Vijayawada airport’s new terminal building to be completed in December
The new interim terminal building at Vijayawada airport in Gannavaram will be completed by the end of December, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced in a meeting with airline operators at his office here on Tuesday. As per the agreement with Simplex Infrastructures Limited executing the project from October 2015, the new terminal was to be completed by January 2017. Now, it looks like it will be completed one month ahead of schedule. The new terminal building being constructed at the cost of Rs 135 crore will have 1,300 sq mts of plinth area and can accommodate 500 people during peak time. As per the half-year report, the airport had made significant progress in both air traffic and passenger footfall. Compared to 2015-16, in the first six months of the current fiscal, there has been 72 percent growth in passenger traffic and 78 percent growth in aircraft movement. During the Krishna Pushkarams festival a couple of months ago, the region saw an increase in air traffic. The higher demand has led to airline operators wanting more operations. At present five airline operators are operating in the airport and two more airline operators are on the cards to start their operations in the next few months. The Chief Minister called upon airlines operators to help increase the air passenger footfall in the State and make Andhra Pradesh an aviation hub. He wanted them to participate in the bidding with regard to air connectivity to be called by the central government shortly. He requested the airline operators to increase the air connectivity between Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada -Hyderabad, Vijayawada-Tirupati, Vijayawada-Kadapa. He welcomed the suggestion of the airline operators for affordable transport from the airport to the nearest towns and cities. Jose Cruz Jr. Authentic Jersey
India could shell out $12 billion for new fighter jets
The South Asian nation’s government has sent letters to several companies regarding a new fleet of military aircraft, to be jointly produced with local firms. A potential deal, according to experts, could be worth up to $12 billion. “India is looking at paying $65 to $80 million per aircraft for 150 aircraft,” says Ben Moores, a defense and aviation analyst at IHS Jane’s. The country faces an elevated sticker price for the fighters because government rules require most of the manufacturing to take place in India. The requirement, which is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” initiative, is believed to have been a roadblock in India’s most recent military aircraft deal with France. That deal, which originally called for French company Dassault to supply the Indian air force with 126 Rafale fighters, underwent lengthy negotiations due to disputes over the local production clause. Under the final terms of the sale agreed by India and France last month, India will only get 36 jets. Donald Trump Womens Jersey
IATA DG Calls For Further Regulatory Reform in India
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called for an appraisal of India’s regulatory structure, particularly as it relates to taxation, public-private partnerships in airport privatization and the country’s prospects for joining the carbon offset and reduction scheme. As aviation traffic increases “India will need to deal with the problem of infrastructure in advance or risk safety,” said IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac on his 50th day in his new position. De Juniac noted that India is one of the first countries he visited since assuming IATA’s top post. “It is not by chance, as India is one of the key markets,” he said. A recent IATA forecast projected India will surpass the UK as the world’s third largest market by 2026. Calling the new civil aviation policy “ambitious with many positive elements,” De Juniac expressed concern that India’s new so-called regional connectivity scheme not only caps fares but also imposes an additional tax on flights between major cities to fund operations. “We understand there is a need for connectivity to small towns and cities, but the aviation sector is overburdened by taxes and charges,” he warned. “We are a nice target for charges.” Sustainable development requires a cost structure with fewer taxes, he added. The regulatory structure remains a cause for unease as airlines face huge costs increases. “The Airport Economic Regulatory Authority [AERA] has been unable to preserve its independence sufficiently and has not been able to implement its own tariff orders, such as the one to reduce Delhi’s charges by 96 percent,” said De Juniac. “In addition, the hybrid till that has been imposed in the policy will further hit airline margins, which are 6 percent in a good year as compared to airports, which have a profit of 30 to 40 percent.” Tanner Kero Authentic Jersey
AAI air cargo, logistics arm takes off
Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Tuesday launched an air cargo and logistics subsidiary, which is projected to rake in annual turnover of Rs 380 crore in two years. Announcing the launch of AAI Cargo and Logistics Allied Services Company Ltd (AAICLAS), Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that the country is now a step closer to becoming a world class destination in cargo and logistics services. Neera Rawat would be the Managing Director while B K Mehrotra would be the Chief Executive Officer of AAI Cargo and Logistics Allied Services Company Ltd. Raju said that making India a world class destination in cargo and logistics services is his dream. “With the launch of AAI Cargo and Logistics Allied Services Company Ltd today, we are a step closer,” he added. Participating at the launch ceremony, Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey said that AAI Cargo and Logistics Allied Services Company Ltd expects to have “an annual turnover of Rs 380 crore in two years time”. Airports Authority of India Chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra said that its cargo department has been de-merged and corporatised into a functionally & administratively independent organisation. Patrick Mahomes II Jersey
Safety of LPG consumers and the households is the prime concern while distributing new LPG connections
Government of India is committed to provide LPG as a clean cooking fuel across India through Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). More than 9 million new connections have been released to the women from BPL households in the last 6 months. Safety of LPG consumers and the households is the prime concern of the Government as well as the Oil Marketing Companies(OMCs) while distributing new LPG connections – whether under PMUY or otherwise. While issuing new connections to the beneficiaries, Safety/Insurance handouts with pictorial depictions have been given to them. A Safety briefing is also being imparted to the beneficiaries at the time of installation of LPG connection. In addition, Safety melas/ Safety Clinics are being organized in the villages to make the new consumers aware of the safety procedures. These efforts are being further stepped up to avoid any unfortunate incidents related to the use of LPG. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is also continuously monitoring the settlement of Insurance claims related to past LPG accidents and monthly meetings are being held with the Insurance Companies and OMCs on the subject. The pendency in this regard has come down from 51% in June 2016 to 33.76% in October 2016 and all efforts are being made to clear all pending cases in 3 months. Geoff Swaim Jersey
Operation of four fuel dispensers stopped
The legal metrology department has stopped operation of four fuel dispensers erected in four different petrol pumps in Kalamassery and Irumpanam. The department initiated action on Tuesday after finding irregularities in the volume of petrol supplied through these dispensers corresponding to the price. “It was found during the inspection that the volume of petrol supplied was less by an average 35ml corresponding to the price entered. This is a violation according to the legal metrology act, 2009. But not everyone might be intentionally manipulating the dispenser, sometimes technical issues might be the reason,” said R Ram Mohan, deputy controller of legal metrology, central zone, Ernakulam, who led the inspection. “The dispensers can be used in the petrol pumps once the irregularities are resolved and verified by the department officials,” he said. The inspection covered 52 petrol pumps in the central zone, which includes districts of Palakkad, Idukki and Thrissur apart from Ernakulam. “The petroleum dealers should renew the licenses of the fuel dispensers every year. However, the department conducts routine inspections so as to prevent any sort of irregularities,” Mohan said. Officials from legal metrology had conducted similar inspections few months back but did not find any irregularities then. Petrol pumps that did not exhibit the certificate issued by the legal metrology department were warned. “The certificate verifies that the dispenser machines in the petrol pumps are verified and found fully functional as per the guidelines of legal metrology Act. It is mandatory that every petrol pump should exhibit the certificate publicly. This is the right of customers,” he said. Manipulations in the volume of lubricants sold in the petrol pumps were also found by the department on Tuesday. “The glass tubes and containers used for measuring the volume of oil should also carry the certificate of the legal metrology department. Warnings were issued to the pumps that did not adhere to this guideline,” he said. Ron Francis Jersey
ONGC’s aggressive plan to explore more gas in Tripura
“Currently, four high-capacity rigs, including one hired from China, are in operation to drill new wells and three other rigs are also in operation to maintain production from existing wells,” he added. Agartala, Oct 26 : State-owned ONGC, by deploying a record number of rigs, including one from China, has embarked on an aggressive road-map to explore more natural gas in the northeastern state of Tripura, bordering Bangladesh. “We have undertaken an ambitious plan to explore more natural gas in Tripura. The state has vast reserves of natural gas,” Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Executive Director S.C. Soni told IANS. “Currently, four high-capacity rigs, including one hired from China, are in operation to drill new wells and three other rigs are also in operation to maintain production from existing wells,” he added. “From January (2017), the number of high-capacity rigs would be increased to eight from the existing four to further step up drilling operations in various parts of the state.” Soni, who had headed operations in Mumbai High, said ONGC is currently drilling 14 to 15 wells per year. With the deployment of the additional rigs, the number would go up to 20 to 22 a year. ONGC has so far drilled about 210 wells in Tripura, more than half of which are gas-bearing, Soni said. He said that a 110 million-tonne high-capacity rig valued at more than Rs 230 million was deployed last week in the Kunjaban field, near Agartala. Its 109-foot mast height is suitable for operations up to 5,000 metres depth and is equipped with the latest technology and all safety features. The company earlier this month hired the Chinese rig for Rs 0.95 million per day. The truck-mounted rig can drill up to 3,500 metres. “Additionally, being a mobile rig, precious time would be saved in moving it and its accessories from one location to the other,” Soni noted. “The ONGC board had earlier approved a plan to invest Rs 50.50 billion by 2022 to explore for more gas in Tripura,” said Soni, a technocrat who has vast experience in managing high-value projects. “Under this plan, new wells would be drilled and additional surface facilities would be created to increase gas production from 5.1 million standard cubic metres per day (MSCMD) to at least 6.25 MSCMD from Tripura’s gas fields, he said. ONGC has so far discovered 11 gas fields in the state, seven of which are in production, said Soni, who is also the asset manager of ONGC Tripura. Under the investment plan to produce and supply 6.25 MSCMD to various consumers, including production of electricity, for another 15 to 20 years, at least 153 wells are to be drilled, he said. “To enhance gas production, processing and supply capabilities, the GCS (Gas Collection Centre) in Sonamura, Gojalia and Konaban would be upgraded and around 900 km gas pipelines would be laid.” The company had earlier commissioned its first commercial power project in India, located in southern Tripura and run by ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC), formed by ONGC, the Tripura government and Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited (IL&FS). The 726 MW gas-based combined cycle power project (hydro and natural gas) is located at Palatana, 60 km from Tripura capital Agartala. “Electricity is being supplied to seven of the eight northeastern states from Palatana. Also 100 MW of power is being supplied to Bangladesh since March,” Soni said. “The generation capacity of the OTPC power project is likely to be increased to 1,090 MW in the near future. Work is going on in this direction,” a top OTPC engineer told IANS, on condition of anonymity. ONGC has also committed to supply gas to another state-owned company, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (Neepco), which set up a 100 MW power project at Monarchak, 70 km south of here. Besides, ONGC, which had started its operation in Tripura in 1972, has been supplying gas to various Tripura government and Neepco-owned power projects in the state. ONGC has also planned to set up a Rs 50 billion fertiliser plant in northern Tripura in association with the state government and Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, a Rajasthan-based private company. Ryan Kalil Womens Jersey
Congress targets Modi over ‘plan to buy out GSPC’
Congress on Tuesday targeted prime minister Narendra Modi, saying he had asked petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan to plan an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation buyout of loss-making Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation. “Who took this decision for ONGC to buy GSPC? When most experts say there is very little chance to extract any gas from GSPC’s reserves. Why should ONGC then buy GSPC?” Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh asked. “Why should ONGC take on GSPC’s loans of Rs 200 billion for something that is valued at a mere Rs 30 billion?” he asked. He said the Centre’s proposal was against 600,000 small shareholders of ONGC and 200 foreign and Indian institutional investors. The leader said that in 2005, the then chief minister of Gujarat, Modi, had claimed that GSPC had found 20 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas in Krishna-Godavari basin. After 11 years, it turned out only 1 tcf, he said. But based on the claim, 15 public sector banks had loaned Rs 200 billion to GSPC, which was now unable to service the debt, he added. He cited comptroller and auditor general that GSPC wasted taxpayers’ money through suspicious transactions with dubious companies in India, Yemen, Egypt, Indonesia, among others. Ramesh linked Modi with a corporate group asking why the petroleum ministry had asked Indian Oil Corporation and GAIL to invest in Adani Group’s liquefied natural gas project in Dhamra (Odisha) set up last year. Isaiah Pead Authentic Jersey
ONGC’s aggressive plan to explore more gas in Tripura
“Currently, four high-capacity rigs, including one hired from China, are in operation to drill new wells and three other rigs are also in operation to maintain production from existing wells,” he added. Agartala, Oct 26 : State-owned ONGC, by deploying a record number of rigs, including one from China, has embarked on an aggressive road-map to explore more natural gas in the northeastern state of Tripura, bordering Bangladesh. “We have undertaken an ambitious plan to explore more natural gas in Tripura. The state has vast reserves of natural gas,” Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Executive Director S.C. Soni told IANS. “Currently, four high-capacity rigs, including one hired from China, are in operation to drill new wells and three other rigs are also in operation to maintain production from existing wells,” he added. “From January (2017), the number of high-capacity rigs would be increased to eight from the existing four to further step up drilling operations in various parts of the state.” Soni, who had headed operations in Mumbai High, said ONGC is currently drilling 14 to 15 wells per year. With the deployment of the additional rigs, the number would go up to 20 to 22 a year. ONGC has so far drilled about 210 wells in Tripura, more than half of which are gas-bearing, Soni said. He said that a 110 million-tonne high-capacity rig valued at more than Rs 230 million was deployed last week in the Kunjaban field, near Agartala. Its 109-foot mast height is suitable for operations up to 5,000 metres depth and is equipped with the latest technology and all safety features. The company earlier this month hired the Chinese rig for Rs 0.95 million per day. The truck-mounted rig can drill up to 3,500 metres. “Additionally, being a mobile rig, precious time would be saved in moving it and its accessories from one location to the other,” Soni noted. “The ONGC board had earlier approved a plan to invest Rs 50.50 billion by 2022 to explore for more gas in Tripura,” said Soni, a technocrat who has vast experience in managing high-value projects. “Under this plan, new wells would be drilled and additional surface facilities would be created to increase gas production from 5.1 million standard cubic metres per day (MSCMD) to at least 6.25 MSCMD from Tripura’s gas fields, he said. ONGC has so far discovered 11 gas fields in the state, seven of which are in production, said Soni, who is also the asset manager of ONGC Tripura. Under the investment plan to produce and supply 6.25 MSCMD to various consumers, including production of electricity, for another 15 to 20 years, at least 153 wells are to be drilled, he said. “To enhance gas production, processing and supply capabilities, the GCS (Gas Collection Centre) in Sonamura, Gojalia and Konaban would be upgraded and around 900 km gas pipelines would be laid.” The company had earlier commissioned its first commercial power project in India, located in southern Tripura and run by ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC), formed by ONGC, the Tripura government and Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited (IL&FS). The 726 MW gas-based combined cycle power project (hydro and natural gas) is located at Palatana, 60 km from Tripura capital Agartala. “Electricity is being supplied to seven of the eight northeastern states from Palatana. Also 100 MW of power is being supplied to Bangladesh since March,” Soni said. “The generation capacity of the OTPC power project is likely to be increased to 1,090 MW in the near future. Work is going on in this direction,” a top OTPC engineer told IANS, on condition of anonymity. ONGC has also committed to supply gas to another state-owned company, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (Neepco), which set up a 100 MW power project at Monarchak, 70 km south of here. Besides, ONGC, which had started its operation in Tripura in 1972, has been supplying gas to various Tripura government and Neepco-owned power projects in the state. ONGC has also planned to set up a Rs 50 billion fertiliser plant in northern Tripura in association with the state government and Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, a Rajasthan-based private company. Eddie Goldman Jersey