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Reasons why you should visit the North Eastern parts of India this summer

When it comes to travelling and exploring, nothing can beat the heavenly views of the North East regions of India. Here are some of THE best places to visit in North East India this summer before it gets too popular! Mawlynnong, Meghalaya You might have been to God’s own country – Kerala, but have you been to God’s own Garden? The Mawlynnong village of Meghalaya holds the pride in being the cleanest village in India, and houses one of the purest forms of nature itself! Check out this love-filled wonder, and the Living Root Bridge near this village this summer. Loktak Lake, Manipur Known as the Jewel of Manipur, the Loktak is the textbook definition of “One of a kind”, and is the only lake in the entire world that floats! This lake is a true fascination of the Nature. Best visited during the months of April to July, this lake is sure to flabbergast its visitors. Majuli Island, Assam This river island in Assam is known for its beautiful landscapes, sunsets and sereness. This magical islam can only be reached in ferries and is secluded in the heart of dreamy landscapes. Add this bewitching jewel to your bucket list this year!

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3 Essential Travel accessories under 1,000 rupees

For all the wanderlust out there, may it be in a small road trip or a train or flight, these Top 3 travel essentials will blow your mind and will be your best partner throughout your entire journey! Refillable travel dispenser for toiletries Packing your toiletries without having a leakage is a definite concern for everyone. This compact dispenser allows you to carry 4 different liquids in its 40ml bottles. This travel accessory dispenses your toiletries one at a time, and comes with a measuring scale and stickers for easy identification and only costs 349/- a piece! Gadget organizer This waterproof travel pouch doubles as a gadget organizer, and can fit in multiple USB cables, a mini iPad or tablet, hard drives, chargers, and phones! This organizer comes with two different layers with compartments to cater to all your gadget needs, and costs 698/- a piece. Boldfit Shoe Bag for travel Storing a new or used pair of footwear can be a headache. This shoe bag has a durable and transparent material that is dustproof and has a transparent window to make the access easier. This shoe bag set comes in a pack of 6, and costs only 199/- a pack!

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3 BEST summer getaways in India for friend groups

Summer spewing heat, jobs and routines crushing you way too much? Well, this call in for a weekend getaway and cool things off mentally and physically. These 3 South Indian wonders are just the perfect options if you’re looking for a fun-filled and chilled out getaway! Krusadai Island, Tamil Nadu Located in the West of Pamban, this hidden island is a true gem of the country. Perfect for a group of friends and couples, Krusadai island holds home to India’s Marine research centre, and has an exhibit of numerous sea mammals and creatures’ preserved specimens. Do check out this nature’s magnificent work of art and spice up your Instagram today! Athirapally Falls, Kerala Break off the summer’s heat in the largest and tallest waterfalls of Kerala with your friends this summer, here at Athirapally Falls, in the perfection of God himself! Originating from the Upper Western Ghats, the Athirapally Falls stands over 80 feet tall with not one, but four falls. Check out this wonder in God’s own country this summer with your loved ones! Kudremukh Mountain range, Karnataka In the Karnataka district of Chikmagalur, Kudremukh is well-known for its biodiversity and mineral wealth. The name Kudremukh, which translates to “horse’s face” in Kannada, comes from a peak that resembles a horse’s face. Kurdremukh’s picturesque vistas are a major draw for tourists. Best visited between February and June, Kudremukh serves as a lovely, lush-filled tourist location in the Summers

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Hidden resorts in India that will blow up your Instagram

Travelling is fun, but visiting hidden and not-so-popular, but amazing places is a different feel altogether! Check out these hidden gems in India, the South India edition. 4 East Coast Home, Pondicherry First in our list is this most unique and quirky themed home in the bays of Pondicherry. If you ever happen to visit the locality, then this is a MUST try for you. It’s got the perfect ‘antiques meets modern’ vibes, and is filled with paintings in all its rooms. The house has six aesthetically pleasing and quirky rooms to cater to all your vividness, and is located just a few minutes from Auroville. This beautiful home, as they prefer to call it, comes with free WIFI, room cleaning AND breakfast! Book your vacation with them to embark the wonders of modern art and tradition today! Saffron Stays, Maharashtra If you’re a fan of The Lord of the Rings, then this magnificent, what looks like a cottage in New Zealand, is, in fact, a sweet Hobbit themed resort in Murbad, Maharashtra is just the perfect spot for you! This lovely resort comes with a cosy, private swimming pool and complimentary breakfast and stunning landscapes. White Musk Resort, Manali If Manali isn’t romantic enough for you, then you NEED to check out this beautiful, romantic and cosy resort with dramatic, filmy views. Imagine spending your vacation with your loved one in one of these dreamy domes, overlooking the beautiful hills of Manali. Book your stay today!

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Indian Railways new mechanism RailMadad is here to solve all your grievances at the click of a button

A s a socially responsible and accountable entity, Indian Railways considers redressal of passenger complaints as one of its Key Performance Indicators. To put in place an effective complaints monitoring system which would also provide a one stop solution to complaints, grievances, enquiry and also serve as a robust feedback mechanism, RAILMADAD was launched in 2019. Complaints and grievances lodged through different modes were brought into a single platform and channelized through this portal for time boundredressal. Receipt & Disposal of complaints in Southern Railway through RAILMADAD In Southern Railway, over 61% of the complaints are received through Rail Passenger Helpline 139, 21% through RailMadad website (railmadad.gov.in, railmadad.in), 10% through social media forums, 5% through RailMadad App and the remaining 3% through other means like SMS to 139, Email, CPGRAMS, etc. Southern Railway has been achieving 100% complaint disposal rate since 201920 and also maintains 37 minutes as average disposal time since April 2021. Southern Railway also maintains 8 minutes as the First response Time (FRT ). FRT is an indicator of efficiency in handling Medical and Security assistance during emergencies. Railways at all levels have taken concerted efforts in creating awareness about RailMadad amongst passengers. Faster and satisfactory resolution of grievances has resulted in restoring the faith of the passengers in the grievance redressal system which serves as an harbinger of hope during any inconvenience experienced by passengers during their train journey or while at railway premises. As a result lots of passengers have now started using the Railmadad complaints mechanism. The total no.75613 complaints have been resolved in the current financial year 202223 till date when compared to 31450 complaints resolved during the previous financial year 202122 (Apr-Mar). How RailMadad works? RailMadad, the unified customer interface for grievance, enquiry, suggestion and assistance, provides passengers Southern Railway has been achieving 100% complaint disposal rate since 201920 and also maintains 37 minutes as average disposal time since April 2021. Southern Railway also maintains 8 minutes as the First response Time (FRT). FRT is an indicator of efficiency in handling Medical and Security assistance during emergencies. the choice to access the portal through multiple channels, namely, Web, App, SMS, Social Media and Helpline number (139) during the journey for expeditious resolution of their complaints. On registration of a complaint, a unique complaint number is generated and the status of the grievance is continuously monitored. Passengers also have the facility to track the status of their complaints using the unique reference number. Depending on the complaint’s nature, urgency and complexity the maximum time limit within which a case has to be resolved is pre determined. As the name suggests, RailMadad has come to the rescue of thousands of passengers during emergencies offering first response and subsequently the required assistance in minimum possible time. While all the departments work in perfect coordination to resolve complaints, it is the Security, Mechanical and Commercial wings that deploy field personnel, play a very crucial role and rush to the passengers’ aid during emergencies arising during travel. Responding to onboard complaints is a very The total no. 75613 complaints have been resolved in the current financial year 202223 till date when compared to 31450 complaints resolved during the previous financial year 202122 (Apr-Mar). challenging task RailMadad handles this meticulously, as it is integrated with the National Train Enquiry System (NTE S) and other platforms like Integrated Coach Management System (IC MS). Thus, when an onboard complaint is registered both the Train Running Railway and Train Owning Railway is alerted and complaint is resolved within the earliest possible time. Suggestions module Further, the Suggestions module of RailMadad is an innovative tool through which suggestions from various stakeholders are received and forwarded to concerned branch officers, who could use them as a guide to make future decisions. RailMadad is also used as a managerial tool to measure the efficiency of the subordinate units. Each Division unit is committed to rectify the deficiencies in their system and offer quality service to the passengers. RailMadad mechanism sees increase in usage amidst improved awareness amongst passengers and owing to its reliability Telephonic call is the most preferred mode of grievance registration for passengers Southern Railway takes an average of 37 minutes to resolve greivances The First Response Time is 8 minutes for Medical & Security assistance Team RailMadad RailMadad portal is monitored round the clock by a dedicated and efficient team of Officers, Controllers, Inspectors at the Divisionallevel, Zonallevel, Railway Boardlevel and also by the Engineers at CRI S (Centre for Railway Information Systems). The consolidated Team effort is driving the RailMadad portal to the realm of success. It is noteworthy that RailMadad was awarded Silver under category II of National e governance Awards “for excellence in providing Citizen Centric Delivery” during the 23rd National Conference one governance held at Mumbai in February 2020.

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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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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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