Cochin Discussions

[Malayaali]

Rolls Royce registration fetches Rs 20.22 lakh for RTO

KOCHI: The registration of luxury vehicles has fetched the Ernakulam Regional Transport Office (RTO) a huge amount in the last few months.

The Rolls Royce Ghost, imported by Joy Alukkas group from London at a cost of about Rs 2.5 crore, is the latest addition to the luxury vehicle fleet that was registered in the city. The vehicle has fetched the RTO an amount of Rs 20.22 lakh as vehicle tax for 15 years.

In the beginning of 2012, the Ernakulam RTO had collected a total of Rs 25.14 in terms of road tax and became the first to collect the highest amount for a four-wheeler and two-wheeler. For the Yamaha YZS R1, that cost him Rs 13.65 lakh, Azrif Rasheed, owner of Oriental Timbers paid a tax of Rs. 75,000, the highest in two-wheeler category.

For his Roll Royce Ghost EWB, Dr GPC Nair, chairman of SCMS Group of Educational Institutions, had paid a tax of Rs 24.39 lakh for 15 years. For the vehicle that was imported from United Kingdom for Rs 4.7 crore the insurance premium of Rs 3.15 lakh was paid.

[DileepKS]

I did see that Rolls going back citywards from RTO a few days back.

[Malayaali]

RR's and private jets are latest obsession of Malayaali businessmen. These are rare even in Dubai, city of multi-billionaires.

[players]

Originally Posted by vu3nnn

So?

What I said was "what took place in the ground during the previous 5 years of LDF rule" which may or may not necessarily be credited as achievements of the LDF government.

Again, the central govt might be the execution agency but do you think it is possible to execute any project without the support & co-operation of the state government? For example, KSEB could have dragged its feet for power, delaying the project indefinitely......

Aren't you very clever, my dear friend

You are saying that you mentioned all projects executed during the LDF state govt rule, independent of whether it was delivered by the LDF state govt or not...

Then my humble question to you is,,, why did you forget Gold Souk Mall or various private projects which were delivered during the LDF state govt???? Could Gold Souk have started if KSEB hadn't given them power connection????

Please don't play with words... We aren't so naive as you think.. Giving power connection to a project of Central Govt / Private company doesnt make it the achievement of LDF state govt....

I stand by what I said ----> The only 2 and a quarter achievements of LDF during 5 years is in Kochi were...
(1) VMH
(2) Athulya
(2.25) Thiru Kochi buses

All others achievements were by Central Govt / Private parties... The LDF govt had minor supporting role in the conceptualising / designing / planning / implementation of those projects...

Clearly the achievements of LDF govt is sad to say the least....

And if you think Thiru Kochi busses have anything to do with bus strikes.. just wait for the next diesel price hike (expected in the near future)..... Bus owners go on strike, when diesel prices are hiked... not when Thiru Kochi buses are added / removed from Kochi's roads... Hope you get it...

[Malayaali]

Ernakulam's pride, neighbours' envy

Did you know that Ernakulam district has the highest number of mobile phone users, rented households, computers and motor vehicles compared to any other district in the state?

Ernakulam also has the lowest number of households using firewood for cooking and houses that lack latrines, according to Census 2011 Housing and Houselisting statistics released here on Friday.There are 11,74,691 houses in Ernakulam - the highest in the state - and 7,91,737 households if you exclude institutional households.

In 2001, there were only 6,66,753 households in Ernakulam district.
As many as 64.1 percent households had concrete roof, while 57 percent had cement floors and 30.8 percent had mosaic floor tiles.
Among the districts, Ernakulam topped the list in the number of rented houses (11.2 percent), tap water-dependent households (57.2 percent), households having latrines (97.9 percent) and drains (61.6 percent),
households using LPG for cooking (63.1 percent), televisions (87.9 percent households), electricity (97.4 percent households), mobile phone users (85 percent), two-wheeler users and light four-wheeler users
(40.7 percent and 17.1 percent respectively), households having four rooms (34.2 percent) and households with concrete roofs (64.1 percent).
Over 78.4 percent households in Ernakulam district availed banking facility, according to the Census.

[Malayaali]

Kochi = 50% of Kerala

Ernakulam district recorded a revenue collection of Rs 10,360.94 crore during the 2011-12 financial year, marking a 15% increase from the Rs 8,952.92 crore collected last year. District collector P I Sheik Pareeth said that the rise in revenue collection indicated the rapid pace with which the district was developing.

Pareeth said that though the figures from other districts were yet to come in, it is roughly estimated that the district would account for 50% of the total revenue of the state exchequer. "The district has contributed almost half of the state revenue for the second consecutive year. We hope that we can maintain the same performance next year too," he added. Pareeth also said that though many of the officials in the district were deployed for the Piravom byelection, it did not affect the revenue collection in the district.

"The efforts of the taxes department are appreciable as they have contributed the most to revenue collection. Compared to the previous year, the revenue collected by the commercial taxes department has gone up by Rs 1292.32 crore," the collector said. For the current financial year, the commercial taxes, Ernakulam, registered collection of Rs 8488.77 crore, while the commercial taxes, Mattanchery, collected a total of Rs 815.33 crore.

The amount collected by the regional transport offices in Ernakulam and Muvattupuzha increased by 39.72% to Rs 273.82 crorefrom Rs 196.02 crore recorded in the last financial year. The district lottery office earned a revenue of Rs 15.40 crore against the previous year's Rs 47.90 crore.

Meanwhile, the income from land revenue and revenue recovery has gone down by 5.9% to Rs 70.15 crore from Rs 74.35 crore collected in the previous year. "The revenue recovery related to some major joint venture projects are done in a slower pace and the officials are yet to complete the process of revenue recovery", explained the collector. Subsequently, there was a dip in the revenue collected from the forest department, owing to the reduced timber sales in forest divisions. The total revenue collected from three forest divisions - Malayattoor and Kothamangalam - in the district came to Rs 41.49 crore, whereas the collection during the previous year was Rs 42.02 crore.

[sachinrk]

Originally Posted by players

Aren't you very clever, my dear friend

You are saying that you mentioned all projects executed during the LDF state govt rule, independent of whether it was delivered by the LDF state govt or not...

Then my humble question to you is,,, why did you forget Gold Souk Mall or various private projects which were delivered during the LDF state govt???? Could Gold Souk have started if KSEB hadn't given them power connection????

Please don't play with words... We aren't so naive as you think.. Giving power connection to a project of Central Govt / Private company doesnt make it the achievement of LDF state govt....

I stand by what I said ----> The only 2 and a quarter achievements of LDF during 5 years is in Kochi were...
(1) VMH
(2) Athulya
(2.25) Thiru Kochi buses

All others achievements were by Central Govt / Private parties... The LDF govt had minor supporting role in the conceptualising / designing / planning / implementation of those projects...

Clearly the achievements of LDF govt is sad to say the least....

And if you think Thiru Kochi busses have anything to do with bus strikes.. just wait for the next diesel price hike (expected in the near future)..... Bus owners go on strike, when diesel prices are hiked... not when Thiru Kochi buses are added / removed from Kochi's roads... Hope you get it...

When Vallarpadam comes, credit goes to Central Govt ...and when Metro doesnt take off due to same Central Govt , blame goes to State govt.

Unbelievable....Is this guy for real?..and you call yourself "independent".

Would love to see your writing as an official UDF supporter.

[Malayaali]

State's only goods train yard to get shunted out!

The goods marshaling yard in Ernakulam

The state often finds itself at the losing end every time the railway budget is announced as it gets only peanuts in terms of new services or infrastructure development projects.

And now, as if to rub salt into its wounds, the railways is reportedly planning to shut down the state’s only goods train maintenance facility in Ernakulam and shift the regular inspection of popular long distance trains to other centres.

The move, which is supposedly aimed at cutting down on manpower, comes inexplicably at a time when new railway lines are being laid to run more goods trains to tap the potential revenue from the Vallarpadam Container Terminal.

Ernakulam region area manager George John reveals that tracks are being re-laid to tap the freight shipment from Mattanchery Warf and Cochin Warf.

“We target 50,000 tonnes of goods, mostly fertilizer and urea, in a year. We’ve almost completed construction of the new bridge at Venduruthy and have a proposal to double the number of services in the Mattanchery-Harbour segment,” he says.

But a circular Issued by the chief operating manager, Chennai on February 16 states that the activity at the marshalling yard is being cut down.

Accordingly, some of the technical staff is being deputed to the nearby tanker wagon repairing yard, besides shifting of machinery.

Ask public relations inspector, M Jayan, and he maintains there’s no move to close down the yard as of now, and only the staff is being reduced as a cost cutting exercise.

“The goods trains running in the sector are obtaining BPC (break power certificate) from Erode in Tamil Nadu. But, it’s true we’re trying to cut down the costs by resorting to staff cut”, Mr Jayan said.
However, informed sources believe that the shifting of BPC issuance to Erode is enough indication of the larger game plan.

“The move confirms that they want to close down the yard” sources added.

The maintenance facility now employs 120 personnel spread across traffic, commercial and mechanical wings.

A concerned divisional president of Southern Railway Mazdoor Union, P. Unnikrishnan warns that the railways’ move to shut down the maintenance yard would ultimately benefit Tamil Nadu.

“Additional work will mean capacity augmentation of the goods maintenance yard in Tamil Nadu,” he points out.

The railways’ excuse that revenue at the marshalling yard is sagging doesn’t ring true as the combined wagon clearance and demurrage charges for July, August and September stood at a whopping `1 crore, he says, also warning that the move could hit the smooth running of goods trains.

“Currently if the goods train breaks down specialists from the marshalling yard are called in to attend to the problem. But once it is closed the specialists will have to come from Erode and this will eventually affect traffic flow”, he says.

It was only recently that the railways had been criticised by state administrators for the increasing number of crimes on trains.

As a remedial measure, the government had offered to spare the services of the state police for patrolling trains, provided they were issued duty passes.

When there was no response, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy directed the police to buy tickets to board the trains, promising to reimburse them.

[The Adventurer]

Hey...
I think we've grown out of the kiddish phase of reporting on luxury cars being registered like rr by joy alukkas etc....
Let's limit the news to stuff to general statistics rather than on petty details on individual cars.
What say?
Maybe I'm wrong but all this rr registration news seemed silly.there are cities who still consider them a big deal, but I think we're done with that phase.

[DileepKS]

+100 Grownups should behave like grownups.

[induzcreed]

so true..+1

[Malayaali]

Originally Posted by The Adventurer

Hey...
I think we've grown out of the kiddish phase of reporting on luxury cars being registered like rr by joy alukkas etc....
Let's limit the news to stuff to general statistics rather than on petty details on individual cars.
What say?
Maybe I'm wrong but all this rr registration news seemed silly.there are cities who still consider them a big deal, but I think we're done with that phase.

+ 1

I don't find wrong in posting a report of such news in the discussions thread.

But going blah blah about it, trying to push and glorify your city, like some outgrowns (not grownups ) here do, is so pathetic!

[players]

Originally Posted by sachinrk

When Vallarpadam comes, credit goes to Central Govt ...and when Metro doesnt take off due to same Central Govt , blame goes to State govt.

Unbelievable....Is this guy for real?..and you call yourself "independent".

Would love to see your writing as an official UDF supporter.

Let me clarify your misunderstanding...

Vallarpadam is a 100% Central Govt project executed under PPP mode. If you are aware CPT is a Major Port under Central Govt.

Vizhinjam, for example is not a Central Govt Port.

Kochi Metro is a 100% state govt project till now. Until, the Central Govt decides to come in with Equity Participation in the KMRL, it will continue to be a 100% state govt project. The Centre has always been encouraging Kerala govt to execute it as a State Govt project under PPP mode.

Originally Posted by sachinrk

Is this guy for real?..and you call yourself "independent". Would love to see your writing as an official UDF supporter.

Friend, what have I written in support of UDF?
I have only pointed out the wrong information being posted by leftists like you... sorry, that I am standing in your way.. but unlike you, i am being factual...

[Malayaali]

Guys, enough of these, Move on!!

[sree_ec]

Originally Posted by Malayaali

Guys, enough of these, Move on!!

[vu3nnn]

Originally Posted by players

Aren't you very clever, my dear friend

You are saying that you mentioned all projects executed during the LDF state govt rule, independent of whether it was delivered by the LDF state govt or not...

Then my humble question to you is,,, why did you forget Gold Souk Mall or various private projects which were delivered during the LDF state govt???? Could Gold Souk have started if KSEB hadn't given them power connection????

Please don't play with words... We aren't so naive as you think.. Giving power connection to a project of Central Govt / Private company doesnt make it the achievement of LDF state govt....

First, the very fact that you have ignored the bulk of the points raised by me and choose to highlight only a select few points, and that too by putting words into my mouth makes it very evident who is playing with words.

Second, the "naivity" part also speaks for itself when you compare power connections for mega projects with that of shops & complexes. You are speaking as if I highlighted giving electric connection to Vallarpadom as one of the major achievement of the LDF govt, when I mentioned it as just one example of the support extended to the project by the state government.

But since you brought it up, the achievement of the LDF govt in power sector was anyway excellent considering the fact that it could provide power to everyone ranging from Vallarpadom ICTT to Gold Souk without imposing power cuts, when at the same time next door Tamil Nadu was imposing 6-9 hours of power cuts on domestic customers stating that it was committed to providing power to industries.

Originally Posted by players

And if you think Thiru Kochi busses have anything to do with bus strikes.. just wait for the next diesel price hike (expected in the near future)..... Bus owners go on strike, when diesel prices are hiked... not when Thiru Kochi buses are added / removed from Kochi's roads... Hope you get it...

Just look at the number of strikes by red killers and the hardships caused to the commuters before Thiru Kochi and after Thiru Kochi... but it is very evident that either you do not get it or you pretend not to get it. In either case, your agenda is plainly obvious..... Bye bye...

@other forumers... Sorry for dragging this on. I'll try to resist provocation next time....

[Malayaali]

Disturbed to see a regular forumer like you feeding the trolls

[The Quizzer]

Most of the forumners (including the unregistered guests) come and view these threads for gaining more information and not to see petty quarrels. If everybody tries to bring his or her political opinions in the discussion, we will reach nowhere. People who read this are intelligent and have political opinions which is not going to change due to a cat and mouse fight. So stop it brothers and move on.

[Malayaali]

For a safer food culture in Kochi

Mayor of the Corporation of Kochi Tony Chammany handed over a cheque for Rs. 25 lakh to the Syndicate Bank authorities here on Saturday as the Corporation's share in launching a rehabilitation programme for street food vendors in the city, marking the beginning of what could be an entirely new culture of safer and healthier street food in Kochi.

The detailed project report for the programme to train and rehabilitate 50 street food vendors in Kochi was prepared in 2008. It is being implemented under a project of the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Programme (KSUDP) with help from Syndicate Bank, which has sanctioned a loan of Rs. one crore for the programme.

The programme involves identifying, training, providing equipment, uniform and identify cards to the selected food vendors.

It is aimed at bringing the marginalised group of street food vendors into the mainstream of urban life and to provide them sustainable incomes and raise their standards of life.

The programme, when implemented, will also ensure the culture of safe, tasty and healthy food is given to the working class, students and the floating population at a reasonable cost.

The project is also aimed at ensuring that street food vending does not exact a toll on the city in terms of environment, law and order and health.

The programme also seeks to empower women to come forward and find their own way of supporting the family by making use of their natural skills in food and hospitality.

Training and orientation programme centres on food, nutrition, health; hygiene, clean practices, waste management, hospitality, entrepreneurship; new food items, fund management, banking, literacy and law and order.

[Malayaali]

Mean machines mean everything

Kochi businessman Amith C.S. with his Yamaha FZ1.

It may be a growing passion or a case of youngsters of today having more disposable income: many of them in the State now boast of fancy, high-end bikes. Just the same way as girls love to show off their costly accessories, the boys flaunt their mean machines and it is speed that thrills them more than anything else.

Kochi businessman Amith C.S., for instance, is all set to buy his third bike, Yamaha R1, which costs nearly Rs 13 lakh, after acquiring a Yamaha FZ1 and a Royal Enfield. The mechanical engineer explains that his passion for riding is linked to his career as a businessman. “From my childhood days, I wanted to own a super bike. I found that film stars, sportsmen and businessmen were the three categories of people who owned such high-end motorbikes. I then decided that I would become a businessman and own a fancy bike,” says Amith.

Some of them cost a bomb but the youngsters do not think twice before spending their hard-earned money on them. Kiran Jose, another businessman and Yamaha dealer from Thiruvananthapuram, who is a proud owner of 2012 model of R1, says, “My father had a sports bike, so I had the full support of my father to get one for myself.” The new R1 is in addition to an earlier version of the same bike and a Kawasaki.

Despite the poor condition of roads and the insufferable traffic blocks, the craze to own and ride a super bike, the adrenaline rush and the attention that they attract make them opt for these over the luxury and comfort of an expensive car.

Samuel George, an interior designer from Thiruvananthapuram, loves riding his YZF R1 in the mornings. He says, “It is only between 5.30 am and 7 am that I manage to enjoy riding my bike.”
Most of the bikers vouch that the pleasure of riding that they experience on a super bike cannot be obtained while driving a car. Amith, who plans to buy a Harley Davidson, next says, “When you ride a bike, your full body is involved in the ride, unlike when you drive a car.”

Freestyle stunt rider Mikhil Mohan agrees that owning a super bike is not at all a necessity unless you are a professional biker using it for racing. Mikhil, who owns a Yamaha R6, which costs around `12.5 lakh, says, “It was my dream to buy a high-end bike with my money and as I am involved in several stunt rides and competitions, it is worth the money I spent.”

Considering the wide market opportunities for high-end bikes in Kerala, it is no wonder that Harley Davidson plans to open a dealership centre soon in Kochi.