New Delhi [India], October 13 (ANI): The new version of the Vande Bharat Express train is a game changer for rail development projects in the country, Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw told ANI on Thursday during a journey onboard the newly launched Vande Bharat Express.
Mumbai Mar 31 PTI Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will inaugurate sections of two new Mumbai Metro lines on the occasion of Gudi Padwa the Marathi New Year on April 2 it was announced on Thursday nearly eight years after the mass rapid transit system made its entry into the cityMetro services on the first phase of Line 2A and also Line 7 both in western suburbs will be thrown open for commuter use Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA commissioner SVR Srinivas saidMetro Line 2A is between Dahanukarwadi and Dahisar while Line 7 is between Aarey Colony and DahisarAddressing a press conference at MMRDA headquarters in Bandra Kurla Complex here Srinivas said the phase one of the two Metro lines will be opened for public use on the same day or next morning after inauguration of the 2017-km-long corridors their combined length which have 18 stations The Metro services will be operated between 6 am and 10 pmSrinivas said the trains to be deployed on the elevated corridors are designed for driverless operations along with communication-based train control CBTC signalling systems However during initial phases the trains will be manned by operators or attendants including a few female pilotsThe system will be upgraded to unmanned train operation UTO in the future he said adding though the sanctioned speed for the corridors is 80 kmph initially the trains will be operated at 70 kmphThe senior bureaucrat said that daily 150 services will be operated on these two lines with 11 rakes of six coaches each Over 2250 passengers can travel on a train at a timeSrinivas said the minimum ticket for the Metro train ride is Rs 10 while the maximum is Rs 50 rates will change after every 3km but monthly pass facility wont be available initially on the new linesFares are reasonable the MMRDA commissioner said adding cycles can be carried on the Metro trains but charges for them have not been decided yetHe said the MMRDA has done multi-modal integration at the Metro stations and the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport BEST undertaking buses will be run as feeder servicesHighlighting that Line 2A and Line 7 have witnessed negligible cost escalation Srinivas said they have targeted to complete phase two of the corridors by August 15The financial capital is getting the new Metro corridors nearly eight years after the first line of the mass rapid transit system linking Varsova-Andheri-Ghatkopar was opened for commuters in June 2014 PTI KK RSY RSY
Srinagar Sep 26 PTI The skies over Srinagar roared on Sunday morning with fighter jets and Chinook helicopters exhibiting adrenaline-pumping manoeuvres at an air show conducted after 14 years here The air show organised by the Air Force Station Srinagar and the government is part of the ongoing Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations officials said The IAFs Akash Ganga skydiving and Suryakiran Aerobatic Display teams took part in it The main aim of the show under the theme of Give Wings to Your Dream was to raise awareness among the youth of the Kashmir Valley and motivate them to join the Indian Air Force and to promote tourism in the region they said The event was witnessed by hundreds of school children and people from across the valley at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre SKICC overlooking the Dal Lake here It was flagged off by J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha The event started with the oldest fighter jets of the IAF -- MiG 21s -- flying over the famous Dal Lake and past the enthusiastic audience at SKICC The four MiG 21 fighter jets roaring in the sky presented a salute in right turn to the dais as they flew past receiving a thundering applause from the audience It was followed by IAFs Akash Ganga skydiving team which performed exciting manoeuvres with its pilots jumping out of the aircraft The 10-member team led by Squadron Leader Aftab Khan performed thrilling moves achieving a 120 kmph speed as it moved towards the ground As the team members opened their parachutes and displayed various formations the Indian national flag the IAF flag and the Akash Ganga flag rippled in the sky The team which has various national and international records to its name also formed a three-man tricolour formation in air After the skydiving team it was the turn of three Sukhoi Su-30 MKI jets to claim the sky People were mesmerized to see the jets smoking and roaring in the sky in Trishul formations and tumbling rolling and spinning over the Dal Lake The aircraft displayed complex but sophisticated heroics including flying in reverse-gear and rolling right and left even as the bowl was small with hills on both sides Showing its grace poise and power the jets turned quickly at low speeds over the lake With a loop-tumble-yaw and then a vertical Charlie manoeuvre the jets danced in sky firing flares before disappearing over the mountains Later it was time to paint the sky red and white as a nine-aircraft Suryakiran Aerobatic Display team ripped through it performing synchronous aerobatic maneuvers for 15 minutes straight Their arrow formation diamond formation Gaganyan formation fulcrum formation and barrel roll enthralled the audience which kept its eyes peeled to the sky The team has carried over 500 displays in 75 cities across the country In the second part of their performance the team brought thrill closer to the ground -- only 30 metres above it and performed manoeuvres that gave the audience goosebumps Towards the end they made a heart-shaped formation with a smoke-trail that got a huge round of applause from the people Then it was the turn of the mighty twin-engine Boeing Chinook CH-47 heavy-lift helicopters They were the showstoppers of the event as they flew over the Char-Chinar -- the four famous Chinar in the middle of the Dal Lake The mighty military helicopters came close to the ground near the audience and saluted the dais while the water below in the lake was fomented with the brute force of the two rotors The audience was left captivated watching the water dance below the helicopters as they pulled curtains to the over-an-hour-long show Elaborate arrangements including those related to security were put in place for the smooth conduct of the air show An IAF symphony orchestra display and motivational photo exhibition on the history of the IAF were also part of the show PTI SSB VN SMN
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