INOX Chandan opens today (Thrusday) evening
Todays Shows: Rajneeti at 5.45 pm, 6pm & 8.45 pm
Huu (kanada movie) 5.30 & 9.15 pm
Prince of Persia at 8.45pm.
Inox Chandan has three screens and capacity of 897 persons. Online ticket booking has not yet been activated.

Belgaum showed the way of voluntary subscriptions of road repairs in 1848
“The example of Belgaum thus followed in several towns and villages of the district. “ says the Thornton's Gazetteer, 66.
 In 1848 the leading men of Belgaum formed a committee and Roads, in four months by voluntary subscriptions repaired all the roads, and lanes of the town, extending to a length of between nine and ten miles. In reward for their public spirit Government granted the, people of Belgaum a sum of £600 (Rs. 6000) to improve the town. Still much remained to be done in windeninh the old roads and in making new roads until the municipality was established in 1852.
In 1853-54, £59(Rs.590) and during the next four years £40 to £50 (Rs. 400-500) were spent. In 1864-65 £242 (Rs. 2420) were, spent, and from 1865 to 1880, £253 (Rs. 2530) have been yearly spent on roads. There are at present fifty-seven sections of roads known by the names of the streets through which they pass. Most of these sections have been metaled within the last eight or ten years and a few of crumbled trap or murum are being gradually metalled. Every day all the municipal roads are cleaned by sweepers.
The sweepings consisting of grass rubbish dry leaves and decayed bones are gathered in dust-bins in different parts of the town, removed in carts, and thrown into a pit to the south of the town. The sweepings were at first used to fill old quarry holes and the low lying spaces in and near the town. When rotten and decayed the sweep ings are sold as manure. The leading streets are lighted with kerosene lamps, of which severity-one are kept alight at a yearly cost of £165 (Es. 1554). During the dry weather nine carts water the roads at a yearly cost of £65 (Rs. 650). The town is surrounded by a hedge chiefly of karvi or milk bush with openings for the roads. These openings are called gates or veses, and some of them roads and are said to have formerly been provided with gateways and gates which were closed at night. The chief gates are! The Patil, the Bogar and the Gondhalivada in the west; the Kangrali & Kakti.
The Bogarves was the largest gate, as Oaten, the term is still applied to any unusually broad passage. The other gates have been opened as the town limits ex;tended. Near the Kotval chavdi in Sherkhanvada are traces of a gate which must have led to the fort. At each of the present gates is a police post a small pretty building and a municipal toll bar. Besides the gates several small openings lead out of the town, where toll men are stationed.

Source: Gazetter of Bombay Presidency 1884.
Most of the thins mentioned in 1884 still are true even currently. If the people come together again and work together we could make a difference again.
“Belgaum Next” is a similar platform being built for citizens on the same grounds.

The Mahadev Temple next to the School of Culture is commonly called as “Biscuit Mahadev”.
But why this strange name? Looking for the answer----- Read it then
There was a bakery beside the temple, then a very small place of Mr. Jambotkar.
He used to daily keep biscuits made in his bakery infront of the lord, and hence the name, “Biscuit Mahadev”.




The temple has recently been renovated.
Photos: Santosh Purohit

3 Dudes. 18 days. 16,000 kms. A Ford Endeavor. And Indian to explore.
 Three friends – Aadil Bandukwala (Belgaum), Sameer Siddique & Ratheesh Kumar and intend to travel to each and every state in India including that particular state’s capital city in a Car covering a distance of more than 16000 kilometers in less than 18 Days beginning June 16^th 2010 from Bangalore.
 They will attempt this in a Ford Endeavor and their journey will originate and terminate at Bangalore. They intend to do this purely out of passion for travel.
The trio are big time travel aficionados and recently came to know that someone did this same feat in 19 days and 23 hours which was festered as a record by Limca Book of Records. They intend to crack shack this feat and will be striving to break this record in less than 18 days.
28 States and 5 Union Territories including the National Capital Territory of Delhi is what we intend to touch. A minimum distance of 16,000 km will be covered between the starting and finishing point – Bangalore.
 
The Trio says: -

• Whose idea was it and why? -
  We have done lots of road trips in the past and almost covered the entire country by road. However, when we were planning our next road trip we chanced upon a record from the Limca Book of Records for the longest and fastest to drive across india. No sooner we saw that, it gave us a rush of adrenalin. Since Sameer and Ratheesh both are Indian Nomads, in the sense since driving and traveling is in their veins, they knew that until and unless they do not give this a shot they would not rest. Then they met Aadil who's equally fanatic about travel and wala! They decided to overhaul this purely from a record breaking maneuver to a trip that explores the geographies of India. To add to that we also intend to taste, indulge in and blog about tantalizing food from all over the country. Thirdly, we plan to use social media as a tool to share and discuss our experiences online with the world. Fourthly, Bottom line - record or no record, we're into this for the kick of it. :)

• Motto behind it -
  When we started discussing this with our friends and family, the fact that the three of us intend to drive 24x7, 18 days on the trot for over 16000 kms, get into the not so peaceful corners of the country, most of them said we're out of our skulls, that we'd be smitten by worms, that we've got to be smoking pot. That in itself was inspiration for us. Every one used a common word - impossible. However, we strongly believe those who do the impossible are often unaware that what they did was impossible. Our motto is 'The Journey is the Reward'.

• Social Message -
  Do what you believe in. These days, its difficult for anyone irrespective of whether the individual is in the corporate world or a self employed entrepreneur or a freelancer or an academician - taking over 20 days off just for a trip that your heart beats for - is quite a feat. We've always followed what our hearts have longed for and have always believed in our abilities. The sense we make out of this is we never know what turn our life will take tomorrow, so while we're at it, make the most of it! We're dreamers and adore the fact that we do so.

The route:
Bangalore (Karnataka) – Vellore – Chennai (Tamil Nadu) – Puducherry (Puducherry) – Madurai (Tamil Nadu) – Thiruvananthapuram – Kochi – Kozhikode (Kerala) – Mangalore – Karwar (Karnataka) – Panaji – Mapusa (Goa) – Belgaum (Karnataka) – Satara – Pune – Mumbai – Palghar (Maharashtra) – Silvasa (Dadra, Nagar Haveli) – Daman Daman (Daman & Diu) – Bharuch – Vadodara – Gandhinagar – Godhra (Gujarat) – Indore – Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) – Rajgarh – Kota – Jaipur – Bikaner – Ganganagar (Rajasthan) – Firozpur – Amritsar – Pathankote (Punjab) – Jammu – Udhampur – Srinagar – Kargil – Leh – Pang (Jammu & Kashmir) – Jispa – Manali – Bilaspur – Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) – Chandigarh (Punjab, Haryana & UT) – Nahan (Himachal Pradesh) – Dehradun (Uttarakhand) – Delhi (NCT) – Agra – Kanpur – Lucknow – Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) – Patna – Khagaria – Purnia – (Bihar) – Dalkola – Siliguri – Jalpaiguri – Cooch Behar (West Bengal) – Goalpara – Guwahati – Dispur (Assam) – Shillong (Meghalaya) – Karimganj (Assam) – Agartala (Tripura) – Silchar (Assam) – Aizawl (Mizoram) – Imphal (Manipur) – Kohima – Dimapur (Nagaland) – Jorhat – North Lakhimpur (Assam) – Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) – Tezpur – Nalbari – Kachugaon (Assam) – Alipurduar – Madarihat – Mal Bazar – (West Bengal) – Gangtok (Sikkim) – Darjeeling – Malda – Baharampur – Calcutta – Kharagpur (West Bengal) – Baharagora – Jamshedpur – Ranchi – Chaibasa (Jharkhand) – Kendujhargarh – Bhubaneshwar – Sambalpur (Orissa) – Raipur (Chhattisgarh) – Nagpur / Chandrapur (Maharashtra) – Nizamabad – Hyderabad – Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh) – Anantapur – Bangalore (Karnataka).

While they are doing this monstrous drive, they do not intend to stop at cities and check into hotels. They would be driving 24 x 7. While 2 of them keep the car on the road, one of them will every now and then catch up with some sweet sleep.
Bottom line: 18 Days, 24 x 7 Driving, Over 16,000 kms, Tweeting, Blogging, Hogging and Discovering India.
And just when does this trailblazing extravaganza begin? 16th June 2010.

About the Trio:
Sameer Siddique

Sky Diver. Bungee Jumper. 21st Century Nomad. Globe Trotter. A few words that describe a box of adventure called Sameer. While most kids had aspirations to be doctors, engineers and scientists, Sameer very ripely expressed his desire to be a Truck Driver. Traveling is in Sameer’s blood. After having holidayed in UK, Germany, New Zealand, Azarbhaijan, Malaysia, Dubai, China and India, Sameer these days dreams of setting his footprint on the world map. As for work, Sameer is a Flight Attendant with a Leading International Airline Company.
Ratheesh Kumar
Born and brought up in God’s Own Country, Kerala, Ratheesh is as composed a man you will ever find. From Hotel Management Roles in one of India’s Largest Five Star Group’s to being a Swashbuckling Bar Tender at one of Bangalore’s hottest clubs, from freezing experiences in Leh to getting heat burns in Rajasthan, Ratheesh can never cease to surprise you. While not tripping, Ratheesh is employed with an International Airline.
Aadil Bandukwala
Aadil is the essence of overconfidence! Fast food and fast cars are his instant gratification. 27 years into life, Aadil is an entrepreneur running an executive search firm armed with a Doctorate Degree. He calls himself speculation, adventure and the spirit of pursuit. His wife though calls him an incorrigible nincompoop. While not head hunting, Aadil likes to spend time, googling around, exploring multi cultural cuisines, taking vacations now and then, riding his Royal Enfeild and killing time on his Mac.
http://tantalizingindia.com/
 One can follow their site with their Twiter updates as to where they are at that moment.
All the best to the Trio for the record breaking attempt.

by Special correspondent Satish Kumar
Belgaum is being a backbone to auto ancillary units of Central and south India, but little has the government done so far on its development in this field known for body building of trucks and buses, earlier government though established Auto nagar, but lack of integrated facility and proper infrastructure the project failed miserably.
TELCO was smartly moved by Mr Sr Bommi regime to Dharwad, none of our Belgaum politicians could raise up on this issue ever and I believe they will keep falling too low till Belgaum looses on most of the front, the recent issues was of hero Honda plant which I wrote to CM and asked after TELCO; is Belgaum liable to lose more such industries, and even wrote to Pavan Minjal CMD Hero Motors.
The GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA Commerce & Industries Dept. in its email has replied that and I quote ” Commerce & Industries Dept. has come out with a New Industrial Policy 2009-14 with an emphasis on promotion of industries in backward areas of Karnataka. Normally, Department of Industries & Commerce suggests suitable locations to the investor for the venture. However, the selection of final location is the prerogative of the investor.
Belgaum, Dharwad and Haveri were the suggested locations to Hero Honda. However, Hero Honda has not yet finalized the location.”
What is that the politicians of Karnataka in rest of the state have such mealy attitude towards "on" Belgaum and what is the point in beating drums by Mr Nirani on Hero Honda plant at Hubli.
I believe be it Hon CM or Mr Nirani let Hero Honda decide on shown place of interest, well no talks have ever taken place on Mahindra and Mahindra plant in Belgaum, I believe we Belguimtes need have to live with this fake calls and false promises.
Let there be fair competition and I bet "on" Belgaum wouldn’t then ever fall out.
Read the earlier post on same topic.

Karnataka makes a pitch for Hero Honda plant at Hubli Dharwad Is Belgaum in Maharashtra

Belgaum has been transformed into a city of banners, hoarding and posters of BJP leaders. One can see only BJP hoardings and posters of BJP stalwarts all over the city.

All this is done for the Executive Committee of the State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, has no specific topics on the agenda for the two-day programme starting on June 7.

As many as 260 members of the committee, including Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, BJP State unit president K.S. Eshwarappa and national general secretary H.N. Ananth Kumar, will attend the meeting.
The meeting is scheduled to be held at Foundry cluster Udayambag, and commuters from Circuit house to Udyambag can face some disturbances in traffic and also some diversions.

SP Sonia Narang raided Hindalga central jail on Thursday night and seized three cellphones from the barrack of criminal Rashid Malabari, an aide of underworld don Chhota Shakeel.

Investigations have revealed that call made were if international nature (ISD) from the jail. The SIM cards have been seized and call details are being sought from the mobile operators.  

Bogarve galli to the west of Kodolkar vada, reaching to the western border of the town leading to the camp, takes its name either from the houses or the caste of Bogars or coppersmiths who used to live in it. Many new houses have lately been built, and the place has a few Brahmans and Kunbi houses and is the head- quarters of Belgaum prostitutes.
Taken from the GAZETTEER OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY written in 1884.

We guess hence the name given to the circle currently known as Ch.Sambhaji Chowk as Bogarves.
Many things have changed since this was written. But a part of history.

In total 14 projects have been approved at the Karnataka Global Investors Meet being held in Bangalore. An amount to the tune of Rs. 17331 crores will be invested in these projects.
Here are a few of the MOU's signed with details:
Shree Renuka Infra Projects Limtied

• Proposed investment – Rs.5,500 crores.
• Project Details – To establish 1100 MW Thermal Power Plant.
• Location – Vanatamuri Village, Hukkeri Taluk, Belgaum District.
• Employment Generation – 3,500.
  

Premium Farm Fresh Produce Limited

• Proposed investment – Rs.110.30 crores.
• Project Details – To setup Private Wholesale Market for Fruits & Vegetables.
• Location – Kakati Village & Hobli, Belgaum Taluk & District.
• Employment Generation – 190.
  

Vishwaraj Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.

• Proposed investment – Rs.4,100 crores.
• Project Details – To establish 1000 MW Gas based power plant and Development of Composite Industries.
• Location - Hukeri Taluk, Belgaum District
• Employment Generation – 5,500
  

Indo Schottle at QuEST SEZ

Automotive components maker Indo Schottle signed an MoU with QuEST Global on Thursday to set up a facility at QuEST's global SEZ in Belgaum. Indo Schottle will initially invest Rs 20 crore in the centre, which will manufacture and export engine parts, hydraulic components and cold forged components. This marks Indo Schottle's entry into the aerospace sector.

Hindlaco industries expansion at Belgaum
At Belgaum, Hindalco industries is actively pursuing the expansion of specialty alumina capacity from 149 KTPA to 356 KTPA – more than doubling it. Along with it, they will need to set up a captive power plant and other infrastructural facilities. The overall investment in Belgaum would be to the tune of Rs.500 crores.

It is Friday and many expected the Inox Chandan to open to public today, but due to some reasons the launch has been postponed by a couple of days.
The security personnels said that it might open in two days.

Here is the link to the Belgaum district's profile made by the state govt. for the global investors meet being held today and tomorrow in Bangalore.
Under Investment destinations all cities have been placed and here is what is said about Belgaum.
http://www.advantagekarnataka.com/pdf/Belgaum.pdf

Belgaum acts as a trade c entre for food grains sugarcane, cotton, tobacco, oilseed, and milk products . Well known in the country for Foundaries and Hydraulic equipments . Rich in Mineral resources –
Bauxalite, Silica sand, Aluminium laterite, Lime stone, Dolomite, Quartzite, China Clay and Moulding Sand .
ECONOMY & INDUSTRIAL PROFILE
Agriculture is the main resource of the district and Agro and Food Processing Sectors are prominent for investment .
• Sericulture is gaining prominence in the district with nearly 481.90 hectares under Mulberry cultivation
• Rich Deposits of Bauxite are found in Belgaum and this has led to the creation of Aluminum industries
• Uranium deposits have been found in Deshnur, a village in Belgaum
• Belgaum has been an important center for manufacture of heavy machine tools and high pressure oil hydraulics
• The geographical advantage of Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune being nearby has led to a major support of Automobile and Aerospace Industries
 
INDUSTRY
• There are 26 Large & Medium Industries with an investment of Rs. 1932.53 crore
• India’s first notified precision engineering SEZ was launched in the district by
QuEST Engineering
Prominent Players:
AKP Foundries
Campbell Knitwear Limited
GMR Industries Ltd
Gokak Textiles
Hindustan Latex Limited
Indian Aluminum Company
EDUCATION
• The district has 4 engineering & 2 medical colleges.
• Ten polytechnics exist in the district
• List of prominent Educational Institutions are :
• J. N. Medical College (physiotherapy)
• Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College g
• K. L. E Society’s College of Engineering
• SJPN Trust’s Rural Engineering College
• SNM Rural Engineering College
• Hirasugar Rural Engineering College
• KRCE Society’s Law College
• K. L. E Society’s BVBellad Law College
• A M Sheikh Homoeopathic Medical College
• Bharatesh Homoeopathic M di l C ll
• K. L. E. Society’s J. N. Medical College

Read the complete profile on the link given above.
Under the transportation section there is mention about Airport
Besides Belgaum airport, the nearest airport is Hubli airport. (Never understood what this means)
to a lay man it means both the airports are running commercial flights whereas that is not the truth, only Hubli is operational.
Under education, no mention of the VTU is made nor GIT all medical colleges with more emphasis to the KLE's colleges is seen.

Mr. Sudeep Kumar Das bearing Roll number 4130071 has scored highest percentage 99.8%.in Belgaum District he is studying in Kendriya Vidayalaya Sambra.



Another girl named Shristi from the same school has got the same marks.
Neha Shanbag 99.33%, she studied in Kendriya Vidyalaya No.2.

After revolutionizing the way people see movies, INOX Leisure Ltd. will take the INOX experience to Belgaum. INOX Chandan will be open to patrons from Friday, 4th June 2010 onwards and will have 3 screens and 897 seats.
Now to what would be the pricing.
Sources have told this blog that pricing would be reasonable and it wold be Rs.60, 80 & 90. This pricing could be there for the beginning atleast.


Big Cinemas is charging Rs.60 for morning shows and Rs.60, 90 & 120 for other shows. So the above pricing could be kept on.
Main advantage for Inox Chandan would be the ample parking space as compared to Big cinemas.
Luxury is the corner stone of all INOX multiplexes, plush seats with ample leg space, lush carpeting in the auditoriums, a spacious lobby; all backed by world class hospitality will make it a never seen before movie experience.
So Belgaumites Live the Movie with Rajneeti to begin with.