, Commissioner Virendra Singh, former Mayor Pravin Datke, NCP leader Duneshwar Pethe, Manoj Chafle, Bunty Kukde, Pintu Zalke, Dharampal Meshram, Divya Dhurde, Reeta Mule, Deepak Wadibhasme, Narendra Borkar, Harish Dikondwar, Rajesh Ghodpage, Bharti Bunde, Manisha Kothe and others were present.

The cleaning drive of Pora River commenced at Sahakar Nagar ghat. Mayor Nanda Jichkar, Ruling Party leader Sandip Joshi, Commissioner Virendra Singh, Laxmi Nagar Zone Chairman Prakash Bhoyar, Education Committee Chairman Dilip Dive, Lahukumar Behete, Sandeep Gavai, Kishor Wankhede, Sonali Kadu, Vishaka Mohod, Jaishree Wadibhasme, Meenaxi Telgote, Vanita Dandekar, Pallavi Shamkule, Lata Kadgaye, and others were present.

The drive of Pili River began at Old Kamptee Road Post, Kalmna at the hands of MLC Anil Sole and Deputy Mayor Deepraj Pardikar. Standing Committee Chairman Virendra Kukreja was also present. The local body has deployed machinery and manpower to clean the river. Satranjipura Zone Chairperson Yashshree Nandanwar, corporators Sheshrao Gotmare, Gopichand Kumare, Sanjay Chawre, Bhagyashri Kantode, Manisha Atkare, Niranjana Patil, Rajkumar Sahu, former Assistant Commissioner Rizwan Siddique, Chief Engineer Manoj Talewar, Executive Engineer Prakash Warade, Ashok Patil, Moh. Isreal, Ganesh Kantode and others were present.

Nagpur Municipal Corporation has divided rivers into 15 zones for cleaning purpose. Last year, the civic body had lifted 72,000 tonnes of silt from these rivers. Public Works Department, Orange City Water, Irrigation Department, Nagpur Metro railway, WCL and NIT will provide equipments. The silt will be dumped at Bhandewadi dumping yard. This was informed by Additional Commissioner Ravindra Kumbhare.

ALSO READ : Khasdar Krida Mahotsav Walkathon event for the fitness enthusiasts on May 27

Nagpur wins Earth Day Network Award, Victory for citizens of Nagpur

May 7, 2018

Nagpur : Earth Day Network, an international NGO operating in 195 countries for environment protection and recruiter of the largest environmental movement, conducted “Sheher Green Karo — It’s our turn to lead” contest amongst 48 Indian Cities with population of more than 10 lakh.

Nagpur has been awarded one of the winners amongst 10 Indian cities. Other winners from Maharashtra are Mumbai and Pune.

Earth Day Network celebrated the first Earth Day on April 22,1970, since then every year April 22 is being celebrated as Earth Day across the globe. This being 48th year of Earth Day, 48 cities were selected to participate in “Sheher Green Karo” contest, in which organizations & institutions from 48 Indian cities showcased initiatives being taken by them towards environment protection, in which Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Green Vigil Foundation also participated and have been declared winner.

NMC & Green Vigil Foundation have been working for Environment Protection in the city through various campaigns & initiatives like cleaning of rivers in the city, Pournima (Full moon night) Diwas drive aimed at Energy Conservation, initiatives towards Swachhata Abhiyan, segregation of waste, End Plastic Pollution, conservation of lakes of the city by adopting eco-friendly idol immersion in artificial tanks, increasing green cover of the city, Environment Education and others.

Mega cities including Agra, Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Amritsar, Bhopal, Delhi, Bengaluru, Bhuvaneshwar, Chandigarh, Nagpur, Kolkata, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kanpur, Cochin, Ranchi, Madurai, Mumbai, Pune, Thiruvananthapura, Surat, Vadodara, Varanasi, Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam participated in the contest. In these cities, local NGOs and institutions steered various programmes under the aegis of Earth Day Network and conducted numerous events and programmes aimed at Environment Protection and Sustainability promoting awareness and inspiring citizens to contribute towards environment sustainability.

Winners of the contest:
Apart from Nagpur, other cities that bagged the honour are Mumbai, Pune, Varanasi, New Delhi, Amritsar, Srinagar, Chennai, Guwahati and Bengaluru. Karuna Singh, Regional Director South Asia, Earth Day Network congratulated Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Green Vigil Foundation for the efforts being taken at Nagpur towards Environment Sustainability.

ALSO READ : Grand opening of Khasdar Krida Mahotsav : Akshay Kumar grace the occasion

Nagpur is honored — Ashwin Mudgal, District Collector:

To bring a change, awareness and public participation are of utmost importance. Green Vigil Foundation has been taking lead in all initiatives towards environmental protection. Nagpur Municipal Corporation has always been supportive to NGOs working for the betterment of the city. With such a prestigious award, now our responsibility has increased manifold. As District Collector of Nagpur, I will try to organize such initiatives for the entire district, said Ashwin Mudgal.

Victory for citizens of Nagpur — Kaustav Chatterjee, Founder, Green Vigil Foundation:

It’s victory for citizens of Nagpur who have been contributing significantly in all initiatives taken towards environment protection and sustainable development. We are extremely thankful to former NMC Commissioner Ashwin Mudgal and his team for the co-operation and guidance extended during all endeavors.

IPL 2018 : Rajasthan Royals in do-or-die battle against Kings XI Punjab

May 7, 2018

Languishing at the bottom of the table, Rajasthan Royals need nothing less than a miracle to remain in contention for the IPL Play-offs when they take on Kings XI Punjab in a do-or-die battle, here tomorrow.

Three consecutive defeats have more or less sealed their fate and for things to turn around for the Royals, every aspect of their game needs to improve and click for them. They are taking on Punjab, placed third in the table, just a day after losing to them by six wickets in Indore, where neither the bowlers nor the batsmen could do a convincing job.

Nothing has gone right for the winners of the inaugural edition of the IPL, who lost their pillar — Australian Steven Smith — to the ball-tampering scandal. The lacklustre performance by their batsmen and bowlers have landed them in a position where they need to win all their remaining games and also pray for favourable results in order to qualify for the playoffs. The hosts are back on their home turf, where they have recorded two of their three victories, but they need to start afresh.

Average performance by captain Ajinkya Rahane and below-par show of English all-rounder Ben Stokes and Rahul Tripathi has hurt them badly and the hosts need all these batsmen to fire.

West Indian bowler Jofra Archer, though, has been impressive and the only saving grace for them while expensive pacer Jaydev Unadkat has been a complete let-down, taking just seven wickets at a poor 9.86 economy rate. On the other hand, the visitors are back to winning ways after an emphatic triumph over the Royals and would look to consolidate their position in the top-four. Punjab can even take the second place if they win tomorrow, provided they improve their NRR.

Though they rely heavily on good partnerships between Chris Gayle and KL Rahul the likes of Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair and Marcus Stoinis have been able to contribute handsomely. Their bowling too has the variety with old warhorse R. Ashwin, Axar Patel and the new sensation from Afghanistan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, proving more than handful for the opponent.

ALSO READ : Hardik Pandya only the 2nd player in Indian Premier League history after Yuvraj Singh to create unique record

Shamshera First Look : Ranbir Kapoor to play a dacoit in Shamshera

May 7, 2018

Ranbir Kapoor to play a dacoit in Shamshera

Ranbir Kapoor seems to be the new master of disguise in Bollywood. If you are yet to recover from his unbelievable transformation for the part of Sanju in Rajkumar Hirani’s Sanjay Dutt biopic then trust us this is just the beginning.

Ranbir Kapoor will soon be seen in action-packed avatar in a role of dacait for Yash Raj Films’ ‘Shamshera‘.

The makers have dropped the first look of this film and Ranbir Kapoor looks unrecognisable in this one too.

करम से डकैत,
धरम से आज़ाद
Presenting #RanbirKapoor in a never seen before avatar in YRF’s next action adventure #SHAMSHERA. Directed by @karanmalhotra21 | @ShamsheraMovie pic.twitter.com/5Dqg7GDOhQ

— Yash Raj Films (@yrf) May 7, 2018

The 35-year-old actor will be working with the production house after a gap of nine years. His last project with YRF was “Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year”.

Ranbir Kapoor to play a dacoit in Shamshera

“Filmmaker Karan Malhotra is going to take me completely out of my comfort zone and I’m looking forward to this challenge,” Ranbir said in a statement.

Ranbir Kapoor has an interesting line up of films. There’s the superhero flick, Brahmastra, with Alia Bhatt and now, Shamshera.

Karan Malhotra is directing the film, which is a part of YRF’s three-movie deal with him. He has previously directed “Agneepath” and “Brothers” for the studio. “‘Shamshera’ is exactly the film I was looking for. While growing up watching Hindi commercial cinema, I had an image of what a film hero should be doing. ‘Shamshera’ allows me to do everything that I had imagined and it’s a very exciting project for me. ”

“Shamshera” is set to go on the floors by the end of this year and shooting will wrap by mid 2019. Ranbir, who will next be seen in Sanjay Dutt biopic “Sanju“, is currently working on Ayan Mukerji’s “Brahmastra”. The film will see him in the role of a superhero.

Grand opening of Khasdar Krida Mahotsav : Akshay Kumar grace the occasion

May 7, 2018

Grand opening of Khasdar Krida Mahotsav : Akshay Kumar grace the occasion

Khasdar Krida Mahotsav, the much-awaited nation’s first multi-sports grassroots-level event, comprising 20 sports that run for 20 days, was inaugurated at the Indoor Stadium of Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur, on Sunday evening.

The krida Mahotsav was inaugurated by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari a brain child of the event and and Olympic medallist and Union State Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore along with the Star attraction on the occasion, National Badminton coach Pullela Gopichand and Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar as the special guests.

Akshay Kumar while concluding the ceremony said that to remember one important mantra in life that – ‘I am the champion’ and move forward and bring more people in games.

Students of Keshav nagar vidhyalaya nagpur presented Malkham performance, Shivkalin youdh prakar, Rope Malkham by the young aspiring students. The performance of these pure souls moved everyone present and even Akshay Kumar jumped from the stage to join them. Watch Video.

Akshay praises Gadkari, Rathore for supporting sport talents

Akshay Kumar has praised Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Rajyavardhan Rathore and badminton coach Pullela Gopichand for showcasing and supporting talent at a grassroot level.

The 50-year-old actor on Sunday night took to Twitter and shared a selfie with Minister for Road Transport and Highways Gadkari, Sports Minister Rathore and Chief National Coach of Indian Badminton team Gopichand from the Khasdar Krida Mahotsav.

“Kudos to Gadkari Ji for providing this platform, Rathore Ji and Gopichand for their support. Hope it helps to bring more sporting talent to the forefront,” he captioned the image.

Watch Video

At #KhasdarKridaMahotsav ,a unique multi-sport event to help showcase talent at the grassroots level. Kudos to Hon. @nitin_gadkari ji for providing this platform, Hon. @Ra_THORe ji & Pullela Gopichand for their support.Hope it helps to bring more sporting talent to the forefront pic.twitter.com/H5Pj9gYsDi

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) May 6, 2018

ALSO READ : Walkathon event for the fitness enthusiasts on May 27 in Nagpur

Khasdar Krida Mahotsav Walkathon event for the fitness enthusiasts on May 27 in Nagpur

May 7, 2018

Khasdar Krida Mahotsav Season 5 in Nagpur from Jan 8 to 22

With an aim to give a sporting end to the 20-day, 20-game fever of Khasdar Krida Mahotsav, Rotary Club of Nagpur Vision and Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) will conduct Walkathon for the fitness enthusiasts of the city on May 27.

The purpose of the Walkathon is to involve the general public in an event to spread the message of regular walking as one of the best ways of promoting good health and preventing life style diseases. In addition to the walk there is also a 10km competitive run organised for the enthusiastic runners of Nagpur City.

The walkers road will be abuzz with men, women and children in similar T-shirts and Caps. The atmosphere will reverberate with the energy of the young and old as they gather at the venue — Ramgiri. There will be much cheering as some participants vie for the top place. There will be walkers who want to prove their strength; there will be some who will be there to enjoy the ambience; there will be some who will come to enjoy the Sunday morning with friends. But all will be there to WALK.

There will be three basic categories; 3 KM Fun Walk, 6 KM Competitive/Prized Walk and 10 KM Timed Run, all these will start from Ramgiri located at the serene Walkers Road, Civil lines Nagpur from 5:45 amonwards.

This Walkathon is unique as number of special categories has been added for the first time, there will be a ‘Family Walk’ wherein the biggest participating family will win, ‘Parent-Child Walk’ in which the children will walk with any single parent for the prize and to take care of the special citizens of our society a unique ‘Specially Abled-Buddy Walk’ will be held wherein a Normal person will choose a specially abled participant and compete for a short distance walk, people from various categories of disability like Blind, Physically Challenged, Deaf & Mute and Mentally Challenged will enthusiastically participate in the event.

Members of Rotary Club of Nagpur Vision along with Shri Sandeep Joshi, Convener of Khasdar Krida Mahotsav are working hard to make this one of the biggest sporting cum Fun event of Nagpur City. Orange City Runners Society-OCR which is the premier running club of Nagpur along with Run Buddies a professional Marathon organizing company from Pune are extending their technical and wholehearted support to make ‘Khasdar Krida Mahotsav-Rotary Walkathon’ a memorable event.

The winners of the 10km event both in the open men and women category and in the veteran (45+ category men and women) will take home a prize money of Rs 21,000 while the second finisher in all the sections will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 11,000 and the podium finisher will be richer by Rs 5,000 each.

Similarly in the 6km event, the winners the men and women and also in the veterans’ section, takes home Rs 5,000 each, while Rs 3,000 will be given to the runner-up and Rs 2,000 will be awarded to the third place finisher in every category.

Attractive prizes will be given in the 3km event and for the special categories. The registration for Walkathon and 10 Km Run can be done online or at various sporting venues of Khasdar Krida Mahotsav.

ALSO READ : Metro project progress faster than similar works in Germany

Saturday Club Global Trust Nagpur Chapter Hosted Their Chapter Meet

May 7, 2018

Nagpur : SATURDAY CLUB GLOBAL TRUST NAGPUR CHAPTER hosted their Chapter meet with various budding entrepreneurs on the 5th of May 2018 at Chitnavis Centre Nagpur where they invited Dr. Nikhil Chandwani to deliver a lecture on “The Elements of Personal Branding and Bootstrapping for Beginners in 21st Century “

Dr. Nikhil (Ph.D.) is a Padma Shri nominee is an author, documentary filmmaker and photographer of international repute, published author of six New York Times best-selling novels, Film Producer, Travel Script Writer, Director, Professor, Public Speaker and CEO of Walnut Discoveries Pvt. Ltd, guest columnist for Entrepreneur Magazine, Global Indian of the year and a TEDx Speaker and has been awarded with various national and international honours and awards.

He delivered that the essence of businesses today lies in an effective vibrant and mutual communication between enterprises as well as individuals who foster them. Personal branding is a must in the 21 st century for saving any business from tripping off due to the plethora of varied businesses in the century.

Dr. Nikhil shared his journey from being an author to an entrepreneur to having his own foundation which helps thousands of writers from across the nation across all ages. In his own words Dr. Nikhil says, “Writing gave me the power to keep pushing, sharing the journey I learned a lot about people and the value creation to the society which is the most important thing in any successful business. I believe that the only way you stand out from the lead is to connect to each and every individual who have shared the journey of your business. Personal branding via GUEST POSTS in the 21 st century is the first key.

Without having to sell out, I build my own personal brand the same way. I was myself and put my ideas and thoughts out there. That’s how I built a Twitter followers. An email list with thousands of contacts. And a blog posts and pages with hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Also Read : Nagpur Metro link to be up to Dattawadi

The second key to success in bootstrapping is to let people know you and then your stuff. If no one has ever heard your name no one is going to end up buying your stuff. The fourth key is patience without being lazy and loosing curiosity. The tendency to stop working if entrepreneurs don’t get instant results is the verge, that’s when tardiness strikes in. And that’s one of the most important lessons to understand when you want to build your personal brand in the 21st century. The last key is the ROI. Not in terms of monetary benefits but in terms of the society. If your business is returning back goodwill to the society, it will be a brand in itself and will definitely flourish.”

Tags – Saturday Club Global Trust Nagpur | Dr. Nikhil Chandwani

Metro project progress faster than similar works in Germany

May 7, 2018

Metro project progress faster than similar works in Germany

A high-ranking German delegation, including representatives from the Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ), KfW Development Bank and German Society for International Co-operation (GIZ), visited Maha Metro Nagpur.

This visit is part of the annual consultations on bilateral development co-operation between the two countries.

The top-most priority of the visit is to discuss sustainable urban development alongwith sustainable economic development. The official delegation focused on solid waste management, sanitation and efficient feeder service. Maha Metro is already working on the above said points in the form of Bio-Digester technology, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), Multi-Modal Integration, Integration of Solar Energy, First and Last Mile Connectivity and Feeder Service.

The German delegation had word of praise for all the innovative features being adopted by Maha Metro for its project. The officials were equally appreciative of the fast pace of work achieved by MahaMetro in such a small time frame and within the specified cost. They are also impressed with the 5D BIM technology being used by Maha Metro.

MahaMetro is also pitching with KfW to get funds for the Thane rail project and extension of Nagpur metro. Klein said a decision will be taken considering the viability and other aspects once the offer comes up.
Klein said the German government is also keen to fund other projects on urban development in the country.

“We don’t want to be known just as a Metro financing agency. The government is keen to fund other projects, including those like creating space for pedestrians and cyclists, or other green solutions. An arrangement is being worked out for funding electric buses in Tamil Nadu. Germany has a budget of 1 billion Euros for funding projects in India,” he said.

ALSO READ : Two Maharashtra stations wins top honours in beautification contest

WhatsApp now lets you open chat even without visiting app

May 7, 2018

WhatsApp has registered a new domain wa.me that allows users to open a chat without visiting the app. Basically the domain is a shortlink of api.whatsapp.com and users will need to update their app to Android version 2.18.138 to use this feature.

How to open a chat using wa.me?
Users need to type https://wa.me/(phone number) in the browser and hit the search button. WhatsApp will verify the number and then open the chat in the app.

If your friends mobile number is 91-1234567890 then enter https://wa.me/911234567890. Its important to enter the country code and correct phone number, else you will get an error.

If you try to open a chat with an incorrect Whats-App phone number, the instant messaging app will notify you as ‘phone number shared via url is invalid’.

The feature is handy for business users as it helps customers to directly contact the organisation through WhatsApp. We had mentioned another workaround few weeks back which used api.whatsapp.com. But now wa.me has simplified the process.

Facebook-owned app updated its ‘Terms of Service and Privacy Policy’ ahead of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that came into effect in Europe on May 25. Soon, the messaging service will allow users to download the data it collects.

WhatsApp is also rolling out stickers soon. If you go open WhatsApp directory in file manager you will find Whats App Stickers folder. Whats-App is currently working to improve the Sticker feature before the release. The new feature groups two stickers in a row. The feature is very useful because it will help users save space in the chat if he/she sends more than one sticker.

ALSO READ : Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 next sale to be held on May 10 in India

Hyundai i20 Active Facelift Launched In India; Prices Start At ₹ 6.99 lakh

May 5, 2018

Hyundai i20 Active Facelift Launched In India

Hyundai has launched the i20 Active Facelift in India with a starting price of Rs 6.99 lakh. Hyundai showcased the i20 Elite Facelift at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo earlier this year.

It has a new front grille, revised front and rear bumpers, brand new designs for the back lamps and a new hatch lid design. However, it has the same petrol and diesel engines as the outgoing i20 Active.

Of the little that has changed with the car, the most notable upgrade is the addition of a new blue and white dual-paint colour option. The i20 Active facelift also gets a new look on the outside with a slightly tweaked grill while the front bumper wears a silver bull bar-like strip. There are silver surrounds on the front and rear fog lamps with a matte black strip at the bottom of the boot lid.

The interior features a new grayscale-themed infotainment system which it gets from the facelifted Hyundai i20. It also comes with blue-coloured highlights on the side AC vents, seats and gear knob. A seat fabric is also available that can be seen on the regular i20 as well.

The Hyundai i20 Active facelift retains the impressive engines from the outgoing model. The 1.2L Kappa petrol engine is pretty robust delivering 83PS at 6,000rpm while the peak torque measures 11.7kgm at 4,000rpm. The 1.4L U2 CRDi diesel Engine offers enhanced efficiency and smoother driving experience thereby giving great driving pleasure. The engine produces 90PS at 4,000rpm and the maximum torque measures 22.4kgm at 1,500-2,700rpm.

The Hyundai i20 Elite has been performing as best-selling hatchback crossover in the country and the facelift comes at a good time. Ford Freestyle has been recently launched at a competitive price and it will be interesting to see how the i20 Active fares against it in the market. Hyundai has a slight disadvantage over the Freestyle as the Freestyle undercuts the i20 Active by Rs 1.9 lakh. Hyundai will be hoping to counter that disadvantage with the new features of i20 Active facelift.

ALSO READ : All new 2018 BMW X3 Launched In India; Prices Start At ₹ 49.99 Lakh

Nagpur Metro link to be up to Dattawadi

May 5, 2018

MahaMetro’s consultant for Nagpur Metro phase II Rites has suggested that Dattawadi and not Wadi should be connected with Metro network.

Initially, Rites had suggested Wadi area be connected with Vasudeo Nagar station on Sitabuldi-Hingna stretch. However, this involved acquiring land belonging to Ordnance Factory Ambajhari (OFAJ). The factory officials were extremely reluctant to part with their land. They suggested the Metro viaduct should pass through their colony.

“The road inside the OFAJ Colony is not very wide and constructing a viaduct would have been difficult. Rites therefore decided to drop the Wadi option. The viaduct for connecting Dattawadi with Vasudeo Nagar will be constructed over Inner Ring Road. We will be able to provide connectivity to people working in the commercial establishments on this road. Moreover, Rites has found out that Dattawadi’s commuter population is more than Wadi,” MahaMetro managing director Brijesh Dixit.

On the detailed project report (DPR) for Phase-II, Dixit said, “It is complete and will be submitted to us within a few days. We will then submit it to state government. The state after approving it will send it to the Centre.”

On Metro service to nearby towns, he said, “The Ministry of Railways has agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with us. We will seek funding for buying coaches after MoU is signed. We will ask Railways to run the trains for us. They will have three coaches, which will be air-conditioned and of international standards. The trains will run at a speed of 120 kilometres per hour. Nagpur will get connectivity with Bhandara Road, Wardha, Ramtek and Katol.”

On Lokmanya Nagar (Hingna) to Subhash Nagar stretch, Dixit said it would be complete in the second half of the year. “The Sitabuldi-Mihan stretch will be ready in another six to eight months. We will then begin commercial operations,” he added.

ALSO READ : Two Maharashtra stations wins top honours in beautification contest

Sachin Tendulkar Launches Khel Mahakumbh in Himachal Pradesh

May 4, 2018

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar is someone who believes in promoting all the sports. Now, a while ago, Sachin Tendulkar inaugurated the Khel Mahakumbh which is organised by Anurag Thakur. The Khel Mahakumbh will promote sports like cricket, kabaddi, volleyball, baseball, football and athletics in Himachal Pradesh.

Anurag Thakur informs netizens that cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar will inaugurate the Khel Mahakumbh.

Anurag who was once the President of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association took to Twitter and wrote, “A few moments from now… Khel Mahakumbh – An initiative to nurture grassroots talent and promote a sports culture will be launched by @sachin_rt in HPCA @himachalcricket stadium.”

A few moments from now…
Khel Mahakumbh – An initiative to nurture grassroots talent and promote a sports culture will be launched by @sachin_rt in HPCA @himachalcricket stadium. ?????‍♂️??‍♂️???? pic.twitter.com/8SkdPueXlS

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) May 4, 2018

Anurag Thakur also said that the Khel Mahakumbh will promote the talent from the grass root level.

Khel Mahakumbh – An initiative to nurture grassroots talent and promote a sports culture will be launched by @sachin_rt in HPCA @himachalcricket stadium shortly. pic.twitter.com/lpZcxKHJrf

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) May 4, 2018

Yesterday, the master blaster also laid the foundation of the cricket museum. Anurag shared the video of the same on social media. He captioned the clip, “Historic day for HPCA @himachalcricket Stadium & cricket lovers! Thankyou my dear friend @sachin_rt for laying the foundation stone of the cricket museum (interactive digital gallery – first of its kind in India ??) and the inauguration of Centre of Excellence today.”

Historic day for HPCA @himachalcricket Stadium & cricket lovers! Thankyou my dear friend @sachin_rt for laying the foundation stone of the cricket museum (interactive digital gallery – first of its kind in India ??) and inauguration of Centre of Excellence today. pic.twitter.com/N3FZ3MpYVh

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) May 3, 2018

ALSO READ : IPL 2018 : Hardik Pandya only the 2nd player in IPL history after Yuvraj Singh to create unique record

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 next sale to be held on May 10 in India

May 4, 2018

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 will next be available for sale from May 10. The company had recently launched this phone as a Flipkart exclusive. The Zenfone Max Pro M1 sold out shortly after its pre-order sale started at 12 noon on Thursday.

Under the current sale, users can purchase the phone’s 3GB RAM + 32GB internal storage option at Rs 10,999, while getting the 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant at Rs 12,999.

Under the previous pre-order, consumers had to pay for the Zenfone Max Pro M1 upfront as the cash on delivery option did not apply. In addition, the pre-order provided a Rs 1000 exchange offer for older smartphones, as well as data benefits from Vodafone. Asus did not specify how many units it had sold in the first pre-order sale.

Among its key specifications, the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 has a 5.99-inch Full HD+ display with an 18:9 screen aspect ratio. However, the screen lacks a Corning Gorilla Glass protection. The smartphone, based on Android 8.1 Oreo, is powered by the 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 octa-core processor, that is backed by a 5000mAh battery.

The Zenfone Max Pro M1 will be available in three memory configurations: 3GB RAM + 32GB storage, 4GB RAM + 64GB storage and 6GB RAM + 64GB internal storage. The phone’s 3GB RAM and 4GB RAM variants have a 13MP + 8MP dual-rear camera, alongside an 8MP front camera. Meanwhile, the 6GB RAM variant, that will be available soon, will feature a 16MP + 5MP dual-rear camera setup, and a 16MP selfie lens.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 comes with expandable storage upto 2TB. It also comes with a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, micro USB support and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 will come in two colour options: Meteor Silver and Deepsea Black. The 6GB RAM version of this phone will retail at Rs 14,999.

ALSO READ : Oppo’s New ‘Realme’ Online-Only Brand to Launch First Smartphone via Amazon India on May 15

Sanju new poster : Ranbir Kapoor as MunnaBhai

May 4, 2018

The new poster of Ranbir Kapoor starrer Sanju is out. In this poster, Ranbir is seen donning the famous and one of the best looks of Sanjay Dutt that is, Munnabhai.

The director of Sanju, Rajkumar Hirani took to his Twitter page and shared the poster. Ranbir is seen acing the look of Munnabhai wearing a white vest, an orange shirt and a pair of blue jeans. The golden hair is definitely cherry on the cake.

Hirani tweeted the poster stating, “It was a lot of nostalgia reliving a bit of Munnabhai in #Sanju. Here it is. #RanbirKapoor #RajkumarHiraniFilms @VVCFilms @foxstarhindi”

It was lot of nostalgia reliving a bit of Munnabhai in #Sanju. Here it is. #RanbirKapoor #RajkumarHiraniFilms @VVCFilms @foxstarhindi pic.twitter.com/XxCYlx65Fs

— Rajkumar Hirani (@RajkumarHirani) May 4, 2018

Ranbir has literally gotten into the skin of his character and lifted Sanjay Dutt’s mannerisms perfectly.

Talking about Ranbir Kapoor, Hirani said, “I had a basic draft of this biopic when I sent Ranbir a message, ‘ I have a script, let’s meet up when you’re free.’ Ranbir is usually aware of everything that is happening in the industry. He is very sharp. I’m guessing he already knew that I was planning a biopic on Sanjay. When I sent him the message, Ranbir promptly replied, ‘I hope it’s not the Sanjay Dutt biopic.’ And I thought, ‘Oh God, maybe he has heard and he may not want to do it.’ I told him it’s the same script, but let’s meet. When I met him, I realised he knew a lot about Sanju. He had spent time with him and knew him well. He used to work out at his gym and had probably heard the stories. But when he saw the angle of the story, he was like, ‘It’s interesting, let’s do it.’”

Also Watch out : Theatrical trailer of Bhavesh Joshi Superhero

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