Yearly Archives: 2015

Boy from Bengaluru sets up hostel in old house

Business & Economy, Travel

Bengaluru :

The footloose too need a place to recoup and resume their journey. While stakeholders in tourist destinations have always seen in overnight stays only an opportunity to mint money, a backpackers’ hostel is coming up in Mysuru with a minimalist mission: keep that spark in wanderers alive.

The backpackers’ hostel is the brainchild of Bengalurean Hiren Sreenivasan, and is set for a November 1 launch. After graduating in mechanical engineering, Hiren decided he needed a break, packed his bags and moved to Goa to help a friend with his real estate business in 2013.

“A lot of my foreign backpacker friends had a hard time finding a hotel that would fit their tight budget. It made me think how tough it must be in my own state!” says Hiren, 25.

After working for two years with setting up backpackers’ hostels in Vagator, Panaji and Anjuna, Hiren returned to Bengaluru in 2015. “The traffic and fast life got to me so I travelled to Mysuru in July, looking for some solace. The hostel idea was at the back of my mind, but I had to find a place to start,” he recalls.

And he did. Walking around Mysuru, he stumbled into a massive abandoned house about 2km from Mysuru Palace, and built around the same time as its magnificent neighbour. “I stood outside and stared at it for a few minutes. It was perfect. The 16,000 sqft property amid greenery was going to be my backpackers’ haven.”

The excited young man found out from neighbours that the property belonged to Sahukar Siddanna Memorial Trust. “I managed to get in touch with the house owner, who was intrigued by my idea. He told me the house was lying vacant and I could do something worthwhile with it.”

The bungalow, though, was in bad condition, and needed to be completely restored. The sewage line had to be redone and toilets built. Hiren worked tirelessly on the house for four months, doing everything from buying furniture to adorning the walls with paintings.

Virtually from scratch, he’s come up with a backpacker hostel with 20 bunk beds that can accommodate 40 people. There are also four private rooms upstairs. Hiren tied up with Zostel, a chain of backpacker hostels across India who will launch the property for him.

“I’ve already had thousands of visitors calling up, excited about staying here. From their stories, I know this place will benefit many backpackers who absolutely love travelling and don’t want to spend too much hard saved money on expensive hotels,” Hiren asserts.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bengaluru / by Aditi Sequeira, TNN / October 26th, 2015

City Rly. Station gets automated ticket vending machines

Business & Economy, Records, All, Travel

TicketAtmsBF27oct2015

Mysuru :

Now passengers will not have to stand in long queues for the tickets at the City Railway Station. The South Western Railway (SWR), in an effort to ease ticket purchase, launched the Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) at the Railway Station this morning.

The machines were commissioned by SWR DRM Rajkumar Lal at the entrance of Railway Station in the presence of SWR Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Anil Kumar.

The AVTMs, which are introduced for the first time in Karnataka, works on smart card which is made available at the ticket booking counters. A total of five machines are installed at the City Railway Station. While three machines are installed at the main entrance, the other two are installed at the back entrance (CFTRI gate). Passengers can top-up the smart cards in multiple of Rs. 50 to a maximum of Rs. 5,000. Initially, passengers have to pay Rs. 70 (Rs. 50 towards security deposit and Rs. 20 towards ticket value).

Passengers can purchase unreserved and platform tickets and also renew season tickets through smart cards.

Smart cards come with a one year warranty after which it can be renewed. The security deposit is refundable after deducting Rs. 10 in case a passenger decides to return the smart card.

The operation of ATVM facility is similar to that of Bank ATMs and for the benefit of the public the display is made available in Kannada, Hindi and English languages.

This apart, the much awaited e-toilet, battery operated vehicles for senior citizens and electrically operated laundry facilities will be launched on Nov.3, according to the South Western Railway authorities.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Tuesday ,October 27th, 2015

2-day Seed Savers meet, Seed Festival in city

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

‘Desi’ Cooking Contest tomorrow

Mysuru :

With an aim to create awareness on conservation and revival of crop genetic resources and to exchange seeds, a two-day Seed Savers Meet and Seed Festival have been organised at Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry in city on Oct. 28 and 29 from 10 am to 8 pm.

Zilla Panchayat President Dr. Pushpa Amarnath will inaugurate the Fest at 11.30 am on Oct. 28. Legal expert and policy analyst from Delhi – Shalini Bhutani, Joint Director of Agriculture (Mysuru) M. Mahantheshappa, farmer leader Nandini Jayaram, Convenor of Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture Kavitha Kuruganti and Bharat Beej Swaraj Manch Convenor Jacob Nellithanam will be the chief guests. National Award winner Farmer-Scientist Shankar Guru will preside.

Cooking Contest

To attract people towards local food and country breed, a ‘Desi Aduge Spardhe’ (Traditional Cooking Contest) has also been organised at the venue at 10.30 am tomorrow (Oct. 28). Entry is Free.

Participants should cook food using Siridhanya, Desi Akki, Kempakki, Kale Gida, Kaadu Gida and Medicinal Plants or prepare cuisine using any of the above items.

About 50 Seed Saver groups from seven States of India, working on farm conservation and promotion of seed diversity and related knowledge, will participate.

Over 1,500 varieties of crop seeds will be on display, along with relevant posters and literature. Books, organic products, organic food and some seeds will be available on sale.

The Festival will also feature parallel talks, presentations, film shows and a cultural programme of song and music at the same venue. For details about the Seed Festival, contact Shantakumar on 94487-74871 or 95351-49520.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Tuesday ,October 27th, 2015

German honour for V K Nayak

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Mangaluru :

V K Nayak, managing director of CNC Ball Screws and Bearing Co Pvt Ltd, was felicitated for being a good corporate citizen. Karl Neff of Neff Gewinderiebe Gmbh, Stuttgart Germany, presented the award to Nayak at MOTEK 2015, an automation trade fair held in Germany.

The award, in the form of a miniature Tata Nano car, was given to him, for his contribution to the welfare of his workmen in his industry at Mangaluru. It may be recalled that Nayak gifted Nano cars to his factory employees in March 2015.

Hartmut Wandell, managing director, NEFF, and Esther Leib, sales and marketing executive, were present on this occasion.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Mangaluru / TNN / October 24th, 2015