Madhukar Roat is new Palakkad DRM
Before joining Palakkad, Mr. Roat served as the chief freight traffic manager (CFTM) in North Western Railway, Jaipur.
Mr. Roat, a 1997-batch IRTS officer, brings diverse experience to his new role. He has served in key positions across the Indian Railways, including Northeast Frontier Railway and Western Railway, and also worked on deputation as chief general manager with CONCOR (Container Corporation of India) in Ahmedabad.
During his tenure in Ahmedabad division, Mr. Roat spearheaded initiatives to open private freight terminals (PFTs), boosting the division's freight handling capacity. He also played a key role in implementing the Indian Railways' Non-Government Railway (NGR) operations policy at Kandla Port, a pioneering effort in the sector.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Croatia Is Offering A Digital Nomad Visa Under Rs 10,000 To Work And Live There For A Year
If you want to live and work amidst the natural beauty of beaches, Croatia should be on your list. The country is known for its prettiest beaches in Europe, and you can live here for up to a year with a Digital Nomad Visa. What Is Croatia's Digital Nomad Visa? Croatia's Digital Nomad Visa is a temporary residence permit for digital nomads that allows non-EU/EEA/Swiss remote workers to legally live and work in Croatia. Designed to attract professionals who are not location-bound. With a Digital Nomad Visa Residence Permit, you will be allowed to live and work in Croatia as a digital nomad for six months to a year, and it functions more like a temporary resident permit than a visa. Although the standard temporary stay was originally capped (with up to 18 months and rules for reapplication after gaps), as of March 2025, amendments to the Aliens Act allow non-EU digital nomads to legally reside in Croatia for up to three years under the broader digital nomad framework, subject to updated regulatory implementation. Who Is Eligible? To qualify for the Croatia digital nomad temporary residence permit, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria: Proof of remote work in the form of an agreement or contract. You should have a business registration if you are an independent worker. Monthly income of at least €3,295 per month (Rs 3,34,215 approximately). A valid private health insurance covering the entire intended stay in Croatia. No certificate of criminal conviction from your country of residence. Proof of accommodation. A valid passport valid for at least three months beyond the intended stay. How To Apply 1. Gather all documents, including: Proof of remote work Income proof Health insurance Clean criminal record Accommodation proof Ensure you have copies in both English and Croatian. 2. Apply online via the official website. You can submit your application to a Croatian embassy or in person at the local police station near your temporary residence in Croatia. The visa fee will be as follows: If applying at a diplomatic mission/consulate (abroad): Granting temporary stay: €55.74 (Rs 5,653 approx.) Long-term visa: €93 (Rs 9,433 approx.) If applying within Croatia at a police administration or a police station, the prices may vary: Granting temporary stay: €46.45 (Rs 4,711 approx.) Administrative fee for biometric residence permit: €9.29 (Rs 942 approx.) Biometric residence card: €31.85 (Rs 3,230 approx.) Accelerated procedure total for residence card: €59.73 (Rs 6,058 approx.) 3. Once approved, register your temporary residence address within the required window, which is typically within 30 days or six months, depending on entry visa rules. If you enter the country immediately, you must register your address within 3 days. 4. Obtain the biometric card in person, which involves submitting a photo/biometrics and paying associated fees.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Knowledge Realty Trust opens Rs 4,800 cr IPO Tuesday
BENGALURU: Knowledge Realty Trust (KRT), sponsored by real estate firm Sattva Group and Blackstone, is set to open its Rs 4,800 crore initial public offering (IPO) on Tuesday at a price band of Rs 95-100 per unit. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Upon listing, KRT is expected to become India's largest office REIT and the second-largest in Asia by gross asset value. The issue closes on Thursday. Ahead of the IPO, KRT raised Rs 1,400 crore in a pre-IPO placement from family offices and high-net-worth investors. This early round led to a reduction of the size of the public issue from the originally planned Rs 6,200 crore to Rs 4,800 crore. The IPO will be conducted through a book-building process, with 75% of the offer (excluding the strategic investor portion) reserved for institutional investors and at least 25% for non-institutional bidders. The minimum bid size is 150 units, amounting to Rs 15,000. All proceeds from the issue will be used to pare debt, which will bring down the REIT's loan-to-value ratio to 19%. 'The entire offering is to reduce debt. That gives us one of the lowest leverage levels among REITs and positions us strongly for growth,' Shirish Godbole, CEO of Knowledge Realty Trust, told TOI. KRT's portfolio spans 29 Grade-A office properties across six cities – Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Gurugram and GIFT City – covering 46.3 million sft, including 9.2 million sft of under-construction and future development. Its gross asset value stands at Rs 62,000 crore. Godbole said KRT's edge lies in its location quality and expansion strategy. 'We have assets in irreplaceable micro-markets such as Hyderabad's HITEC City, Mumbai's BKC and Lower Parel and Bengaluru's Outer Ring Road. These locations not only capture upside during market growth but also hold value in downturns,' he told TOI. Quaiser Parvez, COO of KRT, highlighted the REIT's tenant profile as another differentiator. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'We have 450 occupiers, 76% of them multinationals, with no single tenant contributing more than 6% of our gross rents. About 45% of our rent comes from global capability centres. This gives us minimal concentration risk,' Parvez said. KRT also plans to pursue third-party acquisitions through a 'brand-neutral' platform that allows local developers to retain their branding while monetising assets. 'This approach opens the door to acquisitions from smaller size builders of Grade A assets across key markets, non-strategic owners such as family offices or corporates, something Indian REITs have barely tapped,' Godbole said. Another distinguishing factor, according to Godbole, is KRT's limited exposure to special economic zone (SEZ) assets. 'Tenants today prefer non-SEZ space because SEZs have lost their tax benefits but continue to carry compliance requirements. Our lower SEZ exposure positions us better for demand,' he noted. Lead managers for the IPO include Kotak Mahindra Capital, Axis Capital, BofA Securities India, ICICI Securities, IIFL Capital, JM Financial, Morgan Stanley India and SBI Capital Markets. The units are proposed to be listed on the NSE and BSE.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
After Prime Video, this Amazon service to get ads, confirms CEO Andy Jassy
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy confirmed during the company's second-quarter earnings call that advertisements will be integrated into Alexa+ conversations, marking the next phase of Amazon's ad expansion strategy after introducing ads to Prime Video. The generative AI-powered voice assistant could see ads delivered during multi-turn conversations as "a lever to drive revenue," Jassy told investors Thursday. Currently, Alexa+ costs $19.99 monthly for non-Prime members while remaining free for Prime subscribers who pay $14.99 monthly. Jassy hinted at potential subscription tiers beyond current offerings, suggesting an ad-free premium option similar to Prime Video's structure. Amazon's AI assistant struggles with profitability despite millions of users The move addresses Amazon's Devices & Services division's financial challenges, which reportedly lost $25 billion between 2017 and 2021 despite having 500 million Alexa-enabled devices. Amazon has invested heavily in AI development, with capital expenditures rising 90% to $31.4 billion in Q2 2025, primarily for AI chips and data centers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Private Jet - The Prices May Surprise You! Private Jet I Search Ads Learn More Undo Traditional Alexa already features limited advertising through visual ads on Echo Show displays and occasional audio promotions between songs. However, Jassy's vision involves AI-generated ads seamlessly integrated into natural conversations, representing uncharted territory for voice assistants. Tech giants embrace AI advertising as new revenue stream Amazon joins other tech companies exploring AI-powered advertising. Google has begun testing ads within AI search responses, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed openness to "tasteful" advertising in ChatGPT. Microsoft is actively courting advertisers for its Copilot platform. The advertising integration raises privacy concerns, as users typically share more personal information during conversational AI interactions compared to traditional assistants. Early Alexa+ reviews have been mixed, with Amazon reportedly struggling to deliver promised features despite the gradual rollout to millions of customers. Amazon's advertising revenue grew 22% year-over-year in Q2, highlighting the business model's importance as the company seeks to monetize its substantial AI investments. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
