Shine Jacob &Amp;Amp; Arindam Majumder

Stories by Shine Jacob &Amp;Amp; Arindam Majumder

Kerala bypoll has a lot at stake for Rahul, aide Venugopal

Kerala bypoll has a lot at stake for Rahul, aide Venugopal

Rediff.com   23 May 2022

Any adverse electoral fallout in Thrikkakara by-poll may have an impact on Rahul Gandhi because this falls in the state he represents as a member of Parliament and KC Venugopal because it is his home state, reports Shine Jacob.

Ford drops plan to manufacture EVs in India; opts out of PLI scheme

Ford drops plan to manufacture EVs in India; opts out of PLI scheme

Rediff.com   13 May 2022

American automaker Ford on Thursday said that it had withdrawn plans to manufacture electric vehicles (EVs) in India and it won't invest in the country under the performance-linked incentive (PLI) scheme. "After careful review, we have decided to no longer pursue EV manufacturing for exports from any of the Indian plants. "We remain grateful to the government for approving our proposal under the PLI and for being supportive while we continued our exploration. "Ford India's previously announced business restructuring continues as planned, including exploring other alternatives for our manufacturing facilities.

Maruti Suzuki has a blueprint to regain market share in SUVs

Maruti Suzuki has a blueprint to regain market share in SUVs

Rediff.com   12 May 2022

Maruti's strategy for the SUV segment is to arrest the decline in customers for entry level hatchbacks.

Russia will play a major role in India's energy sector

Russia will play a major role in India's energy sector

Rediff.com   10 May 2022

Old timers in Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) still remember how in early 2000 its overseas subsidiary, ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL), was on the verge of closure. Though OVL was set up in 1965, the only discovery the company had made till then was in Vietnam offshore, with more investment needed to monetise it. In 2001, when OVL started looking for new blocks abroad, the company's previous acquisition was 13 years old.

Cognitive disabilities and the dilemma facing India's airlines

Cognitive disabilities and the dilemma facing India's airlines

Rediff.com   10 May 2022

Disability rights came under the spotlight again as the country's largest airline IndiGo refused to let a teenager with special needs board its aircraft. While the twitterati as well as fellow passengers have called for strict action, IndiGo has stood by its action saying the airport manager took the decision to ensure safety of other passengers. "Throughout the check-in and boarding process, our intent of course was to carry the family. "However, at the boarding area, the teenager was visibly in panic.

Airlines have to compensate if fliers are denied boarding, says DGCA

Airlines have to compensate if fliers are denied boarding, says DGCA

Rediff.com   7 May 2022

The regulator has warned airlines and in an email on May 2 asked all Indian carriers to give compensation and facilities to passengers affected by such denial of boarding, failing which it would will impose financial penalties on them.

Airspace coordination in India helps airlines save big

Airspace coordination in India helps airlines save big

Rediff.com   6 May 2022

Coordination between defence and civilian authorities has freed up airspace for commercial airlines in India, resulting in routes becoming shorter and costs coming down, apart from mitigating pollution. "Due to various restrictions of the military, only about 58 per cent of the Indian airspace was being utilised. It is close to 70 per cent now," said an official of the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Officials of the AAI said to date 119 routes had been shortened. Sources said since December 2020 the cumulative savings of airlines had been close to Rs 200 crore while there was a reduction in emission of around 45,000 tonnes of carbon.

Boom Motors recalls Corbett ebikes, halts production after fatal accident

Boom Motors recalls Corbett ebikes, halts production after fatal accident

Rediff.com   30 Apr 2022

So far at least eight incidents of EV fires have been reported in just over a month's time.

US aviation watchdog likely to maintain highest safety rating for India

US aviation watchdog likely to maintain highest safety rating for India

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2022

A continuation of the highest standard by the FAA will be a relief for Indian airlines especially the Tata group which intends to increase Air India flights on India-US routes. US aviation watchdog Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has completed the audit of India's aviation regulator DGCA. Sources said that the FAA team was satisfied with the work and changes in regulations by India and is likely to maintain a Category 1 status rating under its International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme.

Vande Bharat gets back on track after myriad controversies, vigilance probe

Vande Bharat gets back on track after myriad controversies, vigilance probe

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2022

On August 15 last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced from the ramparts of the Red Fort that the Indian Railways would launch 75 Vande Bharat Express trains by August 2023. Later, in her 2022 Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that 400 Vande Bharat trains will be manufactured in the next three years, which are expected to cost between Rs 40,000 crore and Rs 50,000 crore. Those upbeat announcements come after a series of cancelled tenders, vigilance actions against officials and interdepartmental rivalry that delayed the addition of these iconic trains developed entirely indigenously by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.

Stalin comes into his own in a year, national role next?

Stalin comes into his own in a year, national role next?

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2022

The Tamil Nadu government saw an increase in foreign direct investment by 41.5 per cent during the April-December period.

Why Ola decides to recall 1,441 units of S1

Why Ola decides to recall 1,441 units of S1

Rediff.com   25 Apr 2022

Ola Electric became the latest among electric scooter (e-scooter) makers to have started the exercise of recalling a specific batch of its model after a rap on the knuckles by the government. Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday advised electric vehicle (EV) companies to act responsibly by identifying and recalling defective batches without waiting for orders or guidelines from the ministry. The Bengaluru-based start-up is conducting pre-emptive diagnostics and health check on 1,441 scooters, it said in a statement on Sunday.

Will Jet Manage To Fly This Year?

Will Jet Manage To Fly This Year?

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2022

If that happens, Jet Airways will be the first bankrupt airline which will be revived under the Insolvency process.

Airlines start restoring pilots' pay cut as flights go full

Airlines start restoring pilots' pay cut as flights go full

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2022

Despite partial restoration of salaries, pilots across airlines remain dissatisfied, throwing challenges for managers.

Tatas bring in talent from group companies to revive Air India

Tatas bring in talent from group companies to revive Air India

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2022

Due to the group's presence across multiple businesses, it is in a unique position in the aviation industry to bring the best of talents.

Why BPCL divestment is on the slow track

Why BPCL divestment is on the slow track

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2022

In December 2019, the India arm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu surprised many with its ultra-competitive bid to become the transaction advisor for the country's largest strategic divestment in Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL). The multinational major quoted just Rs 1; the second-highest bidder, SBI Caps, reportedly quoted Rs 15-17 crore. For Deloitte, the motivation was to bag a prestigious deal adding a national energy company to its portfolio. No doubt, it expected BPCL to go to a marquee buyer in quick time.

Nashik: 20 electric scooters of Jitendra EV loaded in container catch fire

Nashik: 20 electric scooters of Jitendra EV loaded in container catch fire

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2022

In light of the recent incidents involving scooters from prominent electric mobility brands bursting into flames, the subject of electric vehicle (EV) safety has come under the spotlight. As many as 20 electric scooters of Nashik-based Jitendra EV Tech caught fire after being loaded on a transport container. While no one has been reported injured, the company said it is conducting an investigation to find the 'root cause' of the fire.

Auto sales jump 13% in FY22

Auto sales jump 13% in FY22

Rediff.com   11 Apr 2022

Supply chain constraints will keep plaguing automobile companies even though demand significantly improved resulting in a 13 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase in sales in financial year 2021-22 (FY22). Executives at auto firms fear that the Russia-Ukraine war will further dent the sector's prospects of recovery as supply chains face more disruptions. "The visibility in the supply side is so hazy that it is difficult to give even one quarter projection. But all the parameters of demand like pending bookings and enquiries are increasing.

'If demand happens, fares will correct themselves'

'If demand happens, fares will correct themselves'

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2022

'I don't think there will be a direct reaction to the fuel price hike on air ticket prices.'

How safe are India's electric scooters?

How safe are India's electric scooters?

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2022

The government-appointed expert committee, which probes incidents of Ola Electric's S1 Pro and Okinawa vehicles catching fires, has added the latest case of fire involving PureEV electric scooter to its investigation, a senior government official told Business Standard. "A team comprising experts from Indian Institute of Science (IISC) and Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) are investigating the cases. "As soon as the report is submitted, we shall take appropriate action," said Giridhar Aramane, secretary at the ministry of road transport and highways.