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To Pune, in 100 minutes

The first section of the Bombay-Pune Express highway is now open to traffic. The 30 kms stretch between Kon and Adoshi with a speed limit of 120 kms per hour, is open to four wheelers only.

The four-lane expressway will almost entirely be one-way to let vehicles clock 100 km per hour.

With the opening of the highway it is expected that traffic between Bombay-Pune will increase manifold as it will be easier to get away for pleasure and business from Bombay.

Beer bandh

Rajasthan has banned the sale of beer in all restaurants in the state. The Rajasthan government will not issue new licenses or renew licenses in future. The state's 74 beer bars will not sell beer.

A private trip

Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Limited (TAAL) has come up with an innovative leisure schemey for corporate travellers: flying to your destination in a five seater Italian manufactured P68C plane in executive comfort.

A distance of 270 km from Bangalore to Chennai can be covered in less than an hour for a cost of less than Rs 3,000 per person. You can charter their plane for Rs 22,000 per flying hour where a maximum of five people can traverse approximately 280 kms. With its ability to operate out of short, semi-prepared airfields, the P68C can comfortably access any one of the more than hundred exisiting airfields spread across India's lush forests and beaches.

TAAL have one aircraft each at Pune, Bangalore, Madras, Hyderabad and New Delhi, for corporate and business travellers to take advantage of. Food and drink can be served during flight on request and at no extra cost. Customers who have utilised this facility from Bangalore include the Tatas, Jindals, Mico and Kirloskars. There's a 50 per cent discount on the fare for the first trip

Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Limited (TAAL), Bangalore. Contact Santosh Deshpande at 080-5550609, 5550610.

How to sleep in an airport

Canada-based Donna Sherry runs a site that rates airports across the world.

These airports are rated for their potential as possible places to spend a night, for those on a tight budget, who would gladly avoid the cost of an extra night's stay in a hotel. Changi Airport, Singapore, for instance, is considered the most hippy friendly airport in the world and even offers warm showers. Changi's hospitality is apparently known far and wide and Singapore students even bunk over, when they are looking for a quiet place to study for their exams.

Athens airport is considered terribly unfriendly as security guards will even nudge authentic passengers awake if they doze in their plastic seats.

Interestingly, and obviously, Indian airports rate rather low. The Worst Airport Award has been handed to over to all of India's airports.

Check out her ratings. Interesting reading

Dial 020 for Pune

Pune has changed its STD code. To reach a number in the city, first dial 020, instead of 0212.

No more paper

Thomas Cook now offers theVisa Travel Money card at its offices across India.

Indians travelling abroad may now take their Basic Travel Quota on the card, a Visa product. Cash can be obtained from any Visa ATM abroad. Visa will charge US $ 1 per transaction. Travellers wishing to obtain a VTM card need only to produce their passports and tickets at the nearest Thomas Cook office in India. The card will become operational after 12 hours. The VTM is a dollar card and the rate offered is marginally more expensive than the standard market rate.

Ahmedabad: 208, Sakar III, near Gujarat high court. Phone: 079-754 0312. Open: Monday to Saturday from 0930 hours to 1300 hoursand from 1345 hours to 1800 hours.

Bangalore: 55 Mahatma Gandhi road. Phone: 080 5594168. Open: Monday to Saturday from 0930 hours to 1300 hours and from 1345 hours to 1800 hours.

Bangalore: 70 Mahatma Gandhi road. Phone: 080 5588038. Open: Monday to Saturday from 0930 hours to 1300 hours and from 1345 hours to 1800 hours.

Calcutta: Chitrakoot building, 2nd floor, 230-A, Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose road. Phones: 033 2474560, 2475378. Open: Monday to Saturday from 0930 hours to 1300 hours and from 1445 hours to 1730 hours. And on Saturday from 0930 hours to 1300 hours

Madras: 20 Rajaji road. Open: Monday to Saturday from 0930 hours to 1300 hours and from 1345 hours to 1800 hours.

Cochin: Palal Towers, 1st floor, right wing, M G road. Phone: 0484-369729 Open: Monday to Saturday from 0930 hours to 1300 hours and from 1345 hours to 1800 hours.

Panjim: 8 Alcon Chambers, Dayanand Bandodkar marg. Phone: 0832 221 1312. Open: Monday to Saturday from 0930 hours to 1300 hours and from 1345 hours to 1800 hours.

Hyderabad: Nasir Arcade, 6-1-57 Saifabad. Phone: 040 231988. Open: Monday to Saturday from 0930 hours to 1300 hours and from 1345 hours to 1800 hours.

Jaipur: Flat AB-2 *102*, Jaipur Towers, 1st floor, Mirza Ismail road. Phones: 0141 360940, 360801. Open: Monday to Saturday from 0930 hours to 1300 hours and from 1345 hours to 1800 hours.

Jalandhar: C/o Bird Travel, 2 Alpha Estate, 39 G T road. Phone: 0181- 238790 Open: Monday to Saturday from 0930 hours to 1800 hours.

Bombay: Dr D Naoroji road, Fort. Phone: 022- 204 8556 Open: Monday to Saturday from 0930 hours to 1800 hours.

Trivandrum: Trivandrum International airport. Phone: 0471-501 424 ext 451. Open: Monday to Saturday from 0930 hours to 1800 hours.

Pune: 13 Thackers House, 2418 General Thimmaya road. Phone: 0212-646171 Open: Monday to Saturday from 0930 hours to 1300 hours and from 1345 hours to 1800 hours.

New Delhi: E-33 Connaught Place, inner circle. Phone: 011-335 6 571. Open: Monday to Saturday from 0930 hours to 1800 hours.

New Delhi: 717/718 International Trade Towers, Nehru Place. Phone: 011- 642 3035 E-33, Connaught Place, inner circle. Phone: 011-335 6 571. Open: Monday to Saturday from 0930 hours to 1800 hours.

Bombay by coach

Travel Corporation of India, Bombay offers five types of tours of Bombay.

It is advisable to book tickets in advance. Tickets are available at the TCI office and at the reception desks of Bombay's leading hotels -- Taj Mahal hotel, The Oberoi, Oberoi Towers, Sea Princess, Centaur, Ramada Palm Grove hotel, The Orchid.

TCI, Chandramukhi, Nariman Point. Phone: 2021881.

Rent-a-cars become cheaper

Car rentals firms have lowered their rates.

  • Maruti 800 -- Rs 550 to 1,100 -- with tissue box, music system, newspaper and first aid box.
  • Ambassador A/c -- Rs 800 to 1,200 -- with tissue box, music system, newspaper and first aid box.
  • Maruti Zen -- Rs 900 to 1,200 -- with tissue box, music system, newspaper, magazines, first aid box and mineral water.
  • Maruti Esteem -- Rs 1,450 to 2,000 -- with tissue box, music system, newspaper, magazines, first aid box, mineral water and rear lamp.
  • Contessa Classic -- Rs 1,100 to 1,700 -- with tissue box, music system, newspaper, magazines, first aid box, mineral water and rear lamp.
  • Cielo -- Rs 1,600 to 2,200 -- with tissue box, music system, newspaper, magazines, first aid box, mineral water and rear lamp.
  • Ford Escort -- Rs 2,000 onwards -- with tissue box, music system, newspaper, magazines, first aid box, mineral water, rear lamp, cold drinks, boquet, laptop/cell phone on request.
  • Opel Astra -- Rs 2,000 onwards -- with tissue box, music system, newspaper, magazines, first aid box, mineral water, rear lamp, cold drinks, boquet and laptop/cell phone on request.
  • Toyota Crown -- Rs 3,000 onwards -- with tissue box, music system, newspaper, magazines, first aid box, mineral water, rear lamp, cold drinks, boquet, laptop/cell phone request, and dry fruits.
  • Mercedez Benz -- Rs 4,500 to 6000 -- with tissue box, music system, newspaper, magazines, first aid box, mineral water, rear lamp, cold drinks, boquet, laptop/cell phone request, and dry fruits, valet and free air time on cell phone.

    • The rates are for 8 hours or 80 kms. All rates are negotiable.

    Car rentals in Bombay
    Car rentals in Delhi
    Car rentals in Calcutta
    Car rentals in Madras

    By chopper to South Bombay

    Pawan Hans plans to start a helicopter service between Santa Cruz airport to Nariman Point.

    The service, which is likely to start this year, will help businessmen hurrying from the airport to Bombay's business district 30 odd kilometres away avoid traffic jams and reach their destination in just 10 minutes.

    Pawan Hans plans to tie up with Indian Airlines and offer this ride as an add on to an Indian Airlines ticket for about Rs 1,000 extra. Passengers will be ferried initially in 13- seater Dauphins. The service will begin as soon as the helipad, which is being constructed at Cuffe Parade, across the water from Nariman Point, by the Maharashtra government is complete.

    Pawan Hans, S V road, Juhu, Bombay. Phones: 022-6115138, 6151138, 6119891.

    Calling home

    VSNL and the Department of Telecommunications has started the India Direct Service. It is now possible to dial India from around the world and have your family back home pay for the call in rupees.

    This service is available from 17 countries, most frequently visited by Indians, just like a collect call that's popular the world over.

    The called party will be billed for a minimum duration of three minutes and thereafter in a multiple of a minute. Additionally, for each call, a one minute surcharge will be levied.

    Country

    Access Number to be dialled

    1.

    Australia (Optus)

    1800551191

    2.

    Bahrain

    800991

    3.

    Belgium

    080070091

    4.

    Denmark

    80010091

    5.

    Finland

    0800110910

    6.

    Germany

    0130869100

    7.

    Israel

    18009494910

    8.

    Japan (KDD)

    00539911

     

    Japan (IDC)

    006655091

     

    Japan (JTC-ITJ)

    004411911

    9.

    Malaysia

    8000091

    10.

    Portugal

    0800800910

    11.

    Singapore

    8000910941

    12.

    South Africa

    0800990091

    13.

    Switzerland

    0800555245

    14.

    Taiwan

    0080910091

    15.

    UAE

    9001191

    16.

    UK (BT)

    0800890091

     

    UK (C&W)

    0500890091

    17.

    USA (MCI)

    18889100700

     

    Locate your ATM

    It is now possible for Visa/Plus International card holders to change money in India at ATM machines open 24 hours. A Visa or Plus marked card can be used at an ATM that has either the Plus or Visa symbol, with the same PIN (personal identification number) a cardholder uses at home.

    Local currency available at the following ATMs in India:

    Visa emergency (24 hour) assistance number: 00-65-345-1345. Web site: Visa.

    To Pune, in 100 minutes

    The Bombay-Pune Express highway will be open by January 26, 2001.

    And it will be possible then to reach Pune within an hour and forty minutes. Currently it takes between four to five hours to reach Pune from Bombay.

    The modern, asphalt, four-lane expressway, will almost entirely be one-way to let vehicles clock 100 km per hour.

    With the opening of the highway it is expected that traffic between Bombay-Pune will increase manifold as it will be easier to get away for pleasure and business from Bombay.

    Book a London underground rail pass

    Globotel offers booking for the London underground rail pass from India, a couple of days before departure.

    The seven-day pass costs £ 35, payable in pounds or Indian rupees, at the current conversion rates (however Rs 70 will be charged extra). Two, three, four day passes are also available.

    The documents to be furnished for this pass are:

    The bookings can be done at Globotel offices in six cities across India.

    Bombay: Ground floor, Shop no 2, Ness Baug, Nana Chowk. Phone: 022-3887883.
    Pune: Suite no 7, Arjun Business Complex, Shivaji Nagar. Phones: 0212-355255, 3552757.
    New Delhi: 202, Ashok Plaza, 24 S C lane. Phones: 011-3327298, 3327612.
    Bangalore: 704, Mittal Towers, MG road. Phones: 080-5593495, 5597109.
    Calcutta: 2A Camac street. Phones: 033-295598, 2955658.
    Ahmedabad: Maurya Complex, 2 Navyug Complex, opposite CU Shah college, Ashram road. Phone: 079-7544816

    Thomas Cook offers a 24 hour foreign exchange facility at Bombay airport

    Thomas Cook, Bombay, offers a facility to encash foreign exchange at the Sahar International Airport.

    The Thomas Cook counter at the international airport is now open round the clock. Indians heading abroad can exchange up to US $ 3,000 at this counter before boarding an international flight. The necessary documents required for this facility are a passport and a ticket.

    Passengers headed out of the country on business, requiring more than US $ 3,000 in foreign exchange, must carry a letter from their company stating the purpose of their visit abroad.

    Thomas Cook, Sahar International Airport, Andheri East. Phones: 022-8211258, 2048556, 2048557.

    US commercial service office opens in Ahmedabad

    This bureau will help promote and develop export of American goods and services. There are five other offices in India at Madras, Calcutta, New Delhi, Bangalore and at Bombay.

    JMC House, suite 41/42, opposite Piramal Gardens, Ambawadi. Phones: 079-656521, 6565216, 6565321.

    A new address

    Thomas Cook opens another office in New Delhi at Connaught Place.

    This office will provide foreign exchange, travellers cheques, visas, ticketing and holiday planning.

    Thomas Cook, C-33, Connaught Place, inner circle. Phones: 011-3356571, 3356572, 3356573, 3356574, 3356575.

    Government of Dubai office opens

    A bureau of tourism and commerce for Dubai has opened in Bombay.

    This bureau, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing well help strengthen Dubai's tourism and commerce links with India. DTCM will promote Dubai in the Indian market through particapation in exhibitions, roadshows, marketing visits and advertising. DTCM also plans to advertise Dubai as a tourist destination in the local media and will be the 'intial contact point' for companies interested in doing business in Dubai.

    DTCM, 51, Bajaj Bhavan, fifth floor, Nariman Point. Phone: 022-2024480 and telefax: 022-2833497.

    Home away from home

    Taj Tours, a Bombay-based tour company, has opened an Indian hotel in Wembley, London.

    The Taj Inn, a family-run hotel, offers 24 rooms with bathrooms attached. The hotel has its own bar and restaurant serving Indian food.

    Tariff:

    The rooms are newly refurbished and equipped with colour televisions, heating and telephones. The Taj Inn is located fairly close to the main shopping area of London and near key bus and underground routes.

    Taj Inn, Ealing road, Wembley, London. Phone: 00-44-0181-900-1901 and fax: 00-44-0181-795-1901.
    Bombay: 022-6429302, 6442632, 644457485, 6457486.

    Rent a plane or copter

    Million Air offers helicopters and small planes for hire. Their rates:

    They also offer a special Mumbai by Air package for which the rates are:

    Million Air, Mahindra Towers, 2nd floor B wing, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli. Phones: 011-4921917, 4939030, 9820070514 or fax: 011-4939036, 4925084.

    Rent a cell phone. Max Touch Bombay offers mobiles on rent for Rs 200 per day.

    Additionally they will charge

    The cell phone is offering a special promotion for Max Touch users and even new customers. Rent a phone for a minimum of two days and rental charges for one day will be waived.

    A spare cell phone can come in handy for a wedding, a trade fair, a medical emergency, on travel or while moving premeises

    For more information contact:
    Max Touch, Bombay, phones: 12337 or 3801148.

    Max Touch cellular phone service offers its customers, in Bombay, special information.

    Dial:

    For more information contact their 24-hour-hotline at 432-1111 or 111 on your mobile phone.

    Membership to the Golden Swan City Club, Vile Parle East, Bombay for those below 40 is open. Life membership is vaialble for a one time payment of Rs 150,000.

    The club offers virtual golf, a vrtual reality games arcade, a rooftop jazz bar and restaurant, sauan, jacuzzi, conference room, billiards, swimming pool, a fitness club, squash courts and table tennis.

    Membership to the Golden Swan City Club automatically entitles one to membership to the Golden Swan Country Club located 45 minutes out of Bombay on 26 acres of woodland.

    For more information contact:
    Regency Park, 7th road, near Khar Subway, Santa Cruz, phones: 022-6174517, 6174518, 6174519.

    The Nepal division of the Oriental Insurance Company of India is offering a special policy for tourists

    Tourists coming to Nepal can now sign on for a scheme at the time of checking in at their hotel or even earlier at the immigration counter at the Tribhuvan International Airport. A person staying in Nepal for just a week canavail of the entire benefits of the insurance package for very low premiums.

    A restaurant information service has been introduced in Bombay. If one dials 8888888 round the clock information on 'good food' restaurants and home delivery food outlets is available for every type of cuisine

    The United Arab Emirates have extended the validity of the visitor's visa for Indians from 60 days to 90 days. This change in rules will enable visitors who in the past entered the country on the earlier 30 day visa to now enter on a 60 day visa and extend it to 90 days after paying a renewal fee of approximately Rs 5000.

    The UAE government will offer discounted visa fines. For those who go for the discounted visa fine the authorities will impose a one year ban against re-entry into the country on their passports.

    Rent a cell phone. RPG Cellular offers mobiles on rent for Rs 250 per day.

    Fore more information contact:
    RPG Cellular, 5th floor, Spencer Plaza, 769 Anna Salai, Madras, phones: 9841050000 or 9841051000.

    India's central bank, the Reserve Bank of India now allows Indian citizens travelling abroad to carry their foreign exchange allowance, BTQ (Basic Travel Quota) through international credit cards, instead of in cash or traveller's cheques.

    International credit cards will be issuable by authorised dealers against the US $ 3000 travel allowance. This will save travellers the commission they routinely had to pay on traveller's cheques both at the time of issue and and at the time of exchange.

    Information about the famous Brihadeeswara temple, a World Heritage monument at Thanjavur will be available on the Internet.

    The website will provide detailed information about the architecture, history and traditions associated with the temple.

    This Brihadeeswara temple or the Big Temple was built by the Chola king, Rajaraja I in the 11th century is one of the tallest temples in the world and the vimana or temple 'steeple' , is said to weigh 80 tonnes . It was designed in a special way such that the vimana never casts a shadow at noon at any part of the year.

    Check out their site.

    US consular services in India will offer Indian passport holders travelling to USA on business or holidays a visa of 10 year duration. This will greatly facilitate Indians who travel to USA on a regular basis who till now were able to only obtain a visa valid for five years

    For more information contact:
    US Embassy, Shantipath, Chankyapuri, phone: 011-600651.
    Or in Bombay at Lincoln House 78, Bhulabhai Desai Road, phone: 022-3633611, 3633618.
    Or in Calcutta at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, phone: 033-2423611/5, 2422336/7
    Or in Madras at 220 Anna Salai, phone: 044-473040.

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