Tag Archives: Himachal

Himachal proposes green hydrogen Kalka-Shimla railway

 

The Himachal Pradesh government has urged the Railway Ministry to consider converting the Kalka-Shimla rail line to green hydrogen power, aligning with its goal to be a certified Green Energy State by 2026. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu highlighted this initiative as part of the state’s broader push for sustainable energy and environmental preservation.

The Kalka-Shimla railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is not only a vital transport link but also a popular tourist attraction, making its transition to green hydrogen both practical and symbolic. The shift would reinforce Himachal Pradesh’s commitment to renewable energy, which is also reflected in its aim to replace thermal power consumption with hydro, solar, and wind sources, achieving 90% renewable energy in its power network.

In addition to rail electrification, the state government is focusing on expanding solar power capacity to 2,000 megawatts over the next five years. Solar power generation has doubled in the past two years, underscoring Himachal’s dedication to clean energy. The government is also converting its vehicle fleet to electric and developing six National Highways as green EV corridors.

Through these initiatives, Himachal Pradesh aims to be India’s first fully green state, enabling local industries to seek ‘Eco Mark’ certification for enhanced product value, while contributing to India’s climate commitments and sustainable development goals.

Thomas Cook India launches store in Kolkata’s New Town

With a strategic intent to capitalise on the strong and growing demand from Kolkata, Thomas Cook (India) Limited has inaugurated a new branch in the high potential market of New Town and its surrounding catchments.

In addition to the customers from the city of Kolkata, the new branch will also service customers from the surrounding catchments of Action Area 1, 2 and 3 and Rajarhat. The new outlet expands Thomas Cook India’s network to 8 locations in the city and state.
New Town’s position as an important market offers a range of valuable consumer segments including – business professionals, families, couples, Young India’s millennials & Gen Z, and seniors alike.

Thomas Cook’s new outlet offers end-to-end travel services: International & Domestic Holidays (Group Tours, Personalised holidays, Cruises, etc.), Value Added Services like Travel Insurance, etc.

Kolkata Travel Trends for the festive season
• Top destinations:
o International: Japan, Europe’s Switzerland, France, Finland, Spain-Portugal, Czech Republic-Hungary, Australia, Finland & Scandinavia and Kenya
o Domestic: Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal, Andamans, North-East
• Holiday duration has increased from 3 days to 5 – 8 days for short trips; from 5 days to 10 -15 days for longer trips
• Emergence of fresh new destinations: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Japan and South Korea
• Top traveller segments: Multi-generational families, couples, Young India’s millennials & GenZ, GenS (seniors)
• Top source markets for Pujo Tourism: West Bengal Cities like Kolkata, Siliguri & Durgapur & adjoining States Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand & Odisha

Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “Kolkata is an important source market for us, and we deeply value our discerning customers who are passionate about travelling! Durga Pujo is a very special festival for our customers from the City of Joy and so, we have selected this Pujo season for the inauguration of our Gold Circle Partner franchise outlet in New Town. This central location will offer easy access and seamless services – right to our customers’ doorstep! We have introduced a range of unique tours designed to delight our Bengali customers this festive season.

On behalf of my Team, I extend a warm welcome and special Pujo greetings to our Kolkata customers, and look forward to helping them plan memorable holidays, both domestic and international.”

 

FlixBus initiates services in India, encompassing 46 destination cities

 

FlixBus, the largest long-distance bus network in Europe, has expanded its services to India. Making an entrance into the Indian market, FlixBus now operates in its 43rd country globally. The company is set to launch intercity passenger transportation services across India, covering a vast network that includes Delhi, Himachal, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. FlixBus aims to connect 46 cities in these regions, offering bus travel options to passengers.

The company pledges to revolutionise intercity passenger transportation in the country by providing convenient travel at competitive prices and adhering to the highest safety standards.

As FlixBus enters the Indian market, passengers in New Delhi, Himachal, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh can now enjoy a variety of comfortable, safe, and reliable travel options, according to the company.

FlixBus India tickets are currently on sale for the inaugural routes, commencing from February 6, at a special launch price of INR 99. These routes connect Delhi with destinations such as Ayodhya, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Manali, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Ajmer, Katra, Dehradun, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Jodhpur, Dharamshala, Lucknow, and Amritsar. The network encompasses 59 stops and offers over 200 connections in total, as stated in a release by the company.

In addressing the requirements of Indian passengers, FlixBus is introducing specialized services, including gender-segregated seating, a 24×7 incident response team, a traffic control ward, and 2-point seat belts for every seat. Moreover, FlixBus guarantees the use of high-quality buses, each less than 3 years old and having traveled fewer than 500 km. These buses are equipped with ABS and ESC systems, further enhancing safety standards.

Surya Khurana, Managing Director of FlixBus India, expressed enthusiasm about the introduction of their services in the country. He stated, “We are thrilled to bring our services to India. Our commitment to safety, comfort, and cost-effective journeys positions us as the preferred choice for millions exploring diverse destinations globally. Our success is rooted in close collaboration with local operators, focusing on growth and efficiency. We advocate for shared mobility to alleviate congestion and emissions in cities. Anticipating a transformation in the Indian intercity travel landscape, we are excited to spearhead this change, aiming to establish a global standard for seamless, reliable, and affordable intercity transport.”

Dr. Philipp Ackermann, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to India & Bhutan, commended FlixBus for its entry into India, considering it a noteworthy measure in mitigating CO2 emissions in the transportation sector. He underscored the significance of collaborative endeavors to encourage sustainable transportation, aligning with the initiatives of both the German and Indian governments.

Flix has solidified its position as a worldwide leader in long-distance travel, extending its operations to encompass Europe, the United States, Canada, Chile, and Brazil.

SC Halts Himachal High Court’s Gaggal Airport Expansion Block

The Supreme Court, on Monday, intervened by staying the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s order that had temporarily halted the expansion work at Gaggal airport in the Kangra district. The three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, issued the stay while allowing the High Court to proceed with pending petitions.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the state government, highlighted that Kangra airport is the only one among the three airports in the state capable of expansion. The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, in June 2023, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, had decided to move forward with the land acquisition process for the airport’s expansion.

The High Court, in its January 9 order, acknowledged the re-examination of the matter by the state government in light of a letter from the Airport Authority of India regarding financial and technical viability. The High Court deemed it inappropriate to allow the resumption of land possession, structure demolition, or the relief and rehabilitation process at this stage, considering the possibility of the state government revisiting its decision. As a result, the High Court maintained a status quo until the next hearing, preventing any progress in the relief and rehabilitation process or changes to the acquired land.

Thomas Cook & SOTC launch range of Vegetarian & Jain Tours during Diwali for Gujarati travellers

Cuisine plays a critical role while planning a holiday for Indians – especially vegetarians. Data from Thomas Cook (India) Limited and its group company, SOTC Travel, indicate that travellers from India’s West Region – specially Gujarat and Maharashtra are displaying an increased travel appetite for the upcoming Diwali festive season, and this has resulted in a strong uptick in demand of 90% YoY.

To leverage on this growing opportunity in India’s vegetarian segment, Thomas Cook and SOTC have launched exclusive Vegetarian and Jain Tours that combine the best of cuisine and cultural experiences to a range of favourite locales, for customers in Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Thomas Cook and SOTC’s exclusive Vegetarian and Jain Tours offer customers a diverse range of India and International locales to choose from, with departures from Ahmedabad and Mumbai. The portfolio features air-inclusive, land-only and customisable holidays to target India’s high potential segments including multigenerational families, owing to schools closing for mid-term break; also honeymooners/couples/DINKs, millennials/young professionals, Gen Z, seniors/Gen S, etc.

The Companies’ special Vegetarian and Jain Tours portfolio features a range of handpicked favourite destinations like Europe’s Switzerland, Paris, Italy and Vatican City; Turkiye, South Africa, Australia and Egypt. In Asia, easy-visa destinations like Singapore, Singapore + cruise, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam are on offer. Domestic locales feature Kashmir, Himachal, Andamans, Kerala, North East; also Bhutan – known to be the happiest and the greenest country in the world and Sri Lanka in the Indian subcontinent. What is noteworthy is that all group tours will be escorted by expert Gujarati -speaking tour managers, and international tours will also be accompanied by a special chef.

Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “The Gujarati community loves to travel with family and loved ones, and are known to take the festival where they go. With schools closing for mid-term breaks, our data indicates that Gujaratis across customer segments, especially families, are increasingly looking to travel during Diwali. Vegetarian food especially during travel is critical for Gujarati customers; this was the genesis of our Vegetarian and Jain Tours. These special tours with handpicked locales have been crafted to delight our customers. Our team of travel experts have meticulously planned and curated experiences to make them memorable for all segments. Additionally, we are also offering our customers with free hotel upgrades, also fun activities like a gala dinner and garba nights.”

Daniel D’souza, President & Country Head – Holidays, SOTC Travel Limited said, “We understand the quintessential Indian traveller better than anyone else, and our years of expertise has helped us design this strong portfolio of Vegetarian and Jain Tours to cater to India’s vegetarians. Indians love their food, especially Gujaratis and finding vegetarian and Jain meals while travelling may be a challenge – especially outside the country. To cater to the unique food preferences of our Gujarati customers, our exclusive Vegetarian and Jain Tours offer customers with sumptuous meals on-tour, this includes the best of local specialities in India, and international departures are accompanied by an expert chef. To ensure added comfort and reassurance, all our tours are escorted by our expert Gujarati speaking tour managers to make it a truly memorable holiday.”

 

Mass cancellation of hotel bookings in Himachal severely affects tourism business

Along with heavy loss of human lives, the incessant rains and flash floods in Himachal Pradesh have also damaged infrastructure, bringing the Himachal tourism industry to its knees. With the mass cancellation of hotel bookings, the occupancy has dropped by five per cent.

The rain fury in the hill state has damaged nearly 1,400 roads, with over 170 incidents of landslides and flash floods. Dozens of vehicles were washed away, while over 70,000 domestic and international tourists were stranded in the state due to road blockages in July. The tourists were, however, rescued safely by the state government.

Hoteliers and people in the tourism business said that the large-scale devastation has scared many tourists as hundreds of them have cancelled their holiday trips. Businessmen running leased out hotels are the worst hit. The cancellation of holiday trips has also hit the roadside eateries hard.

“We have incurred huge losses because of the flash floods that have left the roads damaged. There is no business as tourists are scared. We have been compelled to close our businesses as it has become difficult to pay the wages,” Mahesh Kumar Thakur, a Mandi-based small hotelier said.

Raj Kumar, another hotelier who runs a 25-room hotel in Mandi, said the hotel occupancy is at an all-time low for the past month. “We have never experienced this kind of rain fury in the past. We are only able to sell five rooms out of a total of 25 rooms. Tourists are avoiding visiting Himachal because of the flash floods,” Raj Kumar said.

The hoteliers have sought deferment of IT, GST and loan repayment for six months because of the losses incurred by the rain.

However, Himachal Pradesh has witnessed the highest ever tourist footfall this year in the past six years. According to the state tourism department sources, an estimated 1.6 crore tourists visited the state till June this year. This includes 99.7 lakh domestic and around 28,000 foreign tourists. (Source: India Today) (Picture courtesy: ANI)