News

Omicron scare: EU set to propose daily review of travel rules

The European Union (EU) is set to recommend that member states review essential travel restrictions on a daily basis in the wake of the omicron variant, according to a draft EU document seen by Bloomberg. Member states should pursue a coordinated approach and be prepared to impose any required controls, the document says. The bloc’s executive arm will also call on national governments to rapidly deploy booster shots and quickly implement proposals to limit the validity of the EU’s digital vaccine certificate to nine months without a booster. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides are scheduled to speak at a press conference later Wednesday about the latest developments around Covid-19. The EU decided against holding an emergency virtual leaders’ summit, according to an EU official. Instead, health ministers will meet Tuesday to discuss the Covid situation and EU leaders will address it at their next scheduled summit on December 16, the official added. European governments should put in place targeted and proportionate precautions and restrictions to limit the spread of the virus, the document says. The draft recommendations could change before they are expected to be announced on Wednesday. The bloc will also pledge to accelerate its efforts to share vaccines worldwide in order to achieve the global vaccination target of 70 per cent in 2022, which was agreed at the Group of 20 summit in October. As of Tuesday, 11 EU members have recorded at least 44 cases of the omicron variant, including in the Netherlands, Sweden, and Spain. EU agencies are currently collecting and analysing data on the variant. The European Medicines Agency said on Tuesday that the approval of vaccines to address the new variant, if needed, could take three to four months.

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Fern Opens Fern-An Ecotel Hotel Pune

The Fern Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of E-Square The Fern - An Ecotel Hotel in Pune. This is the 19th operational property in the state of Maharashtra. Overall it takes the tally to 84 hotels managed by the company in India, Nepal and Seychelles. Suhail Kannampilly, CEO, The Fern Hotels & Resorts, said, “The city of Pune has embraced the Fern brand very well. This is the third hotel we will be managing in Pune. We have already been successfully operating Amanora The Fern as well as The Fern Residency, MIDC. Moreover, it further strengthens our position as the largest hospitality player in the state.” E-Square The Fern, Pune is a 55 room upscale hotel offering a multi cuisine restaurant, a pan Asian restaurant, a rooftop swimming pool, gym, spa and state-of-the-art banquet facilities. The hotel is conveniently located with easy access to major sightseeing attractions. Guests can appreciate various in-room facilities such as high-speed Wi-Fi internet, LED television, complimentary bottled drinking water, tea & coffee facility, digital in-room safe, eco-friendly room lighting & bathroom amenities. The guest can also relax at the rooftop swimming pool and spa and can work-out at the well-equipped gym. Other facilities in the hotel include non-smoking rooms, access for specially abled, complimentary buffet breakfast, multi cuisine restaurant, speciality restaurant, spacious banquet and meeting rooms and business centre facilities.

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Club Mahindra Launches ‘Jaana Kahaan Hai’ Campaign

Club Mahindra, the flagship brand of Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited reaches out to travel enthusiasts through its ‘Jaana Kahaan Hai’ campaign starring the Shershah celebrity Siddharth Malhotra. The campaign captures people’s desire to travel and explore destinations as well as indulge in newer adventures. In the video, Siddharth and his friends are seen deciding ‘Jaana Kahan Hai’ by choosing the adventure activity they wish to experience. While it is new for Siddharth’s friends, the celebrity himself has experienced most of those through Club Mahindra. From ziplining in Kandaghat to jungle safari in Kanha, house boating in Ashtamudi and, paragliding in Dharamshala, our heartthrob Siddharth is looking for more. The end of the video also shows our seasoned traveler and his friends finally narrowing down on trekking in Club Mahindra Munnar. Pratik Mazumder, Chief Marketing Officer, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India, said, “There is an extremely strong desire to travel amongst people. They are eager to try newer experiences and visit off-beat as well as unexplored destinations. And, with 70+ Club Mahindra resorts In India, the brand offers more than 2000 unforgettable unique experiences for every individual. Hence, we bring to you our ‘Jaana Kahan Hai’ campaign because that is all that you are left to decide and choose.”

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ETAA Organises Knowledge Session For Members

As the tourism industry is bouncing back with all safety protocols Enterprising Travel Agents Association ETAA, south chapter have initiated the knowledge session for its members. Many crucial changes in travel agents booking systems which will initiate digitalization were announced. ETAA knowledge session for travel agents and tour operators initiative with hospitality partner, The Paul Hotel Bangalore, held on November 26, was all about discussions of TIDS and The Paul john hotels and resorts familiarization at Domlur, Bangalore. Travel Industry Designatory Service is an identity management program designed from IATA, Montreal Canada for all NON-IATA travel company made available free of cost Globally. On procuring ETAA recommendation letter the TIDS procedure will be complete. Travel agents and tour operators availing the designatory service will get updated in IATA agency list. This additional agency listing in turn with benefit airlines and hotel industry globally. ETAA south chapter session was Initiated by Chairperson Princy K D, Vice chairman and TIDS Expert Nandish, Advisor Joy, Secretary- Aravind, Treasurer - Dinesh, Core committee members: Joyson, Jagadeesh, Rajendra, Nagaraj, Sanjeev, In partnership with Vijay Nair, The Paul John Resorts & Hotels

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Indian Railways Jiriram-Imphal Line: World’s tallest railway bridge pier coming up in Manipur; project details here

World’s tallest rail bridge pier coming up in Northeast! Indian Railways is constructing the world’s tallest railway bridge pier at Noney Valley in the state of Manipur with a height of 141 metres. As a part of the ambitious 111 Kilometre long Jiribam-Imphal railway line, which aims to connect the capital of Manipur with the broad gauge network of the country, the travel time of 10 to 12 hours will be reduced to just 2.5 hours. The bridge at Noney Valley, which is being developed at a pier height of 141 metres, will surpass the Mala – Rijeka viaduct’s existing record of 139 meters, located in Montenegro, Europe, according to an ANI report. Sandeep Sharma, Chief Engineer of the project, was quoted in the report saying that with the completion of the project, the 111 kilometres of distance will be covered in 2 to 2.5 hours. The distance between Jiribam and Imphal (NH-37), At present, is 220 kilometres, which takes about 10 to 12 hours of travelling. Once the construction is completed, the bridge crossing Noney valley will become the highest pier bridge in the world. The bridge is expected to be completed by December 2023, he further said. According to Sharma, the first phase which extends for 12 kilometres has already been commissioned. In the second phase, nearly 98 per cent of the work is complete and by February 2022, it will be ready. The third phase on the section between Khongsang and Tupul will be completed by November 2022. The Project Chief Engineer further said by December 2023, the fourth and the last phase of the bridge which extends from Tupul to Imphal valley will be completed. The 111 kilometre long project consists of 61 per cent of tunnels, he continued. The total anticipated cost of the bridge is Rs 374 crore, the Chief Engineer said. Sharma, while speaking about the hurdles and challenges that are being faced in the bridge construction, said during monsoon, landslides often occur on NH-37, which is the only route to this place. From the month of April to October, there is immense rainfall here and it is difficult to work here during that time. Also, there are some problems related to insurgency, which sometimes creates a problem, he added.

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Indian Railways to introduce AC locals on Mumbai’s Harbour line from this date; Check revised timetable

Attention Mumbaikars! From next month, travel comfortably and conveniently by AC local on harbour line. Indian Railways is introducing 12 AC local train services on Harbour Line with effect from 1 December 2021. The existing 12 services will be replaced by air-conditioned services. The Central Railway zone said that it will also implement a revised suburban timetable for the harbour line, transharbour line as well as the 4th corridor i.e., Belapur/Nerul-Kharkopar line from 1 December 2021. All Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)-Andheri services and Panvel-Andheri services will be extended to and from Goregaon station. Following are some salient features: 44 local train services running between CSMT and Andheri railway stations will be extended to and from Goregaon (42 suburban train services are currently running between CSMT and Goregaon stations) At present, 18 local services are running between Panvel and Andheri stations, will be extended to and from Goregaon Two services that are currently running between CSMT and Bandra stations will be extended to and from Goregaon The total number of local train services from and to Goregaon will increase from 42 to 106 The total number of local train services from and to Bandra will be 86 The total number of suburban train services on harbour line will remain 614 and transharbour line will remain 262 as at present and on Mumbai division, the total number of suburban train services on Mumbai division will remain 1774 services as at present On the 4th corridor, morning pear hour services will increase, however, the total number of services will remain the same which is 40 Mankhurd originating local train services will now run from platform number 2 instead of platform number 3 TBR-1 Belapur local leaving Thane at 10.40 AM and TBR-3 Belapur leaving Thane at 11:14 PM will now run up to Panvel station Following is the schedule of harbour line services with AC rake, which will run from Monday to Saturday: V-4 local leaving Vashi at 4.24 AM PL-13 local leaving CSMT at 5:18 AM PL-24 local leaving Panvel at 6:45 AM PL-49 local leaving CSMT at 8:08 AM PL-52 local leaving Panvel at 9:40 AM PL-79 local leaving CSMT at 11:04 AM PL-78 local leaving Panvel at 12:41 PM PL-111 local leaving CSMT at 2:12 PM PL-116 local leaving Panvel at 3:45 PM PL-145 local leaving CSMT at 5:08 PM PL-144 local leaving Panvel at 6:37 PM PL-175 local leaving CSMT at 8:00 PM

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