Your Platform Magazine March 2023 Edition

5 things to remember when you’re going through a hard time

Understand that you’re NOT alone Feeling lonely or like no one truly understands you is one of the major problems with having a battled mental health. You need to remember that you still do have people who trust, love and care for you and value your time with them. Things will eventually get better Anything and everything you’re feeling today, or have been feeling for a prolonged period is NOT permanent, and will eventually go away. This may seem surreal, but trusting in time and that the future holds something worthwhile and beautiful for you will help you find your anchor to hold you down to sanity. Try altering your routine When everything seems meaninglessly mechanical, things are bound to get sad and depressing. Making an effort to make yourself better by adding a new list of items on your checklist to do everyday will help you gain motivation to go through your day. Start a new hobby Starting a new hobby, like painting, taking a walk along the nature, working out or swimming for 40 mins a day has been proven to elevate your mood and your mental state drastically. Reach out to a professional It is always better to take a leap of faith and reach out to a professional for help if things keep getting south and start to seem unbearable. Always remember, you are worth more than you have anticipated, and you matter the most to your loved ones.

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Trends

How to make your wedding look as dreamy as Kiara Advani’s

The minute we saw the beautiful bride of Sidharth Malhotra, we all instantly fell in love with how pretty and elegant she looked. But wait, how do I make my wedding just as dreamy as theirs, you ask? Keep reading to find out! Sabyasachi to Sarojini Nagar Purchasing an extremely expensive set of Lehengas for your big day is every girl’s dream. Instead, try shopping, if possible, stitching one for your customization. This will not only save you tons of money, but also give you room to customise it to match your favourite celebrity wedding! Click, Click, Clickkk! When it comes to capturing your big day, do not be stingy. Hire 1 Videographer and 2 Photographers, 1 to capture the ceremony and 1 to get your perfect paparazzi shots. This takes the extra burden on the photographer to simultaneously capture your ceremony AND somehow manage to get THE best shots of the wedding couple and get some REALLY cool and aesthetic pictures! Venue and Lighting While choosing the venue, keep an eye out and make sure that the venue compliments your wedding theme, the colour palette, and most importantly, your clothes. Having a perfectly balanced lighting, venue and decorations does half the work in making your dreamy day’s pictures a little extra filmy!

Brij-Gaj-Kesri-Bikaner-Dinner-at-the-arcade

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Destination Travel

Valentines Day: Offbeat experiences

Travel brings one closer and there is no better way to immerse oneself in a refreshing experience hand in hand at some of the most lovely destinations – to lay back, enjoy the wonderful views of nature, savour the delectable food, and witness the surreal offerings of the world. Brij Hotels, India | A diverse celebration of love collection of heart-warming boutique hotels offering immersive hyperlocal experiences. An epitome of perceptive luxury hospitality, the brand showcases the finest highlights of a place from culture to cuisine, design to service offering a unique way of sharing moments of love. Some key offerings at their properties for couples: Brij Lakshman Sagar, Pali – Experience slow living with a comfortable stay in an independent mud cottage and spellbinding activities to delve into the essence of the place. Pottery making, made to order meals, a romantic sundowner watching the peacocks to name a few. Brij Pola, Jawai – Go glamping at this contemporary, cozy lodge and experience an adventure of a lifetime together, while you spot leopards, panthers, crocodiles on morning/evening safari’s. Dine under the stars with a lavish barbeque spread or even go bouldering on the rocks. Brij Gaj Kesri, Bikaner – Soak in the grandeur of the royal living at this manor house in the heart of Rajasthan. From an intimate dinner setup at the poolside, a heritage tour of the city, or a sundowner on the dunes. A must try is the chef’s special traditional Rajasthani delicacies, a feast for two! Further details on exciting offers here, The Kumaon, Uttarakhand | A sweet escape to the hills Pay heed to the calling of the mountains with an unforgettable, romantic retreat in the heart of the Himalayas. The Kumaon sitting atop a ridge, surrounded by the sanctity of the Nanda Devi Range, boasts of diverse experiences where one can disconnect with the tangible workings of the world and reconnect with each other. Some key offerings at the boutique hotel for couples: A stargazing session to closely witness the planets, moons, breath-taking views of the cosmos, spot shooting stars in a clear night sky! Truly magical A surreal walk through the nearby Gadholi village to catch the sunset with Juno and Elsa (the most charming pair of resident dogs at The Kumaon) and a special high tea setup with undulating views of the mountains at the end. Connect with the cultural history and natural heritage of this unscathed and untouched beauty of the Kumaoni region with a varied selection of tailor-made nature walks and trails allowing one to immerse in the beauty of the Earth. A romantic dinner setup across some exquisite spots across the property – a romantic candle light setup under the stars, a cosy dinner in the library or at the gourmet restaurant that sits in a cantilevered structure of floor-to-ceiling glass with undisturbed views of the Himalayas. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Maldives | Live your ultimate romantic dream An idyllic dreamy escape for couples, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is one of the most romantic locations in the world. This island luxury resort features over-water villas with lush tropical scenery and uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean, ideal for couples and honeymooners. While its adults-only Rangali island offers complete privacy and seclusion for the perfect romantic sojourn, the personalized experiences and special Valentine’s Day offers at Conrad Maldives are set to make your time there unforgettable. Some key offerings at the resort for couples: A dreamy stay in the company of exotic marine life at the underwater residence – The Muraka Curated dinner setups at stunning locations across the resort Indulge in a rejuvenating experience at the Over Water Spa Exclusively designed recreation and wellness activities for couples Discover unique wellness rituals special to the couple with wellness practitioners Muayad and Banu Najemeddin – mastering in their own specialized techniques that they use to create profound healing. Trisara, Phuket | For a love-filled adventure Settled in the tropical hills of north western Phuket and rooted in timeless tradition, Trisara is a splendid destination resort enveloped in nature’s embrace and culture’s enduring warmth. Through its heavenly setting and unparalleled experience offerings it is the perfect place to raise a toast to life and create memories that are going to be cherished forever. At Trisara, couples can choose to stay in villas or beautiful oceanfront suites for a romantic retreat. Some key offerings at the resort for couples: An array of outdoor activities to bond from a surreal nature walk to a private resort boot camp Get pampered, relax and unwind at Jara Spa with a signature treatment by experienced therapists. Bring out the explorer in you with a number of blue season activities such as snorkelling, sailing, kayaking and sea surfing. Cook delicious meals together by signing in for private cooking classes or have a romantic barbeque dinner setup along the pristine beach. Kandima Maldives, Maldives | Anything but ordinary Get ready to be swept away on a romantic escapade this Valentine’s Day at Kandima Maldives who have rolled out the red carpet to make a romantic getaway anything but ordinary! From long beach strolls hand in hand to oh-so-stunning destination dining under a starlit sky and from pampering couple massages to a romantic sundowner experience on a luxury yacht. Some key offerings at the resort for couples: Start the day at the spa by captivating the senses with a vanilla latte body polish during the “Cupid’s Heart Couple Massage” or ignite the spark and learn some sensual massage techniques with the “Pamper Me A Lot” spa offering. Create a chef-d oeuvre of your love story with a glass of wine in hand at the KULA Art Studio with Kandima’s resident artist at the Sip & Paint art class. Gaze at a picturesque sunset on an enchanting sunset cruise or join the exclusive luxury yacht sundowner against the backdrop of a sublime sun melting in the picturesque azures. Or go all out with the “Love under the Stars” experience

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Destination Travel

Incredible India – Unknown places in India

Khajjiar- The Mini Switzerland of India Explore the snow-capped mountains and grass covered lands of the Himachal Pradesh in Khajjiar, famously known as the Mini Switzerland of India this year with your loved one. Go Scuba Diving in Goa! Swim among the treasures of the Nature’s underbelly in the Grand Island of Goa with its world class Scuba Diving instructors and gears and get awe-struck. Experience bliss and spirituality in the Ashram of Auroville Looking for a perfect place to detox your body, mind and soul? The Auroville Ashram in Pondicherry is the place for you! Immerse yourself in a total state of peace, calm and cleanse in this architectural and spiritual wonder. Get absorbed in the Blue-ness of Jodhpur! Visit the Blue City of India – Jodhpur and experience the rawness of culture and aesthetic appeal with their Overlander Safaris, and get immersed in the wilderness of the deserts of India. How can one forget the regal Mehrangarh Fort while visiting Jodhpur! The Mehrangarh Fort stands tall and brisk with a 1,200 acres landscape since the 17th Century, astounding her visitors with her beauty and fortitude. Camp amidst the Orchards of Kodaikanal Get drenched in the lushness of the sweet sister of the Queen of Hills- Kodaikanal. Book a camping trip in Kodai and experience the art of co-living with the Nature. Tent out in the middle of Orchards and plantations and feel the awe-factor of the hills, wilderness and beyond! Touch the Sky in Mumbai! Ever wondered how it feels to be a bird in the free sky? Wanna have a filmy weekend? Or have your dream proposal in the middle of the wide, vast sky, looking down at the aerial view in Mumbai with their breath-taking Helicopter rides!

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Food

Mor kulambu recipe, how to make Mor Kuzhambu

This yummy, yet super easy to make Indian delicacy is a part of the India Curries. Mor Kuzhambu (Pronounced as More Kuzhambu) is rich in fibre content 13.6 gm (45.3% of RDA) along with high lauric acid content of coconut improves cholesterol levels in the body. Improving the action of insulin secretion and lowering the raised blood sugar levels is yet another benefit of Morkzhambu for Diabetics. This Mor Kulambu which contains buttermilk is very good for indigestion. Mor Kulambu cools down the body during the summer. It has other herbs that also bring more nutritional benefits. Moreover, this curd based curry is a great choice for the calorie-conscious people who like to maintain their weight. Additional fun fact, there are no limits to the number of variations of this dish, starting from the key ingredients to the substitution of blended Tofu instead of the traditional Curd! Just add your favourite vegetable or make it with just a tadka, Mor Kuzhambu will most certainly garnish your lazy mornings with its spectrum of taste and health benefits! Prep time: 10 minsCooking time: 20 mins Ingredients: This recipe contains the ingredients to make 4 savings of the curry, alter for required quantities and enjoy! 1 tablespoon tuvar dal (arhar dal, pigeon pea lentils) 1 teaspoon coriander seeds ½ teaspoon cumin seeds ½ teaspoon raw rice ¼ cup hot water for soaking 3 to 4 green chilies ½ inch ginger 5 to 6 curry leaves ¼ cup grated coconut 1 cup thick, sour, beaten curd Method of prep Step 1 – Rinse and soak Tuvar dal,Coriander seeds, rice and Cumin seeds for 20 mins in ¼ cup of Hot water. (You can use any type of rice or rice flour) Step 2 – Blend the soaked ingredients with green chillies, grated coconut, curry leaves and ginger in a jar until a fine paste. Step 3 – Add the blended ingredients to the smoothly beaten sour curd and add a cup of water. Step 4 – (Optional)- Boil your desired vegetable of choice with a pinch of salt and turmeric. Step 5 – Add the seasoned curd mixture with your boiled vegetables and cook on medium heat until the Mor Kuzhambu comes to a nice boil and add salt to taste. Step 6 – Temper this delicious curry with some heated oil, mustard, curry leaves, red chillies, and a pinch of asafoetida and let it boil for another 2-3 mins for the essence of tadka to seep into the Mor Kuzhambu. Step 7 – Serve the curry with hot steamed rice with papad or fritters and enjoy!

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Food

Dhokla Recipe – Food that satisfies your taste buds and health

Craving for something yummy, easy to make AND not break your diet plans? Then this Gujarati delight is your go-to snack! The soft, spongy and spicy Dhokla, is a steamed cake based on fermented rice/besan that contains numerous nutritional values. Dhoklas are known to be rich in protein, soothe your digestive tract, bring a balance in your blood pressure, all the while being diabetic friendly and helping in weight reduction. Ingredients 3/4 cup semolina 1/2 cup rice flour 1 tsp minced ginger 2 tsp minced green chilli 1 tsp black pepper powder 1/4 cup urad dal flour 1 cup curd 1/2 water 1 tsp eno Salt as per taste For tempering 2 tsp oil 1 tsp mustard seeds 3 green chilies Method of preparation: Mix Semolina, rice flour or besan and urad dhal flour in a bowl with curd, chillies, ginger, salt and water to make a thick batter. Add Eno to this batter and mix well. Grease a container with oil and pour in the batter and sprinkle some red chilli powder and black pepper powder on top of it and let it steam in for 15 mins. Test the Dhokla with a knife or a toothpick for an even bake. If not baked all the way through, let it steam for another couple minutes until completely baked. Once done, let the Dhokla rest and cut it into cubes. Temper the panned and cut Dhoklas with some heated oil, mustard, and chopped green chilies and enjoy!

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Destination Travel

Unknown Tourist Destinations in India: Summer edition

Chopta Village, Uttarakhand The Chopta Village of Kedarnath is a Birding Paradise, with 240 species of birds living in complete harmony with Nature and Humans. This location is best to visit during the summer for its chilly weather and the prolific trees and mountains. Adalaj Stepwell, Gujrat Impress and flabbergast your followers with pictures of this historical monument in Gujrat this summer! The Adalaj Stepwell is a truly a breath-taking architectural heritage, with history from 200-400 AD! It is situated 5 kms from the capital of Gujrat, Gandhinagar. Sandakphu Mountain Peak, West Bengal Ever wondered what it might feel like to look at the border of a nation from a mountain peak? Say no more, because the Sandakphu Mountain peak is located just beside the Indian-Nepal border. To top the excitement, you’ll get to see 4 of the 5 world’s highest Mountains in the world! Witness the breath-taking beauty of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu from the peaks of Sandakphu this year. Best time to visit this peak would be between April and May, where the temperatures reside between 15 and 8 degree celsius, making it THE perfect time to visit.

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Trends

WAITING TO SERVE – THE NEW AND IMPROVED MADURAI JUNCTION

Southern Railway has taken up Station Redevelopment as one of the key areas for enhancing the passenger experience. Nine stations in Southern Railway are likely to undergo transformational changes as part of Station redevelopment. Of these 9 stations, Madurai junction is also one of the stations where the redevelopment work is progressing at a steady pace. Works executed so far Preliminary works such as Mapping and Topographical survey, soil investigation, Traffic survey, tree inventory, joint inventory of movable and immovable assets have been completed and validation in progress Shifting of materials and facilities completed to accommodate the redevelopment works Construction of offices for contractors in progress Project management Services have commenced work. Right of way, which is a legal right to enter and carry out the work, has been provided to the EPC contractor for carrying out the work A series of meetings are held with the stakeholders of the project Madurai Junction Madurai Junction is an NSG-2 category railhead serving the ‘Temple Town’ Madurai known for the famed Goddess Meenakshi Amman Temple. The station handles 96 trains per day and registers an average daily passenger footfall of 51,296.The station attracts scores of tourists from all over India and abroad. Award of contract Southern Railway had awarded the work of Redevelopment of Madurai Junction Railway Station on 22nd Sep, 2022 as EPC contract to M/s P &C Projects Private Limited, Chennai at a cost of Rs. 347.47 Crores, setting a time frame of 36 months for completion ofthe project. M/s TUV India Private Limited, Mumbai have been tasked with the work of Project Management services (PMS) at a cost of Rs.10.88 Crore. The PMS consultant is responsible for monitoring the project. Roadmap to Redevelopment Two terminals are proposed to be constructed, one each at the Eastern and Western side. Three Multi-level Parking structures will be built, two buildings on the eastern side and one on the west. A subway connecting Railway Plot and Periyar Bus Stand, a dedicated FOB for Parcel movement, and two Skywalks connecting the Parking facilities on the eastern side, are also planned. East Terminal Building The proposed East Terminal building is a G+2 structure with an area of 22,576 sq.m (excluding concourse area). The entrance façade of the station building would depict the vernacular architectural character of the region. The ground floor is planned to provide for clutter free movement with dedicated arrival and departure area equipped with world-class passenger facilities like toilets, cloak room, baby care, feeding room, help desk, commercial outlets and kiosk. The first floor will accommodate the passenger waiting lounges for the train clubbed with facilities like restaurants, retail commerce and toilets. The second floor of the East terminal building is proposed for commercial activity. Air Concourse The main feature of the first floor of East Terminal is the air concourse which would facilitate hassle-free movement of passengers to their respective platforms. For easy accessibility from concourse to respective platforms, two pairs of escalators, two lifts and four staircases to each platform will be provided. This air concourse is an integral part of the station and interlinks the two terminal buildings approximately 110 m apart thus ensuring seamless movement of passengers. The concourses will accommodate the passenger amenities, waiting area from where passengers would have better visibility of platforms. West Terminal The existing secondary West terminal buildingwill be renovated to include the facilities of a world class station. The two-storey building will be developed to include the departure / Arrival forecourt, various railway offices,ticketing counters and other passenger amenities. Multi-level Parking facilities In order to cater the existing and future demand for vehicular parking, 3 parking structures are envisaged in the redevelopment project, which are: East Side Multilevel CarParking Building-G+2 building9,430 sq.m East Side Multilevel Two-Wheeler Parking Building-G+3 building-2,822 sq.m West Side Multilevel Car Parking Building- G+1 building- 2,580 sq.m Besides, in order to facilitate safe transfer of passengers to and from the Periyar Bus Terminal, a subway connecting the basement of the bus terminal and the railway premises is envisaged.The main objective is to segregate departure and arrival corridors and to facilitate smooth traffic flow through inter-modal connectivity. Approach roads are planned for better movement of passenger vehicles. Madurai station redevelopment work, once completed will place it on the map of world class stations.

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Trends

CHENNAI EGMORE RAILWAY STATION – THE NEW PRIDE OF CHENNAI

Chennai Egmore Railway station is one of the endearing structures of Chennai city sporting the Gothic style of architecture with imposing domes and corridors. The 114 year old station, the second major terminal of Southern Railway, is proposed for redevelopment to cope up with the ever increasing passenger volumes and also satisfying the aspirations and demands of a modern commuter. This NSG-1 category railhead handles more than 562 scheduled trains (442 Suburban Trains and 120 Mail/Express) daily, with an average peak hour footfall of 24,600. Award of Contract Southern Railway has awarded the work of Redevelopment of Chennai Egmore Railway Station as EPC contract to M/s DEC Infrastructure & Projects India Private Limited, Hyderabad on 07.10.2022 at a cost of Rs. 734.91 Crores, setting a time frame of 36 months for completion of the project. The sanctioned cost of the project is Rs. 842 crores. M/s Tata Consulting Engineers, Mumbai have been tasked with the work of Project Management services (PMS). The PMS consultant isresponsible for monitoring the project. Roadmap to Redevelopment Construction of two new station buildings The major scope of the Re-development work includes Construction of New Station buildings (G+3 structures) on both sides of the station (Gandhi-Irwin side & Poonamallee road side), Arrival/Departure Concourses, Arrival/ Parcel FOB, Multi-level car parking Redeveloped Chennai Egmore will offer superior infrastructure & novel facilities for passengers The main entrance to Chennai Egmore is situated on the Gandhi-Irwin Road and the rear entrance on Poonamallee High Road. The redevelopment project of Chennai Egmore Railway Station is planned at both the sides, i.e., Gandhi Irwin and Poonamalle Road sides of the existing station building for a total built up area of about 1,35,406 sq.m. The redevelopment is intended to provide an iconic structure with modern state-of-the-art facilities while retaining the heritage value of the existing structure. (MLCP) on both sides of the station, External development works, Refurbishment of the existing Station building, Provision of Arrival/Departure plazas, utility shifting etc. with connectivity to all platforms facilitated by escalators and lifts and importantly to Egmore Metro Station. The station will be upgraded to house additional toilets, drinking water coolers, shaded seating , escalators, lifts and differently-abled friendly facilities. Dedicated arrival / departure terminals The redeveloped station will facilitate efficient handling of trains and hassle free passenger movement besides providing facilities for maintenance and operations. Arrival and Departure passengers will be segregated at platforms, concourse and circulating areas akin to the system prevalent in airports. Three Foot Over Bridges will be constructed separately to facilitate ease of movement for passengers across the arrival corridor, circulating areas and for handling parcels. Intermodal transport facilities The project aims at harmonious development of the station with the surrounding Chennai cityscape, which includes design for seamless flow for pedestrians between public/private transport, boarding/ alighting points minimizing length of walking distances. In order to provide efficient, convenient and aesthetic solution to connectivity and integration between various modes of transport the circulating areas is designed for easier and convenient intermodal transfer facilities for passenger. WORKS EXECUTED SO FAR Utility survey & Tree survey completed Right of way handed for Multi-level Car Parking on Gandhi-Irwin road side and Poonamallee road side, Parcel office, Arrival FOB, Parcel FOB & Arrival Concourse Topographical survey completed Borehole for geotechnical investigation in progress (11 boreholes completed) Site office construction is in progress Setting up of Batching plant is in progress Drone survey completed Multi-level Car Parking Multi-level Car Parking facilities (G+5 structures) will be constructed on both sides of the station. The total built up area of the Multi-level Car Parking will be 19362 sq.m on the Gandhi-Irwin Road side and 18020 sq.m on the Poonamallee road side of the station. Parking facilities will be provided for various modes of transportation such as cars, taxis, private 2-wheeler and 4-wheeler as well as auto-rickshaws. Separate lanes for drop- offs/ pickups will be provided to enable logical and conflict-free movements. Provision of Multi level car parking will also be given to avoid the congestion in parking space.

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