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TOP BRASS

"I foresee Chandigarh as a cosmopolitan city and shall be a major hub of business culture and tourism north of Delhi, as the Chandigarh Administration is taking a keen interest for over all development of the city and in times to come Chandigarh shall also be known as education city as education infrastructure and other facilities are also being set up in an area spread over 100 acres."
These views were expressed by Managing Director of the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation Limited (CITCO) Jasbir Singh Bir, in an exclusive interview with whispersinthecorridors.com

He said that more direct flights from major metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Banglore, Calcutta and Chennai are being started. Answering a question Bir said CITCO is probably the only corporation in India which is looking after the budget tourists as most of the domestic tourists like to stay at well maintained spots with reasonable rates. At the same time MD of the CITCO said that a glass restaurant and static caravan type camping sites near Sukhna Lake have also been planned.
Bir also listed various steps that the CITCO was taking to see that tourists stayed for a longer span of time in Chandigarh. He discussed his plans at length in the following interview:

1. How and what you intend to do for sustaining the existing tourists while augmenting the inflow?

Chandigarh plays a pivotal role in promotion of transit tourism in this region as it is located on the tourism circuit viz. Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla, Kulu, Manali etc. Being a gateway of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and even Jammu & Kashmir, it is properly linked through an air network and surface transportation system. Chandigarh Industrial & Tourism Development Corporation Limited (CITCO) is promoting tourism in Chandigarh by providing tourism infrastructure in terms of accommodation for all strata of society. Hotel Mountview the only five star property in Chandigarh is for the elite segment of tourists viz. Chief Executive Officers, foreign tourists etc. Hotel Shivalikview has four star amenities and is catering to the needs of the corporate travellers. For budget tourists, we have Hotel Parkview. The infrastructure upgradation is continuously being done in these hotels to provide best of services to our clientele and tourists. Keeping in view the higher influx of domestic tourists who may like to stay in good accommodation facility at reasonable rates, CITCO is going to add another 74 rooms at Hotel Parkview. Apart from above, the facilities at the tourist spots are maintained well and augmented not only to sustain the existing tourist inflow but also to increase the visitors to the city.

2.Do you think that Chandigarh has come of age in terms of infrastructure?

Chandigarh has adequate infrastructure keeping in view the tourist profile . There is all round development in Chandigarh A number of modern and futuristic projects in the city has already resulted in a boom in various sectors like Information Technology and I.T. enabled services, financial and services sector and real estate. Some of the new major tourism projects have been envisaged by Chandigarh Administration are to set up "State of Art - Convention Centre" which would promote M.I.C.E. segment, Education City spread over 100 acres. Recentrly M/s.Unitech has bagged the project of setting up of an amusement park with an investment of over 200 crores in phases under the public private partnership model (PPP Model). M/s. Uppal Orchids & M/s. DLF are setting up deluxe five star hotels in Chandigarh shortly. The Chandigarh Airport is being up-graded to the level of International Airport which would enable Chandigarh to have more foreign tourists as well as non-resident Indian (NRIs) visiting this region.. More direct flights from major metropolitian cities like Mumbai, Banglore, Calcutta and Chennai are being started.

3.Tourists mostly come on their way to Himachal Pardesh. Don't you think that Chandigarh must have more such types of avenues where spill over can be grabbed in Chandigarh?

Chandigarh is becoming a tourist destination in itself. However, the role of promotion of transit tourism by Chandigarh cannot be overlooked as it acts as a gateway to the tourist destination in the neighbouring states especially Himachal Pradesh. Chandigarh Administration is taking lot of initiative to broadbase tourism infra-structure in Chandigarh keeping in view its fast emerging image of tourism and business hub, North of Delhi. The tourist's stay on an average is one and a half days and, therefore, it is our endeavour to prolong the stay of the tourists by adding more attractions for the tourists. Son-et-Lumiere- Light & Sound Show is being set up in the heritage building complex of Museum & Art Gallery. Surely, the Light & Sound show shall become a major source of attraction for the tourists as well as the residents of the tri-city region comprising of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali, being added to make the city more eventful. Glass Restaurant and static caravan type camping sites near Sukhna Lake have also been planned. Chandigarh is promoting itself as tourist destination by creating more tourism avenues and the recent efforts made by CITCO and other concerned agencies have borne results as there is an increase in the tourist inflow to Chandigarh. The new year festival was celebrated from 26th December, 2006 to 2nd January, 2007.The tourism festivals like Rose Festival, Chandigarh Carnival are very popular in Chandigarh and attract many tourists from outside. All this and more efforts will change the image of Chandigarh as a Transit City to a Tourist destination as newly created tourism products shall be able to create sufficient interest for the tourists and visitors to spend much more time here and also to enjoy the tourist destinations in the neighbouring states.

4.What are the expansion plans of CITCO?

CITCO is a premier tourism organization and is perhaps the only state tourism corporation which is making good profits and is providing services for higher guest satisfaction to its customers / clientage. The expansion plans of CITCO include construction of budget accommodation at Hotel Parkview with an investment plan of over 260 lacs. There are plan for major renovation at Hotel Mountview which is the only five star hotel of Chandigarh. Apart from above, recently CITCO has expanded / upgraded its facility CITCO Da-Vehra has been set up at Baithak Kalagram which is becoming popular with the public as well as tourists due to its Punjabi ethnic entity.

5.What is your vision for Chandigarh by the year 2050?

I foresee Chandigarh as a cosmopolitan city and shall be a major hub of business culture and tourism north of Delhi, as the Chandigarh Administration is taking keen interest for over all development of the city and in times to come Chandigarh shall also be known as education city as education infrastructure and other facilities are also being set up in an area spread over 100 acres. Film city, convention centre and many multiplexes and malls are coming to this region would make Chandigarh a major well known place not only on the national grid but also on the international circuit.

6.How do you woo budget tourists & what infrastructure do you have for them?

CITCO is probably the only corporation in India which is looking after the budget tourists as most of the domestic tourists like to stay at well maintained spots with reasonable rates. Thus CITCO is catering to the budget tourists by having rooms available as low as Rs.350/- per day to Rs.1400/- in the range suitable for budget tourists. Transit Lodge at ISBT is very popular with the domestic tourists and Hotel Parkview also provides necessary amenities and facilities to the budget tourists In all CITCO has nearly 120 rooms available for budget tourist at both these places.

7.How much FDI has been received in Chandigarh owing to the CITCO? What are your projections for the next 15 years?

As CITCO is involved in multifarious activities in the tourism as well as industrial sector, therefore, its reach is felt in all spheres and it touches the heart of the public or tourists in many ways by promoting tourism in tandem with tourism department and other agencies of the Chandigarh Administration. The foreign direct investment is being done under the public private partnership in the IT and the tourism sector. In years to come major foreign players would join hands with the reputed Indian companies to set up projects in sectors like education, tourism, information technology etc which are booming and will also have good growth in the future also.

8.In what manner CITCO's profits were being ploughed back?

CITCO is a profitable state tourism corporation and profits are being ploughed back to its hotels for improvement in the infrastructure and adding facilities from time to time to cater to the needs of the tourists. Over the last one year CITCO has ploughed back more than 500 lacs for upgradation and creation of new facilities in its various units in Chandigarh.
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NAME THE NAMELESS

Who is the Super Boss & Super Cop-name the nameless.

For a change, this is not a whisper. In fact, it's a yell from the housetop. A yell for the year 2007.If our patrons endorse it, this yell from the WHISPERS should reverberate in corridors of all state capitals, besides of course the heart of India-that Delhi has always been and shall so remain all times to come.

These are happening times. You don't do things. They happen. Or you make them happen. Everywhere on the eve of or at the advent of New Year, people were or are busy looking for their Man of the year. Politicians, businessmen, moviemen, sportsmen and social activists are hogging limelight. The civil servants continue to remain the self-effacing names behind the supposedly big names. They run the Rails and the rustic humour of someone Read gets Qudos and Credits. Thats the funny way democracy goes. Interesting, isn't it?

We thought on the New Year Day we should attempt doing the hitherto unattempted and un-done. You and us will make it happen. We are going launch you this year on a thrilling voyage of a discovery. We are declaring that in the Year 2007 all of you would help us discover the Bureaucrat of the Year and also the Super cop of the Year in each of our major states. Besides, New Delhi's 'Supers' which will happen in December 2007.Every month we will be looking for a Super Boss and Super Cop of the Year in a particular state.

We request all those who are interested in our WHISPERS and visit us frequently to send us the names of such individual officers whom they consider as a Super Bureaucrat and a Super Cop in their state. We are putting forth no yardsticks. You judge entirely on your own. The nominations will rest entirely and exclusively on your wisdom. Just E-Mail the name of Super Boss and Super Cop of your state. This flow of nominations will end on the last day of the month.
We will announce the winner on the 7th day of next month. Seven, the numerologists say, is the number of mystery. Therefore, a good day to unfold it.

And Uttar Pradesh is the first state, we are beginning with. Arguably the most appropriate state to discover the undiscoverable or to name the perennially nameless. There is no territorial bar. You can nominate even for an incumbent outside your state. You can be brief or elaborate. As you choose. You don't even have to disclose your identity. We will trust you.
So, here we begin. Just E Mail us on <sureshmehrotra@yahoo.com>A very Happy New Year.

Will Gupta be new Secretary Personnel ?
Grapevine has it that Harish Chandra Gupta is being appointed new Secretary Personnel.1971 batch Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer, Gupta, is presently Secretary Coal.

1974 batch IAS empanelment this month
Empanelment of 1974 batch IAS officers to the rank of Secretary in the Government of India is taking place this month.

1973 batch IPS empanelment minutes approved
Altogether 19 IPS officers belonging to 1973 batch have been cleared for the empanelment to the rank of DG in the Government of India.

1973 batch IAS officials posted in Delhi to be promoted
The GoI is going to promote 1973 batch IAS officials as Special Secretary this month but only those posted in Delhi as Additional Secretary.

Two years Joint Secr experience must for being Addl Secr
A minimum of two years experience of working as Joint secretary in the GoI is soon going to be mandatory for being Additional Secretary.

Lal is new Chief of Protocol in MEA
Sunil Lal (IFS 82), Joint Secretary, has been shifted from Public Diplomacy Division to Chief of Protocol in MEA. The earlier Chief of Protocol, Pinak Chakravarty, has left for High Commissioner to Bangladesh.

Karnataka to send more officers to GoI
It is believed that the Karnataka Government has decided to send more officials to the central deputation. This is evident from the statement of new Chief Secretary P B Mahishi that states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh get their work done easily in New Delhi because they have officers even at the grassroots of central administration.

Gondane to move New York
Ajay Gondane, Joint Secretary in the MEA, is moving to New York in place of A R Ghanshyam as DCG.

IPS officer to be MD in Kerala
1993 batch IPS officer Yogesh Gupta has been appointed Managing Director of the Civil Supplies Corporation in Kerala. Jacob Thomas will now be MD of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation.

IRS officer resigns !
1974 batch IRS (IT) officer posted in Indore is reported to have resigned.

Action against Lt.General
Administrative action has been ordered against a lieutenant-general.

Uttaranchal gets 4 IPS
Uttaranchal will get another four IPS officers. With this the number of IPS officers will be risen to 56.

Divisional Commissioner system in Chhattisgarh
Divisional Commissioners will now be posted in four Divisional headquarters in Chhattisgarh.

FORUM
Please give a thought to it
The comment by Rajivarattan stinks of snobbish attitude of IAS lobby. Any service in fact is not in a position to claim that it is better, more efficient and more honest than other service. The root of all problems attributed to other service is rooted in IAS as it controls & heads CVC and UPSC as well as all ministries. Remember, one PM said that only 10 paise out of every rupee reach the targeted person. The holier than thou attitude is pretentious, deceptive and snobbish. All are birds of the same flock. How about trying managers of private sectors and senior officers from armed in manning more than 50 per cent posts of additional Secretaries and above. Please give a thought to it.

Manoj Kumar

I am surprised
I am surprised that Rajeev Rattan has not blamed the IRS for the Nithari as well as the Assam tragedy. Sure at some corner, IRS would be responsible for such a ghastly crime. Isn't it Rajeev Rattan?

Sanath

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Advani says that Rahul's rise is undemocratic……but Rahul as of now has no job,
So yeh 'undemocratic allegation' Advani ji kyon karr rahe ho lob!!!!

In Tennis parlance this is a double fault…… and in cricket parlance it's a no ball……..in hockey and football parlance it's a foul tackle!!!! Advani should leave Congress's internal matters to Congress!!!! Yes Advani has a lot to worry about the indiscipline in BJP…….. there is no doubt taste of power has made things go topsy-turvy in BJP!!! Vajpayee never makes such statements…….that's the difference between Advani and Vajpayee!!!! BJP should not be seen stooping or behaving like a rondu (cry baby)!!!!

Natwar aka Nut wants to enter BJP,
They shouldn't even allow him to enter the BJP Office gate if you ask me!!

There's an old adage ' its better to have a wise enemy than a foolish friend'!!! Should BJP allow a Congress discard entry into BJP???? BJP is not a wastepaper basket!!!! And then BJP should just get the sound bytes of yore and see for itself what ludicrous statements Nut has made against BJP!!!! First Arun Nehru and now Nut……. once it's a mistake..... second time it's a blunder!!!

Amrinder should decide what to call Sukhbir…. is he a baloongda, chuhaa or chor???
With every passing day Amrinder is showing that he's getting more and more sore!!!

After returning from Ajmer Captain thundered that 'tell Badals that their Baap is back'!!!! This was in response to Badals saying that Captain had gone AWOL!!! Amrinder is showing classical signs of a sore loser!!!! Fact is this time the Baloongda is going to win and an oversize Chuhaa is going to be left shouting 'Chor Chor', because Baloongda is set to steal the oversize Chuhaa's votes!!!!

Mulayam is up to some game……. Nithari case has still not been handed over to CBI,
And Indians are asking 'why' ?????

Amar Singh can say what he wants….. but Nithari shows that SP Sarkaar's boasts on the law and order situation in UP are deceitful!!! And by the looks of it Noida Police have totally botched up the investigations…….. ask the Police about the investigations post the revelations and they say that they've just followed orders!!!!! Andher Nagri chaupat Sarkaar, insaniyat ki hothi hai UP mein harr second haar!!!

SEZs need a re-look……. Sarkaar needs to go back to the drawing board,
At present in the garb of SEZs developers land karr rahe hai hoard!!!

SEZs have taken off on the wrong footing!!! Rule One….SEZs should come up on only unproductive land!!! Rule Two…… Land acquisitions should be done by the Developers!!!! Rule Three……. There should be a time frame……should not be deliverable when able!!!! As of today SEZs in India are Special Erroneous Zones!!!

Indian Team returns from SA debacle and show how unsporting they actually are,
Show that they've gone wonky after the haar!!!

Greg Chappel and Bhaji hit out at the mikes put in front of them!!! Greg was back to showing his finger…….. BCCI needs to put his finger showing hand in a cast so that he cannot show his finger!!!! And with Ganguly coming out as the only player to have performed on this tour both Pawar and Greg have egg on their face!!!! With amount of eggs that Pawar is getting on his face he can start a omelette pau outlet ….. Pawar Baida Pau!!! As a Cabinet Minister and as BCCI head Pawar is one big flop!!!

Bharat Kumar
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CORPORATE

Arup Roy Choudhary is VC,CIDCO
.Arup Roy Choudhary,Chairman of the National Building Construction Corporation(NBCC) has been appointed Vice Chairman of the "Construction Industry Development Council(CIDCO)"which is backed by the Planning Commission of India.Its Chairman is Mr.Udesh Kohli ex chief of the Power Finance Corporation of India(PFCI).

NTC board to have professionals
The Indian Minister for Textiles Shankar Sinh Waghela is determined to give a professional look to the Board of the National Textiles Corporation (NTC). With two Directors having already been selected for Technical and Marketing Divisions, the NTC is now going to get Director Human Resource (HR). Interviews for the post of Director (HR) are scheduled to be held in Delhi on January 15 and 16,

Tariff Commission fate hangs in balance
The fate of the Tariff Commission, set up in 1997 to recommend tariff policies and their levels, hangs in the balance as the department of commerce is reportedly unwilling to heed the advice of the finance ministry .

Prasad is CGM CONCOR
G J Prasad has taken over as Chief General Manager, Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), Southern Region.