Now, get your cooking gas at your petrol pump

Bangalore: Now, pick up your cooking gas cylinder with minimum fuss at a petrol pump. Five kg cylinders will now be available at selected company owned petrol pumps as part of a pilot scheme - and all you need is a valid identity card. For now the facility will initially be available in just 11 outlets in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore on a pilot basis.

This is a new initiative from the government - cutting out some of the paper work and making it easier to get hold of an LPG gas cylinder. The cylinders are not subsidised - and the first cylinder would cost Rs. 1000 plus taxes and regulator costs - and almost Rs. 500 for a refill.

The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Veerappa Moily, formally launched the scheme in south Bangalore in his home state of Karnataka.

He told NDTV this was one of the ways to make things easier for consumers.

This new scheme should help people in transferrable jobs and migrant labourers to quickly get hold of cooking gas with minimal paperwork as no proof of address is needed.

And timings for picking up the gas and later refills would also help those who work long hours - as petrol pumps are open until late. This should be good news for IT and BPO employees who often stay in office until late - and may not be at home to take delivery of cylinders.

Connection portability was also launched in 30 cities across India. This enables LPG consumers to switch to a different gas distributor - even those from different companies.

So it does look as if it might be easier to get your hands on a gas cylinder from now on. You can pick it up at the same place you might go to refuel your vehicle. 

In Kolkata, thousands protest ban on biking on key roads

Kolkata: Thousands of angry cyclists held noisy protests in the centre of Kolkata on Wednesday over a move by the government to ban them from major roads in the congested metropolis.

Under beaming sunshine, they gathered in the Esplanade area of the former colonial capital, chanting "We want cycles back!" and holding placards which read "Turn off your engine. Kids breathe here!"

"Banning cycles in a city like Kolkata does not make any sense. It's a crazy decision," Gautam Shroff, a spokesman for local cycling group Ride 2 Breathe, told news agency AFP.

"We wonder when many countries are encouraging cycling in a bid to ease growing pollution, why authorities put a ban on cycling here?" he said.

Local police barred bikers as well as the city's famous hand-pulled rickshaws from 174 roads and streets in August to try to reduce the legendary traffic-jams in the city that's home to 14 million people.

Officers allegedly started seizing bikes, further provoking the city's legions of cyclists, many of who use their bikes to get to work.

"Police are harassing cycle riders. My cycle was seized a week ago when I was riding to supply milk," said Yogesh Yadav, a milkman who works in the centre of the city.

Average traffic speeds locally are down to 8-11 miles per hour (14-18 kilometres per hour) compared with India's average of 13 mph (22kmph), state transport minister Madan Mitra explained to AFP.

"Kolkata has less cars than other metropolitan cities in the country, but most of its roads and streets are narrow," he explained.

"It's a decision to ease the traffic bottlenecks and increase the speed of vehicles," Mitra said, adding: "It's not a blanket ban. One can ride cycles in lane and by-lanes of the city."

Yuvraj Singh, Manisha Koirala bat for cancer awareness in Kolkata

The Bollywood actress and the aggressive left-handed batsman spoke about the traumatic moment when they came to know of their affliction, followed by agonising and tough treatment process, but finally - the victory over cancer.

Kolkata:  In a joint effort to raise awareness about cancer, Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala and Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh Tuesday evening pepped up millions of people affected with the ailment, asserting "If we can, you can".

Rejecting the notion "cancer has no answer", both Koirala and Yuvraj Singh valiantly fought and overcame the life-threatening cancer.

The Bollywood actress and the aggressive left-handed batsman spoke about the traumatic moment when they came to know of their affliction, followed by agonising and tough treatment process, but finally - the victory over cancer.

Having gone through it all, both have decided to spread awareness about the disease.

"No matter at what stage the disease is detected, you have to pick up the pieces yourself and fight back. I tell people 'If Yuve can, you can',", said Yuvraj Singh during a lively interaction programme, "Pratigya, Cancer Myths and Reality", organised at a five-star hotel here.

Manisha, who dislikes the term "cancer survivor" as it sounds "meek", called herself a "cancer crusader".

"A crusader has the attitude which gives you strength, because that is what you need when you are fighting a disease, which may be cancer or some other thing."

"There is a stigma that cancer means death. No, it is not so. I know lot of people who got cancer, got treatment and are fine. Let us crusade against any kind of challenges," said the actress.

Cancer patients, doctors, leading Bengali film stars, singers, fashion designers, sportsmen, socialites - in short, the creme de la creme of the city attended the programme that aimed to raise awareness about cancer.

The audience listened to the duo in rapt attention, breaking out in spontaneous applause now and then.

Yuvraj acknowledged they had now become role models for cancer patients. "We both are symbols of hope and courage."

On his comeback into the Indian team, he said: "It is the passion to come back. If you have the passion, you can come back. This is the reason I am back. Hopefully, I can play a few more years for the country".

The strength to fight against the disease comes from within, your family, friends and well-wishers, said the cricketer.

Yuvraj exuded confidence that Manisha would also make a comeback, but cautioned her against hurrying.

"The media should not hound her about her comeback schedule," he added.

The star-cricketer said, early detection was the key to fight back the disease.

Manisha Koirala, who gave a motivational speech, helped by audio-visual props like slides, her pictures as a child, a young girl, an actress and as a cancer patient, said: "The disease has taught me what all that is important in my life. I want to tell people how fragile life is. We should value our life, our health."

She stressed on leading a healthy life and eating organic food.

Leading Bengali film actress Rituparna Sengupta, whose organisation "Bhavna Aaj or Kaal" tied up with corporate affairs expert Subroto Mukherjee's "Illusions" for the show, said: "We all have our professional lives, but beyond that we have some duty. We need to do our bit for the society."