Archana Patni, NDTV
Saturday, September 9, 2006 (Bangalore):
The central district in Bangalore is probably one of the most expensive properties in the entire country.
17, Rajbhavan Road is the only residential complex, apart from the governor's house on the Rajbhavan road in Bangalore.
Mantri Alitus is everybody's dream home. Imagine waking up every morning, walking out to your balcony and getting this beautiful view of the city of Bangalore.
But owning these bungalows in the sky is not that easy. You don't only have to be really rich; you also have to be extremely lucky to get chosen to own this property
"This property was designed only for high class people, on invitation only. We called the people. We made a selection so that we could have like-minded families with us," said Snehal Mantri, Director, Marketing, Mantri Builders.
Luxuries galore
A 17-floor building with each floor housing just one apartment of about 5,600 sq ft each, every house give you a panoramic view of the city of Bangalore.
"Amenities-wise, we have taken care and pampered our owners. They have the luxury of 11,000 sq feet of clubhouse, which is being designed on seven-star hotel standards.
"From the main lobby to the swimming pool to the club house, the sauna, jacuzzi and billiards, all the luxuries they want they will get," said Mantri.
While the first flat was sold for Rs 3 crore, you can now only own one of these apartments for a whopping Rs 12 crore, and guess what, it's already all sold out!
Showing posts with label Bengaluru. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bengaluru. Show all posts
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Friday, September 08, 2006
New design for Bangalore airport
[ 7 Sep, 2006 2328hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE/NEW DELHI: Two months after the construction work at redesigned portions of the Bangalore international airport began, the Union cabinet formally endorsed the changes on Thursday.
The project — redesigned at the behest of Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel — will now be able to accommodate 11.4-million passengers annually in the sprawling 7-acre terminal.
The projected traffic is 8.4 million by 2010. The Union cabinet also approved amendments to the concession agreement with BIAL, allowing the joint venture firm to re-design the airport.
As against the initial forecast of 41,000 aircraft movements per year in 2010, the latest projection has increased it to 1, 06,000, forcing BIAL to re-design the airport by merging the second phase of construction with the first phase, to be completed by 2010.
The projected cost after redesign goes up from Rs 1,411.79 crore to Rs 1,930.29 crore. The additional amount would be raised by BIAL through loans and advances from third-party service providers, like cargo handling or fuel supplies, and not through additional equity or state support.
About Rs 450 crore would be taken from lenders and Rs 68.5 crore from service providers, raising the debt-equity ratio from 2.25:1 to 3.63:1, an official spokesperson said.
Under the new design, the total built-up area for the passenger terminal building would be increased to 71,000 sq metre as against 55,850 sq metre.
BANGALORE/NEW DELHI: Two months after the construction work at redesigned portions of the Bangalore international airport began, the Union cabinet formally endorsed the changes on Thursday.
The project — redesigned at the behest of Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel — will now be able to accommodate 11.4-million passengers annually in the sprawling 7-acre terminal.
The projected traffic is 8.4 million by 2010. The Union cabinet also approved amendments to the concession agreement with BIAL, allowing the joint venture firm to re-design the airport.
As against the initial forecast of 41,000 aircraft movements per year in 2010, the latest projection has increased it to 1, 06,000, forcing BIAL to re-design the airport by merging the second phase of construction with the first phase, to be completed by 2010.
The projected cost after redesign goes up from Rs 1,411.79 crore to Rs 1,930.29 crore. The additional amount would be raised by BIAL through loans and advances from third-party service providers, like cargo handling or fuel supplies, and not through additional equity or state support.
About Rs 450 crore would be taken from lenders and Rs 68.5 crore from service providers, raising the debt-equity ratio from 2.25:1 to 3.63:1, an official spokesperson said.
Under the new design, the total built-up area for the passenger terminal building would be increased to 71,000 sq metre as against 55,850 sq metre.
Bangalore: Mason held for murder
[ 7 Sep, 2006 2325hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE: A mason who had killed a woman and buried her near her aunt's house was arrested on Wednesday. He was nabbed after the deceased's aunt came to know about the murder.
The deceased is Nagarathna (28) from Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh. She had come to her aunt,Gowramma's house in Raghavendra Nagar, HBR Layout, on August 17 along with her sister and brother-in-law.
Later, Nagarathna's sister and brotherin-law left for Kuppam and the former continued to stay with Gowramma. Three days later, Gowramma left Nagarathna alone at home and went to Kuppam.
A mason identified as Muniraju, who reportedly had a relationship with Gowramma, visited the house in a drunken state. On seeing Nagarathna alone at home, Muniraju made sexual advances towards her and when she refused, he picked up a wooden plank and hit her on the head.
Following this, she died and he buried her near Gowramma's house in a trench dug by him. He also cleaned the blood stains and fled the scene.
Two days later, Gowramma returned home and found Nagarathna missing and started a search for her. On Wednesday, foul smell emanated from the trench and Gowramma noticed Nagarathna's clothes buried underneath.
She informed the police who exhumed the body. Gowramma suspected Muniraju's involvement and told the police who in turn questioned Muniraju who confessed to the crime.
Woman conned: A stranger conned an elderly woman of her gold chain on Thursday afternoon after promising her to get a loan.
When Lakshmidevi (88) was returning to her house located near Janavahini Educational Trust, Girinagar, a stranger identifying himself as a relative approached her and told her that he could help her get a bank loan.
He took her to an isolated spot and asked her for the chain. He took away the chain and fled the scene. Credit card forgery: Byappanahalli police have arrested a person who used to buy expensive gold ornaments from shops using stolen credit cards and recovered valuables worth over Rs 8 lakh from him.
According to police, Anil Kumar (23) used stolen credit cards and forged signatures to buy valuables.
Live band joint raided: Talaghattapura police raided a live band joint at a farm house near Tataguni village on city outskirts, Kanakapura Road, on Wednesday.
At least 14 girls have been arrested, the police said. The police also seized a television set and other electronic gadgets from the farm house.
BANGALORE: A mason who had killed a woman and buried her near her aunt's house was arrested on Wednesday. He was nabbed after the deceased's aunt came to know about the murder.
The deceased is Nagarathna (28) from Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh. She had come to her aunt,Gowramma's house in Raghavendra Nagar, HBR Layout, on August 17 along with her sister and brother-in-law.
Later, Nagarathna's sister and brotherin-law left for Kuppam and the former continued to stay with Gowramma. Three days later, Gowramma left Nagarathna alone at home and went to Kuppam.
A mason identified as Muniraju, who reportedly had a relationship with Gowramma, visited the house in a drunken state. On seeing Nagarathna alone at home, Muniraju made sexual advances towards her and when she refused, he picked up a wooden plank and hit her on the head.
Following this, she died and he buried her near Gowramma's house in a trench dug by him. He also cleaned the blood stains and fled the scene.
Two days later, Gowramma returned home and found Nagarathna missing and started a search for her. On Wednesday, foul smell emanated from the trench and Gowramma noticed Nagarathna's clothes buried underneath.
She informed the police who exhumed the body. Gowramma suspected Muniraju's involvement and told the police who in turn questioned Muniraju who confessed to the crime.
Woman conned: A stranger conned an elderly woman of her gold chain on Thursday afternoon after promising her to get a loan.
When Lakshmidevi (88) was returning to her house located near Janavahini Educational Trust, Girinagar, a stranger identifying himself as a relative approached her and told her that he could help her get a bank loan.
He took her to an isolated spot and asked her for the chain. He took away the chain and fled the scene. Credit card forgery: Byappanahalli police have arrested a person who used to buy expensive gold ornaments from shops using stolen credit cards and recovered valuables worth over Rs 8 lakh from him.
According to police, Anil Kumar (23) used stolen credit cards and forged signatures to buy valuables.
Live band joint raided: Talaghattapura police raided a live band joint at a farm house near Tataguni village on city outskirts, Kanakapura Road, on Wednesday.
At least 14 girls have been arrested, the police said. The police also seized a television set and other electronic gadgets from the farm house.
Bangalore: Soon, you can zip through Tumkur Road
Sowmya Aji Mehu
[ 7 Sep, 2006 2323hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE: In keeping with Bangalore's image of embracing anything new, the NHAI has designed the IT city's first access-controlled road project on the highly accident-prone Tumkur Road.
Tumkur Road's shocking figures of an accident a day and a death once in five days have spurred the authorities to action.
The road has one of the highest traffic density of incoming/outgoing traffic to and from Bangalore — 1.30 lakh passenger carrying units per day — making travel to Nelamangala a matter of an hour from Bangalore city.
The plan to ease this is: A 4.5 km elevated road beginning immediately after the ring road, and beyond that a 15.5 km six-lane road up to Nelamangala that will have walls or railings on both sides to prevent any traffic from crossing the highway. Result: Travel time across the stretch is a mere 15 minutes!
"Access control will reduce accidents on this road. The elevated stretch will also contribute by easing the congestion on this road," NHAI sources told The Times of India.
Designed to be built at a cost of Rs 440 crore, the Bangalore-Nelamangala stretch of Tumkur Road is to match the dream-scape of the Mumbai-Pune, Ahmedabad-Vadodra stretches.
There will be no interruptions, with six flyovers and several pedestrian/cattle underpasses built to ferry people across wherever there is need.
The project was planned over an year ago, but ran into trouble because it clashed with the Bangalore Metro. Both projects were eying the same land, the NHAI for expanding the existing road, Metro to put up its rail line and stations.
"That issue has been sorted. Both projects are essential, but ours is planned and ready, so we are going ahead. The Metro will acquire land next to ours," sources added. Bids have already come in from the private sector for the project and are being processed.
The project, planned in the public-private partnership (PPP) model, is to be awarded within a month and take off in another six months with a two-year construction period.
[ 7 Sep, 2006 2323hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE: In keeping with Bangalore's image of embracing anything new, the NHAI has designed the IT city's first access-controlled road project on the highly accident-prone Tumkur Road.
Tumkur Road's shocking figures of an accident a day and a death once in five days have spurred the authorities to action.
The road has one of the highest traffic density of incoming/outgoing traffic to and from Bangalore — 1.30 lakh passenger carrying units per day — making travel to Nelamangala a matter of an hour from Bangalore city.
The plan to ease this is: A 4.5 km elevated road beginning immediately after the ring road, and beyond that a 15.5 km six-lane road up to Nelamangala that will have walls or railings on both sides to prevent any traffic from crossing the highway. Result: Travel time across the stretch is a mere 15 minutes!
"Access control will reduce accidents on this road. The elevated stretch will also contribute by easing the congestion on this road," NHAI sources told The Times of India.
Designed to be built at a cost of Rs 440 crore, the Bangalore-Nelamangala stretch of Tumkur Road is to match the dream-scape of the Mumbai-Pune, Ahmedabad-Vadodra stretches.
There will be no interruptions, with six flyovers and several pedestrian/cattle underpasses built to ferry people across wherever there is need.
The project was planned over an year ago, but ran into trouble because it clashed with the Bangalore Metro. Both projects were eying the same land, the NHAI for expanding the existing road, Metro to put up its rail line and stations.
"That issue has been sorted. Both projects are essential, but ours is planned and ready, so we are going ahead. The Metro will acquire land next to ours," sources added. Bids have already come in from the private sector for the project and are being processed.
The project, planned in the public-private partnership (PPP) model, is to be awarded within a month and take off in another six months with a two-year construction period.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Bangalore: No state order on Vande Mataram
[ 6 Sep, 2006 2337hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE: The state education department on Wednesday said it has forwarded the HRD ministry's circular to all schools to compulsorily sing Vande Mataram on Thursday at 11 am.
"The Karnataka government has not issued any other direction to institutions. We've just sent the HRD ministry's circular. Neither has the department pondered about punishment to schools which don't comply with the circular," sources said.
Last month, primary and secondary education minister Basavaraj Horatti had refused to toe HRD ministry line. " Vande Mataram is the National Song and no caste or communal colour should be given to it," he had said.
Not only did Horatti accuse his coalition partner BJP of playing politics over the issue, but had also said he would write to the Centre that state would not abide by the diktat. But everything fell silent on Wednesday.
Officials said no specific circular had gone out. The Bangalore University registrar has asked BU departments to sing the first two stanzas of the song.
The BJP appealed to everyone to sing the song on Thursday in all streets and villages. The Students Islamic Organisation of India said making the song mandatory is unconstitutional.
" Vande Mataram includes elements that are very offensive against the religious belief of Islam and Muslims," its president Hashmatulla Khan said.
BANGALORE: The state education department on Wednesday said it has forwarded the HRD ministry's circular to all schools to compulsorily sing Vande Mataram on Thursday at 11 am.
"The Karnataka government has not issued any other direction to institutions. We've just sent the HRD ministry's circular. Neither has the department pondered about punishment to schools which don't comply with the circular," sources said.
Last month, primary and secondary education minister Basavaraj Horatti had refused to toe HRD ministry line. " Vande Mataram is the National Song and no caste or communal colour should be given to it," he had said.
Not only did Horatti accuse his coalition partner BJP of playing politics over the issue, but had also said he would write to the Centre that state would not abide by the diktat. But everything fell silent on Wednesday.
Officials said no specific circular had gone out. The Bangalore University registrar has asked BU departments to sing the first two stanzas of the song.
The BJP appealed to everyone to sing the song on Thursday in all streets and villages. The Students Islamic Organisation of India said making the song mandatory is unconstitutional.
" Vande Mataram includes elements that are very offensive against the religious belief of Islam and Muslims," its president Hashmatulla Khan said.
Bangalore: Infosys to expand staff in Czech Republic
By Reuters
Wednesday September 6, 04:31 PM
BANGALORE (Reuters) - Second-largest software services exporter, Infosys Technologies Ltd., said on Wednesday it would more than double its staff at a facility in the Czech Republic to boost operations in Europe.
Nasdaq-listed Infosys will increase the number of employees at the Brno facility to 350 by the beginning of 2007 from 130 now, the company said in a statement.
Set up in 2004, the facility handles business process outsourcing related to finance and accounts and market research for clients across 16 European countries.
Infosys, whose clients include ABN AMRO, Goldman Sachs and Airbus, said the expansion would help boost services for customers.
"The expansion of Infosys' European facilities reflects the 60 percent growth Infosys has experienced in the region for the past three years," B.G. Srinivas, head of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said in the statement.
Clients in North America accounted for 64 percent of Infosys' revenue in the June quarter, nearly flat from a year ago, while customers in Europe made up 26.2 percent, up from 23.9 percent.
Shares in Infosys ended little changed at 1,833.55 rupees in a slightly firm Mumbai market.
Bangalore best to live in ?
GEETHA RAO
[ 6 Sep, 2006 2239hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
This city tops the list for quality of life. Is that really true?
A recent study across Indian cities had people saying Bangalore's the best city to live in and the second best to earn in. Is that really so? BT asked Bangaloreans who'd lived in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad.
Wildlife expert Saad Bin Jung lived in Hyderabad for 22 years, followed by Bangalore for 22 years, and says, "The weather in Bangalore was fantastic then. And the quality of life, the best. Now, the very people who have destroyed Bangalore are making politically correct noises about putting it back on track again. It's like wildlife. First you finish the animals and then try to bring them back again. Bangalore's been destroyed by a small percentage that's gained dramatically by it, but there's nothing for the common man, like me, today. You can't change Bangalore because those who have benefitted by it are extremely powerful. Bangalore was a thousand times better than Hyderabad earlier."
Hyderabad, he says, is a very old and civilised city and the people care enough for the city to reinvent it. "But in Bangalore, there are too many people from outside who have settled here, and don't care for the city." Opportunities-wise, Bangalore and Hyderabad are similar.
Chippy Gangjee, who's lived in Kolkata before he moved to Bangalore 22 years ago says Bangalore weather's the best.
"But if the infrastructure was as good as in SM Krishna's time, it'd be even better to live here. We may crib like hell about the traffic, but go to another city, and you just want to come running back."
Gangjee deals with some of the worst roads in LB Shastrinagar where he lives: "They are horrendous, I travel on them some four times a day, yet the amount of peace that Bangalore offers is something you can't get anywhere."
And the people. In Chippy Gangjee's apartment block, there are a dozen Bengali families among the 200 living there and 30-40 more in the locality, but both Bengalis and non-Bengalis have decided to celebrate Durga Puja together. "People are so cosmopolitan," he says.
However, Kolkata is less expensive: "a great city, costwise, whether it's vegetables or rentals or eating out."
Gagan Bindra, marketing manager with a multiplex, who's lived in Delhi for seven years, and Bangalore for six, says Delhi being the capital, has the edge in terms of infrastructure.
"I'm not saying Delhi's perfect, but you can see a lot of development. Now with the Commonwealth Games coming to Delhi, there's even more focus on infrastructure."
And traffic? Bindra says, "Even if you are caught in a traffic jam in Bangalore, it's much better than being caught in the scorching heat in Delhi."
And the people here are welcoming of outsiders, he says. In Delhi, more or less, the attitude is we belong here, may be we know better than you do. Danseuse Vani Ganapathy who's travelling constantly to Mumbai says what we lack here is discipline.
"I was in Mumbai during Janmashtami, which is celebrated in a grand manner there. Despite that, there was disciplined traffic movement. I stay in Chennai only for two days so I don't really know, but my cousins there say it's quite calm. Here, though, I was caught in the traffic jam during Sonia Gandhi's visit, and there was chaos. Some hooligans actually turned on the police."
[ 6 Sep, 2006 2239hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
This city tops the list for quality of life. Is that really true?
A recent study across Indian cities had people saying Bangalore's the best city to live in and the second best to earn in. Is that really so? BT asked Bangaloreans who'd lived in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad.
Wildlife expert Saad Bin Jung lived in Hyderabad for 22 years, followed by Bangalore for 22 years, and says, "The weather in Bangalore was fantastic then. And the quality of life, the best. Now, the very people who have destroyed Bangalore are making politically correct noises about putting it back on track again. It's like wildlife. First you finish the animals and then try to bring them back again. Bangalore's been destroyed by a small percentage that's gained dramatically by it, but there's nothing for the common man, like me, today. You can't change Bangalore because those who have benefitted by it are extremely powerful. Bangalore was a thousand times better than Hyderabad earlier."
Hyderabad, he says, is a very old and civilised city and the people care enough for the city to reinvent it. "But in Bangalore, there are too many people from outside who have settled here, and don't care for the city." Opportunities-wise, Bangalore and Hyderabad are similar.
Chippy Gangjee, who's lived in Kolkata before he moved to Bangalore 22 years ago says Bangalore weather's the best.
"But if the infrastructure was as good as in SM Krishna's time, it'd be even better to live here. We may crib like hell about the traffic, but go to another city, and you just want to come running back."
Gangjee deals with some of the worst roads in LB Shastrinagar where he lives: "They are horrendous, I travel on them some four times a day, yet the amount of peace that Bangalore offers is something you can't get anywhere."
And the people. In Chippy Gangjee's apartment block, there are a dozen Bengali families among the 200 living there and 30-40 more in the locality, but both Bengalis and non-Bengalis have decided to celebrate Durga Puja together. "People are so cosmopolitan," he says.
However, Kolkata is less expensive: "a great city, costwise, whether it's vegetables or rentals or eating out."
Gagan Bindra, marketing manager with a multiplex, who's lived in Delhi for seven years, and Bangalore for six, says Delhi being the capital, has the edge in terms of infrastructure.
"I'm not saying Delhi's perfect, but you can see a lot of development. Now with the Commonwealth Games coming to Delhi, there's even more focus on infrastructure."
And traffic? Bindra says, "Even if you are caught in a traffic jam in Bangalore, it's much better than being caught in the scorching heat in Delhi."
And the people here are welcoming of outsiders, he says. In Delhi, more or less, the attitude is we belong here, may be we know better than you do. Danseuse Vani Ganapathy who's travelling constantly to Mumbai says what we lack here is discipline.
"I was in Mumbai during Janmashtami, which is celebrated in a grand manner there. Despite that, there was disciplined traffic movement. I stay in Chennai only for two days so I don't really know, but my cousins there say it's quite calm. Here, though, I was caught in the traffic jam during Sonia Gandhi's visit, and there was chaos. Some hooligans actually turned on the police."
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Bangalore: Accident sparks violence on Hosur Road
[ 6 Sep, 2006 0012hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE: The death of a senior factory engineer in a road accident on Hosur Road sparked off violence near Bommasandra and brought rush-hour traffic to a halt on Tuesday morning.
The victim's colleagues from the factory nearby hurled stones on the BMTC bus that knocked down the motorcyclist. The mob threatened to burn down the bus but police arrived with reinforcements and dispersed the crowd.
The driver ran away and later surrendered. Traffic piled up for nearly two hours. Around 8.30 am, B G Sandeep Kumar (28) was on his way to work at Sanchara Engineering in Bommasandra Industrial Estate when the bus knocked him down near a break in the median.
Kumar, native of Balehonnur, was staying in Rajajinagar. The body was shifted to Bowring Hospital for post-mortem.
In another accident late on Monday night, Santosh Das (24), a businessman, returning to the city from Kolar on a motorcycle, was killed after being knocked down by a car in Hoskote.
One dead, 3 injured: On the eve of Teacher's Day, reckless drivers left a teacher dead and three others grievously injured in separate accidents on the city's outskirts on Monday night.
Hanumantharayappa (32) of Maisandra Government Primary School was returning home with wife Latha, also a teacher, on a motorcycle when a mini-truck knocked them down near Gudemarenahalli. He died on the spot while Latha escaped with minor injuries.
The Kudur police arrested the driver. In another incident Shashikala and Prathibha Devi of Jyothipura Government School were injured when a truck knocked down their moped on Budigere Road.
Bangalore: 3 cricket fans fall from their perch
[ 6 Sep, 2006 0011hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE: It was a fall, flurry and breach at the KSCA stadium on Tuesday afternoon. Over-eager fans scaled the stadium's compound wall and its grill to get a glimpse of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in action at the nets at National Cricket Academy.
The fans' precarious perch gave way under their weight and sent three of them plunging 10 feet to the ground. One of them sustained a gash near the left ear while the others suffered bruises.
The authorities were in a quandary while coach Greg Chappell rushed towards the injured fans. The players, meanwhile, scurried into the stadium where they later resumed practice.
The incident exposed a breach in the security. Police personnel were immediately deployed. Damage to the wall was attended to at once.
The injured fan, Manjunath, a BPO cab driver, was treated at Bowring Hospital and slunk away without informing the police.
BANGALORE: It was a fall, flurry and breach at the KSCA stadium on Tuesday afternoon. Over-eager fans scaled the stadium's compound wall and its grill to get a glimpse of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in action at the nets at National Cricket Academy.
The fans' precarious perch gave way under their weight and sent three of them plunging 10 feet to the ground. One of them sustained a gash near the left ear while the others suffered bruises.
The authorities were in a quandary while coach Greg Chappell rushed towards the injured fans. The players, meanwhile, scurried into the stadium where they later resumed practice.
The incident exposed a breach in the security. Police personnel were immediately deployed. Damage to the wall was attended to at once.
The injured fan, Manjunath, a BPO cab driver, was treated at Bowring Hospital and slunk away without informing the police.
Bangalore: Enrol in a BPO varsity
[ 6 Sep, 2006 0009hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE: 24/7 Customer, a BPO, on Tuesday launched the Bangalore unit of its education programme, 24/7 Varsity, to prepare students for work in the burgeoning BPO sector.
24/7 Customer chief delivery officer Pradeep Narayan told TOI the varsity teaches students in BPO communication — language, style and diction. Training is open to graduate and undergraduate students.
"We're looking at training students 3-4 years ahead of BPO work. The industry is in for a massive expansion in the coming years."
In Bangalore, the BPO is introducing 24/7 Ascend, a three-stage training package. The first stage is 24/7 Varsity that teaches BPO communication for three days.
The second is a two-day training for students, with focus on the movement from written to spoken language. The final stage is corporate capital that includes guest lectures, sponsorships and scholarships for students, internships at 24/7 Customer.
"We decide the curriculum. Teachers or students don't have to pay a single pie. Our partnership is with institutions," he says. The varsity is planning units in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Mysore, and Hassan.
BANGALORE: 24/7 Customer, a BPO, on Tuesday launched the Bangalore unit of its education programme, 24/7 Varsity, to prepare students for work in the burgeoning BPO sector.
24/7 Customer chief delivery officer Pradeep Narayan told TOI the varsity teaches students in BPO communication — language, style and diction. Training is open to graduate and undergraduate students.
"We're looking at training students 3-4 years ahead of BPO work. The industry is in for a massive expansion in the coming years."
In Bangalore, the BPO is introducing 24/7 Ascend, a three-stage training package. The first stage is 24/7 Varsity that teaches BPO communication for three days.
The second is a two-day training for students, with focus on the movement from written to spoken language. The final stage is corporate capital that includes guest lectures, sponsorships and scholarships for students, internships at 24/7 Customer.
"We decide the curriculum. Teachers or students don't have to pay a single pie. Our partnership is with institutions," he says. The varsity is planning units in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Mysore, and Hassan.
Bangalore: 'Cola ban battle will go on'
[ 6 Sep, 2006 0008hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE: Unfazed by the Karnataka HC's partial stay on the cola sale ban, the government on Tuesday maintained that "legal battle" will continue against the soft drink companies.
Health and family welfare minister R Ashok said the court has accorded government's main prayer to ban sale of colas in schools and colleges.
"It's a sort of victory for us. We want it to be banned in schools." The court on Monday, while allowing sale of soft drinks in hospitals and government offices, continued ban on colas in schools and colleges.
BANGALORE: Unfazed by the Karnataka HC's partial stay on the cola sale ban, the government on Tuesday maintained that "legal battle" will continue against the soft drink companies.
Health and family welfare minister R Ashok said the court has accorded government's main prayer to ban sale of colas in schools and colleges.
"It's a sort of victory for us. We want it to be banned in schools." The court on Monday, while allowing sale of soft drinks in hospitals and government offices, continued ban on colas in schools and colleges.
Bangalore: They do homework before striking
[ 5 Sep, 2006 0251hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE: Here's a new breed of robbers who do their homework before a heist. They either know the names of their victim's kith and kin or even their office.
They lure victims into their car on the pretext of dropping them to their destination and then rob them in an isolated place.
The gang's latest victim was a housewife, Lakshmamma (52), a resident of Kamakshipalya who was waiting for a bus at Sumanahalli to inspect her residential site at Laggere.
Around 11.30 am two unidentified persons accosted Lakshmamma and said that her son Nagaraj had asked them to take her to the site. The site had been under litigation and Lakshmamma inspected the place often with her son.
The gang stopped the vehicle at an isolated place in Peenya II Stage and relieved her of gold bangles and mangalsutra at knife-point. Similar incidents have been reported in Jnanabharati and Kengeri.
In Jnanabharati, a school teacher waiting for a bus at Papreddipalya was accosted by two miscreants in a car and one of them claimed he was her student.
He lured her into the car on the pretext of offering to drop her to school. The duo then robbed her at knife-point. Police suspect the handiwork of the same gang in all the cases.
Lottery racket busted: City Crime Branch (CCB) sleuths raided two places in Hebbal and Sahakar Nagar on Monday and busted an illegal online lottery racket by arresting four persons including the kingpin.
The police said a certain Kishore aided by others was running the racket under the trade name of CD-9 from 64 centres across the state.
On a tip-off, policemen raided a place in Sahakar Nagar where the main server was kept and the head office of CD-9 and arrested Kishore along with three others.
BANGALORE: Here's a new breed of robbers who do their homework before a heist. They either know the names of their victim's kith and kin or even their office.
They lure victims into their car on the pretext of dropping them to their destination and then rob them in an isolated place.
The gang's latest victim was a housewife, Lakshmamma (52), a resident of Kamakshipalya who was waiting for a bus at Sumanahalli to inspect her residential site at Laggere.
Around 11.30 am two unidentified persons accosted Lakshmamma and said that her son Nagaraj had asked them to take her to the site. The site had been under litigation and Lakshmamma inspected the place often with her son.
The gang stopped the vehicle at an isolated place in Peenya II Stage and relieved her of gold bangles and mangalsutra at knife-point. Similar incidents have been reported in Jnanabharati and Kengeri.
In Jnanabharati, a school teacher waiting for a bus at Papreddipalya was accosted by two miscreants in a car and one of them claimed he was her student.
He lured her into the car on the pretext of offering to drop her to school. The duo then robbed her at knife-point. Police suspect the handiwork of the same gang in all the cases.
Lottery racket busted: City Crime Branch (CCB) sleuths raided two places in Hebbal and Sahakar Nagar on Monday and busted an illegal online lottery racket by arresting four persons including the kingpin.
The police said a certain Kishore aided by others was running the racket under the trade name of CD-9 from 64 centres across the state.
On a tip-off, policemen raided a place in Sahakar Nagar where the main server was kept and the head office of CD-9 and arrested Kishore along with three others.
Bangalore: Child holds key clues
[ 5 Sep, 2006 0250hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE: A four-year-old boy's account of a scuffle that ensued between his mother and a male relative could prove vital for the police to solve the mystery behind the woman's (the boy's mother) death.
She was found dead on Monday morning and neighbours found the boy sobbing bitterly trying to wake her up. The victim was identified as Indiramma (35), a vegetable vendor in Gandhi Bazaar and police said there were no visible injuries.
Indiramma's husband Harikrishna, a security guard, had deserted her and their son over a year ago. Indiramma's relative, Muthuvelu, visited her often. On Monday morning, she was found dead and on preliminary investigation, police suspect that she was strangulated.
"The boy has identified Muthuvelu from a photograph as the person who fought with his mother on Sunday night. He is absconding. We are awaiting the post-mortem report."
In another incident, the body of an unidentified man aged around 50 was found on Subbaiahnapalya Main Road in Banaswadi late on Sunday night. There were no visible injuries on the body. The police have shifted the body to Bowring Hospital for post-mortem.
BANGALORE: A four-year-old boy's account of a scuffle that ensued between his mother and a male relative could prove vital for the police to solve the mystery behind the woman's (the boy's mother) death.
She was found dead on Monday morning and neighbours found the boy sobbing bitterly trying to wake her up. The victim was identified as Indiramma (35), a vegetable vendor in Gandhi Bazaar and police said there were no visible injuries.
Indiramma's husband Harikrishna, a security guard, had deserted her and their son over a year ago. Indiramma's relative, Muthuvelu, visited her often. On Monday morning, she was found dead and on preliminary investigation, police suspect that she was strangulated.
"The boy has identified Muthuvelu from a photograph as the person who fought with his mother on Sunday night. He is absconding. We are awaiting the post-mortem report."
In another incident, the body of an unidentified man aged around 50 was found on Subbaiahnapalya Main Road in Banaswadi late on Sunday night. There were no visible injuries on the body. The police have shifted the body to Bowring Hospital for post-mortem.
Bangalore: Minister Ansari breaks jinx at Vikasa Soudha
[ 5 Sep, 2006 0247hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE: Two years and seven months after it was inaugurated in February 2004, the 'jinx' of Vikasa Soudha has been broken.
Labour minister Iqbal Ansari moved from Vidhana Soudha into his allotted third-floor room in Vikasa Soudha on Monday, the first minister to do so.
Ministers are citing various reasons from vaastu incompatibility to "lack of convenience" to move to the new rooms allotted to them.
According to officials, Vikasa Soudha has been designed similar to the Union secretariat in New Delhi where ministers sit surrounded by their officials.
But though most of the 19 departments to be housed in Vikasa Soudha have moved in, none of the ministers have followed suit. Ansari has chosen to break this and join his department in Vikasa Soudha.
"I do not believe in superstition or vaastu, so I have moved into my rooms," he told reporters here. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy was present on the occasion, but made no remark on whether he would also move into the chamber meant for the CM at Vikasa Soudha.
Medical education minister V S Acharya is all set to become the second minister to move into Vikasa Soudha.
"I have already communicated to the department of personnel and administrative affairs that I will move in during Navratri. It is pithru paksha now, not the correct time to shift. After the Mahalaya Ammavase on September 15, it is auspicious," he told The Times of India.
But his colleague water resources minister K S Eshwarappa is among those who do not want to shift.
"My officials have moved to Vikasa Soudha. But the room allotted to me in Vidhana Soudha third floor is convenient; it also faces the right direction. I do not want to move," he stated.
The minister, who is miffed, however, is primary and secondary education minister Basavaraj S Horatti.
"Earlier, as RDPR minister, I wrote to DPAR asking them to allocate rooms to me and my department in Vikasa Soudha. They didn't. Even in my present department, I am willing to go, if allotted a room."
BANGALORE: Two years and seven months after it was inaugurated in February 2004, the 'jinx' of Vikasa Soudha has been broken.
Labour minister Iqbal Ansari moved from Vidhana Soudha into his allotted third-floor room in Vikasa Soudha on Monday, the first minister to do so.
Ministers are citing various reasons from vaastu incompatibility to "lack of convenience" to move to the new rooms allotted to them.
According to officials, Vikasa Soudha has been designed similar to the Union secretariat in New Delhi where ministers sit surrounded by their officials.
But though most of the 19 departments to be housed in Vikasa Soudha have moved in, none of the ministers have followed suit. Ansari has chosen to break this and join his department in Vikasa Soudha.
"I do not believe in superstition or vaastu, so I have moved into my rooms," he told reporters here. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy was present on the occasion, but made no remark on whether he would also move into the chamber meant for the CM at Vikasa Soudha.
Medical education minister V S Acharya is all set to become the second minister to move into Vikasa Soudha.
"I have already communicated to the department of personnel and administrative affairs that I will move in during Navratri. It is pithru paksha now, not the correct time to shift. After the Mahalaya Ammavase on September 15, it is auspicious," he told The Times of India.
But his colleague water resources minister K S Eshwarappa is among those who do not want to shift.
"My officials have moved to Vikasa Soudha. But the room allotted to me in Vidhana Soudha third floor is convenient; it also faces the right direction. I do not want to move," he stated.
The minister, who is miffed, however, is primary and secondary education minister Basavaraj S Horatti.
"Earlier, as RDPR minister, I wrote to DPAR asking them to allocate rooms to me and my department in Vikasa Soudha. They didn't. Even in my present department, I am willing to go, if allotted a room."
Monday, September 04, 2006
Bangalore: The best place to live in India
Rema Nagarajan
[ 4 Sep, 2006 0019hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
NEW DELHI: When it comes to choosing the city you would like to work and live in, it seems you cannot have it all. If a city is great for earning and investing in, it is not necessarily the best for living, as in the case of Surat.
On the other hand, there is Kolkata that ranks quite high as a city to live in but is the worst when it comes to making money or investing it.
Your best bet for a city that ranks fairly high on all three counts — living, working and investing — is Bangalore. It ranks as the top city to reside in and second best to earn.
As an investment destination, however, it's mediocre, ranking sixth. Delhi, by contrast, ranks high — fourth — only for earning.
Analysis of the top 10 cities of the country for earning, investing and residing is given in a study, The City Skyline of India 2006, published by Indicus Analytics.
The study is based on official statistics and online surveys conducted by Indicus in these cities. It yields interesting information on how often a citizen would have to haggle with an autowallah, what percentage of people own invertors, the city’s water and power supply, public transportation etc.
Surat with its low unemployment rates, high job growth rates and one of the highest per capita small business credit is the top destination for seeking jobs and business.
However, it is at the bottom in the list of Alpha cities (the top 10) in terms of good living, with nearly half the people expressing the need for more entertainment and better educational facilities.
It also has the lowest share of households in the top socio-economic category (SEC A) among the Alpha cities. One third of its households fall in SEC C.
Coimbatore strikes a decent balance: it's the best city to invest in but ranks fifth on the earning and good living front. The most pressing problem for residents seems to be water supply — which comes just once in two days.
On most other counts, the city offers a decent life though with relatively few avenues for entertainment.
With one of the lowest unemployment rates in this group of cities and per capita income comparable to the highest in the group, Pune too does well on all three counts of earn-in, invest-in and reside-in indices.
The metros, interestingly, are not the best performers in this list. Chennai is high up as a place to invest in and to live in.
The citizens are satisfied with the educational infrastructure, low crime level and efficient management of infrastructure. But with unemployment rate as high as 27%, do not head there if you are looking to earn good money.
[ 4 Sep, 2006 0019hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
NEW DELHI: When it comes to choosing the city you would like to work and live in, it seems you cannot have it all. If a city is great for earning and investing in, it is not necessarily the best for living, as in the case of Surat.
On the other hand, there is Kolkata that ranks quite high as a city to live in but is the worst when it comes to making money or investing it.
Your best bet for a city that ranks fairly high on all three counts — living, working and investing — is Bangalore. It ranks as the top city to reside in and second best to earn.
As an investment destination, however, it's mediocre, ranking sixth. Delhi, by contrast, ranks high — fourth — only for earning.
Analysis of the top 10 cities of the country for earning, investing and residing is given in a study, The City Skyline of India 2006, published by Indicus Analytics.
The study is based on official statistics and online surveys conducted by Indicus in these cities. It yields interesting information on how often a citizen would have to haggle with an autowallah, what percentage of people own invertors, the city’s water and power supply, public transportation etc.
Surat with its low unemployment rates, high job growth rates and one of the highest per capita small business credit is the top destination for seeking jobs and business.
However, it is at the bottom in the list of Alpha cities (the top 10) in terms of good living, with nearly half the people expressing the need for more entertainment and better educational facilities.
It also has the lowest share of households in the top socio-economic category (SEC A) among the Alpha cities. One third of its households fall in SEC C.
Coimbatore strikes a decent balance: it's the best city to invest in but ranks fifth on the earning and good living front. The most pressing problem for residents seems to be water supply — which comes just once in two days.
On most other counts, the city offers a decent life though with relatively few avenues for entertainment.
With one of the lowest unemployment rates in this group of cities and per capita income comparable to the highest in the group, Pune too does well on all three counts of earn-in, invest-in and reside-in indices.
The metros, interestingly, are not the best performers in this list. Chennai is high up as a place to invest in and to live in.
The citizens are satisfied with the educational infrastructure, low crime level and efficient management of infrastructure. But with unemployment rate as high as 27%, do not head there if you are looking to earn good money.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Bangalore: IT takes centre stage again
[ 3 Sep, 2006 0018hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE: After putting Infosys on the global map, IT czar NR Narayana Murthy will now guide Karnataka's IT vision. Murthy was on Saturday, appointed to head the State Vision Group on IT.
Murthy, who stepped down from his executive role at Infosys on August 20, has agreed to shoulder the responsibility.
A disgusted Murthy had quit as chairman of Bangalore International Airport Ltd on October 20, 2005, when he was pained by former PM HD Deve Gowda calling him a land-grabber.
However, Gowda's son, chief minister Kumaraswamy, openly acknowledged Murthy's "singular contribution to the growth and development of India's technology sector".
Kumaraswamy had hinted at utilising Murthy's services much before he retired. He had said the Vision Group to be headed by Murthy would guide the development of knowledge-based industries like IT, BT and precision engineering.
"The Vision Group will be meeting soon under Murthy's chairmanship to chalk out plans for promoting knowledge-based industries and showcasing the state's eco-system at the upcoming Bangalore IT. In 2006 event to be held in October- end," Kumaraswamy had said on July 30.
The decision means the IT Task Force formed when SM Krishna was CM has been resurrected. Murthy was chairman of that Task Force.
IT and BT Secretary Anup K Pujary said: "Murthy met our officers last week and agreed to chair this group. While the Vision Group on Biotechnology will continue to function separately under the leadership of Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, the newly formed Group will guide the IT sector in Karnataka."
Murthy's assent to head the group seems to bring back the days when IT took centre stage. The formation of an IT Task Force was suggested by the Millennium IT Policy in 1999-2000.
Sources said: "The Millennium IT Task Force gave complete guidance to the government. The then cabinet had given them full powers, and several recommendations were implemented. It is good to know that efforts are being made to revive it."
Details are still awaited on the guidelines as well as the members of the Vision Group. Murthy, who is presently travelling, is expected to return to Bangalore in mid-September.
BANGALORE: After putting Infosys on the global map, IT czar NR Narayana Murthy will now guide Karnataka's IT vision. Murthy was on Saturday, appointed to head the State Vision Group on IT.
Murthy, who stepped down from his executive role at Infosys on August 20, has agreed to shoulder the responsibility.
A disgusted Murthy had quit as chairman of Bangalore International Airport Ltd on October 20, 2005, when he was pained by former PM HD Deve Gowda calling him a land-grabber.
However, Gowda's son, chief minister Kumaraswamy, openly acknowledged Murthy's "singular contribution to the growth and development of India's technology sector".
Kumaraswamy had hinted at utilising Murthy's services much before he retired. He had said the Vision Group to be headed by Murthy would guide the development of knowledge-based industries like IT, BT and precision engineering.
"The Vision Group will be meeting soon under Murthy's chairmanship to chalk out plans for promoting knowledge-based industries and showcasing the state's eco-system at the upcoming Bangalore IT. In 2006 event to be held in October- end," Kumaraswamy had said on July 30.
The decision means the IT Task Force formed when SM Krishna was CM has been resurrected. Murthy was chairman of that Task Force.
IT and BT Secretary Anup K Pujary said: "Murthy met our officers last week and agreed to chair this group. While the Vision Group on Biotechnology will continue to function separately under the leadership of Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, the newly formed Group will guide the IT sector in Karnataka."
Murthy's assent to head the group seems to bring back the days when IT took centre stage. The formation of an IT Task Force was suggested by the Millennium IT Policy in 1999-2000.
Sources said: "The Millennium IT Task Force gave complete guidance to the government. The then cabinet had given them full powers, and several recommendations were implemented. It is good to know that efforts are being made to revive it."
Details are still awaited on the guidelines as well as the members of the Vision Group. Murthy, who is presently travelling, is expected to return to Bangalore in mid-September.
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