Targeting the 2.5 million NRIs in the United States, Bharti Airtel on Thursday launched "CallHome" service that will enable NRIs to call their families and friends in India at the price of 7.9 cents per minute.

Available initially on pre-paid option, the payments for pre-paid recharges will be accepted through credit card on web portal through a secure payment gateway.

Customers can choose their mode of managing their personal accounts either through the internet, Airtel call centre or through a local toll-free access number that can be accessed across the continent from any phone.

Speaking at the launch, president of Bharti Airtel Manoj Kohli said, "We have over 2.5 million non-resident Indians in the United States, who make over 450 million minutes of calls a month to their loved ones in India. It makes me immensely happy, that Airtel will dissolve the geographical boundaries and help people to call home."

Bharti Airtel said that its service would be 40 per cent cheaper than the available tariff offered by other Indian telecom operators, who have similar service for the US-based NRIs.

NRIs will need to go to the Airtel website to create their personal account and download the calling service online.

ITC group of hotels has announced to set up a super deluxe hotel in Ahmedabad with investment of around Rs 300 crore. This was announced by ITC executive director S S H Rehman, at the ‘National Tourism Conclave - Exploring the Magical Tourism Journey of Gujarat’ being held in the city.

The conclave, being jointly organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd (TCGL), is aimed at promoting tourism in the State.

Minister of State for Tourism C D Patel said that Gujarat had all the facilities — safety of tourists, uninterrupted power supply, good road network — it still had a long way to go before it became the most favoured destination.

Tourism Secretary R M Patel said funds earmarked to promote tourism had been increased to Rs 100 crore in the 2006-07 budget from Rs 30 crore the previous year. From the allocated funds, 60 per cent had been set aside for developing tourism infrastructure at important sites. Besides, district tourism committees, headed by collectors, have been given special grants for strengthening local tourism network, he added.

Source : Expressindia.com