Chandigarh gets rail connectivity to Udaipur
2
Chandigarh: In a boost to rail connectivity between Rajasthan and the Tricity region, Northern Railways has announced the launch of the Udaipur City–Chandigarh–Udaipur City Bi-weekly Superfast Express (20989/20990).
The train, approved by the ministry of railways, comes following the efforts of Punjab governor and Chandigarh administrator Gulab Chand Kataria.
K
ataria, who recently met railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi, had proposed the need for a direct rail link between Chandigarh and Udaipur, also known a City of Lakes. The proposal was swiftly approved, leading to the announcement of this new train service.
Train No. 20989 will depart from Udaipur City at 4.05pm and reach Chandigarh at 9.50am the following day. On the return leg, Train No. 20990 will depart from Chandigarh at 11:20 AM and reach Udaipur at 5:30 AM the next day.
The train will have stoppages at Rana Pratap Nagar Udaipur, Mavli Junction, Kapasan, Chanderia, Bhilwara, Bijainagar, Ajmer, Kishangarh, Phulera, Jaipur, Gandhinagar (Jaipur), Dausa, Bandikui, Rajgarh, Alwar, Rewari, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Jind, Narwana, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, and Ambala Cantt before reaching Chandigarh.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
The train will run bi-weekly, operating from Udaipur on Wednesdays and Saturdays and from Chandigarh on Thursdays and Sundays.
While the date of commencement and fare structure are yet to be announced, railway officials said that details will be made public shortly.
The new service is expected to benefit travellers from Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, and neighbouring regions, offering them a direct and convenient connection to Udaipur, a major tourist and cultural hub of Rajasthan.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Kuwait reboots eVisa system with new rules for GCC residents: Key info for travellers
Streamlined eVisa process aims to attract GCC-based travellers and boost regional tourism/Representative Image TL;DR: Kuwait reopened its improved e‑Visa portal in January 2025, allowing certain GCC‑based residents to apply online or obtain visa‑on‑arrival. Eligible applicants must hold a GCC residency of 6+ months, a valid passport, and work in specified professional categories such as doctors, engineers, teachers, journalists, and business managers. Excluded nationals must apply via diplomatic channels. E‑visa costs start at 3 KWD ($10), processed within 1–3 business days, valid for 90 days, and grants up to 30‑day stays. What's Changed: Platform Reopened, Rules Streamlined After a temporary suspension in December 2024 for system upgrades, Kuwait relaunched its Kuwait Visa portal in early 2025. The upgraded system offers digitally streamlined e‑Visa applications, specifically for residents residing in the GCC. This move is part of Kuwait's broader initiative to modernize immigration procedures, promote regional travel, and boost transparency while preserving national security standards. Who Qualifies? Application criteria for GCC expats include: Residency permit in GCC (UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain) valid for at least 6 months. Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond travel date. Profession listed on Emirates ID (or equivalent GCC ID) must match an approved category like doctor, engineer, teacher, journalist, business manager, etc. Clean legal and immigration record. Excluded nationalities must apply via Kuwaiti missions. Application Steps & Documents Applicants must: Visit official Kuwait Visa Registration website, select GCC resident/tourist e‑Visa option. Create an account with email, phone number, and secure password. Upload supporting documents: Passport bio page, GCC residency page, recent passport photo, proof of accommodation or hotel booking, and return ticket. Enter professional occupation as listed on GCC residence ID. Pay the 3 KWD fee ($10)) online. Track the application, approval typically takes 1–3 business days. Present a printed copy of the e‑Visa upon arrival in Kuwait for immigration clearance. Once issued, the e‑Visa is valid for 90 days and allows an entry stay of up to 30 days. Visa on Arrival Option Eligible GCC residents may also opt for a visa on arrival, depending on airline discretion. Airlines like Emirates and Jazeera Air have approved boarding passengers with valid GCC visas and matching professional categories, though Kuwait Airways may apply stricter rules. Context: Bigger Picture and Updates This updated access aligns with Kuwait's broader regional strategy, including the upcoming rollout of the Unified GCC Tourist Visa ('GCC Grand Tours Visa') expected later in 2025 or early 2026. This single-entry visa will cover travel across all six GCC nations for tourism purposes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Filipinos don't know about this! Read More Undo Kuwait also continues to maintain strict penalties for overstaying or improper use of visas, with fines up to KD 2,000 and potential bans for violations. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region has been witnessing a rapid shift in travel policies as member states strive to boost regional tourism and economic integration. While countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia have introduced long-term tourism and business visas to attract global talent and visitors, Kuwait has traditionally maintained stricter entry protocols. However, with the implementation of Vision 2035, Kuwait's national development roadmap, authorities are now actively modernizing administrative systems, including the digitization of immigration services. The simplified eVisa program is part of these reforms, aiming to make the country more accessible to GCC-based expatriates and regional tourists Why It Matters Greater accessibility : GCC residents in professions like medicine, education, journalism, or management can now apply directly from their host country. Speed & simplicity : Digital approvals in under 3 days improve travel flexibility. Tourism boost : Eases access for regional business and leisure travellers. Fair but firm policy : Eligibility rules and exclusions help balance openness with legal and security standards. Kuwait's revamped e‑Visa system for GCC residents marks a significant step in simplifying regional travel, particularly for qualified professionals who live and work in the GCC nations. With clear eligibility criteria, affordable fees, rapid turnaround, and visa-on-arrival options, the process is now more inclusive and efficient. It reflects Kuwait's growing commitment to modernizing immigration systems, facilitating regional mobility without compromising on compliance and security.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
UAE: Hatta gears up for massive community sports day with over 3,000 participants expected
Residents and tourists gear up for a day of fitness, games, and nature in the scenic Hatta mountains/Image: Shutterstock TL;DR: Hatta Open Sports Day to kick off July 27 with 30+ events across multiple sports Organised by Dubai Sports Council to promote fitness, inclusivity, and nature-based tourism Over 3,000 participants expected, including families, children, and residents from across UAE Event is part of Dubai's broader goal to make Hatta a year-round sports and eco-tourism hub Thousands of fitness enthusiasts, amateur athletes, and families are expected to gather in Dubai's mountainous enclave of Hatta on July 27, for the annual Hatta Open Sports Day. Organised by the Dubai Sports Council, the all-day event will host more than 30 competitions and sports challenges designed to promote active living and community engagement in one of the emirate's most scenic regions. What is the Hatta Open Sports Day? Held annually, the Hatta Open Sports Day is a major community-driven fitness festival that combines sports, adventure, and nature. Hosted in collaboration with local government entities and supported by the Dubai Police and local sports clubs, the event includes a wide range of activities from cycling and running to functional fitness, tug-of-war, rowing, volleyball, and even remote-controlled car races. According to the Dubai Sports Council, the event is aimed at making sports more accessible and inclusive, especially in outer-city communities like Hatta. The event also promotes family participation, with special segments for children, people of determination, and female athletes. Who Will Participate? Over 3,000 participants are expected this year, including school groups, amateur fitness enthusiasts, and professional local clubs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo Registration is open to men and women of all nationalities, and no entry fees are charged, making it a fully public event. Activities are spread across both indoor and outdoor spaces, including Hatta Sports Club, Hatta Fort Hotel, and nearby hiking trails and open fields. Why Hatta? Hatta's unique geography, surrounded by the Hajar Mountains has made it a natural choice for sports tourism in the UAE. The area has seen significant development under the Hatta Master Development Plan, part of Dubai's 2040 Urban Master Plan, which aims to turn the area into a world-class adventure and eco-tourism destination. Over the past few years, Hatta has hosted cycling tournaments, mountain bike marathons, trail runs, and water sports events, all attracting local and international attention. By organising community events like the Sports Day, Dubai aims to empower residents in suburban areas while tapping into the growing appeal of active tourism. Focus on Inclusion and Community Wellness What sets the Hatta Open apart is its inclusive approach. Events have been specially curated to ensure participation from all segments of society. From a ladies-only fitness challenge to youth football matches and adaptive sports for people of determination, the event emphasizes wellness for all. Additionally, wellness tents, nutrition advice booths, and hydration stations will be present throughout the venue to promote health awareness. The event also doubles as a platform to foster national identity, volunteerism, and community cohesion, echoing broader social goals outlined in the UAE's National Sports Strategy 2031. A Boost for Local Economy and Tourism Events like the Hatta Open Sports Day play a crucial role in promoting domestic tourism. The influx of visitors often results in full bookings at local resorts, increased sales for food and retail vendors, and greater awareness of Hatta's natural reserves, heritage villages, and adventure parks like Hatta Wadi Hub. Last year's event saw participants from Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and even Oman. Organisers expect this year's numbers to rise as word spreads via official media and community networks. The Hatta Open Sports Day is more than a series of athletic challenges, it's a showcase of what Dubai envisions for the future of inclusive, community-centric, and health-focused lifestyles. By transforming a traditionally quiet mountain town into a weekend sports capital, Dubai is investing not just in fitness, but in regional pride, social wellbeing, and sustainable tourism. For participants and spectators alike, July 27 is shaping up to be a celebration of movement, unity, and nature.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Trump's trip to Scotland highlights his complex relationship with his mother's homeland
U.S. President Donald Trump 's trip to Scotland this week will be a homecoming of sorts, but he's likely to get a mixed reception. Trump has had a long and at times rocky relationship with the country where his mother grew up in a humble house on a windswept isle. He will be met by both political leaders and protesters during the visit, which begins Friday and takes in his two Scottish golf resorts. It comes two months before King Charles III is due to welcome him on a formal state visit to the U.K. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates A daughter of Scotland Trump's mother was born Mary Anne MacLeod in 1912 near the town of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, one of the Outer Hebrides off Scotland's northwest coast. "My mother was born in Scotland - Stornoway, which is serious Scotland," Trump said in 2017. Live Events She was raised in a large Scots Gaelic-speaking family and left for New York in 1930, one of thousands of people from the islands to emigrate in the hardscrabble years after World War I. MacLeod married the president's father, Fred C. Trump, the son of German immigrants, in New York in 1936. She died in August 2000 at the age of 88. Trump still has relatives on Lewis, and visited in 2008, spending a few minutes in the plain gray house where his mother grew up. A long golf course battle Trump's ties and troubles in Scotland are intertwined with golf. He first proposed building a course on a wild and beautiful stretch of the North Sea coast north of Aberdeen in 2006. The Trump International Scotland development was backed by the Scottish government . But it was fiercely opposed by some local residents and conservationists, who said the stretch of coastal sand dunes was home to some of the country's rarest wildlife, including skylarks, kittiwakes, badgers and otters. Local fisherman Michael Forbes became an international cause celebre after he refused the Trump Organization's offer of 350,000 pounds ($690,000 at the time) to sell his family's rundown farm in the center of the estate. Forbes still lives on his property, which Trump once called "a slum and a pigsty." "If it weren't for my mother, would I have walked away from this site? I think probably I would have, yes," Trump said in 2008 amid the planning battle over the course. "Possibly, had my mother not been born in Scotland, I probably wouldn't have started it." The golf course was eventually approved and opened in 2012. Some of the grander aspects of the planned development, including 500 houses and a 450-room hotel, have not been realized, and the course has never made a profit. A second 18-hole course at the resort is scheduled to open this summer. It's named the MacLeod Course in honor of Trump's mother. There has been less controversy about Trump's other Scottish golf site, the long-established Turnberry resort in southwest Scotland, which he bought in 2014. He has pushed for the British Open to be held at the course for the first time since 2009. Turnberry is one of 10 courses on the rotation to host the Open. But organizers say there are logistical issues about "road, rail and accommodation infrastructure" that must be resolved before it can return. Protests and politicians Trump has had a rollercoaster relationship with Scottish and U.K. politicians. More than a decade ago, the Scottish government enlisted Trump as an unpaid business adviser with the GlobalScot network, a group of business leaders, entrepreneurs and executives with a connection to Scotland. It dumped him in 2015 after he called for Muslims to be banned from the U.S. The remarks also prompted Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen to revoke an honorary doctorate in business administration it had awarded Trump in 2010. This week Trump will meet left-leaning Scottish First Minister John Swinney, an erstwhile Trump critic who endorsed Kamala Harris before last year's election - a move branded an "insult" by a spokesperson for Trump's Scottish businesses. Swinney said it's "in Scotland's interest" for him to meet the president. Some Scots disagree, and a major police operation is being mounted during the visit in anticipation of protests. The Stop Trump Scotland group has encouraged demonstrators to come to Aberdeen and "show Trump exactly what we think of him in Scotland." U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also expected to travel to Scotland for talks with Trump. The British leader has forged a warm relationship with Trump, who said this month "I really like the prime minister a lot, even though he's a liberal." They are likely to talk trade, as Starmer seeks to nail down an exemption for U.K. steel from Trump's tariffs . There is no word on whether Trump and Starmer - not a golfer - will play a round at one of the courses.
