Kolkata, Feb 11 - State-owned Bank of Baroda (BoB) is expecting total business growth of about 24 percent over last year at the end of March 2012.

"We plan to achieve a total business of more than Rs. 6,50,000 crore at the end of March (2012). We are expecting a total business growth of about 24 percent year-on-year basis," Bank of Baroda chairman M. D. Mallya told reporters on the sidelines of "SME(small marginal enterprise) Festival 2012" here Friday evening.

Mallya said the bank will gain a domestic credit growth of 20 percent at the end of the current financial year.

Kolkata, Sep 28 : Hailing the Singur verdict, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday called it "a victory of the people" that would pave the way for return of land to farmers.

"It is a historic event not only for Singur or the country but for the whole world. The Singur movement will forever be an example of struggle and victory for the world," Banerjee said.

Earlier, the Calcutta High Court ruled the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act passed by the government was valid and constitutional.

Kolkata, Sep 20 : Economists have started to question the hawkish stance of India's central bank that has seen as many as 12 rate hikes in the past 20 months, and some feel the steps have hampered the growth of sectors that have not contributed to inflation.

But others see no long-term link between inflation and growth and back the rate hikes.

Kolkata, Sep 20 - Eden Gardens is set to lose all its three Champions League Twenty20 matches with the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) favouring shift of the matches due to monsoon rains lashing the city almost daily.

"When the conditions are such, how can we host the matches? We need time to prepare the track. Who will gain if we organise the matches and not a ball can be bowled?" said a CAB official.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), however, left the decision to the CAB.

Kolkata, Sep 16 - The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is working with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) to set up a separate exchange for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which will be launched shortly.

"It will be a separate exchange within the NSE. It is likely to be operational in this financial year... may be another two months or three," SIDBI Chairman and Managing Director S. Muhnot told reporters here Thursday.

The SMEs would be able to raise equity from the market through the exchange and develop their business, he added.

Kolkata, Sep 5 - Magma Fincorp Limited, one of the largest asset financing non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) in India, is focusing on western and southern parts of the country to achieve 50 percent business growth.

"We are aiming at substantial growth in western and southern India this fiscal. We will be focusing on states like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. The company will be working on expanding networks in these regions," Magma Fincorp vice-president Sumit Mukherjee told IANS.

Kolkata, Sep 1 - From spaghetti to pasta, pork to beef - the Argentine soccer team led by football magician Lionel Messi will be spoilt for choice. The Hyatt Regency hotel here in West Bengal where the team is staying, has laid out a varied spread appealing to the taste buds of the Latin American side, an official said Thursday.

The team's chef Diego Iacovone, who landed in the city in the last week of August, is strictly monitoring the food quality and instructing the hotel cooks on preparing Spanish, particularly Argentine dishes.

Kolkata, Aug 31 - New Argentine soccer coach Alejandro Sabella Wednesday said the country's campaign for the 2014 World Cup will start with the Sep 2 FIFA official international friendly match here with Venezuela.

"Yes, this is my first game in command of the Argentinean national side. Yes, it is the beginning of our journey," Sabella said, when asked if the much-anticipated match can be called the starting point of Argentina's World cup campaign.

Kolkata, Aug 26: The state could soon get a new name, teachers receive salaries on the first of every month, Darjeeling is quiet after a tripartite pact and the Singur Act has been passed -- the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal has set a hectic pace as it completes 100 days in office Saturday.

Kolkata, Aug 25 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday announced a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh for the families of civilians killed in Maoist violence in the state. The central government will give another Rs. 3 lakh.

"The families of the civilians who are killed by Maoists will be given Rs. 2 lakh by the state government. They will get another Rs. 3 lakh from the central government as compensation," Banerjee said at the state secretariat Writers' Buildings.

Kolkata, Aug 9 - TIL Limited, a leading provider of a wide range of construction, mining and power systems based here, will invest Rs. 700 crore in its Kharagpur factory to make mining equipment and cranes with American and Japanese technology.

"The first phase of the plant, for which Rs. 250 crore is being invested, will conclude by October-November. Alreadyn Rs. 90 crore has been invested," Aloke Banerjee, president and chief financial officer of what was earlier called Tractors India, told IANS.

Kolkata, Aug 4 : General Motors expects its India operations to grow by 20-25 percent this financial year despite high auto interest rates and inflation that have slowed the country's automobile sales, the company's managing director said Thursday.

"Last year, with a sales figure of 110,000 units we registered a 60 percent growth. This year we hope to achieve a growth rate double the industry rate of 10-12 percent," said Karl Slym, president and managing director of GM India.

Kolkata, July 4 : With an eye to the fast growing motorcycle market in India, Mahindra Two Wheelers Ltd (MTWL) Monday said it will relaunch its 110cc bike Stallio later this year.

"We will be relaunching the Stallio during the festive season this year. Earlier, we had made a soft launch of the bike. We have made some modification and it is ready for launch," Devendra Shinde, marketing vice president of MTWL, told reporters here.

Kolkata, June 10 : The state-run Allahabad Bank has targeted a business growth of 24 percent during the current financial year 2011-12, a top bank official said here Friday.

The bank has also projected a business level of around Rs. 2,80,000 crore as in March 2012, chairman and managing director J. P Dua said in his address at the bank's ninth Annual General Meeting.

The bank plans to increase its presence abroad by opening more overseas branches, Dua said.

Kolkata, June 7 : Renowned Bengali actor Rudranil Ghosh was Tuesday hospitalised with a head injury after he was hit by a speeding car here. His condition is stable.

Ghosh, in his 30s, was hit by a speeding car early Tuesday at Golf Green in the southern part of the city. He was immediately admitted to a private hospital for treatment of the injuries which needed several stitches.

"He had a few stitches on his head. Right now his condition is stable. But an MRI would be conducted very soon," said Kanchan, a friend.

Kolkata, June 4  Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, who will begin hosting the Bengali version of hit quiz show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" from Monday, said he practised for it more than he did for his sport.

"For the first time in my life I have rehearsed for so long. For matches I would practice at the nets for four hours but for this show I rehearsed for six hours," Ganguly said here.

Kolkata, May 23 : Eminent film critic, academic and director Chidananda Dasgupta died at his home here late Sunday night following old-age complications. He was 89. Dasgupta was the father of actress-filmmaker Aparna Sen.

He was suffering from acute broncho pneumonia and Parkinson's disease, doctors said.

Dasgupta was a multi-faceted talent, who started off as a college lecturer, then switched to advertising but made his name as a film critic and historian.

Kolkata, May 1 - After Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinched a handsome victory over Kings XI Punjab, KKR owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan Saturday said former KKR skipper Sourav Ganguly who came to see the match at Eden Gardens had brought luck for the team.

"Sourav had brought luck for the team. Sourav was sitting at a place far away from me so we could not talk today. But definitely I will talk to him soon," said Shah Rukh Khan. Shah Rukh also expressed his happiness for his team playing well as team.

Only a few weeks prior to the West Bengal Assembly elections, Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee's son Abhijit Mukherjee entered the league of
the Congress party in Kolkata yesterday. Abhijit, previously under the
employment of the state owned Steel Authority of India Limited, told
that he now has ample experience for jumping into politics. Abhijit
Mukherjee will most likely to be a part of the upcoming assembly polls
in the state.

As per the recent media reports, the FM’s son is going to be the party's
candidate from one of the constituencies in Birbhum district.

Kolkata, Feb 3 - Bollywood actress Vidya Balan says the audience will see her in a "bolder avatar" in the upcoming movie "Dirty Picture".

"It doesn't get bolder than this," said Vidya.

The movie is based on the life of Silk Smitha, one of the most popular sex sirens of the mid eighties in the South Indian film industry. She was known for her bold roles and skimpy outfits.

The shooting of the film is set to start soon.