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Maharashtra Reviving Local Tourism: Beautifies Mumbai’s Personal Weekend Getaway, Matheran

Away from Mumbai’s busy, chaotic life is Matheran- a comforting tiny town. If hills are your calling and you want to rejuvenate, then this pretty town will do the trick. Over the year, Matheran has remained Mumbai’s favourite weekend getaway destination. The Maharashtra government in a bid to revive local tourism has decided to give the town a makeover. Also Read - Maharashtra: 5 Naxals, Including 3 Women Cadres, Gunned Down by Forces in Gadchiroli District The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has taken up this project to do the facelift of Maharashtra’s best tourist spot. The authority has already completed 50% of the beautification project. The authority is said to have undertaken beautification of four viewpoints, improvement of the pathway between Dasturi Naka and Matheran. The authorities are also making parking facilities for visitors. MMRDA metropolitan commissioner, RA Rajeev told Hindustan Times, “We have taken care of the environmental constraints in the area. Once the beautification work is complete, tourists will be able to enjoy Matheran with greater comfort.” MMRDA said that the pathway would be made of lateritic soil owing to the environmental restrictions. At least 35% of the pathway has been renovated, read the report. The authorities are also fixing street lighting, road signs, benches & other safety measures. Matheran is one of the cleanest hill stations in India, where tourists are not allowed to get their vehicles inside the town. Walking, horse riding is the only option once you enter the town, travelers can enter the town by Neral-Matheran Toy train too. This destination is easy on the pocket and reaching here is not a task at all. If you love breathtaking views and long walks, Matheran is the place to be. You can enjoy these points in the small town: -Charlotte Park: If you love picnics and want to spend some quality time with nature, then Louisa or Echo Point by Charlotte Lake is a great option. -Panorama Point: This point is gorgeous as it gives a view of the Western Ghats. Just 126 km away from Mumbai, this place is worthy of a visit.

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International flights: India-Germany flights to start from October 26 after brief suspension of air bubble

After a brief standoff over who is flying more planes amid Covid-19 pandemic leading to a brief suspension of the air bubble between India and Germany, the Air India on Friday tweeted that it would start its Germany flights from October 26. It indicates that the new agreement reached between the two countries has been extended till March 28, 2021. Air bubbles are pacts signed by two countries allowing airlines of both the countries to fly. Under these agreements, the number of flights are restricted as all countries are now cautious so that the number of Covid-19 cases does not increase because of the resumption of international flights. India alleged that Germany was flying more flights to India while the government restricted the number of Indian flights in the country. After India asks Lufthanasa to curtail its schedule, it cancelled all flights to India till October 20. Following which, Air India too cancelled all its flights to Frankfurt till October 14. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said Lufthansa was flying 20 flights a week while Indian carriers were operating only three to four flights. Lufthanasa was suggested to fly seven flights per week which the carrier rejected. As a result of the brief suspension of the air bubble, several flights were cancelled. Those who have Air India tickets between October 20 and October 26 have been asked to contact the airline for rescheduling after October 26. Commenting on the suspension of air bubble between India and Germany, Union civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri recently said that talks were on between the two countries. “The issue is not about allowing foreign carriers in or not. We are all for foreign carriers operating here. Make no mistake. But I think the time has come for the message to go out loud and clear that it will not be done at the expense of the Indian carriers. Under the regulated (air bubble) arrangements, we are not insisting on total parity. Even near parity will do,” the minister had said.

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India facilitates travel bubble with Ukraine; you can now fly to 17 countries

If Ukraine has been on your travel wishlist, you can soon book tickets to visit the country. The Indian government has now established an air bubble arrangement with this country as well. With this agreement, India now has arrangements with 17 countries, i.e., with the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Qatar, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Canada, Bhutan, France, Japan, Germany, Iraq, Nigeria, the Maldives, Oman, and Kenya. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted regarding the same and stated that to further widen the scope of international air connectivity, an air bubble arrangement is now in place for flights between India and Ukraine, taking the number of such arrangements to 17. The Civil Aviation Minister added that carriers of both India and Ukraine will be operating between the two countries. Reportedly, the air bubble arrangement with Ukraine will be in place till November 30 this year. The Aviation Minister also added that India is in talks with Bangladesh, Italy, and Kazakhstan for creating similar arrangements. As per the reports, if you are travelling from India to Ukraine, you need to fulfil the below criteria: You are a resident or national of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), excluding Russia. Any Indian national, holding any type of valid visa of Ukraine, including official and diplomatic passport holders and destined for CIS countries (excluding Russia). Further, the airlines concerned will have to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter the country concerned with the particular visa category before issuing ticket/boarding pass to the Indian passenger. Further, those visiting Ukraine from India will have to follow these: All those Indian nationals in CIS countries (excluding Russia) will be allowed to visit Ukraine. They will need to have a valid visa issued by an Indian Mission in any category covered under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated June 30 as amended from time to time. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders, with passports issued by Ukraine; OCI cardholders holding passports issued by any country of CIS (excluding Russia and Ukraine), who are eligible to enter India as per MHA guidelines dated June 30 as amended from time to time.

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South Western Railway to open Passengers Reservation Centres across 12 destinations from October 16

Railway passengers across South India can now book tickets through the computerised Passengers Reservation Centres (PRCs) starting October 16. The announcement has been made by the South Western Railway to allow people to book train tickets via railway reservation counters. According to an official statement issued by the South Western Railway, the Computerized Passenger Reservation Centres (PRCs) will be reopened for the general public w.e.f. October 16 at Banaswadi, Bengaluru East, Malleswaram, Chikkabanavar, Karmelaram, Chikkaballapura, Whitefield, Kuppam, Penukonda, Doddaballapur, Madduru and Gauribidanur for booking of reserved tickets. However, the operation hours of the PRCS at the above stations would be the same as they were before the lockdown came into effect. In addition, the release also stated that the counters are being opened considering an expected rise in the demand for reserved tickets as the festival special trains are ready to go on tracks from October 20 tI'll November 30. Furthermore, the 12 Reservation Centres mentioned above will be opened in addition to 15 Reservation Centres which are already in operation at KSR Bengaluru, Krishnarajapuram, Bangarpet, Yelahanka, Yesvantpur, Bengaluru Cantonment, Hindupur, Dharmapuri, Kengeri, Ramanagaram, Sri Sathyasai Prasanthi Nilayam, Hosur, Tumakuru, Channapatna, and Mandya, in Bengaluru Division of South Western Railway. News has it that the South Western Railway has asked railway passengers to abide by safety rules issued by the Central government to ward off COVID-19 by wearing masks, observe physical distancing, using sanitisers etc. during their visit to the reservation centres.

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India - Bangladesh flights to resume from Oct 28

Air communication between Bangladesh and India was suspended for the past seven months. However, at an inter-ministerial meeting at the Bangladesh civil aviation and tourism ministry, a decision has been made to resume flight services from October 28 between the two countries. Under the air bubble agreement between India and Bangladesh, three Bangladeshi airlines —Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US Bangla Airlines and Novoair and five Indian carriers — Air India, Indigo, Fly Spicejet, Vistara, and Go Air — would operate 28 flights every week between the two countries from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai. Passengers from both countries will have to undergo Covid-19 tests before flying, and the flight arrangement is exclusively between the two nations, so passengers can't travel to a third country from India or Bangladesh. India has stopped entry for all foreigners by halting visa approvals since march 12. Visas will be issued within 7 days, under 9 categories. These include medical, business, employment, journalist, diplomatic, official, UN official and UN diplomatic. Anil Punjabi, TAFI chairman for the Eastern Chapter has welcomed this move saying, "This is great news. This will increase inbound tourists in India, especially in Kolkata, where many travellers come from Bangladesh for their medical needs. Businesses, which include hotels and restaurants of the city, will get some fuel, too. Also, there will be foreign money exchanges, helping to revive the economy. A large number of shopkeepers in the Esplanade area employ Bangladeshis, who will now be able to return to work." A US Bangla Airlines spokesperson from Kolkata also believed that this will help revive tourism between the two countries. "While we haven't received any official communication about the schedules of the flights yet, restarting flight services between the two nations will definitely be of great help for us," he said.

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Sabarimala temple to be opened for devotees during during the Malayalam month of Thulam

The Sabarimala temple will be opened for devotees for five days starting from Friday during the Malayalam month of Thulam amid the COVID-19 outbreak. As per the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), only 250 people will be allowed to visit on a single day and booking will be done on a first come first serve basis. A virtual queue portal for the booking of darshans at the temple has been opened for the public. A COVID-19-negative certificate will be mandatory and pilgrims will be required to take the test 48 hours before reaching Pamba. Those arriving without the certificate will have to undergo a COVID-19 test at the base camp at Nilackal. Special showers are arranged for bathing and devotees will not be allowed to bathe in the Pampa river. The TBD also informed that toilet and bathroom facilities have been set up at Pampa, Nilakkal and Sannidhanam, and sanitisers, soap and water have been arranged at various points. Devotees will ascend and descend through the Swami Ayyappan Road and special marks have been put in place for devotees to perform darshan at Sannidhanam in accordance with the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. There will be no accommodation for devotees at Sabarimala. In addition to the regular poojas, Udayasthamana poojas and Padi poojas will also be held, the TDB said.

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