SR Nagar police have arrested a young man for behaving indecently in front of women in a metro station lift. According to Inspector Saeed, a 23-year-old woman from Khairatabad boarded a lift from Ameerpet metro station on Tuesday to return to Khairatabad after shopping in Ameerpet.&nbsp;Raju (19), a young man, entered the elevator behind her. He undressed and started behaving inappropriately. He even used expletives against the woman. The victim ran out of the elevator and was brought to the attention of Metro staff. The staff caught hold of Raju and handed him over to the police.&nbsp;Police found that Raju who is from Odisha was staying there and is behaving indecently in front of women who were alone in the metro station elevator. Raju was arrested and remanded in custody. The CCTV footage available there could be used as evidence against Raju. The rest of the details of the case are yet to be known.

Man Arrested From Undressing Before Woman In Metro Lift

Telangana Police have recently launched a Challan Clearance offer and offered a discount of as much as 75% to clear challans pending for a long time. The scheme which was in effect for around two months got a good response.Of the Rs 1,700 crore worth of pending challans, Rs 1,400 crore was collected. Rs 312 crore was collected after the discount.&nbsp;Now the department is mooting another scheme which will be in force forever. Going forward, whenever a challan is imposed, the vehicle owner will get a discount of 20% if it is paid within one month of its imposition.&nbsp;This scheme will ensure that vehicle owners do not pile up the challans for a later date. The scheme is still in the proposal stage and will be implemented as soon as the department gets nod from the Government. This scheme will make the violators more responsible, the department opines.

Pay Traffic Challans In 30 Days, Get 20% Discount 

Gadget-free play areas are being set up to engage children in the Hyderabad metropolis. Kids are showing interest in playing games as it is Summer Holidays. A play area called Crazy Kidzy with a circus theme has been made available on Necklace Road.Experts say that playing games are very beneficial for the mental and physical growth of children. Technological changes are taking place with changing times. With the advent of online games, the focus on physical activity has been declining. With the advent of video games, the situation of coming out and playing in the playgrounds is no more.&nbsp;Gadget-free play areas are becoming available in Hyderabad to engage children in physical activity. A play area named Crazy Kidzy with a circus theme has been set up in Thrill City on Necklace Road. There are 18 types of attractions like trampolines, sliders, wall climbing, a sticky wall, and rolling chair.Organizers say such gadget-free play areas can contribute greatly when children become addicted to cell phones, laptops, TVs, and gadgets after the Corona Pandemic. Parents say that playing games increase the physical fitness of children. They say it would be good to bring the kids in the evening and play games like this. There are arrangements also to celebrate the Birthdays of kids here along with their friends.&nbsp;

Crazy Kidzy: Gadget-Free Play Area In Necklace Road

Hyderabad has become cosmopolitan, and this has meant that more and more people are taking to drinking, be it socially or as regular guzzlers. The demand for beer has reached an all-time high in the city, and the situation is such that the Excise department had to introduce a quota system for the supply of beer to licensed liquor shops.Of late, many breweries and micro-breweries have mushroomed in the city, and thanks to them, Excise officials share that 50 lakh cases of beer have been sold this year in Hyderabad during April. In 2019, just before the pandemic, the state had registered the highest number of 52 lakh cases ( a case normally contains 12 beer bottles, and each bottle contains 750 ml of beer). However, beer sales went down in 2020 and 2021 due to corona.It is now being said that the demand will reach an all-time high with demand for 60 lakh cases in May. The state government has asked all breweries to increase their production as the demand in June is expected to be 40 lakh cases. Given this spike, the government will get an exchequer of Rs 150 crore. If the demand continues, Telangana state will be on top of the list for highest consumption this year.Of the 2700 crore that the government made, Rs 750 crore came from beer, and the figure is likely to touch Rs 1000 crore in May. The government has also said that the districts of Hyderabad and Rangareddy have been demanding more beer. With sudden demand, the breweries are working in two shifts to meet the requirement.

Cheers to Beer for Spiking State's Revenues to an All-time High

Voila, which is a high-end fine dining restaurant in Jubilee Hills, has launched its new menu for the season. The new menu is a mix of traditional European and regional Indian cuisine with everlasting Indian influences. In short, the dishes are a mix of delicacy and creativity.It has already been reported that at Voila, one can buy whatever catches one’s attention in the restaurant, which includes cutlery, artifacts, paintings, furniture, lights, chandeliers, etc.One will be treated to a specially curated menu that includes Hot &amp; Cold Saffron &amp; Pumpkin soup, Focaccia Eclair, Paan tossed Woodears (veg/ non-veg). Then there are the likes of 5 cheese paniyaram, coconut chutney, chili garlic &amp; cheese kulcha techa cream, Paneer Chettinad Taco, Pickled Onion, Chicken khurchan taco, Haleem samosa, dates chutney, Junglee mutton, Tandoori Empanadas and more.The main course too has exciting fare that includes Saag Arti, Pickled bamboo, Paneer Chettinad, Malabar paratha (veg, non-veg), Gongura mutton curry, Chilli mint lachcha paratha, Chicken rara, masala egg, bun maska, etc.Desserts include Shahi tukde bread pudding with ghee toasted nuts, Trifle pudding, seasonal fruits, and many more.The owners, Raja Srikar and Kunal Kukreja, say that they believe in changing the menu every three months. So, do look forward to more innovative and tasty food.

Popular Restaurant Voila Launches New Menu

Hyderabad start-ups are really doing well and creating ripples in various verticals, and now the Cannes Film Festival is the latest platform where a city-based start-up is all set to create ripples. Gamitronics was the first start-up to organize a virtual concert night of Daler Mehndi, and it has been invited to Marche du Film, which is organized alongside the Cannes Film Festival in France.For the unversed, Marche du Film is a market that gathers international film professionals, including producers, sales agents, buyers, and festival organizers wanting to participate in a marathon of networking events. At the culmination of the program, Gamitronics will pitch products and services to key brands and agency decision-makers at a showcase, which happens to be the key segment of the program, shares its founder-CEO Rajat Ojha.After Tiktok, PartyNite, which happens to be Gamitronics’ Metaverse platform, has become the second tech product to be part of the Cannes Film Festival. Incidentally, PartyNite is also the platform through which Telangana became the first state to host and launch its SpaceTech framework. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (FICCI) and National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), along with the Government of India (I&amp;B Ministry), will be facilitating Gamitronics’ presence and inclusion at the showcase.

Hyderabad Start-up to Make a Bang at Cannes Film Festival

Their story in Hyderabad or the Telugu states can be traced back to 1630 CE during the reign of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The Banjaras, or the Lambadas known, migrated from Rajasthan to Deccan. When the Mughals fought the Qutb Shahi dynasty for power in the Deccan region, the Banjaras worked as grain couriers during the eight-year conflict between them.However, Aurangazeb defeated them and appointed governors for the Deccan region in Aurangabad. Eventually, in 1724, Asaf Jahi Nizams seized Aurangabad. And when Asaf Jahi traveled from Aurangabad to the Golconda kingdom, the Bhangi and Jhangi tribes followed him in 1,80,000 bullocks.In the same year, Mir Kamuddin Khan or Asaf Jahi 1 was crowned Nizam for the first time. As the Banjaras were not able to care for their cattle after the subjugation of Golconda to the Mughal emperors, Asaf Jah assured the Banjaras that their cattle would be cared for.Since then, the Bhangi and Jhangi tribes settled in the Telangana region and have been known for their colorful clothes. Their unique clothing happens to be beautifully done, with vibrant mirror work. While the men have been into small-time works, the women are known for their skills in making Banjara apparel which was very popular with the locals.However, when the Indian government took over the Nizam state, and an elected government came to power, the Banjaras were given pattas or land in a hilly region in the heart of Hyderabad. However, later as per historical folklores, knowing that the hilly region was prime property, the rich politicians bought the land back at throw-away prices from the Banjaras.Well, that’s the story behind the much sought-after Banjara Hills. The local Banjaras have retained their cultural roots, and many are now educated and well-placed.

Unheard Fascinating Story of Banjaras and Banjara Hills

Chevella was hitherto known for farmhouses and some gated communities. But now, like many other areas in the spotlight for being in the ‘most wanted’ areas, Chevella has become the hub of realty. The reason? Well, the upcoming four-lane road and the proposed regional ring road.The land rates have suddenly skyrocketed, and where an acre of land was sold for Rs 40-60 lakh, today the same land is being bought in crores. The Hyderabad-Chevella road was a two-lane road, and now it is being converted into a four-lane road. There is business all over the place. In fact, passers-by stopping on the road are also offered details of land deals that could happen if both parties are interested.A piece of land was recently sold for Rs 2.6 crore to a city lawyer, and many doctors are investing in the area as the prices are bound to go up. Also, the area will obviously see lots of development, and the land bought today will turn into prime property very soon.Even as the villagers are getting ready to sell their lands and move to other villages as they do not want to get caught in the road-widening scenario, the government has also decided to take up a regional ring road (RRR) project that will connect towns such as Toopran, Choutuppal, Amangal, Shankarpally, and Sangareddy.Another interesting fact is that the land here does not come under GO 111, unlike other villages like Yenkapally, Aziznagar, Surgangal, Kenkamadi, and Mudimyal.

Realty Boom At Its Peak at Hyd-Chevella Road

Becoming a chef might sound cool to some. Whipping up fancy dishes at fancy restaurants and rubbing shoulders with the who’s who will surely sound glamourous. But behind all the glitz and glamour, there is much hard work in the kitchen. Everything needs to be perfect, from picking the right ingredients to cooking the right dish to plating it and serving it. And helping aspiring chefs to upskill and groom themselves is Gopi Byluppala.Once a techie, Gopi Byluppala is now the founder-CEO of The Culinary Lounge in Jubilee Hills. After organizing some food events, Gopi progressed into bringing together aspiring and well-known chefs onto a common platform to promote healthy cooking culture. Today, his culinary studio attracts many interested in taking up cooking as a full-time profession, both from across the country and at times from other countries.After experimenting with his pet project, Gopi now plans to extend his area of operations to grooming chefs-to-be. His immediate plan is to take 100 chefs so that they are taught the tricks and skills of becoming full-fledged chefs and food entrepreneurs.Gopi feels that chefs are akin to artists and must be given due credit for making eating food a memorable experience. Therefore, equipping working and aspiring chefs with managing finances, management skills, and people skills is the main objective of his latest initiative. Accepting applications is on, and the actual course will begin in December. As for the course, Gopi and his team have yet to develop an appropriate name. But he is confident that his new initiative will kick-start a culinary revolution in Telangana.

Whipping Up a Culinary Revolution in Telangana

Last weekend, the guests at the Terrassen Cafe got to see the performance of Akram Ul Haq, a fingerstyle guitarist known for his solo performances. When he first picked up the guitar, Akram was not sure about how far his passion would take him. But today, he is awaiting the release of his first music album called The Cat Master, which will hit the stands on June 12.It has been a long wait for Akram as the album was supposed to release in 2019. But he has no regrets as he loves telling stories through his music. All stories come from his life, says Akram, who is a one-man band of sorts. Instead of strumming the guitar, he learned it fingerstyle, and today he has made music his profession.He reminisces that he took to guitar when he first heard its sound and got mesmerized by it. He says he immediately decided to learn the instrument. But as days went by, he was spending more and more time with the guitar, which is when he decided to learn it professionally. He has also done a four-year course in western classical music.He not only brings out a melody through his guitar, but he also uses it to play drums while adding harmony. He says his performance has a lot going on as he is a one-man band of sorts. After ten years of teaching and learning, Akram is inspired by Porcupine Tree and musician Gustavo when it comes to music. He adds that his friends have inspired him and supported him emotionally.As for his moment of pride, he says during one of his performances in Bengaluru, some people came up to him and told him his music was like healing to them.

Telling Stories Through His Guitar

For the second consecutive year, Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) is going online. The 2022 edition will be held from January 28th to 30th (at youtube.com/c/hlf-india). This development has come after the third wave disrupting normal life across the country.&nbsp;Started in 2010, the festival is organized by “Hyderabad Literary Trust” in association with the Government of Telangana and with the support of several academic, literary, cultural organizations and publishing houses. This time the festival is happening in partnership with the British Council.This year’s festival is dedicated to the late Ajay Gandhi, founder of Manthan and one of the former directors of HLF. Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee is also among the delegates attending the festival. The organizers made sure that there is everything for every age in the fest.&nbsp;The festival includes Literary Sessions, Kaavya Dhaara, Stage Talks, Storytelling, Cultural Events, Workshops, Exhibitions, Moving Images Talkies, Youngistaan Nukkad, Nanha Nukkad, and Interlude. For more details of the festival and if you want to register for updates or as a volunteer, check out https://hydlitfest.org/