Page 16 - Kolkata

2.4 mn travelled in underwater stretch of Kolkata Metro in last 2 months

Around 24 lakh passengers travelled in the newly launched underwater stretch of Metro Railway connecting the twin cities of Kolkata and Howrah in past two months, a railway statement said. Commercial metro services from Howrah Maidan to the Esplanade stretch of Green Line 2 and Kavi Subhash (New Garia) to Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (Ruby More) stretch of Orange Line started on March 15. During the period 24 lakh commuters travelled in the Howrah Maidan Esplanade corridor (Green Line 2) of East-West Metro, a part of which runs under the river Ganga. The Metro Railway earned Rs 3.40 crore in that section during the period, the statement said. Howrah Metro station has been the busiest station during the last two months in the corridor. This station has recorded 11.67 lakh passenger count which has been the highest passenger count among all the stations in this corridor. In Orange Line, more than 55 thousand passengers travelled in the last two months and Metro has earned Rs 11.64 lakh.

TMC leader Sanjay Das murder: Police makes arrest in case from Port Blair

A man was arrested from Port Blair in connection with the murder of a TMC leader in Baguiati on the northern fringes of Kolkata, police said on Saturday. Sanjeev Das, also known as Potla, was killed allegedly in a clash between two factions of the TMC on April 27, they said. A businessman, identified as Kapil Deb, was arrested from a lodge in Aberdeen Bazaar in Port Blair in a joint operation by the South Andaman Police and the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate on May 16, they added. South Andaman's SP Niharika Bhatt told PTI, "The West Bengal Police shared information about the accused and we immediately began a search. Meanwhile, a team of officers from West Bengal also arrived here and in a joint operation we managed to arrest Kapil Deb from a hotel in Aberdeen Bazaar." "Investigations revealed that Kapil after committing the crime along with others fled to Port Blair on a plane. He was taken to West Bengal on a transit remand. He is the owner of hotels in New Town and its ...

Fatal heat waves are testing India's ability to protect 1.4 billion people

Attempts in Kolkata and across India to improve resilience to extreme heat have often been equally ill-conceived, despite a death toll estimated at more than 24,000 since 1992

Manipal Hospitals acquires 87% stake in hospital chain Medica Synergie

Manipal Hospitals on Monday said it has acquired an 87 per cent stake in Kolkata-based hospital chain Medica Synergie for an undisclosed amount. The hospital chain has inked a binding agreement to acquire 87 per cent stake in Medica, a statement said. The acquisition is in line with Manipal Hospitals' strategy of expanding its footprint and presence in Eastern India, it said in a statement. "With this acquisition Manipal Hospitals builds on its strong presence in Eastern India, enabling us to expand our reach and meet the healthcare needs of this under-served region," Manipal Hospitals MD & CEO Dilip Jose said. He further said: "We will integrate Medica Synergie into our portfolio and rebrand it." The addition of Medica has taken the bed count of Manipal Hospitals from over 9,500 to over 10,500. In September 2023, Manipal Hospitals acquired an 84 per cent stake in Emami Group's AMRI Hospitals Ltd.

HC nulls 2016 recruitment test for WB govt sponsored, aided schools

The Calcutta High Court on Monday declared as null and void the selection process of State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided schools, ordering cancellation of all appointments made through it. A division bench comprising justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi also directed the CBI to undertake further investigation in respect of the appointment process, and submit a report in three months. The bench directed the West Bengal School Service Commission to initiate a fresh appointment process. Over 23 lakh candidates had appeared for the 2016 SLST for 24,640 vacant posts.

IPL 2024: KKR vs RCB head-to-head, Kolkata pitch report, weather forecast

Kolkata vs Bengaluru head-to-head: In the first meeting between them in IPL 2024, it was the men from the east that reigned supreme in the south in what was a one-sided affair

IPL 2024: KKR vs RR head-to-head, Kolkata pitch report, weather forecast

Kolkata vs Rajasthan head-to-head: It has been neck to neck fight with the Knight Riders winning 14 and the Royals winning 13 of them

IPL 2024: KKR vs LSG Playing 11 - Shamar Joseph find place in Lucknow's XI

KKR vs LSG Playing 11: Shamar Joseph gets the debut cap for Lucknow Super Giants. Devdutt Padikkal and Naveen-ul-Haq were dropped from Lucknow's Playing 11 after lacklustre performances.

IPL 2024: KKR vs LSG head-to-head, Kolkata pitch report, weather forecast

Kolkata vs Lucknow head-to-head: The Super Giants has the only game at the Eden Gardens between the two sides which took place in IPL 2023

Major fire breaks out in Kolkata, several shanties gutted, none injured

A major fire broke out in Dum Dum area of Kolkata on Saturday morning, gutting several shanties in a slum, officials said. However, no casualties have been reported so far in the incident that took place in Mela Bagan in Dum Dum area. At least eight fire tenders have been pressed into service to douse the blaze, as thick smoke and flames were seen billowing from the shanties, which were predominantly made of plastic and other flammable materials, they said. "Firefighting operations are underway as fire tenders are facing difficulties in accessing the location due to contested alleys but are trying our best to use alternate methods to douse the blaze," a fire department official said. The cause of the blaze, however, is yet to be ascertained. State fire minister Sujit Bose said that robots will be deployed wherever fire tenders are unable to access the spot. CPI (M)'s Dum Dum Lok Sabha seat Sujan Chakraborty reached the spot and appealed to everyone to help the affected people.

Indian pipe manufacturer Global Seamless to invest $35 million in Louisiana

An India-based pipe manufacturing company has announced that it will invest USD 35 million to establish its first US production facility in northwest Louisiana and expects to create hundreds of jobs in the region. Howrah-based Global Seamless Tubes & Pipes exports its products to industry customers in more than 10 countries worldwide. Its Louisiana facility will have advanced machinery that integrates both hot-finishing and cold-drawn manufacturing processes in the same unit, positioning the company to meet growing demand better and build a domestic supply chain for North American customers in engineering, oil and gas and power generation sectors, according to a press statement. The company expects to create 135 direct new jobs in DeSoto Parish. Louisiana Economic Development (LED) estimates the project will result in 251 indirect new jobs, for a total of 386 potential new jobs in the Northwest Region. As a natural gas hub and a key player in the international energy supply chain,

Shoppers Stop bets on beauty, picks Kolkata for industry's 'largest store'

West Bengal's capital city is important to company's growth target, says senior executive

Suvendu files RTI over Kolkata building collapse that killed 9 people

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act over the collapse of an illegal under-construction building in Kolkata's western fringes, which claimed at least nine lives and injured several others. The five-storey building in the Garden Reach area collapsed early on Monday. Adhikari, also the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal assembly, alleged, "In the aftermath of the Garden Reach tragedy, the unpreparedness of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has been totally exposed." "As a responsible leader of the opposition, I have initiated the process of data compilation regarding the process of sanctioning building plans, rejection of the same, issuing of completion certificates, identification and demolition of illegal buildings, etc," he posted on X on Wednesday. Adhikari also said this data would certainly help in "assessing the risk posed by the illegal buildings, which have been built without valid permission". The RTI petiti

Kolkata building collapse leaves 5 dead, CM Mamata assures stern action

At least 10 people were rescued after an under-construction building collapsed here late on Sunday night, officials said. The five-storey building collapsed in Hazari Mollah Bagan in the Garden Reach area. A search operation is underway to find survivors who may be trapped under the rubble, they said. "An under-construction building collapsed in the Garden Reach area late on Sunday night. We have rescued a few people. The recuse operation is still going on," a police official said. Ambulances were stationed at the spot. In a post on X, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said, "I urge @chief_west, Secretary @HomeBengal, @CPKolkata to immediately involve West Bengal State Disaster Management Team for immediate Rescue & Relief." "I am receiving frantic calls regarding probable casualties. Please dispatch any team which can help in rescuing the victims, be it Fire Servicemen, Police or any other team," he said. Adhikari also shared pictures from the ...

Luxury members-only club Soho House coming to Delhi and South Mumbai

Company introduces Cities Without Houses membership format in six Indian cities

Kolkata GPO: India's first general post office completes 250 years

Established in 1774 by the then Governor General of Bengal, Warren Hastings, Kolkata GPO holds the distinction of being India's first general post office. Over its 250-year history, it has served as a testament to the evolution of postal services in the country. This month, Kolkata GPO is celebrating its remarkable journey, highlighting its pivotal role in shaping the postal landscape of India. Kolkata GPO has been the cornerstone of comprehensive and extensive postal services throughout the nation. It embodies the ethos that 'India Post is always on the move', as emphasised by Niraj Kumar, Chief Postmaster General of West Bengal Circle. The authorities are leaving no stone unturned to showcase the rich heritage and legacy of GPO Kolkata with a series of events such as postal and philatelic exhibitions on 'Journey of Mails', the release of a special cover on a boat, heritage walk and several cultural programmes during the March 14-19 period. The 250th anniversary celebration of the

India's first underwater metro surpasses 70,000 passenger count on day 1

The Howrah Maidan-Esplanade metro section, which passes below the Hooghly river through the country's first under-water transportation tunnel, carried more than 70,000 passengers on the first day of its operation, an official said on Saturday. Commercial operation on the stretch started on Friday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated it on March 6. The number of passengers on the first day in this 4.8-km underground stretch between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade was 70,204, the official said. He said that out of these, 23,444 persons boarded at Howrah Maidan, while 20,923 passengers boarded at Howrah, which is the deepest metro station in India. Mahakaran and Esplanade metro stations recorded 13,453 and 12,384 originating passengers, respectively, on the first day, the official said. The Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of the East West metro corridor has the first transportation tunnel under any mighty river in India. It passes under the Hooghly, on the east and west banks o

Infra companies among top electoral bond donors: Election Commission

Cement majors donated Rs 233 crore; in mining and metals, Vedanta, Aditya Birla Group also figure among top 10

Country's first underwater metro train commences commercial services

Commercial services of the country's first underwater metro train commenced in Kolkata on Friday with hundreds of passengers erupting into jubilation on their first ride. A train began its journey from the Howrah Maidan station on the East-West metro corridor of Kolkata at 7 am with loud cheers and claps from commuters, while another started from Esplanade station at the same time. Hundreds of commuters thronged the stations in the early morning to be part of the "first-day first underwater metro" bandwagon. At Howrah Maidan station, passengers were seen standing in a long queue in the morning to get a ticket, while the authorities greeted them with rose stems at Esplanade station. There was excitement among the passengers while a section of commuters at the Howrah Maidan station started chanting 'Jai Sri Ram' slogan as they boarded the train. The commercial services began after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on March 6 inaugurated the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of Kolkata

Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee suffers injury on forehead, admitted to hospital

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday evening suffered injuries on her forehead and was admitted to a hospital, the TMC said. Our chairperson @MamataOfficial sustained a major injury. Please keep her in your prayers, the party posted on X along with pictures of Banerjee bleeding from her forehead. According to sources, she was admitted to the state-run SSKM Hospital in Kolkata. The details of how she received the injury are still awaited.