Category: Business & Economy

** 10,000 km of routes mapped in Greater Kochi area

The app-based survey aims at rationalising public transport

A total of 250 of the 360 active bus routes in the Greater Kochi area have been mapped by Systra Consortium, a French transport planning agency that was deputed by the Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority (KMTA) to ready a report on rationalising bus routes in the Greater Kochi area.

This has helped map bus routes and bus stops in around 10,000 km of different bus routes that are located as far away as Munambam, N. Paravur and Angamaly on the city’s north, Perumbavoor, Kakkanad, Pookattupady, Ambalamugal, and Poothotta on the east, Aroor and Chellanam on the south, and the densely populated West Kochi region. Muvattupuzha too might be brought under the ambit, it is learnt.

** ‘Mega IPL auction’, a global attraction, all set to unfold

590 players will be up for new contracts, with franchises entitled to spend upto ₹561.50 crore

The Indian Premier League auctions, where life-altering sums of money are on offer to cricketers from around the world, generate as much interest as the tournament matches.

A ‘mega auction’, with a bigger pool of players vying for a bigger total purse, will draw that much more attention. Over the weekend, 590 cricketers will be up for new contracts, with franchises entitled to spend upto ₹561.50 crore to acquire their services.

Among the 10 marquee players, David Warner, Shreyas Iyer and Pat Cummins could go for megabucks. They are proven performers, who double their value as potential captains. They will pique the interest of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) — franchises in search of a concrete leadership group.

* NRI teen girl invents problem-based learning to helps kids

“I saw my parents testing lead levels in water at home and the process was tedious, unreliable and expensive,” she said.

 Gitanjali Rao, a child prodigy and inventor, said the cause of her success was her community, a supportive environment as well as the focus on problem-based learning in schools.

Speaking at the Diaspora Diplomacy speaker series, organised by the US Mission in India, the 16-year-old talked about her experiences, her thought processes as well as her upcoming inventions. Gitanjali, an Indian-origin student from the US, is an accomplished inventor, having come to the forefront with Tethys, a device that detects lead levels in water and transmits the information over Bluetooth.

** WhatsApp skills classes set to begin, initiative by Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation

Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation’s WhatsApp-NSDC Digital Skills Academy Programme is set to begin from Thursday.

The initiative, launched in association with WhatsApp India, National Skill Development Corporation and InfiSpark, aims to empower students in regards to employability skills, general data privacy, cybersecurity, financial literacy and nano entrepreneurship. It also aims to develop students’ communication, leadership, community building skills and public speaking skills, and challenge them to think on their feet. 

** How Abhijeet Kain is empowered to educate through Reels

Content creator Abhijeet Kain from Lucknow uses popular Bollywood music from the 90s to make his PSA-style short videos

Regulars on Instagram would have shared Abhijeet Kain’s Reel more than once. Especially during Lockdown 2.0 and 2.1. Videos of him doing a lip sync to Bollywood music, while educating and entertaining social media regulars on physical distancing, right mask usage, other COVID-19 safety protocols and vaccination were shared by many of his 917k Insta followers. Apart from his regular videos, ones, Abhijeet has also made some videos on the Omicron variant.

The 26-year-old content creator from Lucknow says, “My Instagram becoming what it is now, is a lockdown miracle. I call myself an extroverted introvert; so I’m very selectively social., but when I started creating content I felt as though a new part of me was acting in front of the camera. I’m grateful my audience was so kind and encouraging; that kept me going.”

** DGCI gives nod to SII’s proposal to manufacture vaccine against omicron for test, analysis

SII has obtained permission and licence to manufacture SARS-CoV-2rS drug substance for examination, test and analysis.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved Serum Institute of India’s proposal to manufacture a vaccine against omicron variant of coronavirus for examination, test and analysis, official sources said on Monday.

“With reference to your application, please find herewith the permission to manufacture SARS-CoV-2 rS Protein (COVID-19) recombinant spike protein nanoparticle vaccine (omicron variant) for examination, test and analysis under the provisions of New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019 to manufacture the test batches of the drug/drugs mentioned therein,” an approval order issued on February 4 stated.

** RIL unit picks up stake in EV firm Altigreen

eliance New Energy Ltd (RNEL) a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has entered into an agreement with Altigreen Propulsion Labs Private Ltd (Altigreen) for subscription of 34000 Series A Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares of face value Rs 100 each for an aggregate consideration of Rs 50.16 crore.

Based out of Bengaluru Altigreen is an electric vehicle technology and solutions company for commercial last mile transportationthrough 2/3/4 wheeled vehicles.It has developed an E3Wvehicle and its vehicles are built in-house in Bangalore on a mobility platform that is 100% indigenous.Its current patent portfolio spans 60 countries with 26 global patents, RIL said.Some of Altigreen’s current technologies include electric motors & generator vehicle controls， motor controls， EV transmissions， telematics & 10T and battery management.“The investment is part of our Company’s strategic intent of collaborating with innovative companies in New Energy and New Mobility ecosystems,” RIL said.Altigreen is a private limited company incorporated in India on February 8， 2013

** Bosch Global Software Technologies expands to Hyderabad

Bosch plans to hire upto 3,000 professionals for the Hyderabad centre by 2025

Global technology and software services provider Bosch Global Software Technologies (BGSW) is setting up a technology and innovation R&D centre in Hyderabad.

Spread over two facilities in Hi-tech City, the preferred destination in Hyderabad for technology and new generation firms, the centre will augment the company’s focus on automotive engineering and digital enterprise.

The company plans to hire upto 3,000 professionals for the Hyderabad centre by 2025. It will also be looking for fresh talent from universities and colleges in the areas of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics Engineering, and Instrumentation.