SRINAGAR: The GoAir airlines will now be operating direct flights from Mumbai to Srinagar from Friday.
The Chief Executive Officer of GoAir met the state Tourism Minister, Ghulam Ahmad Mir in Jammu and informed him about the decision today, an official spokesman said.
"Mir hailed the steps of GoAir and hoped that they would soon start night flights to Srinagar," he added.
The authorities say they are exploring possibilities to operate night flights to and from Srinagar, Kashmir's main...
Posted 63 days ago.
SRINAGAR: Power scenario has finally witnessed some improvement for the past 24 hours in the Kashmir valley after separatist and mainstream parties, cutting across party lines, criticised the government.
In the past 24 hours, there was less power curtailment in Srinagar and other major towns in the valley.
The improvement was possible after the government decided to import more power from other states, official sources told the United News of India.
Reports about power situation in the...
Posted 66 days ago.
JAMMU: Blaming Power Development Department (PDD) for further worsening financial health of Jammu and Kashmir, government auditor CAG today said revenue deficit in the power sector touched Rs 1,993 crore in 2011-12.
The shortfall in the performance of PDD contributed to the deterioration in the fiscal deficit of the state government despite record performance of tax revenue front, it added.
The revenue deficit in the power sector of the state stood at Rs 275 crore in 2002-03, said the...
Posted 67 days ago.
JAMMU: The Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir is one of the highest producers of sea buckthorn in the country.
This was revealed by the Minister for Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather in a written reply to the question of Nurboo Gialchan in Legislative Council today.
"This product has become an export item for the state as it is valued for beverage and jam, herbal tea, cosmetic products, nutrient composition and anti-oxidant potential for pharmaceutical companies.
"Currently, Leh has...
Posted 74 days ago.
SRINAGAR: Kashmir's pristine ski slopes are almost deserted and the famed houseboats that dot its stunning blue lakes are quiet.
Indeed, trouble seems to be in the air in India's most restive region once again, bringing bad news for its tourism industry at the start of what was looking like one of the best tourist seasons in years.
After a lull of about three years, Muslim militants have stepped up their separatist campaign by rallying around February's execution of a Kashmiri man...
Posted 79 days ago.
Kainaat Mushtaq
SRINAGAR: Abdul Majid has never played the game, but when tens of thousands of cricket-mad Indians feel the crack of leather on willow, it's because of him.
The 53-year-old master bat-maker is one of scores of craftsman putting Kashmir on the map for something other than the bloody rebellion.
On a fume-choked stretch of the highway between Jammu and Kashmir state's main cities, Srinagar and Jammu, Majid and dozens of other makers churn out...
Posted 83 days ago.
Mujtaba Wani
SRINAGAR: Traders in Kashmir valley have appealed to banks to loosen the noose while recovering loan payments and in view of losses incurred by them during the recent turmoil.
Life in Kashmir has been severely hit for more than six weeks now, either due to a curfew imposed by the authorities or a shutdown called by separatists after the hanging of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
The traders have accused officials of the commercial taxes...
Posted 86 days ago.
SRINAGAR: The Banihal-Qazigund section of the Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail line is to be commissioned in April-May, 2013, according to a fresh deadline set by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
This was among the various decisions taken at a meeting in the PMO on Thursday in New Delhi to step up efforts to speed up infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
An official spokesman said the meeting was chaired by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and attended by...
Posted 89 days ago.
SRINAGAR: Amid controversy over the legality of hydroelectric projects run by NHPC in Jammu and Kashmir, ABL Srivastava, the company's director finance has said that there is no illegality involved in it whatsoever.
In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Srivastava said that if any political party rakes up the issue of taking away projects from NHPC, the company will take the matter to the power ministry.
NHPC and J&K government have...
Posted 92 days ago.
JAMMU: Fruit exports from Jammu and Kashmir registered a turnover of Rs. 4,200 crore in the financial year 2012-13, state Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir said Friday.
The minister also said that 90 percent of the country's apple demand was fulfilled by the state.
"The turnover on account of exports of fruit has reached a level of Rs.4,200 crore in the state as on date," Mir told the state assembly while responding to a question during a discussion on grants for the agriculture...
Posted 96 days ago.
