Leslie D'Monte, Mumbai

Stories by Leslie D'Monte, Mumbai

Realtors see rise in commercial inquiries

Realtors see rise in commercial inquiries

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2009

This upturn comes soon after an earlier stalling of demand. In February, DLF, the country's largest property developer, said it had stalled construction on 16 million sq ft of commercial space (retail and office) due to lack of demand. So, too, with other developers like Unitech, Parsvnath and Raheja, who either stalled or slowed the construction of their commercial properties because of a demand-supply mismatch.

Delhi Metro seeks ban on Gammon

Delhi Metro seeks ban on Gammon

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2009

Tuesday's move, announced at a press conference in the capital, comes a little over a month after an accident killed six workers at a metro construction site on July 12. The accident, the latest in a series over the past year, raised public outrage and prompted Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's widely respected chief E Sreedharan to submit his resignation, which the state government declined to accept.

'Why can't India have Internet numbers like China?

'Why can't India have Internet numbers like China?

Rediff.com   20 Jul 2009

Ram Shriram, founding investor and board member of Google, thinks the Indian government should focus on better Internet access to create a conducive business environment.

Google launches voice-based search on mobiles

Google launches voice-based search on mobiles

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2009

Google has launched a free voice-based mobile internet search facility in India that has been built entirely by the internet search giant's India engineering team. Currently available only to the estimated 400,000 Blackberry cellphone users, the company hopes to extend this facility to other handsets by the end of the year.

Capgemini hires Satyam honcho

Capgemini hires Satyam honcho

Rediff.com   14 Jul 2009

Wants to play a bigger role in Indian market.

Indian IT cos bullish on business from the clouds

Indian IT cos bullish on business from the clouds

Rediff.com   13 Jul 2009

It stands for technology that helps an organisation to place its applications and data on the Internet.

Battle for e-governance projects hots up

Battle for e-governance projects hots up

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2009

IT majors like IBM, Sun Microsystems and Red Hat have shot letters to industry bodies -- Nasscom (for software) and MAIT (for hardware) -- and the department of information technology, protesting over the inclusion of clauses which allow for 'multiple standards' and 'royalty on software' versus a 'single' standard and 'free' software.

Mahindra-Satyam: Two-in-one advantage?

Mahindra-Satyam: Two-in-one advantage?

Rediff.com   29 Jun 2009

Tech Mahindra considered a couple of options -- keep the Satyam name or replace it entirely. But research said Satyam still reflected critical strengths that were recognised and valued by customers. "By combining it with the well-known and highly-regarded Mahindra name, we are able to convey a stronger message more credibly: that Mahindra Satyam has the resources, talent and resolve to ensure a steady performance," says T Hari, its the marketing and communications head.

Air India offers staff leave without pay

Air India offers staff leave without pay

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2009

The scheme allows a permanent employee to take leave for up to two years without pay or allowances and return to join at the same level where he or she left. The decision comes a few days after the unions suggested several schemes, including leave without pay to cut costs while maintaining the interests of the employees. In Mumbai, the airline announced it has set up a committee comprising representatives of the management and the unions to turn around the airline.

What Nilekani, and the new ID system, will do

What Nilekani, and the new ID system, will do

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2009

Nandan Nilekani will have the responsibility to lay down plans and policies to implement the Unique Identity card scheme and shall own and operate the UID database. The authority was notified on January 28 this year as an attached office under the aegis of the Planning Commission with an initial core team of 115 officials and staff. The scheme will be implemented in three years.

After DLF, now Rahejas want to surrender SEZ

After DLF, now Rahejas want to surrender SEZ

Rediff.com   15 Jun 2009

Real estate developer K Raheja Universal Private Ltd wants to scrap one of their notified special economic zones and also surrender a part of another zone, citing lack of demand from the information technology sector.

Problem of plenty for QIPs

Problem of plenty for QIPs

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2009

It's actually a problem of plenty for investors now. Buoyed by the success of the three companies that sold their QIP issues within a day of opening, as many as 32 companies have joined the queue, hoping to raise a combined Rs 40,000 crore (Rs 400 billion).

Realty speculators face lock-in clauses

Realty speculators face lock-in clauses

Rediff.com   29 May 2009

Speculators often leveraged volume discounts on property purchases to re-sell them at prices lower than those available to individual buyers. This created problems for realtors when demand slowed, since it put pressure on them to take a hit on margins and lower prices still further. The lock-ins are expected to be introduced mostly for mid-income projects that offer prices 20 to 30 per cent below the market and, therefore, attract more undercutting from bulk discount buyers.

Caught in the web; draft rules stir hornet's nest

Caught in the web; draft rules stir hornet's nest

Rediff.com   25 May 2009

The IT Amendment Act, 2008, if notified, will give the government blanket power to block news portals and other sites for 'offensive' content.

Bharti to launch sub-Rs 8,000 Net PC

Bharti to launch sub-Rs 8,000 Net PC

Rediff.com   22 May 2009

The Airtel Net PC is a plug-and-play online computer, inclusive of a 15-inch LCD monitor, keyboard, mouse and Nivio companion (which enables the PC to connect to a backend Linux-run server for storage and applications) and priced at Rs 7,999 exclusively for Airtel broadband customers.

TVS allowed to use Bajaj's patented tech

TVS allowed to use Bajaj's patented tech

Rediff.com   19 May 2009

The bench consisting of acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court S J Mukhopadhyaya and Justice Ibrahim Kalifula on Monday set aside the earlier order according to which TVS Motors was restrained from using the twin spark technology, which was patented by Pune-based, India's second largest two wheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto.

Many promises on energy discouraging

Many promises on energy discouraging

Rediff.com   18 May 2009

In the oil and gas sphere, Congress' manifesto talks of the intention to improve oil diplomacy and intensify domestic oil exploration and production.

Your air ticket will get cheaper

Your air ticket will get cheaper

Rediff.com   14 May 2009

Jet Airways, Kingfisher shift flights to low-cost platforms; experts expect a fare war. "Every year, airlines come up with cheap fares in the summer season, but not like this year. I had never seen airlines offering 50 per cent cash-back offers. Now with Jet Konnect and Kingfisher Red, there are more flights to the routes where LCCs used to dominate," says Bhawna Agarwal, co-founder and head of air business, Yatra.com.

Kingfisher negotiating Rs 2,000 cr loan

Kingfisher negotiating Rs 2,000 cr loan

Rediff.com   6 May 2009

Industry sources said the carrier owed over Rs 620 crore to BPCL and HPCL, besides Rs 160 crore to IOC. However, Kingfisher Airlines is not the only company with oil dues. Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways and state-owned Air India started this financial year with accumulated dues of Rs 4,000 crore to oil companies and airports, sources said. The three airlines are collectively projected to incur operating losses of Rs 5,000 crore, industry estimates suggest.

Swine flu impact: No major cancellations

Swine flu impact: No major cancellations

Rediff.com   30 Apr 2009

The domestic travel and hospitality sectors, which are reeling under the impact of the slowdown and the Mumbai terror attacks, are hoping that the swine flu does not spread to other regions and mar sentiment for travel. Hotel occupancies and tariffs across India have dropped 20 per cent in the last few months, even as foreign tourist arrivals fell by 14 per cent in the first three months of 2009.