Latest news with #BhupendrabhaiPatel
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Indian Express
6 people fall into river as bridge slab collapses during demolition in Gujarat's Junagadh; no injuries reported
At least six people, including a child, fell into the shallow Ajak River in Gujarat's Junagadh district after a slab of a dilapidated causeway-like bridge collapsed as it was being demolished on Tuesday morning. No injuries were reported in the incident that took place less than a week after the Vadodara tragedy on July 9, when 20 people were killed after the Munjpur-Gambhira bridge partially collapsed. The latest incident occurred in Mangrol taluka. Video footage accessed by The Indian Express shows the people who fell into the river, including some in the traditional 'kediyu' attire of the Maldhari community, attempting to climb back by clambering on the collapsed slab. A bulldozer can also be seen perched on the slab, which is bent 45 degrees into the shallow river and surrounded by debris. 'The bridge has been demolished as part of a precaution. Our teams were surveying all bridges and highways. When they inspected this bridge, they found it needed to be demolished, and this particular way was closed, and an alternate route was given,' Anil Ranavasiya, Junagadh Collector, told The Indian Express. 'There are three slab-drain type structures. When the machine was demolishing one part, it slid down,' he added. Asked if locals had fallen into the river along with workers, the collector said he was en route to the site and would see the situation before commenting on the matter. However, a hurried government statement on Tuesday morning said, 'In the incident of the dilapidated bridge between Ajak-Antroli villages near Mangrol in Junagadh district, the truth has come out that in fact this bridge has not broken but has been demolished. On the instructions of CM Bhupendrabhai Patel, the inspection of dilapidated bridges and the repair of roads are going on in full swing across the state, as part of which some bridges in Junagadh district have also been closed after the inspection. The repair work has now been started by the relevant departments on these bridges.' The statement added, 'Regarding the incident of the bridge slab breaking near Mangrol, Junagadh District Road and Building Department Executive Engineer Abhishek Gohil said that as part of this work, the bridge between Antroli near Mangrol was found to be dilapidated after the inspection of the officials of the Road Building Department Panchayat. Its slab was found to be dilapidated, and the work of removing it had begun. While this work was going on, a large part of the bridge slab fell down. It is clarified that no one was injured or killed in this incident.'
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Amit Shah lays foundation of India's 1st national cooperative university in Gujarat
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Saturday laid the foundation stone of Tribhuvan, India's first national university for cooperatives, in Gujarat's Anand district. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, Union ministers of state for cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar and Muralidhar Mohol attended the event held on the campus of the Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI) here. Shah performed a ritualistic pooja and unveiled a plaque. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo The university has been named after Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel, a pioneer of the cooperative movement in India and a key figure behind the foundation of Amul. Patel died on June 3, 1994. He was born on October 22, 1903 in Kheda, Anand. Live Events The Tribhuvan Sahkari University (TSU) aims to prepare professional and trained manpower to meet the growing needs of the cooperative sector, a government statement said. It will train around 20 lakh personnel of cooperative societies like Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Dairy, Fisheries, etc, in the next five years, it said. The varsity will provide specialised education, training and research opportunities in areas such as cooperative management, finance, law and rural development, it said. It is tasked with empowering cooperative institutions at the grassroots level by promoting innovation, capacity building, improving governance, and accelerating inclusive and sustainable rural economic development , the statement read. The varsity will also offer a range of flexible and multi-disciplinary programmes, including PhD, managerial degrees, diplomas at the supervisory level, and certificates at the operational level, it said. Subject-specific schools have been designed to be set up on the varsity campus and in other states, and there is a plan to create a national network to "standardise" the quality of cooperative education and training. The statement said that to create a national network, the TSU will try to connect more than 200 existing cooperative institutions in the next four years. "There is currently no institutional mechanism in India to support research and development focused on innovation and affordable technologies in cooperatives, especially for rural areas. "Keeping this in mind, a dedicated research and development council will be set up in the university which will undertake research and development in the cooperative sector and also promote it in affiliated institutions," it said.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Matter bets big on vertical integration and local supply chain
Founded in 2019, Matter recently inaugurated its first manufacturing facility in Gujarat, inaugurated by the Chief Minister. In a conversation with ET Manufacturing, Arun Pratap Singh , Chief Operating Officer of Matter, shares the company's manufacturing roadmap, product positioning strategy, and how deep integration of R&D is shaping the innovation trajectory for Matter's EVs. Q: You're one of the youngest players in India's EV two-wheeler space. What kind of capacity are you aiming for in the next five years? A: We began our journey in 2019 and inaugurated our first facility on April 5 this year. It was a proud moment to have the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendrabhai Patel, do the honors. Our current facility has a production capacity of 1,20,000 vehicles annually. We aim to achieve this output within the next two to three years. As for the five-year roadmap, we're targeting a capacity expansion to 3 to 6 lakh units annually, with multiple product lines and likely a shift to a larger facility within that timeframe. Q: Those are ambitious targets. But scaling production is one side—how do you plan to market and sell this volume in such a dynamic EV market? A: That's a critical point. We were deliberate in our product development approach. After multiple stages of market research, we went from concept to prototype, tested the prototype, refined it, and seeded the final product in the Ahmedabad market to gather customer feedback. We made further improvements based on that. Now, we are expanding our dealer network. We've already launched in Ahmedabad and recently opened in Jaipur. This month, we're opening five more dealerships across Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. By August 2025, we aim to have 35 dealerships operational. And by next year, we plan to scale that number to around 85 dealerships, ensuring that the plant output aligns with market absorption. Q: How did you arrive at the final price point? Is there room for price changes in the future? A: We ran a pre-booking campaign in 2023 at a particular price point, which helped us gauge market sentiment. When deliveries began in October, we gathered further feedback and fine-tuned our pricing based on competitive benchmarking and customer expectations. Our product is pitched in the 150-200cc segment, and we've ensured that over a three-year ownership period, our EV is not just competitive, but also delivers greater savings than the cost of the petrol bike it replaces. The total cost of ownership (TCO) makes it a highly viable alternative for value-conscious Indian customers. Q: I was told by your co-founder that the product isn't being positioned as a sports bike despite its looks and performance. What's the idea behind this unique positioning? A: While many EV startups are branding their bikes with race dynamics or sports pedigree, we took a different route. Our idea is to offer the commuter a sporty, feature-rich, and safe riding experience—without being limited to a niche. The bike is built for intra-city usage but has the styling and performance to appeal to young Indians. It features a connected dashboard with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, navigation, and music streaming. All of this, combined with a favorable TCO, makes the offering stand out in a practical, everyday context. Q: A colleague at your plant mentioned the bike feels like a 125cc, 150cc, or 180cc depending on the mode. Can you elaborate? A: Absolutely. The bike offers three riding modes: Eco, City, and Sport. These modes effectively mimic the performance of 125cc, 150cc, and 180cc petrol bikes, respectively. While our target segment is 150-200cc, customers from the 125cc category may also find it appealing due to long-term cost savings. We've designed it to deliver performance and economy across multiple use cases. The value proposition broadens our appeal beyond traditional sport or commuter bike segmentation. Q: Yours is the world's first geared electric motorcycle. What was the learning curve like? Did you take cues from existing EV manufacturing practices? A: We didn't follow a template. We built our own technology from the ground up. Our team comes from the automotive industry, so we brought that rigour to product development and manufacturing. Our product isn't a generic design—it's fully patented, with over 300 patents filed and 70+ granted. The battery alone has 55 patents. So, yes, while we are aware of industry benchmarks, we built our own processes suited to our unique architecture. Q: How did your process innovations make lifetime warranty for batteries possible? A: We've made significant process innovations, especially in battery manufacturing. While the current facility is in an initial phase, we are gradually increasing automation and adopting Industry 4.0 practices. Our machines are interconnected, allowing real-time IoT-based monitoring of parameters like usage, wastage, and process time. This data allows us to make accurate capacity and quality predictions. While we will scale automation, we are also conscious of employment generation, so we are striking a balance between human and machine inputs. Q: Could you elaborate on what Matter does in-house and what you outsource? A: When we say 'everything that makes the bike electric' is ours, we mean it. We design and manufacture our battery systems, motors, controllers, gearboxes—the entire EV drivetrain. These components are designed in-house, patented, and assembled at our plant. For components like wheels, tyres, and other standard mechanical parts, we collaborate with external partners. Today, we work with around 150+ suppliers, and barring cells and rare-earth magnets, everything else is sourced from India. Q: What does your bill of materials (BoM) look like in terms of India vs. imports? A: If you consider complete assemblies, around 60 per ent of our BoM by value is sourced from India. However, if you go deeper and analyse the core inputs like semiconductors—which are not yet manufactured in India—that number can shift. That said, our partners assemble most of these parts here, so the final value addition in India is significant. As semiconductor fabs and component facilities start coming up—particularly in Gujarat—we are open to localizing further. Q: Are any such localisation conversations already underway with Indian semiconductor or magnet manufacturers? A: Not yet. At this point, we are focusing on established, reliable suppliers to ensure consistency and scalability. But yes, as Indian component manufacturing ecosystems mature, we will definitely explore domestic partnerships. Q: What are some innovations you've implemented at your plant that set Matter apart from the rest of the industry? A: Without revealing too much, I can say that our battery assembly line is one area where we've built considerable IP. Some of those innovations will be filed as process patents soon. These improvements not only enhance quality and safety but also improve efficiency and allow us to train workers faster. In fact, our approach to Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) has significantly reduced production complexity. That's an outcome of our deep R&D investment. Q: You mentioned that Matter has a team of 900+, including 400 engineers. How has this engineering focus shaped your manufacturing processes? A: The synergy between our R&D and manufacturing teams has been foundational. Having over 400 engineers helped us design components that are not only innovative but also easy to assemble, repair, and scale. This integrated approach ensures smoother production, better quality control, and faster go-to-market timelines. Q: Final thoughts—what would you say is Matter's core manufacturing philosophy? Our manufacturing philosophy is rooted in three pillars: Design in India, Make for India, and Continuously Innovate. Every Matter motorcycle that rolls off the assembly line carries our core DNA—deep R&D, process innovation, and customer-centric engineering. We're building not just a vehicle, but a value-driven ecosystem for the future of Indian mobility.
Mint
12-06-2025
- General
- Mint
Ahmedabad Plane Crash Today Live Updates: Air India flight crashes near airport; Amit Shah speaks to Gujarat CM
12 Jun 2025, 02:44 PM IST Ahmedabad Plane Crash Today Live Updates: As soon as the report of the crash of AI flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London, spread, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu took to X and said he is devastated to learn about the crash. He also said that the Ministry is on highest alert. He wrote, "Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad. We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action." "Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site. My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families." 12 Jun 2025, 02:38 PM IST Ahmedabad Plane Crash Today Live Updates: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to the Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, state Home Minister and the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner regarding the plane crash. He also assured to provide Central government assistance. 12 Jun 2025, 02:37 PM IST Ahmedabad Plane Crash Today Live Updates: Soon after the crash, Air India took to X and wrote that 'Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest and on our X handle." 12 Jun 2025, 02:31 PM IST Ahmedabad Plane Crash Today Live Updates: Gujarat CM Bhupendrabhai Patel has reached Ahmedabad.
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Infosys leases over 1 lakh sq ft office space in GIFT City for ₹57.26 lakh monthly rent. Here's all we know
Tech giant Infosys Limited has leased 1.03 lakh sq ft office space in Gujarat's GIFT City for a monthly rent of ₹57.26 lakh for 10 years, lease documents accessed by Propstack showed. Real estate experts say the deal is expected to boost the commercial real estate market in the area. Infosys has leased office space in the PRAGYA-2 building, located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The development centre spans four contiguous floors (14 to 17) and is designed to accommodate up to 1,000 employees. Real estate experts say this move marks a significant expansion of the IT major's footprint in India's only operational International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). According to the lease documents, the rental agreement commenced in October 2024 and is valid for 10 years. Infosys is paying ₹55 per sq ft per month on the chargeable area of 1.03 lakh sq ft and ₹108 per sq ft per month on the carpet area, which measures 53,020 sq ft. The lease includes an annual rent escalation of 5%. Infosys has paid a security deposit of ₹3.43 crore to the landlord, Savvy Realty Creators LLP. The agreement also provides for 71 dedicated car parking slots, with the option to lease additional spaces at ₹2,000 per slot per month. The lease carries a lock-in period of three years, documents showed. The office space was officially inaugurated on June 7. "It will function as a key TechFin hub, delivering advanced digital solutions for global BFSI clients. Its services will span critical domains including digital banking, regulatory affairs, trade finance, capital markets, cards and payments, as well as risk and compliance management," Infosys said in a regulatory filing. The new development centre was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendrabhai Patel, on June 7. Jayesh Sanghrajka, Infosys's chief financial officer, was quoted as saying, 'Setting up our Development Centre in GIFT City is a strategic step aligned with our vision of leading innovation in financial services from within India's foremost international financial hub. GIFT City offers a robust, future-ready environment that enables digital transformation through cutting-edge technologies such as AI, Gen AI, cloud, and blockchain. This presence not only strengthens our global delivery model but also reinforces our long-term commitment to the region's economic development and digital evolution.' Email queries have been sent to Infosys and Savvy Realty Creators. If a response is received, the copy will be updated. Also Read: GIFT City in Gujarat: Here's what you should know about India's first IFSC and a global financial hub Located between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, better known as GIFT City, sprawls over 880 acres along the Sabarmati River. The city is structured into two key zones: a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) tailored for export-oriented businesses, and a domestic area designed to support residential and commercial activity. About 30% of the city is currently developed and operational, with another 30% designated for upcoming housing and community spaces. Real estate experts said that the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) area within GIFT City exhibits negligible vacancy in commercial Grade A assets, indicating high demand. "The SEZ micro-market demonstrates minimal vacancy levels, recorded at 1.46% and strong annual net absorption of 0.5 million square feet in 2024. While the current supply is tight, new commercial inventory is anticipated by the end of 2025. The rentals for Grade A buildings are on an upward trajectory, reaching north of ₹70 per sq ft per month," Samantak Das, executive director and head of research and REIS, JLL India, told Experts pointed out that the robust commercial ecosystem is further strengthened by the presence of major financial and IT companies, including Infosys, Cognizant, Infineon Technologies, Accenture, Wipro, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and JP Morgan. On the residential front, Das said over 14 million sq ft (about 23%) of the city's total construction allocation is dedicated to residential development and 6 million sq ft (about 10%) to social development. Also Read: GIFT City liquor permit rules eased; Real estate developers say move to attract investments Real estate experts say investors can expect a return on investment (ROI) in the range of 7% to 8% in Gift City, which is considered healthy given the market conditions and the city's rapid development trajectory. "Investors should first understand the distinction between the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) and the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), as both zones offer distinct advantages. GIFT City has gained attention on the global stage, drawing interest from international investors due to its phenomenal growth story. Whether investing in residential or commercial assets, GIFT City presents a promising opportunity," Rumit Parikh, senior director of occupier strategy and solutions at Knight Frank India, said. Additionally, there is no Goods and Services Tax (GST) on services received by an Indian Financial System Code (IFSC). "Similarly, transactions conducted on IFSC exchanges are also exempt from GST. Investors continue to benefit from exemptions on Securities Transaction Tax (STT), Commodities Transaction Tax (CTT), and stamp duty for transactions carried out on IFSC exchanges," Das said.
