News

Snowfall in Sikkim; Odd-Even rule to implement in Gangtok

Sikkim is currently experiencing its first snowfall of the season because of which the state is seeing huge tourist arrival. With the onset of the snowfall, Gangtok, Sikkim, has seen an increased number of tourists. Thinking of future arrivals, the Sikkim government has launched an "Odd-Even" rule to manage vehicle traffic in the city. This rule, effective from November 5, 2024, aims to reduce congestion in Gangtok’s bustling streets. Implemented under Section 115 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, it will remain in place for an unspecified duration. The odd-even system applies to both private and government vehicles, based on the last digit of their registration numbers. Vehicles with registration numbers ending in odd digits (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) can operate on odd-numbered dates, while those ending in even digits (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) can drive on even-numbered dates. The regulation covers areas within Gangtok’s municipal limits, specifically along the National Highway from Mayfair Fatak to GICI, Zero Point. The aim is to ease movement for residents and tourists alike.

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ICF unveils Vande Bharat sleeper coaches

Integral Coach Factory Chennai on Wednesday unveiled the fully airconditioned sleeper coaches, with improved safety features and best-in-class interiors, of its flagship Vande Bharat train. ICF has been making the swanky Vande Bharat Express trains since 2018 and so far, 77 such trains are in operation across the country, albeit with only a chair car facility. The ICF unveiled its first Vande Bharat train rake with all AC sleeper coaches for long distances involving night travel. An official release here said the new sleeper coach trains, though similar to chair car trains, have improved safety features. “The coaches have been fitted with best-in-class interiors with GFRP (Glass fiber reinforced polymer) panels, aluminum extrusions berth frame with polyurethane foam cushion, bio-vacuum toilets with touch-free amenities, etc., to make travel not only comfortable but also more pleasant,” the release said.

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Queretaro’s Joya-La Barreta park in Mexico is a starry-eyed escape for stargazers

As night descended, a rumble of frogs filled the air in this park outside the central Mexican city of Queretaro. In the sky, tiny stars appeared one by one, aligning into constellations. Juan Carlos Hernández used his weight to adjust a large telescope. “Aim for me, Rich!” he yelled to his friend. Ricardo Soriano focused a green laser on a small patch of clouds, targeting where the Tsuchinshan-Atlas comet will soon be visible. Hernández and other amateur astronomers worked to certify Joya-La Barreta Ecological Park last year as the first urban night sky space in Latin America by DarkSky International, an organization working to educate the public about the harm of indiscriminate lighting. The park sitting at about 8,520 feet (2,600 meters) above sea level on the outskirts of Queretaro gives unobstructed access to the night sky. While over 200 dark sky places exist globally, Joya-La Barreta park is only one of 11 in areas that are considered urban. Its dark sky status is under constant threat, however, from increasing light pollution and urbanization. Hernández, who just turned 40, has advocated relentlessly for the night sky for more than 20 years. The president of Queretaro’s Astronomical Society and one of the founders of the stargazing tourism agency Astronite, the aerospace engineer by day has been chasing dark areas to observe the stars since he can remember. “In 2014 you could see Omega (Centauri) sitting in the sky just above the city,” he said of a constellation over 17,000 light years away. “Today it’s unimaginable.”

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Terminal 1 of Jaipur Airport is set to commence operations for international flights.

In a recent update, Rajasthan's Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma will inaugurate the revamped Terminal 1 at Jaipur Airport on October 26. This terminal, specifically dedicated to international flights, will start operations on October 27, marking a major shift in how the airport handles passenger traffic. The update ensures that Jaipur Airport now has two distinct terminals: Terminal 1 for international flights and Terminal 2 for domestic ones. From midnight on October 27, this division will streamline operations, offering a smoother experience for passengers and allowing the airport to manage the growing number of travelers more efficiently. Jaipur Airport has seen passenger numbers increase at an annual rate of 7%, making this reorganization a critical step in accommodating future growth. An airport official emphasized the importance of Terminal 1's reopening, noting, "The new terminal will greatly enhance the airport capacity and improve overall service quality for the passengers." The renovation is a significant milestone, not only for the airport but also for Rajasthan's tourism sector. Terminal 1's design highlights the region’s rich cultural heritage while providing a modern travel experience.

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‘Influencers on Wheels’ tour begins to discover Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Tourism flagged off the fourth edition of Discover Tamil Nadu 2024 — ‘Influencers on Wheels’ at Island grounds in Chennai on Friday. The initiative brings social media influencers from across India together for a 10-day bus journey, exploring destinations across Tamil Nadu, including Mamallapuram, Thanjavur, Darasuram, Chettinad, Rameswaram, Dhanushkodi, Keeladi, and Madurai. B. Chandra Mohan, Principal Secretary to Government, shared the vision behind the programme, noting, “Tamil Nadu is a land of diversity, where stories are endless. Every village, town, and turn in the road has its own story to tell. Now, we have this unique opportunity to showcase Tamil Nadu to the world.” He further added that the itinerary was thoughtfully curated to provide social media influencers with an authentic experience of the State of Tamil Nadu and the vast variety it offers. Around twelve social media travel influencers from Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal, as well as from France and Norway, have been selected by Tamil Nadu Tourism for the journey across Tamil Nadu, which they will document on their social media platforms and Tamil Nadu Tourism’s social media channels. Shaikh Hassan Khan, a mountaineer and travel influencer, remarked, “I was eager to join this initiative after viewing the itinerary, as it offers a chance to explore the culture and heritage of the State.” Anais Noizat, social media influencer from France, expressed her gratitude for being selected for the tour.

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Andhra Pradesh government is planning to develop specialised tourism circuits

Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh has said that the State Government has been striving to revive tourism sector in Andhra Pradesh, which was completely neglected by the previous government. He said that the main agenda is to engage and attract tourists with various activities during their period of stay, for which the government is planning to develop specialised tourism circuits like religious, health, wellness, eco-tourism, adventure tourism etc connecting different places. He was speaking during the ‘CII Tourism Summit’, being conducted on theme ‘Building Tomorrow’s Tourism: Sustainable, Innovative, Resilient’, held here on Friday. The meeting was also attended by Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat and film producer Suresh Babu. Addressing the delegates, Mr. Durgesh said that the new tourism policy is being prepared keeping in view the needs of stakeholders and will be introduced in the next few months. Reminding that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had already accorded ‘industry’ status to the tourism sector, Mr. Durgesh urged investors to invest in luxury cruises, meditation decks, ropeways, tribal markets, caravan, film tourism, amusement centres, floating hotels, destination weddings, beachside shopping etc. Appealing to the film industry to organise shootings in beautiful locations across the State and set up studios and dubbing theatres, he said that the government is ready to give all permissions. Mr. Durgesh said that though there are ample number of shooting spots in Andhra Pradesh, not many shootings are taking place due to lack of amenities. He also urged the film sector to promote the tourist places by displaying the name of locations in their films.

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