Latest news with #Barodians
Time of India
08-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Crocodile alert! City's residents turn rescuers amid monsoon surge
Vadodara: When a crocodile recently entered a residential colony in Sayajigunj, local resident Abhishek Dhanavade didn't panic. Instead, he calmly approached the reptile, covered its eyes with a cloth, and guided it into a corner—preventing any harm to residents. Dhanavade isn't a trained wildlife rescuer, but like many Barodians, he has taken a crash course in crocodile handling. With reptiles from Vishwamitri River, bisecting the city, emerging frequently during monsoon - sometimes in the most unexpected places like kitchens and parkings - an increasing number of Barodians are coming forward to handle the situation on their own. "Last year, dozens of crocodiles were spotted near our colony at night. Rescue teams can't always reach in time, so I decided to get basic training," said 25-year-old Dhanavade. Crocodile rescues are often overstretched as they are flooded with calls due to crocodiles crawling out in public places. So, many residential societies, especially those in the low-lying areas in the vicinity of the river, have been undergoing informal training in handling the reptiles. Wildlife activist Hemant Vadhwana, who regularly conducts training sessions , said increasing number of people are now requesting lessons. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indian Investors Are Buying These Dubai Apartments—Here's Why Binghatti Developers FZE Explore Undo "We educate people on crocodile behaviour and safety. But our primary advice is not to attempt rescue in abscence of experts," Vadhwana told TOI. In just three months of the last monsoon season, nearly 100 crocodiles were rescued from across Vadodara, with some found far from the river—like a baby crocodile that entered a kitchen in Karelibaug and another spotted under a parked car in Bil. Arvind Pawar of Wildlife Rescue Trust (WRT) said crocodile sightings have surged even in densely populated areas. "That's why we conduct awareness training and demonstrations. These sessions help people stay calm and make rescue efforts easier. This also gives us more time to reach the spot." The forest department has also stepped in, launching awareness campaigns and putting up warning signboards in vulnerable zones. "Despite being large and seemingly slow, crocodiles can strike with alarming speed and cause serious injuries," said animal activist Neha Patel.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Vadodara to host men's ODI after 16 years!
Vadodara: The 16-year-long wait for cricket-loving Barodians is finally set to end. The city will host a men's one-day international (ODI) at the Kotambi International Cricket Stadium. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The BCCI has scheduled the first ODI between India and New Zealand in Vadodara on Jan 11, 2026. Coincidentally, the last ODI played in the city in 2010 was also between India and New Zealand at the Reliance Stadium. India won the match by nine wickets. "It is a matter of privilege for a venue to be chosen to host an international cricket match in any format. The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) is honoured as it has been given an opportunity to host the India-New Zealand ODI," said Pranav Amin, BCA president. The BCCI recently announced its cricketing calendar for the rest of the year, but Vadodara didn't figure on the list of venues for any international men's cricket match in 2025. Sources in the BCA said that Amin took up the matter with the BCCI and requested the senior officials to consider the city as a venue for the men's ODI or international T20 match, as the city now has a brand new international cricket stadium. BCA officials said that the city will now be regularly allotted ODIs and international T20 matches. The city has in the past hosted 10 ODIs at Reliance Stadium. However, the BCCI brought in a rule that mandated the state cricket associations to own a stadium for hosting international matches. The BCA didn't have a stadium of its own and hence missed out on several opportunities to host ODIs, T20 internationals, and IPL matches over the last 16 years. The cricket stadium was a major poll issue in the BCA for nearly 20 years, and the association even made a few attempts to buy land for constructing a stadium. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The deals, though, failed. The BCA finally managed to buy a piece of land at Kotambi in 2014, but the stadium project kept hanging in the balance amid controversies and differences within the BCA management. Construction of the stadium, which has a capacity of 35,000 spectators, finally took off in 2020. In December 2024, the Rs 250-crore Kotambi stadium hosted an India-West Indies women's ODI, which was followed by Women's Premier League T20 matches this year. Vadodara: The 16-year-long wait for cricket-loving Barodians is finally set to end. The city will host a men's one-day international (ODI) at the Kotambi International Cricket Stadium. The BCCI has scheduled the first ODI between India and New Zealand in Vadodara on Jan 11, 2026. Coincidentally, the last ODI played in the city in 2010 was also between India and New Zealand at the Reliance Stadium. India won the match by nine wickets. "It is a matter of privilege for a venue to be chosen to host an international cricket match in any format. The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) is honoured as it has been given an opportunity to host the India-New Zealand ODI," said Pranav Amin, BCA president. The BCCI recently announced its cricketing calendar for the rest of the year, but Vadodara didn't figure on the list of venues for any international men's cricket match in 2025. Sources in the BCA said that Amin took up the matter with the BCCI and requested the senior officials to consider the city as a venue for the men's ODI or international T20 match, as the city now has a brand new international cricket stadium. BCA officials said that the city will now be regularly allotted ODIs and international T20 matches. The city has in the past hosted 10 ODIs at Reliance Stadium. However, the BCCI brought in a rule that mandated the state cricket associations to own a stadium for hosting international matches. The BCA didn't have a stadium of its own and hence missed out on several opportunities to host ODIs, T20 internationals, and IPL matches over the last 16 years. The cricket stadium was a major poll issue in the BCA for nearly 20 years, and the association even made a few attempts to buy land for constructing a stadium. The deals, though, failed. The BCA finally managed to buy a piece of land at Kotambi in 2014, but the stadium project kept hanging in the balance amid controversies and differences within the BCA management. Construction of the stadium, which has a capacity of 35,000 spectators, finally took off in 2020. In December 2024, the Rs 250-crore Kotambi stadium hosted an India-West Indies women's ODI, which was followed by Women's Premier League T20 matches this year.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
BPL to offer free entry for cricket fans
Vadodara: Cricket-loving Barodians can enjoy the thrill of the T20 format without spending a penny, as the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) has decided to keep entry free for the inaugural edition of the Baroda Premier League (BPL), which kicks off on Sunday at the Kotambi International Cricket Stadium. BCA treasurer Sheetal Mehta announced that no entry fee would be charged for spectators. The title trophy for the league was unveiled on Thursday in the presence of team owners, players, and BCA officials. BCA president Pranav Amin said the BPL would provide a valuable platform for local talent to shine and potentially catch the eye of national selectors. As a mark of respect for the victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash, the BCA refrained from organising an elaborate launch ceremony on Thursday. However, Devendra Surti, BCA member and head of the Cricket Hitrakshak Samiti, urged the association to consider postponing the tournament in light of the tragedy. This year's edition features five privately owned teams. Amin added that while the franchises were sold to owners for this season, the BCA may consider introducing a player auction system from the next edition if the league gains traction. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Gotri garba market faces civic action over land encroachment
Vadodara: The traditional garments market at Kunal Crossroads in Gotri — well-known among Barodians, especially Garba enthusiasts — has come under the scanner for allegedly encroaching on land owned by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). Following the revelation, the civic body has initiated a survey to assess the extent of encroachment. The issue surfaced after local residents complained that a girl from a nearby housing society was harassed by someone associated with the market. The incident triggered a series of complaints, prompting BJP leader Rajesh Ayre to raise the matter with VMC last week. On Tuesday, his son and BJP corporator, Shrirang Ayre, brought up the issue during the VMC general board meeting. In response, VMC officials visited the site and, after assessing the situation, ordered a formal survey of the area. Vendors operating temporary stalls at the site have been advised to vacate voluntarily. Officials confirmed that the civic body will soon begin issuing notices to start the formal eviction process for unauthorized vendors operating on VMC land.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
AAI proposes separate runway to boost Vadodara airport capacity
Vadodara: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has proposed the construction of a separate runway at Vadodara airport to support its expansion and improve operational efficiency. The proposal was discussed during the airport advisory committee meeting held on Tuesday, chaired by Vadodara MP Hemang Joshi . It was resolved that a formal request for land acquisition to build a parallel taxi runway will be sent to the Gujarat govt. "The proposal to acquire land for a parallel taxi runway will be forwarded to the Gujarat govt," Joshi told TOI following the meeting. He also stated that Vadodara airport is fully equipped—both in terms of infrastructure and regulatory compliance—to handle up to 350 international passengers daily. Despite the airport's readiness, international flight operations are yet to begin, much to the disappointment of Barodians. The modern terminal building was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Although the airport received official clearance to begin international operations—along with a gazette notification enabling customs and immigration facilities in March 2023—airlines have cited a lack of available aircraft as the reason for the delay in launching international services. Domestically, the airport has seen growth. "Our domestic passenger handling capacity has risen from 750 to 1,000 passengers per day," Joshi said. He added that AAI will soon write to domestic airlines to request increased connectivity to and from Vadodara. Tuesday's meeting was attended by officials from the Vadodara collectorate, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation, the Indian Air Force, CISF, and representatives from airline operators including IndiGo and Air India.
