Latest news with #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt seeks public inputs for Viksit Maha 2047 via survey
Nagpur: Maharashtra govt has launched a statewide citizen survey to collect public opinion for the preparation of 'Viksit Maharashtra 2047' vision document. The initiative is part of a 150-day programme led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, aimed at shaping a long-term development roadmap for the state in alignment with the national India@2047 goal. The survey, officially inaugurated on June 17, encourages citizens to share their views on development priorities across 16 key sectors for which seven questions are to be answered on WhatsApp chatbot. These include agriculture, education, health, rural and urban development, land and water resources, infrastructure, finance, industry, services, social development, security, soft power, technology, and human resource management. Citizens can participate in the survey by scanning QR code displayed on official banners or by visiting the link: The planning department has clarified that no personal information will be collected during the process. The vision document aims to guide Maharashtra toward becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2029 and a $5 trillion economy by 2047. Departments have been directed to set short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals, focusing on progress, sustainability, inclusivity, and good governance. Experts and organisations from both govt and non-govt sectors will also be involved in drafting sector-wise plans. The campaign falls under the broader framework of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the national movement marking 100 years of India's independence in 2047. It emphasizes citizen engagement as a cornerstone for planning and decision-making. The chief minister has directed all district collectors, commissioners, and local officials to ensure public participation by promoting the survey at key locations. The govt believes that the input of citizens is essential in creating a development agenda that reflects real ground-level needs and aspirations. Residents across Maharashtra are urged to take part in this opportunity to help shape the future of the state.
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
BMRCL rolls out ad-wrapped Namma Metro trains to boost non-fare revenue
In a move to ramp up its non-fare earnings, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has rolled out advertisement-wrapped trains on both the Purple and Green lines of Namma Metro. The initiative, which began on June 9, marks the first time in the 13-year history of Namma Metro that full-body train advertisements have been introduced. BMRCL has entered into two separate seven-year agreements with advertising firms for this initiative. Mudra Ventures has secured exclusive rights for the Purple Line while Lokesh Outdoor has been granted the same for the Green Line. The contract values are ₹1.26 crore and ₹81.49 lakh, respectively. Letters of Acceptance (LoA) for both companies were issued on January 29. According to senior officials at BMRCL, the contracts include permission for full exterior train wrapping and internal advertising. 'We expect to generate at least ₹25 crore per year from these contracts,' said a senior BMRCL official. The move comes shortly after BMRCL increased metro fares by up to 71%, a decision that drew public criticism. BMRCL wraps trains with ads for the first time in 13 years to boost non-fare revenue. Aiming ₹25 Cr/year from Purple & Green Line deals. @THBengaluru@the_hindu#NammaMetro#Bengaluru#BMRCL# — Darshan Devaiah B P (@DarshanDevaiahB) June 10, 2025 BMRCL sheds ad-wrap fears after trials This is a significant shift in policy for BMRCL, which until recently was hesitant to allow wrapping trains with advertisements. Officials had previously cited concerns that such wraps might damage the exterior surfaces of the trains. However, trial runs on two trains helped alleviate those fears. 'We conducted successful trials to ensure that the vinyl wraps do not damage the train surface. The applications will be done with care, ensuring that the aesthetic value of the coaches is maintained,' the official added. The only prior instance of a train being fully wrapped by BMRCL was not for commercial purpose. In March 2022, as part of the government of India's 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' campaign, one train was wrapped with visuals and slogans celebrating India's freedom struggle. That project cost around ₹8.5 lakh and took 10 days to complete. Currently, BMRCL operates 57 six-coach trains across its Purple and Green lines. While this is the first time the corporation is wrapping trains for commercial purposes, metro trains in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kochi have long adopted this practice. Delhi Metro, for instance, began wrapping its trains with advertisements in 2014. Metro's other non-fare income To enhance non-fare revenue has been a consistent part of BMRCL's strategy. Advertising within stations and coaches, renting out commercial space for outlets, ATMs, and parking, and granting permission for filming inside metro premises are just some of the revenue-generating initiatives the BMRCL has implemented over the years. BMRCL has also introduced promotional kiosks, electric vehicle charging stations, and leasing of space for telecom infrastructure, such as towers and optical fibre cables. One of BMRCL's most notable deals was with IKEA India Private Limited. It leased 13 acres near Nagasandra metro station to the retailer under a 60-year agreement signed in 2017. This single transaction netted the corporation ₹251 crore. Mixed commuter reactions The decision to use metro coaches for advertising has evoked a range of responses from commuters. Shreya Natarajan, a daily user of the Green Line and resident of Jalahalli, expressed concern over the aesthetic compromise. 'I remember reading that the windows wouldn't be covered. But they have gone ahead and done it now. The whole look of the trains is ruined. I know they need funds, but this feels excessive. We are surrounded by ads everywhere: buses, hoardings, even on our phones. Must the metro become a moving billboard too?' On the other hand, some passengers see the move as a necessary financial strategy. 'If the advertisement revenue helps in keeping ticket prices down and improves services, then I support it. But after the recent 71% fare hike, BMRCL must now consider reducing fares, or at least stop raising them,' said Mohan R., a commuter on the Purple Line and resident of Vijayanagar. BMTC also banks on ads for revenue boost Since January this year, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has begun fully wrapping its fleet of 3,000 non-AC buses with advertisements, aiming to enhance its non-fare revenue. Previously, advertising was restricted to the rear panels of the buses. This initiative follows a 15% fare hike implemented across all four State-run transport corporations in Karnataka. According to BMTC officials, the bus wrapping initiative is expected to bring in over ₹3 crore every month. With a total fleet of 6,158 buses, including 1,027 electric buses, the corporation anticipates a significant boost in revenue. In the financial year 2023–24, BMTC earned ₹811 crore from non-traffic revenue sources, such as leasing out land, bus terminals, commercial stalls, office spaces, and parking lots. Revenue from rear-side bus advertisements also contributed to this sum.
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Kalagram — a mini India of crafts and culture to come up in Dwarka Sector 7
Artistically designed huts dedicated to the culture of different states and regions across India, with space for artisans to exhibit and sell their handicrafts, an amphitheatre for screenings and musical performances, and a culinary centre — an elaborate village habitat-themed hub for all things art and heritage is set to come up in the city soon, officials aware of the matter said. Named Kalagram (which translates to village of art, adhering to the established theme), the Central Public Works Department will develop the cultural complex in Dwarka's Sector 7 within the campus of the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT). The project, which was cleared by the Union ministry of culture in 2023, has already received a funding sanction of ₹1 crore. The construction work is expected to complete within a year, said officials. CPWD has already floated tenders for the same. 'Once operational, the complex is expected to become a major attraction not only for Delhi residents but also for tourists and artists from across the country. It will serve as a platform for rural artisans to gain urban exposure, create economic opportunities, and enable cross-cultural learning,' said CCRT chairman, Vinod Narayan Indurkar. The initiative is part of the government's larger Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) campaign — a tribute to 75 years of Indian independence — and is being developed with a vision of showcasing the country's diverse traditional and contemporary art forms, Indurkar added. According to minutes from the 2023 board meeting, Kalagram's focus will be on 'imbibing architectural, aesthetic, historic, environmental, archaeological and even spiritual and symbolic values embedded in our heritage.' Spanning over 2.3 acres, Kalagram is being envisioned as a 'mini India', offering a panoramic view of the cultural mosaic that defines the nation. The complex will house 12 artistically designed huts, each dedicated to a different region of India and reflecting its unique craft, textile, and art traditions. These huts will provide space to artisans from across the country to exhibit and sell their handicrafts. In addition to these permanent structures, it will also feature temporary kiosks, an amphitheatre with a seating capacity of 400 people, and spaces for exhibitions, workshops, and live performances. It will be functional throughout the year to maintain consistent footfall and public engagement. There are also provisions for multiple conference rooms, and in the next phase of development, a hostel facility is expected to be added to accommodate artists and participants. 'We are in contact with artistes and performers from across the country, who will be invited for live performances and shows every day. We want to develop Kalagram as a lively and active space where people can spend time. That is why we are also developing a large open cafeteria,' said Indurkar. He added that the walls and other spaces within Kalagram will be adorned with handicraft and folk art from different regions across the country. The Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) last month granted design and development approval for the project. Officials familiar with the matter said the project has been carefully designed to blend into the urban character of Dwarka while adding a distinct cultural identity to the area. The detailed project report (DPR) states that the project has been conceived on the theme of a 'village habitat'. From the entrance structures to the material used, all elements will be in sync with a typical village environment, officials said, which will include walls finished with mud plaster, and roof of huts made with corrugated bamboo sheets. 'The exhibition huts have been placed at different levels in such a way to have the OAT as a contiguous part of the display area, thus enabling the visitors to enjoy cultural activities being arranged in the OAT from time-to-time. Site planning has been done in such a way that minimum trees will have to be cut,' the DPR mentions. Officials from the culture ministry said that Kalagram will not just be a tourist destination, but a functional cultural hub, serving students, art practitioners, scholars, and general visitors as a 'living ecosystem of culture and learning', adding that the project will draw from India's ancient gurukul system in its layout and learning modules. Established in 1979, CCRT has been promoting India's intangible heritage through educational programmes, scholarships for young artists, and its popular Virasat Kamaladevi Festival, which honours the contributions of cultural stalwart Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay.
India Today
20-05-2025
- General
- India Today
Indian Navy to induct traditionally built ‘Ancient Stitched Ship' today
The Indian Navy is set to induct and unveil the name of the 'Ancient Stitched Ship' during a ceremonial event as part of the ongoing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The ceremony will take place at the Naval Base, of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will preside over the ceremony as the Chief Guest, formally marking the ship's induction into the Indian stitched ship is a recreation of a 5th century CE vessel, inspired by a painting from the Ajanta Caves. This project was initiated through a tripartite agreement signed in July 2023 between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations. The Ministry of Culture funded the Indian Navy oversaw the complete implementation of the project, covering concept development, design, technical validation, and construction, in collaboration with Hodi Innovations and traditional artisans. A glimpse of the ship was shared by the navy on Ancient Stitched Ship was "launched" on #26Feb 25 by RAdm KM Ramakrishnan, #FOK, at M/s @Hodiinnovations Ltd, Stitched ship is a unique vessel built using wood, coir and natural resin. A traditional ceremony was conducted in the presence of the traditional artisans, SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) February 27, 2025advertisementThe keel of the ship was laid on September 12, IS ANCIENT STITCHED SHIP UNIQUE?The ship is unique as its construction was executed entirely using traditional methods and raw materials by artisans from Kerala, led by master shipwright Babu of hand-stitched joints were used in the process. The ship was launched in February 2025 at Hodi Shipyard, with square sails and steering oars, the ship differs entirely from modern vessels. Hull geometry, rigging, and sails were developed from first principles. The Indian Navy collaborated with the Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras, for model testing to validate the vessel's hydrodynamic performance. An in-house structural analysis was conducted to assess the wooden mast system, which was designed and built without the use of modern project posed several unique technical challenges, as no blueprints or physical remnants of such ships exist. The design was extrapolated from a two-dimensional artistic depiction and required a multidisciplinary approach, including archaeological interpretation, naval architecture, hydrodynamic testing, and traditional element of the vessel was carefully crafted to strike a balance between historical authenticity and seaworthiness, resulting in a ship that features a stitched hull, square sails, wooden spars, and traditional steering mechanisms—unlike any currently in naval service the successful construction of the Ancient Stitched Ship, the first and most formidable phase of the project is now complete. The next phase will involve the Indian Navy undertaking a transoceanic voyage along ancient maritime trade for the ship's maiden journey from Gujarat to Oman are already underway.
Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Tiranga Yatra' after Operation Sindoor to ‘Har Ghar Tiranga': A look at BJP's tricolour campaigns
The BJP is set to launch its 11-day 'Tiranga Yatra' on Tuesday to reach out to people across the country to highlight the success of Operation Sindoor under which the Indian armed forces struck at the terror bases in Pakistan as a response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Notably, this is the first 'Tiranga Yatra' that the BJP is undertaking after a military operation following a terror attack. However, it is not the first time that the ruling party is using Tiranga as a part of its campaign. The 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign has been an annual feature in the Narendra Modi government's calendar since 2022, which marked the 75th anniversary of India's Independence. According to the Ministry of Culture, 'Har Ghar Tiranga' is a campaign that started under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to encourage people to bring the tricolour home and to hoist it to mark India's independence. 'It stemmed from the thought that our relationship with the national flag has always been more formal and institutional than personal. Bringing the flag home collectively as a nation thus became symbolic of not only an act of personal connection to the Tiranga but also an embodiment of our collective commitment to nation-building,' the ministry states on its website. 'The idea behind the initiative was to invoke the feeling of patriotism in the hearts of the people and to promote awareness about the Indian National Flag,' the ministry adds. PM Modi himself has been a vocal proponent of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. In 2022, he made multiple social media posts to urge people to actively participate in the campaign. 'It is a special 2nd August today. At a time when we are marking Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, our nation is all set for Har Ghar Tiranga, a collective movement to celebrate our tricolour. I have changed the display picture on my social media pages and urge you all to do the same,' he had then said. Sharing pictures of people in France hoisting the Tricolour in 2023, the Ministry of Culture said, 'Har Ghar Tiranga spirit knows no bounds.' A BJP leader said the 'Tiranga template' for the party's campaigns had been much older, although its earlier yatras were called 'Ekta Yatras (unity processions)'. For instance, in 2011 – when Article 370 was in place in Jammu and Kashmir – Anurag Thakur, then president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the BJP's youth wing, undertook an 'Ekta Yatra' with the aim of hoisting the Tricolour in Srinagar. Thakur, 12 years later, said he was jailed for the 2011 yatra, while the Har Ghar Tiranga of 2022 saw the national flag being hoisted atop houses in the Union Territory after the Modi government abrogated Article 370 in August 2019. In 1991, then BJP president Murli Manohar Joshi also undertook an Ekta Yatra that culminated in him unfurling the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar with Modi at his side. Vikas Pathak is deputy associate editor with The Indian Express and writes on national politics. He has over 17 years of experience, and has worked earlier with The Hindustan Times and The Hindu, among other publications. He has covered the national BJP, some key central ministries and Parliament for years, and has covered the 2009 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls and many state assembly polls. He has interviewed many Union ministers and Chief Ministers. Vikas has taught as a full-time faculty member at Asian College of Journalism, Chennai; Symbiosis International University, Pune; Jio Institute, Navi Mumbai; and as a guest professor at Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. Vikas has authored a book, Contesting Nationalisms: Hinduism, Secularism and Untouchability in Colonial Punjab (Primus, 2018), which has been widely reviewed by top academic journals and leading newspapers. He did his PhD, M Phil and MA from JNU, New Delhi, was Student of the Year (2005-06) at ACJ and gold medalist from University Rajasthan College in Jaipur in graduation. He has been invited to top academic institutions like JNU, St Stephen's College, Delhi, and IIT Delhi as a guest speaker/panellist. ... Read More
