Chikkamagaluru limits entry of vehicles from September 1 to ease road congestion
Chikkamagaluru: Starting September 1, tourists visiting popular destinations in Chikkamagaluru, such as Mullayanagiri, Seethalayanayagiri, Sri Guru Dattatreya Bababudan Swamy Dargah, and Manikyadhara, will face strict vehicle entry restrictions as part of a new initiative by the district administration to reduce congestion on the narrow, winding roads.
In a meeting led by the Deputy Commissioner, who also heads the District Tourism Development Committee and the District Disaster Management Authority, it was decided to limit the number of vehicles allowed to enter the area to 600 per time slot, as reported by The New Indian Express on Saturday. Two entry slots have been designated: from 6:00 a.m. to noon at Parking Spot 1, and from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Parking Spot 2.
The vehicle cap will be strictly enforced across various categories: 100 two-wheelers, 100 auto rickshaws, and 100 local yellow-board taxis will be permitted per slot. Tempo travellers and 10-seater Toofan vehicles are limited to 50 each. The largest share, however, is reserved for tourist cars, jeeps, and SUVs, with up to 300 vehicles allowed per slot.
Officials have reportedly stated that private buses and mini buses will not be permitted to enter, citing the risk of accidents and traffic bottlenecks, particularly on the ghat roads.
These restrictions also apply to vehicles belonging to tourists staying at homestays, resorts, and other accommodations near these sites.
The tourism department has made online booking and payment of the entry fee mandatory. Tourists will need to complete both the booking and payment through the official district website before visiting.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
