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India gets its longest glass bridge in Vagamon, Kerala!

You all must have watched those amusing viral videos, featuring individuals cautiously traversing glass-bottomed bridges in shorts and reels with, of course, varying degrees of success. Now, to bring this experience closer to you, tourists in Kerala can enjoy a similar adventure, as the nation's lengthiest cantilever glass bridge was officially inaugurated recently in Vagamon by Tourism Minister PA Mohammed Riyas. This remarkable bridge, perched at an elevation of 3,600 ft above sea level in the Vagamon hills, has a length of 40 m. Surrounded by lush greenery, if you stand at the end of the bridge, one can enjoy the breathtaking vistas of lush hills, valleys, and the beautiful nearby towns of Koottikkal and Kokkayar. The bridge is supported by robust steel cables and a towering pole structure, accommodating up to 15 individuals at a time, offering them an aerial perspective of the Vagamon hill station. Approximately 35 tonnes of steel imported from Germany were used in constructing this remarkable structure Nijas Muhammed, a tourist who ventured across the glass bridge, said nature enthusiasts will find solace in the panoramic views, and feel truly immersed in the splendor of nature. Crossing the transparent walkway will lead you to the panoramic beauty of Vagamon. Since the glass bridge is situated within the DTPC's adventure tourism park, visitors can also partake in various other thrilling activities. This project, carried out through a public-private partnership between the district tourism promotion council and Bharat Mata Ventures Pvt Ltd, required an investment of INR 3 crore. Tourism officials are optimistic that the glass bridge's unveiling will enhance tourism prospects for Wagamon. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Peermade MLA Vazhoor Soman, Udumbanchola MLA M M Mani, and district panchayat president K T Binu.

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G20 Endorses 'Goa Roadmap', 'Travel For LiFE' Program To Boost Tourism

The G20 Leaders' Summit held in Delhi culminated in a resounding endorsement of the 'Goa Roadmap' and the 'Travel for LiFE' program, propelling India to the forefront of sustainable tourism initiatives. The summit brought together global leaders, united by a common vision for a better world and emphasizing the pivotal role of tourism and culture in sustainable socio-economic development, read the Ministry of Tourism press release. An achievement during the G20 Leaders' Summit was the unanimous endorsement of tourism and culture as catalysts for sustainable socio-economic development and prosperity. The 'G20 Leaders Declaration,' adopted during the summit, emphasized the significance of the 'Goa Roadmap for Tourism' in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), read the press release. The 'Goa Roadmap,' a flagship initiative of India's G20 Tourism Track, serves as a groundbreaking blueprint for global sustainable tourism. Aligned with the theme of India's G20 Presidency, it underscores the role of tourism in society, the economy, and environmental stewardship, read the press release. The roadmap addresses five interconnected priorities identified by the G20 Tourism Working Group: Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management. It offers a comprehensive strategy for nations to align their tourism policies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030. To facilitate the roadmap's implementation, the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), has launched the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard. This initiative will serve as a global repository, showcasing best practices and case studies of sustainable tourism practices and policies from G20 nations, aiding nations and industry stakeholders in their journey towards achieving the SDGs through tourism. The Ministry of Tourism plans to foster the implementation of the 'Goa Roadmap' through education and awareness campaigns. These efforts aim to sensitize state and union territory governments and private stakeholders about incorporating recommended actions into their operations, fostering sustainable, resilient, and inclusive tourism, read the release. In an effort to recognize and propagate best practices aligned with the 'Goa Roadmap,' the Ministry of Tourism is launching a national competition on 'Tourism for Tomorrow.' This competition, scheduled to be launched on World Tourism Day on September 27, will identify and promote successful initiatives that can be replicated and scaled up across the country, read the release. Another noteworthy development is the launch of the "Travel for LiFE" initiative, inspired by the Prime Minister's vision of LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment). This initiative encourages tourists and tourist businesses to take simple yet impactful actions for environmental protection and climate action, aligning with the 'Travel for LiFE' program's goal of promoting responsible and sustainable tourism, read the release. The Ministry of Tourism envisions a greener, cleaner, and more harmonious future, ensuring robust, equitable, and sustainable growth for all. They are committed to transforming host cities of the G20 Meetings in India into global MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destinations for national and international meetings, read the release.

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PM Modi announces new Indian Embassy in Timor-Leste

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced a decision to open an Indian embassy in Timor-Leste. Modi announced the decision while co-chairing the annual ASEAN-India summit in this Indonesian capital. At the ASEAN-India summit, the prime minister announced the decision to establish an Indian Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. “The decision is a reflection of the importance India attaches to ASEAN, and its relations with Timor Leste,” it said. The MEA said the decision was warmly welcomed by Timor Leste and ASEAN member nations. Timor Leste joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2022 as an Observer, before becoming its full member. ASEAN is considered one of the most influential groupings in the region, and India and several other countries including the US, China, Japan, and Australia are its dialogue partners.

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Impact of G20 Summit on India’s Travel Industry

The G20 Summit 2023 being held in India is poised to have a profound impact on the country’s travel industry. This high-profile event, bringing together leaders from the world’s largest economies, will not only showcase India’s ability to host international gatherings, but also open up numerous opportunities and challenges for the travel sector. One of the most immediate impacts will be the surge in inbound tourism. “As India assumes the role of the summit’s host, it will attract a significant influx of international visitors, including heads of state, diplomats, business leaders, and journalists. This surge in arrivals will boost the hospitality sector, with hotels, restaurants, and other accommodation providers experiencing increased demand. To accommodate this influx, the industry is expected to stretch to the best of their capability, leading to improved infrastructure and enhanced services,” says Sandeep Arora, Director, Brightsun Travel Private Limited, India. Additionally, the G20 Summit will bolster India’s image as a desirable travel destination. The global media attention and the positive portrayal of the country during the event will serve as a powerful marketing tool. “Tourists who visit during the summit may extend their stay to explore India’s rich cultural heritage, historic landmarks, and scenic landscapes, contributing to the growth of the tourism sector,” adds Arora. On the flip side, the travel industry will also face challenges during the summit. Arora opines, “Security measures and road closures may disrupt transportation and accessibility, potentially affecting the travel plans of both domestic and international tourists. Additionally, there will be a need for heightened security at tourist sites and transportation hubs, which could lead to longer wait times and inconvenience for travellers.” Furthermore, the increased demand for accommodation and services during the summit could result in price surges, making travel less affordable for some segments of the population. This may necessitate strategic pricing and marketing strategies to ensure that travel remains accessible to a broad range of visitors. “The G20 Summit 2023 in India will have a multifaceted impact on the country’s travel industry. While it presents opportunities for growth and increased global visibility, it also poses challenges related to logistics, security, and pricing. The industry must carefully navigate these dynamics to maximise the benefits of hosting this prestigious event while ensuring a positive experience for travellers,” signs off Arora.

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Drive from Bangalore to Chennai in just 2 hours on new expressway by end-2023: Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has delivered exciting news for travelers between Chennai and Bengaluru. He announced that a new Greenfield Expressway is set to drastically reduce travel time between these two major cities to just two hours. This announcement was made during the 75th-anniversary celebration of Ashok Leyland in Chennai. Drive from Bangalore to Chennai in just 2 hours on new expressway by end-2023: Nitin Gadkari This Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway project is part of a larger initiative involving 36 Greenfield Expressways across India. Nitin Gadkari stated, “In the month of January next year, we will start the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway where the duration of traveling between the two cities will be two hours only.” This reduction in travel time will open up new possibilities, such as launching luxury buses and electric sleeper coach buses that can provide a travel experience akin to business class. Moreover, because these vehicles will be electric, it’s expected that ticket rates can be lowered by up to 30%. Previously, the project’s estimated completion time was March 2024. The project, referred to as the ‘new alignment,’ will connect Hoskote in Bengaluru to Sriperumbudur in the Kanchipuram district, located 40 km from Chennai. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for this ambitious expressway project in May 2022. Spanning a total of 262 km, the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway will traverse through the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The expressway will feature eight lanes covering 240 km, with the remaining 22 km being an elevated stretch. To facilitate this massive project, approximately 2650 hectares of land have been acquired. The construction of the expressway is progressing in three phases. The first phase covers a distance of 62.6 km from Hoskote to Bethamangala in Karnataka. The second phase extends over 85 km, from Bethamangala to Gudipala in Andhra Pradesh. Finally, the third phase spans 106 km, connecting Gudipala to Sriperumbuddur in Tamil Nadu. Additionally, the Indian government has proposed the Bengaluru–Mangalore Greenfield Expressway and the Mangaluru–Chennai Expressway, both of which will pass through Bengaluru. Nitin Gadkari took the opportunity to encourage the Indian automotive industry to manufacture methanol trucks as an alternative fuel model. He emphasized the importance of adopting alternative fuel options to combat pollution. As a pilot project, Ashok Leyland buses in Bengaluru are currently running on a 15% methanol blend. Gadkari expressed his aspiration to introduce methanol-powered trucks and buses across the country, thereby reducing the dependency on diesel imports. This ambitious expressway project, set to connect Bengaluru and Chennai in just two hours, is a significant stride towards enhancing connectivity and reducing travel time for commuters between these two major cities.

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How NCRTC is taking rapid strides towards green travel

National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), which is executing the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RAPIDX project, will generate carbon credits when the corridor becomes functional. It will help in saving fuel and reducing pollution. The implementation of the project is estimated to increase the share of public transportation usage along the corridor from 37% to 63%, said NCRTC officials. "We have invited tenders to appoint a consultant for registration, verification, issuance and trading of carbon credits. After RAPIDX is operational on Delhi-GhaziabadMeerut corridor, we will calculate the carbon credit," said an NCRTC official. Carbon credits are certificates representing the amount of carbon dioxide reduced in the atmosphere. Public and private sectors are allowed to sell excess carbon credits to other countries or institutions that do not have enough carbon credits to reduce their carbon footprints. RAPIDX has been designed as a green mode of transit in NCR. "It is driven by electric traction. Being a rail-based transit system, due to reduced friction owing to steel-tosteel rolling contact, it will have 1/5th fossil fuel consumption compared with road vehicles," said an official . Once operational, the first RRTS corridor is estimated to reduce 2,50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in vehicular emissions per year. An estimated daily ridership on the 82-km-long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor is 8 lakh. After RAPIDX becomes functional, it will take more than one lakh private vehicles off the road. RAPIDX rolling stock is provided with a state-of-the-art regenerative braking system, which converts the train's kinetic energy into electrical energy. "RAPIDX trains will have push buttons for selective opening of doors on need basis. This eliminates the requirement of opening all doors at every station, thus leading to energy saving," said the official. The rolling stock will also have lighting and temperature control systems to enhance the passenger experience with less energy consumption, he added.

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