News

TOI : PUNE: The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML), which had received sanction from the Union ministry of urban development to purchase 650 buses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in February, is yet to decide the model by which the buses would be operated.

Uncertainty also looms large over whether the PMPML would be able to buy all 650 buses before December 31, the deadline set by the ministry.

The Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations were among the first to be selected under the ministry’s scheme for funding buses under the JNNURM. The total cost for the procurement of the buses is Rs 233 crore. Fifty per cent of the cost is to be borne by the ministry, while the remaining 30% and 20% is to be shared by the two municipal corporations and the state government respectively. While the Union ministry has released its 50% share, the state government is yet to release its funds, PMPML officials said.

Speaking to TOI, Satish Kulkarni, joint managing director of PMPML, said a final decision on whether to opt for a public-private partnership (PPP) model or the municipal corporations putting in their own funds to buy the buses is yet to be taken by the PMPML board of directors. Finer details of the PPP model too are yet to be decided. The board of directors has had preliminary discussions on the issue, he said. The matter would be taken up again at the board meeting later this month, Kulkarni added.

If the board decides to opt for the PPP model, private operators would provide 30% of the amount, which is about Rs 70 crore. If the municipal corporations decide to pay the amount themselves, then the model for operation of the buses and routes would be decided accordingly, he said.

According to Kulkarni, an advance for procuring 200 buses has been paid. The…More

TOI : PUNE: The Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL) has introduced the digital school’ concept and has tied up with 450 schools across the state to run the programme from the academic year 2010-2011. All these schools are run by the Rayat Shikshan Sanstha. Initially, the digital school will be conducted in English, Marathi and Hindi.

The first phase of the programme promises to reach nearly 3.5 lakh students. Announcing the launch of digital schools in Mumbai a couple of weeks ago, MKCL managing director Vivek Sawant said: “This concept allows students to learn various subjects and curricula not just by informed methods’ but also by performed methods’ that require software support, innovative e-content and learning facilitation support for teachers.”

The facility will be available for the entire school and the project will get underway with the computer skills’ subject. Other subjects will be explored later.

Uday Panchpor, general manager of the communication development and e-empowerment division of MKCL, told TOI: “The students will have the freedom to choose their own topic and start learning various topics in that particular subject. The system will be personalised and every student will be given a separate log in, so that his/her progress can be monitored individually.”

This system, on an advanced stage, will also enable students to perform science experiments. It will also provide them a discussion forum, chats, interactive features, videos and animated graphics.

“We have already started teacher training programme on using this system so that they can train the students when the system is implemented,” Panchpor said.

The digital schools system will use MKCL’s e-learning framework called e-learning revolution for all’. This provides personalised learning environment for students with access to e-content and various services like forums, chats and voice over in different languages to allow learning via hearing educational content. This system will be installed on each machine.

Later, the system will…More

TOI : PUNE: The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML), which had received sanction from the Union ministry of urban development to purchase 650 buses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in February, is yet to decide the model by which the buses would be operated.

Uncertainty also looms large over whether the PMPML would be able to buy all 650 buses before December 31, the deadline set by the ministry.

The Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations were among the first to be selected under the ministry’s scheme for funding buses under the JNNURM. The total cost for the procurement of the buses is Rs 233 crore. Fifty per cent of the cost is to be borne by the ministry, while the remaining 30% and 20% is to be shared by the two municipal corporations and the state government respectively. While the Union ministry has released its 50% share, the state government is yet to release its funds, PMPML officials said.

Speaking to TOI, Satish Kulkarni, joint managing director of PMPML, said a final decision on whether to opt for a public-private partnership (PPP) model or the municipal corporations putting in their own funds to buy the buses is yet to be taken by the PMPML board of directors. Finer details of the PPP model too are yet to be decided. The board of directors has had preliminary discussions on the issue, he said. The matter would be taken up again at the board meeting later this month, Kulkarni added.

If the board decides to opt for the PPP model, private operators would provide 30% of the amount, which is about Rs 70 crore. If the municipal corporations decide to pay the amount themselves, then the model for operation of the buses and routes would be decided accordingly, he said.

According to Kulkarni, an advance for procuring 200 buses has been paid. The…More

TOI : PUNE: The Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL) has introduced the digital school’ concept and has tied up with 450 schools across the state to run the programme from the academic year 2010-2011. All these schools are run by the Rayat Shikshan Sanstha. Initially, the digital school will be conducted in English, Marathi and Hindi.

The first phase of the programme promises to reach nearly 3.5 lakh students. Announcing the launch of digital schools in Mumbai a couple of weeks ago, MKCL managing director Vivek Sawant said: “This concept allows students to learn various subjects and curricula not just by informed methods’ but also by performed methods’ that require software support, innovative e-content and learning facilitation support for teachers.”

The facility will be available for the entire school and the project will get underway with the computer skills’ subject. Other subjects will be explored later.

Uday Panchpor, general manager of the communication development and e-empowerment division of MKCL, told TOI: “The students will have the freedom to choose their own topic and start learning various topics in that particular subject. The system will be personalised and every student will be given a separate log in, so that his/her progress can be monitored individually.”

This system, on an advanced stage, will also enable students to perform science experiments. It will also provide them a discussion forum, chats, interactive features, videos and animated graphics.

“We have already started teacher training programme on using this system so that they can train the students when the system is implemented,” Panchpor said.

The digital schools system will use MKCL’s e-learning framework called e-learning revolution for all’. This provides personalised learning environment for students with access to e-content and various services like forums, chats and voice over in different languages to allow learning via hearing educational content. This system will be installed on each machine.

Later, the system will…More

TOI : PUNE: The city is set to get an additional force of 600 police personnel in the near future. State home minister R R Patil said here on Sunday that, of the 15,000 new recruitment which will happen soon throughout the state, 600 will be deployed in Pune.

Patil was speaking at a function organised to inaugurate the modernised police control room and computerised foreigners registration office (FRO) here on Sunday.

Union minister of agriculture Sharad Pawar inaugurated the new control room and FRO in the Pune police commissionerate. Minister of state for home Ramesh Bagwe, Pimpri-Chinchwad mayor Aprna Doke, commissioner of police Satya Pal Singh, joint commissioner of police (law and order) Rajendra Sonawane and deputy commissioner of police (special branch) Ravindra Sengaonkar were present on the occasion. Pawar also inaugurated the web site of Pune FRO.

Patil promised to deploy 600 policemen in Pune after Singh brought to his notice the huge difference in the manpower of Mumbai and Pune police forces.

Singh had said that, after Mumbai, Pune was the most important city in the state. However, “While there are 250 policemen for the one lakh population in Mumbai, there are only 46 police per lakh population in Pune.”

Patil said, “All the major cities in the state are on the hit-list of terror groups. But, I am sure that our police force is capable of fighting these groups. The government have provided good weapons and vehicles to the police. Soon, Maharashtra police will be the best in the country.

During his speech, Pawar said that the new FRO and control room have a corporate look. This would certainly help the police to increase their efficiency. “Police offices should be clean and smart. At the same time, the police should be stern and take decisions quickly to solve the problems of the people. This will change the perception of the public…More

TOI : PUNE: The Cantonment police claimed to have solved 12 cases, including eight cases of chain-snatching, after the arrest of a suspect. They have also recovered gold and three vehicles totalling Rs 4.35 lakh from the suspect.

On Tuesday, the Cantonment police had arrested Babbu alias Nizamuddin Jalaluddin Shaikh (24) of Mithanagar, Kondhwa. Acting on a tip-off, a police team, led by senior inspector Balkrishna Shinde, nabbed Shaikh at Babajan Chowk in Cantonment.

During interrogation, Shaikh revealed his involvement in eight chain-snatching crimes in the jurisdiction of the Swargate police station. He admitted to his involvement in a bag-lifting case and three vehicle thefts as well.

Inspector Shinde said, “We have booked Nitin Soni (53), a jeweller from Nana Peth, for allegedly purchasing the gold stolen by Shaikh. We have recovered 22 tolas of gold worth Rs 3.50 lakh from him.”

Shaikh has 21 cases registered against him, including cases of vehicle theft, house break-ins, chain-snatching and bag-lifting.

Speaking to TOI, deputy commissioner of police (zone II) Satish Khandare said, “The suspect has admitted to his involvement in chain-snatching crimes in the Swargate area. We suspect he may be involved in such crimes in the Sahakarnagar area too. We are looking into the matter.”

Twitter Facebook Share Print Email Save Comment Text Size: | More Stories from this section Seepage in Ajanta caves stopped, but verandahs shed tears Transfers: NGOs hail Zagade’s firm stand Construction firm pays Rs 44.36L for octroi evasion Police bandobast for President’s visit …More

TOI : PUNE: The city is set to get an additional force of 600 police personnel in the near future. State home minister R R Patil said here on Sunday that, of the 15,000 new recruitment which will happen soon throughout the state, 600 will be deployed in Pune.

Patil was speaking at a function organised to inaugurate the modernised police control room and computerised foreigners registration office (FRO) here on Sunday.

Union minister of agriculture Sharad Pawar inaugurated the new control room and FRO in the Pune police commissionerate. Minister of state for home Ramesh Bagwe, Pimpri-Chinchwad mayor Aprna Doke, commissioner of police Satya Pal Singh, joint commissioner of police (law and order) Rajendra Sonawane and deputy commissioner of police (special branch) Ravindra Sengaonkar were present on the occasion. Pawar also inaugurated the web site of Pune FRO.

Patil promised to deploy 600 policemen in Pune after Singh brought to his notice the huge difference in the manpower of Mumbai and Pune police forces.

Singh had said that, after Mumbai, Pune was the most important city in the state. However, “While there are 250 policemen for the one lakh population in Mumbai, there are only 46 police per lakh population in Pune.”

Patil said, “All the major cities in the state are on the hit-list of terror groups. But, I am sure that our police force is capable of fighting these groups. The government have provided good weapons and vehicles to the police. Soon, Maharashtra police will be the best in the country.

During his speech, Pawar said that the new FRO and control room have a corporate look. This would certainly help the police to increase their efficiency. “Police offices should be clean and smart. At the same time, the police should be stern and take decisions quickly to solve the problems of the people. This will change the perception of the public…More

TOI : PUNE: The Cantonment police claimed to have solved 12 cases, including eight cases of chain-snatching, after the arrest of a suspect. They have also recovered gold and three vehicles totalling Rs 4.35 lakh from the suspect.

On Tuesday, the Cantonment police had arrested Babbu alias Nizamuddin Jalaluddin Shaikh (24) of Mithanagar, Kondhwa. Acting on a tip-off, a police team, led by senior inspector Balkrishna Shinde, nabbed Shaikh at Babajan Chowk in Cantonment.

During interrogation, Shaikh revealed his involvement in eight chain-snatching crimes in the jurisdiction of the Swargate police station. He admitted to his involvement in a bag-lifting case and three vehicle thefts as well.

Inspector Shinde said, “We have booked Nitin Soni (53), a jeweller from Nana Peth, for allegedly purchasing the gold stolen by Shaikh. We have recovered 22 tolas of gold worth Rs 3.50 lakh from him.”

Shaikh has 21 cases registered against him, including cases of vehicle theft, house break-ins, chain-snatching and bag-lifting.

Speaking to TOI, deputy commissioner of police (zone II) Satish Khandare said, “The suspect has admitted to his involvement in chain-snatching crimes in the Swargate area. We suspect he may be involved in such crimes in the Sahakarnagar area too. We are looking into the matter.”

Twitter Facebook Share Print Email Save Comment Text Size: | More Stories from this section Seepage in Ajanta caves stopped, but verandahs shed tears Transfers: NGOs hail Zagade’s firm stand Construction firm pays Rs 44.36L for octroi evasion Police bandobast for President’s visit …More

TOI : PUNE: Patients with severe burn injuries who need post-operative skin graft, will no longer have to search for skin donors. City’s first skin bank was launched at the Poona Hospital and Research Centre (PHRC) on Sunday.

Facilitated by the National Burn Centre (NBC), Mumbai, the skin bank has been set up by the Rotary Club of Khadki in association with the Poona Hospital.

“The skin bank will take some time to become fully operational. For now, it has a cooling and storage system and skin grafting knife. A donated skin can be initially preserved for weeks,” said cosmetic surgeon Sunil Keswani, who is also an acting medical director of the NBC. The NBC has extended the technical know-how and training support to the skin bank at PHRC.

Plastic surgeon Shrirang Pandit, who is leading the skin bank unit at PHRC, said: “Around 100 burn patients in Pune suffer because of a dearth of skin donors. This is mainly because the city lacked a skin bank facility. The skin bank will now create awareness about skin donation and ultimately help burn patients get timely treatment.”

Explaining the need for more skin donors, Pandit said, “Skin taken from deceased donors help save the lives of burn victims, but the general awareness is so low that doctors are forced to resort to costlier and tedious procedures.”

Talking at the launch function, Bod Wesley, director of Euro Skin Bank, from Holland, spoke about his experiences in setting up skin banks and usefulness of skin banks. He focused on the increasing need of skin donors for treating injured patients.

“In skin grafting, one does not need to match tissue types of the donor and the recipient. Any individual’s skin can be grafted onto anyone. The graft is only a temporary barrier that protects the patient from fatal infections; eventually the patient’s own skin regenerates,” Wesley explained.

Since…More

TOI : PUNE: Patients with severe burn injuries who need post-operative skin graft, will no longer have to search for skin donors. City’s first skin bank was launched at the Poona Hospital and Research Centre (PHRC) on Sunday.

Facilitated by the National Burn Centre (NBC), Mumbai, the skin bank has been set up by the Rotary Club of Khadki in association with the Poona Hospital.

“The skin bank will take some time to become fully operational. For now, it has a cooling and storage system and skin grafting knife. A donated skin can be initially preserved for weeks,” said cosmetic surgeon Sunil Keswani, who is also an acting medical director of the NBC. The NBC has extended the technical know-how and training support to the skin bank at PHRC.

Plastic surgeon Shrirang Pandit, who is leading the skin bank unit at PHRC, said: “Around 100 burn patients in Pune suffer because of a dearth of skin donors. This is mainly because the city lacked a skin bank facility. The skin bank will now create awareness about skin donation and ultimately help burn patients get timely treatment.”

Explaining the need for more skin donors, Pandit said, “Skin taken from deceased donors help save the lives of burn victims, but the general awareness is so low that doctors are forced to resort to costlier and tedious procedures.”

Talking at the launch function, Bod Wesley, director of Euro Skin Bank, from Holland, spoke about his experiences in setting up skin banks and usefulness of skin banks. He focused on the increasing need of skin donors for treating injured patients.

“In skin grafting, one does not need to match tissue types of the donor and the recipient. Any individual’s skin can be grafted onto anyone. The graft is only a temporary barrier that protects the patient from fatal infections; eventually the patient’s own skin regenerates,” Wesley explained.

Since…More