Maharashtra News Archive: April 2007

Tests to be conducted while entering new academic year
Monday, April 30, 2007 | AY

From the coming academic year, students from standards II to VII in the 62,000 odd schools run by the urban and rural local bodies, including the 1,188 BMC schools in Mumbai, will have to appear for tests based on the previous year’s academic syllabus. Students who fail to achieve minimum competency in the tests will have to undergo a 60-day intensive remedial coaching. Students from standards II to IV will have to answer tests on Marathi and Mathematics, while those in standards V to VII would have to appear for tests in Marathi, Mathematics and English.

Pune to act as platform for Asian film schools
Sunday, April 29, 2007 | AY

Considering the students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) conceptualised the idea just about two months ago, it proves their passion to get their contemporaries on a common platform. The Prabhat Film Festival, born out of the need to have a major event that would be the property of the students, will be held from May 7 to 12 at the FTII. And ever since the festival was finalised, the students have been busy inviting film schools, dignitaries and arranging the nitty gritties to make the festival as interesting as possible. The theme for the festival is Peace and all the events at the festival will be held keeping in mind the broad idea of peace.

Mumbai to become 'smoke free'
Saturday, April 28, 2007 | AY

Mumbai is on the road to becoming smoke free city. In an attempt to protect the citizens from secondhand smoke, the government of India has announced that Delhi and Mumbai cities would go smoke free. Both the cities are expected to prohibit smoking in public places by 2009, including workplaces. The new measure means Mumbai should be smoke free by 2009 and Delhi will be smoke free by the time it's ready to host the Commonwealth Games. Every eight seconds, someone in the world dies of a smoking-related disease. By 2010, it is estimated that the annual global cost of tobacco use will be half a trillion dollars.

Sangamwadi bridge to open in 4 months
Thursday, April 26, 2007 | AY

The Pune Municipal Corporation has assured that the long-constructed Sangamwadi bridge will be open for public use in four months’ time. The bridge constructed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation was completed more than a year ago, but could not be open for traffic because of a lack of an approach road and land acquisition problems. The bridge which originates from the Patil estate slums on the Pune-Mumbai road and ends at the Sadalbaba dargah in Sangamwadi will reduce the distance from Vishrantwadi to reach Shivajinagar to just 2 kms. Currently, commuters from Alandi road have to travel a distance of 10 km either via the Yerawada bridge or the Holkar bridge to reach the city.

No load-shedding in Mumbai this summer
Wednesday, April 25, 2007 | AY

There will be no load-shedding in Mumbai this summer with power utilities managing to source the required power for the city from various sources across the country. The power companies have tied up with various sources, including states like Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, for the additional power required for the month of May, June, July and August. The shortage for the month of September is estimated to be 450 MW of which 250 MW has been tied up and Jalan does not foresee any problem in meeting the shortfall for that month.

Mumbai airport first to provide free Wi-Fi connectivity
Tuesday, April 24, 2007 | AY

Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) on Monday became the first international airport in India to launch a free wireless network service. So far, CSIA had been offering a prepaid Wi-Fi service, the same as with Chennai airport. New Delhi airport is due to have Wi-Fi connectivity from the next month. With the service accessible on all Wi-Fi enabled laptops now, the CSIA now joins other major international airports like Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok, Las Vegas's McCarran and Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur International Airport in offering similar service. According to Bharati, the log-in process is a very simple one and does not require users to install or use proprietary software. The facility is also available on other hand-held devices such as pocket PCs, smart phones, mobile phones, gaming devices and PDAs.

HJS launches protest over `anti-Hindu acts`
Monday, April 23, 2007 | AY

The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has launched an indefinite statewide protest along with the BJP and Shiv Sena to oppose the Maharashtra government's move to take control of temples and its attempt to eradicate faith. The Temple and Religious Organisations (administration and regulation) Act of 2006, proposed by the state government's 15th law commission in October 2006, excludes dargahs, masjids and madarsas falling under the jurisdiction of the WAQF board. According to the proposed act, 4,50,000 temples and religious trusts belonging to Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs and Parsees will come under government control.

Pay Rs50 and travel 500km by train
Sunday, April 22, 2007 | AY

Tourists wanting to see Mumbai on the cheap can now buy special tickets that would enable them to travel extensively on the suburban trains of both the Central and Western Railways at a fraction of the usual cost. The new 'tourist tickets' will be sold by the railways from May 1. Visitors, or even residents, do not have to buy tickets for different routes on the same day, or for periods of three to five days, thanks to the new facility. A one-day ticket, valid for travel in the second class compartments of trains anywhere in the suburban network, costs Rs50. The first-class fare is Rs170. The cost of the ticket includes basic fare, an MUTP (Mumbai Urban Transport Project) surcharge and a development charge. A three-day second-class ticket costs Rs90, and a five-day one Rs105. A three-day first-class ticket costs Rs330 and a five-day one Rs390. Mumbai's suburban trains cover distances of between 60km (Churchgate and Virar on the Western Railway, or CST and Panvel on the Harbour line of Central Railway) and 120km (CST and Khopoli on the Main line of Central Railway).

Abhishek, Aishwarya ties the knot
Saturday, April 21, 2007 | AY

Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, one of Bollywood's best-known screen couples, married yesterday in a traditional Hindu wedding. The ceremonies concluded three days of celebrations at the actors' homes in Mumbai, creating, what industry pundits said is, Bollywood's ultimate power couple. The celebrations have transfixed Bollywood and sent India's celebrity-obsessed media into a frenzy even though the Bachchans have tried to keep the event strictly private and low-key because the groom's grandmother is ill.

Marathi Manus
Thursday, April 19, 2007 | AY

This Marathi film has Sachin Khedekar playing the lead role along with Mahesh Manjrekar. Sachin Khedekar plays the role of Dinkar Bhonsale, a common troubled ‘Marathi Manus’ (Marathi Man). The ‘Marathi Manus’ today feels he is at the receiving end of everything right from politics, business or education. And out of frustration, he starts pointing fingers at the North Indian, South Indians and other communities. But this is far from the truth. And the truth is that he is himself responsible for his debacle. Dinkar Bhonsale... such a common troubled Marathi Manus embarks on a journey of self realization and ends up changing the fate of millions of Marathi people in Mumbai. The level at which the film is mounted and will be released can be compared to the Marathi film Dombivli Fast that released in 2005 and is now being remade in Tamil too.

Mumbai girl Minal confirmed dead
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 | AY

Indian student Minal Hiralal Panchal, who had been missing after a gunman went on a shooting spree at the Virginia Tech University, has been confirmed dead by the Indian embassy in the US. The 26-year-old, who was pursuing masters in building science, was in the Norris Hall when the shooting took place Monday in the Blacksburg town university. Minal's family, which is from Mumbai's western suburbs of Borivili, was in the US at the time. Minal passed out from Mumbai's Our Lady of Remedy High School at Poinsur in Kandivili in 1996. After gaining a science degree from Mithibhai College, she studied at the Rizvi College of Architecture in Bandra.

Mithun launches music of son's debut film
Tuesday, April 17, 2007 | AY

Actor Mithun Chakraborty released the music of his son's debut film Jimmy in Mumbai on 13 April. The music was released on T-Series. The lyrics have been penned by writer Ranbir Pushp, who makes his debut as a lyricist. Anand Raaj Anand has provided the musical score for the film, whereas Chinni Prakash has choreographed the songs. Jimmy is the launch pad for Mithun Chakraborty's son, Mimoh Chakraborty. Model turned actress Vivana (the girl in the Thums Up ad with Akshay Kumar), who has learnt acting from Anupam Kher's Acting Academy, plays the female lead.

Oceanarium proposed in Maharashtra
Monday, April 16, 2007 | AY

Maharashtra is preparing to construct an ambitious Rs 150-crore "oceanarium" in Sindhudurg district. An "oceanarium" consists of large tanks wherein aqua life is recreated and transparent tunnels made for the visitors to take a walk through the tank observing the marine life. A similar one in Singapore is a major tourist draw for that country. Marine biologist and consultant for the project Sarang Kulkarni said that his team are currently preparing a blueprint for the project consisting of a feasibilty study. It would have five tanks measuring 30 metres X 10 metres wherein we would recreate aqua life of various regions of the country like Andaman and Nicobar islands and Konkan, amongst others. The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), which is hard-selling Sindhudurg as a tourism district, expects the project will benefit in its efforts and the proposed international airport in Malvan would help in the success of the "oceanarium".

Probe ordered against a top Police officer
Sunday, April 15, 2007 | AY

The Maharashtra government has constituted a three-member high level committee to probe the allegation in a sting operation aired by a television channel that the state's Director General of Police P.S. Pasricha had amassed property beyond his known sources of income. Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil announced in the assembly Friday that a high level committee would probe the charges against Pasricha as revealed in the sting operation carried out by Tehelka newsmagazine and aired by Aaj Tak channel some days ago. The sting alleged that Pasricha had amassed property in Mumbai, Pune, Nasik and Aurangabad. This is the first time that a probe has been ordered against the top most police officer of the state.

Colleges sell NRI seats to local students
Saturday, April 14, 2007 | AY

Medical and dental colleges in Maharashtra are selling seats, meant for NRIs to local students for lakhs of rupees. The colleges are allowed to charge almost three times more for NRI seats but many of them have admitted 'fake' NRIs instead. An NRI seat costs upto Rs 6 lakh in medical colleges and over Rs 4 lakh in dental colleges, compared to an average Rs 2.5 lakh in general category. But now the Pravesh Niyantran Samiti that monitors admissions has found that several of the state's private medical and dental colleges have admitted fake NRI students, all for big money. The committee has now cancelled admissions of these fake NRI students. In five private medical colleges, it has cancelled nearly 80 per cent NRI admissions.

Mumbai's oldest zoo to shut
Thursday, April 12, 2007 | AY

This city's oldest zoo will shut its doors to visitors to facilitate a complete make-over of the almost 150-year-old institution that will take about two years. With the delineation of "global mapping" approved, the zoo, begun in 1862, will go hi-tech in many areas, including the setting up of a 4D-theatre, an amphitheatre and plazas. According to concepts, Indian and African enclosures will greet visitors as they enter, and Australian and South East Asian ones would mark its far-end. The "continents" and walk-ways around them will touch the "shores of a water body representing the Indian Ocean".

Bharat Aala Parat launched
Wednesday, April 11, 2007 | AY

Aadi Events’ Bharat Aala Parat was launched with a muhurat at Bhullar House, Madh Island recently followed by a six-day shooting stint. With this film, well-known Marathi stage actor-director Vijay Gokhale is making his directorial debut. Produced by Krishnamurty, it has story by Ajit Menon, screenplay-dialogue by Anand Mhasvekar, lyrics by Vijay Gokhale, music by Dnyanesh Pendharkar, cinematography by Sameer Athalye, choreography by Deepali Vichare and editing by Vijay Khochikar. The film has a star cast of Bharat Jadhav, Gauri Sarvote, Surekha Kudchi, Vijay Gokhale, Ramesh Bhatkar, Priti Joshi, Vijay Chavan, Vinay Yedekar, Kunal Limaye, Asha Sathe, Anshuman Vichare, Kanchan Pagare, Anand Mhasvekar, Padmakar Athawale, Ajita Kulkarni, Dhanashree Kshirsagar, and child artist Sanklap Patil.

NeoAccel Opens R&D Centre in Pune
Tuesday, April 10, 2007 | AY

NeoAccel, an internet security solution provider inaugurated its development centre in Pune at the IT Park in Bopodi. In 2006 Pune Institute of Computer Technology (PICT) had announced an agreement to help NeoAccel in setting up an R&D centre in Pune, promoting System Engineering Knowledge transfer by way of collaborative projects. Pune was considered for the centre because of its growing importance as a major economic centre of India and availability of good talent, especially in the operating system and kernel programming sphere. The centre will accommodate over 50 people and plans to hire 300 people in the next three years.

Mumbai girl wins beauty pageant
Monday, April 9, 2007 | AY

Mumbai girl Sarah Jane has won the Pantaloons Femina Miss India pageant on Sunday. Amidst dazzling lights, extravagant stage and starry performances, former VJ, Sarah Jane, a favourite from the word go, was crowned 'Miss India World.' Delhiite Puja Gupta was adjudged 'Miss India Universe' and Bangalore's Puja Chitgopekar went home with the 'Miss India Earth' title. The pageant was interspersed with performances by actors Tushhar Kapoor, Koena Mitra, Lara Dutta and the latest singing sensation Rabbi Shergill. Former Miss World Priyanka Chopra crowned the three beauties.

Maharashtra to get imported nuke plants
Sunday, April 8, 2007 | AY

Maharashtra will be the first state to get six imported mega atomic plants of at least 1,600 MW each for its Jaitapur nuclear power project in Ratnagiri district once the Indo-US civil nuclear deal comes through. Preparations are on in full swing by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) to receive the plants and all of them will most likely be of the European Pressurised Water Reactor (EPR) type, a third generation design. EPRs were designed and developed by Framatome (Areva NP) and Electric de France in France and Siemens AG in Germany. The estimated investment for the proposed six units, the first of their kind both in terms of investment and size of the generating unit, is expected to be over Rs 50,000 crore.

Mumbai to have integrated trauma care facility
Saturday, April 7, 2007 | AY

At least 100 hospitals in Mumbai will soon start an integrated trauma care facility to provide round the clock ambulance service and trauma care to patients on way to a hospital from an accident site. Facilitated by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the emergency medical service and trauma facility would help citizens to avail fully equipped ambulances within minutes of an accident. India, an average 24 trauma accidents take place per 10,000 vehicles every day as against a meagre two such accidents in the US. In Mumbai, the ratio is 40 trauma accidents per 10,000 vehicles.

Decision to ban sex education
Thursday, April 5, 2007 | AY

Terming as 'regressive' the decision to ban CBSE textbooks on Adolescence Education Programme (AEP) in Maharashtra, experts have criticised the state government for not consulting the stakeholders on the issue. NGO `Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA)', launched a campaign against the ban and recommended introduction of sex education for class nine students on a pilot basis from the next academic year.

Pune to go Wireless
Wednesday, April 4, 2007 | AY

Intel Technology, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Microsense, are working towards making Pune the first city in the country to have commercial meshed Wi-fi and WiMax deployment. Through this initiative, The "Unwire Pune" project, PMC proposes to make Pune a 'wireless city' which will provide network access to millions of users from the private, corporate and administrative sectors. Intel India was selected as the chief technology and program management consultant by PMC in 2006 to architect the project; and have started Phase-1 deployments with Microsense. Microsense has been chosen to roll out the network and offer broadband wireless services.

Wipro’s pune development center - Phase II
Tuesday, April 3, 2007 | AY

Wipro Technologies, the global IT services business of Wipro Limited today announced the inauguration of Phase II of its Development Center at Hinjewadi in Pune. Set up with significant investments in state-of-art technology that includes Wipro’s award- winning remote infrastructure management center for managed services, the new facility at Hinjewadi will ramp up Wipro’s capacity to around 17,000 seats from the current 6,300. Wipro currently operates out of a 5, 80,000 sq ft campus at Hinjewadi which once the expansion is complete will grow to around 19,00,000 sq. ft. The Pune facility is primarily focused on delivering solutions to clients in the Banking, Securities and Capital Markets, Insurance, Telecom and Embedded systems space.

Bollywood Tourism
Monday, April 2, 2007 | AY

With the popularity of Bollywood soaring internationally, it was only time before someone used this as a theme to attract foreign tourists to India. Percept Holdings has decided to launch ‘Bollywood Experience’ in Mumbai. Spread over 100,000 square feet, this complex will house Bollywood cafes, museums, a theme park with special rides, film set replicas, movie memorabilia, simulator experiences, 3D virtual gaming booths, a walk of fame etc. Estimated to cost a $100 million, the project is expected to kick-start soon and should be ready in 14-18 months. The Bollywood Museum will showcase famous props and costumes that have been part of popular shows and blockbuster films down the ages. Cinema aficionados will also get a chance to walk-through a scaled model of Bollywood, which will provide information on key dates and important moments in Bollywood history.

Savaali
Sunday, April 1, 2007 | AY

The National Education Information Film Ltd.'s maiden venture, the film is produced by Shivendu Agarwal with Rajendra Talak as the co-producer. Talak has also directed the film. "Savaali" is celebrating 100 days at City Pride, Kothrud in Pune. The film has bagged various awards, including the best film award at the Star screen awards, the Zee Marathi awards, the Ma Ta Sanman and the V Shantaram awards. Savaali stars Reema, Amruta Subhash, Amit Khopkar, Pradeep Welankar, Urmila Kanetkar, Divya Chaphekar, Vaishnavi Salekar and new find, Swapneel Bandodkar, as one of the leads. Varsha Usgaonkar makes a guest appearance in the film.

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