Aneesh Phadnis &Amp; Sanjay Jog

Stories by Aneesh Phadnis &Amp; Sanjay Jog

Mumbai Infrastructure: Stuck in red tape

Mumbai Infrastructure: Stuck in red tape

Rediff.com   10 Feb 2015

A look at few marquee projects that are stuck for several reasons.

40 Years Ago...And now: A roller coaster ride for India's airlines

40 Years Ago...And now: A roller coaster ride for India's airlines

Rediff.com   9 Feb 2015

Life of air passengers was different in the 1970s.

Ambani brothers seek faster approval for stalled projects

Ambani brothers seek faster approval for stalled projects

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2015

The Ambani brothers, Mukesh and Anil, came together on Thursday to raise the issue of stalled projects plaguing India Inc and implored the Maharashtra government and the Centre to make Mumbai, India's financial capital, an easier place for business and investments. "Several projects are stuck for many years in Mumbai and we would like to know how the government intends to improve the financing and execution of projects, including those relating to infrastructure and education which have been in limbo for long and are affecting the growth of the city," Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani told Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Seated on the same table was his brother, apart from Tata Group Chairman Cyrus Mistry and State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya. Jaitley was addressing the Mumbai Next MMR Transformation conclave, organised by the Maharashtra government and Mumbai First here, through video conference. In his reply, Jaitley said the government was exploring several options of infrastructure financing in India and that a number of international bodies were ready to fund infrastructure development projects. He added the government was keenly considering these funding sources. While praising Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for honesty, Jaitley also had a word of advice. Apart from being honest, the government had to be decisive, he said. On his part, Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani told the chief minister about his experience of decisions being delayed due to an indecisive bureaucracy and the need to protect officials who wanted to take quick decisions. "Through the past many years, we have faced a number of obstacles in decision-making," he said, adding he was speaking as someone who had lived and invested in Mumbai. Fadnavis responded by saying he would bring about a transparent process to ring-fence officials. Both the Ambani brothers have announced a number of infrastructure projects in and around Mumbai, including a world-class convention centre in Bandra Kurla Complex by RIL, but very few have actually fructified. RIL's special economic zone project failed to take off due to land acquisition problems in Raigarh, while a second SEZ near Mumbai is stuck due to lack of clarity in SEZ norms. The first phase of the Mumbai Metro, set up by Anil Ambani's Reliance Infrastructure, was marred by cost overruns and run-ins with the government over fares. Subsequently, the company withdrew from the second and larger phase, citing inordinate delay. Anil Ambani also withdrew from Mumbai's sea link project on the same grounds. The brothers had also bid for a trans-harbour sea link between Navi Mumbai and Mumbai under the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government, but their bid was rejected. Reliance Infrastructure is also the power supplier to more than half of this city. Participating in the conclave, some of India Inc's leading bankers said making Mumbai a financial hub would take at least a decade. SBI's Bhattacharya said the Indian currency should be made fully convertible and facilities should be created for it. "However, for this, the economy needs to look up and that will happen only in the next 7-10 years, not immediately," she added. Sunil Kaushal, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered, India, pitched for strong infrastructure to support development. "We will take a long time to develop into a global financial centre. We need to solve transport bottlenecks in Mumbai and have lifestyle facilities for people working in and around these areas," he said.

Finally, Mumbai to get a grand makeover

Finally, Mumbai to get a grand makeover

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2015

Taking a cue from neighbouring Gujarat and its successful Vibrant Gujarat summit, Maharashtra has organised a conclave -Transforming MMR into a Global Financial, Commercial and Entertainment Hub - on February 6.

Come late to work and lose pay: Air India tells pilots, crew

Come late to work and lose pay: Air India tells pilots, crew

Rediff.com   1 Feb 2015

AI also working on proposal to trim pilots' pay 15-20%

REVEALED! How Suzlon chairman plans to turn the company around

REVEALED! How Suzlon chairman plans to turn the company around

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2015

Our break-even level has come down and we expect the cost structure to improve further, says the Suzlon chief.

Vistara to increase Delhi-Mumbai flights from mid-February

Vistara to increase Delhi-Mumbai flights from mid-February

Rediff.com   17 Jan 2015

Currently airline flies thrice daily flight between Delhi-Mumbai

Air India kicks off fare war, slashes prices by half

Air India kicks off fare war, slashes prices by half

Rediff.com   13 Jan 2015

The response to the sale has been overwhelming.

Vistara heats up the airfare war

Vistara heats up the airfare war

Rediff.com   11 Jan 2015

Once again, there seems to be an airfare war in India.

On day one, Vistara flies high on personalised service

On day one, Vistara flies high on personalised service

Rediff.com   10 Jan 2015

Vistara starts flying in India.

Mumbai Metro One allowed to charge Rs 10-40 fare

Mumbai Metro One allowed to charge Rs 10-40 fare

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2015

R-Infra in its argument had told the high court that it was losing upto Rs 85 lakh a day despite being used by nearly 250,000 commuters

With Vistara, a Tata airline is reborn

With Vistara, a Tata airline is reborn

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2015

An airline's birth is a result of passion and enterprise, often not without its challenges and ordeals. And, Tata-run airlines are no exception

Why British Airways needs to repackage its legacy in India

Why British Airways needs to repackage its legacy in India

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2015

Ninety years later, BA counts the country as its second-biggest overseas market after the US.

Vistara set for Jan 9 take-off, Delhi fog could be spoiler

Vistara set for Jan 9 take-off, Delhi fog could be spoiler

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2014

Bookings are already open, trial flights are being conducted.

Current crisis may not impact AirAsia's long-term plans

Current crisis may not impact AirAsia's long-term plans

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2014

AirAsia's India plans may not be hit with the current crisis that the airline is going through

Missing Airbus puts focus on training, tracking

Missing Airbus puts focus on training, tracking

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2014

Initial reports say the pilots had asked for a change in route (it was flying to Singapore) because of adverse weather.

AirAsia India plans Delhi flights from February

AirAsia India plans Delhi flights from February

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2014

AirAsia India launched service in June and has two Airbus A320 planes.

Why India's domestic airlines will oppose price cap proposal

Why India's domestic airlines will oppose price cap proposal

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2014

A ministry's internal note proposes caps on minimum and maximum fares airlines can charge, keeping in mind their cost structure, profit margin and ensuring the last minute fares are not out of bounds of passengers.

How domestic airlines are planning to counter Vistara

How domestic airlines are planning to counter Vistara

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2014

IndiGo, which has about 550 flights a day, has increased the number of daily flights from Delhi to Hyderabad and Chennai to seven.

Ahmedabad bullet train might miss Mumbai stop

Ahmedabad bullet train might miss Mumbai stop

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2014

The Mumbai town planning agency has said it can't spare land in the commercial BKC area for a terminal due to demand from private firms