The city civic authorities have relaxed building rules governing both residential and commercial structures to create more parking space, which can be let out commercially. The new rules that came into effect last week state that extra parking space in a new building will be excluded from the permitted covered area, or floor area ratio. But the plot owner will have to pay the sanction fee for the total parking space and will not be allowed to encroach on the mandatory open space.

Alas! Some respite for parents from scratching their heads, as no more they have to think about the places where they can take their children to play in the city. With a new garden project initiated by Raj Shroff, this park will surely be one of the best hangouts for the kids. Unlike the existing parks, this park has separate sections for kids belonging to different age groups. It includes zone for toddlers, for kids and so on. Also, not forgetting the special ones, this park will also have special games for the handicapped children.

Congress's loss is BJP gainCurbing the election spiritOn a new growth routeHot seat: Med students strike for PG coursesCrime and the Urban city Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda's insistence that his state be made a partner in the proposed Chandigarh International Airport is the latest in a series of assertions.

Dinesh Prasad Goala, Minister of Urban Development and Housing recently announced new projects to be implemented in Barak Valley soon. Goala said that there will be a new water supply scheme worth Rs 8.15 crore in the Lakhipur sub division of Cachar district. There will be storm water drain both in Lakhipur sub division and Hailakandi district worth Rs 7.83 & 9.92 crores respectively. Commercial complexes both in Hailakandi and Lakhipur sub division have been santioned. In Saptagram of Karimganj district there will be a town hall.

The Delhi High Court has criticized the government for undue delay in providing alternate plots to citizens whose land was acquired for planned development of the Capital and said that it is the duty of the government to arrange for plots at moderate prices.

The first-ever open competitive system for supply of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Shamshabad, and sharp reduction in sales tax levied by the Andhra Pradesh Government have seen the ATF intake of airlines at the new airport doubling to 1,100 kilo litres (a kilo litre is 1,000 litres) from 550 kl, when it began commercial operations on March 23. Clearly, the airlines, which had initially expressed concern over the huge recovery costs on every litre they buy, have started filling up their tanks at the new international airport.

Gammon India would undertake development work of 'Central Business District Project' of South TT Nagar, Bhopal. An agreement to this effect was signed here by the Commissioner of MP Housing Board, RK Swai, Collector Bhopal RK Mathur and Director of Gammon India, Virag Gupta.

As parts of efforts to improve air connectivity in the Northeast, the government is upgrading 10 airports in the region at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore, reports PTI. The North Eastern Council has entered into an MoU with the Airports Authority of India for funding of 10 airports in the ratio of 60:40, the government said in a report tabled in Parliament. Works on seven airports has since been completed and is continuing in three other airports. An amount of Rs 50 crore has been earmarked for ongoing upgradation works of airports in the region in the annual plan during 2007-08.

India needs modern airports. And they need to be built by experts who know the job. We do not need the baggage of inefficient organisations which cannot deliver world standards. Modern airports should have all the facilities to enable landings even in very poor visibility conditions.

The government will soon announce a policy on construction of greenfield airports across the country to meet growing air traffic demand. "A consolidated and updated policy on greenfield airports is under consideration of the government,' civil aviation minister Praful Patel said in Lok Sabha in the question hour session.