Sahitya Academy awards announced
Vivek Rai gets honorary award, while Purushottam Bilimale gets Sahitya Shri award
Bengaluru, February 7: The Karnataka Sahitya Academy has announced the awards for the year 2018 to total ten persons. Dr BA Vivek Rai and five senior poets including HS Venkatesh Murthy was given ‘honorary award’, while Dr Purushottam Bilimale, Dr HL Pushpa, KC Shivappa and others were given ‘Sahitya Shri’ award.
Academy president Dr Aravind Malagatti announced the list of award winning personalities at a press conference here on Thursday. Dr BA Viveka Rai, Dr HS Venkatesh Murthy, Deshamsha Hudugi, Saisuthe and Prof AK Hampanna were selected for annual honorary award which consists of Rs 50,000 cash prize and replica of Goddess Saraswati. Dr Purushottam Bilimale, Dr HL Pushpa, KC Shivappa, Dr CP Siddashrama, Prof Parvathi G Aithal, G Krishnappa, Sathish Kulkarni, Dr Rangaraj Vanadurga, Prof Abdul G Basheer, and Dr Gangaram Chandala were selected for ‘Sahitya Shri’ award which consists of Rs 25,000 cash prize and a citation.
For the 2017 annual book award was given to ‘Anudinada Danduga (columns/rational writings) of Dr Vinaya Okkunda, ‘Mouna Matina Saddu’ (Poetry) of Chandrashekar Thalya, ‘Meenu Peteya Thiruvu’ (anthology of poems) of Renuka Ramanand, ‘Hijab’ (novel) of Guruprasad Kaginele, ‘180 degree’ (short stories) of Nagaraj Ramaswamy Vastare, ‘Mattobba Radhe’ (drama) of Basavaraj Sabarada, ‘Banna Varesuva Ennagannadi (essays) of Prajna Mattihalli, ‘Saptakanyeyara Kannebhoomiyalli Namma Nade (travelogue) of Indira Hegde, and ‘Amruthayana-5 (autobiography) of Amrutha Rakshidi, ‘Mallana Kaviya kokashastra’ of Dr FT Hallikeri, ‘Havagunada Ruju Badalagide’ (science literature) of BS Somashekar, ‘Motteyodeda Marigalu’ (Children’s literature) of Sharada V Murthy, ‘Ambedkar Bharata (humanity) of Prof HT Pothe, ‘Atma Balidana’ (research) ofDr JM Nagaiah, ‘Lalitha Vistara’ (translation) of Dr R Shesha shastry, ‘MM Kalaburgi’ (translation) of Dr Gopal Mahamuni, ‘Naanu Kannambadi Katte Heegondu Kathe’ of Prof PV Nanjaraj Urs, ‘Arthadacheya Bedagu (criticism) of Dr H Shashikala and Krishnamudrike of C Mangala.
Endowment award
Chi Srinivas Raju Endowment award was given to Kaaludari (poetry- manuscript) of Chennaraju M Basappanadoddi, Chaduranga endowment award was given to Beru (novel) of Fakeera, Indira endowment award was given to ‘Dandige Hedaralla Dalige Hedaralla’ of Vasumathi Udupa, Simpi Linganna endowment award was given to ‘Agni Divyada Hudugi’ of Chandrashekar Mandekolu, P Srinivas Rao endowment award was given to ‘Edege Ede Miditha’ of Raghavendra Patil, L Gundappa and Sharadamma endowment award was given to ‘Sahitya Vimarsheya Madarigalu Bhaga-2 and 3 (translation) of Dr CR Yaravinatelimatha, Madhurachenna endowment award was given to ‘Neelimugina Nattu’ of HR Sujatha, and America Kannada endowment award was given to Karimayi (translation) of Krishna Manavalli. Both endowment and annual books awards would have Rs 25000 cash each and citations, he said.
Annual media literature award for 2018 was given to Prajavani (print media) and Avadhi (digital media) and both the awards would have Rs 25000 cash prize each and citations, he explained.
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Metro ridership in Haryana sees over 13 pc rise in 2025-26
Chandigarh (PTI): Haryana's urban transit system witnessed a strong growth in 2025-26, with metro ridership registering a robust 13.55 per cent increase, the state government said in a statement on Thursday.
The progress was reviewed in the 64th board meeting of Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi.
Between April 2025 and February 2026, the metro network recorded over 1.74 crore passengers, compared to 1.53 crore in the corresponding period the previous year.
July recorded the highest monthly growth at 22.93 per cent, while all months showed consistent positive trends.
Financial performance has also remained strong, with fare revenue rising 12.64 per cent till January 2026, the statement said.
Non-fare revenue surged by 108 per cent, driven by effective monetisation of station spaces, advertisements and commercial activities, resulting in an operating surplus for Rapid Metro.
Further initiatives, including the auction of station naming rights and additional advertisement sites, are expected to strengthen HMRTC's financial position, the statement said.
Appreciating the performance, Rastogi stated that the consistent rise in ridership and revenue reflects the success of Haryana's integrated transport strategy, rising commuter confidence and a clear shift towards public transport.
HMRTC Managing Director Chander Shekhar Khare said that, alongside operational gains, the state is making steady progress on an ambitious pipeline of metro and regional transit projects.
Metro connectivity from Gurugram Sector 56 to Panchgaon is under active consideration, with Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited studying the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and layout plan, and finalising a depot location in Sector 36A near Sihi village, he said.
The Gurugram-Faridabad Namo Bharat corridor has achieved a key milestone, with alignment and station locations finalised and approved by the Haryana government. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation is preparing the DPR, he added.
Similarly, the Delhi-Kundli metro extension is proposed to be placed before the Haryana Cabinet for approval.
The 136.3-kilometre Delhi-Panipat-Karnal RRTS Corridor has also progressed, with the revised DPR submitted for financial concurrence ahead of Haryana Cabinet consideration.
Within Gurugram, DPR preparation has been approved for key intra-city corridors, including the 17.09-kilometre Bhondsi-Subhash Chowk-Rajeev Chowk-Sohna Chowk Railway Station corridor, enhancing connectivity along Sohna Road, Khare said.
