|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Ranjitsinh Gaekwad Passes Away: Former ‘Maharaja of Baroda' and Congress MP Ranjitsinh Gaekwad passed away on 10th May at a private hospital in Baroda. He was 74. He is survived by his wife Shubhangini Raje Gaekwad, a son and two daughters. The funeral will take place at Kirti Mandir, where the last rites of royal family members are performed. Mr. Gaekwad, the second son of the late Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad, was born in 1938 and became the ‘Maharaja’ of Baroda after his elder brother Fatehsinhrao Gaekwad died in 1988. He did B.A. (Fine Arts) from the MS University of Baroda. He also studied at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Vadodara in 1980 and again in 1984. (10-05-2012) |
|
| Double-Decker Buses In Baroda: Vitcos, the private operator which runs the city bus service, is likely to introduce double-decker buses within a few days on a few select routes. The buses have a capacity of 78 persons, 35 on the lower floor and 43 on the upper floor. Trials will first take place to check whether overhead electricity cables on the road are a safe distance away. Ticket rates will be the same. Using diesel as a fuel, each bus costs Rs. 3.8 million. (06-05-2012) |
|
| Black Films Banned On Cars: Following a recent Supreme Court judgment the police in Vadodara have asked car owners to remove black films from their cars. The use of black films of any visual light transmission (VLT) percentage or any other material on safety glasses, windscreens and side glasses has been prohibited on all vehicles throughout India. (04-05-2012) |
|
| Gujarat's Harappan Civilisation: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) plans to open, at Vadodara, a gallery dedicated to Gujarat's Harappan civilisation which flourished around 5,000 years back in Gujarat. The gallery will display artefacts excavated from prominent Harappan sites of Gujarat – Lothal, Dholavira, Surkotda, Juni Kuran, Khirsara, etc. The gallery will be housed in the Vadodara Urban Development Authority (VUDA) building. MS University's Department of Archaeology & Ancient History also has a similar exhibition room. The gallery at VUDA should be ready by June 2012. (03-05-2012) |
|
| Milk Prices Increased: The prices of Baroda Dairy’s milk, buttermilk, curd and flavoured milk have been increased from May 1, following a decision to this effect by members of Baroda District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited. The new milk prices, per litre are Amul Gold (Rs. 38), Amul Shakti (Rs. 35), Amul Cow (Rs. 32), Amul Slim & Trim (Rs. 27). Incidentally, this is the 15th price hike since 2006. (02-05-2012) |
|
| Baroda Cricket Association Elections: The current management team headed by Chirayu Amin and Samarjitsinh Gaekwad has again won the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) elections which were held on April 20. Amin secured 1,008 votes to win the president’s post and Gaekwad was elected vice-president by getting 1,151 votes. Besides these two, the new managing committee includes Amul Jikar, Arun Gandhi, Bhupendra Patel, Pranav Amin, Chetan Pawar, Snehal Mehta, Sudhir Parab, Anant Indulkar, Jatin Vakil, Ravindra Hota, Roufus Rockey. (21-04-2012) |
|
| Aaykar Seva Kendra Lunched: The income tax (I-T) department in Vadodara has launched Aaykar Seva Kendra (ASK) in Aaykar Bhavan at Race Course Circle. ASK is meant to be an integrated model to provide a single window for registration of all applications and attend to complaints. Set up at a cost of Rs. 3.4 million, the cell has 10 employees to attend to people. The I-T department hopes that people at large will see it not as an enforcement agency but as a service provider. (20-04-2012) |
|
| Urban Heritage & Renewal Cell: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) will set up a Vadodara Urban Heritage and Renewal Cell (VUHRC) to look after the city's natural heritage and culture. The city is presently celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. VUHRC will have experts from Archaeological Survey of India, Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery, Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India, Indian Institute of Architects and VMC. The cell will work in co-ordination with Indian Heritage Cities Network and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. Its office will be located in the health museum building in Sayajibaug. (19-04-2012) |
|
| REUNION 13: MS University plans to organise a three-day alumni meet – 'REUNION 13'. The meet will begin on January 3, 2013, which marks Sir Sayajirao Diamond Jubilee Day. The first day of the meet will be at the department level, the second day at the faculty level and the third day at the university level. MSU hopes to begin alumni registration, offline and online, from April 30, the university's foundation day. (19-04-2012) |
|
| MSU 'Sthapana Din' On April 30: When MS University celebrates 'Sthapana Din' (foundation day) on April 30 this year, it will also recognise the contributions of 145 donors besides the Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad Smarak Trust. The present programme will cover only those donors who are registered as such with the university, that is, those individuals, trusts and organisations who have donated Rs. 100,000 and above. Somewhere down the line, however, MSU plans to also recognise the contributions of those who have not registered as donors but have still benefited the university significantly. (18-04-2012) |
|
Apollo Knowledge Institute: Apollo Tyres Limited has recently set up Apollo Knowledge Institute in a joint initiative with the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED). This public-private partnership venture is located at Apollo's Limda plant near Vadodara. The institute will focus on modular training and skill development programmes to meet the needs of Indian industry. To impart the training the institute has partnered with Automation Industry Association and Q Ultima Consultants.
(16-04-2012) |
|
| VIBRANT - 2012: VIBRANT – 2012 is the name for the Western India Inter-Medical College Meet which will have participants from Baroda, Ahmedabad, Surat, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Anand, Karamsad and Bhavnagar medical and dental colleges. Four major night events (7.30 p.m. to 11 p.m.): 27th – Garba; 28th - Fashion Show; 29th April - Musical Night; 30th - DJ Night. Other events (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Baroda Medical College): dance competitions, singing competitions, debates, inter-college cricket championship, drama events, informal games, etc. For entry to cultural events please contact: Dr. Divyesh Patel (Junior Doctors’ Association President, 9925049187; Dr. Raj Bumiya (JDA Vice President, 9978345496, Dr. Arpan Mehta (JDA Vice President, 9978338329). Venue: Navlakhi Ground & Baroda Medical College, Jail Road, Vadodara 390 001 Ph: 09978345496. (26-03-2012) |
|
| Designing Types for Indian Languages: The Association of British Scholars, Vadodara chapter, in association with the Gateway Hotel, Akota, Vadodara, has organised a talk by Czech type designer David Brezina on the ‘Challenge of Designing Types for Indian Languages’. Brezina has designed types for Devanagari languages, including Gujarati. He will be introduced by Dr. Ganesh Devy. The talk will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, 2012, at the Tropicana, The Gateway Hotel, Akota. The talk is open to all. There are thousands of languages in the world, but only a few of them have a script and are therefore available to us in the form of writing which we can read according to the spoken sounds of that language. In the hierarchy of languages, those with scripts are invariably considered more 'powerful' than those that have survived in their oral form only. Oral languages are also at a much greater risk of dying out. The scripts of written languages have evolved in the form of hieroglyphs, picture-forms, abstract forms and so on. Abstract forms often use ‘Types’, and Typography is the art and technique of arranging type in order to make language visible. In traditional typography, text is composed to create a readable, coherent, and visually satisfying whole that works invisibly, without the awareness of the reader. (26-03-2012) |
|
| VMC May Lease Open Plots For Sports Activities: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) may lease some of its 27 vacant plots for sports activities at a token rate. The plots will be leased to organisations and NGOs who want to promote sports in the city. The upkeep and maintenance of the grounds will have to be done by the organisations that take them on lease. The initial lease period will be three years. The list of plots will be announced shortly. Some of the plots are in Akota, Waghodia Road, Karelibaug, Navayard, Manjalpur, Tandalja and Atladara. (19-03-2012) |
|
| MSU Proposes Course In Cellular & Molecular Biology: MS University's Faculty of Science has proposed a five-year integrated course in cellular and molecular biology from this academic year. The proposal needs to be approved by the syndicate. The Indian government’s department of biotechnology will give the faculty three teaching positions to run the course. The course will admit 30 students through an all-India entrance test. Applicants should have passed HSc with 60 per cent marks in group B. (13-02-2012) |
|
| Another Award For Mani Sir: Barodian artist professor K.G. Subramanyan – popularly known as Mani Sir at MS University – was recently conferred the Padma Vibhushan award for his contribution to the field of arts. He had received the Padma Shri in 1975 and the Padma Bhushan in 2006. Mani Sir, now 88, lives and works in Baroda. He studied at MSU in the 1940s and taught at the Faculty of Fine Arts between 1951 and 1980. (28-01-2012) |
|
| Hockey Stadium Coming Up In City: Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) is building a modern hockey stadium in Manjalpur. The stadium is part of an outdoor sports complex being set up by VMC on a large plot of land near Darbar Chowkdi. The hockey ground will be laid with astro turf. It will be suitable for hosting national and international tournaments. The stadium, costing about Rs. 50 million, will be able to take in 6,000 spectators. The facility will be administered by Baroda District Hockey Association (BDHA). Gujarat has only one other hockey stadium of this kind, the one at Gandhinagar which is owned by Sports Authority of India (SAI). (12-01-2012) |
|
| Lalbaug Overbridge May Be Opened By February: The Lalbaug overbridge is likely to be inaugurated by the end of February. Considering the doubts over its design, it has been decide that no right turns will be allowed on the four-way overbridge in order to avoid accidents and traffic jams. If you approach the bridge from Kashivishwanath Temple, you will not be allowed to turn towards Vishwamitri; if you approach from Manjalpur you will not be permitted to turn towards Pratapnagar. (11-01-2012) |
|
| Appeal To Vegetable Vendors: Vadodara’s vegetable and fruit sellers have assured the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) that they will not provide plastic bags to customers from 15th January. VMC had appealed to the vendors to help out in this way because plastic bags are non-biodegradable and clog the city’s drainage and storm water systems. Citizens have also been requested to use paper and cloth bags instead. (11-01-2012) |
|
| International Language Meet In City: Bhasha Vasudha (languages of the world) is the theme of a conference to be held in Baroda on January 7 and 8. The meet has been organised by Bhasha Research and Publication Centre, a Baroda based organisation devoted to the conservation of the languages and oral traditions of marginalised communities. Representatives of almost 900 languages of the world will participate in this international language meet. Over 100 scholars from 35 countries are expected to attend. Over 600 Indian linguists will also participate. The conference will be held at three venues: Sir Sayajirao Nagargruh at Akota, Dashrath village, and Bhasha Centre’s Adivasi Academy in Tejgadh village. On this occasion, Bhasha Research Centre will launch its People’s Linguistic Survey of India (PLSI) for 12 states (Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh). The remaining states of India will be covered by the end of 2012. Over 800 languages are used in India and this survey covers 375 languages. (06-01-2012) |
|
| Philatelic Exhibition: Gujarat Circle of India Post will organise a philatelic exhibition – Gujpex 2011 – at Vadodara from 23rd to 25th December at Akota Atithi Gruh. On this occasion a set of 22 special used picture postcards will be released to commemorate the historic Dandi March. During the event the legendary cricketer Vijay Hazare will be paid a tribute by the postal department and Baroda Cricket Association (BCA): a special stamped envelope with photographs of Hazare will be exhibited. Over 2,000 such envelopes will be printed by BCA. The envelopes will be auctioned and the funds raised will be shared between BCA and the postal department. Hazare captained India in 14 matches between 1951 and 1953. He scored 2,192 runs in 30 Test matches (with a batting average of 47.65). He passed away in 2004. (10-12-2011) |
|
| Science City At Sayaji Baug: Science City At Sayaji Baug: There is talk of a Science City being set up near the Sayaji Baug Planetarium. Discussions are on between the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). New equipment will be set up in the planetarium and it will be a part of the science city complex. The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 250 million. It is still at the planning stage. (05-12-2011) |
|
| Lalbaug Railway Overbridge Will Open Soon: It looks as if the Lalbaug Railway Overbridge will finally be opened soon. Assisted by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, this project was started in 2009 and has been substantially delayed since then. The bridge has two ‘Y’ junctions to facilitate traffic in four directions – Pratapnagar, Vishwamitri Road, Rajmahal Road and Manjalpur. (03-12-2011) |
|
| New Vadodara Airport Terminal Building: The new integrated terminal building of Vadodara airport should be ready in another 17 months. This is the indication given by India’s Civil Aviation Minister Vyalar Ravi in a letter to Vadodara MP Balkrishna Shukla. The foundation stone for this project was laid in February 2009 by Praful Patel, who was the Union Civil Aviation Minister at that time. The new integrated terminal building – a glass and steel structure – will have an area of 18,120 square meters. It will have peak hour passenger handling capacity of 700 and an annual handling capacity of 730,000 passengers. (03-12-2011) |
|
| AICTE To Open Office In Gujarat: With its headquarters at Bhopal, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has eight regional offices in the country, but it does not have an office specifically for the Gujarat region. It has now decided to open an office in Vadodara and it will be located on the MS University campus. Currently, engineering and management institutes have to deal with the Bhopal office for project grants and additional seats. MSU has sanctioned land near the university guest house for this purpose. (28-11-2011) |
|
| Sensor-Based Automated Driving Test: Gujarat's Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) may introduce a sensor-based automated driving test. Tracks will be fitted with sensors that will detect if the driver is doing a reasonably good job. The tracks for two- and four-wheelers will be lined with over 100 sensors embedded near curves and speed-breakers. Test results will be available immediately (a score above 70 % will be necessary to pass the driving test). This facility will be started at Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara and other major RTO offices. It is hoped that this method will eliminate errors and corruption. The project will cost Rs. 100 million. Closed-circuit TV cameras will also be installed to monitor performance. Those who pass this test will also need to pass an online test featuring questions relating to road signals and traffic safety. (26-11-2011) |
|
| Two New Flyovers In City: Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has begun work, though tentatively, on the city’s first flyovers – the Harinagar flyover on Gotri Road and the Amitnagar Circle flyover on VIP Road. The two projects are likely to cost Rs. 400 million. The expected project duration is 15 months. Soil testing has begun at both sites. (25-10-2011) |
|
| Barodian Elected To Golf Body: Baroda’s Samarjitsinh Gaekwad is now an elected council member of the Indian Golf Union (IGU). Though IGU was formed in 1955, it had no member from Gujarat in its council. Gaekwad has been elected from the west zone. He is associated with the golf course of Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club (GBGC) that is on the grounds of Laxmi Vilas Palace. He will be in three IGU committees – selection, junior development and technical. (21-10-2011) |
|
| Renovation Of MSU Hostels: MS University plans to renovate all its student hostels, starting with the four halls of residence on the campus for girls. A sample room has been done up at Hansa Mehta Hall at a cost of Rs. 150,000. If this is approved, then Rs. 20 million will be spent to renovate the entire hall. Renovation of the other three halls for ladies – Pandita Gargi Hall, Sarojini Devi Hall and Kasturba Gandhi Hall – may cost another Rs. 50 million. Once a model hall is ready, MSU will approach donors for funds. (18-10-2011) |
|
| Solar Powered Pond Aerator For Gotri Lake: A mobile solar powered pond aeration system has been installed on an experimental basis at the Gotri Lake to increase the level of dissolved oxygen in the water. The process of aeration enables the absorption of atmospheric oxygen so as to restore the water body to a healthy state. The unit, developed by S.N. Jha, a researcher at Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, was demonstrated to fishermen and officials from the state fisheries department and Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). Claimed to be the first such system in the South Asia region, it is considered to be better than the ones powered by conventionally generated electricity or diesel engines. It is quite suitable for increasing the production of shrimps and fishes, and it reduces algae growth. A similar system may be installed at Sursagar Lake. One such aerator can increase aquatic life in a lake spread over three acres. The water body appears clearer after 15 days and the smell of dead fish reduces. (17-10-2011) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
