On fast track
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the Kalkaji Mandir-Botanical Garden stretch of Delhi Metro rail. This will reduce the travel time from Noida to South Delhi to 45 minutes from over one hour. The PM is to flag off the train from Noida, after which the 12.64 km section will be opened for public use. This will be a model for a first-of-its-kind signalling system and communication-based train control. The system will increase the frequency of trains and waiting time at platforms will go down to 90 seconds, from two minutes.
Not Left behind
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) will launch a campaign against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Tripura, which will go to Assembly polls next year. The CPM, which is power in Tripura, has organised a convention on Thursday to be addressed by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. According to state party leaders, the CPI(M) will also start its campaign for next year’s panchayat polls through the convention.
Hills ahoy
Darjeeling will host a ‘Teesta Rangit Tourism Festival 2017’ from December 27 till New Year’s Eve, after a gap of three years. The festival, which was organised from 2011 to 2013, was stopped by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration due to lack of funds. A business meet has been planned in Darjeeling on Thursday for the first time as part of this festival.

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