Vinay Umarji, Aneesh Phadnis

Stories by Vinay Umarji, Aneesh Phadnis

Covid-19: Mumbai to ramp up testing to 4,000 a day

Covid-19: Mumbai to ramp up testing to 4,000 a day

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2020

Mumbai, with an estimated population of nearly 20 million, has been testing 1,200-1,400 people per day. Delay in the delivery of rapid antibody test kits has forced the BMC to restrict its testing net.

A year after, Jet Air's lenders, employees still await payments

A year after, Jet Air's lenders, employees still await payments

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2020

Though NCLT has extended window to find a buyer, bankers don't see much hope of a deal.

Gujarat pharma hub hit by near-zero exports

Gujarat pharma hub hit by near-zero exports

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2020

With the government asking the companies to operate with only 50 per cent staff strength, and exports dipping to almost zero, the truck and bus drivers idling at the petrol pump say they hardly have any work now. At a petrol pump on the deserted Bavla-Changodar highway near Ahmedabad in Gujarat, several trucks and buses are neatly parked in a row.

Airports in India staring at 40-60% fall in passenger volume

Airports in India staring at 40-60% fall in passenger volume

Rediff.com   9 Apr 2020

Such a disruption will take the clock back by many years - in terms of passengers handled - for these airports, thus raising questions among some of the airport operators over a delay in expansion plans.

Corona effect: Job offers for IIMs, IITians cancelled

Corona effect: Job offers for IIMs, IITians cancelled

Rediff.com   7 Apr 2020

What will happen to the job placement and summer internship plans of India's management and IIT students? Many campuses are stepping in to help students hang on to their placements, in spite of the lockdown.

Free courses, offers... Online learning gets tempting!

Free courses, offers... Online learning gets tempting!

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2020

Edtech brands are offering discounts, adding fresh content and engaging more frequently with users during the lockdown, reports Vinay Umarji.

States rope in pvt hospitals to fight coronavirus

States rope in pvt hospitals to fight coronavirus

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2020

In the past one week alone, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh have issued orders to take over private hospitals in some districts. Sohini Das, Vinay Umarji and Gireesh Babu report.

Refunds to come slow as airline revenues choke

Refunds to come slow as airline revenues choke

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2020

International airlines are offering affected passengers an option of refund, vouchers, discounts on future bookings, and the opportunity to hold tickets for up to two years following travel bans.

Gujarat firm gets licence to make covid-19 test kits

Gujarat firm gets licence to make covid-19 test kits

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2020

A joint venture of Synbiotics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ambalal Sarabhai Enterprises (ASE), and CoDiagnostics, CoSara Diagnostics is the first and only Indian company so far to receive a licence from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to manufacture coronavirus diagnostic test kits.

Travel portals, airlines are grappling with cancellations

Travel portals, airlines are grappling with cancellations

Rediff.com   18 Mar 2020

The issues include not getting refunds on airline and hotel bookings, getting charged a service fee even if airlines have waived cancellation charges and so on. Complaints are piling up on Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels as more and more people cancel their travel plans due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

How companies deal with coronavirus panic

How companies deal with coronavirus panic

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2020

Employees asked to work from home... cancelled travel plans... curtailed meetings... Caution and precaution dominate Corporate India's response to Covid-19.

Covid-19: DGCA asks foreign airlines to waive cancellation fee

Covid-19: DGCA asks foreign airlines to waive cancellation fee

Rediff.com   14 Mar 2020

Indian airlines have also been advised separately to give relief, an official said.

Is it safe to travel in the time of coronivirus?

Is it safe to travel in the time of coronivirus?

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2020

Flight occupancy and fresh bookings have dropped over ten per cent in last few days as individuals and corporates defer trips. International travel is already hit due to a series of visa restrictions.

Coronavirus outbreak: Airlines seek relief package from govt

Coronavirus outbreak: Airlines seek relief package from govt

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2020

Airlines sought a limited period concession of the standing rule of slot allocation, which mandates that firms must operate at least 80 per cent of their allocated slots.

DGCA warns airlines over not following Covid-19 rules

DGCA warns airlines over not following Covid-19 rules

Rediff.com   11 Mar 2020

"We have found that a couple of international airlines are not adhering to the rules. Failure to adhere to rules shall entail strict action," said Director General of Civil Aviation Arun Kumar.

Coronavirus fears see drop in domestic flight bookings

Coronavirus fears see drop in domestic flight bookings

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2020

Executives of Indian airlines said that the drop is primarily for flights to major metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, which are the prime revenue generators on the domestic front.

Coronavirus outbreak: Airfares to UK, US get cheaper by 30%

Coronavirus outbreak: Airfares to UK, US get cheaper by 30%

Rediff.com   6 Mar 2020

Travel restrictions are in place only for a limited number of countries but people are cancelling or postponing travel to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

With coronavirus going strong, aviation cos feel the heat

With coronavirus going strong, aviation cos feel the heat

Rediff.com   29 Feb 2020

Reduction in fuel price was supposed to bring back good luck for Indian airlines. But with the global spread of coronavirus, airlines are being forced to rejig their network, cut flights, and delay launches.

Coronavirus impact: Saudi move to halt pilgrimages to hit Indian carriers

Coronavirus impact: Saudi move to halt pilgrimages to hit Indian carriers

Rediff.com   28 Feb 2020

Over 50 per cent of all traffic to Jeddah consists pilgrims headed to Mecca and Medina.

Adani group joins race to buy Air India, may submit EoI by March

Adani group joins race to buy Air India, may submit EoI by March

Rediff.com   25 Feb 2020

Apart from the Adani group, the Tata group, the Hinduja group, Indigo and a New York-based fund, Interups, are expected to submit EoIs.