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Government Sets New Rule for In-Flight Wi-Fi on Indian Domestic Airlines

The Indian Department of Telecommunications (DoT) announced a new rule for in-flight and maritime Wi-Fi connectivity recently. With the new rules, the government department has specified the criteria under which travellers will be allowed to access Internet connectivity. It is believed that with this rule change, Indian airlines such as Air India, Indigo, and SpiceJet might finally be able to offer the service to passengers travelling domestically. Notably, currently, only Vistara offers in-flight Wi-Fi to travellers on international flights. DoT India issued the rule change in an e-Gazette published on October 28. The rule amends the Flight and Maritime Connectivity Rules, 2018. Under rule 9, sub-rule (2) was changed to include, “Notwithstanding the minimum height in Indian airspace referred to in sub-rule (1), internet services through Wi-Fi in aircraft shall be made available when electronic devices are permitted to be used in the aircraft.” Notably, the sub-rule (1) stated that aircraft in Indian airspace can offer passengers access to the Internet via Wi-Fi at a minimum altitude of 3,000 metres. This rule was added to avoid interference of in-flight connectivity with ground-based mobile and broadband connectivity. It appears that the previous rule did not encourage airlines and network providers enough to provide the service to travellers. This could be due to the edge cases where despite attaining the prerequisite altitude, the in-flight network could still cause an issue for ground-based systems. The DoT India highlighted that the new rule change shall be called the Flight and Maritime Connectivity (Amendment) Rules, 2024. Posting about the rule change, the official handle of the department on X (formerly known as Twitter) posted, “The Flight and Maritime Connectivity Rules have been amended to make internet connectivity available on flights via Wi-Fi.”

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Vande Metro Completes First Trial Run from Ahmedabad to Mumbai at 130 km/hr

The first successful trial run of the Vande Metro Train, part of the high-speed rail project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, was completed earlier this week. According to a report in The Indian Express, the train, traveling at a speed of 130 km/h, arrived in Mumbai on Monday afternoon after passing through Surat. Inspired by the Vande Bharat train, the Vande Metro is designed for faster intercity travel. The trial run was overseen by a team from the Railway Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), who evaluated key performance factors, including vibration and shock levels. The Vande Metro features 12 coaches with a total of 1,150 ergonomically designed seats and is equipped with advanced technologies like fully air-conditioned coaches, CCTV surveillance, a talk-back system, and passenger information display boards, according to sources in Western Railway. One of the standout features of the Vande Metro is its ability to accelerate and decelerate quickly, enabling faster travel between mid-distance cities. With a maximum speed of 130 km/h, it outpaces the typical electric multiple unit (MEMU) trains.

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Railways to ply over 500 special trains to accommodate festival return rush

The Railway Board said that the rush for Chhath Puja is set to begin after sunrise on November 8 and that it has arranged for 164 special trains to accommodate the high passenger flow on that day The Railway Board on Wednesday (November 6, 2024) said it has arranged for more than 500 special trains to handle the return rush of travellers away in their home towns, beginning November 8 with the ending of Chhath Puja. "Special trains have been announced to accommodate returning passengers, with additional trains planned from the Samastipur, Danapur divisions and other divisions as needed to meet local demand," the Board said in a press statement. It said that the rush for Chhath Puja is set to begin after sunrise on November 8 and that it has arranged for 164 special trains to accommodate the high passenger flow on that day. "Following this, Indian Railways has planned 160 special trains for November 9, 161 for November 10, and 155 for November 11, ensuring sufficient capacity to manage the expected surge in travelers during the festive period," it added. According to the Railway Board, on November 4, Indian Railways carried a record number of passengers in a single-day, transporting 120.72 lakh people. "This included 19.43 lakh reserved passengers and 101.29 lakh unreserved non-suburban passengers - the number exceeding the combined populations of Australia and New Zealand. On the same day, suburban traffic reached a record 180 lakh passengers, making it the highest single-day passenger figure of the year," the Board said. It also claimed to achieve a remarkable feat by transporting 65 lakh passengers on 4,521 special trains in last 36 days. "These additional services have played a crucial role in facilitating smooth travel during the ongoing Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath Puja celebrations," it said. According to the Board, to meet the increased travel demand during the festival period from October 1 to November 30, Indian Railways announced a total of 7,724 special trains, marking a 73% increase compared to the last year's 4,429. "This substantial expansion aims to ensure seamless travel during the peak festival season. Indian Railways has operated an average of 175 special trains per day over the past four days to carry passengers to their destinations for Chhath Puja," the Board said. 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150-Year-Old Matheran-Neral Toy Train Resumes, Offering Scenic Hill Views

The services of the iconic Matheran-Neral mini toy train resumed after a short break in the monsoon season. The train, having a rich history of over 150 years covers around 20 kilometres of journey, offering people a scenic route through the small hill station. Swapnil Nila, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CRPO) of Central Railways said that the train was stopped in June 8th because of the monsoon season and was started on November 6. "This particular train covers a very short distance of 20 kilometres. It has 236 sharp curvature over which passengers can enjoy the ride also, it is primarily a narrow gauge train, it has a history of almost more than 150 years. It reaches Neral to Matheran in approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. The CRPO also said the train has six coaches, one first-class coach and four second class coaches. The passengers have various facilities and can buy first class and second class tickets to experience the route in the hilly area, the CRPO said, “The entire distance is covered, passengers have facilities to purchase first class tickets and second class tickets also their prices are also reasonable for journey and unique journey passengers.” The train reportedly transports 600-700 passengers on an average everyday The CRPO further mentioned that the train is loved by school children, offering them a fun experience to travel to the vehicle free Matheran hilly area. "This train gives the actual pleasure of viewing the scenic background of Neral and Matheran to all its passengers," Swapnil Nila added. One of the passengers said that they enjoyed the ride along on the first day of the train too. "I am liking it very much, before I was bored because the train was delayed slightly but then I got the ticket and saw the view while in the train, it is really good," said the passengers.

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Haryana to Develop Mahabharata Sites in Kurukshetra to Boost Tourism

In a major push to promote Haryana's historical heritage, the state's Heritage and Tourism Minister, Dr. Arvind Kumar Sharma, announced plans to develop Kurukshetra and nearby areas as top tourism destinations. Known for its historical and mythological significance, especially in connection to the Mahabharata, Kurukshetra and surrounding districts will be part of a new tourism initiative termed the ‘Mahabharata Circuit.’ Dr. Sharma shared this vision at the second Mahabharata Circuit Conference held in Karnal, where officials from both Haryana Tourism and the Union Ministry of Tourism discussed the region’s development potential. The Union Ministry of Tourism hosted the conference with the goal of turning historic locations in Kurukshetra, Karnal, and Panipat into popular tourist destinations. Dr. Sharma proposed Kurukshetra may provide comparable facilities to Vrindavan, which attracts thousands of pilgrims, in order to accommodate a greater number of tourists. This initiative seeks to improve infrastructure, create better visitor facilities, and highlight the area's deep cultural roots. The Union Ministry of Tourism's Northern Regional Director, R K Suman emphasised that the ministry is committed to elevating Kurukshetra as a global pilgrimage destination. The Mahabharata Circuit follows the government’s successful establishment of the Ramayana and Krishna Circuits in other parts of northern India, with INR 200 crores invested so far. The project aims to revive and promote religious and historical tourism, attracting pilgrims, history enthusiasts, and international tourists alike. As per the reports, more than 130 industry participants attended the three-day Mahabharata Circuit Conference and Familiarisation Tour in Kurukshetra as part of this endeavour. The aim of this event was to highlight Kurukshetra's historical significance and provide strategies to boost tourism.

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Waqf Board Claims 17 Monuments Within Historic Bidar Fort as Its Property

The Karnataka Board of Waqfs has identified 17 monuments inside the historic Bidar Fort in Karnataka as its property, sources in the district administration said on Wednesday. These properties are among the major landmarks of the fort located in the district headquarters town of Bidar. The Archaeological Survey of India, the custodian of the fort, is unaware of the development; the sources said, adding that out of 60 properties in the Bidar Fort premises, the Waqf Board found that 17 properties to belong to it. These include renowned 16-'Khamba' (sixteen pillar) mosque, 14 tombs of various Bahmani rulers and their family members including Ahmed Shah-IV, Ahmed Shah's wife, Allauddin, Hassan Khan, Mohammed Shah-III, Nizam, Sultan Ahmed Shah Wali and Sultan Mahmud Shah. A top Waqf Board official told PTI, on condition of anonymity, that notices have not been served to the ASI. "How can the Board issue a notice to the ASI, which has been the custodian and protector of the historical monuments for several decades?" He alleged that a lot of mischief and misinformation is happening in the name of Waqf Board that is bringing a bad name to the Muslim community.

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