BSNL Has To Collect Rs. 54 Billion:
Any suggestions on how BSNL can recover the dues?

The total outstanding dues of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) against subscribers and private operators as on January 31, 2008, are Rs. 54 billion. Many customers do not pay bills on time, change their premises and after defaulting move on to other new operators.

Firefighters On Bikes:
Don't you wish the idea had come to someone earlier?

Traffic congestion often hampers the movement of large firefighting vehicles in narrow streets. The Mumbai Fire Brigade is now trying to deploy two-wheelers to fight fires in such situations. Specially designed motorcycles are being equipped with Compressed Air Foam (CAF) units to fight vehicle fires and oil spills. The bike is a scaled-down version of a fire engine. The CAF can stock 10 litres of water and can be used to extinguish minor fires. A large fire engine carries 45,000 litres of water. The firefighting bike costs about Rs. 1 million.

Dial 108 For Emergencies:
Surprisingly, only two states in India have this facility

The Emergency Management & Research Institute (EMRI) has launched 11 ambulances in Baroda. Baroda is the second city in Gujarat, after Ahmedabad, where EMRI has launched its ambulance services. And Gujarat is the second state in India, after Andhra Pradesh, where EMRI services are available. EMRI was established in Andhra Pradesh in 2005, funded by B. Ramalinga Raju, chairman of Satyam Computers. The emergency ambulance service is planned in such a way that the average time for reaching the scene is about 15 minutes. The ‘108’ toll-free number serves the city as well as five other towns in the district for medical, police and fire emergencies. Six ambulances will be in action in the city and five in Bodeli, Padra, Dabhoi, Savli and Waghodia. The control room is in Ahmedabad and all calls received there are relayed to the ambulances. Ambulances leave for their destinations within three minutes. Each ambulance covers a radius of 20 km. Each ambulance has an emergency medical technician and a driver, called a pilot. The pilots have been trained in helping the medical technicians. All calls meant for the city and district police are routed through police officers posted at EMRI’s Ahmedabad control room.

Rice & Dal For Rs. 5:
Too good to be true?

Four students from the Mumbai School of Business in Navi Mumbai have started a 'Food For Thought' scheme to serve a plate of rice and dal for only Rs. 5. They claim that their effort is not a form of charity; they will ensure that they do not make a loss. Their experiment site is the taxi stand outside the Vashi railway station, where the drivers are offered an alternative to the standard pav-bhaji. The intention is to provide a wholesome and nutritious meal at an affordable price. The entrepreneurs claim that the total cost of food preparation and transportation is Rs. 781 for 150 plates, which is Rs. 5.20 per plate. But it's still early days for them.