Piyali Mandal And Kalpana Pathak

Stories by Piyali Mandal And Kalpana Pathak

70 Mumbai hotels shut in 6 months

70 Mumbai hotels shut in 6 months

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2008

As many as 70 restaurants in Mumbai have shut shop in the past six months, owing to spiralling costs, high taxes and a downturn in the economy.

Hoteliers seek tax relief to beat slump

Hoteliers seek tax relief to beat slump

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2008

The Federation of Hotels and Restaurants Association of India has made a presentation to the government, requesting certain tax exemptions.

Mumbai Trident readies to reopen

Mumbai Trident readies to reopen

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2008

Hotel expects 25-30 per cent occupancy on December 21 when it throws open its doors. Trident regulars are preparing to return to the hotel sooner than later.

Govt to move court to allow RIL gas sales

Govt to move court to allow RIL gas sales

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2008

Sources familiar with the developments said the government will file an application in the Bombay High Court by the end of December or early January. RIL on its part has already appealed against the order.

'RIL-RNRL case is back on track now'

'RIL-RNRL case is back on track now'

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2008

Additional solicitor general Mohan Parasaran talks about the logic behind withdrawing the government affidavit in the RIL-RNRL gas dispute in the Bombay high court.

Companies hedge on ATF to tackle price volatility

Companies hedge on ATF to tackle price volatility

Rediff.com   9 Dec 2008

In addition to that, an increasing number of airlines like SpiceJet, national carrier Air India and GoAir are either getting into hedging of aviation turbine fuel or increasing the quantum of ATF hedged on the MCX. Last month, state-run Indian Oil Corporation approached MCX to provide it with a platform to hedge its refinery margins and end products from crude oil.

RNRL refutes govt's stand on gas price

RNRL refutes govt's stand on gas price

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2008

Anil Ambani-promoted Reliance Natural Resources has filed an affidavit in the Bombay High Court in the case involving Reliance Industries, refuting the petroleum ministry's stand that the government-approved price of $4.2/million metric British thermal unit (mmBtu) is the selling price of gas.

Start-ups bail out IITians facing placement blues

Start-ups bail out IITians facing placement blues

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2008

On the back of a global meltdown, big-ticket firms may not be flocking at the premier Indian Institute of Technology campuses. IITians, however, have not lost all hope. Many are looking at start-ups for their first jobs.

Hotel tariffs drop 20% after terror attacks

Hotel tariffs drop 20% after terror attacks

Rediff.com   3 Dec 2008

Hotel tariffs have dropped by as much as 20 per cent after last week's terrorist attacks on Mumbai that forced international tourists to cancel travel plans.

15% foreigners cancel trip: Tour operators

15% foreigners cancel trip: Tour operators

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2008

The trickle has begun and could turn into a flood. At least 15 per cent of overseas visitors have cancelled their tour plans to India following terrorist attacks on key locations in Mumbai, tour operators said. The attacks claimed nearly 200 lives and injured more than 300.

B-schools' development programme to take a hit

B-schools' development programme to take a hit

Rediff.com   21 Nov 2008

Revenues from management development programmes expected to slow during the next quarters. On an average, MDPs contribute around 35 per cent to the revenue stream for B-schools. With companies tightening their purse strings, B-schools could see a direct impact on their revenue stream. Companies have confirmed that they are cutting down spending on training programmes.

Society of Jesus applies for central univ status

Society of Jesus applies for central univ status

Rediff.com   18 Nov 2008

Consolidating on its 500-year-old legacy of providing quality education, The Society of Jesus (SJ) (popularly known as Jesuits) has applied for a Central University status with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

Falling Re raises cost of studying in US

Falling Re raises cost of studying in US

Rediff.com   5 Nov 2008

UK, Australia numbers could pick up instead.

Travel industry pins hopes on new formats

Travel industry pins hopes on new formats

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2008

Travelport has decided to make holidaying an over-the-counter experience, where the customer can plan his travel. It will launch about 150-200 travel solution shops by tying up with malls, multiplexes and retail chains. Online travel company Cleartrip.com tied up with the Indian Railway and Catering and Tourism Corporation in September. SOTC plans to hold a six-day long Great Holiday Bazaar across all its outlets from November 3-8, with discounts between 4 and 20 per cent.

BPCL may sell 'purest' water

BPCL may sell 'purest' water

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2008

A refiner embarking on an alternative fuel strategy may end up selling bottled water to quench the thirst of millions.

B-schools woo companies for next summer

B-schools woo companies for next summer

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2008

Wary of the times ahead in the job market, business schools are working on a risk-minimisation strategy and looking at doubling the pool of companies on the campus for the summer placements scheduled in November this year.

5,000-Mw capacity lying idle due to gas shortage

5,000-Mw capacity lying idle due to gas shortage

Rediff.com   13 Oct 2008

State power boards incur fixed cost of Rs 3,500 crore (Rs 35 billion). About 5,000 Mw of gas-based electricity generation capacity, built at a cost of about Rs 20,000 crore (Rs 200 billion), is lying idle due to the shortage of gas in the country.

Slowdown plays spoilsport at B-school fests

Slowdown plays spoilsport at B-school fests

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2008

It's time for the famous B-school fests. But the zing is somewhat missing this time.

Ambani dispute: RIL may make submission over MoU

Ambani dispute: RIL may make submission over MoU

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2008

"The MoU between the (Ambani) brothers is in the private domain and has never been produced in the court. Agreements between the brothers were entered into on the basis of negotiation and decision on the case cannot be taken on this basis," Milind Sathe, senior counsel for Mukesh Ambani's RIL had told a division bench in July this year.

India Inc bets big on biodiesel

India Inc bets big on biodiesel

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2008

Apart from the increase in the number of players entering the sector -- there were just 25 entities two years ago -- the scale of operations has also increased substantially, with 30 companies planning large-scale operations, experts said. The capacity of biodiesel plants set up by these companies will range between 30 tonnes per day and 300 tonnes per day. Based on the capacity, it will cost between Rs 300 million and Rs 3 billion to set up these plants.