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Tunnel To Connect Delhi And Noida Airports? Inside Centre's Big Plan

The authorities are planning to extend the tunnel to Gurugram as well, in the future.

Room for less: Next big thing in hospitality?

Can the search for a hotel room lead to a business idea? It did, for Alok Mishra.In 2014, during a trip with his wife, Mishra needed a hotel room for six hours as he did not want to drive late at night. But he was asked to pay for a full day and subjected to a series of intrusive questions despite being married—and was finally refused a room. “That got me thinking that there might be travellers like me who need rooms only for a few hours but have to pay for an entire day. Later, while working in the US, I came across pay-for-use concepts and felt that India needed a more flexible, customer-friendly model,” he says.That experience led to the launch of Bag2Bag in 2019, an online platform for booking hotels, service apartments, homestays and other accommodations, with a focus on hourly stays.The business started gaining momentum around 2021. Bag2Bag’s hourly-stay revenue has risen from roughly Rs 50 lakh in 2021 to Rs 5-6 crore today. The company has served more than 1 lakh customers, lists over 10,000 properties across India and offers hourly stays at 6,000-7,000 of them. The service is available in more than 50 cities, though Bengaluru and Mumbai remain its strongest markets.Also read | The safe keepers: Inside India's booming locker economy“People now understand that this is a practical solution rather than a niche service. One of our biggest achievements has been to help normalise the category. Earlier, hourly stays were often associated with couples seeking privacy,” he says. “We deliberately broadened the use case by allowing family bookings, including travellers with children. We wanted people to see hourly stays for what they really are— a convenient accommodation option.”HOUR OF NEED That convenience is growing as online hotel booking platforms that allow short stays are on the rise. Alongside Bag2Bag, there is Noida-based Brevistay, Bengaluruheadquartered MiStay, Mumbai’s Hourly Rooms and Qwiksta, all specialising in micro stays. Larger travel platforms like MakeMyTrip, Agoda and Goibibo have also introduced hourly booking options.Like Bag2Bag, Brevistay was born out of a travel inconvenience. In 2016, cofounders Prateek Singh, Aditya Naithani, Shubham Agarwal, Avnish Kumar and Nikhil Pathak arrived in Manali at 5 am only to find that hotels would not allow early check-ins without charging for an extra night. The friends went on to cofound the travel tech startup Brevistay, which raised Rs 3 crore in 2023 and today reports revenue of about Rs 18 crore. It has 15 lakh registered users, 4 lakh monthly active users and around 11,000 listed hotels, including brands such as Ginger, Ramada and Blue Motel.LONG JOURNEY Getting there, however, was not easy.Pathak, cofounder and chief technology officer of Brevistay, says, “The challenge in this segment is not customers but hotels. In 2016, many hoteliers would simply bang the phone on us. Some agreed in principle but didn’t want their properties listed publicly and preferred bookings to come through offline calls. It took us nearly two years before we started seeing meaningful traction and recurring bookings,” says Pathak.The same resistance greeted MiStay when it launched in 2016. Starting with a pilot in Delhi, MiStay has since expanded to more than 100 cities. Shwetha Sameernath, general manager, business and growth, MiStay, says, “When we launched, scepticism was high. Most hotels were uncomfortable with the model, concerned about guest quality and operational challenges. Over time, that changed as hotels began seeing it as a revenue opportunity.”MiStay tackled resistance through education and curation. The company worked to show hoteliers that short stays served a broad and legitimate market of business travellers, transit passengers and day-use guests. It also selectively onboarded premium hotel brands, helping build credibility for the category. “When hotels see actual customer segments across varied, legitimate use cases, it builds their confidence that the model won’t compromise their brand,” says Sameernath, adding that the concept is now largely normalised.Also read | Major change in buyer behaviour as e-scooters race deeper into BharatPathak says the customer has evolved as well. Brevistay continues to market actively to couples, but he argues that the category should no longer be viewed through that lens. “There’s nothing illegal happening. In fact, there’s no law that prevents consenting adults from booking a hotel room. The issue was perception, not legality. What eventually changed minds was revenue,” he says. “Once hotels realised they could sell the same room multiple times in a day and generate seven or eight bookings instead of one, the business case became impossible to ignore.”The use cases have expanded too. Back in 2017, couples accounted for nearly 90% of Brevistay’s bookings. Today, that figure is down to 50-60%. Business travellers, transit passengers, tourists looking to freshen up between journeys, students travelling for exams and people attending interviews or meetings have all emerged as important customer segments.Hotels, meanwhile, have had to adapt operationally. Mishra says the biggest challenge is that traditional hotel system was never designed for flexible check-ins and check-outs. Bag2Bag addressed this by developing its own software platform for partner hotels. “Once they realised they could monetise idle inventory and generate additional revenue from rooms that would otherwise remain empty, adoption became much easier,” he says.REVENUE CHECKS IN For Sameernath, the turning point was the entry of premium hotel brands. “Today, acceptance has grown across the ecosystem. Channel managers and property management systems are evolving to support slot-based bookings, and customers increasingly treat hourly booking as the natural way to reserve a room for less than a day,” she says.Also read | Indian tourists go viral for all wrong reasons. Here's how not to become the next horror storyMishra has observed another interesting shift. Reliability and brand trust are becoming increasingly important. “Whether it’s a three-star or a five-star property, even if a branded hotel costs 20-25% more, customers prefer it because they know what they’re getting,” he says. The economics are compelling for hotels too. Sameernath points out that average hotel occupancy in India is under 65%, while daytime occupancy can fall to as low as 30% as guests check out in the morning and new arrivals come in much later. Platforms like MiStay help hotels monetise those idle hours by attracting guests who would never have booked a full-day room. “For hotels near airports or railway stations, the upside is even greater. A room priced at Rs 8,000 for a full night could earn Rs 3,500-4,000 for a daytime slot and another Rs 6,000 for the night—generating `10,000-plus from the same room in a single day,” she says.CHANGING PERCEPTION MiStay today works with brands like IHG, Pride, Ramada, The Park, Radisson and Novotel IHG, while Brevistay is in discussions with Hyatt. Sameernath says that on the demand side, once customers experience flexible booking, they don’t go back. Their repeat rate reflects this, as 48% of MiStay’s monthly business comes from repeat guests “The pay-per-use model in hospitality is the same transformation that happened in transport. You no longer book a cab for a full day; you pay for the distance. Hotels are heading the same way,” she says.Pathak believes the next wave of growth will be driven by younger travellers. “They’re vocal about spending time with their partners and don’t carry the hesitation earlier generations did. In metros, the industry has largely moved beyond the old perceptions, and hourly stays are increasingly viewed as a convenience product rather than something unusual.”The customer, it seems, has reached the destination. The hospitality industry needs to arrive.ChallengesPersistent social stigmaTrust and safety concernsBranded hotels worried about perceptionComplexities in managing multiple check-ins and check-outsLack of awareness among travellersOpportunitiesRise in domestic travel and frequent short tripsGrowth of bleisure (business + leisure) travelYounger consumers demanding flexibilityTech platforms making discovery and booking seamlessHotels looking to monetise vacant rooms

GQG trims Adani exposure in Rs 5,750 crore block deal, sell shares in two group stocks

GQG Partners has pared its holdings in two Adani Group companies through block deals worth about Rs 5,750 crore, with SBI Mutual Fund emerging as the buyer of the entire stake on Friday. According to NSE block deal data, GQG Partners Emerging Markets Equity Fund sold shares in Adani Enterprises and Adani Energy Solutions.The larger transaction involved 1.64 crore shares of Adani Enterprises sold at Rs 2,913.4 apiece, translating into a deal value of about Rs 4,789 crore. In a separate transaction, GQG sold 63.66 lakh shares of Adani Energy Solutions at Rs 1,504.8 per share, amounting to around Rs 958 crore.Together, the two transactions were valued at about Rs 5,747 crore. The shares were acquired by SBI Mutual Fund at the same prices through corresponding block deals.The stake sale comes after a strong run in Adani Group stocks over the past year, during which several group companies recovered sharply from the volatility that followed allegations made by US-based short seller Hindenburg Research in 2023.GQG had emerged as one of the earliest large institutional investors to back the Adani Group following that episode. Beginning in 2023, the fund manager invested billions of dollars across multiple Adani companies, helping restore investor confidence at a time when foreign institutional participation in the group had weakened.Since then, Adani companies have focused on deleveraging, strengthening cash flows and improving operational performance. Several group entities have reported healthy earnings growth, while execution across infrastructure, energy and transport businesses has remained strong.The latest transaction will be viewed by market participants largely as a portfolio rebalancing exercise rather than a change in the fund's broader investment thesis on the group.Adani Enterprises, the flagship incubator of the conglomerate, houses businesses spanning airports, roads, green hydrogen, data centres and mining services. Adani Energy Solutions is one of India's largest private-sector transmission companies and is expanding its presence in smart metering and distribution infrastructure.Shares of both Adani Enterprises and Adani Energy Solutions are likely to remain in focus as investors assess the implications of the stake sale and changes in institutional ownership.

Delhi weather disrupts air traffic: 13 flights go around, 11 diverted to other airports

Severe weather conditions, including rainfall and thunderstorms, disrupted flight operations at Delhi airport on Thursday. Thirteen incoming flights were forced to go around, with 11 diverted to other airports. A yellow alert remains in effect for Friday, forecasting continued light rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds.

The FIFA World Cup transit test

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest tournament in soccer history, spread across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. For millions of fans, getting to the games may prove almost as challenging as the matches themselves.With airfares climbing, gasoline prices rising and airport security lines stretching patience to the limit, North America's rail and bus operators see the month-long tournament as a rare opportunity: a chance to persuade travelers to swap planes and cars for trains, buses and public transit.For transportation providers, the World Cup is more than a sporting spectacle. It is a high-stakes audition before a global audience."We want you to be able to use our system seamlessly from the minute you decide to come to the World Cup, all the way into the games, and after that to get home," said Conan Cheung, chief operations officer for LA Metro, the public transportation authority serving the Los Angeles region.Los Angeles, which will host eight matches including the U.S. team's opening game, hopes the tournament will help reshape perceptions of a city often synonymous with traffic jams and sprawling freeways.For Cheung, the objective extends beyond impressing foreign visitors. The World Cup is also an opportunity to convince more Angelenos to embrace a public transportation system that has expanded significantly in recent years.That challenge resonates across much of the United States and Canada, where public transit networks are often less extensive than those found in Europe or Asia and where private vehicles remain the preferred mode of transport."Transit providers have an opportunity to provide service to a group of people who do not typically use transit on a day-to-day basis," said Yonah Freemark, a principal research associate at the Washington-based Urban Institute."Many of the World Cup fans coming from the U.S. or Canada do not necessarily use transit services regularly."The impressions those travelers form during the tournament could have lasting consequences."They should be making sure that the services they provide are high quality and not too expensive, because the people who are riding them are going to form an impression of those transit agencies — and there's a chance to really prove that they can provide a good service," Freemark said.Opportunity meets realityYet attracting new riders may prove easier than accommodating them.The World Cup's 104 matches will unfold across four time zones and thousands of miles, placing enormous demands on transportation networks already operating close to capacity.Ground transportation companies are eager to capitalize on soaring airline costs, but many are also wrestling with higher operating expenses of their own, particularly fuel prices.That leaves operators balancing competing priorities: attracting new customers while avoiding disruptions or price increases that could alienate the commuters who rely on them every day.For intercity bus giant FlixBus, the tournament represents a significant growth opportunity.Together with sister brand Greyhound, the company operates one of North America's largest transportation networks and says demand between host cities is already accelerating, with some departures sold out and others filling rapidly.Ahead of the tournament, the company has invested heavily in new buses and technology while placing renewed emphasis on punctuality."What is critical here is every Flix experience needs to be a happy one. That's how we actually grow our business. And this is a great opportunity," said Flix North America CEO Kai Boysan."We will welcome all the new customers and we want them to see what a change we've done and what a great experience they're going to have."Boysan believes buses are well-positioned to benefit from frustrations increasingly associated with air travel."Airports are congested and the costs are rising. And clearly travelers are naturally looking for alternatives. And there we come into effect," he said.The price problemWhile operators hope to lure travelers away from planes, some transit agencies have faced criticism for sharply increasing fares during the tournament.Few examples generated more backlash than New Jersey Transit, whose train service between Manhattan and MetLife Stadium — venue for eight matches including the July 19 final — initially carried a round-trip fare of $150 for a journey that normally costs less than $13.NJ Transit argued that the increase was necessary to cover approximately $48 million in additional costs related to security, crowd management and World Cup operations.Public criticism forced a rethink.The agency subsequently lowered the fare to $98 after securing additional advertising revenue, while shuttle bus prices on the same route were cut to $20 from the originally proposed $80 after organizers arranged additional capacity through local school buses.Boston has also announced higher event-day transportation prices. Round-trip rail tickets between downtown Boston and the stadium hosting seven World Cup matches will cost $80, compared with the usual $20 to $30, while a bus ride will cost $95.The fare hikes have drawn criticism from politicians, including U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer."Charging more than 11 times the normal fare for a train ride is a ripoff, plain and simple. FIFA is making billions from this World Cup," Schumer said after the original New Jersey fare was announced."FIFA should cover the ride, not stick New York fans with the bill."FIFA has countered that high transit costs could encourage fans to seek alternative ways to reach stadiums and noted that comparable international sporting events have generally not required organizers to fund transportation impacts.Different approachesNot every city has opted for higher prices.In Los Angeles, riders heading to World Cup matches will pay standard fares."Our regular fare is $1.75, so people will be able to pay that," said Cheung. "We will honor all of the discounts we have."Philadelphia is going a step further.Fans attending matches in the city will pay just $2.90 to travel to the stadium by train and receive a free ride home, courtesy of tournament sponsor Airbnb.National rail operator Amtrak is also preparing for increased demand as supporters move between host cities throughout the month-long competition."We are fully committed to running a world-class railroad ... and ensuring our infrastructure is ready to accommodate new and returning guests," said W. Kyle Anderson, Amtrak's director of communications.For transportation providers across North America, the World Cup offers a fleeting but valuable chance to showcase what their systems can do.The tournament will crown a world champion on the field. Away from the stadiums, trains, buses and transit networks will be competing in a contest of their own — to convince millions of travelers that public transportation can be fast, reliable and worth returning to long after the final whistle.

Tamil Nadu deserves to have world-class airports: CII Chairman

Long queues to check-in gaps: Soon, airports could be penalised over passenger service lapses

The framework, expected to be notified by the civil aviation ministry this year, will be first attempt to create uniform service standards for major airports.

Air passenger traffic drops in April

New Delhi: Domestic air traffic declined 4.2 per cent to little over 1.38 crore in April compared to March amid multiple headwinds, including relatively softer travel demand.The latest data from aviation watchdog DGCA showed that carriers flew more than 1.38 crore passengers in April, 3.47 per cent lower than over 1.43 crore passengers carried in April last year.Also Read: Delhi airport, SpiceJet issue travel advisory: Bad weather likely to affect flight operationsThe decline is 4.2 per cent compared to the traffic of 1.44 crore passengers recorded in March."Passengers carried by domestic airlines during January - April 2026 were 575.49 lakhs as against 575.13 lakhs during the corresponding period of the previous year thereby registering an annual growth of 0.06 per cent and monthly growth of -3.47 per cent," DGCA said in its report for the month of April.Airlines have been facing multiple headwinds, including rising operational costs due to higher fuel prices and relatively slower demand.Amid the challenging scenario, carriers have also temporarily trimmed their network.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data showed that IndiGo's market share rose to 65 per cent in April from 63.3 per cent in March while that of Air India Group fell to 24.7 per cent from 26.2 per cent.The market share of Akasa Air inched up to 5.8 per cent last from 5.4 per cent in March and that of SpiceJet declined to 3.4 per cent from 3.8 per cent during the same period.Also Read: India's domestic air passenger traffic grows 1.4 pc to 1,677.4 lakh in FY26: ReportIn April, state-owned Alliance Air's share shrunk to 0.3 per cent from 0.6 per cent in March.A total of 3,266 passenger-related complaints were received by scheduled domestic airlines in April and the number of complaints per 10,000 passengers carried for the month stood at 2.36, as per DGCA.In terms of On-Time Performance (OTP) in April, IndiGo topped the list at 88.5 per cent, followed by Air India Group (82.4 per cent), Akasa Air (81.4 per cent), Alliance Air (71.2 per cent) and SpiceJet (31.2 per cent).OTP is computed for ten major airports -- Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Cochin, Guwahati and Lucknow.Last month, around 1.12 per cent of the flights were delayed by more than two hours.According to DGCA data, over 1.35 lakh passengers were affected by flight delays and airlines shelled out little over Rs 2.41 crore towards facilitation whereas 77,065 passengers were impacted by flight cancellations and in this regard, carriers paid Rs 2.04 crore towards compensation and facilities.A total of 641 passengers were denied boarding and the airlines shelled out Rs 57.65 lakh for compensation and facilities.

Japan raises PR, residency fee caps

Japan has increased the maximum fees that foreign nationals may be charged for renewing or changing their residency status, with the new cap set at 100,000 yen ($630) for standard residency permits and 300,000 yen for permanent residency applications. according to a report by Nikkei Asia. The measure was approved by the Japanese parliament on Friday as the country prepares for a growing foreign resident population and plans new integration programmes. The previous upper limit for residency renewal or status-change fees was 10,000 yen. According to Japan's Immigration Services Agency, the revised fee structure reflects services provided to foreign residents. While the law sets the maximum amounts, the actual fees will be decided later through a cabinet order. Under the proposed structure, fees for standard residency permits will vary depending on the length of stay. A three-month residency period is expected to cost about 10,000 yen, while a five-year permit could cost around 70,000 yen. The current fee for in-person renewal applications is 6,000 yen regardless of the duration of stay. Additional revenue to fund integration measures The fee for permanent residency applications is expected to rise to about 200,000 yen. The government said reductions or exemptions will be available for applicants facing financial hardship, and the Immigration Services Agency plans to issue guidelines on eligibility for such relief. The higher fees could generate up to 90 billion yen in additional revenue. Japan's foreign resident population exceeded 4 million at the end of 2025, and the government said the funds will be used to strengthen measures that help foreign residents adapt to life in the country. Planned initiatives include expanding consultation services offered by local governments, improving Japanese-language education and supporting programmes that teach daily-life rules and customs. The government intends to introduce these educational programmes in phases beginning in fiscal 2028. The revenue will also help cover the costs of addressing illegal residency cases. Previously, fees collected were limited to covering administrative expenses such as personnel costs. Faster rollout of JESTA screening system The legal revisions also include changes affecting short-term visitors. Japan will introduce the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA) as early as fiscal 2028, two years earlier than originally planned, as per Nikkei Asia report. Under the system, travellers from visa-exempt countries will need to submit information online before departure, including their travel purpose, occupation and accommodation details. Authorities will use the information to screen travellers before arrival. Airlines will be required to deny boarding to passengers who do not obtain authorization. The government said the system is expected to help prevent illegal stays while simplifying immigration procedures and reducing waiting times at airports. The legislation faced opposition from the Constitutional Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party, which argued that the fee increases would place an excessive burden on foreign residents. However, the measure was passed by parliament and is set to take effect as Japan continues to adjust its immigration and residency policies amid rising foreign arrivals and residency numbers.

CISF reviews security across airports in north India

To counter low-altitude aerial threats, the agency has rolled out a counter-drone training programme for its personnel

Kerala Governor’s policy address: Major push for transport sector modernisation

Public transport will be popularised and bypasses will be made four-laned roads. A development programme harnessing the potential of Kerala’s 600.15-kilometre coastline, 44 rivers, 34 lakes, and four airports is envisaged as part of transforming the State into a port-led hub

28-Year-Old Woman, Back From Uganda, Isolated In Bengaluru Amid Ebola Concerns

India has stepped up surveillance at airports after the Centre issued a health advisory

Ebola screening begins at Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada airports; no case found so far

Travellers with a recent African travel history are being tracked at the two airports and the Visakhapatnam port, and a 30-bed isolation ward is ready for any suspected case

Andhra Pradesh govt. ramps up Ebola preparedness amid global health concerns

Screening intensified at airports and isolation wards set up in GGHs, says Health Minister

Andhra Government On "High Alert" Over Ebola Virus, Initiates Screening At Airports

Infected individuals may remain without symptoms for several weeks