Flights from Surat to Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata soon

The diamond city Surat, will soon have direct air connectivity to Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata. In a meeting held between officials of Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SGCCI) and Kingfisher Airlines at Surat on Tuesday, the country’s only five star domestic airline has agreed to operate flights from Surat to these cities.

Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries president Ajoy Bhattacharya said, "We had a meeting of Kingfisher vice president Elsa D'Silva and vice president (sales) Bhanu Kaila and almost 40 representatives from corporate houses and industries. At the end of the meeting, Kingfisher Airlines have expressed their readiness to start flights to Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata from the city."

Bhanu Kaila said that the Vijay Mallya led company is thinking of starting flights from Surat. "We have received good inputs about city and the airline is thinking of starting to launch flights from here," she said adding the company may take two to three months before taking a final decision.

Elsa D'Silva said that they will be ready to start operations from Surat even if they get less than 60 passengers per flight. Bhattacharya added that the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries is going to hold an important exhibition in January next year. It will be a huge benefit to the city if these flights start before that, he said.

5.68 kg baby born in Surat

Her parents want her to become a famous tennis star when she grows up. However, the new born baby has already hit the headlines for being amongst the heaviest babies in the world. The 5.680 kg baby girl was born on Friday to a mother with no health complications.

The baby was born to Priti and Ketan Mehta, who live in Adajan. It was brought to her residence on Monday and was a star attraction for many in the neighbourhood. The baby's length is 57 cm.

Priti did undergo a caesarean, but she is happy to become a mother of a healthy baby. "Till the last moment we were not aware that a caesarean is required. The doctors decided on caesarean for safe delivery. I am happy to have such a healthy baby without having to face any complications," says Priti, who wishes her daughters to become a tennis stars like William sisters.

"Our elder daughter is Ashka (9) and she is a good tennis player. We wish to see both sisters become tennis legends. It is good to see that even before becoming a tennis star, the baby is already famous," says Ketan, a tax consultant. The couple had got married in 1991. After nine years of birth of their first child, the couple decided to have one more child.

"It is a unique case in many ways as the baby is of more than normal weight and has no complications. In the past, a few diabetic women had delivered heavy babies. Priti does not have any complication and the delivery was safe," says Dr Darpana Trivedi, gynaecologist at Matrutva Hospital, where the baby was born. "Normally the babies weigh around 2.5 to 3.5 kg. We have heard of babies weighing up to 5 kg, but this is the heaviest baby born in my hospital," Trivedi adds.

Source: Times of india

Holidays for the Year 2010

No.	Name of the General Holidays	Date	Day
1	Makar Sankranti	14/01/2010	Thusday
2	Republic Day	26/01/2010	Tuesday
3	Mahashivratri	12/02/2010	Friday
4	Id-e-Milad-Un-Nabi (Prophet Mohammad's Birthday)	27/02/2010	Saturday
5	Dhuleti (Day after Holi)	01/03/2010	Monday
6	Chetichand	17/03/2010	Wednesday
7	Shree Ram Navmi	24/03/2010	Wednesday
8	Good Friday	02/04/2010	Friday
9	Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar's Birthday	14/04/2010	Wednesday
10	Parsi New Year Day (Parsi Shahenshahi)	19/08/2010	Thusday
11	Raksha Bandhan	24/08/2010	Tuesday
12	Janamashtami	02/09/2010	Thusday
13	Ramzan-Id (Id-Ul-Fitra)(1st Shawwal) (Muslim Shiya and Sunni)	10/09/2010	Friday
14	Samvatsari	11/09/2010	Saturday
15	Anand Chaudas	22/09/2010	Wednesday
16	Mahatma Gandhi's Jayanti	02/10/2010	Saturday
17	Diwali	05/11/2010	Friday
18	Bakri - Id (Id - Ul - Aza)	17/11/2010	Wednesday
19	Muharram	17/12/2010	Friday
20	Christmas	25/12/2010	Saturday

About Surat

Surat (Gujarati: સુરત) formerly known as Suryapur, is the eighth largest city in India. The city proper is the one of the populous cities in the world. Surat is the administrative capital of Surat district.

The city is situated on the left bank of the Tapti River, 14 miles from its mouth. The Population of Surat with its twin city Navsari is above 6.3 million as of 2009. A moat divides the older parts of the city, with its narrow streets and handsome houses, and the newer suburbs. The city is largely recognized for its textile and diamond businesses. It is also known as the diamond capital of the world and the textile capital of India. 92% of the world's diamonds are cut and polished in Surat. Surat is also the Second cleanest city in India after Chandigarh. Surat was once the largest city in India. It has one of the highest GDP growth rates in India at 11.5% as of 2008. Surat was the primary port of India during the Mughal period, a distinction it lost to Bombay during the British Raj.