News

France And Italy Strengthen Their Bond As Mont Blanc Tunnel Reopens

The Mont Blanc tunnel, linking France and Italy, will reopen to traffic on Monday following a 15-week closure for essential renovations. The Mont Blanc tunnel is set to reopen at 10 PM on Monday, December 16th, subject to the successful completion of final security tests following its renovation. The tunnel was closed on September 2nd for 15 weeks of refurbishment, strategically scheduled during a period of lower traffic volumes. During this closure, heavy trucks traveling from France were rerouted through the Fréjus tunnel in Savoie, while other vehicles used the Fréjus tunnel and various Alpine passes, including Grand and Petit Saint-Bernard, Mont Cenis, and Montgenèvre. Renovations focused on a 600-meter section of the tunnel’s vault. A second phase of work, scheduled for 2025, will address another 600 meters of the tunnel, though the precise timing remains undecided. This refurbishment is part of an ongoing effort to maintain the 11.6-kilometer tunnel, which has been undergoing regular overnight closures since 2018 for structural improvements. The final phase of renovations on the supporting structure of the carriageway was completed in June 2024.

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Air India Deploys Upgraded Airbus A320neos And Boeing 787s On Key Gateways

The pace of change at Air India is relentless, and the best thing for customers is that the airline is making changes that lift the onboard experience, which often leaves the most impression on passengers. Today, the full-service carrier released details of changes coming in 2025 that will see Air India's best aircraft on its key gateways and schedules optimized to enable better global connections. Air India has also announced significant updates to its international network starting in 2025, which includes upgrading cabins, optimizing schedules and utilizing former Vistara aircraft on key routes. The airline is deploying its best aircraft to key gateways in Southeast Asia and Europe, complementing the deployment of its Airbus A350 and B777 with upgraded cabin interiors on multiple US and UK routes. The key takeaways from today's announcement include: All Delhi-Bangkok flights will be operated by Air India's retrofitted A320neos Flights to Frankfurt and Singapore from Delhi and Mumbai to offer modern cabin interiors Optimized flight schedules to enable two-way connections between East and West via India From January 16, all flights on the Delhi-Bangkok route will use the retrofitted Airbus A320neo, featuring fully refreshed interiors across the economy, premium economy and business class cabins. They also feature Vista Stream, Air India's free wireless inflight entertainment, which allows access to more than 1,600 hours of rich entertainment on personal devices.

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Canberra Tourism Sector to Soar with Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways is preparing to resume daily services to Canberra, Australia’s capital, enhancing connectivity and fostering more competitive options for the benefit of residents and customers across Australia. These daily services to Canberra will be routed through Melbourne to the airline’s central hub at Hamad International Airport in Doha, acclaimed as the World’s Best Airport. This stopover offers passengers a premier experience and smooth transitions to over 170 destinations globally in the Qatar Airways network. Scheduled to start in December 2025, the flights will be facilitated by Boeing 777 aircraft, equipped with the airline’s celebrated Q-suite Business Class cabin* and complimentary high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi for all onboard. Following a suspension during the global pandemic, the reinstatement of the Canberra route marks a significant development for Qatar Airways as it re-establishes its presence in the city, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and neighboring areas. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “We are delighted to be able to serve Canberra once again. The nation’s capital, the political heart of Australia, rightly expects to be served by a range of international airlines, and I am proud that we are able to play our part in that. Whether travelling for business, government services or leisure, our commitment to Australia, and to Canberra, is one that we know will bring much needed healthy competition to the market and greater choice for passengers.”

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Ayodhya’s Ram Temple wins prestigious ‘Sword of Honour’ award for safety excellence

The Ram temple project in Ayodhya has earned the prestigious ‘Sword of Honour’ award from the British Safety Council, marking a significant milestone in safety management practices. As reported by The Hindu, the announcement was made on December 15, 2024, by Nripendra Misra, chairman of the Construction Committee of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. If reports are to go by, the Sword of Honour award is one of the highest accolades in safety management, and is given to projects that meet the highest standards where safety is concerned. The British Safety Council conducts a comprehensive audit of processes and practices before performing an on-site assessment. Projects that have a five-star rating in safety assessments are then eligible to compete for the ‘Sword of Honour’ award. The award recognises the Ram temple project’s commitment to maintaining stringent safety protocols during its construction, led by M/s Larsen & Toubro. The firm had earlier received the ‘Golden Trophy’ from the National Safety Council for its exemplary safety measures at the temple site. As per reports, there’s been a lot of progress made on the construction of the Ram temple. The construction of the first and second floors, including the temple's “Shikhar” (top), is in its final phase and is expected to be completed by June 2025. The temple is also set to feature intricate marble statues of Shri Ram Darbar, along with depictions of sages and notable figures from Hindu scriptures such as Maharishi Valmiki, Ahilya Devi, Nishad Raaj, Sabri, Muni Vashishth, Agatsya Muni, Rishi Vishwamitra, and Goswami Tulsidas. These statues are scheduled to be completed by January 2025. The Ram temple, a stone structure, is being constructed using approximately 15 lakh cubic feet of Bansi Paharpur stone sourced from Rajasthan. Renowned artists and architects, including Vasudev Kamath, Shri Sompura, and Shri Jay Kaktikar, have played an instrumental role in its design.

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Cruise ship service to launch on Tehri Lake; Uttarakhand

Very soon, tourists will be able to experience cruise ship service in Uttarakhand. As per the latest news reports, a cruise ship service is all set to commence on the pristine waters of Tehri Lake, in a move to boost tourism in Uttarakhand. It’s expected that this initiative will create new opportunities for local communities, while also offering tourists the opportunity to explore the region’s rich village tourism offerings. The manager of the cruise ship, Vijay Bisht, expressed his excitement and described the idea as an "unprecedented move," one that could increase tourism in the area. He went on to say that the opening of a cruise line on the world's tallest dam, Tehri Dam, would not only increase tourism but also perhaps contribute to employment creation for people. The project will also boost tourism in the village, he added. "We want more such activities here," he said. Uttarakhand is making all efforts to boost its tourism industry, and along with its breathtaking views and tranquil surroundings, Lake Tehri is one such place that provides countless opportunities for leisure, adventure, and cultural tourism. On a parallel note, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced a series of measures to further elevate the state’s appeal as a winter destination. To attract more visitors during the season, the government has introduced a 25% discount on stays at Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) hotels.

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Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link: Final Track Work Done, Vande Bharat to Launch Soon

The Northern Railway has achieved a significant milestone by completing one of the most challenging rail projects in the Himalayan region. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link now connects Kashmir with the rest of the country. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the completion of the final track work, calling it a “historic milestone.” The last phase involved Tunnel T-33, a 3.2 km-long tunnel at the foothills of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, connecting Katra to Reasi. The 45 km section between Reasi and Sangaldan, featuring the world's highest railway bridge over the Chenab River, has also been completed. Trial runs have already been conducted successfully. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link is a national project undertaken to build a railway through the challenging Himalayan terrain. With 750 bridges and over 100 km of tunnels, the project tested the limits of railway engineering. The longest tunnel spans 11.2 km, and the iconic Chenab Bridge, towering 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower, symbolises the achievement. This all-weather and affordable rail connectivity is expected to transform Kashmir by boosting tourism and economic growth. Tourist inflow is projected to nearly double, providing a major boost to the region.

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