Page 17 - Kolkata

LS elections: TMC to launch poll campaign with mega rally in Kolkata today

The Trinamool Congress will launch its Lok Sabha poll campaign with a grand rally on Sunday at Kolkata's famed Brigade Parade Grounds, where party supremo Mamata Banerjee is expected to set the tone for the upcoming elections. Christened 'Jana Garjan Sabha', the mega event will feature three platforms, including a cross ramp, with Mamata Banerjee and TMC's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee taking centre-stage as the main speakers. The rally's overarching theme revolves around the alleged withholding of the state's financial dues by the central government, a contentious issue that has dominated state politics for the past two years. Lakhs of supporters and numerous block-level leaders were seen in the morning flocking from different districts to hear their leader, affectionately called 'Didi'. "We are organising a rally at Brigade Parade Grounds after a long time. It is going to be a historic event. Our party supremo Mamata Banerjee will give a message which we will take

MSMEs need to be future ready, foster development, says CII president

CII conference highlights MSMEs' future readiness and role in eastern region's development

TMC critic Abhijit Gangopadhyay joins BJP after quitting as HC judge

Former Calcutta HC judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay is known for his judgement ordering a CBI probe into the alleged West Bengal teacher recruitment scam, in which CM Mamata Banerjee's nephew is a suspect

PM Modi rides underwater metro, launches Rs 15k crore projects in Kolkata

Prime Minister Modi was spotted taking a metro ride on Kolkata's Esplanade - Howrah Maidan metro route, which is India's first underwater metro

PM Modi launches India's first underwater metro service in Bengal: 5 points

Kolkata underwater metro launch: Built at a cost of Rs 4,965 crore, the engineering marvel is part of the 16.6 km of the East-West Metro corridor

India's first underwater metro: Key things you need to know

Kolkata-bound Spicejet flight from Delhi delayed 5 hrs due to hoax message

A Kolkata-bound Spicejet flight was delayed for more than five hours on Tuesday after the Delhi airport received a threat message about explosives being hidden in the passengers' luggage, official sources said. A woman carrying an infant has been detained by security agencies for questioning in the case, the sources said. The flight, SG-8263, was scheduled to depart around 5:40 am but it was allowed to leave only after 11:30 am after the security agencies completed an anti-sabotage check and repeat frisking of check-in and cabin baggage of the travellers and crew, they said. The airport duty manager at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport received an email around 5:20 am that "there is a safety issue" on the said flight and that "somebody was taking explosion goods in bags and luggage" onboard, a senior official said. The message was immediately flashed across and a bomb threat assessment committee comprising various security agencies and airport officials was convened. T

ED conducts raids in Kolkata in connection with fake call centre scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is carrying out raids and search operations at multiple locations in the city in connection with a fake call centre scam, a senior officer said on Wednesday. The raids and searches targeted the residences and offices of associates of the owner of Met Technologies Private Limited in the Beniapukur and Baguihati areas, he added. "We are trying to find out where was the money was siphoned to and what roles were played by these people. It seems that several crores of funds were illegally transferred abroad. Hawala connection cannot be ruled out," the ED officer told PTI. According to the agency, the state CID had arrested the owner of the firm in September last year on charges of stealing around Rs 1,000 crore from foreign and Indian nationals through his fake call centre which he had opened in 2005. While in CID custody, the accused tried to destroy evidence by calling some associates, the ED officer claimed.

GPT Healthcare sets price band at Rs 177-188 for IPO opening on Feb 22

The company revealed the price band for its upcoming initial public offering (IPO), set at Rs 177 to 188 per share

Deliver baggage within 30 minutes of landing, BCAS tells airlines

The aviation security regulator gives February 26 deadline for compliance

Bengal school jobs scam: ED searches builder's homes, office in Kolkata

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday began raids at the residences and office of a builder, who is considered close to former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, in connection with its probe into alleged irregularities in the recruitment in primary schools in the state, an official said. Accompanied by central forces, ED teams raided an office and three flats of the businessman, one of which is just opposite the Chatterjee's house, in Naktala in the southern part of Kolkata, he said. The builder has played a significant role in the scam. It seems that the person has helped the arrested minister in investing the money garnered from the scam in different projects, the ED officer told PTI. Chatterjee was arrested by the central agency in connection with alleged irregularities in recruitment in government-aided schools. The ED had earlier questioned the builder twice in connection with the alleged scam. Several documents and bank details seized from the possession of the per

Confusion and concern: Traders brace for impact of Paytm crisis

Some shift to alternatives and shun the platform, others still swear by it

Kolkata's very own Hogwarts

While the reading culture erodes and many books go unread, the passion for buying them remains unabated at fairs

Kolkata banks to remain closed today: Check India-wise holidays this week

Bank holidays in January: The upcoming weekend is a long one for the bank employees due to Republic Day, a fourth Saturday on the following day, and January 28 being a Sunday

Bengal school jobs scam: ED conducts raids in Kolkata for over 12 hours

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday raided eight places in and around Kolkata in connection with its probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment in state-run and-aided schools of West Bengal, a senior officer said. The raids, which started around 6.30 am, ended in phases in the evening and the final one at around 10 pm. The searches were conducted at the residences, offices and bungalows of those who allegedly "acted as middlemen" in the scam, he said. "These middlemen used to collect money and transfer it to various addresses. We are conducting raids at the residences and offices used by them," the ED officer told PTI. Accompanied by a huge number of central forces, the ED officers started search operations at New Town and Nayabad on the eastern fringes of Kolkata, and Mukundapur in the south, he said, adding that family members of the alleged middlemen were also questioned. The officer said one of the "middlemen" was very close to former Bengal minister Partha ...

The pros and cons of digital loan apps

Are the borrowers getting into a debt trap, without understanding the risks? Digital lending is still a grey area

Kolkata's real estate market shows robust growth in 2023: Knight Frank

Kolkata's real estate market witnessed unprecedented growth in both the residential and office segments last year, a real estate report said on Wednesday. The city experienced a stellar year in office leasing transactions, with a staggering 1.4 million sq ft of office spaces transacted in 2023, marking a healthy 20 per cent growth year-on-year (YoY), Knight Frank India's Residential and Office Market Report (H2 2023) stated. This is also a 9-year high in office leasing transactions. The report also notes phenomenal growth recorded in new office completions, reaching a remarkable 0.8 million sq ft in 2023, a staggering 332 per cent jump YoY, making it the highest volume recorded in the past five years. The surge was fueled by robust occupier interest across various sectors, indicating a positive economic outlook, "The commercial market in Kolkata is now witnessing a consistent rise in transactions exceeding half a million with significant engagement from India-facing business as ...

Kolkata's air worsens on New Year's Day due to bursting of firecrackers

The air quality in Kolkata worsened on New Year's Day, mainly due to the bursting of firecrackers at midnight, an official of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) said. Immediately after the midnight celebrations, the air quality index (PM 2.5) turned 250 in some southern and northern parts of the city, with smog reminiscent of Kali Puja night. However, it dipped slightly on Monday morning but some places such as Ballygunge and Jadavpur still experienced poor quality air of AQI 281 till 1 pm, the official said. Air monitoring stations at Victoria Memorial recorded marginally better AQI at 199, followed by 161 at Rabindra Sarobar and 152 at Bidhannagar, he said. While an AQI of 200 and above is classified as 'poor', the readings between 100 and 199 are categorised as 'moderate', both causing breathing discomfort to people with lung and heart diseases. Bursting of firecrackers coupled with particulate matters hanging in the air in winter, plus more number of cars hitting

Kolkata restaurants see surge in footfall during Christmas-New Year week

City-based restaurants are experiencing a surge in customer footfall during the Christmas-New Year week from December 24-27, according to an official of the Hostel and Restaurant Association of Eastern India (HRAEI). HRAEI president Sudesh Poddar said crowd turnout is expected to improve further leading up to the New Year. The association reported a 15% increase in food consumption, with customers patiently waiting for three to four hours to savour their favourite dishes. Poddar mentioned that his own fine dining restaurants, Manthan and Manthan Songhai, continue to have full house with customers waiting patiently for hours. Bar-cum-restaurant owners have requested the government to extend the closing time till 2 am until January 1 and urged patrons not to drive their vehicles to comply with the administration's road safety request. Nitin Kothari, owner of Peter Cat, Mocambo, and Peter Hu?, said after Durga puja, there was brief slump, but customer response has been exceptionally

Intermittent rain hampers normal life in Kolkata, south Bengal districts

Intermittent rain and chilly wind greeted the denizens of Kolkata and adjoining districts in south Bengal on Thursday morning hampering normal life. The Met department has forecast a generally cloudy sky with light to moderate rain over east India till Friday morning as cyclonic storm Michaung weakened into a less marked low-pressure area over Chhattisgarh. Kolkata and other south Bengal districts received intermittent rain on Thursday morning accompanied by chilly wind, giving the denizens the first feel of winter this season. People faced difficulties going to work with traffic snarls occurring at some places in the city and adjoining Salt Lake area. Owing to cloudy conditions, the minimum temperature in the city was above normal by three notches at 19.9 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the Met said. The maximum temperature is, however, likely to remain well below normal owing to the weather conditions, it said.