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UP opens eco-tourism in core tiger reserve zones, defying NTCA directive.

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government has recently launched new tourism initiatives in the core zones of its tiger reserves, despite directives from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to remove tourism structures from these protected areas. Established to ensure minimal human interference, core zones within tiger reserves are intended to serve as safe habitats for tigers and are generally off-limits to tourism activities, as per a 2019 NTCA order, which followed a Supreme Court order from 2012, prohibiting any new permanent tourism facilities in these core areas. On the other hand, UP's strategy involves creating ecotourism infrastructure and boating amenities inside these protected areas. For example, in an effort to draw tourists, a boating site has been established in the central area of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, and a bamboo cabin has been built on Chukha Beach beside the Sharda River. Reports add that the state has also set aside INR 38 lakh to construct a lawn and parking spots at Ranipur Tiger Reserve as part of its efforts to enhance visitor amenities. The jungle safari services at Dudhwa Tiger Reserve have also been revived, and plans are underway to expand ecotourism in additional wildlife sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh. These initiatives come just after the UP Government officially opened the eco-tourism season for 2024-25 across its tiger reserves, including Pilibhit, Amangarh, and Dudhwa, on November 6—nine days earlier than usual.

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US Airport Introduces Llama Therapy to Ease Passenger Anxiety

Portland International Airport is taking a unique approach to passenger comfort. Their newest employees aren't humans, but rather a herd of therapy llamas! These fluffy friends, provided by Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas and Alpacas, wander the airport concourse, offering comfort and joy to stressed travellers. The llamas, dressed in adorable "I heart PDX" neckerchiefs, are part of a larger effort to create a more relaxing airport experience, alongside other calming features like natural light and live trees. These llamas are part of a non-profit run by Lori Gregory and Shannon Joy, a mother-daughter team that provides therapeutic visits with their five llamas and six alpacas. The duo brings their llamas to Portland's airport to offer comfort to anxious travellers, providing pets, head scratches, and occasional cuddles for those needing a bit of calm before their flights. Dressed in "I heart PDX" neckerchiefs, cosy coats, and pompom headbands, these "fluffy professionals" wander through the airport terminal, offering a smile to everyone they meet. Alongside therapy dogs, the llamas are part of the airport's initiative "just to make you smile" and make air travel less stressful. Therapy animals differ from service animals in that they don't perform specific tasks but provide a calming presence to those experiencing stress or anxiety. According to UMass Chan Medical School, these animals bring a sense of comfort that can alleviate some symptoms of anxiety and mental health challenges.

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Indian Airlines Gain Share in International Travel

Indian airlines have been upgrading their fleets and efforts to cater to the growing demand for inbound and outbound international travel. Indian airlines accounted for 45.69% of the international traffic in india in the April-june quarter this year. That's up from close to 44% last year and just 34.79% pre-pandemic. A total of over 17.6 million passengers traveled to and from India during the quarter. Of this, domestic airlines carried over 8 million travelers international traffic in india during the quarter increased 13.5% compared to pre-pandemic lajeis Indian Airlines and International Travel, indian airlines have been upgrading their fients and efforts to terto the arena demand for inbound and outbound nternational Travel Air India and ind Go have laced farge order to inches in their fleets

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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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