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"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.

A K D Jadhav seeks pre-mature retirement !
Secretary Mines A K D Jadhav is reported to have sought pre-mature retirement beginning February 1. 1970 batch Maharashtra cadre IAS officer Jadhav was scheduled to retire on February 28.

Abrol to be RPF DG !
A K Abrol is all set to take over as new DG of the Railway Protection Force on February 1. 1972 batch West Bengal cadre IPS officer Abrol will succeed A K Suri who is superannuating by this month end.

Hussain to be Chairman of JNPT !
Latest information says that Syed Shahzad Hussain is being appointed Chairman of the Jawahar Lal Nehru Port Trust. He is 1976 batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre.

Orders of Jadhav soon
Formal orders of the appointment of Arvind Jadhav as CVO of the GAIL are being issued in a week or two. He is 1978 batch IAS officer of Karnataka cadre.

Paramvir Singh is now Additional Director CBI
Paramvir Singh has taken over as Additional Director of the CBI. He is 1974 batch IPS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre.

DD Verma is country head of IUCN
Desh Deepak Verma working in the Ministry of Environment and Forests as Joint Secretary has taken over as Country Head for International Union for Conservation of Nature. Govt. clearance for the same was issued on 3rd of January He is 1978 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre. IUCN is the most prestigious international environmental organisation which has OBSERVER status in the UN general assembly.

Balachandran is new JS Environment
G Balachandran has succeeded Desh Deepak Verma in the Ministry of Forests and Environment as Joint Secretary. He is 1977 batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre.

Sanjay Joshi joins as Senior Fellow
Sanjay Joshi has joined the Observer Research Foundation ,New Delhi as Senior Fellow for a period of two years. He is 1983 batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre.

Will history be repeated in CBEC ?
With the posting of a CSS officer as JS in the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, a post held by the IAS so far, it is clear that the Finance Ministry has decided not to post an officer from the IRS as has been their demand for a long time. Perhaps because the post is in the Ministry and not a technical post in the Board where only IRS officers can come on deputation.
By not posting an IAS officer now on the post, it seems the Government did find substance in the position taken by the last JS that an officer posted in the Ministry on a non-technical post to perform the Ministry's function of managing the establishment of the IRS cannot be made to function under the Board which itself is a subordinate office of the Ministry.
Will the same be repeated in case of the CBEC?"
( We said in November that CSS officer will be posted in CBDT )

Work distribution in CBDT
P K Misra-II (Prasanna K Misra) has joined as Member (Investigation) CBDT, Alok Majumdar as Member Legislation and .R N Upadhyay as Member-IT. All three of them are of 1971 batch. Grapevine is that FM was personally interested that Misra and Majumdar be assigned these portfolios.

IAS-IPS reshuffle in Haryana
The Haryana Government has issued posting and transfer orders of 19 IAS officers and 10 IPS officers on Sunday.

FORUM

Suggestion to reduce corruption
I have a suggestion to reduce corruption in Government by half in one go. Reduce the cadre strength of the IPS, Income tax and Customs by half!
Rajeevrattan

More Noidas will keep on happening
Noida killings in particular and the situation in UP in general is the greatest vindication of Supreme Court's directive on Police Reforms. While politicians and IAS lobby are busy selfishly blocking them, the public suffers. More Noidas will keep on happening as it has been happening but who cares.
Rajesh Kumar
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CORPORATE

There was systematic failure
Bhargav has sought to shift the cumulative responsbility of police administration on to politician. Noida killigs are horrendous, there is no two opinion on it but blaming politician only on such incident amounts to lack of courage among IAS/ IPS and shying away from responsibility. It is easy to castigate politician to shift one's responsibility. This was a systematic failure. Every one including DM, SP, politician, media, affluent people of the area are responsible for unchecked macabre. It is high time to introspect and stop irresponsible statements.
A Ahmad
God save UP
Not surprising for such things to happen in UP when we all know that Police postings right from SHOs to SPs are auctioned. Infact it is said that the lucrative thana postings are given on a pagree and monthly rent. With such a scenario, business men criminals will have a field day. God Save UP..
Tanmay

Interview for Banks CMD on January 24
Interview for the post of CMD of five nationalized banks is scheduled to take place on January 24. Five CMDs are retiring this year.

RBI Governor on foreign tour
Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RB) Dr Y V Reddy is going to have a very busy period in whole of January. Dr Reddy who is already very busy, will be travelling abroad in this month.

A K Tiwari to exit from NTC
The exit of A K Tiwari Director Finance from the National Textile Corporation(NTC) is on the anvil. Tiwari who is on deputation to the NTC l in all probability is being repatriated to his parent Income Tax department.

Agrawal is Member of AAI
V P Agrawal has been appointed Member (Planning) of the Airport Authority of India (AAI).

Attractive holiday packages from Indian

Enjoy the lovely beaches of Goa and Kovalam, the cool climes of Darjeeling and Ooty or pilgrimage destinations like Tirupati and Bodhgaya. These are just some of the choices in the wide spectrum of destinations offered by national carrier Indian under its holiday packages programme "Indian Flyways". Indian offers as many as 400 holiday package options under the programme to both domestic and international destinations on its network. These packages are available for sale by the airline's approved travel agents and reservation offices. Indian has a dedicated website www.indianairlinespackages.com which provides comprehensive information about the packages, rates and facilities and through which packages are also sold.
Indian has tie-ups with leading hotels and tour operators to offer attractive packages. While twenty-two Domestic Flyaways link over 100 cities in India, 9 International Flyaways cover around 30 cities in the Gulf and South-East Asia, besides others. The packages are launched twice a year and are valid from 1st April to 30th September or 1st October to 31st March. The duration of stay normally ranges from 2 nights/3 days to 7 nights/8 days. Day return packages are also available like those from Bhopal to Indore/Mumbai and a single night/2 days option such as Vaishno Devi package. The packages generally comprise return economy class air fares, to and fro airport transfers, ground transfers by road/rail as per plan, accommodation, meals as per plan and additions like boat rides, welcome drink, etc. and applicable hotel taxes.