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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| Crocodile Park Behind Laxmi Vilas Palace: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) is considering the feasibility of setting up a crocodile park somewhere along the banks of the river Vishwamitri. The location proposed is behind the Laxmi Vilas Palace compound. Many crocodiles have been seen in the stretch of the Vishwamitri near the palace. The crocodile park may also be developed as a rescue and education centre. VMC will formally approach the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI) to take up the matter further. VMC may pick up some tips from the crocodile park in Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu. (23-09-2011) |
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| Badges For Auto-rickshaw Drivers: The Vadodara traffic police have specified a dress code for the drivers of auto-rickshaws: if the owner is driving he will have to wear a white dress, and if the driver is not the owner he will have to wear a khaki dress. All drivers will also have to wear badges issued by the Regional Transport Office. (23-09-2011) |
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| New LPG Cylinder Connections: The Vadodara district administration plans to improve the process of giving fresh connections for LPG cylinder. The system proposed is that residents seeking new connections should submit the necessary documents at the City Civic Centre at Narmada Bhavan instead of at various LPG agencies. Vadodara district has over 510,000 LPG cylinder consumers and 43 LPG agencies; over 50 per cent of the connections are in the city. Over 23,700 consumers have piped natural gas connections. The new system is likely to start from October 1. (17-09-2011) |
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| Ahmedabad-Mumbai Expressway: Work on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai expressway project via Vadodara and Surat has been put on the fast track. The average speed on a two-lane road is around 50 kmph and it is 65 kmph on a four-lane road. The speed will increase to 80 to 100 kmph on the six-lane road. Travel time on the Ahmedabad-Surat stretch will reduce from five hours to about 3.5 hours. Work on the Surat-Mumbai part is likely to be completed by December 2011. (15-09-2011) |
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| New Examination System At Major MSU Faculties: Starting this academic year MS University may follow a common examination system at the Faculty of Commerce, Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Science. These three faculties have switched over to the choice based credit system (CBCS) and now the semester-end exams will be conducted by the university's examination section instead of being conducted internally. The grading system will also be introduced. Among the issues yet to be resolved are: method of giving grace marks, whether the examiners should be internal or external, the examination fee structure, and the re-assessment and dispute settlement mechanism. At all other faculties, examinations will be conducted internally by the faculties themselves. The CBCS will be introduced next year in the Faculty of Journalism and Communication, Faculty of Performing Arts and Faculty of Fine Arts. (14-09-2011) |
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| Sayajirao’s 150th Birth Anniversary: Member of Parliament Balkrishna Shukla has requested the central government to release a commemorative postage stamp on the 150th birth anniversary of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. Born on March 11, 1863, Sayajirao was adopted by the royal Gaekwad family on May 27, 1865, and later became the ruler of the Baroda state. (13-09-2011) |
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| Tax Exemption For Properties Of Defence Personnel: Following requests by the Army Welfare Association, Gujarat’s Urban Development Department (UDD) has directed civic bodies of Surat, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Vadodara, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar to give tax exemption to properties owned by defence personnel. The exemption will be limited to just one residential – not commercial – property owned by them within municipal limits. All properties, except properties owned by charity organisations, within civic limits are taxable as per the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations Act. The Gujarat government has asked the civic bodies to amend the Act to benefit retired and serving defence personnel. The standing committee of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation has already forwarded a proposal to this effect to the general body for approval. In Vadodara about 6,000 defence personnel should benefit from this move. (12-09-2011) |
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| Ganesh Immersion Processions Peaceful: The Ganesh immersion processions were peaceful (except for a minor incident) throughout Vadodara on Sunday, 11th September. To maintain the peace the city authorities had made elaborate security arrangements. In addition to the city police and the four companies of the State Reserve Police (SRP) posted in the city, additional forces had also been deployed: a deputy inspector general of police, four deputy commissioners, 13 deputy superintendents of police, 20 trainee Dy SPs, 31 inspectors, 23 sub-inspectors, 231 trainee sub-inspectors, 510 other police personnel, eight additional companies of SRP, two companies of Rapid Action Force and 2,355 Home Guards. Volunteers of Civil Defence and Vadodara Traffic Education Trust were also roped in. Over 150 videographers were used to record the processions and the crowds. On standby duty were six quick response teams equipped with bulletproof jackets and automatic weapons, bomb detection and disposal squads and sniffer dogs. (12-09-2011) |
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| Smart Cards To Monitor Attendance: MS University’s Department of Russian Studies in the Faculty of Arts has started a pilot project to electronically register the internal marks of students and the attendance of students and teachers. During the experimental phase 50 students and three teachers have been given radio frequency smart cards. The system has been installed at Bhasha Bhavan building. The system can in theory also enable parents to know whether their wards attend classes regularly. It has been installed by Miracle Smart Card Pvt. Ltd. (05-09-2011) |
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| Communication Cell At MSU: MS University has started a communication cell to address the needs of internal and external communications. It is hoped that the cell will help create a better awareness in society regarding developments and activities at MSU. Dr. Amit Dholakia will be the new director of the cell. Among its activities will be media liaison, maintaining the university website, publication of the university's journals and newsletters, etc. (01-09-2011) |
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| Railway Overbridges Opened At Last: Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two railway overbridges in Vadodara – on Jetalpur Road and at Navayard – on August 28. Mr. Modi’s visit also provided the occasion to kick off development of two new flyovers, at Harinagar crossroads on Gotri Road and Amitnagar Circle on VIP Road. It is also proposed to widen the bridge over the Vishwamitri River near Urmi School in Sama. (29-08-2011) |
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| Second-Hand Mobile Phones: Second-Hand Mobile Phone Registers: The Vadodara city police have instructed all shops dealing in second-hand mobile telephone handsets to maintain a separate register showing details of the buyer or seller, the IMEI number of the handset, other details of the mobile phone and also the identity proofs of the buyer and the seller. The reason behind this directive is to facilitate investigations into terrorist related activities, in which mobile telephones are used extensively. (21-08-2011) |
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| New Grass Species Found By MSU Researchers: Rinku Desai, a student of MS University’s Botany Department, and her guide Dr. Vinay Ravle have discovered a unique species of grass at Bhayli, near Baroda. They have named this species ‘Ischaemum Sayajiraoi’, in honour of Sayajirao Gaekwad III. According to them, this species of grass has been identified for the first time in the world; its leaves and flowers are different from other varieties. The new species has already been registered with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK, and the International Plant Names Index (IPNI). The International Plant Names Index (IPNI) is a database of the names and associated basic bibliographical details of seed plants, ferns and lycophytes. IPNI is the product of a collaboration between The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Harvard University Herbaria and the Australian National Herbarium. The MSU duo are engaged in research on various species of grass in south Gujarat. The study has been carried out over three years. Dr. Ravle has done his PhD from MSU. (18-08-2011) |
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| Nagar Ratna Award For VMC: The All India Institute for Local Self Government (AIILSG) has given the Nagar Ratna Award for urban poor housing schemes to the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). Houses for the urban poor in the city have been constructed under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Of the planned 21,000 houses, 8,000 have already been built. Over 5,400 houses have already been allotted to owners. (09-07-2011) |
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| Get Your Biometric Identity Card: Aadhar, the biometric identity card under the Union government’s Unique Identity number project (issued by the Unique Identity Development Authority of India, or UIDAI), is now being issued by the Fatehgunj head post office after submitting the relevant documents. The UIDAI biometric card has a unique 12-digit number. Issued free of charge, it will be useful for opening a bank account, to obtain a mobile connection, withdraw NREGS money, get an insurance policy, apply for a ration card, and whenever you have to produce and identity and address proof. In Vadodara district, there will be 39 centres to implement this project. In the city there will be centres at post offices in Karelibaug, Raopura head post office, Mandvi, Khanderao Market, Madan Zampa, Baranpura, Race Course and Subhanpura. (25-06-2011) |
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| Parul Institute Permitted To Admit Foreign Students: The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has given permission to Baroda’s Parul Institute of Engineering and Technology to admit students of foreign countries, persons of Indian origin (PIOs) and children of Indian workers in Gulf countries from this academic year. Nirma University is the other Gujarat based institution which has a similar clearance. Parul can admit a total of 113 such students in the supernumerary categories, at the undergraduate level in mechanical, electronics and communication, computer science, civil engineering, electrical engineering and information technology, and at the postgraduate level in thermal engineering, electronics and communication engineering, MBA and MCA. Parul has set up an NRI hostel. (20-06-2011) |
