writingonblog uncensored: Reconsider 18% GST on FSI paid to local authoritie...

writingonblog uncensored: Reconsider 18% GST on FSI paid to local authoritie...: CHENNAI: The Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI) has urged the Union Finance minister Nirmala Sith...

Reconsider 18% GST on FSI paid to local authorities, plea by CREDAI to FM

CHENNAI:
The Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI) has urged the Union Finance minister Nirmala Sithraman to reconsider the proposition of charging 18% goods and service tax (GST) on Floor Space Index (FSI)/ Additional FSI charges paid to local authorities for real estate projects as it would push the housing prices by approximately 10% across various parts of the country.

In a letter addressed to the Finance Minister, CREDAI said this move would have a substantial incremental impact on project costs."Imposing GST on these charges, either retrospectively or prospectively, would also affect not just housing demand but also supply as it would raise significant economic and viability concerns," CREDAI said.

Already burdened by rising raw material costs, any such additional charges will make affordable housing projects economically unviable, potentially pushing the prices upwards by 7-10% and directly impacting the purchasing power of the middle-class segment – which constitutes 70% of total homebuyers. Additionally, Developers are also excluded from claiming Input Tax Credit (ITC) on GST and this move will further accrue costs and lead to double taxation, increasing prices as a direct consequence, CREDAI said in a statement.
 
CREDAI claimed that retrospective clarification of GST on such payments would burden Real Estate Developers with an enormous amount of unforeseen liabilities, disrupting the financial and cost planning of on-going and completed projects. "The resulting financial pressures could potentially lead to stalled developments and jeopardize the financial security of homebuyers invested in these projects. Even prospective application would substantially elevate construction costs, imposing additional financial burdens on end consumers and deteriorate housing affordability issues, hindering the collective mission towards ‘Housing for All’," the statement added.

Provision of FSI and levy of various charges and fees squarely fall within the functions envisaged in the twelfth schedule of the constitution thereby excluding the same from levy of GST, the statement added.

writingonblog uncensored: TN regulatory framework could result in 'White Lis...

writingonblog uncensored: TN regulatory framework could result in 'White Lis...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu could become one of the first states to have a white list of any online gaming sites after it comes wit...

TN regulatory framework could result in 'White List' for online games

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
Tamil Nadu could become one of the first states to have a white list of any online gaming sites after it comes with regulation to requlate pay-to-play money gaming in the state.

"Getting registered with the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA) is a kind of white list," according to Md  Nasimuddin Chairperson of TNOGA, which is coming out with a regulatory framework. Anuraag Saxena, CEO, of EGF, told The New Indian Express  that the gaming industry, with projections indicating the sector to grow from $3.1 billion to $8.92 billion in the next five years, is the lone industry which is pushing for enhanced regulation as there is no White List of gaming sites in the country.

Home to over 568 million gamers, making India the largest gaming market globally, the country still lacks a signalling mechanism for a player or person to understand which gaming platform is legitimate and which is not. However, sources in Meity said that the state is only coming out with legislation on betting and gambling which is a state subject. However, sources  did not elaborate over when the centre will be coming out with its ownm legislation to regulate online gaming.

"We need some reference book or manual or list, which a consumer can look up to and say, yes, this is a legitimate gaming operator, this is an illegitimate good. We do need some certification, licensing or whatever you want to call it. Funds and banks need to know which companies they can put money in safely. Larger ecosystem players, telecom companies, payment gateways and advertisers. Everybody needs to know," Saxena said.

Saxena said that because there is an absence of regulations or White list, EGF in partnership with Social and Media Matters is launching responsible agreement initiative in  across multiple states. The initiative rolled out interactive workshops across 30 colleges in five Indian states including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. The tailored workshop reiterates EGF’s commitment to player protection and addresses the rising need for responsible gaming literacy among young adults engaged in digital entertainment.

"While various stakeholders try and figure out how to help consumers, we thought we should do our bit because otherwise everybody seems to be batting up the wrong tree to be honest," said Saxena.

On the  growing addiction among the younsters and adults to online games, Saxena said that the awareness is required from the consumer's end. "Right. now, if you put a time or a money limit or whatever or an operator, the consumer will jump operators and go to some other operator. We need to build capability within a user, all the tools that are available to the user, so that problem gaming does not happen. So that they play responsibly, they play within a limit, they take breaks, he said.

Should there be a clamp that those below 16 should not play online games as was the social media ban for minors by Australian government, Saxena said that, "it is the government's responsibility to protect minors with whatever kind of predatory behavior, violence that could happen in games. On the other hand, we must recognize that we are a constitutional democracy. Right. So we cannot behave like a nanny state when it comes to adults, when it comes to grownups." Nasimuddin also clarified that TNOGA is not thinking of any such clamp on social media or gaming.

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai airport shuts ops for 7 hours

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai airport shuts ops for 7 hours:  Chennai airportC Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: Chennai Airport operations will be closed from 12.30pm to 7pm due crosswinds following Cyclone Fenga...

Chennai airport shuts ops for 7 hours

 Chennai airportC Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
Chennai Airport operations will be closed from 12.30pm to 7pm due crosswinds following Cyclone Fengal. The decision was taken following a meeting with top airport officials after the 11am weather bulletin was released by the metrology department.

"In view of Cyclonic Storm ‘Fengal’, Stakeholder Airlines have raised  a Safety concern due to estimated higher crosswinds as predicted by IMD ( above 35 knots). After stakeholders consultation it was decided by Airport Management to close down Airport Operations with effect from 1230 hours to 17pm," Chennai airport spokesperson said.

Flight schedules have been impacted with airlines diverting flights to other cities like Bengaluru, while Indigo Airline has temporarily stopped operations at Chennai airport due to bad weather.

Earlier, Indigo had informed that there will be no arrival and departure flights at Chennai Airport. They have temporarily stopped operations due to bad weather in Chennai.

Sources said that the Indigo flight from Abu Dhabi which was supposed to land at 8.10am was diverted to Bengaluru. Similarly, an Air India Express flight to Singapore was canceled due to technical issues.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Airlines from Chennai to Colombo which was set to depart at 9.40am has been cancelled for the day due to bad weather.  Many flights like those from Port Blair to Chennai and Delhi to chennai have been diverted to Bengaluru.

writingonblog uncensored: Nagapattinam Refinery awaiting final govt clearanc...

writingonblog uncensored: Nagapattinam Refinery awaiting final govt clearanc...:   CHENNAI: The proposed Nagapattinam refinery, envisioned as a joint venture between Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) and Indi...

Nagapattinam Refinery awaiting final govt clearances, says CPCL

 

CHENNAI:
The proposed Nagapattinam refinery, envisioned as a joint venture between Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) and Indian Oil, is set to be a game-changer as the state is keen to develop Petroleum Chemicals Petrochemical Investment Regions (PCPIRs), with Nagapattinam being a key focus, according to H Shankar, Managing director of CPCL.  

Speaking during Confederation of Indian Industry Tamil Nadu  organized Chemvision 2024 here on Friday, Shankar said with the basic configuration complete and awaiting final government clearances, this refinery is expected to serve as a cornerstone for the development of a thriving petrochemical ecosystem in the area.

He also said that with the polymer park alongside the refinery, will further enhance this vision, positioning the region as a major player in India’s petrochemical future.

"With a focus on transitioning from fuel-based to petrochemical production, CPCL is set to reduce import dependency and boost self-sufficiency, requiring significant investment and innovation. Collaboration with academia will be key to fostering advancements, bridging research and application, and promoting sustainable practices in the industry," Shankar added.

"The Indian Chemical Council estimates that India's chemical industry, which was around $170 to $180 billion in 2021, contributing around 5% of India's GDP, is expected to grow to around $310 billion by 2027 and $1 trillion by 2040,"  said Ramkumar Shankar, managing director, ChemplastSanmar Ltd.

Tamil Nadu’s industrial ecosystem stands out as a balanced and inclusive model, with diverse contributions from manufacturing, services, and agriculture. The State’s chemical industry is poised to play a pivotal role in India's journey toward becoming a global chemical powerhouse, he added.

D Sneha, Executive Director, SIPCOT,  highlighted the role of Sipcot in shaping Tamil Nadu's industrial landscape by fostering robust ecosystems tailored to industry needs. The conference had four panel discussions on investment opportunities and infrastructure advantages for the chemical sector in Tamil Nadu.

writingonblog uncensored: Union govt wants swift resolution of Samsung labou...

writingonblog uncensored: Union govt wants swift resolution of Samsung labou...: CHENNAI: Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has written to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and urged swift resolution of workers' str...

Union govt wants swift resolution of Samsung labour row; TN says efforts are on; Samsungs wants to resolve issue directly with workers

CHENNAI:

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has written to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and urged swift resolution of workers' strike at the Sriperumbudur plant of Samsung Electronics, a source said.

The minister has urged the state government to intervene for an early and amicable resolution in order to maintain a positive manufacturing sector ecosystem, the source said. Government sources told The New indian Express that the government is in touch with both the parties and hoping to resolve the issue in a week.

When The New Indian Express contacted a labour department official, he said, "Efforts are being taken through the conciliation process, which is going on."

Meanwhile, Samsung on Wednesday said it is committed to resolving all issues including wages, benefits and working conditions by negotiating with workers directly, and urged them to return back to work at the earliest.

"At Samsung India, the welfare of our employees is our top priority. The average monthly salary of our full-time manufacturing workers at the Chennai plant is 1.8 times the average salary of similar workers employed at other companies in the region. Our workers are also eligible for overtime pay and other allowances and we provide a workplace environment that assures the highest standards of health, safety and welfare, including free shuttle bus and meals," a release stated.
 
"In addition, at our Chennai factory, full-time employees make up the majority of our total workforce, which we believe is the highest level compared with other manufacturers in the region. Moreover, the average tenure of our manufacturing workforce," according to the statement.

--

writingonblog uncensored: Rosatomflot’s icebreaker escorted the largest cont...

writingonblog uncensored: Rosatomflot’s icebreaker escorted the largest cont...: ( The main task of the ice escort was to ensure safe passage of ships through solid ice) Chennai: The Rosatomflot’s nuclear icebreaker Ura...

Rosatomflot’s icebreaker escorted the largest container ship in the North Sea route history

(The main task of the ice escort was to ensure safe passage of ships through solid ice)

Chennai:

TheRosatomflot’s nuclear icebreaker Ural escorted a convoy of two vessels including the bulk carrier Smoke and the large container ship NewNewStar (with a container capacity of 3,534 TEU) in the East Siberian Sea on September 6. 

 

For the first time, a container ship having these dimensions (length: 231 meters, width: 32 meters) entered the waters of the Northern Sea Route.

The icebreaker Ural began escorting the ships at the eastern edge of the Chukchi Sea ice and completed its task at the western edge of the East Siberian Sea ice. The main goal of the icebreaker assistance was to ensure safe passage of the ships through the solid ice bridge. Having completed the passage, the container ship NewNew Star headed towards the port of St. Petersburg and the bulk carrier Smoke headed towards the port of Murmansk without assistance.

"The Northern Sea Route is enjoying increasing popularity among cargo carriers these days. The crews of the nuclear icebreaker Ural and the convoy vessels showed effective teamwork and professionalism which ensured safe passage through solid ice and maintained service speed of the vessels," commented Andrey Tenitsky, Advisor to Director General of Atomflot.

The icebreaker escorted the ships on the route of 150 nautical miles with an average speed of 12 knots.

writingonblog uncensored: CMRL seeks funds borrowed from external agencies f...

writingonblog uncensored: CMRL seeks funds borrowed from external agencies f...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: Chennai Metro Rail is facing fund crunch to complete the works under Rs 63,246 crore Phase II project as the funds...

CMRL seeks funds borrowed from external agencies for Phase-II routed through Centre as state has limitation on funding

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
Chennai Metro Rail is facing fund crunch to complete the works under Rs 63,246 crore Phase II project as the funds are routed through the state, which has restriction on borrowing.

The Special Purpose Vehicle Chennai Metro Rail is a joint venture company and funds were flowing directly from the Centre for the project. But after it was considered as a state project, the external borrowings are routed through the state which has restriction to spend under FRBM rules.

This has resulted in Chennai Metro Rail urging the Department of Economic Affairs to reconsider the project as a Central project work out with revised loan agreements with the multilateral agencies which will result in availing the funds without any constraint and the project will be able to gain the speed.

It is learnt from sources that there are concerns about availability of funds when the project is under State sector since there are FRBM restrictions for release of funds by State Government even though funding from external financing agencies have been tied up.  If the project is under Central Sector, fund flow of external loans is assured.  Further, for maintaining healthy debt equity ratio in its balance sheet, CMRL needs equity participation by both Union and State Governments.

In 2018 when Chennai Metro got the fund from Japan International Cooperation Agency's (JICA) modified Special Terms of Economic Partnership (STEP) without linking the same to the sanction of Union government. This was due to insistence of JICA which was keen on signing the agreement during the financial year of 2018-19. The loan was then taken as state loan through the state budget after Union Housing Ministry recommended the proposal for consideration of Department of Economic Affairs.

Earlier, Nirmala Sitharaman has hit out at the state government blaming the Centre for insufficient funds, asserting that the central government had arranged the required loan and the state has under-utilised the funds.

Chennai Metro Rail has till now spent Rs 18,500 crore for Phase-II of Chennai Metro projects. Of this it has 5,800 crore crore has been reimbursed from the lending agencies and another Rs 1,000 crore will be reimbursed in the next couple of months. Similarly, Rs 11,000 is funded directly by the state government, sources said.

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai-based opto chipmaker to invest $16.5m to h...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai-based opto chipmaker to invest $16.5m to h...: (Eswara Rao Nandanam, managing director and chief executive officer of Polymatech displaying sapphire which is used in Semiconductor chips) ...

Chennai-based opto chipmaker to invest $16.5m to help raise crops in polyhouses in Bahrain

(Eswara Rao Nandanam, managing director and chief executive officer of Polymatech displaying sapphire which is used in Semiconductor chips)

CHENNAI:In a bid to provide food security in Central Asia and North Africa, Chennai based opto Semiconductor chipmaker Polymatech is planning to set up op Semiconductor assembly  plant in Bahrain worth $16.5m million which would result in raising crops in the Middle East and the North Africa (MENA) region.
The Mena region has been totally reliant on food imports and the investment would help the region grow their own vegetables using the light emitting semiconductors. Apart from that the focus will be on medical electronics, including eye surgery, laparoscopy, vein finder.

Eswara Rao Nandanam, managing director and chief executive officer of Polymatech, said that his company has vowed to spend over $100 million in Bharain by 2027. The facility which is to be established under the brand name Atri, will also be producing 5G and 6G components. "Initially, we will be producing horticulture and medical devices chips," he said.

Nandanam said that the soil of Bahrain doesn't allow the growth of plants in the arid region. With our technology, the vegetables grown on cocopeat and hydroponics would be using the light generated by the opto semiconductor chips using sapphire wafers. When queried why not the sunlight available in the region, Nandam, who has come out with a ultraviolet technology to sanitise hospitals in Chennai, said that, "the ozone is different in different locations and the intensity sunlight will also be different that is why we are using the polyhouses," he said.

This would result in production of mushrooms and all kinds of vegetables in polyhouses, which the MENA countries have been depending on imports. Apart from this there will be fish farming and aquaculture. He said this would also improve the growth of poultry chicken by generating more flesh in them and all this could happen by using the lights emitted using the sapphire wafer chips which are thinner than the hair.

Nandam, who is helping the state government by providing 'infrared vein lighting' which helps in detecting the veins in the patient, said the facility will be set up in 25,000 square feet of Bahrain’s Industrial Area of Hidd which could be expanded to 100,000 square feet. The plant will be opened in October.

Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of Bahrain Economic Development Board, said, "Polymatech establishing a semiconductor facility in Bahrain is a pivotal milestone on this journey of digital transformation and is set to usher in a new era of innovation and technological advancement across sectors, contributing significantly to the national economy."

The company is qlso planning to invest Rs 1,000 crore to expand its operations in Chennai in the year 2024 and 2025, where it is doing packaging of semiconductors. The investment is ongoing. This would result in increasing the capacity from 2 million chips a year to 5 million chips a year.

writingonblog uncensored: writingonblog uncensored: TN starts tech trial run...

writingonblog uncensored: writingonblog uncensored: TN starts tech trial run...: writingonblog uncensored: TN starts tech trial run of EVs to upgrade five st... : CHENNAI: National Highways for Electric Vehicles (NHEV) u...

writingonblog uncensored: TN starts tech trial run of EVs to upgrade five st...

writingonblog uncensored: TN starts tech trial run of EVs to upgrade five st...: CHENNAI: National Highways for Electric Vehicles (NHEV) under its Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) program started the 3rd Tech Trial Run of ...

TN starts tech trial run of EVs to upgrade five state highwaysto e-highways

CHENNAI:
National Highways for Electric Vehicles (NHEV) under its Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) program started the 3rd Tech Trial Run of Electric Vehicles for upgrading five of Tamil Nadu's highways into e-highways.

The trial covers a 332 km stretch from Chennai to Trichy including electric, hydrogen, and zero-emission freight vehicles for the first time, in addition to electric SUVs and buses tested in previous trials. The flag-off ceremony was held on Monday at Chennai Trade Centre here to mark the World Electric Vehicle Day, The event  was attended by Dr P Alarmelmangai, Executive Director, Guidance Tamil Nadu and also officials from Startup TN along with several industry partners.

The deployment of Zero-Emission Trucks (ZET), hydrogen, and electric freight vehicles along the route will provide stakeholders, including users, financiers, and manufacturers with critical insights to facilitate informed decisions on immediate vehicle deployment. Key factors under assessment include the cost efficiency of electric versus diesel and hydrogen vehicles, the total cost of ownership for a fleet of electric buses or trucks, the breakeven period for investment recovery, and the costs associated with upgrading e-highway infrastructure.

The Tech Trial 3 focuses on five key routes --- Trichy to Chennai, Trichy to Madurai, Coimbatore to Ulundurpet, Kishnagiri to Madurai, and Madurai to Kanyakumari. Data from a technical trial will be used to determine the optimal locations for charging stations, their required frequency, associated costs, and the overall investment needed to upgrade these highways into e-highways.

The project aims to reduce logistics costs in India from 14% to 9%. Trucking significantly contributes to these costs, and Tamil Nadu's progress in cutting logistics expenses could serve as a model for other states. The focus will be on decarbonizing the trucking industry and transitioning to zero-emission trucking, says Abhijit Sinha, Program Director at NHEV. Despite their lower operating costs compared to diesel, hydrogen and electric trucks are not yet available for business use. This trial seeks to gather real-time data to support their initial pilot deployment, similar to the earlier e-mobility pilot project under the Ease of Doing Business program for electric buses and SUVs, he added.

Tamil Nadu has been chosen after a very extensive exercise to understand what it brings to the table. It has a position in the Indian economy as an economy that is poised to become a one-trillion-dollar economy. Second, it has a place in the Indian logistics sector. It serves as a hub for automobiles, logistics, and trucking in the southern part of India. It sends and receives huge amounts of goods. It also has a large number of industries, component partners, steel and cement manufacturers, and many other manufacturing units in this part of India, Sinha said.

National Highways for Electric Vehicles (NHEV) is a pilot program adopted by Govt of India; initially supported by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to upgrade highways into E-Highways

writingonblog uncensored: TAMCOE to upgrade facility for 3D printing and pri...

writingonblog uncensored: TAMCOE to upgrade facility for 3D printing and pri...: CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Advance Manufacturing Centre of Excellence (TAMCOE) is likely to upgrade its facility for 3D designing and printing of...

TAMCOE to upgrade facility for 3D printing and printing of medical grade products

CHENNAI:
Tamil Nadu Advance Manufacturing Centre of Excellence (TAMCOE) is likely to upgrade its facility for 3D designing and printing of medical grade products, according to official sources

The upgraded facility will offer design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) expertise to healthcare institutions and manufacturers, support joint research and development projects on additive manufacturing as well as providing contract manufacturing services for patient-specific implants.

The facility is being upgraded as TAMCOE has identified huge opportunities and applications in healthcare. Sources said that Tamil Nadu, being the healthcare capital and an epicentre for healthcare revolution, with the highest number of medical colleges in India and the engineering talent, is the right place to kindle and support Innovation in Healthcare technology.

Tamil Nadu Advance Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, which was established in November, 2022, by Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) in association with GE Aerospace at a cost of Rs 141.26 Crores, was focusing on aviation, medical devices, and automotive precision components.

It is learnt that TAMCOE is seeking the support of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India for the upgradation.

Sources said that a stakeholder meeting was held on Thursday with participation from Academia like Aarupadai Veedu Institute of Technology (AVIT), Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS); Top Hospitals like Kauvery Hospitals, Rela hospital; MSMEs, Startups, Industries like Gesco, Systems Integration Specialist Company (SISCO) etc; Industry Associations like Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its Healthcare working group, TANSTIA, TIEMA; Incubators like IIT Madras Research Park among others.

Hitendra Sahu, the Director of department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India, interacted with the stakeholder participants. Sandeep Nanduri, managing director of Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), B Krishnamoorthi managing director of TAMCOE and Dr K. Senthil Raj, managing director of SIPCOT were also present at the stakeholder meeting.

writingonblog uncensored: TN investment conclave in San Francisco woos Rs 90...

writingonblog uncensored: TN investment conclave in San Francisco woos Rs 90...: CHENNAI: In a bid to generate high-end jobs for the youth, Tamil Nadu government signed memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with six leading...

TN investment conclave in San Francisco woos Rs 900 crore investments; 4,100 jobs

CHENNAI:

In a bid to generate high-end jobs for the youth, Tamil Nadu government signed memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with six leading industries namely Nokia, PayPal, Yield Engineering Systems, Microchip Technology, Infinx Healthcare and Applied Materials with an investment of Rs.900 crore providing jobs to 4,100 people in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai during the investment conclave held at San Francisco on Thursday.  The MoUs were signed before Chief Minister M K Stalin, who is on a visit to San Francisco and Chicago to woo investments to the state.

 

Nokia, a Finnish multinational telecommunications, information technology and consumer electronics company, will be setting up world’s largest fixed network testing facility with a new research and development facility at Siruseri, SIPCOT at an investment of Rs 450 crore thereby generating jobs to 100 persons. The MoU was signed on behalf of Nokia by Nishant Batra, Chief Strategy and Technology Officer, and Chandy Modley, President of Fixed Network Business Group. Nokia has set up an International Distribution Centre and Manufacturing Centre in Chennai.

 

Similarly, Yield Engineering Systems Limited signed a memorandum of understanding for setting up a Product development and manufacturing facility for semiconductor equipment at Sulur, Coimbatore with an investment of Rs.150 crore generating employment to 300 persons. he MoU event was attended by Ramakant Alapathy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Prabhat Mishra, Chief Financial Officer,  Yield Engineering Systems.

 

Yield Engineering Systems, a leading provider of technology solutions and process equipment for the semiconductor ecosystem, is having its headquarters in Fremont, California, in the United States. In Tamil Nadu, the Company has established an Engineering Centre at Coimbatore.

 

The state also signed a MoU with Microchip Technology, is a leading semiconductor supplier of smart, connected, and secure embedded control solutions for a wide variety of applications (5G, EVs, IOT, data centers, etc.), for setting up research and development centre in Semiconductor Technology at Chennai with an investment of Rs 250 crore generating jobs for 1500 persons.  Microchip and the Government of Tamil Nadu in the presence of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for setting up a R&D Centre in Semiconductor Technology at Chennai with an investment of Rs.250 crore generating employment for 1500 persons.

 

The MoU event was attended by Patrick Johnson, Senior Corporate Vice President and Bruce Weyer, Corporate Vice President, Microchip Technology. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip has multiple manufacturing facilities in US, China, Thailand and South Korea. The company is one of the Fortune 500 companies.

 

Similarly, Infinx Healthcare, a healthcare technology company headquartered in San Jose, California, signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a Technology and Global Delivery Centre at ELCOT, Madurai with an investment of Rs 50 crore generating employment to 700 persons. The company identified the office location in July last year to set up its business in Tamil Nadu. Radhika Tandon, Chief Marketing Officer, Infinx Healthcare signed the MoU.

 

The state government also signed a MoU with Applied Materials, the world's largest semiconductor and display equipment company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, for setting up an Advanced Artificial Intelligence Enabled Technology Development Centre for semiconductor manufacturing and equipment at Taramani, Chennai with a potential employment generation to 500 persons. It is one of the Fortune 500 companies with operations in 150 cities across 24 countries worldwide. In Tamil Nadu, Applied Materials has established Sales, Service and Field Support facilities in Chennai and Service & Field Support facilities in Coimbatore.

 

The event was attended by Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa, state Industries secretary V. Arun Roy, Guidance Tamil Nadu managing director V Vishnu, Consul General of San Francisco Srikar Reddy  and other senior officials of the Government.

 

writingonblog uncensored: Senior IRS official made to run pillar to post aft...

writingonblog uncensored: Senior IRS official made to run pillar to post aft...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: A senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the rank of Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, who retired...

Senior IRS official made to run pillar to post after Cops refuse to register FIR without prior approval of Chennai Police commissioner

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
A senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the rank of Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, who retired on July 31 this year, has been made to run from pillar to post to register an FIR after he was cheated of Rs 4.6 lakh from his bank account through online fraud on August 4, 2024. The primary reason being the police Inspector, who was required to register the complaint at Chintadripet Police Station on August 7, insisted on him getting the prior approval of the Chennai Police Commissioner A Arun.

DN Kar told The New Indian Express that a total of Rs 4.6 lakh was swindled from his account after he recieved a malicious SMS on his mobile phone pertaining to SBI Yono Netbanking reward points. The former Income Tax officer mistakenly clicked on the link, which took him to a bank's mirror image site and his personal details were stolen from there. Unaware that he clicked on a dubious link, he found that four debit transactions -- Rs 69874, Rs 98879, Rs 55986 and Rs 235467 were made from his bank account within a space of two hours.

He immediately called SBI's helpline number, got his bank account and internet banking facility locked. He also registered a complaint with Central Cybercrime Helpline 1930 and uploaded the complaint on Central government's cyber crime portal. As a result of this swift action, three transactions were reverted back to his bank account. But, State Bank of India and message from Central government Cybercrime portal informed the officer that a FIR is required to be filed for the fourth bank transaction worth Rs 2.35 lakh.

Accordingly, on August 7, he had asked one of the inspectors of Income Tax department to file an FIR at the Chintadripet Police Station along with all the required documents. The complaint papers were taken by the staff of the police station but they refused to give any acknowledgement. The concerned official also refused to share his name or number. "I kept on reminding the police officials to provide the FIR number and copy but they had yet to file any FIR. Later, I came to know that the FIR will only be filed after the police commissioner gives his prior nod, even though there is no requirement under any law including section 154 of the newly introduced Bahartiya Nagarik Sakshya Sanhita (BNSS), " he said.

After several reminders, including messages sent to Chennai Police Commissioner, Kar, later approached Director General of Police Shankar Jiwal, who intervened, and the FIR was filed at the Chetpet Police station by the police officials on Wednesday (August 14).

Interestingly, The New Indian Express accessed the circular dated July 22, signed by Police Commissioner, which stated that cases pertaining to cheating or criminal breach of trust or missappropriation, forgery, immovable property frauds or grabbing, cyber crimes, should be brought to his knowledge before filing CSR  or FIR. The commissioner's concurrence should be obtained either through phone or note.

Police sources said that this circular has resulted in delaying FIRs as several cases pertaining to these crimes have been pending at the Commissioner of Police office. When TNIE contacted the Police commissioner, he said there is no need for registering a FIR in cybercrime in cases such as these. One can approach 1930 (Cybercrime Helpline) and the amount can be secured. Only cases pertaining to data theft, FIRs are being filed.

"Regarding cases pertaining to cheating or criminal breach of trust or missappropriation, forgery, immovable property frauds or grabbing, the instructions to take prior approval were given to cut down on Katta panchayats," the police officer said. When told the FIR has been sought by the SBI to proceed against the cybercrime case, the police officer said that the banks may not be aware of the cybercrime provisions regarding FIRs pertaining to such cases.

"The regular FIR is to be filed after registering complaints on 1930 Helpline and Central Cybercrime portal for the unrecovered amount which stands withdrawn from the banking channel. Therefore, timely filing of FIR is essential as any delay doesn’t help the victims of cybercrime, but delay only helps the perpetrators," said Kar when informed about the circular.

"The Commissioner's circular is violative of Section 154 relating to Registration of First Information Report (FIR) mentioned in BNSS, 2023. The police must register a First Information Report (FIR) upon receiving information about a cognizable offence and cannot refuse to register an FIR without a valid reason.
This section aligns with the Supreme Court's ruling in Lalita Kumari versus. State of Uttar Pradesh, which mandates FIR registration upon receiving credible information about a cognizable offence, said Kar. The Madras High Court should take suo moto cognisance of this illegal circular issued by the commissione, he added.

Additional Director General of Police Cyber Crime Wing Dr Sandeep Mittal said that a Madras High Court circular has clearly stated not to insist on FIRs after the crime gets registered in the porta or through the Helpline 1930. Contacting 1930 immediately is the first line of action by victim against financial cyber frauds. Golden hour is lost in case of even slight delay, he said.

"Judicial magistrates are directed not to insist on Separate FIRs being registered on the basis of an application filed under Section 457 criminal procedure code in matters or complaint which have been registered in the National cyber Crime Portal," according to the circular.  The decision was taken as the police was recieving more than 100 complaints each day pertaining to Cyber crimes and it was difficult to register FIRs on all of them. "We had shared the circular with the banks but since the nodal officers keep on changing, they insist on a FIR," Mittal said while highlighting why FIR is not required for cybercrimes. He said that FIR was filed in the case pertaining to the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax.

writingonblog uncensored: Funskool manufactures Catan Board game in India

writingonblog uncensored: Funskool manufactures Catan Board game in India:  Chennai: Funskool India Ltd., leading toy manufacturer, adds yet another blockbuster to their growing list of international-licensed board ...

Funskool manufactures Catan Board game in India

 Chennai:
Funskool India Ltd., leading toy manufacturer, adds yet another blockbuster to their growing list of international-licensed board games, by acquiring the rights from Asmodee to manufacture and distribute one of the world’s most popular board game CATAN®.  

Asmodee, a leading entertainment company specializing in tabletop games, sold over 110 Million games and accessories in over 50 countries this past year while also recording a sale of over 45 million units of Catan in 40+ languages, worldwide.

CATAN is a powerful, universal story of the quest to explore the world, to discover, trade and build. Rooted in strategy and exploration, it’s all about mastering the variable landscapes

CATAN’s story is rooted in values, history, mystery and mysticism. Guarding nature’s core secrets, it invites virtually limitless exploration.

The best part about the domestically-made CATAN game is that it comes at a special price of Rs 3499 in the hands of more players in India. Additionally, any English language CATAN expansions can be used with it, a release stated.

writingonblog uncensored: Audi India launches the new Audi Q8 - bolsters Q r...

writingonblog uncensored: Audi India launches the new Audi Q8 - bolsters Q r...:  Chennai: Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer, has announced the launch of the new Audi Q8 in India. The new Audi Q8 is a perfect fusio...

Audi India launches the new Audi Q8 - bolsters Q range offering

 Chennai:
Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer, has announced the launch of the new Audi Q8 in India. The new Audi Q8 is a perfect fusion of dynamic sportiness and refined elegance where every detail embodies sophistication and power. The short overhangs and long wheelbase lend a stance that’s as dynamic as it is elegant. The design is an interplay of clear volumes and crisp details that have been further enhanced on this fully-loaded, new Audi Q8.

The new Audi Q8 is available in India at a starting price of Rs 1.17 crore ex-showroom.

Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head of Audi India said, “The new Audi Q8 sits right at the top of our Q-range, embodying the brands unwavering commitment to progress through technology. This launch not only reinforces our dedication to the Indian market, but also our promise to continually exceed the expectations of luxury car enthusiasts and our customers. With its striking new design, cutting-edge technology, and unmatched performance, we are confident the new Audi Q8 will excite our customers who seek nothing but the best.”

 In addition to the launch of the new Audi Q8, Audi India is also celebrating a momentous occasion of selling 100,000 cars in India, in just over fifteen years. To commemorate this milestone, the brand has a 100-day celebration benefit for Audi customers – this includes loyalty benefits on any purchase, service plans, Extended Warranty, Audi Genuine Accessories, Audi Genuine Merchandise and Collections and attractive corporate and trade-in benefits.

writingonblog uncensored: IndoSpace to launch two new industrial & logistics...

writingonblog uncensored: IndoSpace to launch two new industrial & logistics...:  Bengaluru: IndoSpace, India’s leading developer of Grade A industrial and logistics real estate, announced two new hubs in Karnataka at an ...

IndoSpace to launch two new industrial & logistics parks in Karnataka

 Bengaluru:
IndoSpace, India’s leading developer of Grade A industrial and logistics real estate, announced two new hubs in Karnataka at an investment of Rs. 580 crores. Spread over 75+ acres, they will cater to a range of industries, from automobiles, engineering, and electronics, as well as Third Party Logistics (3PL) operators.

These two new parks are fulfilment of a commitment by IndoSpace in a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Karnataka government. The MoU envisaged an investment of Rs. 3,000 crores in the logistics sector in Karnataka.

IndoSpace Nelamangala II logistics park envisages an investment of Rs. 240 crores and spans over 35+ acres. The park is strategically positioned along the Bengaluru-Mumbai highway (NH48), and is set to enhance the region’s industrial capabilities, providing top-tier facilities for companies in diverse sectors.

IndoSpace Narasapura II, with an investment of Rs. 340 crore is spread across 40+ acres, and situated off Old Madras Road, (NH 75), with proximity to major industrial hubs like Vemgal, Malur, and Hoskote. The park is designed to offer a state-of-the-art infrastructure to meet the demands of
manufacturers from diverse industries.

IndoSpace already has three operational logistics parks in Karnataka. IndoSpace Nelamangala I is spread over 16 acres, IndoSpace Bommasandra, on the new Bengaluru - Chennai highway spans 5.4 acres; and Narasapura I is spread over 64 acres.

Rajesh Jaggi, Vice Chairman, Real Estate, The Everstone Group, said, "We are excited to be an integral part of Karnataka’s industrial growth story with our strategically located, well-connected logistics parks. Our investment of over Rs. 580 crores in these two new state-of-the-art parks spread over 75+ acres in Karnataka, we continue to scout for more opportunities to serve this state’s and India’s economy.”

writingonblog uncensored: Dabur to invest Rs 400 crore by setting up manufac...

writingonblog uncensored: Dabur to invest Rs 400 crore by setting up manufac...: CHENNAI: Dabur, one of India's leading FMCG giants, will be investing Rs 400 crore to set up world-class manufacturing plant, their fi...

writingonblog uncensored: Vacant Fintech plot acquired by Axis Commercial Re...

writingonblog uncensored: Vacant Fintech plot acquired by Axis Commercial Re...: CHENNAI: After Tamil nadu Industrial Development Corporation e-auctioned two vacant plots in Fintech city in Nandambakkam for development o...

Dabur to invest Rs 400 crore by setting up manufacturing plant in Tindivanam

CHENNAI:
Dabur, one of India's leading FMCG giants, will be investing Rs 400 crore to set up world-class manufacturing plant, their first ever in South India, at the Sipcot Food Park in Tindivanam, Villupuram district.

The memorandum of understanding was signed in the presence of Chief Minister M K Stalin by Guidance Tamil Nadu represented by its Managing Director Vishnu and Dabur India CEO Mohit Malhotra on Thursday. The facility will generate 250 plus jobs. 

Industries Minister TRB Rajaa and Chief Secretary N Muruganandam were also present on the occasion.

Rajaa tweeted in 'X' (earlier Twitter) that the plant will open up new opportunities for farmers in the nearby delta region to sell agro produce to be processed in this facility. 

The minister said that Dabur's decision to choose Tamil Nadu is a testament to the state's thriving industrial ecosystem and availability of a work-ready labour force.

This comes after Dabur India's board in January had approved an investment of Rs 135 crore for setting up a new facility in South India, which will manufacture a range of its Ayurvedic Healthcare, Personal care and Home Care products like Dabur Honey, Dabur Red Paste and Odonil air fresheners.

"This investment will allow us to better serve the growing demand for our products in South India and strengthen our market presence in the region. We look forward to contributing to Tamil Nadu's economic development by creating jobs and working closely with local vendors and supplier partners," Dabur India Chief Executive Officer Mohit Malhotra said in a statement.

The new facility will be designed with a focus on energy conservation in both its construction and operations, the statement from Dabur said.

Dabur India is one of India's leading FMCG Companies and its portfolio includes Power Brands such as Dabur Chyawanprash, Dabur Honey, Dabur Honitus, Dabur Pudin Hara and Dabur Lal Tail.

Vacant Fintech plot acquired by Axis Commercial Real Estate fund for Rs 75 crore

CHENNAI:

After Tamil nadu Industrial Development Corporation e-auctioned two vacant plots in Fintech city in Nandambakkam for development of BFSI/Fintech related GCCs, one of them was acquired by Axis Commercial Real Estate Fund (the Fund) for around Rs 75 crore.

Axis Asset Management Company Limited (Axis AMC) and Tishman Speyer made the announcement that Axis Commercial Real Estate Fund acquired the plot for a cost of Rs 50 crore per acre.

The acquisition was made through a bid cum e-auction process conducted by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO). This marks the inaugural investment from the Axis Commercial Real Estate Fund, a Category II AIF that concluded its fundraising in June 2024 with a corpus of approximately Rs 550 crore.

The acquired 1.5-acre plot in Chennai will be transformed into a sustainable, around 4 lakh square foot Grade A office building within the next three years, approximately. Tishman Speyer is the exclusive development manager and will manage design, development, leasing and property management.

The Fund employs a distinctive strategy of participating in the development phase of commercial real estate projects through a strategic alliance with Tishman Speyer, a global developer, owner, and operator of premier real estate. The fund's focus is on investing primarily in early-stage or green-field commercial real estate projects across eight key markets, with the goal of creating top-tier office spaces to attract leading tenants.

Chetan Shah, Head – Real Estate, Axis AMC said, “Chennai investment is the epitome of the fund strategy; wherein a clear titled land parcel supported by single window clearance for approvals at city centric location has been acquired in a transparent manner by the fund. The fund is completely aligned and will seek to benefit from TIDCO’s vision and strategy of the Fintech City.”

It is learnt that two adjacent land parcels, totalling 3 acres, in the master-planned development of Fintech City's South Phase is proposed to be used for development of GCCs. TIDCO has invited BFSI and Fintech companies, GCCs and real estate developers (end usage for BFSI/Fintech companies) to participate in this e-auction, offering an unparalleled chance to be part of an integrated city with established infrastructure. The plots on offer, S15 and S16, each 1.5 acres, are part of a multiple-use zone suitable for office, residential, and hospitality developments, with no further reclassification required. The land is encumbrance-free, with a 99-year lease period, and all clearances will be processed through a single-window system.

Fintech City, spanning 111.4 acres, represents a strategic investment of ₹12,000 crores, aiming to create 150,000 jobs upon full operation.

writingonblog uncensored: Aptiv expands Oragadam plant by investing $45m for...

writingonblog uncensored: Aptiv expands Oragadam plant by investing $45m for...: CHENNAI: Aptiv, a leading global technology company focused on making mobility safer, greener, and more connected, on Tuesday expanded its m...

Aptiv expands Oragadam plant by investing $45m for transition towards 'software defined vehicles'

CHENNAI:
Aptiv, a leading global technology company focused on making mobility safer, greener, and more connected, on Tuesday expanded its manufacturing facility in Oragadan here by investing more than $45 million in the next couple of months to provide automotive manufacturers with software-defined cockpit solutions.

Matthew Cole, Aptiv’s Senior Vice President and President of Advanced Safety and User Experience (AS&UX) told The New Indian Express that this marks the transformation of the automotive industry towards the software defined vehicle in India.

Software-defined vehicles" apparently refers to the state that the quantity and value of software (including electronic hardware) in a vehicle which exceeds that of the mechanical hardware; furthermore, it reflects the gradual transformation of automobiles from highly electromechanical terminals to intelligent, expandable mobile electronic terminals that can be continuously upgraded.

The expanded plant with nearly 220,000 square feet will produce cutting-edge cockpit control systems and will scale up to include advanced safety and user experience features such as radars, cameras, and next-generation electronic control units for India and global markets, said Cole. He said the software is designed, architected andf manufactured in India. Stating that Aptiv, which has been in india for the last 30 years, will be doubling the headcount of its employees. He said that most of the investm,ent has already been made in the plant.

He said Aptilv helped the transition to electric vehicles in India mainly with OEMs Mahindra and MG and now we are seeing a transformation towards software defined vehicles.The product was designed in the Bengaluru technical centre. The company has 13,000 employees, seven manufacturing centres and three technical centres in India.

Cole said that initially the focus is on the domestic market and talks are on with OEMs. But he did not rule out exports at a later stage.

“From our plant in Chennai, we are already supplying high-quality components, such as integrated body control modules (iBCM) to the key automakers in the country,” said Arun Devaraj, Vice President and Managing Director, AS&UX APAC (Non-China), Aptiv.
    

writingonblog uncensored: Geo-AI Blue Carbon Programme to measure carbon seq...

writingonblog uncensored: Geo-AI Blue Carbon Programme to measure carbon seq...: EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thaiga Rajan on Wednesday la...

Geo-AI Blue Carbon Programme to measure carbon sequestration in mangroves launched

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thaiga Rajan on Wednesday launched Geo-AI Blue Carbon Programme of MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), which utilizes geospatial technology and artificial intelligence to enhance blue carbon ecosystems.

This is a collaboration between MSSRF and Microsoft to deploy this cutting-edge technology to map mangroves along the coast of Tamil Nadu. The project aims to transform the measurement of carbon sequestration in mangroves, seagrasses and salt marshes along the Tamil nadu coast by leveraging advanced GeoAI technologies.

The project would focus on drone based imaging of coastal areas of the state,  Through AI tool the ground biomass of mangrove trees will be measured providing insights about the carbon storage capacity. This will ensure providing data for policy decision and better conservation and management.

Mangroves are most productive ecosystems in the world and have the potential to support the livelihoods of millions of people. They significantly contribute to climate change mitigation though carbon storage and adaptation by reducing the vulnerability of coastal areas to inclement weather, protecting them from erosion and sea level rise.

During the International Conference on Hunger-Free World: Prof. M.S. Swaminathan's Vision for an Evergreen Revolution. Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister - Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment, Government of Odisha, unveiled the foundation's new logo, symbolizing a renewed commitment to its mission.

Several empowering initiatives were launched, including the Fisher Women Connect App by KV Shaji, Chairman, NABARD, which empowers
fisherwomen with digital tools and resources in collaboration with Reliance Foundation and USAID.

writingonblog uncensored: IIT Madras vies for setting up Quantum Communicati...

writingonblog uncensored: IIT Madras vies for setting up Quantum Communicati...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, has submitted the proposal for setting up a themeatic Quantum Communicatio...

IIT Madras vies for setting up Quantum Communication hub in Chennai

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, has submitted the proposal for setting up a themeatic Quantum Communication Hub in Chennai and it is likely a decision would be taken up by the Department of Science and Technology by the end of this month, according to Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Professor Dr Anil Prabhakar.

Prof Prabhakar of Department of Electrical Energy accompanied by Deepa Nagraj, Global Head of Sparkle Innovation Ecosystem at Mphasis, said that the country is setting up four thematic hubs in the domains of Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing Metrology, and Quantum Material Devices.

"We are aspiring to be Quantum Communications hub. The proposals are being evaluated," said the professor while providing a tour of the Rs 21 crore quantum lab funded by Mphasis at the campus on Wednesday. The lab was launched by Mphasis to “accelerate fundamental and applied research” in quantum computing.

The professor said that DST will also be announcing the technical groups for the hubs. "A Quantum hub consists of four or five technical groups, which form the governing board of the hub. Then the hub will also call for proposals and create what is called the spoke institutions where smaller amounts of research gets done. The way the model has been set up, you have a consortium of five institutions and four or five technical groups formed for a hub," said the professor.

The hub is required to build a quantum computing. The near time benefit to use is what is available. Quantum communication we are building and we can aspire to do that, said Prof Prabhakar.

Quantum Communication taking advantage of the laws of quantum physics protects data. These laws allow particles—typically photons of light for transmitting data along optical cables—to take on a state of superposition, which means they can represent multiple combinations of 1 and 0 simultaneously. The particles are known as quantum bits, or qubits.

Through Quantum Communication networks could be created for transmitting highly sensitive data through quantum key distribution, which involves sending encrypted data as classical bits over networks, while the keys to decrypt the information are encoded and transmitted in a quantum state using qubits.  The National Quantum Mission got approval from the Union Cabinet on April 19, 2023 with an outlay of Rs 6003.65 crore. It seeks to harness the immense potential of quantum science and technology to drive economic growth, scientific exploration, and technological breakthrough.

writingonblog uncensored: A modern gymnasium project for people living in At...

writingonblog uncensored: A modern gymnasium project for people living in At...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: The project affected people living in 2012 tenements built by Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board for more ...

writingonblog uncensored: Centre for Innovation in Governance lauched by TN ...

writingonblog uncensored: Centre for Innovation in Governance lauched by TN ...:  CHENNAI: The Centre for Innovation in Governance established by Tamil Nadu government under State Planning Commission was launched by Vice ...

Centre for Innovation in Governance launched by TN State Planning Commission vice-chairman

 CHENNAI:
The Centre for Innovation in Governance established by Tamil Nadu government under State Planning Commission was launched by Vice Chairman Dr J Jeyarajan  in the presence of the Ramesh Chand Meena, additional chief secretary, Planning and Development

The Centre aims to foster an innovative ecosystem in governance in the state. The Centre will provide support to government departments and district administrations in piloting innovative projects and building capacity in various technologies that would augment effective governance in the state.

The Centre’s core activities include identifying problem statements, piloting innovative projects, and evaluating their effectiveness. The centre will support eligible agencies in identifying innovations for funding under the Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiatives Scheme (TANII). Since its inception in 2015-16,
the State Planning Commission through the Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiatives (TANII) has recommended more than 400 innovative projects to a tune of 800 crore.

The Centre aims to establish a collaborative platform where industry, academia, government, and innovators can jointly develop solutions, which would augment public governance in the state.

The Centre will study best practices adopted in various states across the country and around the globe to explore their potential application in Tamil Nadu. The Centre’s efforts also extend to documenting and evaluating the outcomes of innovative interventions implemented within the various government sectors in the state.

The Centre plans to conduct a ‘GovTech’ workshop themed on the applications of emerging technology in governance, a design thinking workshop on social innovation for district administrators, and tech-based hackathons etc across the state in the upcoming months.

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Telephones to roll out 5G connections by M...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Telephones to roll out 5G connections by M...: Chennai: Chennai Telephones will roll out 5G connections by March next year, according to Chennai Telephones Chief General manager Papa Sudh...

Chennai Telephones to roll out 5G connections by March 2025

Chennai:

Chennai Telephones will roll out 5G connections by March next year, according to Chennai Telephones Chief General manager Papa Sudhakara Rao.

He said that after Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) have announced substantial price increases for their prepaid and postpaid plans, subscribers are porting to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited in Chennai. 

He said that 40,000 subscribers have joined anew in the last 20 days after the new tariffs by most of the telecom providers came into effect.

"We don't have any plans to increase the tariff. Our focus is to expand our business," said Rao. 

He said Chennai Telephones is on an expansion mode and plans to rollout 4G connections after adding more than 300 towers in Chennai, which also comprises Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram and chengalpet, compatible to 4G by December. Currently, we have 1800 towers and we plan to expand it to 2100 towers," he said.

"Once Chennai migrates to 4G, then we will upgrade it to 5G. This will be rolled out on March this year," he said. Rao said that of the 2100 towers, nearly 60% to 70% will be fibrised thus providing the subscribers with quality services.

writingonblog uncensored: IIT Madras Research Park comes out with first-of-i...

writingonblog uncensored: IIT Madras Research Park comes out with first-of-i...: CHENNAI: In a bid to end reliance on carbon emitting fossil-based sources and enable a complete transition towards a net-zero future, Indian...

IIT Madras Research Park comes out with first-of-its-kind large-scale 1MWh lithium-ion battery storage system

CHENNAI:

In a bid to end reliance on carbon emitting fossil-based sources and enable a complete transition towards a net-zero future, Indian Institute of Technology Madras Research Park (IITMRP)  unveiled the first-of-its-kind large-scale 1MWh lithium-ion battery storage system.

Unveiled in the presence of Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of New Mexico, who is on a visit to the state, this large-scale battery storage solution is an important advancement in India’s energy sector.  

This ready-to-deploy and modular battery storage system, a first in India for a stationary storage system in a building campus (previously dominated by electric vehicle battery solutions), facilitates a cost-effective solution towards a renewable energy powered transition. The most significant challenge in achieving grid transition from thermal to green grid is the need to maintain sufficient storage to address daily variations in solar and wind power and IITMRP is working towards this by coming out with indigenous technologies.

This battery storage could be used in commercial complexes, said Kaushal Kumar Jha, chief executive officer at Centre for Excellence in Energy and Telecommunication (CEET). CEET is planning to come up with a 4MWh lithium-ion battery storage system in the next six months. Jha says the plan is to have a 1GW lithium-ion battery storage system.

Highlighting the cost benefit analysis of the system, IITMRP professor Ashok Jhunjhunwala said that IIT wheels 1 MW rooftop solar system, 4 MW of group captive solar and 2.1 MW of captive wind power off-site. This new storage system is fuelled with wind and solar energy and raises the campus's renewable energy share to 90%. This would result in net saving of Rs 2.51 per kWh

The Governor of New Mexico said they are looking at partnering with IITMRP on carbon capture and sequestration as well as accelerate opportunities for the private sector and education in the context of exchange. Minister of Information Technology and Digital Services of Tamil Nadu Dr Palanivel Thiaga Rajan said there is huge potential for offshore wind in Tamil Nadu due to its extensive coastline. The government is working on policy, regulations, incentives, and infrastructure to facilitate improvements.

US Consul General Chennai Chris Hodges said, "“We welcome the visit of the New Mexico governor and are excited about the opportunities for new partnerships between Tamil Nadu and New Mexico in green tech and clean energy.  We are working constantly at the Consulate across a variety of fronts to promote new partnerships with American universities, American graduate students, American startups, and business in the arena of green technology.  We believe Tamil Nadu holds particular promise as a “green tech” destination, building upon its presence in solar and wind as well as an industrial base well suited to support new green-forward investments.  We look forward to deepening our partnership with IIT Madras Research Park to support this transition through further innovation and ecosystem building in the areas of EVs, green hydrogen, solar, and green buildings.”

EOM


 

 

writingonblog uncensored: SBL Energy Strengthens Defence Vertical Leadership...

writingonblog uncensored: SBL Energy Strengthens Defence Vertical Leadership...: Nagpur: SBL Energy Ltd, the second-largest industrial and mining explosives group in India, appointed Col Shailendra Pathak (retired) as the...

SBL Energy Strengthens Defence Vertical Leadership; Appoints Col Shailendra Pathak as President

Nagpur:
SBL Energy Ltd, the second-largest industrial and mining explosives group in India, appointed Col Shailendra Pathak (retired) as the President of the Defence vertical. This strategic decision is in line with the company’s commitment to strengthen defence infrastructure, promote self-reliance, and boost defence exports that aligns with the government’s vision. Col Pathak will lead the defence vertical at SBL Energy, leveraging his extensive knowledge and expertise in defence production and business development.

With nearly 12 years of experience in Defence production and business development within the Defence Manufacturing Industry, Col Pathak, an alumnus of IIT Roorkee, Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, and Pune University, brings with him sound knowledge and expertise in the niche segment. He played a crucial role in executing a greenfield MRO project in his tenure, demonstrating exceptional skills in strategic planning, execution, and business management. Col Pathak is known within the industry for his innovative approaches, problem-solving skills and has a proven track record of driving growth.

writingonblog uncensored: Ethihad launches Hindi-language website

writingonblog uncensored: Ethihad launches Hindi-language website: CHENNAI: Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, has made a significant move for the Indian traveller by becoming the first foreign...

Ethihad launches Hindi-language website

CHENNAI:
Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, has made a significant move for the Indian traveller by becoming the first foreign airline to launch a Hindi-language website.
The new Hindi website, available at link (https://www.etihad.com/hi-in/), offers a comprehensive range of services including flight bookings, check-in procedures, and customer support, all in Hindi. This development is set to simplify travel planning for Hindi-speaking passengers and further bolster Etihad’s presence in the Indian market. The goal is to provide a seamless, user-friendly experience, allowing travelers to plan, book, and manage their flights more conveniently.

Akhil Anumolu, Senior Vice President e-Com., Digital, Marketing & Loyalty, Etihad Airways, stated, “Etihad understands its role as a global airline and is committed to culturally connecting with our valued passengers. We take pride in serving 11 Indian cities, and this initiative reflects our dedication to meeting the needs of our Indian customers. By offering our services in Hindi, we aim to create a more inclusive and accessible experience, ensuring that our customers can access all necessary information in their preferred language.

“As we approach Etihad's 20th anniversary since launching flights to India, we look forward to announcing a number of exciting new partnerships and initiatives for the region – the second half of 2024 is set to be a big one for Etihad in India.”

Etihad is renowned for its world-class service and innovative approach within the aviation industry. The launch of the Hindi website is a testament to the airline’s ongoing efforts to enhance customer experience, align with global preferences, and expand its services in response to its diverse audience.

Using the Hindi website travellers can easily navigate for seamless access to Etihad’s expanding network and frequent connections through Abu Dhabi's global links. The innovation reinforces the airline's dedication to the Indian market, with 176 weekly flights to 11 Indian cities, connecting Indian passengers to more than 70 destinations worldwide. Recently, the airline expanded its reach with the launch of three new routes to India including- Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, and the most recent Jaipur.

writingonblog uncensored: Meendum Manjapai garnered attention but failed in ...

writingonblog uncensored: Meendum Manjapai garnered attention but failed in ...: CHENNAI: Two years after Meendum Manjapai campaign was launched by the state government, a study has found that it has been effective in g...

Meendum Manjapai garnered attention but failed in its objective to eliminate single use plastics, says study

CHENNAI:
Two years after Meendum Manjapai campaign was launched by the state government, a study has found that it has been effective in garnering attention and in mainstreaming the issue of plastic pollution but it has not been effective in achieving its objective - promoting cloth bags to eliminate single use plastics.

The study conducted by Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group (CAG) among 1632 respondents spread across eight districts in Tamil Nadu found that vendors find it extremely challenging to switch to alternatives, primarily because of customer demand for a free bag and the high-cost factor of alternatives. "These deter them from transitioning and complying with the ban," the report states.

The eight districts where the study was conducted include Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai, Theni, Perambalur, Nagapattinam and Kanyakumari. The districts were chosen primarily on the basis of population size (highest and lowest population) and two coastal districts were selected as part of the study since the consequences of plastic pollution are most acutely felt in coastal areas.

The study also said that most of the single use plastic (SUP) bags did not bear any information on the microns, name and place of manufacturer, etc. "This shows that there is an abundant supply of SUP bags in the market which go unregulated. Some vendors also mentioned that cloth bags are not suitable for their products such as flowers and meat and therefore they do not have a choice but to use SUP bags," the study stated.

The data collected from market vendors reveal that irrespective of the geographic area and type of product, usage of SUP bags is the norm and taking a cloth bag to shops is the exception. Many vendors responded that even though they are aware of the dangers of plastics, the cost of alternatives,
customer demand and peer pressure do not allow them to switch to alternative materials.

The findings also point that the manjappai kiosks, albeit a great initiative, have not reached people sufficiently. The machines are available in very limited places, mostly in district headquarters. And even if they are available, they are not maintained properlyas they are rarely in working condition, the study stated.

The study says that respondents expressed disappointment that the enforcement of SUP ban focuses primarily on small vendors, and that it is unfair. They added that the government needs to enforce the ban on big multinational corporations as they are the major contributors of plastic pollution, and continue using SUPs despite their capabilities and financial resources to transition away.

The report statesd that regulating mechanism for capping production should embody transparency and accountability. To facilitate this, clear targets and timelines should be set where progressive reduction of production of SUP is monitored. This can be added to the existing interface in the Meendum
Manjappai app, wherein list of name and place of manufacture of SUP, and the quantum of and location from where SUP has been seized, and the amount in fine collected from each manufacturer shall be displayed.

The report is being released during Climate Action Month, 2024 (CAM), an initiative by Citizen consumer and civic Action Groupm wherein a series of events across the city will be launched during the month of August. Dr Senthilkumar, Environment Secretary presided over the inaugural meeting.

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai metro signs contract to prepare DPR from K...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai metro signs contract to prepare DPR from K...: CHENNAI: Chennai Metro Rail Limited has signed a Contract Agreement for the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for introduct...

Chennai metro signs contract to prepare DPR from Koyamedu to Avadi corridor

CHENNAI:

Chennai Metro Rail Limited has signed a Contract Agreement for the

preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for introduction of Metro Rail from

Koyambedu to Avadi via Padi Pudhu nagar, Ambattur and Thirumullaivoyal.

 

The Contract has been awarded to RITES Limited for a value of Rs. 80.48 Lakh

(excluding GST). The Letter of Acceptance (LOA) was issued to RITES Limited on

11.06.2024 in the presence of M.A. Siddique., Managing Director, Chennai Metro Rail.

 

This proposed corridor is approximately 16 km long and include approximately

15 Elevated Metro Stations. The preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for

the corridor is being undertaken considering the developments such as Information

Technology Parks, industrial and thickly populated areas along the corridor.

 

The work involves more than 30 boreholes for soil investigation and conducting topographical

survey for the entire length. The assignment is expected to be completed by

November 2024. Following an extensive alignment study during the DPR stage, the

total number of stations and the details of land requirements will be finalized.

 

Meanwhile, Chennai Metro has signed a Contract Agreement for the

Preparation of Detail Project Report (DPR) for Property Development for integrated

land Parcels at Metro station entry/exit in Corridor 3 and 5 of CMRL Phase-2. The

Contract has been awarded to SREI Infrastructure Finance Limited for a value of

Rs. 57.00 Lakhs (excluding GST).

writingonblog uncensored: TN in talks with Chicago's Adler Planeterium to se...

writingonblog uncensored: TN in talks with Chicago's Adler Planeterium to se...: Chennai: Tamil Nadu government is in talks with Chicago's Adler Planetarium to set up a science park in the state which would nurture ...

TN in talks with Chicago's Adler Planeterium to set up Science park in state

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu government is in talks with Chicago's Adler Planetarium to set up a science park in the state which would nurture space exploration among the children.

Adler Planetarium is a public museum in Chicago, Illinois, dedicated to astronomy and astrophysics.

Speaking after the launch of Vaanam Space Tech Accelerator here on Wednesday evening, the minister during a fireside chat with former Indian space research organisation space scientist Nambi Narayan said that the science park near Chennai needs to be upgraded and there is a need for space exploration park for kids. The talks are in an initial stage, he added.

Keeping an eye on the launch of the space port at Kulasekharapatnam in the next two years, the state is keen to develop  a startup ecosystem in the space tech sector. During the launch of Vaanam, the minister said the state was keen on funding the space ecosystem.

Vaanam, as part of its outreach, will reach out to schools and colleges and create ‘Space Clubs’ to inculcate space thinking among students and young people. Workshops will be conducted as part of the club," said Sameer Bharat Ram, co-founder of Vaanam.

He said that Vaanam is evaluating startups and will board six to seven startups in a year.

Vaanam Co-Founder Hariharan Vedamurthy said, "There's a wide gamut of use cases in the space-tech sector in general, say 'from mining satellite data to mining asteroids,' and there's ever-growing demand to bring these use cases to fruition. 

A significant focus will be on space startups and entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu, he said.

 

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Metro hits out at 'malicious' statements m...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Metro hits out at 'malicious' statements m...:   CHENNAI: Chennai Metro Rail has hit out at "erroneous and malicious" statements being made by BJP leader H Raja against metro ...

Chennai Metro hits out at 'malicious' statements made by BJP leader

 

CHENNAI:

Chennai Metro Rail has hit out at "erroneous and malicious" statements being made by BJP leader H Raja against metro rail as well as certain senior officials and clarified that the alignment of the station, as is being constructed now, is based on the 2018 Detailed project report (DPR) which envisaged shifting or relocation of the approximately 15 year-old Entrance Gopuram of the Durgai Amman Koil and the relocation of Sri Rathna Vinayagar Koil at Whites Road.

"Unfortunately, it has not been possible to avoid the shifting/relocation of these structures due to design constraints pertaining to the underground section. It is pertinent to mention that this matter is before Madras High Court and is hence, sub-judice. It is emphasized that Chennai Metro is giving due regard to the religious sentiments of all communities while implementing a major project of public importance that will benefit the Chennai public at large," according to a statement from Chennai Metro Rail.

Hitting out at the 'malicious' statements made by Raja, which was carried  on various media-youtube channels, claiming CMRL is undertaking unwarranted demolition of the Durgai Amman Temple and Rathna Vinayagar Temple at Thousand Lights Metro station, which is part of Corridor 3 of CMRL Phase-II, the statement said such statements are 'incorrect'.

While implementing a mega public project, shifting / relocating of buildings and structures, including those belonging to religious institutions is inevitable in certain cases, and is done by following due process of law. While doing so, these actions are taken without any religious affiliation in any manner whatsoever. In fact, recently, where it has been feasible, Chennai Metro has realigned certain works so as to ensure that certain temples were not impacted though it required demolition/shifting/relocation as per the Detailed Project Report approved way back in 2018, the release stated.

writingonblog uncensored: FM targets ToD plans for 14 cities; Chennai on the...

writingonblog uncensored: FM targets ToD plans for 14 cities; Chennai on the...: CHENNAI: The union Government on Tuesday said that it is planning to come out with Transit Oriented Development plans for 14 large cities ...

FM targets ToD plans for 14 cities; Chennai on the verge of having its own

CHENNAI:
The union Government on Tuesday said that it is planning to come out with Transit Oriented Development plans for 14 large cities with a population above 30 lakh along with an implementation and financing strategy.  

This comes in the wake of the state government working out a ToD policy for the city which promotes compact urban growth with mixed-use development; pedestrian and bicycle-friendly mobility closely integrated with mass transit by clustering jobs, housing, services, and amenities around public transport stations.

It is learnt that the modification of floor Space index in station area zones and Transit oriented zones involve multiple stakeholders. The state wants broader consultation to firm up the proposed FSI as it plans a maximum floor space index of 6.5 in the Transit Oriented Development (ToD) area. Currently. the maximum permissible FSI limit across the state is 4.87.

The policy is being framed following a study carried out by Gujarat based Centre for Urban Planning and Policy (CUPP), Centre for Research on Architecture and Urbanism (CAU) and CEPT Research and Development Foundation, which has divided the influential zones along the metro rail and MRTS corridor into three ---influence zone, transition zone and catchment zone, said sources.

TOD integrates land use and transport planning and aims to develop planned sustainable urban growth centers, having walkable and liveable communities with high-density mixed land use. Successful TODs ensure that transit facilities are efficiently utilized while at the same time making the areas around transit stations more accessible and equitable for all.

This will apply to all urban areas in Tamil Nadu to encourage compact development and densification along the transit corridors and mass rapid transit systems. It also includes potential areas in and around present and future public transit modes such as Metro rail, MRTS, and other transit corridors.

The Finance minister also said that Centre will facilitate development of ‘Cities as Growth Hubs’. This will be achieved through economic and transit planning, and orderly development of peri-urban areas utilising town planning schemes. The specific measures to introduce technological reforms within the regulatory framework for land, such as the digitization of land records and cadastral maps via GIS mapping, will vastly improve transparency in the sector, says Srinivas Anikipatti, Senior Director- Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Knight Frank India.

The interest subsidy for home loans under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme will benefit middle-class and lower-middle-class people. We also appreciate the initiative encouraging states to lower stamp duties for properties purchased by women or in their names, but we need clarity on how it’s getting implemented in the states, Credai Chennai said in a statement.

"The Union government's announcement to introduce a unique land parcel identification number for lands is a commendable move because it will help avoid litigations in land dealings," Credai said. However, one of the real disappointments is the change in the long-term capital gain tax from 20% with indexation benefit to a flat 12.5% without indexation benefit. This is a setback for investors. If someone sells a property after 10 or 15 years, indexation helps offset the inflation cost, and its removal is a significant setback. We urge the union government to consider providing a 12.5% tax rate with the indexation benefit to motivate investors to invest in real estate, Credai added.

writingonblog uncensored: Lohum to invest Rs 2000 crore to build largest bat...

writingonblog uncensored: Lohum to invest Rs 2000 crore to build largest bat...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: Energy transition materials maker Lohum will be investing more than Rs 2,000 crore to build largest battery recycl...

Lohum to invest Rs 2000 crore to build largest battery recycler plant at Krishnagiri

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
Energy transition materials maker Lohum will be investing more than Rs 2,000 crore to build largest battery recycler plants in the country at the future mobility park at Krishnagiri district.

Speaking to The New Indian Express on the sidelines of Investopia Global here on Wednesday, Lohum's head of Corporate Development Sachin Maheshwari said that the facility will be set up on 65 acres of land and the investment will be made over a period of six years.

"We are looking at a capacity of 20 gigawatt hour of cathode active materials (CAMs) production which is used for cell manufacturing and later it goes into the battery," he said. "We are now setting up the plant and the factory will be set up in the next 18 months," said Sachin Maheshwari. He said the goal of setting the plan is to have consumption at the local level. However, he did not rule out exports.

Sachin said that the battery recycler will not only cater to used batteries but also electricals and rare earth magnets. We want to be playing a role in the critical minerals identified by the Union government which include cobalt, Lithium, platinum among others. "Our goal is to sustainably produce this metals," he said.

"Recycling and reuse is our first goal and at the same time our operation should be Net Zero in the usage of energy. We do a little bit of research on rare earth metals and we are planning to scale it up," said Sachin.The energy transition from fossil fuel energy to low-carbon energy is mineral intensive. Rare earth elements are core components of clean energy technologies such as wind turbines and electric vehicles.

Though India is exploring the possibility of tapping critical minerals, including lithium and cobalt, by looking to acquire mines in Zimbabwe or Australia, it is not viable, said Sachin. He said people think lithium and batteries are all the same but in reality lithium is only 3% of the battery. "The world is moving towards Lithium  Ferro Phosphate. Lithium is the only valuable material. When you move towards that you can't source lithium from the mines as it is unviable. As such recycling plays a key role," he said.

Sachin said that the company is also setting up a plant in the United Arab Emirates. The company already has eight plants -- seven in Greater Noida and one in Gujarat with a capacity of 150MW hour.

India anticipates a substantial influx of retired lithium-ion batteries in the coming years. Projections estimate that by 2030, the country will have approximately 128 GWh of lithium-ion batteries available for recycling, with 46% originating from electric vehicles alone.