Monthly Archives: March 2012

Turkey to double flights from India

Mr Burak Akcapar, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in India, speaking at the Indo-Turkish Business Association Meet in Hyderabad last week. — P.V. Sivakumar / The Hindu
Hyderabad, MARCH 18:

Turkey seeks to double flights from India, besides opening four more connecting points. The other destinations it is looking at are Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Bangalore. At present, Turkish Airlines operates daily flights from Mumbai and New Delhi to Istanbul.

“We have sought permissions from the Indian Government to double this number and expand to other destinations,” Dr Burak Akcapar, Turkish Ambassador to India, said.

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

Referred to as the ‘sick man of Europe’, Turkey has now emerged as the 16th largest economy in the world. After signing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with 21 countries, Turkey now wants to sign one with India.

“Last year, the bilateral trade volume was just about $7 billion. This is nowhere near the full potential. We expect it to grow to $20 billion in the next few years,” Dr Akcapar said.

India’s share was put at $5.9 billion in the bilateral trade, while the remaining came from Turkey. “The basket is very small, vis-à-vis its potential. We can expand the scope to textile equipment, chemicals, electronics, electrical appliances and kitchenware. There is scope for increase in trade from both sides,” he said.

The Ambassador was here to attend a road show by TUSCON (Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey) to promote the upcoming Turkey World Trade Bridge in June.

“India and Turkey have completed a joint study on the FTA. We are yet to sign it. This will pave way for signing the FTA. We are awaiting the Indian side’s time for signing the study. Businessmen from both sides are eagerly waiting to tap the potential,” he said.

CONSULATES

Turkey would open a Consulate in Hyderabad soon. “We have received permission to open consulates in Chennai and Hyderabad. But before establishing consulates, we will appoint honorary consuls,” the Ambassador said.

kurmanath@thehindu.co.in

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Industry & Economy> Logistics / by K. V. Kurmanath / March 18th, 2012

Hyderabad Times Most Desirable People 2011

You decide! Cast your vote now and help the sexiest celebs in town make it to the top 20 of Hyderabad Times Most Desirable People 2011

Successful, stylish and super sexy – an army of drool-worthy celebs have managed to win the hearts of Hyderabadis with their good looks and smoking hot attitudes. And if you think a celebrity, who is born in Hyderabad, lives in the city or acts in Telugu movies, has got what it takes to be the most desirable star around, then it’s time for you to vote for them. Finally, here’s your poll where you, the reader, will have a say. Presenting the ‘Hyderabad Times Most Desirable People, 2011’ – your chance to decide who are the sexiest celebrities in town.

The polls have pitted some of the hottest people against each other to battle it out and win your hearts with their sheer desirability. From superstar Mahesh Babu and spunky Rana Daggubati, to the sexy Samantha and the sporty Saina, the celebs who have had us smitten, now need your help. Vote for your favorite lust-worthy figures and get them to the top 20 of Hyderabad Times Most Desirable People 2011 list. Remember, all your votes make a difference, so make each one count!

To vote log on to itimes.com/polls

Voting closes on April 15.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Regional> Entertainment> Region> Telugu / TNN, March 19th, 2012

Carpenter regains grip after rare surgery

Hyderabad:

A carpenter’s long toe has begun functioning as a thumb after doctors at a city-based private hospital performed a rare transplant to replace the  missing vital digit.

Shyamsundar, 26, a carpenter from Karimnagar district, lost the thumb on his right hand last year in September while working on a wood-cutting machine in Dubai. The initial treatment was done by doctors at a Dubaihospital who amputated the critically-damaged thumb and advised Shyamsundar to go in for the thumb reconstruction surgery that would restore mobility to his hand.

Shyamsundar, however, decided to fly back to India instead whereupon he approached Secunderabad’s Yashoda Hospital where a six-hour surgery was performed on him by a team of doctors on November 4.

“After the accident, I could not grip anything with my right hand. I thought it had put an end to my career. But, after the surgery, I am able to write, eat and hold things,” Shyamsundar said at a news conference on Saturday. And, although his foot – missing a toe following the transplant – might ache, he said that the thumb was more important to him. Shyamsundar is now set to return to Dubai, where he has been working for the last four years, given that he has regained much of the use of his right hand. “I will request the company to place me in the administrative wing until I recover completely,” he said. Surgeons said that while losing a toe has little effect on a person’s ability to walk or run, loss of a thumb nearly incapacitates hand functionality. Doctors said that Shyamsundar will regain full use of his hand in about three months. “This new thumb now has movement and will have sensation and nail growth in a few weeks,” said Dr K Murali Mohan Reddy, the hand and reconstructive micro-surgeon who led the surgery.

“About six weeks after the surgery, Shyamsundar gained functional recovery,” said Dr Reddy who performed the operation along with plastic surgeon Dr T Shashikanth. He added that although such injuries were common among carpenters and workers at hardware factories, few were aware of this reconstructive surgery.

This procedure was first performed at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences ( Nims) in 1990. However, due to poor awareness, such surgeries are rarely performed.

source: http://www.TimesofIndia.Indiatimes.com / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / March 18th, 2012

Turkey to open consulate in Hyderabad

Hyderabad:

In a bid to strengthen its centuries old ties with Hyderabad, Turkey plans to not only set up a consulate or appoint an honorary consul in Hyderabad but is also seeking direct air connectivity between Hyderabad and Istanbul, Turkish ambassador Dr. Burak Akcapar said on Saturday.

“We have applied to the Indian authorities for a direct air link between Hyderabad and Istanbul,” the envoy said.

Turkey seeks more flights from Indian cities

Turkey also sought doubling of flights from Delhi and Mumbai from the current one daily flight from these cities. To increase Turkish presence in Hyderabad we have sought permission for a consulate and till such time we plan to have an honorary consul,” the Turkish envoy told newspersons on the sidelines of a meeting with city-based industry bigwigs.

Turkey has also sought direct connectivity with Chennai, Amritsar, Bangalore and Kolkata. But, he said that Hyderabad was an “absolute priority” thanks to age-old links with the Nizams. The envoy was in town to pitch Turkey as an investment destination and woo Hyderabad-based businessmen, especially from infrastructure and realty sectors, to the week-long Turkey World Trade Bridge international business summit being organized by the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey (TUSKON) and the Indo-Turkish Business Association (ITBA) from June 3 to 10, 2012 in Istanbul.

Nearly 15 Hyderabad businessmen are expected to participate in the summit. He said Turkey was also seriously pursuing a free trade agreement (FTA) or economic partnership agreement (EPA) with India to accelerate bilateral trade that hit a historic high of $7 billion last year from $4 billion in 2010. “India and Turkey will be economically, politically and culturally shapers of the new world. We can easily increase bilateral trade to $20 billion in a short time if we have an FTA or ETA. We have completed the joint study, which is awaiting a signing and will pave the way for the agreement.”

Making a strong pitch for Indian players to invest in Turkey, which is the gateway to Europe and the Middle East and would give access to over 40 markets with a population of over 1.5 billion and $23 trillion GDP, the envoy said Indian giants like GMR, which set up Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen airport, Mahindras, Wipro,  Reliance, Tata and Dabur were already present in Turkey with Aditya Birla group investing $530 million in December 2011.

source: http://www.TimesofIndia.IndiaTimes.com/ Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / March 18th, 2012

Maths should be taught in mother tongue: Ramaiah

Hyderabad:

Chukka Ramaiah, whose name has been synonymous with IIT entrance coaching said he had become an expert in mathematics as he was not able to understand other subjects which were only taught in Urdu during the rule of erstwhile Nizam.

As many used to come to the school teacher to calculate interest on money lent, the octogenarian said their maths teacher used to teach by using lending calculations which helped him better understand the subject as the calculations were very near to real life.

Addressing the gathering on the issue ‘Intermediate Education in Telangana and Its Trends’ organised by Telangana Resource Centre (TRC) here on Saturday, Ramaiah stressed on teaching children in their mother tongue. Ramaiah said Burgula’s govt brought huge changes in Telangana education by introducing Telugu as medium of instruction.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / South> Hyderabad / The New Indian Express, Express News Service / March 18th, 2012

Choppers eye healthcare sector

Hyderabad:

With all the major players vying for supremacy in the yet-to-be tapped market, the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) is all set to take wings in the country and the India Aviation 2012, inaugurated in Hyderabad on Wednesday, provided it a perfect platform.

Seeking to leverage the opportunities for the business expansion, all the four major players- Bell Helicopter, Eurocopter , Agusta Westland, and Sikorsky – set shops at the five-day civil aviation expo and their preferred focus is HEMS, a quick medical service benefiting high net worth individuals (HNIs), that is expected to emerge as a potential sector in India in 2013. “We are aiming a foray into the Indian market in HEMS towards the end of this year. Our presence in the country with the largest market share in charter, utility and heli-tourism is well established and entry into HEMS would be an expansion of our existing boundaries ,” said Sameer A Rehman, managing director of  Bell Helicopter Asia (PTE) Ltd.

With the presence of Augusta Westland , a sole player with one helicopter, HEMS is a virgin sector in India and with Eurocopter pledging to be numero uno over the next five years, strong dynamics are foreseen that it would be this service that would keep the sector on high growth trajectory. “If the government responds positively for the demands of the helicopter players to formulate the regulations, the HEMS will reap rich dividends for players, operators , and the clients in equal terms,” said Devesh S Agarawal, an aviation sector expert.

As Xavier Hay, CEO of Eurocopter India puts it, regulations in terms of day and night flight, pick up, emergency need to be relaxed. At present, the carriers need clearance 48 hours prior to take off that is a major impediment for the HEMS model of business. While the players are hoping for a positive change, officials from ministry of civil aviation said the proposal was under serious consideration . “We are looking at a major policy shift of the aviation sector that includes setting up of a regulatory authority. While the regulatory authority is mainly for tariff control, deliberations are being done to bring in licensing issues into its preview. Once we are clear on it, we can able to address the issues like the requirements of the players in HEMS,” said an official.

Counting on the success of its supportive role played during the Formula-1 held in Noida last year, Agusta Westland has already embarked on the expansion plans and it is in talks with corporate hospitals and other operators. It had provided the HEMS support for the Formula-1 with an AW 101 and service is being continued with the helicopter.

“It needs a wide range of ground preparations apart from getting regulatory issues cleared. We need to train the stakeholders including hospitals and individual clients to be prepared for the service. We are in talks with the hospitals to get them prepared for the infrastructure development required for the service,” said Abhijt Roy, a senior manager of OSS the operator of Agusta Westland in India.

While it is into expansion plans in terms of increase in the number of helicopter into service, Agusta Westland is also mulling technology adoption to enhance the effectiveness of HEMS that includes having telemedicine facility on board of the chopper. “At present the patient is treated by paramedics on the board while he is being airlifted. The next step would be to bring in telemedicine facility on board where in the patient can be operated upon if it is emergency ,” said Roy.

Bell Helicopter is operating three 429 helicopters in India and is planning to enhance the number as they are perfectly suitable for HEMS in Indian conditions . “Bell 429 is the ideal platform for HEMS in India and we are in talks with the operators and depending on their requirement we will increase the number,” said Sameer Rehman.

source: http://www.TimesofIndia.Indiatimes.com / Home> Business / by B.V. Shiv Shankar / TNN / March 15th, 2012

Action plan to give fillip to horticulture crops

Horticulture authorities have come up with an action plan at a cost of nearly Rs.5 crores to take up area expansion by raising several varieties of fruit crops, rejuvenation of existing crops, post-harvest management and exposure visits of farmers to other states to learn about new techniques of cultivation in East Godavari.

Horticulture authorities have come up with an action plan at a cost of nearly Rs.5 crores to take up area expansion by raising several varieties of fruit crops, rejuvenation of existing crops, post-harvest management and exposure visits of farmers to other states to learn about new techniques of cultivation in East Godavari.

Farmers will be encouraged to raise five varieties of fruit crops including mango, cashew nut, papaya, banana and cocoa in the expanded area. Cocoa and vegetables will be raised as inter-crops in the select varieties of fruit crops proposed for raising.

Expansion of the area of cultivation of oil palm is also proposed and farmers will be given subsidy worth Rs.3,000 per hectare to raise vegetables as inter-crop and Rs.4,000 per hectare for fertilisers including vermin-compost.

Several varieties of vegetable seeds will also be given on 50% subsidy. Authorities also plan to take up rejuvenation of the existing horticulture crops. They intend to cut off unwanted and infected branches of unknown varieties of trees and allow development of tender shoots.

Then they will graft shoots brought from a known variety of fruit which is in high demand to the tender shoots of the grown up tree and get quality fruits.

In case of grown trees of known origin but no quality fruit, the authorities intend to remove all dead wood from the tree and expose it more to sunlight.

Exposure to sunlight is expected to help the tree to fight against pests and diseases, grow stronger and give a better yield.

The authorities plan to raise inter-crops in old gardens to fill gaps. Farmers will be given plant material free of cost under the National Rural Employ-ment Guarantee Scheme (NRGES). They also intend to provide various kinds of machinery at 50% subsidy to farmers.

Awareness campaign will also be taken up for farmers to adopt various techniques of cultivation to help improve yields, including exposure visits to other states.

The horticulture assistant director, Mr K. Ajay Babu said, “Our tentative action plan is aimed to expand cultivable area of horticulture crops and make them more viable and profitable to the farmers.”

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Channels> Cities> Region> Rajahmundry / by DC Correspondent / March 14th, 2012

 

Vizag-Dubai flight is set

Air Travellers Association-India (ATA) president, Mr D. Varada Reddy, said that the first international fight (AI-952) between Visakhapatnam and Dubai will also be helpful to passengers who want to fly to Chicago or its neighbouring states including Canada.

Air Travellers Association-India (ATA) president, Mr D. Varada Reddy, said that the first international fight (AI-952) between Visakhapatnam and Dubai will also be helpful to passengers who want to fly to Chicago or its neighbouring states including Canada.

As the AI-952 flight is connected to Air India’s Chicago flight (AI-127) at Hyderabad, it can also help other passengers apart from those who fly to Dubai and onwards to Africa, Europe, etc, Mr Varada Reddy said.

In an official release here on Monday, Mr Varada Reddy said the connecting flight would save time, efforts and even cost to passengers, particularly women with children, and senior citizens.

He suggested that passengers book tickets through travel agents, tour operators or at the Air India office or even online as soon as possible by the scheduled departure time at 1.40 pm on March 25.

The return flight from Dubai, AI-951, will land in Vizag airport on March 25 at 8.05 am, he added.

Meanwhile, as a prelude to the take off of the first international Dubai bound flight on March 25 and in an attempt to put Vizag on the global map, the Visakhapatnam Air Travellers Association (VATA) has come up with a T shirt design contest.

VATA wants the participation of local talented youth to design a T shirt with international standards.

“A person returning from Goa wears an ‘I Love Goa T shirt’ available there. Same is the case with Canada, Australia and other global destinations. We also want such a kind of flavour and a mark for Vizag. The city should have its own T shirt with the theme, ‘I Love Vizag,” VATA president Ch. Ramakotaiah told this newspaper.

He added that greenery and the dolphin showcase the true flavour and spirit of the city and the T shirt should depict both.

VATA has called for entries from enthusiastic youth to reach it before March 14. The winning design will be featured on the T-shirt used as promotion of Vizag at the airport and a few other places in the city on March 25.

“We are hopeful that in a short period, the Vizag-Singapore flight will also take off from the city,” said Mr Ramakotaiah.

VATA is also organising Ugadi celebrations on March 23.

Minister Ganta Srinivas Rao will release the T-shirt on March 23 during the Ugadi celebrations and a surprising prize will be given to the winner on the day.

Interested candidates to design the T-shirt can contact vata1995@gmail.com or call phone number 9849977666.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle. com / Home> Channels> Cities> Regions> Visakhapatnam / by DC Correspondent / Visakhapathnam, March 13th, 2012

 

India Aviation 2012 expo to start in Hyderabad from March 14

Hyderabad:

If it was Airbus’s jumbo A-380 in 2008, Boeing’s  ‘Dreamliner 787-8 aircraft would be the cynosure of all eyes when it touches down in India for the first time for India Aviation-2012 expo, beginning here on March 14, in the centenary year of civil aviation in India.

The Dreamliner, which would be inducted into Air India fleet soon, would be on display for three days at the biennial aero show at the Begumpet Airport here.

Sukhoi’s Superjet 100 aircraft, Airbus’ A-318 and Embraer’s business jets Phenom 300 and 100 would be the other attractions at the third edition of the International Exhibition and Conference on Civil Aviation, jointly organised by the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will showcase its Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) that is currently in the development stage. Powered by a single engine, the LUH is to be deployed for Reconnaissance and Surveillance role.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh will inaugurate the five-day event in the presence of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. Singh will release a postal stamp and a coffee-table book on civil aviation too.

In all, 22 aircraft will be on static display, with 21 airline companies from across the globe will be participating. The beleaguered Kingfisher, which was one of the main sponsors of India Aviation in the previous two editions, would be missing this time.

While India is the host, UK will be the `partner country’, France the `focus country’ and the US `guest country’, said FICCI regional director (trade fairs) Lt Col Vivek Kodikal.

Andhra Pradesh would be the host state, Maharashtra the partner state and Karnataka the focus state at the event.

“The primary objective of the event is to attract investments in the aerospace sectors in the country in general and AP in particular,” Vivek said. The show would be open to business visitors for the first three days, and to common people on 17th and 18th.

source: http://www.EconomicTimes.Indiatimes.com / News> News by Industry> Transportation / PTI / March 10th, 2012

Rao Travels to set up hotel in Tirupati

HYDERABAD, MARCH 9:

Rao Travels, a company offering tour packages, is setting up a 100-room hotel in Tirupati. The hotel with investment of Rs 10 crore will be operational in 2013. Funds will be raise from banks, travel finance corporation and internal accruals.

It is a natural diversification for the company, which has taken on lease 1,750 hotels across the country to cater to its travel tours facilitated by a fleet of 300 vehicles. “We connect most of the pilgrim and tourist places in North India.”

The company which won the “best domestic tour operator” award for 2011 from the Union Ministry of Tourism, is also setting up what it claims to be the country’s first 24/7, 365 day, free travel call centre in Bangalore. It will be functional by April-end and provide information on tourism and travel in all the south Indian languages to begin with, said Mr P. Sudhakar Rao, Director.

Rao Travels is also planning to open offices in all the districts of Andhra Pradesh. It will recruit 70 tour escorts for the package tours to facilitate language translation and familiarity with North Indian pilgrimage centres such as Kedarnath, Badrinath, Haridwar, etc, he told Business Line.

Plans are on to expand operations to North-East, especially Darjeeling soon and also bring more tourists to Andhra Pradesh, he added.

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Companies/ by The Hindu Bureau / Hyderabad, March 09th, 2012