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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.

J P Singh to be Secretary Mines !
J P Singh is likely to be appointed new Secretary Mines in the Government of India. 1972 batch Rajasthan cadre IAS officer, Singh, is presently Secretary Disinvestment.Name of 1973 batch UP cadre IAS officer Ajay Shankar is also doing the round for the post.

Appointment of Governors this month !
Appointment of new Governors is expected to be made before the Republic Day.

L Mansingh to head Petroleum Regulatory Board !
Former Secretary Consumer Affairs Labanyendu Mansingh is being appointed head of the Petroleum Regulatory Board that will oversee the downstream oil and natural gas sector. He is retired 1970 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre.

Ashvini Kumar empanelled
DGP Himachal Pradesh Ashvini Kumar has been empanelled to the rank of DG in the Government of India. He is 1973 batch IPS officer.

GoI promotes 1973 batch IPS, not the states
While the GoI has promoted 1973 batch IPS to the rank of DG, the same has not been done by many states like Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashthra.

Sanjeev Gupta empanelled
Sanjeev Gupta has been empanelled to the rank of Joint Secretary in the Government of India during the last review meeting. He is 1985 batch IPS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre.

Alam joins CRPF
A Alam has joined the CRPF as IG in Delhi. He is 1981 batch IPS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre.

IPS officer in Kabul
Sanjeev Kumar Singh is currently in Kabul to attend two weeks course on terrorism. He is 1987 batch IPS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre.

CRPF DG's post being reserved for Virk for a month ?
Will the post of DG in the CRPF be kept vacant for about a month for Punjab DGP S S Virk? In case the Congress doesn't comes back to power in Punjab, he would be posted in CRPF, it is rumoured. Is it true?

Manmohan Singh to move Addis Ababa
First Secretary in Kuwait Manmohan Singh is moving to Addis Ababa in place of Ramesh Kumar. Kumar will then move to Copenhagen.

Singh posted in Beijing
Second Secretary in Belgrade N R Singh has been posted in Beijing on a newly created post.

ABC award for MP PR DepartmentMadhya Pradesh Public Relations Department has been selected for the prestigious award of Association of Business Communicatiors (ABC) of India in Social Responsibility Communications Category this year. The Department is headed by 1987 batch IAS officer Manoj Shrivastava.

Lt Gen Sandhu is ADC to the President
Lt Gen (Dr) DDS Sandhu, Director General of Ordnance Services and Senior Colonel Commandant, AOC has been appointed as honorary ADC to the President of India.

IPS changes in UP
Sunil Kumar has been appointed ASP of Unnao. Vijay Yadav will now be ASP Gautam Buddha Nagar.

FORUM
Why IRS officer not posted in CBDT ?
This refers to the item appearing the other day stating that the Finance Ministry has decided not to post an IRS officer on the post of JS looking after the establishment of the IRS. One needs to ask why?
Is it because an insider cannot be trusted even if such an insider is an IRS officer empanelled as JS and appointed in the Government under the central staffing scheme?
Or is it because a non-IRS is there as the eyes and ears of the Ministry in which he is appointed and part of whose powers have been given to the Board. If it is the latter, then such a non-IRS can hardly ever be effective if his position is one rendered subordinate to the Board. Are we still living in the world of make-believe? Who are we fooling except ourselves?
Pervinder

Maladministration in UP
Maladministration in UP has been in focus in the Forum in the wake of Noida Killings. Fundamental rule of good governance- of Right Person in Right Place- has been willfully violated for and by vested interests inside government, both politicians as well yesmen- type officers. Second, recruitment and postings of police/others through corrupt practices has ripped the bottom out of concept of integrity. Persons who have emptied their pockets to get a job will look for every opportunity to get their "investment" back. And who but criminals and killers will pay the cops? A mere CBI probe into one or the other crimes is not going to rid UP of its spiraling problem of Himalayan Corruption. Some way must be found to meet out exemplary punishment to crooked politicians, administrators and police. Nudge the SC? Perhaps your elite audience will throw up ideas.
Rani Mathur
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CORPORATE

Sunder Rajan to appear for interview
Executive Director of the Indian Bank Sunder Rajan is appearing for interview to the post of CMD of a nationalized bank on January 24.

Two new Members in RBI Committee
Arvind Virmani, Principal Advisor, Planning Commission, and Vinod Rai, Secretary (Financial Sector) have been nominated in the Reserve Bank Committee on Financial Sector Assessment.

Task Force for plantation industry
A high-level task force is being set up to look into the problems confronting the plantation industry.

Amin elected Chairman
Mukhtarul Amin has been elected Chairman of the Council for Leather Exports.

Chandrasekhar is VP of FICCI
Rajeev Chandrasekhar has been appointed Vice-President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Raghavan appointed by MSN
Satya Raghavan has been appointed by the MSN as Head- Consumer Marketing.

Mathivanan elected Chairman
M. S. Mathivanan has been elected as the Chairman of the Powerloom Development and Export Promotion Council.