The latest news from Odisha is that IndiGo airlines is planning to discontinue its thrice weekly direct flight service between Bhubaneswar and Dubai from March 2026. The service was launched on May 15, 2023 by then Biju Janata Dal government headed by Naveen Patnaik. It is learnt that IndiGo is not accepting any bookings beyond March this year. Regular air travellers are surprised by this move and have raised concerns. There are over 40,000 Odia diasporas living in the Middle East and this could affect their travel plans, business and tourism. An email query to IndiGo regarding this issue did not get any response. When direct flight scheme was launched, the then Patnaik had made Budgetary provision of Rs 100 cr towards viability gap funding (VGF) every year to ensure sustainability of service, wherein, the state had to bear part of the operational cost until passenger occupancy gets stabilised and the route becomes commercially viable. Sources at AAI New Delhi say when the Dubai flight is going full, why IndiGo is now resorting to this kind of pressure tactic? It seems, the ball is now in the BJP-run Odisha government’s court and how it resolves needs to be seen.

This year there has been too much shrill in the social media about the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland.  The general lament has been “Why are India’s Union ministers and chief ministers going all the way to Davos to sign MoUs with the CEOs of Indian companies when the same could have been done in India …in the CM’s cabin”? Why waste taxpayers money? Effectively, countering this criticism, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told Rahul Kanwal of NDTV, that Davos is a meeting place…attended by the who’s who. A number of Indian companies have foreign partners and those people attend the event… and we get an opportunity to meet them while signing the MoUs. And sometimes we just meet the foreign partners and the MoU is subsequently signed in India. Adding further, he said all states in India hold Investment Summit … .so there is no need for it…you can sign MoUs in Mantralaya. Well put. The 56th meeting will see leaders from business, government, international organizations, civil society and academia attend. Capturing the pulse will be over 400 plus journalists & media representatives. The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international advocacy non-governmental organization and think tank founded on 24 January 1971 by German engineer Klaus Schwab. The main objective of the Davos WEF is to “improve the state of the world” through public-private cooperation.

Tata Power’s additional security deposit (ACD) notices to consumers in Odisha has triggered massive outrage. The Odisha High Court has now asked Tata Power, Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission and state Energy Secretary to file a reply regarding ACD controversy and has given them two weeks’ time to reply. Clarifying via press conference Tata Power has said that the levy of Additional Security Deposit (ASD) on electricity bills, stating that the process is a statutory requirement mandated under the Electricity Act, 2003 and governed by regulations of the OERC. According to Tata Power, the framework governing Security Deposit and Additional Security Deposit (ASD) is neither new nor discretionary as this is in practice for decades it was implemented by erstwhile utilities such as CESU, NESCO SOUTHCO and WESCO in Odisha. The bone of contention seems to be the penalty slapped by Tata Power if ASD is not paid. In such cases a surcharge of 15% per annum is levied. The general feeling among consumers is that ASD should not be suddenly levied one fine morning. Consumers should be taken into confidence and enough notice be given. Incidentally all utilities do levy such charges. It happens in Mumbai and other places too. Public relations experts “There would not be such uproar had it been communicated. This is where their PR department comes to play.

Ever since Chandrababu Naidu took over as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, the state is attracting big ticket investments from domestic and global players. The latest to enter the state is the Tata Group. The Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL) has decided to invest Rs 6,675 crore in Andhra Pradesh to set up India’s largest Ingot-Wafer facility at Nellore. Earlier, Tata Power was toying with the idea of setting it up in Odisha. May be Naidu’s sops and incentives worked. The ingots and wafers to be produced at Nellore facility are critical inputs for solar cells, modules and semiconductor application which would reduce import dependents for strategic components. As part of its clean energy commitment, TPREL will also establish a 200 MW captive green power plant to supply renewable energy to its Andhra facility. It is learnt that this is not the first project Odisha has lost to it neighbour Andhra. Corporate analysts talk about how the UK-based Semiconductor group SRAM & MRAM which had plans to invest Rs 30,000 crore in Odisha initially switched over to Andhra Pradesh. Likewise, even JSW EV retracted its decision to invest in Odisha and opted for Maharashtra. Arcelor Mittal which had plans to set up green field steel plant in Odisha has now decided to move to neighbouring Andhra. Looks like the business both local and global are comfortable in dealing with Chandrababu Naidu. So be it Google, Reliance, Adani, Hinduja’s, Arcelor Mittal and now Tatas seem to be reposing confidence on Chandrababu Naidu’s proactive governance style and deliverables.

The CEO of Air India has been in the eye of the storm ever since the airlines Dreamliner crashed in Ahmedabad last year that killed 260 passengers. Since then there have been rumours from time to time that the New Zealander Cambell Wilson may be asked to go. His management and planning skills have not impressed the Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran. He has been criticised for his inability to execute agreed plans and not being able to fight problems. The airline has received show cause notices from the DGCA for alleged violations and non-compliances, which includes operation of an aircraft with an expired license as per reports.  Air India and Air India Express together have already reported a loss of Rs 10,859 crore in FY25 on revenue of Rs 78,636 crore. This has made them the biggest loss-making companies within the Tata Group. Wilson’s term runs till June 2027 but will he continue till then? The big rumour going around is Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekhar is thinking of replacing Air India CEO. Wilson, it may be recalled, was picked as CEO  for Air India because of his proven track record with Singapore Airlines including Scoot, the world’s best long haul low cost carrier. Besides, his exposure to sales and marketing functions.

London-based Siba Ranjan Biswal will be awarded the prestigious Ratnashri Puraskar at Utkala Utsaba-2026 event in New Delhi. Biswal who works with Tata Consultancy Services, UK is widely recognised for his community service and leadership among the Odia diaspora in the UK. He played a key role in establishing and installing the deities of Lord Jagannath in Manchester. In recognition of his work in human empowerment, social service, and support for India’s nation-building efforts, the World Odisha Society will confer the award on 14th January during the 5th Foundation Day celebrations of Utkala Utsaba. The grand event will showcase Odisha’s rich art forms and cultural heritage and representatives from over 72 countries are expected to attend the event. Among the attendees will be Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari, Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, and senior ministers from the state and the Centre. Biswal moved to the UK in 2006, initially working at Manchester Metropolitan  before joining TCS. He remains actively involved with the Odisha Society of the UK. Recently, he founded Essar Events to serve the Indian diaspora, promoting cultural exchange between the UK and India.

Controversy seems to be chasing Dr Achyuta Samanta founder of Odisha’s KIIT/KISS University. For the third time this year he is now being questioned about the death of a KISS student. It began with the suicide of Nepalese KIIT student Prakriti Lamsal allegedly over sexual harassment in February 2025. Close on the heels another girl student Prisha Shah committed suicide in May 2025 and in December 2025, a class IX tribal student died under mysterious circumstances.  It was falsely certified as cardiac arrest. But the parents of the boy smelled foul play and asked the Odisha police to investigate it. The Odisha Police post mortem report says that the boy died by strangulation and not by slipping in the bathroom as certified by KISS/KIMS. Based on this report the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has swung into action and has raised important questions: One who is the mastermind behind this incident trying to suppress the murder issue; Two, why due process of law not followed and police not informed and why action should not be taken against the institution. Odisha chief minister is already facing political heat on this issue as Bonai MLA Laxman Munda has already blown the tribal bugle alleging that administrative connections are shielding KISS/KIIT/KIMS founder Dr Samanta from meaningful scrutiny so far. Odisha TV played a big role in exposing the truth. The ball now is in Odisha CM’s court and everybody awaits his decision.

Chennai-based Residency Group of Hotels, a part of the Appaswamy Real Estates conglomerate, is now spreading its wings to Madurai, Mysore and the Maldives. The Madurai project with 188-room is being set up at a cost of Rs 150 crore. The unique part of this project is its 56,000 sq ft convention centre, perhaps one of the largest in the region, capable of hosting around Rs 2,000-3,000 people at a time. In the Maldives, the second upcoming project will be a villa-led luxury resort in partnership with the Marriott. As a part of the ongoing expansion in Tier 2 cities, the group is planning an upscale hotel in Mysuru as well. And, the upcoming Mysuru project is being developed under the owner-operator model. All combined, the group has drawn up an investment plan of around Rs 2,500 crore for the next three years. The company currently has seven projects, namely The Residency Chennai, The Residency Towers Chennai, The Residency Towers Puducherry, Richmond Puducherry, The Residency Towers Coimbatore, The Residency Towers Rameshwaram and The Residency Karur. Without including the Maldives, the group has a room inventory of around 700 rooms. Appaswamy Real Estates was founded in 1959 by S Appaswamy. It forayed into hospitality sector in the early nineties is now managed by founder’s son Ravi Appasamy

Adani seems to have hit a gold mine with the proposed integration of Vizhinjam Port with Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. The integration will enable crew changes for ships and also route cargo to other parts of the country, as the port has an integrated check post (ICP) for immigration, customs and cargo paperwork. Once this goes on stream, there will be no need to depend on Colombo’s transhipment and crew changes. This will generate high revenues and make cargo movement and handling of ships faster and easier. The ICP will enable the port to become a sea-air transhipment hub. Adani airport is only 16 km from the Vizhinjam port, which receives motherships and lies close to the international shipping route from Europe and Middle East to South East Asia. Documentation would be easy because of the ICP. It will also be easy for the port to move cargo using flights. Also, on the anvil are warehouses and units where cargo can also be processed, reassembled and moved by any mode of transport — road or rail. Since the airport is also controlled by the same group, it will be easier to offer incentives for freight movement. And if this is not enough the Adanis have got the Union government’s environment clearance to set up a 240-room, 5 star hotel at the airport premises. As part of Rs 136 crore project, the hotel will also have a 660 seat convention centre, dining facilities and also aims to provide world-class facilities, to enhance passenger experience and support the Vizhinjam port’s development.

The big news in Odisha is Japan’s JFE Steel is ramping up its play in Odisha’s metal sector. JFE, Japan’s second largest alloy maker will buy 50% stake in JSW Kalinga Steel. This will enable the Japanese giant to operate the ailing Bhushan Power & Steel’s integrated facility through this JV, wherein, reportedly, the JV venture also plans to expand its production capacity at Bhushan’s integrated steel mills to 10 million tonnes a year from 4.5 MT now. JFE is investing Rs 15,750 crore in the ailing steel business of Bhushan Power & Steel. Under the arrangement, Bhushan Power & Steel’s integrated steel plant will be transferred to the new JV, enabling both companies to build a dedicated platform for long term growth. Steel industry sources say, the partnership aims to combine JSW’s local market knowledge with JFE’s technological expertise which will enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness. Sources say, this deal is expected to ease not only JSW’s stretched balance sheet while also sustaining it’s expansion drive but also consolidating and internationalising the Indian steel industry. One of the reasons why this JV deal has been smoothly executed is because JFE has been a trusted partner of JSW since 2009. The newly formed JV between JSW and JFE is expected to drive further capacity enhancements and growth beyond current targets, combining technical capabilities, operational discipline and long term planning. JFE holds 50% stake in JSW. Reportedly, this transaction will be executed in two tranches, wherein JFE will acquire 25% in March next year and the remaining around June 2026.

The recent Odisha High Court ruling against Jindal Steel Ltd (JSL) is unprecedented. The High Court has upheld the decision of Keonjhar Divisional Forest Officer to cancel JSL’s permission over 51.99 hectares of diverted forest land in the Roida-Iron and manganese mine in Keonjhar district but at the same time also gave an opportunity to the company to pursue statutory clearances. As per the Cuttack High Court “The company’s pursuit of mineral wealth in Odisha cannot trample on the sanctity of nature’s trust”. As per allegations and reports, JSL was using a route through Sidhamath reserve forest without obtaining diversion clearance and allegedly illegally extracting minor minerals for commercial use. As per the Divisional Forest Officer, no state government was empowered to transport minerals through reserve forest without approval from the ministry of environment, forests and climate change. On the other hand, Odisha High Court Justice Sanjeeb K Panigrahi said “A miner’s license is a privilege not a prerogative and his first duty is stewardship, not exploitation”. As it stands now the Odisha High Court ruling implies substantial financial liability in terms of royalties, penalties and operational disruption for JSL, reinforcing the importance of mining laws.

The Rs 67000-croreTata Power Company is preparing for one of the most ambitious clean energy solar bets in Odisha — the kind one has never seen in India. It is investing Rs 10,000 crore to set up 10 GW ingot and wafer manufacturing plant. The ingot and wafer plants are important for solar industries because they produce solar-grade silicon for manufacturing solar cells which then becomes the foundation for solar panels, wherein, India wants to become an integrated manufacturer of solar panels. This move is a clear indication that Tatas are serious about clean energy.  Speculations are rife that Tatas are finding Odisha conducive for its greenfield project and that electricity cost in Odisha is very competitive. Tata Power sources say the company will finalise the location in the next two months. Industry watchers say, Gopalpur Tata SEZ in Odisha is uniquely suited for Tata Power’s ambitious project as it will be designed to provide world class infrastructure, tax incentives and regulatory flexibility to attract the Tata Power’s big time investment in globally competitive industries. Tata Power which earned a net profit of Rs 4,775 crore on a turnover of Rs 66,992 crore in FY25, has an installed electricity generation capacity of 14,707 MW from thermal power and green energy sources. It is India’s largest integrated power company employing 23,562 people.

Navi Mumbai-based Tembo Defence Products Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Tembo Global Industries Ltd, is accelerating its entry into India’s small-arms manufacturing sector with a Rs 1,000-crore greenfield facility planned at MIDC Amravati, Maharashtra. The company has already secured a comfort letter from MIDC for the allotment of nearly 100 acres of industrial land. The MoU for the project was signed with the Government of Maharashtra during the World Economic Forum at Davos. In the first phase, the company will manufacture .45 mm 1911 pistols and matching ammunition under a “Make in India, Export-First” strategy. Production is targeted to begin between July and August 2026, with expansion expected over the next three years. A major technological boost comes through Tembo’s supply and technology agreement with a 140-year-old European defence manufacturer that will provide equipment, technology and production integration support, with 50% of the project proposed to be financed by the partner. According to the D&B India TEV review, Tembo’s Small Arms Line is designed for an annual capacity of 42,240 units, covering CNC machining, heat treatment, coating, assembly, QC and automation. The assessed cost of Rs 267.89 crore aligns with European benchmarks. The Ammunition Line, designed for 30 million rounds annually, has an assessed cost of Rs 214.31 crore, matching global standards for case forming, propellant filling and bullet assembly. The company also plans additional pistol models inspired by global platforms for the U.S. and European markets, projecting 30,000 units annually across two lines. Once operational, this facility positions Tembo Defence as an emerging Indian contender in the global small-arms export ecosystem, backed by modern European manufacturing systems.

Manish Bansal, an old timer at the Welspun Group heading its operations as CFO in the UK, Europe and the USA begins this New Year with a bang. Bansal has been promoted as President & CFO of Welspun Living Ltd, a part of the $ 3.6 bn Welspun Group. This new title sees Bansal moving from the Land of Blighty to Aamchi Mumbai. Bansal moves from Manchester to the Welspun office at Kamala Mills in Lower Parel. Bansal has been recognised by his colleagues and peers as a key strategist for the global operations of the company. In his new role Bansal will steer Welspun Living’s financial strategy, capital structure, and governance initiatives, positioning the company for sustained growth, improved value creation, and robust financial discipline. With growth in America under the Trump regime not so conducive and the UK not too encouraging for the home furnishing business, Bansal, it is learnt, has drawn up plans to aggressively penetrate into the South East Asian markets and tap countries like Australia and New Zealand too. While in the UK Bansal was actively responsible for developing Christy’s brand to lure the retail market with Welspun products.

T Sathishkumar started as a simple Dhoodwala in Erode. Expanded to procuring 8 lakh litres from 70,000 farmers …a business he could sustain for long, as India had reached top spot as the world’s top milk producer, powered by the White Revolution and Verghese Kurien’s panavision dream for Anand and Amul. Today, Milky Mist Dairy (MMD) procures milk from 20 districts of TN and has every derivative product from milk – paneer, cheese, curd, flavoured yogurt, milk shakes, ghee, butter, payasam and shrikhand. MMD’s mozzarella cheese making plant is the biggest in the country, boasting a robotic line of production and crucial in the supply chain of the fast food industry. MMD’s paneer is a marketer’s dream journey…a few years back, paneer was not so popular in South cuisine. Now Milky Mist has won aggressively challenging Amul, Mother Dairy, Nandini, Gowardhan and some regional brands. Before the advent of Milky Mist, AAVIN TN’s flagship dairy brand had kept much of the market in its grip. The way retailers were coaxed to stock Milky Mist paneer is a case study for business schools. The same business spirit of adventurous strategy is now evident in the introduction of Milky Mist SKYR, a protein-led traditional Icelandic recipe that wants to lead the fitness market with a unique protein product …easy to consume straight out of the cup to those in search of muscle and strength. All these are reflected in its impressive financials. It has grown from Rs 1,015 crore in FY22 to Rs 1,437 crore in FY23 to Rs 2,349 crore in FY25. Now, the company is getting ready for an IPO at an expected valuation of Rs 20,000 crore

Kerala’s seaplane project, first conceived in 2013 and aborted twice following protest from environmentalists and coastal fishermen, is finally set to takeoff. The civil aviation ministry has cleared 48 routes for operations in the state under the government of India’s UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) scheme. The project has received seven proposals from private operators. Till date, the State government has approved India One Air, MEHAIR, PHL and SpiceJet to operate, according to Kerala Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas. The development comes about at a time when the authorities have successfully completed the groundwork for the launch of seaplane services from Kochi Airport to Lakshadweep. Spice Shuttle, a subsidiary of Spice Jet plans to operate a 22-seater plane for tourists and as a public transport. A one-way trip is expected to cost Rs 12,000.  The authorities also promise to extend a few tickets at subsidised rates — Rs 4,000 under the UDAN scheme. Lakshadweep, which is now being heavily promoted by the government of India as a top tourist destination to take on the likes of Maldives, has only one airport, Agatti. A flight from Kochi takes one and half hours to reach Agatti. Today tourists and local inhabitants have to travel to other islands like Kavaratti and Kadmat by boat or helicopter. In the long run, the seaplanes from Kochi will also fly directly to the neighbouring islands. A model similar to the proposed Kochi-Lakshadweep seaplane, manufactured by Canadian company De Havilland, was used to conduct trial flights from Kochi to Mattupetty in 2024. In addition, the routes being explored include Kochi-Wayanad, Kochi-Idukki. Other destinations for expansion to leverage Kerala’s abundant natural beauty, include Kovalam, Ashtamudi Lake, Kumarakom, Idukki dam, Malampuzha dam, Banasura Sagar Dam and Bekel. 

At a time when tourism is booming in Kerala, an age-old problem has reared its head, unionisation of the taxi trade. State Tourism Minister PA Mohammed Riyas has depicted a rosy picture of 1.19 crore domestic tourists visiting Kerala in the first half of 2025, which is a 10.5% jump over the previous year. Foreign arrivals too climbed 6.87% to touch 3.83 lakh. Amidst the announcement, came the news of a college professor and her entourage from Mumbai being harassed on their trip to hill station, Munnar. The professor took to social media to highlight that while she had a nice holiday and Malayalees by and large were nice to them, she will not be returning to Kerala. This was due to the harassment they encountered at the hands of the local taxi trade. The visiting team, during their Munnar trip, was not allowed to use rider app vehicles like Uber, Ola etc. In fact, they were physically blocked by local taxi drivers and not allowed to alight at their destination. They were also not allowed to hail an online cab for their return journey. And complaints made to police bore no fruit as both the taxi unions and cops have the full patronage of the CPM party. After the blog went viral some taxi drivers were arrested and cops suspended. Just like mindless trade unionism crippled our industry growth, tourism will also pay the price, warns Jose Dominic, a veteran hotelier and industry leader. This is not a problem limited to tourist destinations. There are unofficial ban zones for online cabs and auto rickshaws at Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi airports. The unauthorised curbs on online taxis is not a Marxist phenomenon but also in BJP-run Goa state.

The Tata-Shapoorji Pallonji corporate saga 2.0 cost Mehli Mistry, a confidant of late Ratan Tata, twin seats at the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Sir Ratan Tata Trust as board member exposing corporate India’s disruptive ruthlessness. “Morality, friendship, ethics, middle-class values hold no seat at India Inc’s boardrooms particularly, its upper echelons. Power and ego rules. Familial ties notwithstanding, Tata-SP’s corporate saga 1.0 witnessed Cyrus Mistry’s removal from Tata Sons by Ratan Tata himself. Now 2.0 bears witness to Mehli Mistry being deboarded by Tata’s brother Noel, with concurrence by his own fast, thick buddy as well, to likely be followed by more boardroom exits. Cash-strapped SP engaged in bid to marginally dilute rightful stake of 18.37% in Tata Sons, nudged for public listing, thus far stymied since the late Ratan Tata’s reign. Another source noted, “Ambiguity between charitable vs business operations of Tata group companies needs clarified settlement. Mistry may not legally challenge removal over prolonged litigation involved as PM Modi’s advice for stability, communicated through Amit Shah, may see Noel Tata assume topnotch positioning, clear authority making shareholders breathe easy. Probability of a happy ending for both prominent stakeholders – Tatas and SP – is on the cards.  One thing is clear: decisions by consensus on Tata boards are a thing of the past. With Noel Tata’s ascension, one can expect more changes at the boardroom level.  

The incidence of cyber cheating is repeated over and over again, despite the cautionary messages circulated by the authorities. Even those conversant with online trading are no exception. In a latest shocking disclosure, it has been reported that a 36-year old woman from Panvel near Mumbai has ended her life after she was deprived of over Rs.5.30 crore by a Gujarat-based fraudster. Anagha Patil, the unfortunate victim, committed suicide owing to the frustration allegedly caused by Ravi Hareshbhai Bhadka, whom police teams are tracing. The two met in Delhi three years ago while attending an offline course. He assured Anagha of handsome returns through forex transactions. She invested some amounts and the returns lured her to pay him more and more. Soon, her other family members also started investing. But the return inflow dried up and Ravi started rejecting their telephone calls. By this time, the total remittance to him was over Rs 5.38 crore. Under stress, Anagha hanged herself on October 8. The police are trying to nab Ravi ever since. In another case that has surfaced from Nasik, a retired government officer has lost nearly Rs 2.25 crore despite his knowledge of online trading. He was assured by a woman, who claimed her name was Anjali Mehta, that he will stand to earn Rs 4.50 crore against the investment. The victim trusted her and went on sending the money. Finally, the inevitable happened. A case of cheating has been registered against the dupers.

Senior officials led by Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte will travel to London to participate in the World Travel Market that begins on 4th November 2025 to unveil the ‘Feels Like Goa’ advertising and marketing campaign. It is learnt that Director of Tourism Kedar Naik and Secretary of Tourism Sanjeev Ahuja will accompany the minister. The State government is fully geared up to make its presence felt and compete with other Indian states, and other countries to attract the world to Goa. Khaunte and his team who have booked a pavilion will showcase Goa’s rich culture, tradition, heritage and tourist destinations. Senior officials from the team say that their focus will not just be showcasing Goa as a destination, but as a feeling, one defined by its people, culture, traditions, spirituality, and culinary heritage. Khaunte assures that with its regenerative tourism approach and the ‘Feels like Goa’ campaign, the state will be bringing back the essence of what makes Goa truly unique: its people, culture, traditions and soul. This is not just a campaign, but a tribute to the timeless memories that travellers carry with them. We want the world to rediscover Goa not just as a destination, but as a feeling. Team will draw attention to initiatives such as the Ekadasa Teertha Circuit- making Goa go beyond beaches as a spiritual destination. At WTM, Goa aims to reaffirm its leadership in regenerative and cultural tourism.

Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Group has got the green signal from the Odisha government for its big expansion plans. Agarwal has promised to invest Rs 1 lakh crore in the state to not only set up 3 MTPA aluminium smelter plant in Dhenkanal district but also set up Vedanta University over 6,000 acres at Puri. Though the Supreme Court had scrapped the Vedanta University project in Puri amidst protests two years ago terming it illegal but Odisha government has now welcomed Anil Agarwal’s Foundation to set up Vedanta University in Odisha without specifying Puri. Possibly, Vedanta Foundation has to find a new place for its University project outside Puri. People are not against Agarwal but he must follow the law of the land. According to Agarwal, the smelter plant, one of the largest aluminium in the world that will provide 30,000-40,000 jobs locally, will be set up in 42 months to produce 30 lakh tonnes annually. The work is expected to start over the next 3-4 months once the land deal is signed. Besides, Vedanta has also agreed to establish an ultra-modern ferro-alloys plant in Keonjhar district involving an outlay of Rs 2,000 crore.

Once a formidable rival to the BSE, the 117-year-old Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE) is voluntarily exiting the stock exchange business, marking the end of an era in India’s capital markets. Established in 1908 as the country’s second recognised bourse, the CSE once served as Kolkata’s financial hub, attracting significant trade volumes and investor interest. The exchange’s decline accelerated following the Ketan Parekh stock market scam, which triggered a payment crisis and broker defaults. Despite attempts to modernise, CSE struggled to compete with the technologically advanced BSE and the NSE. Trading at the CSE was suspended in April 2013 by the SEBI for failing to meet mandatory turnover thresholds and establish a separate clearing corporation. Over the last decade, the exchange attempted multiple revivals, including approaching Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court challenging SEBI’s suspension order. However, these efforts added to financial strain without delivering results. In December 2024, the CSE board resolved to withdraw pending litigation and pursue a voluntary exit. Shareholders formally approved the exit at an EGM in April 2025, after which the CSE submitted its exit application to SEBI. The regulator has appointed Rajvanshi & Associates, a valuation agency to determine the exchange’s worth. Once the exit is sanctioned, CSE will transition into a holding company, with its 100% subsidiary, CSE Capital Markets Pvt Ltd, continuing broking operations as a member of NSE and BSE. Speculations are rife that CSE is seeking SEBI’s approval to sell its 3-acre EM Bypass property to the Srijan Group for Rs 253 crore. 

In the emerging geopolitical context, the focus is increasingly on self-reliance. Not surprisingly, the business strategy of many revolves around this. This one too is no exception. Carborundum Universal Ltd (CUMI), a part of the Murugappa Group, is gearing up for a major expansion in its defence and aerospace vertical. The company plans to establish a new manufacturing facility at Hosur in Tamil Nadu to produce approximately 150 tonnes of silicon carbide ceramics annually, primarily for use in armour applications. The Hosur plant will also manufacture ceramic armour of different grades, including alumina, silicon carbide and zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA).“Hosur will be a key hub for us as it is also the nodal point of the Tamil Nadu Defence Corridor,” said Subbu Venkatachalam, Head – Aerospace and Defence, CUMI. “We aim to strengthen India’s local ecosystem in advanced materials and build lighter, safer and high-performance armour systems for the armed forces.” The new facility aligns with CUMI’s long-term plan to increase the capacity and range of its ceramic solutions for defence, while also deepening indigenisation in critical material production. The company currently produces raw materials such as alumina and silicon carbide in Kerala, which are then processed into ceramic armour components in Tamil Nadu. CUMI is also working towards achieving the STANAG Level 6 certification, the highest global benchmark for armour protection. The company’s R&D efforts are focused on developing newer materials and smart ceramics that can enhance protection without adding weight. With this expansion, CUMI aims to play a larger role in India’s defence supply chain and contribute to the country’s self-reliance in high-performance.

The reputed housekeeping giant, BVG Group, is finding itself in the eye of a storm following its distribution of chicken masala packets as Diwali gifts to employees at the Vitthal temple in Pandharpur, the most important pilgrimage sanctum sanctorum for innumerable devotees. While the BVG management is yet to come out with a response, the Vitthal temple authorities have condemned the act and indicated that reviewing the vendor contract is an option for them. BVG India Ltd is a large integrated facility management company. Founded in 1993 by struggler Hanmantrao Ramdas Gaikwad, it has grown from a social enterprise to become India’s largest company in its field. It provides services such as solid waste management, emergency response and renewable energy solutions. BVG serves a wide range of sectors including government, metro rail, IT and has a trained workforce of over 100,000. BVG also provides staff for the Vitthal temple. The personnel received chicken masala packets as Diwali gifts. This triggered off a wave of anger because the Warkari sect is strictly vegetarian. Hence a non-vegetarian gift appeared as an assault on religious sentiments. was seen as a religious trespass. Minister for Cultural Affairs Ashish Shelar has ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident. The temple’s executive officer Rajendra Shelke has served a legal notice against the firm. He took preventive steps as soon as the outrage became known. Similarly, the firm stopped the distribution of the offending packets. Shelke insisted that the temple’s sanctity is the foremost and it is everybody’s sacred duty to preserve it.

Looks like India’s aluminium king Anil Agarwal is now into full scale PR exercise with the Odisha government. Agarwal, chairman of Vedanta Group, is meeting Odisha chief minister CM Mohan Charan Majhi and his team because the group’s controversial Sijimali bauxite mine project is facing the scrutiny of both environmental and forest clearances amidst local community’s opposition. Agarwal’s objective of camping in Bhubaneswar is to ensure Odisha government’s absolute buy-in of Vedanta’s project requirement. The rumour is Vedanta intends to have a joint press conference post his meeting with CM and his senior team. Already Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja is coordinating with all respective stakeholders to accelerate Vedanta’s $ 20 bn investment into aluminium project. Agarwal who is saying his big investment in Odisha is part of “nation building exercise” which will not only boost industrial growth but also create job opportunities in Odisha. It is learnt that Agarwal is dangling the carrot to Odisha government saying once the bauxite plant gets the government’s green signal, he will also set up downstream aluminium park in Odisha. Sources say Odisha will play along with Agarwal as Vedanta Group is committed to big investment in Odisha; Rs 1.27 lakh crore to set up a 3 MTPA aluminium smelter in the Dhenkanal district, Rs 1 lakh crore to develop 6 MTPA aluminium refinery in Rayagada as well.

Finally, some news to cheer. Google announced it would invest a whopping $15 billion (approx. Rs 1.34 lakh crore) in India over the next five years (2026-2030), the biggest to date in the country. The announcement was made at the Bharat AI Shakti event hosted by Google in New Delhi on October 14. This was revealed in the presence of Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw (IT), Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance), Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and Google Cloud Chief Thomas Kurian. The tech giant revealed that it will open India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hub in Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), touted to be the company’s biggest such centre outside the U.S. Ahead of the announcement, Sundar Pichai had held talks with PM Modi about the opening of an AI Hub in India. The Google AI Hub in Visakhapatnam represents a landmark investment in India’s digital future. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to the Indian and U.S. governments to harness AI responsibly and drive transformative impact for society,” said Kurian. In addition to the new international subsea gateway, Google AI will connect with multiple international subsea cables in Visakhapatnam on India’s eastern coast. This will connect to Google’s more than two million miles of existing terrestrial and subsea cables. This will establish Visakhapatnam as an AI and connectivity hub that not only serves India but the rest of the world. Once operational, it will join Google’s network of existing AI data centres that spans 12 countries. In a post on X, PM Modi cheered the launch of AI Hub as something that aligns with “our vision to build a Viksit Bharat and hoped it would secure India’s place as a global technology leader!”

IndiGo seems to have cracked it. Their experiment to introduce direct flights between Manchester and Mumbai on July 1, seems to have more than enough takers. Emboldened by such a good response the airline has chalked up plans to add one more destination, Mumbai-London from October 26, making it the 45th destination. IndiGo has direct flights to Manchester and Amsterdam from Mumbai, and now it will be in direct competition with the established British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Air India. IndiGo continues its code-sharing as a partner carrier with some European and Middle Eastern airlines. The tremendous traffic growth — both business and regular travellers, the latest signing of the Free Trade Agreement between India and the UK, surge in India–UK activities on all fronts, including culture, has prompted IndiGo to offer this direct service, say aviation insiders. IndiGo will provide a trendy, competitive lower price at Rs 22,000 upwards for return tickets. IndiGo aims to attract budget travellers on its long-haul service. In addition to direct flights between Mumbai-London, it will also commence direct flights between Manchester-Delhi from November 15. It will certainly be good tidings to the residents of Delhi, north India, Gujarat, and Central India. with the vast network it operates from Delhi, being its headquarters. Mumbai serves as a hub for western India pockets. It is contemplating increasing its 3-day a week frequency to its current Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday schedule between Manchester to Mumbai, thus probably making a service of 9 flights freely in a week from Manchester.

Jindal (India), part of the BC Jindal Group, is all set to expand its Howrah steel plant in West Bengal with Rs 1,500-crore investment. Already operating two plants in the state producing a range of steel-based downstream products, the group will significantly enhance its production capabilities with this addition. The Jindal Group’s latest investment aligns with its broader plan to scale up steel production across India, aiming to invest Rs18,000 crore over the coming years to enhance overall manufacturing capacity. The new Rs 1,500-crore downstream facility in West Bengal, with an annual capacity of 0.6 million tonnes, is expected to boost the company’s existing capacity by 60%, significantly increasing production of coated flat products, pipes, and crash barriers. According to the company, the commissioning of the new cold rolling complex marks the completion of a key phase in the expansion project, raising Jindal India’s total downstream steel capacity from 1 million to 1.6 million tonnes annually. Currently, Jindal India operates two advanced West Bengal facilities specialising in cutting-edge colour coating, galvanising, and galvalume technologies, further strengthening its position in India’s steel sector. Beyond West Bengal, the company, through its subsidiary, Jindal India Steel Tech is setting up a greenfield steel manufacturing plant in Dhenkanal, Odisha. JISTL plans to invest a total of Rs 15,000 crore in Odisha in three phases by 2030, with the current Rs 3,600 crore investment marking the first phase of the project.

Public plots meant for public transportation utilities are increasingly being given up for commercial development by the government authorities.  State’s transport minister Pratap Sarnaik invited developers to take up 13,000 acres of depot lands across prime locations in Mumbai for commercial development by offering them on 98-year-long leases. Sarnaik believes that this kind of commercial development would infuse fresh funds into the loss-making state transport department. Mumbai iconic public transportation utility, the BEST has already given up three of its depots for commercial development. The BEST had commissioned global financial consulting firm Price Waterhouse Coopers to identify strategies for commercial development of land held by its depots, staff quarters etc. The BEST has already developed three depots, Mahim, Yari Road and Kurla – out of its 27 depots in Mumbai for commercial development and another three – Bandra, Dindoshi and Deonar – are in the pipeline. The BEST’s depots at Dharavi and Kala Killa depot, are also being offered to Adani to be clubbed along with Dharavi redevelopment. This is not including the 45 acres of railway land (scaled down from 100 acres of land earlier) being handed over to Adani for Dharavi redevelopment. The BMC has already handed over 53 hectares of land reclaimed for the Coastal Road project to a corporate body for development. Incidentally, even as all this is being usurped when the state government took almost 33 hectares or 80 acres of prime forest land to develop into a car shed for the city’s upcoming Metro network. Not surprisingly urban policy analysts like Hussain Indorewalla noted that “Public agencies see themselves not as stewards of public land acting in public interest, but as asset managers and private landlords rolled into one.”  

Come October 8, 2025, when PM Narendra Modi dedicates Maharashtra’s Navi Mumbai International Airport facility to the world, more airports will quickly follow. To be imminently commissioned facilities include Jewar in UP (Oct 30), Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh (Dec 30) alongside the Lucknow and Ahmedabad (Adani Airport) facilities all ready for international take-offs. The common factor binding these airports, also 11 other major airports currently underway, is the sole Project Management Consultant — Saga Global Consultants. SGC successfully bid for and secured PMC rights through distinct tendering processes. In fact, this Mumba-based specialised engineering firm, founded by the former PSU chief, turned preferred choice over even Engineering India Ltd, a public sector undertaking conferred Navratna status. For the man behind the low profile Saga’s success — SK Jain — former ED of BPCL and Chairman of Indian Petroleum Corporation major aviation projects in India and internationally have seemingly been a walk in the park with even the Adani operated MIAL expressing its appreciation, “… for improving operational readiness during a major airport expansion” at the Mumbai Airport Fuel Farm (MAFFFL). The already commissioned Delhi International Airport Fuel Farm ((DAFFPL) at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, Kotoka International Airport in Ghana, Port-Au-Prince (PAP) in Haiti and Accra Air Force base in Ghana are merely “been-there-done-that” experientially executed airport facilities under Saga’s distinguished past accomplishments list already. Way ahead includes over 100 new major and minor airports to be commissioned in quick time for India with the just commenced Shell MRPL Aviation Fuels & Services Ltd airport facility project setting a completion timeline of merely eight months from now. 

Copper is a high-utility commodity. Its use cuts across activities. To be sure, copper finds application in an array of functionalities in a household — be it a traditional one or a modern house. India held a pride of place in the international sphere in terms of copper production. So much so, India was a net exporter of copper. That was a few years ago. Things have got tipsy-turvy now. Ever since the closure of the Sterlite’s copper plant at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, the domestic supply shortage has increased. That the closure of the Sterlite plant was more due to politics than economics was, however, a different matter. The fact is that the country is experiencing a huge copper shortage. The unfolding geo-politics has added a new dimension to the copper story. The supply restrictions by China have only compounded the problem. So much so, copper theft has risen these days. There are reports of copper wire being stolen from AC compressors in residential terraces. This does not augur well. Who is to be blamed? The blame game won’t address the issue. A practical outlook to issues is what we need. Not the game of one-upmanship, to be sure.

Mumbai’s importance as the nation’s economic capital will increase by a quantum leap when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the first phase of the greenfield Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on 8 October. The airport, when fully operational, is estimated to generate business worth Rs 1 lakh crore rupees through various activities in and around it. The nearby JNPA port and the upcoming Delhi-Mumbai freight corridor will be the two important drivers to boost the economy of Maharashtra and India. After several hiccups, the NMIA will witness the first commercial flights in December. The airport has been built at an investment of about Rs 20,000 crore. Once all the four terminals are completed, the total approximate investment will be of Rs 1 lakh crore. The second airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region after the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, has secured its aerodrome licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on 30 September. The joint venture project will be developed in phases by NMIA. Adani Group has 74% stake and the balance 26% is with the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO), completely owned by the State government. According to the schedule available, the PM will land at the Navi Mumbai International Airport in the afternoon and will spend almost two hours there. Modi will first visit the terminal building and then address the inaugural function, opening a new chapter in India’s efforts to become self-reliant.

The Odisha government is focussing on the maritime sector to boost trade and industrial growth in eastern India. To start with, it has envisaged big investment in setting up a new greenfield deep-sea port at Bahuda in Ganjam district. Once completed, Bahuda will emerge as India’s 14th major port, developed as a satellite port of Paradip, aligning with the government’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. The Bahuda Port will serve as an anchor for port-led industrialisation, logistics parks, and manufacturing clusters across Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh. The project is projected to generate direct and indirect employment for around 25,000 people while catalysing industrial and infrastructure growth in eastern India. The proposed port with a capacity of 150 MMTPA will be equipped to handle dry bulk ships ranging from 40,000 to 150,000 DWT and container vessels of up to 6,000 TEUs as per sources. Infrastructure plans include four docks, it will also have areas designated for port-led industrialization having robust connectivity through both road and rail networks. The project will be executed through a Special Purpose Vehicle with Paradip Port Authority (PPA) serving as the lead partner. Sources say a tripartite agreement has already been signed between the Odisha Maritime Board, PPA and Sagarmala Finance Corporation to facilitate the development of the port. It is also understood that Visakhapatnam Port Authority is expected to join the project at a later stage as per sources. Odisha is envisioning expanding its port capacity from the current 😯 MMTPA to 500 MMTPA by 2047.

Technology has shrunk the world into the palm of our hands. In the era of globalisation and digitalisation, some people might feel grateful. Some others might curse all the technological advancements. Starting from paying the milk vendor in the morning to booking an Ola ride after work, everything is at our fingertips. It is easy nowadays. But when we look at the flip side of the coin, the story appears different. People are getting replaced by Artificial intelligence, mass layoffs are a reality. When asked about the current situation, recruiters simply point to the lack of skill in these people! To fix this, Indian Institute of Technology Madras has come up with a NIPTA initiative – National Internship, Placement Training and Assessment. It is designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry. All final and third-year engineering students can participate in this 12-week programme, which will cover all future competencies and award a certificate to students based on their performance level in the examination. Even though this move aligns with the Institute’s motto of ‘IITM for all’, not every student will get a placement or opportunity after this course, nor can a certificate validate one’s talent. In the end, initiatives like NIPTA may guide the path. Yet, consistent self-growth and adaptability alone will truly decide who thrives in tomorrow’s world.

The greatest fear as the findings of the probe into the Air India crash are awaited is that the manufacturer would somehow fix the blame on pilot error or human error to account for the tragedy. Selective leaks from the preliminary report carry plenty of evidence of where the probe may be headed as Boeing’s reputation, already in tatters after the crashes of the Boeing Max aircraft, is set to hit a nadir. Diversionary tactics of shifting the blame to the pilot have been spotted, including in a visit to the father of one of the pilots of the ill-fated Boeing Dreamliner by personnel attached to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) that was way out of protocol. They were guilty of insinuating to Pushkar Raj Sabharwal that his son Captain Sumeet Sabharwal may have turned off the plane’s fuel switches. That they came pretending to offer condolences made the story even worse. The preliminary investigation report released in July had noted that both the airplane’s fuel switches moved from “run” to “cutoff” position within a second of each other moments after the take-off from Ahmedabad airport. The report also suggested there was confusion in the cockpit without clarifying whether the pilots had deliberately moved the switches. It would suit the aviation industry to blame the event on human error while also serving Boeing’s legal woes in compensation to victims which could be scaled down if this was not an accident, the first for the Dreamliner series, caused by mechanical failure. The Supreme Court had also described portions of the AAIB report as “unfortunate and irresponsible” as they allowed (misleading) media narrative to take shape besides compromising the dignity and privacy of victims’ families.

Mumbai is undergoing a massive scale up of its housing sector housing including for its 41% slum dweller population. This includes over 910 buildings undergoing redevelopment that could add up 44,277 new homes by 2030, as per real estate analyst Knight Frank report. About 809 high rises (above 40 floors) have been approved in the city that currently has about 252 skyscrapers and another 416 under construction as per a Bombay High Court appointed expert committee on high risers. Besides these, about 541 acres of land is being used for rehousing Dharavi residents including 124 acres of the Deonar dumping ground and 254 acres of salt pan land, that essentially helps prevent flooding by sponging water. A recent report found about 6021.50 acres of land in Mumbai, almost 17.71% of its total habitable land, belonging to the state and central government, being unlocked for development. This includes about 2,068.59 acres being used for rehousing slum dwellers under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme. Experts though are far from convinced about this model of development. “Mumbai’s development is entirely unplanned and piecemeal, lacking coordinated growth in roads, water supply, and sewerage systems. It is not supported by essential social infrastructure like schools, hospitals, parks, playgrounds, or even trees, and therefore does little to make the city more liveable,” notes architect and urban planner Alan Abraham. “Instead, it risks creating a saturated, overbuilt Mumbai that will ultimately be unsustainable,” he adds.

This one is quite known for hill temples. This has two hill temples – one for Lord Yoga Narasimhan and another for Lord Anjaneya. The temple for Lord Narasimhan is a part of the 108 Divya Desam temples. The temple town of Sholinghur near Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu has a plant of Brakes India, once a part of the composite TVS group. Grapevine has it that a jasmine extraction plant is being planned here. The proposed plant is reported to be blessed by this organisation. Jasmine extracts have huge export opportunities for making perfumes, medicines etc. Tamil Nadu Agri budget also has announced the setting up of such facilities. It is learnt that Brakes India plant in Sholingur has thousands of employees. They are encouraged to cultivate jasmine and other natural ingredients in their lands for supplying to the extraction plant to produce aroma diffusers, essential oils and cosmetic intermediaries for tapping the big export market in Europe. Brakes India is promoted by the TSF Group, whose heritage dates back to 1911. The 10000-plus employee company led by Sriram Viji has manufacturing plants in 21 locations and earned a revenue of $910 mn. The group’s interests span the automotive and financial services sectors. Well, this new plant has the blessings of the Lords, it appears.

With the authorities certifying the Mumbai Metro-3 Aqua Line safe for operations, a red-letter day will dawn soon in the metropolis as lakhs of commuters will be able to save precious time day in and day out. The average Mumbaikar is accustomed to spending at least five hours daily, commuting between home and the place of work. The journey in overcrowded suburban trains and overloaded BEST buses becomes more arduous. All that will be past as henceforth, the travel between SEEPZ in Andheri (E) and Cuffe Parade at the extreme end of south Mumbai will be less than 30 minutes, in AC comfort. The service frequency will run a train every three minutes. The Aqua route will be completely underground save one station. While its 26 stations will be below ground, the Aarey Colony station will be at grade. This means it will be at ground level and hence visible. Metro Line 3 will utilize a critical Tunnel Ventilation and Environmental Control System (TVE) to ensure passenger comfort and safety, including 24×7 cooling, fresh air supply and smoke extraction during fire emergencies. This technologically advanced system lowers tunnel temperatures, removes harmful gases and controls smoke in the world’s most modern underground rail network. The line’s commissioning had been planned much earlier but the COVID pandemic and allied developments have delayed the project. 

Face the stark truth. Every step that Donald Trump takes will be against Latinos or Indians. All this talk about “My good friend Modi” is beginning to grate in the ears. And in one fell swoop, the U.S. President has now hit Indians in the stomach with his punitive annual fee of $1,00,000 (nearly Rs 90 lakhs) on H-1B visas. The move will hit all those who take these visas to work in the U.S. but consider the fact that Indians take over 70% of such visas granted every year in the H-1B visa lottery (Chinese less than 2%) and you know who the worst hit will be. It is becoming easy to see through this good-cop-bad-cop act that Trump was running with his aides like Navarro and Lutnick berating India at every turn while the U.S president speaks lovingly of India and its PM Modi. The trade talks may have been resumed but the U.S. well knows that India will not let two red lines be breached. Opening the agriculture sector is a no-no forever while the buying of Russian oil will go on till everything else is agreed upon and a trade deal is on the table ready to be signed.  No amount of posturing is going to change the fundamental position that Trump has taken against India and with Pakistan, partly because Pakistan played up to him and even invested in his family cryptocurrency business. Trump may not forget in a hurry the image of Vladimir Putin inviting Narendra Modi into his limousine in China even if he himself did share a limo ride with the Russian President in Alaska. If anyone believes things can be sorted with Trump and the U.S. soon, they may have other thoughts coming up. 

Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has finally cracked a whip on several state governments to comply with airport safety measures which is often taken for granted, particularly one relating to the bird-hit menace. In 2024, bird hit cases in the country rose to 1,278 cases compared to 528 cases in 2019. DGCA’s new resolve is to strengthen India’s respective airport director’s repeated safety warnings often taken casually by most state governments. DGCA now wants to regulate critical safety measures to eliminate bird hit possibilities in and around the airports. DGCA has requested all state Chief Secretaries to ensure strict time bound enforcement of rules which prohibits activities that attract birds and animals. To ensure “real compliance” Kidwai has asked respective Chief Secretaries to set up a compliance monitoring mechanism and send him quarterly reports. This means Odisha and other states will now have to seriously start mapping and take actions on unauthorised slaughter houses, meat shops, dairies, garbage dumps, tree pruning, lamp post removal obstructing flight path and unauthorised civil constructions next to the airport in and around 10 km radius of the airport. For Odisha, DGCA’s intervention is rather God sent because for long this issue was never addressed seriously. Sources say, the recent DGCA initiative to institutionalise a compliance monitoring mechanism with quarterly reports to DGCA is now having a cascading effect on respective state’s chief secretaries, commissioners and district collectors. 

India’s longest sea bridge, the 21.8 km long Atal Setu has started showing signs of wear and tear within 20 months of its inauguration. Following viral videos showing potholes on the Rs 17,000 crore bridge, senior officials visited and levied a penalty of Rs 1 crore on Daewoo-Tata Infrastructure Projects, the contractors for the project. The contractors have also been asked to redo the entire distressed stretch between 14-16 km with Dense Bituminous Macadam (DBM) and asphalt concrete post-monsoons at their own costs. Though the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has attributed the stress to “weather extremities due to monsoons” and “continuous traffic flow”, it raises questions about the quality of India’s infrastructure growth story. Another landmark project, Mumbai’s coastal road costing over Rs 14,000 crore, which was inaugurated in March 2024, has also started showing up uneven patches even as flooding has led to closures on its underpasses during heavy downpour, which it was supposed to withstand. Incidentally, the potholes on the regular Mumbai roads have been registering a tale of corrupt practices that led to over 6758 potholes registered during monsoons this July including on its cement concrete roads. The BMC spent over Rs 154 crore this monsoon just to fill up potholes including its costly cement concrete roads. The BMC had pushed for cement roads as a solution to prevent potholes but now with even cement roads throwing up potholes in Mumbai, citizens are in a fix. Mumbai’s shoddy infrastructure has been attributed to corrupt practices.

It is a politically-sensitive commodity. Not surprisingly, it has often found itself in the spotlight? Over the last week, almost all newspapers carried flashy advertisements from cement majors such as JK Cement, Adani Cement, Ultra Tech Cement and the like wishing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his birthday. Not just that. These ads also lauded him for the GST cut — from a heavier 28% to a lighter 18% — which will go a long way in benefitting people across the canvass. The tax reduction, they argued, will not only benefit consumers but also industries as it would boost cement demand and beef up the distribution network. Sounds like a win-win situation? There is a catch, however. Cement in India is never known to be sold at the MRP (maximum retail price)!  Several summers ago, an ad was circulated by a company claiming that it was selling cement with no ash content in it. Upon verification, it was found that none of the cement carries ashes in it! Marketing can play the perfect tool to make or mar a perception. Well, we are talking about the GST cut. Enterprises have the uncanny knack of turning any situation to their advantage. Grapevines have suggested that the cement makers have quietly upped their prices so that they are ready to bring them down when the GST 2.0 kicks in on September 22. What do we make of this? Well, more the changes, things look — nay remain — the same! 

Is he in or is he out? This question keeps popping up time and again. But none is willing to clarify. If he is like any normal employee, none will venture to speculate. But he is MS Dhoni, the Captain Cool. Not surprisingly, everyone is letting his/her imagination run amok. After Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the IPL franchise was born in 2008, Dhoni was appointed as Vice-President (Marketing) of N Srinivasan-headed The India Cements Ltd (ICL) in 2013. CSK was initially a division of ICL, which was the original franchisee owner of CSK. If grapevine is to go by, Srinivasan had reportedly given Dhoni a blank cheque to write his remuneration! In the past, Dhoni used to visit ICL plants across the country and address employees and dealers alike. In fact, in 2022, he unveiled the new premium cement brand, Conkrete Super King. Much water has flown under the bridge since then. Birla-owned UltraTech bought out N Srinivasan and his family in ICL. With ICL sold to UltraTech, Srinivasan has become the Chairman of CSK, which was hived off into a separate entity when the conflict of interest issue was raging. His daughter, Rupa Gurunath, too, has now become a Wholetime-Director of CSK. Given this backdrop, intense speculation is on whether Dhoni is still associated with ICL? There has been no official communication thus far either from UltraTech or MSD. The iconic Coromandel Towers, the corporate office of India Cements, in the meanwhile, is sporting the UltraTech brand along with ICL’s Sankar Cement, Coromandel King and Conkrete Super King. EWS, the holding company of N Srinivasan and family, Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd. and other firms have since moved to their new address in Adyar in the heart of the city. Season or no season, one thing is clear Dhoni remains a hot topic! 

The Singur movement not only altered Bengal’s industrial trajectory but also marked one of the biggest power shifts in the state’s history — from the Left Front to Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress. Yet, the Nano car exit in 2008 left an enduring scar, branding Didi as “anti-industry” despite her repeated efforts to change that perception. Seventeen years later, the narrative seems to be coming full circle, with electric vehicle manufacturer Cynosure announced plans to launch a four-wheeler priced below Rs 1 lakh from Sugandha in Hooghly district — just 17 km away from Singur, where Ratan Tata’s dream project had collapsed in 2008. Cynosure revealed its plan at the launch of its electric three-wheeler in Kolkata and the prototype of the car would be unveiled after Diwali, with a commercial rollout targeted for January 2026. According to co-founder Sampurna Ghosh, the fully battery-operated vehicle will seat four passengers, including the driver with an aim to make personal cars affordable for the middle and lower-middle-class families. Sources said that the car’s final name would be decided by the chief minister. Political observers have pointed out that the announcement carries political undertones just ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, as it can be recalled that in 2008, Tata Motors withdrew from Singur after completing 80% of the factory, blaming Mamata then opposition leader. The project later shifted to Gujarat. Didi has since maintained that her fight was against the Left’s forcible land acquisition policy, not against Tata. 

To PM Narendra Modi’s clarion call, ‘Make in India’ may we add, Make for India. When the ideologically arid opposition protests lack of employment and opportunity, there are many products and services incubated by entrepreneurs who dream big and realise these dreams. Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe is one such successful dream that has fed thousands of hungry patrons growing by the day. Of course, one cannot easily forget the bomb blast there on March 1, 2024.  The café was founded by Raghavendra Rao and his wife Divya (a CA by profession) in 2021 as a quick service restaurant. The name ‘Rameshwaram’ was chosen by the founders to pay tribute to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam as it was his birthplace. Today it is Bengaluru’s landmark where the aroma of pure ghee roasted Dosas, cushion soft idlis, taste enhancer chutneys and filter coffee bring in droves from 6 am to 1 am and caters to people across all stratas. This veg south Indian fast food chain with a daily turnover of around Rs 5 crore reportedly commands a valuation of Rs 18,000 crore as its gross margin is 70%. More. It seems its hygiene and cleanliness also add to valuation. This fast chain is indeed giving tough competition to the likes of McDonalds, KFC, Burger King and many more. What is even more fascinating is the level of automation and the training of the chefs. The steaming boilers cook up to 500 mini idlis in one batch ..and the deftness of the chef who pours batter for 8 dosas at a time is a sight to watch .Rameshwaram Cafe is one of a kind …think global (in terms of automation tech, good quality, consistent service and fast delivery )and reach local. The Rao couple have built a shrewd food business with astuteness. It will not be surprising if they go for an IPO.

The task ahead for the state-owned aluminium behemoth, the National Aluminium Company (NALCO) is cut out, after it parted ways with Rio Tinto as it refused to share proprietary smelter technology. NALCO is now looking out for a new partner. Sources say finding a new partner will delay its 0.5 mtpa greenfield aluminium smelter plant by 6-8 months. The buzz is that at least two Chinese companies (GAMI and CHINALCO), a Russian major RUSAL and Dubai Aluminium Company are in the fray to bag the Rs 17,000 crore order to provide smelter technology. Interestingly, CHINALCO is also the single largest shareholder in Rio Tinto, a British-Australian MNC. All the four companies are keen to partner NALCO as it has chalked up ambitious expansion plans. Sources say, NALCO has plenty of options to pick up a global partner. For now, the speculation is NALCO aims to commission its aluminium smelter and captive power plant by 2030. The total cost of NALCO’s expansion plan is pegged at Rs 30,000 crore which includes new refineries, smelter, mine operations and captive power plants of 1080 MW. NALCO will use a mix of debt and internal accruals to fund the expansion besides, also exploring possibilities of roping in Coal India and NTPC for power plant projects.

It seems Anil Agarwal-run Vedanta Group’s wait to mine nine million tonnes of bauxite annually to feed its Lanjigarh refinery in Odisha is now getting longer. That’s because the consent for giving the go ahead is in the hands of the local tribal community. This is evident because the Union Environment Ministry has postponed its decision on Vedanta’s proposal to divert over 700 hectares of Odisha forest for bauxite mining at Rayagada and Kalahandi districts. It may be mentioned that the Odisha High Court has made it clear that affected communities must be taken into confidence before giving clearance to Vedanta Group. Sources say, the key trigger for postponing decision making pertains to concerns raised by local tribes before the Odisha High Court. In fact, the Odisha High Court has flagged allegations of fraudulent Gram Sabha resolutions supporting Vedanta’s mining project. This is why the High Court is insisting on community consent before giving green signal.  Additionally, it also needs to settle issues concerning overlapping compensatory afforestation sites, submit detailed soil erosion control plans, address ecological concerns since the mining project falls under elephant’s habitat area which requires a secured pathway for elephant’s movements.

At the top level, ICICI Bank UK seems to witness a lot of people movement. The latest to quit is Sanya Puri, branch head, ICICI Bank UK Plc Manchester after nearly 14 years of service with the bank in Manchester where she started as operations officer. Puri, who started her career with HDFC Bank moved to the UK in 2011. She has now moved out of the banking space to venture into the information technology arena. The 39-year old has joined 42Gears Mobility Systems (UK) Ltd as their Associate Director – Channel Sales for UK and Europe market. The company has a customer base in more than 170 countries and has pioneered cloud solutions. Sanya joins this sector as Manchester is now recognised as the big hub of Tech innovation in the UK. She follows several top leaders at ICICI who have either resigned or have not returned to India on completion of their term in the UK to explore different opportunities in the corporate world in the UK. Sanya, B Com from Panjab University did her MBA in marketing and finance from Amity University. Her successful track record of overseeing and managing a large portfolio of clients is expected to hold in good stead in the new assignment.

An advertisement about a proposed real estate project in Neral in Raigad district of Maharashtra has triggered a fierce debate with its critics calling it “a Halal Township.” After a controversy snowballed, the builder has taken down the ad. Saying that it was planned to be developed around 100 km from Mumbai, the ad has invited various political and legal lashings. The controversy erupted after the promotional advertisement described it as a “Halal Lifestyle Township.” The audio-visual campaign features a hijab-clad woman. The project will provide an environment for like-minded families, with prayer spaces, community gatherings and a safe atmosphere for children, the developer has promised. However, there are adverse murmurs from within the Muslim community, too. For instance, All India Muslim Jamaat National President Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi has criticised the use of the word ‘Halal’ in the project and said that it was an attempt to “spread hatred” in society. By using such a name, an attempt is being made to send out a particular kind of message, and that the builders and people involved in this are not working to unite society, rather to spread hatred and create division, he complained. The video was first shared by Priyank Kanoongo, former chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). The Maharashtra government has been issued a notice over the matter, he has said.

Odisha is now preparing for the biggest leap in the aviation space thanks to the backing of Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu.  He wants to make flying affordable even for those wearing ‘chappals’.  In months ahead Odisha government is keen to promote sea planes at Chilika and Hirakud dam. In fact, the minister had announced the creation of the Chilika Water airdrome. It also wants to start heli-taxi from Bhubaneswar-Puri as well apart from pursuing Puri International airport which has already received Centres go-ahead. In terms of spread, the Odisha government is planning to develop 14 airports and 15 heliports across districts who are without air connectivity and also convert 22 unused airstrips by upgrading it suitably. The Odisha government also wants to have a world class aviation flying school and training centre at Dhenkanal for tribal girls including UAV training and aero-sports. The Odisha government has already signed a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) agreement with Mumbai-based Air Works, to establish a state-of-the-art facility at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar. Sources say this facility will also be used for skill development training and jobs for Odisha youth. In the past 14 months, Odisha has been connected with 15 new destinations already 

Pay Rs.500 and cry for an hour in “a safe, non-judgmental space to express emotions.” You can do this at a venue where ‘warm lighting and calming ambience’ will be present. You will be provided with tissues and a cup of tea amidst ‘emotional support music.’ This facility has been advertised by the Cry Club, which has been receiving good response from Mumbaikars. One can visit the therapy at upmarket Linking Road in Bandra West. The concept is not novel. A Healthy Crying Club has been present in Surat, the diamond city of India, since 2017. Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad also are reported to be hosting informal vulnerability circles inspired by Ruikatsu, a Japanese concept on which the concept is based. Ruikatsu means ‘tear activity’ or ‘tear-seeking.’ It has been designed as a wellness trend. Undergoing this, one is encouraged to perform an intentional act of crying. The crying person experiences relief from stress, improvement in emotional health and enhanced mental well-being. According to the Crying Club website, ranting, crying and hugging are encouraged. But you can’t just walk in. You have to buy an online ticket and carry valid identification evidence that you are an adult. This will also allow you to buy alcohol, ‘if available.’ Plus, your behaviour must be decorous. People pay and join the sessions to unburden themselves. The sessions are advertised on the website or tickets are available on BookMyShow.