Page 20 - Chennai

Daily flights from Chennai to Sri Lanka's Jaffna from July 16: Scindia

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia has announced that the frequency of flights between Chennai and Sri Lanka's Jaffna will be increased from four times a week to daily services from July 16.The daily flights from Chennai to Jaffna will also amplify trade and commerce between India and Sri Lanka, Scindia noted.The Union Civil Aviation Minister made these remarks in a pre-recorded message on day-2 of the 67th Annual Convention of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), being hosted in Colombo.In his address, he underscored the strong cultural and trade relations between India and Sri Lanka."Delighted to virtually share my thoughts on the state of the Indian #aviation sector and its emergence as the key pillar of national progress at the 67th Annual Convention of @TAAI1951, Sri Lanka. Also highlighted the strong cultural and trade ties between India & Sri Lanka that have been marked by cooperation in the field of commerce, infrastructure development and ...

Chennai-Jaffna flights to operate daily from Jul 16: Union Minister Scindia

The frequency of flights between Chennai and Sri Lanka's Jaffna will be increased from four times a week to daily services from July 16, a move that will also amplify trade and commerce, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia said. Scindia made the announcement in a pre-recorded video message on the second day of the 67th annual convention of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) being hosted in Colombo. Over 500 tourism, aviation and travel experts, and tour operators have gathered in Colombo for the Indian Travel Congress. He said the convention, taking place in the island nation, highlighted the old cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka. "I believe that our partnership with Sri Lanka gives us a rare opportunity to undertake several reforms to address short-term challenges of the sector" and become an important power of influence in the global aviation ecosystem, Scindia said. "The first air service agreement between the two countries was signed in 196

Indian Oil to invest Rs 54,000 crore in projects including TN refinery

The Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Chennai, has committed to invest Rs 54,000 crore in various projects in Tamil Nadu in the next few years, including a 9 MMTPA (million metric tonnes per annum) grass-root refinery at an estimated cost of Rs 35,580 crore, its executive director and state head (TN & Puducherry) V C Asokan said here on Thursday. This new refinery, which will come up on about 1,300 acres of land in Nagapattinam, will produce petrol and diesel for BS-VI specifications and also polypropylene. The world's second-largest integrated lubes complex at Ammullaivoyal village for Rs 1,398 crore apart, the IOCL has planned to lay product pipelines (Rs 2,600 crore), gas pipelines including LPG (Rs 2,225 crore), CGD projects (Rs 7,570 crore), open new retail outlets and launch a modernisation programme (Rs 2,500 crore), build a captive POL/LPG jetty at Kamrajar port (Rs 921 crore), establish a terminal at Vallur (for Rs 724 crore) and set up a new terminal at Asanur (for .

ONDC's beta version goes live in 5 more cities including Mumbai, Delhi

The government's initiative ONDC on Wednesday said its beta version has now become live in Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is an initiative of the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). It said that along with Bengaluru and Meerut, which were chosen for going beta live in September 2022 and December 2022, respectively, the network is now accessible to buyers (consumers) and sellers in these additional five cities. Consumers will be able to purchase from the sellers on the ONDC network through four active buyer applications -- Paytm, Mystore, Spice Money, and Magicpin, it said. Currently, the network has over 40,000 sellers live in over 200 cities, out of which more than 18,000 sellers operate from these five cities. ONDC had its alpha roll-out in April 2022 in five cities to test live transactions with a closed group of sellers and buyers while gradually expanding its footprint. The main objectiv

Police says rats ate up 22 kg of marijuana in storehouse, accused acquitted

Rajagopal and Nageshwara Rao were acquitted by the court as the police could not submit the amount of marijuana mentioned in the charge sheet

Mahindra Lifespaces forays into plotted development; to start in Chennai

Realty firm Mahindra Lifespaces Developers Ltd on Monday announced its foray into plotted developments and launched first project in Chennai to sell plots to customers in a 19-acre project. The company has come up with first plotted development project 'Lakefront Estates by Mahindra' at Mahindra World City (MWC), Chennai, it said in a regulatory filing. Spread over 19 acres, the project will offer a wide range of plots meeting the customers' needs and aspirations, with sizes up to 5,000 square feet. Mahindra Lifespace, the real estate and infrastructure development business of the Mahindra Group, did not share detail about the cost of this project, number of plots being offered as well as the selling price and the estimated sales realisation from this project. Mahindra Lifespace development footprint spans 33.58 million square feet of completed, ongoing and forthcoming residential projects across seven Indian cities. It has over 5,000 acres of ongoing and forthcoming projects under

Mahindra Lifespaces gets into plotted development with 'Lakefront Estates'

The project is designed to provide an ideal, customised living experience with green open spaces and access to excellent infrastructure and facilities, said the company

FM Sitharaman interacts with under Rozgar Mela scheme recruits in Chennai

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday met the new recruits who received job offers in various departments under the Government of India's Rozgar Mela. Sitharaman, on a brief visit to the state's capital, along with senior government officials interacted with the appointees at the Indian Bank Management Academy for Growth and Excellence (IMAGE) here. The appointees were recruited for various roles including probationary officer at the public sector Indian Bank, inspector of Income Tax, and preventive officers at the Customs department, among others. Since the launch of the scheme in 2022, six installments of the Rozgar Mela have been organised across the country and around 4.3 lakh appointment letters have been distributed under it. The National Skill Development Corporation under the Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has been organising Rozgar Melas across the country to provide suitable job opportunities to unemployed youth. In May, the financ

DMK may consider browbeating TN Guv Ravi over Senthil Balaji's dismissal

The DMK may weigh all the options and legal factors related to Governor RN Ravi's later backtracked move to dismiss Minister V Senthil Balaji from the Cabinet, sources said on Friday. The party brass may consult its leaders and office-bearers to devise a strategy --both legal and political-- on the matter. "The Governor has backtracked and he has been exposed thoroughly," an office-bearer told PTI adding all the political maneuvering of the BJP to target the DMK has been backfiring in Tamil Nadu. Sources said there was no need 'immediately' to look into legal aspects or consider anything else (such as the possibility of political interests over the dismissal and a counter-strategy to frustrate it), as the dismissal was now on hold. On Thursday, hours after dismissing Balaji from the cabinet, Ravi had later kept it in abeyance. The DMK, may however consider weighing legal options to take on the Governor for his alleged excesses and fight the BJP politically at the right time and as

DMK supporters put up wall posters in Chennai questioning Governor Ravi

The posters have been put near DMK headquarters at Anna Arivalayam in Teynampet, Chennai

Zootorium to come up in Chennai zoo at an outlay of Rs 4.3 cr: TN govt

The Tamil Nadu government has proposed to establish a Zootorium at the Vandalur Zoo (Arignar Anna Zoological Park) here, as part of measures to strengthen conservation efforts and about Rs 4.3 crore has been sanctioned for the project. A museum and also a theatre will be part of the Zootorium to be established by the Environment, Climate Change and Forests department, Additional Chief Secretary Supriya Sahu said on Thursday. "The government has issued orders today to set up a zoo museum and a zoo theatre in Vandalur zoo at Chennai at a cost of Rs 4.3 crore under the planning commission innovation fund to enable people to understand wildlife conservation in a new light," she said in a tweet. A 3D/7D theatre will be developed at the old auditorium within the zoo premises and also a zoo museum and an interpretation complex with an interactive display model enabling people to discover, explore and experience wildlife in a new way, will be established, the government order said. The ...

Karur Vysya Bank in expansion mode; sets up 800th branch in Chennai

Private sector Karur Vysya Bank on Monday under its expansion drive inaugurated its 800th branch in the city, a top official said. The Tamil Nadu-based lender also inaugurated its digital banking unit on the occasion. "We are delighted to inaugurate our 800th branch and other new branches today, which will provide our customers improved access and proximity to the bank's services," the bank's managing director and CEO B Ramesh Babu said in a statement. TVS Capital Funds Chairman Gopal Srinivasan formally inaugurated the 800th branch in Anna Nagar East, Chennai today. The first Digital Banking Unit (DBU) works completely on digital mode and customers would be able to open their savings account, get their welcome kit along with debit cards and can also apply for retail loans. On the unveiling of digital banking unit, Babu said, it is yet another initiative that would not only enhance customer experience but also be environment friendly which is a core focus area of the bank's corpor

Heavy rains lash Chennai and its suburbs; holiday declared for schools

Heavy overnight rains lashed the city and its suburbs, prompting authorities to declare a holiday for schools on Monday. International flight operations at the airport were affected as around 10 incoming flights, including from Doha and Dubai were diverted to Bengaluru, subsequently affecting departure as well. The showers brought relief to people from the sweltering heat that the city and its nearby districts had been witnessing over the past few days. Following the rains, authorities declared a holiday for schools in Chennai and its neighbouring districts of Chengalpet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, besides Vellore and Ranipet. The weather office forecast more spells of rain for the city and its suburbs on Monday.

Corp affairs sec to hold stakeholders' consultations on MCA21 portal issues

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs will hold consultations with stakeholders on issues related to MCA21 portal in Chennai and Hyderabad next week. The move comes amid stakeholders facing various issues with respect to the portal, which is the key platform for submitting statutory filings under the companies law. In a series of tweets on Sunday, the ministry said the secretary will hold consultations with stakeholders in Chennai on June 20 and in Hyderabad on June 21. "Secretary @MCA21India will hold stakeholders' consultations, along with the team of @LTIMindtreeOFCL @theicai and @icsi_cs at Chennai on 20th June and at Hyderabad on 21st June on the issues relating to the MCA-21 Version-3 Portal. @nsitharamanoffc," it said in a tweet. Manoj Govil is the corporate affairs secretary. Filings under the companies law and the limited liability partnership law are submitted to the ministry through the MCA21 portal.

IndiGo begins int'l flight operation from new terminal at Chennai airport

Air carrier IndiGo has commenced its operations at the new integrated terminal building inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Chennai Airport here. In April, phase I of the building set up at an outlay of Rs 1,260 crore to boost passenger handling capacity, was inaugurated. IndiGo has begun its international operations from the New Integrated Terminal Building T2 with effect from June 13. In a social media post, the Chennai Airport announced that the airliner would be operating all its international flights to various destinations from the new terminal building from Tuesday. According to industry experts, with the commencement of operations by IndiGo at the international terminal, other airlines are also expected to follow suit. The NITB is uniquely designed to showcase the rich culture and heritage of the state. "The addition of this new integrated terminal building will increase the passenger serving capacity of the airport from 23 million passengers per annum to 3

Fire breaks out in Chennai shopping complex, no casualty reported

A fire broke out at a famous shopping mall in the Sowcarpet area of Chennai on Monday.

Chennai-bound Indigo flight returns to Delhi Airport after engine snag

A Chennai-bound Indigo flight safely returned to IGIA in Delhi within an hour of take-off on Saturday night following a snag in the engine, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said

HCLTech opens new facility in Chennai for 5G infrastructure testing

IT services company says the laboratory will help advance telephony and ensure quality

Survivors of Odisha rail mishap arrive in Chennai on special train

Three passengers of the train crash in Odisha who arrived here on Saturday claim the number of deaths in the accident at Balasore is likely to be much higher than known now, as the unreserved compartments were packed, carrying mostly migrant workers to Tamil Nadu or Kerala. Nagendran, who works in Kolkata and hails from Ramanathapuram, was one of the passengers on board the accident hit Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, who arrived at Chennai airport this afternoon. He said, "The second the accident happened I thought I was going to be dead. I had left Kolkata for Chennai yesterday in Coromandel Express. The accident happened near Balasore." The Coromandel train driver applied brakes on seeing the goods train and that is why scores of passengers survived, he said. The Sleeper and general cars were the worst affected. "I was in B1 compartment (AC coach). B1 to B4 compartments were unaffected. B5 coach had derailed...Volunteers arrived at the spot first and helped. It was

ED attaches Rs 124 cr worth assets of Surana Group in bank loan fraud

Assets worth about Rs 124 crore that were in possession of various entities linked to the Chennai-based Surana Group of companies have been attached in connection with a money laundering investigation related to three alleged bank loan frauds worth a total Rs 3,986 crore, the Enforcement Directorate said Wednesday. A provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has been issued to attach 78 immovable properties, it said in a statement. The agency had attached assets of a similar value earlier in this case and with the latest order, the total attachment in the case stands at Rs 248.98 crore. The money laundering probe stems from three CBI FIRs filed against the accused in 2020 that alleged that three Surana Group companies, along with their promoters, directors and unidentified individuals, indulged in misappropriation and criminal breach of trust, manipulation of books of accounts through fictitious entities and routing of funds through shell (dummy) ...