Arpit Basu is the senior reporter of Hindustan Times. He writes on crime, railways and transport.
Articles by Arpit Basu
Bengal: Terror houses mushroom on govt land
The NIA, probing the Burdwan blast, decided to examine the role of the West Bengal government in the case after discovering houses built on government land by suspected militants.
Updated on Oct 21, 2014 08:05 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu and Surajit Ghosh Hazra, Kolkata/bolpur
Kolkata losing pride, trams rumbling into history
Once upon a time, trams enhanced the beauty of Kolkata, however, sooner they are going to be rumbled into history books due to growing transportation needs of the fastest growing population.
Updated on Jul 31, 2014 04:43 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
Brazil to kick off World Cup mornings with Darjeeling tea
Though India will be nowhere near the playing arena in Brazil during the World Cup, tea from the famous Darjeeling garden of Makaibari will kick off the mornings for the players, guests and VIPs of the tournament.
Updated on May 06, 2014 03:22 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
Suchitra Sen cremated in venue reserved for freedom fighters, Cong leader unhappy
In her final journey Suchitra Sen received an honour like Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das and one missed by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and film-maker Satyajit Ray.
Updated on Jan 18, 2014 10:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
Tussle between between two promoters led to shooting at Short Street
A tussle between two real estate dealers, who are known to trade in disputed properties, resulted in the firing at 9A Short Street in the wee hours of Monday.
Updated on Nov 12, 2013 09:40 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
Picking up the pieces after Cyclone Phailin
It started as a speck and ended as one but inbetween it wrecked people's livelihoods. Even as the state struggles to recover in the aftermath of Phailin, Arpit Basu gives us a status report on rehabilitation efforts.
Updated on Oct 22, 2013 11:13 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Satisahiram (gopalpur)/chatrapur
Brain, body in sync: India game for chess boxing
A game called chess boxing that requires the players to alternate between a game of chess and a bout of boxing for several rounds is catching on at such a rate that under a tent in south Kolkata, a team is being selected for representing the country in the world championships in Moscow from November 28.
Updated on Oct 20, 2013 12:27 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
Phailin killed fauna too; 5 blackbucks die in Odisha
Cyclone Phailin has not just taken a toll on human beings, at least five blackbucks — an endangered species of antelope — were also killed as the storm battered Odisha on October 12.
Updated on Oct 18, 2013 01:47 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Subalaya (rambha)
Odisha: Cyclone Phailin turns farmers into fishermen
Thanks to the Phailin and the subsequent floods, most farmers in the neighbourhood villages of Balasore have turned into fishermen and fishmongers. It has turned out to be a boon for the farmers.
Updated on Oct 16, 2013 09:59 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kashimpur (balasore)
Now, floods ravage Balasore, Mayurbhanj
On Monday, four persons died and nearly 250,000 people lost their homes in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts when heavy rains triggered by a waning cyclone Phailin caused severe floods in the Budhabalanga river.
Updated on Oct 15, 2013 12:48 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu & Priya Ranjan Sahu, Bhubaneswar/chatrapur (ganjam)
Prices of essential commodities spike in Ganjam markets
Prices of essential commodities have spiked in local village markets of Ganjam district, prompting the Odisha government to draw up a plan to distribute 50 kg of rice free to each of the 250,000 families affected by cyclone Phailin. Arpit Basu reports.
Updated on Oct 15, 2013 12:33 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Chatrapur (ganjam)
Cyclone Phailin: no catch since 5 days, fishermen pine for sea
Fisherman S Shankar felt angry when officials stopped him from venturing into the sea on Sunday evening. “The sea looked calm enough. Why are they not letting me to go,” he asked. Arpit Basu reports.
Updated on Oct 13, 2013 11:02 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Ramayapattnam(gopalpur)
Phailin fizzles out in Odisha, AP; leaves behind trail of destruction
Cyclone Phailin left a trail of destruction in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, destroying lakhs of homes affecting nine million people and wrecking the vital Gopalpur and Paradip ports but human casualties were limited. | No catch: a fisherman pines for sea | What had happened in 1999 | Full Coverage
Updated on Oct 14, 2013 03:00 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Priya Ranjan Sahu, Arpit Basu and KV Lakshmana, Bhubaneswar/gopalpur/srikakulam
Cyclone Phailin wrecks Gopalpur port, robs livelihood of locals
Cyclone Phailin, which hit the Odisha coast on Saturday night and displaced nearly a million people, has also dealt a blow to the port operations at Gopalpur and the livelihood of locals dependent on it.
Updated on Oct 13, 2013 09:08 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Gopalpur
Pakistan temple to celebrate Durga Puja
The first community-organised Durga puja in Pakistan will be held at a 150-year-old temple on a road named after Pakistan’s founder MA Jinnah in Karachi. Arpit Basu reports.
Updated on Oct 10, 2013 07:51 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
Now, train journey set to become sweeter for diabetic patients
The initiative of the Indian Railways to serve diabetic meals on board has become popular across the country prompting most diabetics not to carry their own food.
Updated on Sep 17, 2013 11:02 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
Kolkata : Budding priests hope to make a windfall in Puja
With the number of Durga Pujas increasing, the number of priests is on the rise and to meet the demand, the Bangiyo Purahit Sabha has started a crash course for them.
Updated on Sep 09, 2013 10:50 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
The Goddess falls on bad times this Pujas
Puja organisers who had splurged even till last year, have tightened their purse strings this season since the dim corporate outlook has scared the sponsors, leading to expenditure cuts on idols, pandals, themes and illumination.
Updated on Aug 27, 2013 02:06 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
Now, govt plans chopper joyride over the Hills
West Bengal government is planning to introduce a joyride on helicopter over Dooars and Darjeeling during Puja instead of starting chopper services between Badogra and Darjeeling.
Updated on Aug 08, 2013 01:16 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
A telephone that dials back in time
Amidst a rash of modern day furniture and showpiece items in his lair, sits a telephone, which, though not in tune with the contemporary times, hardly appears a misfit.
Updated on Jul 29, 2013 01:45 PM IST
None | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
India's last telegram takes more than eight days to cover 15 km
Guess how much has telegraph services improved in India in the 163 years between 1850 and 2013, the years of its birth and death in this country. Arpit Basu reports.
Updated on Jul 23, 2013 12:46 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
Last telegram yet to reach recipient
The telegram is dead. But the iconic service’s last rites have not yet been performed.
Updated on Jul 22, 2013 12:27 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
Telegram makes a quiet exit
Started 163 years ago in Kolkata, the telegraphic service, which is also India’s oldest communication tool, finally loses out to improved technology. Telegram services terminate on July 14, 2013, at 9pm. Arpit Basu writes.
Updated on Jul 14, 2013 10:51 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
This year at Durga Puja, do as the French do
You could call it the first FDI in religious activity in West Bengal. France will sponsor a Durga Puja in Kolkata this year - the first foreign country to do so - creating a milestone of sorts. Arpit Basu reports.
Updated on Jul 12, 2013 03:47 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
Kolkata: Foreign visit not on city tourists’ radar
Dollar effect
Updated on Jun 28, 2013 09:23 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
Kolkata: Send last telegram, be a part of city’s history
If you plan on making history by sending the last telegram in the world, make sure you book your message by 7 pm on Friday, July 12.
Updated on Jun 28, 2013 09:13 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
Take a helicopter ride to Darjeeling this Puja
Fly to the Queen of the Hills this Puja. The state tourism department is planning to introduce helicopter services between Bagdogra and Darjeeling before the start of the festive season. Pawan Hans would run the services and the fare will be Rs 2,000 per head.
Updated on Jun 27, 2013 12:03 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
Faceless China Town to get a facelift
It is one of the city’s most prominent gourmet junctions, but is, ironically, located in Kolkata’s dirty underbelly. China Town, home to a few thousand Chinese and some of the best budget noodle-and-chilli chicken restaurants, is avoided by many because of its shabby appearance and scant regard for cleanliness.
Updated on Jun 26, 2013 11:56 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
Kolkata-Durgapur copter service to take off soon
Pawan Hans - which recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the state govt - is ready to start services by end June or first week of July.
Updated on Jun 24, 2013 08:35 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata
Eco-fragile Sandakphu vulnerable
The disaster in Uttarakhand has sent alarm bells ringing in another eco-fragile Himalayan region closer home — the Darjeeling Hills. And the focus is on Sandakphu, a quiet retreat up the hills, about 50km from Darjeeling.
Updated on Jun 21, 2013 08:40 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arpit Basu, Kolkata