News

Govt Lets Uber, Ola, Rapido Charge 2x During Peak Hours

The government has revised guidelines for ride-hailing platforms, allowing aggregators such as Uber, Ola, Rapido, and inDrive to charge up to twice the base fare during peak hours, up from the previous cap of 1.5 times. Non-peak hour fares must remain at least 50 per cent of the base fare, as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Tuesday, according to a TOI report. State governments have been advised to adopt the revised guidelines within three months. The ministry said the intention is to balance affordability for commuters during high-demand periods while preventing predatory discounting practices by the aggregators.

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Taiwan Tourism Launches Mumbai DOOH to Target MICE

The Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA) has announced a strategic Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) campaign in Mumbai aimed at strengthening its presence in the Indian MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) segment. The campaign will run for four weeks across major corporate hubs in Mumbai, including Technopolis Knowledge Park, 349 Business Point, Platina Business Tower, and Trade Centre BKC. This move follows Taiwan’s re-entry into the Indian market in January 2024, which has already seen over 38,000 Indian visitors in a year—registering a 20.81% growth compared to the overall 8.5% rise in Indian outbound travel. The campaign is designed to spotlight Taiwan’s appeal as both a leisure and business destination, showcasing its diverse cultural and natural offerings through vibrant digital creatives. “Taiwan Tourism entered into the Indian market after the pandemic with full thrust to entice the Indian MICE industry and large events,” said Paul Shih, Director - Singapore Office, TTA. “With the DOOH campaign in Mumbai, we aim to captivate Indian corporates and leisure travellers by showcasing the richness of our landscapes, the warmth of our people, and our potential to host MICE movements.” Taiwan has already hosted major Indian incentive groups, including one by Asian Paints, and plans to continue focusing on high-end and corporate travel segments. TTA’s integrated approach has involved PR engagements, trade partnerships, influencer trips, and participation in Indian travel shows, contributing to the country’s accelerated visibility and growth in India’s outbound travel landscape.

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Delhi-Jaipur Expressway Spur to Cut Travel Time to 3 Hours

Travel between Jaipur and Delhi will soon get faster with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) opening a new 65-km road section between Bagrana and Bandikui on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. According to a TOI report, the new stretch will open for trial traffic in July and will be formally inaugurated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) soon. The new link connects Bagrana, located near Jaipur city, to Bandikui. This will give Jaipur commuters direct access to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway without needing to take the longer route through Dausa on the Jaipur-Agra highway. Those coming from Rotary Circle or Ring Road can now use the cloverleaf ramp and slip lane at Bagrana to enter the expressway directly. With the new access point, the drive to the Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) Flyway is expected to take around 2.5 hours. Factoring in traffic to New Delhi Railway Station or IGI Airport, the total journey from Jaipur to Delhi could take about 3 to 3.5 hours, compared to the usual 4.5 hours.

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RailOne App Launches as All-in-One Railway Solution

From ticketing, enquiry, PNR enquiry food on train to Rail madad services, Indian Railways have introduced a new app, RailOne, to provide a one-stop solution for all passenger services. Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday launched the app on 40th Foundation Day of Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS). CRIS is the technological wing of Indian Railways and has created Rail one app, along with all the other applications that are being used for Railways services. The app integrates services which were spread in different apps and provide it on a single platform for reserved, unreserved and platform ticket bookings, live train tracking, Grievance redressal mechanism through Rail Madad, PNR enquiry and e-catering. Along with this, the app will show the coach position of the train at every platform, users can give feedback of the services through it and can file for refund in case of train cancellation etc. However, the freight related enquiries are not yet available in the app.

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Budget Asia: 5 Quick Getaways for Indian Travellers

Whether you're a seasoned vacationer or a first-timer, travelling on a budget is not only great for your wallet, but being a little thrifty may actually lead you to places you wouldn't explore otherwise. But travelling on a budget doesn't always mean you have to give up comfort or delicious meals. If you are looking to make your budget travel dreams a reality, in an interview with HT Lifestyle, Karan Agarwal, director, Cox and Kings, explained why Asia could be a great choice. He said Asia offers a buffet of options within easy reach, from a breezy beach break to a temple trail or a big-city shopping fix. He said, “There’s a new kind of holiday Indian travellers are loving right now: short-haul international escapes that don’t demand too many leaves, long-haul flights, or five months of planning. These trips fit neatly into a long weekend or an impulsive 'let’s just go' plan. Think culturally rich, affordable, less than six hours away by flight, and packed with experiences.”

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NHAI, Google Maps to Map Low-Toll Routes

NEW DELHI: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is working with Google Maps to introduce a new feature in its Rajmargyatra mobile application, which will suggest different routes, including an alternative with lowest toll charges to the motorists. This service will be available from next month. Officials said that the highway users would be at liberty to choose a route to reach a destination as per their convenience to save travelling time or toll fee. “There are two best possible routes to reach Agra from Delhi. One can take the Yamuna Expressway or National Highway 44 (Mathura Road). The app will inform users which route will attract a lower toll,” said officials. Google Maps provides live traffic data and real-time GPS navigation for driving, walking, cycling and public transport. It also suggests routes with estimated toll charges. Moreover, it offers options to avoid tolls entirely or prioritise routes based on the preferences of the user. The move is being seen as another strategic attempt by the NHAI to increase downloads and usage of the Rajmargyatra app.

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