Latest news with #Rajasthan-based
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Manimajra's 24x7 water supply project hits turbulence; MC internal report, Chandigarh BJP chief flag major flaws
1 2 3 4 Chandigarh: What was once hailed as a flagship initiative under the 'Viksit Bharat' vision is now under intense scrutiny. The ambitious 24x7 water supply pilot project in Manimajra, inaugurated with much fanfare by Union home minister Amit Shah in Aug 2024, has hit turbulent waters. Amid growing concerns and political pressure, Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria is set to convene a high-level meeting to dissect the project's faltering progress. The move comes in the wake of a strongly worded letter from Chandigarh BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra to the Union home minister, expressing alarm over the project's execution. Sources confirm that the ministry of home affairs has since forwarded the letter to the UT Administrator, prompting urgent administrative attention. The project, spearheaded by Chandigarh Smart City Limited and executed through a Rajasthan-based agency, was envisioned to revolutionize water supply in Manimajra — transitioning from intermittent to round-the-clock pressurized water delivery, complete with smart metering and automated control systems. But the reality on the ground paints a starkly different picture. A confidential internal report by the Engineering Department of the Municipal Corporation has laid bare a series of alarming discrepancies: No zone in Manimajra has achieved 24x7 pressurized water supply; pressure reducing valves (PRVs) and variable frequency drive (VFD) pumping systems remain non-operational; major lapses in the construction of underground reservoirs, pumping stations, and the rollout of the SCADA automation system; and much-touted smart water meters are yet to be fully deployed. The project was awarded through an e-tender at a staggering Rs 165.86 crore, split into capital expenditure (capex) — Rs 74.56 crore — and operational expenditure (OPEX) — Rs 91.29 crore. Despite the scale of investment, the outcomes have been underwhelming — a fact that has not gone unnoticed by local leadership. Malhotra has reportedly warned that the project's failure is damaging the BJP's image and undermining the Prime Minister's development agenda. What's Next? With the spotlight now firmly on the project, the upcoming meeting chaired by Kataria is expected to be a turning point. Malhotra's letter to Shah In a letter to Amit Shah, Chandigarh BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra said, "In August 2024, a project was inaugurated by you, in the presence of administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, chief secretary Rajeev Verma, and other dignitaries, for 24-hour water supply with proper pressure for all floors. The funds amounting to Rs 75 crore were allocated for the project under the smart city mission. The reality of this project clearly reflects that the whole project has collapsed, and nobody is held accountable and responsible for this wastage of Rs 75 crore. Sir, on one side, taxes are being imposed on the public, and on the other, Rs 75 crore have been wasted. Certainly, there are policy lapses or a lack of accountability in the system of administration of UT Chandigarh. The media reports are causing grave damage to our reputation in public at large and are also not in tune with our visionary Prime Minister's dream of VIKSIT BHARAT: 2047. Your good self is thus humbly requested to intervene in the matter and call for a detailed inquiry report on the same."
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Four cos bid for demolition of Hatkeshwar bridge
Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is moving forward with its plan to demolish the controversial Hatkeshwar flyover bridge. Its second attempt to dismantle the structure is gaining traction after a short-term tender for the work, valued at Rs 9.3 crore, was issued last week. Four companies have expressed interest and submitted their bids and a decision will be taken soon, sources said. The proposal will soon be presented to the roads and buildings committee and the standing committee for approval. Constructed between 2015 and 2017 at a cost of Rs 34 crore, the Hatkeshwar flyover was inaugurated in 2017. But within five years, it deteriorated, leading to its closure for vehicular traffic in 2022. The construction was carried out by contractor Ajay Engineering Infrastructure Pvt Ltd. (AEIPL), with a defect liability period of one year. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad The first cracks on the structure appeared in March 2021, with a report on the poor quality of construction following in May 2021. Material tests by three private laboratories and expert assessments from IIT Roorkee and SVNIT confirmed the issues, culminating in a final report by a three-member committee. The report highlighted several critical flaws: substandard concrete quality, improper water-cement ratio leading to porous concrete, carbonation affecting durability, and insufficient cement content, all contributing to reduced structural integrity. On April 15, 2023, AMC commissioner M Thennarasan announced the decision to demolish the bridge, blacklisting the contractor AEIPL and the project management consultant (PMC) SGS India Pvt Ltd. Four AMC officers were suspended, and departmental inquiries were initiated against four others. An FIR was filed against eight officials of the contractor firm and the PMC under IPC sections 120(B), 406, and 420. The civic body plans to recover all demolition and reconstruction costs from the contractor. Despite issuing three tenders for the project, no bids were received. A fourth tender, with a base price of Rs 51.7 crore, attracted a bid of Rs 118 crore from a Rajasthan-based company, but the tender was ultimately cancelled after a technical evaluation by a five-member committee. An official associated with the AMC's bridge project said on condition of anonymity, "The tender for the demolition and reconstruction of the Hatkeshwar flyover bridge was cancelled, and a new tender was issued for the work at a cost of only Rs. 9.31 crore. Initially, no company showed interest. Subsequently, a short-term tender was issued, and four companies have shown interest. The tender process is ongoing. Once finalized and approved by the standing committee, the demolition of the Hatkeshwar flyover will commence. "
Nikkei Asia
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Nikkei Asia
Real grief, fake images: How AI hijacked Air India crash coverage
Within hours of the crash of Air India Flight 171, there was a flood of fake, AI-generated content playing on the grief of families of those who died. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Ken Kobayashi) VIREN NAIDU MUMBAI -- Rajasthan-based teacher Kuldeep Bhatt's grief over the loss of his cousin, Komi Vyas, in the Air India 171 crash in mid-June was interrupted in a uniquely modern way -- by an artificial intelligence-generated video depicting her cremation, overlaid with a sophisticated montage and grim music. "We hadn't even identified Komi's body. However, the AI video, stitched together using the selfie Komi had sent us aboard the fateful flight, went viral," Bhatt told Nikkei Asia. Within days of the crash, manipulated visuals based on the selfie had hijacked the family's collective mourning and WhatsApp chats.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Gujarat police seize fourth container of ‘Goa liquor' worth 1.27cr in Bharuch
Surat: The noose tightened further around an inter-state liquor smuggling racket as Bharuch LCB police intercepted a container near Mandva toll plaza on Wednesday, seizing 56,640 bottles of illicit 'Goa liquor' worth Rs 1.27 crore. This marks the fourth consignment dispatched from a Goa-based distillery that reportedly operates on job work provided by Gujarat-based bootleggers. Acting on a tip-off, the Bharuch LCB team kept watch near Mandva police station, suspecting that a consignment of liquor was en route from Vadodara to Surat. Around 1:30pm, a container with a Karnataka number plate was stopped. Inside were thousands of liquor bottles with no official labels or batch numbers, pointing to unauthorized production. The driver, Jagdish Bishnoi, was arrested, while five others — including Ramesh and Vikas Khichad — were declared wanted. Authorities suspect the involvement of the Rajasthan-based Bishnoi Gang, a known player in the Gujarat liquor black market. "This was the fourth container that left Goa last week," said Bharuch DySP CK Patel. "The first was seized during a raid in Vadodara's Chhani area by SMC officials, worth Rs 2.44 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cervecería Nacional CFD: Calcula cuánto podrías ganar invirtiendo solo $100 Empieza a invertir Inscríbete ahora Undo Two more were caught by Navsari police, and the fourth — this one — was intercepted before it could be delivered." According to officials, the driver was instructed to lie low for two days due to increased police vigilance following earlier seizures. However, with no word from the intended receiver, he resumed movement — which led to his capture. "The seized liquor was unofficially manufactured in Goa, without batch numbers or documentation," said a Bharuch LCB official. "The entire supply chain — from distillery to delivery — is being run covertly, with orders allegedly routed through Gujarat-based syndicates."
Hans India
7 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Donations pour in for SVPT
Tirumala: Donations poured in for the TTD-run Sri Venkateswara Pranadana Trust on Monday. Rajasthan-based AK Engineering Company has donated Rs 10,59,000 to Venkateswara Pranadana Trust. On behalf of the firm, Boyapati Akhila handed over the DD for the amount to Additional EO Ch Venkaiah Chowdary at the latter's camp office in Tirumala. Bengaluru-based Agarwal Index Furnace Pvt Ltd has donated Rs 20 lakh to SV Pranadana Trust and on behalf of the company, Raghavendra handed over the DD to the Additional EO at Annamayya Bhavan. Meanwhile, Dandumenu Sasank Krishna from Konaseema district has donated Rs 10,00,006 to the Pranadana Trust a couple of days ago.
