Antony’s three-day visit to Maldives begins tomorrow

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Railway revenue earnings up by 10.37 per cent during the period 1st – 10th August 2009

 

New Delhi : August 19, 2009

 

The total approximate earnings of Indian Railways on originating basis during the period from 1st to 10th August 2009 were Rs. 2193.78 crore compared to Rs. 1987.64 crore during the same period last year, registering an increase of 10.37 per cent.

 

The total goods earnings have gone up from Rs. 1330.54 crore during the period from 1st to 10th August 2008 to Rs. 1487.78 crore during 1st August – 10th August 2009, showing an increase of 11.82 per cent. The total passenger revenue earnings during the period 1st to 10th August 2009 were Rs. 633.86 crore compared to Rs. 592.76 crore during the same period last year, reflecting an increase of 6.93 per cent. The revenue earnings from other coaching amounted to Rs. 54.91 crore during this period compared to Rs. 48.25 crore during the same period last year, showing an increase of 13.80 per cent.

 

The total approximate number of passengers booked during the period 1st to 10th August, 2009 were 209.86 million compared to 190.36 million during the same period last year, showing an increase of 10.24 per cent. In the suburban and non-suburban sectors, the number of passengers booked during 1st to 10th August, 2009 were 110.00 million and 99.86 million compared to 104.43 million and 85.93 million during the same period last year, registering an increase of 5.33 per cent and 16.21 per cent respectively.

 

AKS/HK/LK/TR  /spandey

 

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Antony's three-day visit to Maldives begins tomorrow

 

New Delhi : August 19, 2009

 

The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony embarks on a three day official visit to Maldives beginning tomorrow. He will be leading a high level delegation comprising the Defence Secretary Shri Pradeep Kumar, DG Armed Forces Medical Services Lt Gen NK Parmar, DG Coast Guard Vice Admiral Anil Chopra and Deputy Chief of Navy Staff Vice Admiral DK Joshi.

 

Shortly after his arrival at the Maldivian capital, Male', Shri Antony will call on President Mohammed Nasheed. He will hold talks with the top leadership of the government and the Maldives National Defence Force. Shri Antony will also have bilateral discussions with his counterpart Mr Ameen Faisal on ways of expanding defence cooperation between the two countries. Shri Antony will also attend the closing session of the India- Maldives Friendship function besides paying a visit to the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, the most visible symbol of Indo-Maldives cooperation and friendship. The 200-bed general and speciality hospital has over the years provided Maldives greater self-reliance in the field of medical care.\

 

India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links steeped in antiquity and enjoy close, cordial and multi-dimensional relations. India was among the first to recognize Maldives after Independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country. India's prompt assistance during the 1988 coup attempt, which diffused the crisis, represents a watershed in India-Maldives relations. India's quick response and prompt assistance in their hour of need and immediate withdrawal of the troops when they were no longer required assuaged fears of any Indian dominance. More recently, when the tsunami waves hit Maldives on the morning of 26 December 2004, India was the first country to rush relief and aid to Maldives. In April 2006, India gifted a fast attack craft, INS Tillanchang, to Maldives.

 

Shri Antony returns home on 22 August .

 

Sitanshu Kar  /spandey

 

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Selja calls for world class tourism infrastructure for further development of the sector in the country

 

New Delhi : August 19, 2009

 

The Tourism and Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja has called upon experts and stakeholders in the tourism sector to develop world class tourism infrastructure for putting India's tourism industry on the world tourism map. Inaugurating a workshop on the subject here today she said, we should look at comprehensive development of infrastructure which includes roads, water, sanitation, cleanliness, hygiene, proper lighting, landscape, signages and proper maintenance of tourism destinations and heritage sites. She said tourism and hospitality sectors contributes six percent of the GDP and certain streamlining is required in infrastructure facilities. The Minister said during the Commonwealth Games 2010 about one lakh visitors are expected in the country and this gives us an opportunity to have a relook on the present status of the physical infrastructure for the tourists.

 

Kumari Selja said, world class tourism infrastructure facilities should not be limited in cities like Delhi but also in far flung areas of the country. She said her ministry through rural tourism projects is evolving a system to bring villages of the country on the main tourist map. She said, we must set indicators for ourselves to see if everything is going fine on the infrastructure front for the visitors. The Minister said we have to see tourism industry from the point of view of tourists rather than our officialdom. Everyone wants a pleasant stay, good facilities. Good connectivity and safety and it is our duty to provide this all to the visitors. Kumari Selja said there must be better inter-ministerial coordination and conversion of scheme for development of infrastructure to have the desired results.

 

The Workshop on World-Class Tourism Infrastructure has been organized with the objective of developing world class tourism infrastructure in consultation with architects, the engineering organisations, tourism managers and consultants. As a capacity building workshop, focused to sensitise the various stakeholders of the tourism industry towards the emerging trends in world class tourism, the objective is to initiate dialogue and debate.

 

Head of the Engineering Departments of the implementing agencies in States/UTs and the chief architect associated with implementation, officers from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and resources persons/experts/specialists from INTACH, ADB, JBIC, CPWD, RITES, NBCC, HUDCO and ITDC discussed the issues concerning infrastructure. Urban Civic Amenities, Built Heritage, Climate responsive architecture (vernacular architecture) and, Urban landscape are some of the subjects of the agenda.

 

AD/DB/spandey

 

 

 

 

PIB Kolkata