Oxigen ties up with HPCL for faster checkouts at fuel stations
Mobile wallet Oxigen has entered into a partnership with public sector oil marketing company Hindustan Petroleum Corporation in order to allow Oxigen wallet users to make payments at HPCL outlets through the wallet. Following the launch of Virtual Visa, Oxigen wallet is trying to ensure smooth payment experience for its users and the company feels this is going to smoothen payment minimising card exposure at fuel station. At present, 61 HPCL outlets spanned across India, including New Delhi, Noida and Greater Noida, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai are capable of accepting payments directly from the Oxigen Wallet mobile app. In the coming two months, Oxigen Wallet is set to strengthen its partnership further, by on boarding more than 2000 HPCL outlets to accept payments for fuel using the Oxigen Wallet app. “We at Oxigen Services work passionately towards the digital revolution and it is our endeavor to provide premium services for digital payments to our users. We are excited to be partnering with HPCL and introducing mobile payments for getting the fuel. “Making the payments secure and convenient, we are affirmative that our users would actively avail the service, paying for the fuel directly from their favorite Oxigen Wallet mobile app,” said Ankur Saxena, director of Oxigen Wallet. Ryan Glasgow Womens Jersey
National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016 : Salient Features
The Minister of Civil Aviation Shri P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju released the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 in New Delhi today. This is the first time since independence that an integrated Civil Aviation Policy has been brought out by the Ministry. Speaking on the occasion Shri Raju said that the centre-piece of the policy is to make regional air connectivity a reality. He said that the policy aims to take flying to the masses by making it affordable and convenient, establish an integrated eco-system which will lead to significant growth of the civil aviation sector to promote tourism, employment and balanced regional growth, enhance regional connectivity through fiscal support and infrastructure development and enhance ease of doing business through deregulation, simplified procedures and e-governance. The policy is very comprehensive, covering 22 areas of the Civil Aviation sector. Its salient features are as follows : Regional Connectivity Scheme · This scheme will come into effect in the second quarter of 2016-17 · Airfare of about Rs2500 per passenger for a one-hour flight · This will be implemented by way of: · Revival of airstrips/airports as No-Frills Airports at an indicative cost of Rs.50 crore to Rs100 crore · Demand driven selection of Airports/airstrips for revival in consultation with State Govts and airlines · ViabilityGapFunding(VGF)toairlineoperators · RCS only in those states which reduce VAT on ATF to 1% or less, provide other support services and 20% of VGF · Concessions by Stakeholders · There will be no airport charges · Reduced Service tax on tickets (on 10% of the taxable value) for 1 year initially · Reduced Excise duty at 2% on ATF picked at RCS airports · State government will provide police and fire services free of cost. Power, water and other utilities at concessional rates · Creation of Regional Connectivity fund for VGF through a small levy per departure on all domestic flights other than Cat II/ Cat IIA routes, RCS routes and small aircraft below 80 seats at a rate as decided bythe Ministry from time to time · VGF to be shared between MoCA and State Governments in the ratio of 80:20. For the North Eastern States, the ratio is 90:10 Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDG) · Category I to be rationalized based on a transparent criteria, i.e., flying distance of more than 700km, average seat factor of 70% and above and annual traffic of 5 lakh passengers · The percentage of Cat.I traffic to be deployed on Cat.II, and IIA will remain the same while for CATIII it will be 35%. Routes to Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh included in Category II · Revised categorization to apply from winter schedule of 2017 · There view of routes will be done by MoCA once every5 years · Withdrawal or revision of domestic operations to and within North East Region etc, subject to full compliance of RDG, can be done under prior intimation to MoCA at least three months before withdrawal or revision of the service 5/20 Requirement 5/20 Requirement · Replaced with a scheme which provides a level playing field · All airlines can now commence international operations provided that they deploy 20 aircraft or 20% of total capacity (in term of average number of seats on all departures put together), whichever is higher for domestic operations Bilateral Traffic Rights · GoI will enter into ‘Open Sky’ ASA on a reciprocal basis with SAARC countries and countries located beyond 5000 km from Delhi · For countries within 5000 km radius, where the Indian carriers have not utilised 80% of their capacity entitlements but foreign carriers /countries have utilised their bilateral rights, a method will be recommended by a Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary for the allotment of additional capacity entitlements · Whenever designated carriers of India have utilised 80% their capacity entitlements, the same will be renegotiated in the usual manner. Ground Handling Policy · The Ground Handling Policy/ Instructions/Regulations will be replaced by a new framework: · The airport operator will ensure that there will be three Ground Handling Agencies (GHA) including Air India’s subsidiary/JV at all major airports as defined in AERA Act · At non-major airports, the airport operator to decide on the number of ground handling agencies, based on the traffic output, airside and terminal building capacity · All domestic scheduled airline operators including helicopter operators will be free to carry out self-handling at all airports through their regular employees · Hiring of employees through manpower supplier or contract · workers will not be permitted for security reasons Airport PPP/AAI · Encourage development of airports by AAI, State Governments, the private sector or in PPP mode · Future tariffs at all airports will be calculated on a ‘hybrid till’ basis, unless specified otherwise in concession agreements. 30% of non-aeronautical revenue will be used to cross- subsidise aeronautical charges · Increase non-aeronautical revenue by better utilisation of commercial opportunities of city side land · AAI to be compensated in case a new greenfield airport is approved in future within a 150 km radius of an existing unsaturated operational AAI airport (not applicable to civil enclaves) Aviation Security, Immigration and customs A · sMoCA will develop ‘service delivery modules’ for aviation security, Immigration, Customs, quarantine officers etc in consultations with respective Ministries/Departments · Allow Indian carriers to provide security services to other domestic airlines subject to approval of BCAS · Encourage use of private security agencies at airports for non- core security functions to be decided in consultation with MHA · Such agencies should be registered under the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005 and will also be separately accredited by BCAS · Subject to minimum benchmarks being met, security architecture at the different airports will be proportionate to the threat classification and traffic volume. Helicopters and Charters I · Separate regulations for helicopters will be notified by DGCA after due stakeholder consultation · MoCA to coordinate with Govt agencies and other helicopter operators to facilitate Helicopter Emergency Medical Services · Helicopters will be free to fly
Maharashtra government decides to use plastic waste in building roads
Maharashtra government has decided to use plastic waste along with tar in a bid to improve the durability and longevity of asphalt roads and reduce soil pollution. “The Centre in its recommendations has stated that using plastic waste along with tar to build roads improves the quality. It also helps reduce soil pollution caused by plastic. Thus, the state government has decided to include plastic waste along with tar while building roads,,” a Public Works Department official said. He said the CSIR-Central Road Research Institute has assured the government that roads built by using plastic waste along with tar will be of better quality and cheaper. In the beginning, municipal corporations with a population of over 5 lakh and municipal councils that have a population of over 2 lakh will be asked to include plastic waste for building roads in 50-km radius, the official said. For every 100 kg of tar used to build asphalt roads, 3 to 6 kg of plastic will be mixed in it, he said, adding materials like plastic carry bags, sacks, milk pouches, bin linings, cosmetic and detergent bottles, drinking water bottles, bottle caps, household articles will be used. “Studies have revealed that plastics waste have great potential for use in bituminous construction as its addition in small doses, about 5-10 per cent by weight of bitumen, helps in substantially improving the Marshall stability, strength, fatigue life and other desirable properties of bituminous mix, leading to improved longevity and pavement performance,” the guidelines by the Centre said. “The benefits are – such roads will have higher resistance to deformation, water induced damages, increase durability, strength and ultimately dispose of plastic waste in a larger quantity to save pollution,” it said, adding, “The use of waste plastic thus contributes to construction of green roads.”
5 ways in which airlines will be impacted by aviation policy
The aviation policy has finally been cleared by the Union Cabinet, notwithstanding the aggressive stance taken by older airlines against concessions for newer ones. Aviation stocks are trading higher after the policy announcement. But will the rally sustain or will these stocks come down as the fine prints are deciphered especially since some of the measures announced are socialist in nature. We take a look at five things in the Aviation Policy that will affect aviation stocks. 1. Subsidy element in air ticket: CNBC reports that in a bid to improve regional connectivity government will likely cap airfares for flights up to one hour at Rs 2,500 per passenger and at Rs 1,200 for those up to 30 minutes. Government will reimburse 80% of the losses to airlines. While the move will increase air traffic, markets might not like the idea of government reimbursing the subsidy element. Every sector which has a component of subsidy in them, be it fertilisers, oil and gas or power have had trouble with the government in collecting their dues. If oil prices would move higher, these companies would be severely hit as they would be need the liquidity sustains through the tough times. Unfortunately higher oil prices would also tighten government’s financial thereby increasing the liquidity crisis for the airlines. 2. Costlier air tickets: Reports say that in order to fund the subsidy element government will be imposing a two per cent cess in domestic and international air travel for the regional connectivity fund that will be set up. In a price sensitive market like India, companies might absorb these prices at the risk of volume, especially during off-season. 3. Tightening of refund policy: Cancellation charges were a straight addition to airline company’s profits. The aviation policy seems to have taken notice of the indiscriminate policies of some domestic airlines on cancellation and refunds and has proposed a number of steps to rein them in. These include a timeline of 15 days for refunding the money and refund on all fares including promotional and special rates. But what is likely to hit airlines is the policy of enhancing of the cancellation amount of up to Rs 10,000 for flights cancelled within 24 hours of departure. 4. Increased competition on account of changes in 5/20 rule: Government has cleverly walked the middle path on the 5/20 policy which required a new airline company to have five years of experience and 20 aircrafts in the domestic market to get a license to fly abroad. The five year rule has been relaxed but the airlines will need 20 aircrafts in the domestic market. Newer airlines that are still testing water will have to increase their fleet size, thereby increasing competition which will impact airline company’s profits. 5. Code sharing liberalised: Reports say that airlines will be free to enter into code-sharing agreement with foreign carriers for any destination within India on a reciprocal basis. Code sharing will help Indian companies in filling their seats for foreign travellers thereby improving their occupancy. The aviation policy which has taken nearly a decade to be released has addressed many points from the travellers point of view and some from the industry’s point. Though marginally negative in the short term, the policy can increase air travel volume in the medium to long term. Johnathan Cyprien Womens Jersey
Mahanagar Gas plans to add 670 km of grid in 5 years
City gas distribution player, Mahanagar Gas Limited on Wednesday informed that the company plans to set up additional 670 kilometers of distribution pipelines to its existing CGD network of 4,646 kilometers over a period of next five years. The company, jointly promoted by GAIL (India) Limited and BG Asia Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd also looks to open additional 83 CNG stations to the existing 88 CNG stations for its automobile consumers. This will mean coverage of most of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). “We are in the process of expanding our network by around 670 kilometers and open 83 more CNG stations including some on highways to facilitate customers travelling out of the cities. As a business strategy, we are also entering into new geographical areas,” said Rajeev Mathur, managing director, Mahanagar Gas Limited informed here during a roadshow for the company’s upcoming Initial Public Offer (IPO). Speaking to BusinessLine, Mathur expressed confidence over the government’s policy on CGD sector and infrastructure development by the Centre. “The initiative of Smart Cities will boost the prospects for the City Gas Distribution sector. One such smart city project is being developed in Raigad district and therefore since its a greenfield project, it will have well-planned gas grid network,” said Mathur adding that due to congestion in the existing cities, setting up of new gas infrastructure becomes time consuming. The company expects to commence operations in Raigad district in fiscal 2017. The company will also look to bid for newer geographies in the upcoming bidding process for cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, Vishakhapattanam, Bhopal, Jaipur, Udaipur, Kolhapur among others. MGL currently sells about 2.43 million metric standard cubic meters per day (mmscmd) of gas to its CNG and PNG customers, which forms about 470,478 and 865,000 respectively. From the current 2.43 mmscmd of gas sale, MGL’s market has potential of about 5 mmscmd of natural gas. Kris Russell Authentic Jersey
Aviation policy cleared: 5/20 likely eased, capped fares mooted
The government today approved its long-awaited National Aviation Policy, which contains various measures to boost the country’s under-penetrated aviation sector and boost connectivity across towns. The details of the policy are not yet known but sources have told CNBC-TV18 the government has tweaked the 5/20 rule, which requires a carrier to be in operation for five years and have fleet of 20 aircraft before it is allowed to fly to international destinations. Under the tweaked rule, sources say the government has now stipulated airlines to have at least 20 aircraft but done with the five-year requirement. This would come as good news to recent entrants AirAsia India and Vistara, who will though still be required to scale up their fleet size to be able to fly abroad. In a bid to improve regional connectivity, the government has likely capped airfares for flights with less than one hour duration at Rs 2,500 per passenger and those under 30 minutes at Rs 1,200 for routes under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS). In the draft aviation policy released last year, the government had suggested some sort of subsidy should carriers incur losses at such fares but details of this are not yet known. Experts said the move would help improve regional connectivity between tier II and III cities and could boost demand by 15-20 percent. The policy has also likely taken a number of steps to boost aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activity in India, a Rs 5,000 crore market for Indian carriers, which is 90 percent served by India’s neighbouring countries. Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju will hold a press conference at 4 pm outlining details of the policy. Jerome Baker Jersey
Centre to invest Rs 75,000 crore to augment road infrastructure in UP
he Centre will invest about Rs 75,000 crore in augmenting highway infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh over the next two years. “Ministry of Road Transport and Highways through National Highways Authority of India and State Public Works Department shall invest approximately an amount of Rs 74,794 crore in the state in next two years,” Road Transport and Highways Ministry said in a statement. There are 60 national highways with a total length of 8,483 km in Uttar Pradesh, out of which 4,529 km are with NHAI and 3,143 km with the state PWD while no objection certificate is awaited for 10 highways totalling 811 km. Eight major projects worth Rs 6,218 crore having a length of 865 km were completed in the state in the last two years. “Thirty one major projects are ongoing with a total length of 2,156 km with total project cost (TPC) of Rs 19,436 crore. Twenty four major projects were awarded during 2014-15 and 2015-16, with a total length of 1,293 km and TPC of Rs 16,949 crore,” the statement said. It said 15 projects are likely to be awarded in the next 12 months with a length of 840 km with TPC of Rs 6,790 crore. Besides 1,400 km of national highways are under DPR (detailed project report) stage and civil construction work is likely to be awarded in the next two years for about Rs 14,000 crore. “Under CRF (central road fund) and schemes a total number of 79 projects have been sanctioned amounting to Rs 3,035 crore during 2015-16 and 2016-17…Thirty five national highways with 2,591 km length have been approved in-principle. MORTH shall invest an amount of about Rs 25,910 crore to develop these national highways,” the statement said. Shelby Harris Womens Jersey
Rs 25,500 crore highway projects under stress: India Ratings
Around Rs 25,500 crore of highway projects could be under stress because of unfavourable macro-economic conditions, sub-optimal traffic performance and stretched debt levels, credit rating agency India Ratings & Research said in a report on Friday. The agency called for “refinancing and risk balancing” of projects worth Rs 8,450 crore for the sector weighed by over leverage, lower-than-expected cash flows and land acquisition issues. “Unless the projects undergo a structural change, such as debt restructuring or refinancing, the projects’ credit metrics are unlikely to improve substantially. Due to the capital intensive nature of highway projects, more than 70% of the sample projects have a debt/equity ratio higher than 2.3 times which further ratifies the extent of (over) leverage,” Chintan Lakhani, associate director India Ratings & Research said in the note. The rating agency believes that 19% of the highway projects are over leveraged for the eight year period ending March 2025 because of lenders security of 1.2 times debt, which if not reduced could lead to projects breaching restrictive covenants embedded in the financing agreements. However, the agency also mentioned some silver linings. “Ind-Ra believes that positive traction towards refinancing is already visible as developers with completed projects are tapping capital markets/banks for exploring refinancing opportunities to optimise on the rate of interest and tail. This would also aid in directing capital towards new projects. Refinancing would result in debt amortisation being better aligned with the expected cash flows thereby resulting in improved credit metrics and possibly positive rating movements,” the agency said. Isaiah Crowell Womens Jersey
Chandrababu Naidu’s smart capital Amaravati will not be made in a day, or in 10 years
Andhra CM wants to create a capital that lasts forever. But as of now, Amaravati is taking forever. “We are worse than refugees, we have to build our lives all over again,” says Chandrababu Naidu, two years after Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh on June 2, 2014. Naidu is sitting in his camp office in Vijayawada, the curtains of his rooms printed with large images of Gautam Buddha. “My first task is to establish a capital for Andhra Pradesh and I want to create a city that will be remembered by people for centuries,” he says. But Naidu admits that he has no money and the financial position of Andhra Pradesh is pretty bad. The Government of India is really not open-fisted, so Naidu is looking for foreign participation in building “the pioneer smart city of India”. But right now Naidu is faced with another problem. Only a few officers have shifted with him to Vijayawada. Most officers stay in Hyderabad and shuttle to and fro. The entire staff of the government departments is in Hyderabad, although the ministers have shifted. “I understand that officers and staff want to stay in Hyderabad. But a beginning has to be made because, after all, we have to shift,” says Naidu.The CM has stipulated that the staff must shift by June 27. But clearly that is not possible. To move or not to move? For starters, a six-floor temporary government secretariat is being constructed in Velagapudi village in the new capital area. But only the ground and first floors of the building (that too the outer walls) are ready . The building is surrounded by slush, and with monsoons barely a week away work will be delayed. Without the offices, there is nowhere that the staff can shift to. The various employees’ unions are also speaking in different voices: in principle, they say, they are ready to move but they enquire about schools and colleges for their children and houses for them to stay . “I am ready to move from Hyderabad, but I am concerned about my 80-year-old mother. How do I move her in this uncertainty?” asks an assistant director of the state government. Under the provisions of the bifurcation, Hyderabad will remain the joint capital for 10 years. “Only two years are over. But it is one helluva job to manage the government from two places,” says a government secretary . He stays in Hyderabad but goes to Vijayawada twice a week. “Decisions are taken in Vijayawada where the CM and ministers are based. Then I rush to Hyderabad where the staff of my department operates from, to prepare the files and memos.Clearly, this system cannot go on for long,” he adds, but confides that his wife is not willing to move “under any circumstances”. At Uddandarayunipalem village (U R Palem in short), where the foundation stone for the capital was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Dasara day last year and where the permanent government secretariat, high court and legislative assembly buildings will come up, there is no sign of any activity save bullocks grazing the land and a group of young boys playing cricket. The farmlands are lying waste although in the village proper some denizens are constructing big houses. The landowners have given up their land under a pooling scheme in the hope of making big bucks. For the time being they are getting Rs 50,000 per month but shortly they will get developed plots of 1,000 square yards for residential purposes and 450 square yards for commercial purposes. It’s highly fertile land with the river in close proximity , and the farmers grew fruits and vegetables which fetched good prices. The local buzz is that many farmers have `sold’ the plots they will get in advance to realtors and got hefty amounts in return. It is the realtors who will get the developed plots. Some farmers say they were forced to do so because the government is taking too long to develop the plots. A total of 30,000 acres has been pooled across the 29 villages, and there are stories that in places strong-arm methods were used to make the farmers part with the land. However, there are a few farmers who are holding on -especially in two Reddy-dominated villages under the influence of opposition leader Jagan Reddy. Now the government is threatening to invoke provisions of the land acquisition Act. But private builders are in a rush… In Mandadam village, there is frenzied private construction. A villager confides that since the government secretariat will shift to Velagapudi close by, the demand for houses will go up. Housesflats for rents are being readied in anticipation. Many bank branches can be spotted: all of them are full of deposits. A bank branch manager confides: “The villagers now have a lot of money and want us to keep it safely .” In the meantime, the AP government is in final stages of doling out a contract to a Singapore company Ascendas Land (Singapore) PTE to construct two 31-storied commercial high-rises on 1,691 acres in the capital area. The buildings will have 8 lakh square feet of space each. We ask Naidu when his capital will finally be ready and complete. The CM answers indirectly: “I took nine years to complete Cyberabad.” Cyberabad is the new IT enclave of Hyderabad.Creating Amaravati is a more daunting task -so the message is clear. It will take more than a decade to create a brand-new Amaravati. WHY AMARAVATI? In Pali, Amaravati means abode of the deathless, meaning that nirvana can be attained here. Now a tiny town, it was a major Buddhist centre in third and second century BC. Naidu says that Buddhism was exported to southeast Asia from here. The proposed capital is 25km away from the historical Amaravati -but Naidu has chosen the name because he wants his capital to last forever. Moreover, he wants to use the name of the Buddha to establish an immediate
Government plans national highway grids for smooth travel; 27 corridors identified
India has over one lakh kilometres of national highways (NHs), but there is no scientific road network pattern and drivers can’t take a straight road to reach from one place to the other. To address this, NHAI has prepared a grid of 27 horizontal and vertical national highway corridors at a distance of every 250 km crisscrossing the country. All these stretches will be of four lanes and will provide more road space for seamless transport. The total length of these corridors, including ones such as Kanyakumari to Srinagar, Porbandar to Kolkata, Surat to Paradip Port, Rameswaram to Dehradun and Mangalore Port to Chennai Port, is about 36,600 km. Out of this, about 30,100 km are already NHs. But only 18,800 km of them are of four-lanes. “The rest are either single or two lanes and we have missing NH link of about 6,500 km, which are either state highways or major district roads. These stretches need to be converted into NHs and widened to four lanes for smooth travel,” said an official. Sources said going by the standard costing, the government will have to invest about Rs 25,000 crore for completing four-laning of the routes. The preparation of the grids will help the government re-designate the NHs for easy identification. For example, all even number NH grids can be identified for roads connecting east to west and odd number for corridors joining north end to south.”The grids will be important as the government is focusing on integrated transportation network. These grids will connect all major ports, which will help in quick evacuation and transport of cargo from one end to the other,” another official said. Sources said highway ministry has shared this plan with states and sought their views. “We want to be sure the states have not awarded or planned roads on PPP mode that are parallel to the identified routes,” a source said. TOI has learnt that NHAI had made a detailed presentation to highway minister Nitin Gadakri in March. The proposed NH grid shall not only improve connectivity in each region and state capital but will also provide highway link to 12 major ports, 45 out of 53 million plus cities and 26 state capitals besides providing connectivity to major tourist and religious places. The NHAI said planning for horizontal and vertical grid network was done keeping the concept of parallels to the existing north-south and east-west corridor alignments. These parallels are spread across the country , uniformly and thereby providing connectivity to every region.”The existing NH network depicts unbalanced network and even creates problem in numbering NHs systematically from road users’ perspective.The current approach has focused on state-level planning,” said an official. During UPA-2 , then highway minister Kamal Nath had made an effort to re-designate the existing NHs but it did not bear fruit. Kelvin Beachum Womens Jersey