News Broadcasting
Emirates Invites Travellers to Explore Dubai
Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines is inviting passengers from India to visit its home city by announcing a range of fares. The return economy class fare including taxes from Chennai to Dubai is INR 19,869. The fares are valid for sale and travel until 31st March 2014.
The fares are on offer from all 10 Emirates gateways: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Kochi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata and have been specially designed to give travellers from India the chance to experience Emirates’ award-winning product and service and the airline’s home city at an even more attractive price.
An added benefit is that until 7th October 2013 Indian nationals can apply for a Dubai “Express Tourist Visa” at the cost of the “Normal Tourist Visa” for only Rs 5150, a saving of 25% from the normal price.
“We are extremely pleased to give our passengers across India the opportunity to experience Emirates’ renowned product and service at even better value for money”, said, Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Vice President India and Nepal. “As the fares are valid until March it allows people to plan their trip and visit our home city when they wish. With so much to see and do in Dubai there is always a reason to visit and there are plenty of upcoming attractions in the coming months.”
Emirates offers many features on its flight to and from India which have been specially tailored for its passengers from India. The award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice offers up to 1500 channels and includes programming in Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil, Telegu, Gujurati, Punjabi and Urdu. Some highlights onboard this month include:
30 Hindi movies including 4 New Movies in Sept- Go Goa Gone, Shootout at Wadala, Race 2, Jolly LLB
* 4 Kannada movies including Bheema Theeradalli
* 4 Marathi movies including Premachi Goshta
* 6 Malayalam movies including Businessman
* 6 Tamil movies including Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga
* 4 Telegu movies including Mr. Nookaiah
* 4 Gujariti movies including Ver Ni Vasulat – Ek aag
* A large selection of TV channels including dedicated channels to Bollywood Pop Videos, Hindi Classic Songs, Comedy and many more.
* Hours of dedicated music & audio channels featuring today’s most popular including:
* The soundtrack to Chennai Express (movie soundtrack)
* Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (movie soundtrack)
In addition the airline offers three regional menus onboard designed to cater to the Indian palate and a generous baggage allowance of 30 kilogrammes in Economy Class, rising to 40kgs in Business Class and 50kgs in First Class.
Once in Dubai, there are many activities to keep visitors entertained. The Dubai International Film Festival in December features many movies from Bollywood. The ever-popular Dubai Shopping Festival will start in January and the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature follows in March.
Dubai is also home to a number of world-famous sites and attractions for visitors to enjoy. From experiencing skiing indoors on year-round snow, experience the view from the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, a walk around the gold and spice souks or enjoying the world-class shopping and hotels; Dubai has so much to offer.
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
