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Paytm: Special flight fares announced for students, senior citizens and armed forces–avail the discount in these flights. Now!

Paytm today announced it has launched special discounted fares for students, armed forces and senior citizens for flight booking. The discounts can be availed on flights like IndiGo, Go Air, Spicejet, and AirAsia. As per the release, the special discount will be given in the range of 15-50 per cent. Students will have another reason to rejoice given they will be able to avail extra baggage of up to 10 kgs. The fare comes at a reasonable discount price than the normal fares. This will come in addition to the already existing offers that are being offered by Paytm and other banking services provided in the country. Users who want to avail the discount will have to simply search for the flight options after filling up all the necessary details. We always aim to facilitate ease of booking for our users and plan their trip more economically, Paytm spokesperson was quoted as saying. Travel ticketing is an integral segment for us and with the help of our airline partners, we are able to offer these lucrative discounts to armed forces, senior citizens and students, spokesperson added. Paytm is a platform that allows users to not just book flight tickets but also inter-city buses and train tickets. The company has a strong network and partnership with all the major domestic airlines. It is also an International Air Transport Association (IATA) accredited travel agent. The company has direct integration with over 2,000 bus operators across the cities. The platform makes use of transactional data and insights to suggest its users with some relevant travel ticketing options on its app. The company has recently launched new products such as a nearby airport feature, PNR confirmation status, live running status for trains , contactless ticket-buying on buses, EMI-based loans for flight travel among others to enhance user’s experience.

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COVID-19: India adds Ghana and Tanzania to list of ‘at risk’ countries

India on Monday added Ghana and Tanzania to the list of “at risk” countries, passengers from where have to follow additional COVID-19 testing and quarantine measures. The Aviation Ministry said on Tuesday that the list of “at risk” countries was updated on Monday. Countries in Europe, including the UK, and South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Ghana, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tanzania and Israel have been placed in the “at-risk” category, the Aviation Ministry noted. Delhi had reported its first case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus on Sunday with a 37-year-old fully vaccinated man, who arrived in Delhi from Tanzania, testing positive. The patient, a resident of Ranchi, had travelled from Tanzania to Doha and from there to Delhi on a Qatar Airways flight on December 2. He stayed in Johannesburg, South Africa, for a week. The person has mild symptoms. According to the Union Health Ministry’s guidelines that came into force from December 1 following the emergence of the Omicron variant, all passengers coming from “at-risk” countries have to compulsorily undergo RT-PCR test and two per cent of passengers arriving from other countries would have to take the test on a random basis. The passengers will have to wait for the results before leaving the airport or taking a connecting flight, according to the guidelines.

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Govt mandates 'Air Suvidha' portal for ease of travel for int'l passengers; here's how to register

Amid Omicron threat, the recently-discovered Covid-19 variant which is rapidly spreading across the world and the chaos at several airports due to increased virus testing, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on Tuesday mandated contact-less self-declaration at 'Air Suvidha Portal' for hassle-free, queue-free travel for international passengers. "This portal developed by MoCA aids passengers in providing their details of travel and final stay along with RT-PCR, vaccination status etc," the ministry said in a statement, adding that this helps state officials in contact tracing. Air Suvidha portal has already assisted 2,51,210 passengers from 1 December to 5 December after the government issued fresh guidelines on 30 November. Furthermore, over 1 crore passengers have benefitted from the Air Suvidha portal since its launch in August 2020, the statement added. The government also informed that amid the Omicron fears, the exemption forms from the Air Suvidha portal have been discontinued, and filling of the details have been made compulsory for all international passengers arriving in India. All international passengers arriving in India are mandated to declare their current health status prior to boarding on the Air Suvidha Portal. The documents required are: Copy of Passport, PCR Negative Certificate from a test conducted within 72 hours of departure and the Covid-19 vaccination certificate. For immigration, the copy received in e-mail is essential on arrival in India and has to be verified at the APHO counter, the guidelines added. Passengers need to register via this link: https://www.newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha/apho-registration All international passengers are mandated to follow the below measures arriving/transiting from countries 'at-risk': • Before travelling to India, you need to submit self-declaration form on Air Suvidha portal • You also need to upload negative RT-PCR report (conducted within 72 hours before the journey) • Post-arrival, you will have to undergo a COVID-19 test at arriving Airport, the expenses of which, you have to pay on your own • You need to follow home quarantine for 7 days after arriving from an 'at rick' country •As per the guidelines, you need to get re-test on the 8th day and if you're negative,you are required to monitor yourself for the next 7 days According to an updated list, the countries designated as "at-risk" are the European countries, the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel. The government listed the following updates on the Air Suvidha portal for state/health officials: -All applications from ‘at risk’ countries are marked with H and red band and others are green to help smoothen arrival segregation and processing. -Application also takes into account countries visited in the last 14 days to highlight ‘at risk’ applications. -Standardization of fields by providing drop-down list E.g. district and state for address. -Updated FAQ list and customer care link along with the latest advisory at the start of the portal. -For ‘At Risk’ countries passengers are advised to pre-book their test on arrival test and the link to the respective testing facility is provided to the passengers on SDF submission. A total of four states and Delhi have reported 23 cases of Omicron in the country so far. These include Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Rajasthan.

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Your maiden trip to Sri Lanka, simplified!

The tear-drop shaped island of Sri Lanka has been a holiday favourite destination for Indians since time immemorial. A few lucky ones reading this might have already had the opportunity to explore this beautiful paradise-on-earth and can't wait to go back. And then there are some of us who are yet to visit Sri Lanka, either way; there are a few things you should know about the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. Planning a holiday requires considerable thought. You want to get everything right- you want to relax, but you don't want to waste time; you want to indulge in various experiences, but you also don’t want to overspend... There are plenty of considerations that need to be taken into account. A Sri Lankan holiday is no different! Here are a few of the things you need to think about before visiting the stunning island off the shore of India: 1. The vibe of the country If I had one word to describe Sri Lanka's vibe, it would have to be 'relaxed'. It is the place you go to; to forget about your problems and take a break from your hectic daily life. Sure, there are a few bars and clubs in Colombo, but the hustle-bustle is blanketed by clam even in the country's biggest city. So if partying is all that you want from your vacation, this island might not be the ideal fit! However, if you want to just chill and have a relaxed holiday, Sri Lanka is heaven with pictureperfect sights to behold. 2. Perfecting the itinerary Don't pack in too many places and crowd up your itinerary; go with the flow of the Lankan vibe! Whilst visiting any new destination, the temptation to cover as much ground as possible, see as much as possible, is quite real. But keep in mind, it isn't possible to cover everything that Sri Lanka has to offer in even three weeks and also, you won't properly enjoy what the country has to offer if you are busy hopping from one place to the next. We suggest you jot down the top three to five places that classify as your "must-visits" and pace them out over the days you are there. 'When in Lanka, do as the Lankans do' : take a break! And if you don't, the traffic will force you to. Vehicles move slow, and you are likely to take double the time the maps show you to reach your destination. 3. Understanding the climate The tropical island has a perennially hot climate. Two different batches of monsoons accompany the sunny seasons. One from May to June end (with May being the most severe) and the next from October end to end December (with November getting the maximum share of rain), thus making May and November unpopular times to visit Sri Lanka. However, the months of January and February offer cool winds to visitors and get heavy footfall too. Furthermore, the tourist season continues till the end of April and restarts after the monsoons in the month of September. 4. The mood of the food Sri Lankan cuisine is primarily a coastal cuisine with the flavours of coconut and curry leaves playing dominant roles in most dishes. The overall flavour palette of this cuisine can be described as 'mellow' but add some of their homemade Chinese style chilli paste, and you'll get the tangy-spicy hit of flavour in every bite. The island country is gastronomical heaven offering a taste of the fresh sea in every bite of its utterly delicious cuisine. The main dishes feature rice in one form or the other and are usually accompanied by a curry. Being an island country, seafood covers an impressive amount of the menu. Some of the most popular dishes available here include hoppers, string hoppers, Kiribath, Kottu, Sambal etc. 5. Leaving room for an adrenaline rush Yes, the overall vibe is calm, and Sri Lanka might as well be called the 'island of relaxation, but that does not mean it doesn't beckon to the sports enthusiast in all of us! The island offers an array of sports, both in and out of the water, to help energize you and get that adrenaline pumping. There are plenty of trekking paths and hikes with varying levels of difficulty that offer the most picturesque views. If you are a water baby, then the jet skis and banana boats await your indulgence. 6. Where to swipe the card The shopaholic within me does a little jig every time I get to know that someone will be visiting Sri Lanka! There’s so much that the tropical lands have to offer! Sri Lanka is one of Asia’s largest exporters of tea and cinnamon, so those are the top two items to stock up on when in Lanka. These relatively inexpensive items are followed by the lustrous gems and jewels that the island is famous for. Also, the arts and handicrafts 'scene' in the country is mind-blowing! You are very likely to find unique elements made by local artists (that make wonderful home décor pieces and gifts as well; just be careful of your luggage allowance). Sri Lanka also boasts of one of Asia's largest bio-diversities, so make sure you carve out time to visit the elephant parks when you're there! You can even go whale watching and hope to spot the beautiful creature in its natural environment. With that, we've got you up to speed with all things Sri Lankan! Bon Voyage!

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Southern Railway approves first Bharat Gaurav Train operator

A city-based organisation has been given the go-ahead to operate trains under the Bharat Gaurav Trains Scheme by the Southern Railway. With this, Southern Railway becomes the first zone in the Indian Railways to get the first registered service provider under the scheme. According to a Southern Railway official, the name of the service provider can be shared only when he pays the fee to the Railways. Southern Railway said when the service provider registers the demand online specifying the type and number of coaches, the rakes/trains will be allotted on right to use basis for a specified number of years. The rakes will be used by the service provider in running a thematic tour as per the itinerary approved by the Railways. Indian Railways has introduced Bharat Gaurav trains with effect from November 23 with the objective of showcasing India's rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the people of India and the world. Under this first-of-its-kind scheme, the Railways will offer the operators, the "Right to Use" of its rakes. "The rakes can be used as it is or the operator can refurbish the same. The engine and its operator will be provided by the Indian Railways for a fee," an official told IANS preferring anonymity. It is learnt that tour operators and hospitality industry players are in discussion with the Indian Railways for this project. The initial registration fee will be INR 1 lakh and the right to use will be provided for a minimum period of two years and a maximum period up the the residual codal life of coaches. The service provider can also purchase coaches directly from the Railways manufacturing units under Non-Railway Customer (NRC) scheme. Service providers will be at liberty to decide the business model and tariff based on the level of services for these trains. They should offer an all inclusive package to tourists including rail travel, hotel accommodation, sightseeing arrangement, visit to historical/heritage sites, tour guides. Apart from charging the tourists, the operators are permitted to brand and also look at advertising revenue both inside and outside the train. The composition shall be a minimum of 14 coaches to a maximum of 20 coaches including the mandatory two guard vans. The rake security deposit will be INR 1 crore which is to be submitted in the form of a Performance Bank Guarantee.

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IRCTC to promote Antara Luxury River Cruises on the Ganges

IRCTC enters into an agreement with Antara Luxury River Cruises for promotion, marketing and selling of signature river cruise packages on the river Ganga. The luxury cruise liner, Antara Ganges Voyager, has a passenger capacity of 58 guests and houses 26 deluxe cabins and 2 suites across its three decks. Apart from the deluxe cabins and suites , the cruise liner also have a state of art restaurant, bar, fitness centre, spa and sundeck. IRCTC will be promoting and selling River Sutra itinerary for the season which is for 2 nights and 3 days. The cruise liner will leave from Kolkata and cover the culturally enriched destinations of Phulia, Bansberia and Chandernagore in the state of West Bengal and will finally return back to Kolkata. The special cruise itinerary which includes accommodation, all meals, transfers, sightseeing activities and entrance fees has been attractively priced starting at INR 31,500 per person, inclusive of taxes. Besides the regular itinerary, IRCTC is also offering charter of the entire ship on exclusive customised itineraries ranging from 2 to 7 nights on mutually agreed terms and conditions. IRCTC is planning to launch joint promotion and marketing campaigns with other river cruise operators also to promote inland water tourism in the country. Earlier, IRCTC had tied up with Cordelia Cruises to sell their packages.

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