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Helicopter fares to Vaishno Devi slashed 2/7/2007 11:50:51 PM KATRA,FEB 7 Helicopter operators have slashed passenger fares to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir by 40 percent to make it more affordable for pilgrims. Two operators - Deccan Aviation and Himalayan Heli Services - ferry the pilgrims from Katra, the base camp of the pilgrimage, to Sanjhi Chhat, from where the shrine is a two-km trek. It is a 12-km mountainous trek from Katra and pilgrims usually go either by foot or take a pony or palanquin. Deccan Aviation started the chopper service between Katra and Sanjhi Chhat in October 2002 and its one-way fare was Rs 2,000 per passenger. "Now Himalayan Heli Services has also introduced its chopper service recently at Rs 1,200 one-way per passenger. This forced the other service provider (Deccan) to also slash its rates," Puneet Kumar, additional chief executive officer of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, said. According to Kumar, the shrine board negotiated with Himalayan Heli Services to "come up with reduced rates to make it more affordable". "Now even the middle and upper middle classes can a...   READ MORE

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Timely completion of mega road projects shall change entire profile of J&K:Azad T. R. Baalu review execution 2/7/2007 7:27:22 PM JAMMU, FEB 7 “Effective, reliable and high quality road connectivity in urban, rural and far-flung areas is essential for overall development of the state and keep rich infrastructure ready to cater to all national and international trade and commerce activities in Jammu and Kashmir State”, said Chief Minister Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad in his inaugural speech at a high level meeting of central and state officers which was convened to review the over all road scenario of the state besides to decide modalities for implementations of new road projects under various state and central programmes here last evening. Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Mr. T. R. Balu, U...   READ MORE   Diplomats advised to limit their movement in Pakistan: Report 2/7/2007 7:25:39 PM ISLAMABAD, FEB 7 With the sudden spurt in suicide attacks by militants in Pakistan, diplomats have been asked to limit their movement following intelligence agency warning of more strikes aimed at high-value targets. Pakistan has also put its airports, including Lahore and Karachi on high-alert a day after a suicide attack on Islamabad airport killed one and injured several securitymen. Diplomats in Karachi and Islamabad are not being allowed to move out of the specified areas where they live, the Daily Times today reported citing intelligence sources. The militants have planned to target hotels and buildings commonly used by VIPs in retaliation for military operations in Pakistan's ...   READ MORE

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