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Tag: Devendra Fadnavis

  • TRAI ideas on public WiFi in three weeks; Mumbai gets 500 hotspots

    TRAI ideas on public WiFi in three weeks; Mumbai gets 500 hotspots

    MUMBAI: Telecom regulator TRAI has said it will finalise in 20-25 days its views on ‘public WiFi networks’ terming the affordability and availability of broadband as a “prerequisite” for growth of digital transactions. Public WiFi networks would offer data connectivity at 10 per cent of the prevailing rates.

    TRAI chairman R S Sharma said their recommendations would come in in 20-25 days. The basic objective of Digital India was to encourage digital transactions of all kinds, he said, adding that the broadband access needed to be ubiquitous, reliable and robust.

    In its consultation paper floated in July last year, TRAI had said that it is estimated that cost per MB in Wi-Fi Network could be less than 2 paise per MB while consumers on an average are paying around 23 paise per MB for the data usage in the cellular network like 2G, 3G and 4G.

    The broadband shortage with regard to wired infrastructure will also be addressed through the growth of community WiFI hotspots. Digital payment channels have seen major rise in transactions after demonetisation.

    Meanwhile, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the rollout of the largest public WiFi service in Mumbai by launching 500 live hotspots across Mumbai. The hotspots in the metro will go up to 1,200 by 1 May (Maharashtra Day), Fadnavis assured.

    The state’s mega-project to turn Mumbai into a “WiFi city” was announced in August 2015. For its free internet, the government has been using the state-run MTNL network. The free network is good for either 1GB of data (offered at 20Mbps) or 30 minutes, whichever is reached first.

    Also Read:

    Wi-fi proliferation: Discussion postponed to 28 Dec

    “There would be a lot on TRAI’s plate in 2017” – RS Sharma

    Wi-fi proliferation, Net Telephony discussion in January

     

     

  • Govt says ‘no mushkil’ to ‘Ae Dil’ even as Pak industry supports Indian content ban

    Govt says ‘no mushkil’ to ‘Ae Dil’ even as Pak industry supports Indian content ban

    NEW DELHI: Although Indian is almost completely banned in Pakistan now courtesy PEMRA, in India, it became a Catch-22: give in or give up. But, ultimately Karan Johar managed to get an assurance that ‘Ae Dil hai Mushkil’ would be released as scheduled on 28 October, after the Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met a film industry delegation along with members of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.

    However, as reported in a section of the media, All India Television and Film Producers Guild President Mukesh Bhatt denied reports that Johar had promised to give Rs five crore to the Army Welfare Fund. Guild sources told indiantelevision.com that members of the film fraternity had agreed to make contributions to the Fund but no amount had been decided.

    Decision taken by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to ban Direct To Home (DTH) service and Indian content meantime was fully endorsed by the Pakistani industry. Famous actor and former director-deneral (DG) of Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) Tauqeer Nasir, talking to APP, said that the decision should be taken earlier, but it was never late to make things right. Director Ashir Azeem said that the ban could be a positive step to help domestic cinema. It might help speed up Pakistani productions, he said. PEMRA continued its crackdown against so-called illegal Indian Direct To Home (DTH) devices and cable operators telecasting Indian content. Customs officials and Pemra raided several markets in Islamabad and seized DTH, Indian DTHs, receivers and C-Lines, and Low noise block downconverters (LNBs).

    Back home in India, however, while an assurance was given that all under-production films featuring Pakistani artistes will also be allowed to get released.

    However, the Guild members said they would not take any Pakistani artistes in future in their films. ;Ae Dil Hai Mushkil will also carry a special slide paying tribute to the Indian army. But, at the same time, Thackeray said he was confident that the people would boycott the film.

    Those at the meeting included representatives of the Guild, Dharma Productions, and producers Sidharth Roy Kapur, Sajid Nadiadwala and Vijay Singh of Fox Star Studios. They all agreed to ensure the safe and smooth release of the film across single screens and multiplexes. “We had a constructive meeting with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the good news is that ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ will release across all single screens and multiplexes as per schedule on 28 October 2016,” said Bhatt.

    “I have confirmed to the Chief Minister that the Producer’s Guild has decided that going forward, we will not work with Pakistani artistes in the future. Karan Johar said that he will put a special slate saluting our soldiers before the start of the movie. It’s a tribute from us to our soldiers,” he added. Bhatt also revealed, “In addition, some of the producers volunteered to contribute to the Army Welfare Fund. We owe this to the Army.”

    Produced by Dharma Productions and Fox Star Studios, the film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in lead roles with popular Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in a cameo.

    Thackeray said that his party had made three demands at the meeting. Apart from the contribution to the Army fund, Thackeray said producers will have to give in writing that they will not take Pakistani actors in their films. The third demand was to have a tribute to the Army.

    Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had extended the Centre’s support to makers of the tilm and assured security to exhibitors amid threats by MNS.

    Last week, Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India announced it would not release movies featuring Pakistani artistes in four states of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Karnataka.

    In response to the controversy and the calls for a ban on his film, Johar had released a video statement earlier this week.

    In a previous meeting, Fadnavis had assured Johar that the Maharashtra government would not allow anyone to disturb law and order. “The state government would like to reaffirm that the government will not allow anyone to disturb law and order and stern action will be taken. Democratic protest is fine but unlawful activity will not be tolerated,” Fadnavis said.

    Police had also taken strict action against MNS workers on Thursday for protesting and raising slogans outside Metro Cinema in South Mumbai. Twelve activists of the MNS who had gone to Metro theatre to threaten them were arrested and sent to judicial custody till November 4.

  • Govt says ‘no mushkil’ to ‘Ae Dil’ even as Pak industry supports Indian content ban

    Govt says ‘no mushkil’ to ‘Ae Dil’ even as Pak industry supports Indian content ban

    NEW DELHI: Although Indian is almost completely banned in Pakistan now courtesy PEMRA, in India, it became a Catch-22: give in or give up. But, ultimately Karan Johar managed to get an assurance that ‘Ae Dil hai Mushkil’ would be released as scheduled on 28 October, after the Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met a film industry delegation along with members of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.

    However, as reported in a section of the media, All India Television and Film Producers Guild President Mukesh Bhatt denied reports that Johar had promised to give Rs five crore to the Army Welfare Fund. Guild sources told indiantelevision.com that members of the film fraternity had agreed to make contributions to the Fund but no amount had been decided.

    Decision taken by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to ban Direct To Home (DTH) service and Indian content meantime was fully endorsed by the Pakistani industry. Famous actor and former director-deneral (DG) of Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) Tauqeer Nasir, talking to APP, said that the decision should be taken earlier, but it was never late to make things right. Director Ashir Azeem said that the ban could be a positive step to help domestic cinema. It might help speed up Pakistani productions, he said. PEMRA continued its crackdown against so-called illegal Indian Direct To Home (DTH) devices and cable operators telecasting Indian content. Customs officials and Pemra raided several markets in Islamabad and seized DTH, Indian DTHs, receivers and C-Lines, and Low noise block downconverters (LNBs).

    Back home in India, however, while an assurance was given that all under-production films featuring Pakistani artistes will also be allowed to get released.

    However, the Guild members said they would not take any Pakistani artistes in future in their films. ;Ae Dil Hai Mushkil will also carry a special slide paying tribute to the Indian army. But, at the same time, Thackeray said he was confident that the people would boycott the film.

    Those at the meeting included representatives of the Guild, Dharma Productions, and producers Sidharth Roy Kapur, Sajid Nadiadwala and Vijay Singh of Fox Star Studios. They all agreed to ensure the safe and smooth release of the film across single screens and multiplexes. “We had a constructive meeting with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the good news is that ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ will release across all single screens and multiplexes as per schedule on 28 October 2016,” said Bhatt.

    “I have confirmed to the Chief Minister that the Producer’s Guild has decided that going forward, we will not work with Pakistani artistes in the future. Karan Johar said that he will put a special slate saluting our soldiers before the start of the movie. It’s a tribute from us to our soldiers,” he added. Bhatt also revealed, “In addition, some of the producers volunteered to contribute to the Army Welfare Fund. We owe this to the Army.”

    Produced by Dharma Productions and Fox Star Studios, the film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in lead roles with popular Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in a cameo.

    Thackeray said that his party had made three demands at the meeting. Apart from the contribution to the Army fund, Thackeray said producers will have to give in writing that they will not take Pakistani actors in their films. The third demand was to have a tribute to the Army.

    Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had extended the Centre’s support to makers of the tilm and assured security to exhibitors amid threats by MNS.

    Last week, Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India announced it would not release movies featuring Pakistani artistes in four states of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Karnataka.

    In response to the controversy and the calls for a ban on his film, Johar had released a video statement earlier this week.

    In a previous meeting, Fadnavis had assured Johar that the Maharashtra government would not allow anyone to disturb law and order. “The state government would like to reaffirm that the government will not allow anyone to disturb law and order and stern action will be taken. Democratic protest is fine but unlawful activity will not be tolerated,” Fadnavis said.

    Police had also taken strict action against MNS workers on Thursday for protesting and raising slogans outside Metro Cinema in South Mumbai. Twelve activists of the MNS who had gone to Metro theatre to threaten them were arrested and sent to judicial custody till November 4.

  • Don’t mind if IPL is shifted out of Maharashtra, water is more important than cricket: CM Devendra Fadnavis

    Don’t mind if IPL is shifted out of Maharashtra, water is more important than cricket: CM Devendra Fadnavis

    MUMBAI: Controversy and IPL go hand in hand. While the cricket lovers await the kick off of the million dollar league, water crisis controversy threatens to take the tournament away from Maharashtra. Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants are the Maharashtra based franchises and a total of 20 matches is scheduled to be played in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.

    “Water is more important for us than cricket. So, even if the cricket matches are shifted out of Maharashtra, I don’t mind,” Fadnavis told reporters in Mumbai.

    Several districts of Maharashtra are facing acute water shortage and objections have been raised over the “wastage” of water to maintain cricket grounds across the state. Petitions have been filed against hosting the Indian Premier League in the state at a time when people are finding it tough to arrange water even for their daily needs.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ comments will certainly not sound sweet for cricket lovers of the state,”

    “The last moment change can leave a big impact on the tournament, specially from sponsors point of view as it needs some time to create the creatives which in result will generate the eyeballs,” says a sports media planning expert.

     

  • Don’t mind if IPL is shifted out of Maharashtra, water is more important than cricket: CM Devendra Fadnavis

    Don’t mind if IPL is shifted out of Maharashtra, water is more important than cricket: CM Devendra Fadnavis

    MUMBAI: Controversy and IPL go hand in hand. While the cricket lovers await the kick off of the million dollar league, water crisis controversy threatens to take the tournament away from Maharashtra. Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants are the Maharashtra based franchises and a total of 20 matches is scheduled to be played in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.

    “Water is more important for us than cricket. So, even if the cricket matches are shifted out of Maharashtra, I don’t mind,” Fadnavis told reporters in Mumbai.

    Several districts of Maharashtra are facing acute water shortage and objections have been raised over the “wastage” of water to maintain cricket grounds across the state. Petitions have been filed against hosting the Indian Premier League in the state at a time when people are finding it tough to arrange water even for their daily needs.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ comments will certainly not sound sweet for cricket lovers of the state,”

    “The last moment change can leave a big impact on the tournament, specially from sponsors point of view as it needs some time to create the creatives which in result will generate the eyeballs,” says a sports media planning expert.

     

  • Delhi govt approves online entertainment tax application for ticketed events

    Delhi govt approves online entertainment tax application for ticketed events

    MUMBAI: The Delhi Govt approved the first online application for Entertainment Tax on 23 September, 2015 based on a post-event settlement, which is a major breakthrough for the events and entertainment industry.

     

    The approval was done online in a record time of two hours, where previously the same could take several months.

     

    In August this year, The Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA) in collaboration with the Govt. of Delhi and the Police department of Delhi took several steps to simplify licensing for events and eliminate red tape and touts. A process was put into place whereby EEMA member companies can do ticketed events in the national capital without paying entertainment tax before the event. The first achievement in this direction is the online approval for the soon-to-be-held Zubin Mehta concert in Delhi.

     

    The development entails a single-window approval system, which is online for all non-ticketed events. Large ticketed events are likely to make their way back to the capital as the partnership between EEMA and the Delhi government has led to an online approval system for ticketed events too with elimination of pre-payment of tax, pre-event stamping of tickets and blockage of funds for tax payments.

     

    EEMA president and Wizcraft International founder director Sabbas Joseph said, “We are delighted to see our enduring efforts come to life and turn into reality. This is just one door open and still a major step ahead. Alongside the path breaking steps by the Delhi government, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr Devendra Fadnavis too has announced that venues would have pre-approved licenses and a single–window clearance system would be implemented shortly. We hope that the efforts of the CMs  from Delhi and Maharashtra pave the way for similar moves across the country.”

     

    The first ticketed show under this new licensing regime would be a concert by maestro Zubin Mehta performing live in Delhi after 15 years. The approvals were given online in less than two hours on 23 September, 2015.

     

    The show will be produced by Showtime Events. “I could not have imagined this speed of action in my wildest dreams! It seems the Commissioner means business and is determined to change the face of entertainment in Delhi,” said Showtime Events managing director Michael Menezes. 

     

    Due to antiquated tax rules and strangulating licensing norms in Delhi, companies were loathe to hold events and shows in the city and instead preferred Gurgaon or Noida as locations for the event staging.

     

    Earlier this year, The Delhi Government was forthcoming and eager to make Delhi India’s event-friendly capital city. Following a detailed EEMA representation and persistent efforts, the Delhi government moved at a rapid pace in streamlining the licensing process in Delhi and yielding promising results for the event industry. The Delhi Govt. also appointed antiquated tax rules and strangulating licensing norms commissioner Sanjay Kumar as the nodal officer for creation of the single-window licensing process, with an eye on ease-of-doing-business.

     

    What’s more, the complimentary ticket scenario has also got a thumbs down. Leading the way, Kejriwal publicly declared that no minister or MLA of his party will ever ask for free tickets to any event or movie.

  • Times Now celebrates richest Indians in the Middle East

    Times Now celebrates richest Indians in the Middle East

    MUMBAI: Times Now, India’s leading news channel felicitated 15 successful Indians in the Middle East, at the second edition of Arabian Indian Czars Award. The awards night was graced by Devendra Fadnavis, Hon. Chief Minister of Maharashtra, T.P. Seetharam, Hon. Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Sheikh Ahmad Bin Byat, CEO, Dubai Holdings, Anurag Bhushan and Hon. Consul General of India to UAE.

     

    Hon. Chief Minister of Maharashtra and a delegation comprising teams from MMRDA, MADC and MIDC met officials in the UAE with regard to the “Make in India” initiative by the Government of India.

     

    A total of fifteen awardees for the night were, B R Shetty, Chairman-NMC group, Dr Azad Moopen, Chairman-B M Healthcare, Dr Ravi Pillai, Chairman-Aarti Group of Companies, FerozAllana, Director at IFFCO, Harshad Mehta, Chairman-Seven Seas Diamonds, Micky Jagtiani, Chairman-Landmark Group, PNC Menon, Founder- Shobha Developers, Raghuvendra Kataria, Chairman-Kataria Holdings, Rizwan Sajan, Founder & Chairman-Danube, Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk, Founder & Chairman-Mulk Holdings, Sunny Varkey, Founder & Chairman-GEMS Education, Tony Jashanmal, Group Executive Director Jashanmal Group, Yusuffali M.A. Managing Director-Lulu Group, Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Managing Director of VPS Healthcare and Sunil Vaswani, Group Chairman, Stallion Group.

     

    The prominent business tycoons were from, different sectors of Construction, Education, Engineering, Finance & Banking, Real Estate, FMCG, Retail, Jewellery, Telecom, Textile, Healthcare and Petroleum& Chemicals. On this occasion Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Phadnis said ”Achieving Excellence requires continuous improvement and long term perseverance. A rare trait indeed. We firmly believe that individuals and organizations should lay emphasis on building institutions that value excellence and propriety. We are happy to be associated with Times Now and the ”Arabian Czar Platform” for recognizing Leaders across GCC who have built great companies and created value for all their stakeholders.”

     

    Naveen Chandra, Head of International Business for Times Network said, ”Indians in most countries, they choose to adopt have achieved great success with their grit and perseverance. The rules of doing business in various countries don’t have a home advantage so it is doubly remarkable that they have achieved such heights of glory. This is our endeavor to recognize them and we hope to be able to expand the scope of these awards in the years ahead.”

  • Vivek Oberoi to help develop Robotics Centre at Nagpur University

    Vivek Oberoi to help develop Robotics Centre at Nagpur University

    NEW DELHI: Actor Vivek Oberoi will be sponsoring and helping the funding of the Advanced Centre of Robotics at the Rashtrasant Tukodoji Maharaj Nagpur University

     

    According to the proposed plan, the centre will be named after Oberoi’s family.

     

    Oberoi wants the robotics centre to be world class and for that he is in touch with the American-based ASEA Brown Boveri (ABB), a robotic tech major, which will be the private partner and provide technical inputs and help set up the research centre. 

     

    Vice Chancellor SP Kane had met Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai last week to discuss the research centre and introducing diploma courses in the university.

     

    Oberoi is expected to visit Nagpur along with ABB officials in the first week of June.

     

    When asked about this, Oberoi said, “Our goal is to create a world class centre of excellence for the youth of India who want to be at par with global industry standards in Robotics. We all know that Indian students have genius in their DNA and we want to provide them with a global platform. With guidance and cooperation from the world’s leading robotics company, ABB and the committed faculty at Nagpur University and VNIT, we are hopeful that our students will make India proud! Our dream is that our students lead the technological revolution through robotics applications, transforming India’s manufacturing sector and making our country a true world leader. I was inspired to take this initiative by our dynamic CM Shri Devendra Fadnavis when I met him at the Hannover Messe (technology fair) in Germany.” 

  • Top politicians, actors, sportspersons in running for India TV Yuva Awards 2015

    Top politicians, actors, sportspersons in running for India TV Yuva Awards 2015

    MUMBAI: Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Kiren Rijiju, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, AAP leaders Kumar Vishwas and Alka Lamba, Congress leaders Deepender Singh Hooda and Mausam Noor, and Apna Dal MP Anupriya Patel are in the running as youth icons nominated for India TV Yuva Awards to be presented this year.

     

    The names of winners will be announced at an event on 18 April at Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi.

     

    India TV Yuva awards are given away every year to youth icons, who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in their respective fields. The awards will be in six categories: politics, sports, music, films, television and business. The awards were instituted in 2013 to honour the most promising young faces of the nation.

     

    In the Sports category, those in the running among males include Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan (all cricketers) and Vijay Kumar (Olympian shooter), while among females Saina Nehwal (badminton), Deepika Pallikal (squash), P V Sindhu (badminton) and Geeta Phogat (wrestler) have been nominated.

     

    Among the Bollywood youth icons, those nominated include Arjun Kapoor, Siddharth Malhotra, Sushant Singh Rajput and Varun Dhawan in the male category, while Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha and Parineeti Chopra have been nominated among female actors.

     

    In the small screen category, Mohit Raina, Gautam Gulati, Rajat Tokas and Ashish Sharma have been nominated among male actors, whereas Digangana Suryavanshi, Drashti Dhami, Pooja Gaur and Sanaya Irani figure among female TV actors nominated as youth icons.

     

    Singers Arijit Singh, Javed Ali, Benny Dayal, Joi Barua and Papon have been nominated in music category (male), while Shilpa Rao, Kanika Kapoor, Monali Thakur and Palak Muchhal have been nominated as female icons in Music.

     

    In the Business section, Rahul Sharma (Micromax), Kunal Behl (Snapdeal), Bhavish Aggarwal (Ola!) and Peyush Bansal (Lenskart) have been nominated among male icons, while Avani Davda (Tata Starbucks), Priya Nair (Hindustan Unilever), Neha Kirpal (India Art Fair) and Radhika Ghai Aggarwal (ShopClues) are in the running in female category.

     

    The nominations have been made through a stringent process involving recommendations by the editorial board, followed by a stratified research by a research partner C-Voter and subsequently decided upon by the grand jury led by Sarod maestro Ustaad Amjad Ali Khan.

     

    The jury includes noted personalities like Prasoon Joshi, Vandana Luthra, Prof. Pushpesh Pant and India TV chairman & editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma.

     

    Speaking about the awards, India TV MD and CEO Ritu Dhawan said, “It is these young achievers of our nation who will most certainly be amongst those who will lead our country to greater heights in the near future. These rising stars, despite their young age, are the shining icons of Gen Y. Yuva Awards is a humble attempt by India TV to encourage the spirit of excellence and inspire fellow Indians.”