Monday, June 1, 2026
writingonblog uncensored: ICGS Sarang decommissioned after 27 years of service
writingonblog uncensored: ICGS Sarang decommissioned after 27 years of service: CHENNAI Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sarang, an advanced offshore patrol vessel of the Samar class built by Goa Shipyard Limited, was de...
ICGS Sarang decommissioned after 27 years of service
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CHENNAI
Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sarang, an advanced offshore patrol vessel of the Samar class built by Goa Shipyard Limited, was decommissioned on Sunday after nearly three decades of service, marking the end of a 27-year operational career that spanned maritime surveillance, search-and-rescue missions and emergency response operations.
Commissioned on June 21, 1999, in Goa by Vice Admiral V A Kamath, the first Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, the vessel was initially based in Mumbai before being rebased to Chennai on April 1, 2002.
The decommissioning ceremony was presided over by Additional Director General Donny Michael, Commander, Coast Guard Eastern Seaboard. During the ceremony, a ceremonial guard of honour was presented and, as the sun set, the Coast Guard ensign was lowered for the final time. The decommissioning pennant, measuring the length of the vessel, was also hauled down in a symbolic farewell.
Named after the hawk, Sarang played a key role in several maritime operations during its service. Among its notable deployments was its contribution to firefighting efforts aboard the motor tanker New Diamond off the coast of Sri Lanka in 2020, according to an official release.
Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sarang, an advanced offshore patrol vessel of the Samar class built by Goa Shipyard Limited, was decommissioned on Sunday after nearly three decades of service, marking the end of a 27-year operational career that spanned maritime surveillance, search-and-rescue missions and emergency response operations.
Commissioned on June 21, 1999, in Goa by Vice Admiral V A Kamath, the first Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, the vessel was initially based in Mumbai before being rebased to Chennai on April 1, 2002.
The decommissioning ceremony was presided over by Additional Director General Donny Michael, Commander, Coast Guard Eastern Seaboard. During the ceremony, a ceremonial guard of honour was presented and, as the sun set, the Coast Guard ensign was lowered for the final time. The decommissioning pennant, measuring the length of the vessel, was also hauled down in a symbolic farewell.
Named after the hawk, Sarang played a key role in several maritime operations during its service. Among its notable deployments was its contribution to firefighting efforts aboard the motor tanker New Diamond off the coast of Sri Lanka in 2020, according to an official release.
Friday, May 29, 2026
Excl: Tamil Nadu steps up AI ambitions with Tamil-language model plans
C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
Tamil Nadu is exploring the development of large language models tailored for Tamil computing, while stepping up investments in graphics processing infrastructure and overseas academic partnerships as part of a wider push to position the state as a regional hub for artificial intelligence.
Pradeep Yadav, Additional Chief Secretary and secretary to the state’s newly expanded Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology and Digital Services department, said the government was working towards creating Tamil-language AI tools, datasets and digital public infrastructure amid rising global interest in vernacular AI ecosystems.
The initiative marks one of the clearest signals yet of the state’s ambition to build sovereign language AI capabilities at a time when policymakers across India are seeking to reduce dependence on English-centric models dominated by global technology companies.
“We are looking at tie-ups with many organisations, including the National University of Singapore,” Yadav told The New Indian Express. He added that the state-run Tamil Virtual Academy was already engaged in Tamil computing projects and would play a role in expanding Tamil-language AI resources.
The push comes as governments and technology firms increasingly recognise that the next phase of AI adoption in countries such as India will depend on the availability of models trained in regional languages for use in governance, education and public services.
Tamil Nadu is also seeking to strengthen its computing backbone to support the initiative. Yadav said the state already possessed GPU capacity and was exploring further investments to scale up AI infrastructure. Discussions are also under way with AI start-up Sarvam AI as part of the state’s broader strategy to deepen Tamil-language computing and indigenous AI capabilities.
Graphics Processing Units, or GPUs, are specialised processors capable of handling large-scale parallel computations and form the backbone of modern artificial intelligence systems. Originally designed for gaming and graphics applications, GPUs are now essential for training and deploying large language models because they process AI workloads significantly faster than conventional central processing units.
The state’s plans come even as Tamil Nadu has yet to formally implement the Union government’s National AI Mission, approved in 2024 with an outlay of about ₹10,300 crore. The programme aims to create large-scale GPU computing infrastructure, support Indian AI start-ups, develop indigenous large language models and build public AI datasets and platforms.
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writingonblog uncensored: Tamil Nadu eyes strategic role in India’s airborne...
writingonblog uncensored: Tamil Nadu eyes strategic role in India’s airborne...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu has sharpened its bid to emerge as a strategic hub in India’s next-generation aerospace and defence a...
Tamil Nadu eyes strategic role in India’s airborne warfare ecosystem
C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
Tamil Nadu has sharpened its bid to emerge as a strategic hub in India’s next-generation aerospace and defence architecture, leveraging the success of indigenous airborne surveillance platforms such as the Netra airborne early warning system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) to press for a larger share of the country’s high-value defence research and development infrastructure.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and pressed for the establishment of CABS in Tamil Nadu, as the state seeks a bigger role in India’s aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem.
During the meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in New Delhi, Vijay said discussions had been under way for the past few years with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on setting up the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Design and Development Centre and the Centre for Airborne Systems in Tamil Nadu. He specifically urged the Centre to locate the CABS facility in the state.
The renewed lobbying comes after key infrastructure linked to India’s proposed fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme was steered towards Andhra Pradesh, despite Tamil Nadu’s long-standing engagement with DRDO.
The latest push centres on the proposed expansion of CABS, the DRDO laboratory that serves as the lead integration agency for India’s airborne surveillance and electronic warfare systems, including the indigenous Netra airborne early warning and control aircraft.
Sources said Tamil Nadu is attempting to leverage its manufacturing base, electronics ecosystem and aviation infrastructure around Hosur and Chennai to attract future aerospace programmes linked to airborne surveillance, advanced radar systems and combat aircraft development.
The indigenous Netra Mk1 platform — developed by CABS, a DRDO lab for the Indian Air Force — has emerged as one of India’s most significant domestically developed airborne surveillance systems. Mounted on a Brazilian Embraer ERJ-145 jet, the aircraft functions as a flying command-and-control centre capable of tracking hostile aircraft, coordinating strike missions and enhancing battlefield awareness in real time.
The aircraft uses an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar mounted above the fuselage, giving it wide-area aerial surveillance capability. Sources said the platform can detect targets at ranges exceeding 250 km, while upgraded variants under development are expected to significantly enhance both range and coverage.
The push also comes as CABS plans to expand beyond its existing limited infrastructure, which currently caters to three aircraft, to support six Netra Mk1A and six Netra Mk2 aircraft. Tamil Nadu has been lobbying DRDO for several years to establish the expanded CABS facility in Hosur, according to official sources.
"Such a project would not only strengthen India’s air defence capability but also transform Tamil Nadu’s aerospace and defence ecosystem by generating high-technology jobs and deepening local manufacturing capability. They say Hosur could evolve into a defence and aviation hub similar to Bengaluru and Hyderabad, while also strengthening the supply chain for aerospace electronics, avionics and systems integration. Sources added that a single Netra Mk1 aircraft costs roughly ₹2,000 crore to build, underlining the scale of economic activity associated with the programme," sources said.
The Netra Mk1A is expected to substantially increase surveillance range, while the larger Netra Mk2 — planned on an Airbus A321 platform — aims to provide near-360-degree coverage with detection capability extending beyond 500 km. Tamil Nadu officials argue that Hosur is well positioned to host future aerospace and defence expansion because of its proximity to Bengaluru’s aerospace cluster, its existing electronics manufacturing base and its earlier association with DRDO flight-testing activity. The region previously hosted unmanned aerial vehicle test operations linked to DRDO’s Rustom programme.
Tamil Nadu has sharpened its bid to emerge as a strategic hub in India’s next-generation aerospace and defence architecture, leveraging the success of indigenous airborne surveillance platforms such as the Netra airborne early warning system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) to press for a larger share of the country’s high-value defence research and development infrastructure.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and pressed for the establishment of CABS in Tamil Nadu, as the state seeks a bigger role in India’s aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem.
During the meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in New Delhi, Vijay said discussions had been under way for the past few years with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on setting up the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Design and Development Centre and the Centre for Airborne Systems in Tamil Nadu. He specifically urged the Centre to locate the CABS facility in the state.
The renewed lobbying comes after key infrastructure linked to India’s proposed fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme was steered towards Andhra Pradesh, despite Tamil Nadu’s long-standing engagement with DRDO.
The latest push centres on the proposed expansion of CABS, the DRDO laboratory that serves as the lead integration agency for India’s airborne surveillance and electronic warfare systems, including the indigenous Netra airborne early warning and control aircraft.
Sources said Tamil Nadu is attempting to leverage its manufacturing base, electronics ecosystem and aviation infrastructure around Hosur and Chennai to attract future aerospace programmes linked to airborne surveillance, advanced radar systems and combat aircraft development.
The indigenous Netra Mk1 platform — developed by CABS, a DRDO lab for the Indian Air Force — has emerged as one of India’s most significant domestically developed airborne surveillance systems. Mounted on a Brazilian Embraer ERJ-145 jet, the aircraft functions as a flying command-and-control centre capable of tracking hostile aircraft, coordinating strike missions and enhancing battlefield awareness in real time.
The aircraft uses an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar mounted above the fuselage, giving it wide-area aerial surveillance capability. Sources said the platform can detect targets at ranges exceeding 250 km, while upgraded variants under development are expected to significantly enhance both range and coverage.
The push also comes as CABS plans to expand beyond its existing limited infrastructure, which currently caters to three aircraft, to support six Netra Mk1A and six Netra Mk2 aircraft. Tamil Nadu has been lobbying DRDO for several years to establish the expanded CABS facility in Hosur, according to official sources.
"Such a project would not only strengthen India’s air defence capability but also transform Tamil Nadu’s aerospace and defence ecosystem by generating high-technology jobs and deepening local manufacturing capability. They say Hosur could evolve into a defence and aviation hub similar to Bengaluru and Hyderabad, while also strengthening the supply chain for aerospace electronics, avionics and systems integration. Sources added that a single Netra Mk1 aircraft costs roughly ₹2,000 crore to build, underlining the scale of economic activity associated with the programme," sources said.
The Netra Mk1A is expected to substantially increase surveillance range, while the larger Netra Mk2 — planned on an Airbus A321 platform — aims to provide near-360-degree coverage with detection capability extending beyond 500 km. Tamil Nadu officials argue that Hosur is well positioned to host future aerospace and defence expansion because of its proximity to Bengaluru’s aerospace cluster, its existing electronics manufacturing base and its earlier association with DRDO flight-testing activity. The region previously hosted unmanned aerial vehicle test operations linked to DRDO’s Rustom programme.
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
writingonblog uncensored: Chennai airport plans second passenger terminal, c...
writingonblog uncensored: Chennai airport plans second passenger terminal, c...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to develop an additional passenger terminal and cargo infr...
Chennai airport plans second passenger terminal, cargo hub under expansion strategy on other side of runway
C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to develop an additional passenger terminal and cargo infrastructure on the other side of the runway at Chennai International Airport, while retaining the existing cargo terminal, signalling a broader long-term expansion strategy for the airport, according to Chennai Airport Director M Raja Kishore.
He was responding to a proposal from the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), which had suggested shifting cargo operations to the rear side of the airport campus as part of a logistics revamp and an alternative cargo access corridor from the Chennai Bypass.
Kishore said a complete relocation of cargo facilities was not operationally feasible because around 60 per cent of freight handled at Chennai airport moves as “belly cargo” in passenger aircraft.
“Cargo operations are not an independent activity. So shifting cargo operations completely to the other side is not fully viable,” he said in response to queries.
Instead, authorities are examining the possibility of creating an additional cargo hub on the rear side of the airport campus while continuing operations at the existing terminal, he added.
CUMTA had proposed a 5.2-km alternative road connectivity to improve cargo movement and suggested that relocating cargo facilities could free up land for apron expansion and potentially help the airport handle up to 35 million passengers in the future.
Kishore, however, said the projection linked to vacating the existing cargo terminal area was “not viable” under current operational requirements.
“As it is in the conceptual stage, approvals and junction connectivity with NHAI (NH-32), Adyar river flow management, and land acquisition, if any below the shadow region of the flyover, need to be assessed going forward, based on the outcome and decision of the Government of Tamil Nadu,” he added.
The proposal forms part of CUMTA’s proposed 10-year City Logistics Plan aimed at streamlining freight movement across the Chennai Metropolitan Area.
According to CUMTA officials, a significant share of Chennai’s commercial air cargo originates from western industrial clusters such as Thirumudivakkam and Irungattukottai. Under the proposal, closed-body trucks carrying cargo would move from the Outer Ring Road via Anakaputhur to the proposed cargo complex on the western side of the airport.
Sources said the proposed connector road is expected to handle 200-250 trucks carrying nearly 700 tonnes of air cargo daily.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to develop an additional passenger terminal and cargo infrastructure on the other side of the runway at Chennai International Airport, while retaining the existing cargo terminal, signalling a broader long-term expansion strategy for the airport, according to Chennai Airport Director M Raja Kishore.
He was responding to a proposal from the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), which had suggested shifting cargo operations to the rear side of the airport campus as part of a logistics revamp and an alternative cargo access corridor from the Chennai Bypass.
Kishore said a complete relocation of cargo facilities was not operationally feasible because around 60 per cent of freight handled at Chennai airport moves as “belly cargo” in passenger aircraft.
“Cargo operations are not an independent activity. So shifting cargo operations completely to the other side is not fully viable,” he said in response to queries.
Instead, authorities are examining the possibility of creating an additional cargo hub on the rear side of the airport campus while continuing operations at the existing terminal, he added.
CUMTA had proposed a 5.2-km alternative road connectivity to improve cargo movement and suggested that relocating cargo facilities could free up land for apron expansion and potentially help the airport handle up to 35 million passengers in the future.
Kishore, however, said the projection linked to vacating the existing cargo terminal area was “not viable” under current operational requirements.
“As it is in the conceptual stage, approvals and junction connectivity with NHAI (NH-32), Adyar river flow management, and land acquisition, if any below the shadow region of the flyover, need to be assessed going forward, based on the outcome and decision of the Government of Tamil Nadu,” he added.
The proposal forms part of CUMTA’s proposed 10-year City Logistics Plan aimed at streamlining freight movement across the Chennai Metropolitan Area.
According to CUMTA officials, a significant share of Chennai’s commercial air cargo originates from western industrial clusters such as Thirumudivakkam and Irungattukottai. Under the proposal, closed-body trucks carrying cargo would move from the Outer Ring Road via Anakaputhur to the proposed cargo complex on the western side of the airport.
Sources said the proposed connector road is expected to handle 200-250 trucks carrying nearly 700 tonnes of air cargo daily.
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