Shreya Jai And Deepak Patel

Stories by Shreya Jai And Deepak Patel

Charged-up: Bengaluru takes top spot in electric car registrations

Charged-up: Bengaluru takes top spot in electric car registrations

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2024

Bengaluru outpaced Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune in 2023 to become India's leading city for electric car registrations. The city's tech-savvy workforce, increased acceptability, zero road tax, subsidised electricity for EV charging, and a wide charging station network contributed to this surge. Electric car registrations in Karnataka's capital surged more than threefold in 2023 to 8,690 units, overtaking the growth witnessed in the other three cities, according to data from Jato Dynamics

What Star Rating Does Your AC Have?

What Star Rating Does Your AC Have?

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2024

Since 2008, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency is running a star rating programme, under which electric equipment are rated according to their efficiency. This in turn helps the consumers save electricity.

Balancing green concerns with soaring energy demand

Balancing green concerns with soaring energy demand

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2024

Rising energy demand could tilt India's energy basket towards fossil fuels from coal to oil, natural gas.

Air India's rise could impact 3 Gulf hubs: Saudia

Air India's rise could impact 3 Gulf hubs: Saudia

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2024

Air India (AI)'s rise could be at the expense of three "super-connector" hubs - Doha in Qatar, and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE - as the Indian passenger would any day prefer direct flights of their national airline that is providing excellent on-time service, Arved von zur Muehlen, chief commercial officer of Saudia Airlines, said on Thursday.

Why Megacities Are Not Cooling Down

Why Megacities Are Not Cooling Down

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2024

The heat index in major metro cities in the country has majorly risen since 2010 compared to a decade earlier.

Airfares to summer destinations defy heat, stay cool

Airfares to summer destinations defy heat, stay cool

Rediff.com   30 May 2024

Notwithstanding the sweltering heat engulfing major cities, travellers can find solace in the steady airfares to popular summer destinations like Srinagar, Bagdogra, and Kochi. According to airline executives, capacity increases and moderate demand have kept spot airfares from scorching cities like Delhi on a par with the same period last year.

April domestic air travel growth slows to 13-month low; Air India grows

April domestic air travel growth slows to 13-month low; Air India grows

Rediff.com   22 May 2024

The number of domestic air travelers in India grew 2.42 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) in April, reaching 13.2 million, according to data by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday.

Air India's international cargo business takes wings, not so for IndiGo

Air India's international cargo business takes wings, not so for IndiGo

Rediff.com   13 May 2024

The international cargo operations of two major carriers - IndiGo and Air India Group (Air India and Vistara) - are experiencing opposite trajectories despite both the airlines significantly expanding their international flight offerings over the past year. During the fourth quarter of 2023-24, IndiGo's international non-passenger cargo business declined to 6,848 tonnes. This is an 18.2 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) decrease, according to data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

Why DGCA Suspended Vistara Executive

Why DGCA Suspended Vistara Executive

Rediff.com   1 May 2024

This isn't the first instance of Vistara facing scrutiny from the regulator over improper pilot training.

DGCA directs airlines to seat kids up to 12 years with their parents

DGCA directs airlines to seat kids up to 12 years with their parents

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2024

A child who is less than 12 years of age must be allotted a seat beside at least one parent or a guardian with whom he is travelling, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) told airlines on Tuesday. The DGCA has said that the air transport circular on unbundling of services and fees by scheduled airlines is being modified. It allows airlines to charge for excess baggage, preferential seats, meals, snacks, drinks, and carriage of musical instruments.

'Aionos will bridge silos within aviation, hospitality using AI'

'Aionos will bridge silos within aviation, hospitality using AI'

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2024

Industries such as aviation and hospitality have many silos within them and Aionos, the joint venture between Interglobe Enterprises (IGE) and Assago Group, is an attempt to bridge them and boost efficiencies using artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, Rahul Bhatia told Business Standard on Tuesday. Bhatia, the Group Managing Director of IGE, serves as the majority shareholder in India's largest airline, IndiGo. Additionally, IGE operates 21 hotels under the Ibis brand and runs a logistics company called Movin.

Rajasthan enters fray to attract Tesla India plant

Rajasthan enters fray to attract Tesla India plant

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2024

With US-based electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla scouting for a suitable location for its foray in India, Rajasthan has joined the fray with a host of offers to woo the Elon Musk-led company. Other challengers include Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. Sources privy to the development said that an initial meeting between the senior executives of Tesla and the government of Rajasthan, which was held last week, turned out to be "quite positive." Tesla would now carry out a survey and is expected to share the survey details with the state's investment promotion department soon.

Summer pinch: Airfares on key routes rise up to 13%

Summer pinch: Airfares on key routes rise up to 13%

Rediff.com   11 Apr 2024

Airfares on major domestic routes such as Kolkata-Bagdogra, Delhi-Bengaluru, and Delhi-Mumbai have witnessed an increase of up to 12.7 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) in May this year, according to data by Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel. The recent increase in aviation turbine fuel prices, rupee depreciation, reduction of flights by key players, and grounding of planes due to engine supply issues have contributed to the rise in airfares, said aviation industry experts. However, the data also shows that summer airfares on key routes such as Delhi-Leh and Delhi-Kolkata have significantly decreased due to the introduction of new flights.

'Bonded labour': Air India pilot unions extend support to Vistara

'Bonded labour': Air India pilot unions extend support to Vistara

Rediff.com   5 Apr 2024

Describing their situation akin to "bonded labour", two Air India pilot unions extended their support to Vistara pilots on Thursday, who have raised grievances regarding the duty roster and the revised salary structure. Amid the slew of flight cancellations and delays, Vistara chief executive officer Vinod Kannan acknowledged on Wednesday that pilot utilisation in the airline was high, and announced plans to scale back its flight schedule and overhaul the rostering system to provide pilots with more rest time.

Flight schedule to normalise in 2-3 days: Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan

Flight schedule to normalise in 2-3 days: Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2024

High pilot utilisation, combined with a portion of pilots taking sick leave at the end of March has resulted in the cancellations during the last couple of days, chief executive officer (CEO) of Vistara, Vinod Kannan, said during a meeting with the pilots on Wednesday.

Vistara cancellations lead to surge in spot airfares by up to 38%

Vistara cancellations lead to surge in spot airfares by up to 38%

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2024

The spot airfares on major routes, where Vistara cancelled flights on Tuesday, have surged by up to 38 per cent, according to data provided by Cleartrip. The spot airfares for Tuesday were compared with March 5. Vistara has cancelled 52 flights on routes such as Delhi-Indore, Delhi-Srinagar, Mumbai-Kochi, and Bengaluru-Udaipur as a certain section of pilots went on sick leave, reportedly protesting against the new salary structure that was introduced as part of the airline's merger with Air India.

Govt targets zero load shedding this summer

Govt targets zero load shedding this summer

Rediff.com   3 Apr 2024

As India's electricity demand soars, the power ministry on Tuesday reviewed the power supply situation to ensure 'zero load shedding' during the summer months. The ministry has drafted plans ranging from delaying planned maintenance of thermal power stations to mandatory operations of imported coal-based and gas-based stations till September. In a series of meetings with industry stakeholders, Union Minister for Power, New, and Renewable Energy R K Singh emphasised the importance of adequate planning to avoid situations where one state has surplus power while another state faces shortages.

Infra Key Talking Point For BJP In 2024

Infra Key Talking Point For BJP In 2024

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2024

Key infrastructure sectors -- from railways to power, and from coal to petroleum -- will not only be part of the achievements but promises too, as the BJP fights to get a third term at the Centre.

Will Ombudsman Fix Air Travel Hassles?

Will Ombudsman Fix Air Travel Hassles?

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2024

'The ministry may like to consider setting up an ombudsman similar to electricity ombudsman and insurance ombudsman, to ensure a time-bound resolution of consumer issues within the airline sector.'

Kolkata Firms Who Bought Electoral Bonds

Kolkata Firms Who Bought Electoral Bonds

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2024

Trinamool Congress is the second highest recipient of political donations through electoral bonds.