Latest news with #Ila
Time of India
09-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Mumbai, Ahmedabad among Indian airports facing heightened safety risks due to dense urban surroundings
A recent international study has raised red flags about the safety of airports surrounded by dense urban development, placing eight Indian airports among the world's 50 most enclosed by cities. Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport tops the global list, while Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport ranks 12th, weeks after it witnessed one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Indian history, reported TOI. A 2022 study titled You're Surrounded! Measuring the Enclosure of Airports in Urban Areas, by Belgian researchers Taïs Grippa and Frédéric Dobruszkes, highlights the dangers of airports hemmed in by residential zones. The paper, published in The Professional Geographer, introduced an "enclosure index" based on population density within a 15km radius around airports. Densely populated areas near flight paths increase risks on the ground in case of mishaps, besides escalating long-term exposure to noise and air pollution. Mumbai's airport scores an enclosure index of 21,82,819, higher than any other airport globally, while Ahmedabad's is 10,82,503. Other Indian cities on the list include Delhi, Bengaluru, and Surat, indicating a nationwide trend of airports being enveloped by rapid urbanisation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Best Method for a Flat Stomach After 50 (It's Genius!) Lulutox Undo Close calls in Ahmedabad The implications of such enclosure were tragically illustrated in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar area on June 12, when an Air India flight crashed just after take-off, narrowly missing residential clusters and the Civil Hospital campus. In New Laxminagar, a housing colony just 250 metres from the crash site, residents are still shaken. 'It could have been us,' said Ila, a Block F resident, pointing to charred remnants on the BJ Medical College campus. Nearby shopkeeper Rajesh Dantani gestured to the crash site just behind his store, still within sight of aircraft thundering overhead from the nearby runway. Live Events 'Unusually, on that day, this flight failed to maintain its glide angle over Block F,' Ila added, emphasising how close the neighbourhood came to disaster. Poor enforcement of buffer zones Experts have long warned of lax enforcement of zoning laws around Indian airports. A report by Subhash Kumar, former fire services GM at the Airports Authority of India (AAI), notes that Ahmedabad's rapid growth has eroded the 3km buffer traditionally maintained around airports. The proximity of dense housing to flight paths, the report warns, amplified casualties and hindered rescue operations. Urban planning guidelines recommend a 20km low-development zone around airports to prevent encroachments and ensure safety. However, enforcement remains patchy. While new airports are advised to maintain 6–8 sq km of clear space, city expansion has steadily encroached on older airports built on erstwhile outskirts. 'Many airports, like in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Delhi, were originally on the periphery,' said Utpal Sharma, chair professor at Nirma University. 'We did not anticipate this growth.' When the funnel is breached Aviation experts are also concerned about obstruction of the 'airport funnel', the designated flight path corridor used for take-off and landing. Buildings that pierce this path create safety hazards. In Surat, which ranks 39th in the global enclosure index, at least 20 buildings were found to obstruct the funnel back in 2016, and many remain unchanged. 'This regulatory provision has existed for over 30 years,' said urban planner P. L. Sharma. 'Yet, in places like Bhavnagar, there isn't even a mechanism to measure violations.' In Vadodara, authorities tried to mitigate risk by designating surrounding zones as industrial rather than residential. However, experts warn that such zoning shifts remain rare exceptions. Push for greenfield solutions With India planning 50 new airports for better connectivity and growth, experts are urging a rethink in urban-airport integration. 'Safety around airports must be prioritised, especially since most air disasters occur during take-offs and landings,' said Mumbai architect Laxmi Bhagwat. She questioned whether current height restrictions are adequate, as permissions for buildings over 150m near Panvel's upcoming airport raise safety concerns. Ahmedabad's future lies in Dholera, where a greenfield airport has been proposed. While construction is underway, the existing airport is still being expanded. But experts argue that partial expansions won't solve systemic issues. 'This is not how international airports are developed,' said former AAI engineer Amitabh Pawde. 'Air safety requires comprehensive planning, including space for future runways. That's not possible at Ahmedabad airport. The only alternative is to shift it.' He also pointed to another overlooked factor: high ambient temperatures. 'Hotter cities have rarer air, which affects aircraft thrust during take-off.' Social cost of poor planning Despite the clear risks, large populations continue to live in close quarters to India's busiest airports. In Mumbai, for example, the massive Dharavi slum borders both airport terminals. Most residents are unaware of the risks posed by their proximity to flight paths. 'You can't expect low-cost housing residents to know aviation regulations,' said Sharma. 'Their immediate concern is having a roof over their heads.' When accidents occur, the financial compensation offered is often inadequate, especially for those whose injuries permanently affect their livelihoods. 'Recovery is a long and difficult process for the poor,' said a civic official. Metropolitan planning is key Experts agree that the solution lies in more holistic planning. 'Planning must happen at the metropolitan level, not just at the municipal level,' said Utpal Sharma. Under the 74th Constitutional Amendment, cities with populations over 1 million must form Metropolitan Planning Committees (MPCs) to coordinate growth strategies. Cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru already have defined metropolitan boundaries, but implementation lags. 'Airports draw development,' said an aviation industry source. 'Even if built far from the city, satellite populations emerge. Accidents are rare, but the compromise between connectivity and safety must be managed wisely.' Without bold, coordinated policy and stronger enforcement of development norms, experts warn that Indian cities may continue to gamble with lives on the ground, until the next disaster forces yet another reckoning. With inputs from TOI
Time of India
09-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Survey reveals Mumbai, seven other Indian airports are hotbeds for casualties in a crash
Survey reveals Mumbai, seven other Indian airports are hotbeds for casualties in a crash Soumya Arya TNN Jul 9, 2025, 13:21 IST IST Eight Indian airports are among the world's top 50 most enclosed by urban sprawls. Mumbai tops the list, while Ahmedabad — which saw one of India's worst aviation disasters last month — ranks 12th New Laxminagar in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar area is a colony for the urban poor, with 600 flats packed into 11 blocks. The terrace of Block F offers a chilling perspective on how close its 2,000-odd residents were from where AI's flight 171 exploded into a fireball moments after take-off on June 12: just 250 metres. Also dangerously close is the Civil Hospital campus and a sea of settlements. 'It could have been us,' says Ila, a Laxminagar resident, pointing to the charred hostel and mess buildings on the BJ Medical College campus. Her eyes shift left, to an aircraft taking off from the runway, just over 2km away. As it thunders past Block F, the 50-year-old shudders. A few lanes away, Rajesh Dantani (55), who runs a small grocery store near the Gujarat Housing Board colony, points to the spot behind his shop where the plane crashed — it's a stone's throw.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Turning assistant director at 21 has made me a more responsible actor, says Ila Veermalla
Kannada actress Ila Veermalla will be wearing the assistant director's hat once more for an upcoming project. She recently told Bangalore Times how turning assistant director at 21 moulded her ethics and made her a more responsible actor. Excerpts: 'WORKING AS AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR GAVE ME AN ADRENALINE RUSH' This isn't Ila's first foray into assistant directing. On her last project, Murphy, where she also starred as one of the lead actresses, she tried her hand at assistant directing and even served as a costume designer. She tells us that it was on the set of the Prabhu Mundkur-starter that she 'developed a kind of switch while juggling multiple responsibilities'. As a young actor, I feel the Kannada industry gives you more space and room to learn. One gets to communicate openly, and I also believe directors are much more considerate Ila Veermalla 'I was one of the lead actresses, and it took me a couple of months to get the hang of it, but once I found my rhythm, I could easily grasp each person's working wavelength. That experience prepared me as an actor, making me feel truly immersed in the world of cinema,' she shares. 'Working as an assistant director on gives me an adrenaline rush. Since I'm just 21, I have time to shape and present myself as an actor. And there is nothing better than being on a set and learning how to do just that,' she says
CNA
17-06-2025
- CNA
‘Won't get annoyed, won't snap': Indonesians tap AI for judgement-free emotional support, but risks abound
JAKARTA: Ahead of an extended family gathering, Nirmala (not her real name) found herself unusually anxious. The reason: Small talk that could spiral into interrogation. 'Sometimes I just don't know how to answer questions from relatives, and that stresses me out,' said Nirmala, 39, who asked to remain anonymous. In contrast, the generative artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT has been nothing but a source of comfort ever since Nirmala began using it as a sounding board last October. 'It's not that I don't have anyone to talk to,' Nirmala told CNA Indonesia. 'But when I bring up things that people think are trivial, I'm often told I'm being dramatic. So I talk to AI instead – at least it listens without throwing judgement.' Like Nirmala, overseas student Ila (not her real name) has turned to AI-driven chatbots for advice. Ila, 35, first turned to ChatGPT in April 2023 when she was preparing to move abroad for further studies. She later began also using Chinese AI platform DeepSeek. At first, Ila – who also requested anonymity – used the platforms for practical information about university life and daily routines in her host country, which she declined to reveal. 'Before leaving for school, I had a ton of questions about life abroad, especially since I had to bring my children with me. AI became one of the ways I could gain perspective, aside from talking directly with people who'd already been through it,' she said. The platforms' replies put her at such ease that in October last year, she began sharing her personal issues with the chatbots. NO JUDGEMENT FROM CHATBOTS AI chatbots have taken the world by storm in recent years and more people are turning to them for mental health issues. Indonesia is no different. An online survey in April by branding and data firm Snapcart found that 6 per cent of 3,611 respondents there are using AI "as a friend to talk to and share feelings with". Nearly six in 10 (58 per cent) of respondents who gave this answer said they would sometimes consider AI as a replacement for psychologists. People in Southeast Asia's largest economy are not necessarily turning to AI chatbots because they lack human friends, but because AI is available 24/7 and "listens" without judgement, users and observers told CNA Indonesia. The tool, they said, is especially handy in a country with a relatively low number of psychologists. According to the Indonesian Clinical Psychologists Association, the country has 4,004 certified clinical psychologists, of whom 3,084 are actively practising. With a population of about 280 million people, this translates to about 1.43 certified clinical psychologists per 100,000 population. In comparison, neighbouring Singapore has 9.7 psychologists per 100,000 population – a ratio that is already lower than in other Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development nations. The potential benefits of using AI in mental health are clear, experts said, even as risks and the need for regulation exist. The rise of AI as a trusted outlet for emotional expression is closely tied to people's increasingly digital lives, said clinical psychologist Catarina Asthi Dwi Jayanti from Santosha Mental Health Centre in Bandung. AI conversations can feel more intuitive for those who grew up with texting and screens, she said, adding that at least a dozen clients have told her they have consulted AI. "For some people, writing is a way to organise their thoughts. AI provides that space, without the fear of being judged," she said. Conversing with ChatGPT is a safe way of rehearsing her thoughts before opening up to somebody close to her, Nirmala said. "Honestly it doesn't feel like I'm talking to a machine. It feels like a conversation with someone who gets me," she said. AI chatbots offer accessibility, anonymity, and speed, said telecommunications expert Heru Sutadi, executive director of the Indonesia ICT Institute. AI platforms, he said, are "programmed to be neutral and non-critical". "That's why users often feel more accepted, even if the responses aren't always deeply insightful," he said. Unlike a session with a psychologist, "you can access AI 24/7, often at little to no cost", Heru said. "Users can share as much as they want without the pressure of social expectations. And best of all, AI replies instantly." In Indonesia, an in-person session with a private psychologist can cost upwards of 350,000 rupiah (US$21.50). Popular telemedicine platform Halodoc offers psychiatrist consultations at prices starting from 70,000 rupiah, while mental health app Riliv offers online sessions with a psychologist at prices starting from 50,000 rupiah. Another advantage of a chatbot, said Ila, is that it "won't get annoyed, won't snap, won't have feelings about me bombarding it with a dozen questions". "That's not the case when you're talking to a real person," she added. As such, AI can serve as a "first safe zone" before someone seeks professional help, especially when dealing with topics such as sexuality, religion, trauma or family conflict, said Catarina. "The anonymity of the internet, and the comfort that comes with it, allows young people to open up without the fear of shame or social stigma," she explained. Some of her clients, she added, turned to AI because they "felt free to share without worrying what others, including psychologists, might think of them, especially if they feared being labelled as strange or overly emotional." RISKS AND IMPACT ON REAL-LIFE RELATIONSHIPS But mental health professionals are just as wary of the risks posed by AI chatbots, citing issues such as privacy, regulation of the technology and their impact on users' real-life interactions with others. The machines can offer a false sense of comfort, Heru said. "The perceived empathy and safety can be misleading. Users might think AI is capable of human warmth when, in reality, it's just an algorithm mimicking patterns." Another major concern is data privacy, Heru said. Conversations with AI are stored on company servers and if cyber breaches occur, "sensitive data could be leaked, misused for targeted advertising, profiling, or even sold to third parties". For its part, Open AI, ChatGPT's parent company, has said: "We do not actively collect personal information to train our models, do not use public internet data to profile individuals, target advertising, or sell user data." Indonesia released a National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in 2020, but the document is non-binding. AI is currently governed loosely under the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law and the 2022 Personal Data Protection Law, both of which touch on AI but lack specificity. A Code of Ethics for AI was issued by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs in 2023, but its guidelines remain vague. In January this year, Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid announced comprehensive AI regulations would be rolled out. Studies are also emerging on the impact of chatbot usage on users' real-life social interactions. In a 2024 study involving 496 users of the chatbot Replika, researchers from China found that greater use of AI chatbots, and satisfaction with them, could negatively affect a person's real-life interpersonal skills and relationships. Child and adolescent clinical psychologist Lydia Agnes Gultom from Klinik Utama dr. Indrajana said AI-based relationships are inherently one-sided. Such interactions could hinder people's abilities to empathise, resolve conflicts, assert themselves, negotiate or collaborate, she said. "In the long run, this reduces exposure to genuine social interaction," said Agnes. In other countries, experts have highlighted the need for guardrails on the use of AI chatbots for mental health. As these platforms tend to align with and reinforce users' views, they may fail to challenge dangerous beliefs and could potentially drive vulnerable individuals to self-harm, the American Psychological Association told US regulators earlier this year. Safety features introduced by some companies, such as disclaimers that the chatbots are not "real people", are also inadequate, the experts said. AI can complement the work of mental health professionals, experts told CNA Indonesia. It can offer initial emotional support and a space for humans to share and explore their feelings with the right prompts, said Catarina of Santosha Mental Health Centre. But when it comes to diagnosis and grasping the complexity of human emotions, AI still falls short, she said. "It lacks interview (skills), observation and a battery of assessment tools." AI cannot provide proper intervention in emergency situations such as suicide ideation, panic attacks or abuse, said Agnes of Klinik Utama dr. Indrajana, a healthcare clinic in Jakarta. Therapeutic relationships rooted in trust, empathy, and nonverbal communication can only happen between humans, she added.
