Page 3 - Kochi

Kochi Water Metro increases services on Vyttila-Kakkanad route due to rush

To accommodate the huge rush of commuters and joy riders on the Kochi Water Metro, which has witnessed a rise in daily ridership over the past few days, KWML on Thursday said it would be increasing the number of trips on its Vyttila-Kakkanad route. Kochi Water Metro Ltd (KWML) has been operating services only on two routes -- first between Kerala High Court and Vypin and then Vyttila to Kakkanad -- presently. On the second route, it was operating boats only during peak hours, from 8 AM to 11 AM and 4 PM to 7 PM. "From today, the number of services on this route has been increased. Feeder buses and auto rickshaws will be available from Kakkanad terminal to Civil Station and Infopark," KWML said in a statement. According to the schedule of the increased services released by KWML, boats would be operated every 45 minutes from 7.45 AM to 1 PM from Vyttila terminal and from 8.25 AM to 1.40 PM from Kakkanad. In the afternoon too, after 3 PM, boats would be operated every 45 minutes from

IHCL inks 2nd Taj in Kerala's Kochi; brand clocks 100 hotels in India

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) on Tuesday announced that it has signed its second Taj Hotel in Kochi, Kerala. The Taj brand, which was established in 1903, has clocked a century with the addition of this 211-key property, IHCL said in a statement. "This is a momentous occasion as Taj's portfolio will offer 100 hotels across India and in key international destinations. "This growth is a testament to the unwavering trust our stakeholders have consistently placed in us," IHCL Managing Director and CEO Puneet Chhatwal said. With this, IHCL will have 17 hotels across Taj, SeleQtions, Vivanta and Ginger brands across Kerala, including five under development.

Kochi holds greatest promise for adoption of active, shared mobility

Aizawl in Mizoram emerged as a top performer in clean mobility according to Ola Mobility Institute (OMI) Foundation's Ease of Moving Index - India Report 2022

India to get its first water metro today: All you need to know about it

Kerala KWM: The Rs 1,137 crore project will connect ten small islands around Kochi with boats running on hybrid power

Youth power is the driving force of India's development: PM Modi in Kochi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said youth power was the driving force of India's development journey as youngsters were instrumental in transforming the country into one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Modi said that once upon a time India was one of the 'Fragile Five' countries. "However, today India is known as one of the fastest-growing economies. It's because of the youth, and therefore I strongly believe in the youth of my country. I have faith in them," he said speaking at the Yuvam 2023 conclave here. Stating that everyone was now saying that the 21st century is India's century and the nation had a treasure of youth power, Modi said that the BJP and the youth of the country shared the same wavelength. "We bring reforms and the youth bring the results," he said. Taking a swipe at opposition parties, the PM said that while former governments were "known for corruption", the BJP government was creating new opportunities for youngsters. "We aim to create

PM Modi to dedicate nation's first water metro during Kerala visit

Water Metro is a unique urban mass transit system with the same experience and ease of travel as that of the conventional metro system. It is very useful in cities like Kochi

Will challenge NGT order: Kochi Mayor on Rs 100 cr compensation imposed

Kochi Mayor A Anil Kumar on Saturday said that the Civic body will challenge the National Green Tribunal order which awarded Rs 100 crores in environmental compensation against Kochi Municipal Corporation for alleged continuing neglect of its duties resulting in a fire at a waste dump site in Kochi."Kochi Corporation will challenge the NGT order. An appeal will be filed in consultation with legal experts. We will look at all possible legal avenues," said Kochi Mayor M Anil Kumar.Calling for a vigilance inquiry & 3-pronged inquiry into the Brahmapuram fire incident, Kumar said, "The wrongdoers, if any, will naturally be found out. The entire cost of extinguishing the fire at Brahmapuram was borne by Corporation. The amount will be told in the coming days".The Tribunal stated that, according to a media report, Kochi city was choked on account of a fire at the waste dump site on March 2, 2023, which led to a crisis situation. A warning was issued to the residents to stay indoors ...

NGT asks Kochi Municipal Corporation to pay Rs 100 cr damage compensation

NGT has directed the Kochi Municipal Corporation to pay an environmental compensation of Rs 100 crore for the damage to the environment because of its failure to handle solid waste.

Garbage fire: NGT awards Rs 100 cr compensation against Kochi Corporation

NGT has awarded Rs.100 crores in environmental compensation against Kochi Municipal Corporation for alleged continuing neglect of its duties resulting in a fire at a waste dump site in Kochi

Air India Express cabin crew held for gold smuggling in Kochi airport

An Air India Express flight cabin crew has been arrested by the Customs for allegedly smuggling over 1.4 kg gold through Cochin International Airport near here, official sources said on Thursday. The crew of Bahrain-Kozhikode-Kochi Air India Express flight was apprehended by the Customs sleuths, who recovered the gold that was wrapped around his hands on Wednesday. Air India Express said the arrested crew has been placed on suspension with immediate effect. The airline said it has zero tolerance for such behaviour and will be taking stern action against the individual including termination of service following receipt of the report from the investigative authorities.

Residents near Brahmapuram waste plant urged to stay indoors due to smoke

With air quality deteriorating at an alarming pace at Brahmapuram and its neighbourhoods due to the smoke emanating from the waste plant fire, the Kerala government on Thursday requested the residents in these areas to stay indoors and not to keep the windows and doors open. It has also advised the residents to avoid activities like jogging and exercising outside their houses, and also to use N95 masks when they go out. The Ernakulam district administration has also set up 24-hour control rooms at Kalamassery Medical College and also at the office of the District Medical Officer (DMO) for the public to call if they experience any difficulty due to inhalation of the smoke from the plant. Public can call the Medical College control room at 8075774769 or the DMO control room at 0484 2360802, authorities said. District Collector NSK Umesh, who assumed office today amidst political blame game over the fire, visited the site along with local MLA P V Sreenijan and Corporation Mayor M Ani

As Kochi smog continues for eight days, Muraleedharan slams Kerala CM

Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan on Thursday slammed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for his silence on the ongoing problem of smog that has engulfed

Plastic not to be dumped at Brahmapuram waste plant in Kochi: Kerala govt

The Kerala government on Wednesday decided that plastic will no longer be taken to the Brahmapuram waste plant where a fire, which broke out last week, is still smouldering leading to thick toxic smoke spreading out into the port-city of Kochi. The decision was taken in an emergency high-level meeting chaired by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the wake of the fire at the plant, the CMO said in a statement. It was also decided in the meeting, that bio-waste will be disposed of at the source as much as possible and the window composting system for organic waste treatment will be repaired urgently, the statement said. The Chief Minister also suggested holding of meetings in which Ministers, people's representatives, including mayors, would participate to deal with the issue of waste management and disposal, it said. Earlier in the day, in the wake of the still-smouldering fire at the Brahmapuram waste plant here and the toxic smoke being generated from there, the Kerala High

Kochi chokes on pollution as fumes from waste plant fire continues

High Court says city 'trapped in gas chamber'; IAF choppers spray water; schools shut for two days

Fire fighters continue battling fire at Brahmapuram waste plant in Kochi

As many as 30 fire tenders, two Navy helicopters and over 120 fire force personnel among others on Monday continued to battle the fire at the Brahmapuram waste plant here from where toxic smoke has spread across the city and neighbouring areas. Even though the fire appears to be extinguished, huge amounts of smoke was still rising from the waste mound. The Kakkanad, Aroor and Vytilla regions of the city appeared to be hazy during the day. District authorities said each of the fire tenders was using approximately 40,000 litres of water each to put out the smoke. The authorities have pressed into use six excavators to pick the waste and pump water underneath. They also said that water is being taken from the nearby Kadamprayar river with the help of floating earth-moving equipment and powerful machines are being used to extinguish smoke by flooding the entire area which is under fire. The Navy helicopter, Seaking, collected water from a nearby reservoir and poured it over the ...

Fire from Brahmapuram waste plant under control, thick smoke persists

Giant plumes of toxic smoke continued to rise from the Brahmapuram waste plant here on Sunday evening as hundreds of firefighters, including Naval personnel, battled to bring the blaze that has gone on for four days under control. A senior police officer said that the fire appeared to be extinguished, but huge amounts of smoke was still rising from the site and therefore, it may not have been quelled completely. Aerial visuals of the site aired on various channels showed huge and thick plumes of smoke billowing from the site which appeared to be completely ravaged by the fire. Meanwhile, the district administration declared Monday as a holiday for Anganwadis, kindergartens, day care centres and children of classes 1 to 7 of government, aided, unaided, CBSE and ICSE schools located in Kochi city and neighbouring gram panchayats and municipalities. Earlier in the day, Kerala Industries Minister P Rajeeve said that the fire was under control and would hopefully be extinguished by ...

Close to 1,500 flights from Kochi airport weekly during summer: CIAL

Close to 1,500 flights would be operated every week from the Cochin International Airport as part of its summer schedule starting from March 26 till October 28 this year, CIAL said. The summer schedule of 1,484 flight services every week would also include 332 weekly departures to international destinations by 31 airlines of which 23 are foreign carriers, the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) said in a release. Indigo, which tops the list with 63 weekly departures to international destinations, has also started operations on a new sector -- Kochi to Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE, the release said. The domestic services will see an increase in flights to Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, it said. During the winter schedule there were 1,202 weekly services from the airport, it further said. "Over the past ten years, the aviation sector in India has undergone significant expansion and transformation. With more people choosing to travel by air than ever before, India is now the ...

Will ensure no child is addicted to drugs: Kochi's New Police Commissioner

No child should become an addict to drugs, that is the goal set by the new Police Commissioner of the port city K Sethuraman, who took charge here on Sunday. Speaking to reporters after taking charge as Kochi City Police Commissioner, Sethuraman said, "Our priority is to ensure that no child from now on becomes an addict to drugs. That is our goal. We will work to ensure that." The senior police officer said no activities which lead children astray would be permitted. He said strict action would be taken by the police to prevent such activities. Regarding the law and order in the port city, Sethuraman said if you look at the entire country, Kochi was one of the cities where law was being followed properly. He further said his predecessor -- Nagaraju Chakilam -- set a good standard and he intends to take it forward in the same manner.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan launches Jio 5G in Kochi, Guruvayoor temple

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday inaugurated the 5G services provided by Jio in Kochi city and Guruvayur temple premises. Vijayan launched Jio True 5G and Jio True 5G Powered Wi-Fi services, digitally from Thiruvananthapuram, for an event organised here. Speaking at the event, Vijayan said the 5G services in the long run will bring transformational benefits for people of Kerala. Jio, in a release said, it has invested over Rs 6,000 crore for deploying the 5G network in Kerala and will be launching 5G services in Thiruvananthapuram by the end of this month followed by Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Malappuram by January 2023. "By December 2023 every tehsil and taluk of Kerala will have Jio's 5G services," the release said. It said 5G will also enable citizens and the government to remain connected on a real time basis and will also improve implementation and efficiency of government schemes for the last mile user. Jio group epxressed their gratitude towards the Chief ..

Kerala CM inaugurates India's biggest business jet terminal in Kochi

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday inaugurated a new Business Jet Terminal at Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL)