Latest news with #Public-PrivatePartnership
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Navy inducts INS Arnala: What sets it apart from other warships
INS Arnala, the first of India's Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), was commissioned into the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy Wednesday at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The commissioning event marked the formal induction of the first of the sixteen ASW-SWC class ships into the Navy. The ship has been designed and constructed by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with M/s L&T Shipbuilders. The Navy had earlier said that the induction of the 16 ASW-SWC class of ships, starting with INS Arnala, will 'transform the Navy's anti-submarine warfare posture, strengthen coastal defence and solidify India's position as a capable and self-reliant maritime power in Indian Ocean Region.' Here is all about the new warship. The warship has been named after the historic Arnala Fort off Vasai in Maharashtra, is 77.6 m long, with a gross tonnage of over 1,490 tonnes, making it the largest Indian Naval warship to be propelled by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet combination. INS Arnala and the 15 other ASW-SWC class of ships to be inducted will replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes. The warship was delivered to the Indian Navy on May 8 at M/s L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli. According to the Navy, the warship incorporates 80 per cent indigenous content and integrates advanced systems from leading Indian defence firms, including Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), L&T, Mahindra Defence, and MEIL. The project has engaged over 55 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), promoting domestic industry and generating related economic activity, the Navy had said. INS Arnala has been designed for a range of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations, including conducting Subsurface Surveillance, Search and Rescue missions, and low-intensity maritime operations. The ship is capable of undertaking ASW operations in coastal waters and has advanced mine-laying capabilities, thus strengthening India's coastal defence. What sets the warship apart? INS Arnala is the first warship with a single rocket launcher on the centreline. Earlier warships had two rocket launchers, covering ahead to either side. This feature reduces costs due to lesser requirement of the sensor-to-weapon hardware. This also changes the weapon silhouette of the ship without affecting its operational effectiveness. INS Arnala has an improved ship design, making it more ergonomic in operations. How does it strengthen coastal defence? The ship will be able to detect and target miniature or midget submarines and smaller UUVs (Unmanned Underwater Vehicles) in coastal waters with depths of less than 30 metre. INS Arnala would be ideal for deployment against these targets. Heavier warships cannot manoeuvre as freely as Arnala-class warships in shallow waters. Other ASW-SWC class of ships to follow The Navy is set to induct 16 indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft class of ships starting with INS Arnala. The Navy had said that these ships will be equipped with advanced underwater sensors such as the Hull-Mounted Sonar Abhay, Underwater Acoustic Communication System (UWACS) and Low-Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (LFVDS), making them capable of comprehensive underwater surveillance. They feature a state-of-the-art weapon suite, including lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, Anti-Torpedo decoys and mine-laying capabilities, the Navy said, adding that the integration of sensors and weapons into the Combat Management System (CMS) and an Integrated ASW Complex (IAC) further enhances their combat capabilities. The 16 ASW-SWCs would aid constant and effective protection of India's coastline and critical offshore assets from submarine threats, enabling the Navy to counter the growing subsurface threat in the Indian Ocean Region. Their capability of operating in shallow waters makes them ideal for tasks close to the shore, including patrolling, surveillance and humanitarian assistance.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Committee says no to funds for wall at SGPGIMS nursery school provisionally handed over to NGO
A committee has rejected the move to spend a proposed ₹48 lakh on carrying out repairs and raising a boundary wall at the three-decade-old nursery school on the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) campus. The rejection came at a meeting of the recommendatory committee led by additional director Kritika Sharma on Tuesday. Despite the proposal being turned down, people familiar with the matter claimed minor works like painting and internal repairs have already been carried out, raising concerns about procedural integrity and fund utilisation. The school has already been provisionally handed over to the Amethi based NGO Rajiv Smriti Shiksha Evam Seva Sansthan, named after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Though the NGO has no known experience in early childhood education, it has been given the green light to begin groundwork for registration, infrastructure, and staffing ahead of the academic session. The PGI governing body had earlier declined to run the nursery school, citing its unwillingness to spend institutional funds on a non-core activity. Yet, barely weeks after the provisional handover, the administration was ready to invest public resources in upgrading the nursery's infrastructure for the NGO's use, those in the know of things claimed. 'This double standard is hard to ignore,' said an official familiar with the development. 'On one hand, the institute says it doesn't want to fund the school directly. On the other hand, it's dipping into its civil works budget to improve infrastructure for an NGO whose operational role hasn't even been finalized, thanks to the committee which refused to spend money,' an insider said. Critics are questioning the timing and choice of the NGO, which is based in Amethi and carries the name of a Congress former prime minister, under the BJP-led state government. The organisation's only known credential is a rural postgraduate college, with no documented experience in pre-primary education. When contacted, SGPGIMS joint director (administration), Jaideep Singh Ghuman confirmed that only interim, provisional approval had been granted. 'The building will continue to be maintained by PGI so that the fees can be kept in check. If the NGO is found underperforming, it will be removed from the project,' Ghuman said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
RTI: Eway e-challan recovery just 9 per cent of 269cr
The Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) on Mumbai-Pune expressway has generated 17 lakh e-challans worth nearly ₹ 269.5 crore for traffic violations since it was implemented on July 19 last year, but recovery from offenders stands at a measly 9per cent till March 2025, officials said on Sunday. The 1.5 lakh cleared e-challans, or 9per cent of the total generated, amount to ₹25.2 crore, which is 9.3 per cent of the total sum to be paid by offenders, as per official documents. As per an RTI reply, Maharashtra government has paid the ITMS operator ₹57.9 crore for the 8.8 lakh e-challans issued between July 19 and Dec 31 last year. The project is being executed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which built the Mumbai-Pune expressway, in collaboration with the RTO and highway police under a Public-Private Partnership ( PPP ) model. The state transport department has given ₹45 crore viability gap funding from Road Safety Fund for the project that costs more than ₹100 crore. The MSRTC has installed 40 gantries and hundreds of CCTV cameras as part of ITMS, which also includes speed detection cameras , ANPR, weigh-in-motion sensors, AVCC, weather sensors, and a dynamic messaging system.
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Learning crisis worsened by pandemic, says Angara
Department of Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 'Sonny' Angara has affirmed that the country remains embroiled in a worsening learning crisis, one intensified by the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking during his visit at Esteban Abada Elementary School in Quezon City where the CLASS+ program was launched, Angara explained that many children are still unable to read after extended periods of homeschooling without teacher guidance. '100% nag-worsen,' he said, explaining that many children are still unable to read after extended periods of homeschooling without teacher guidance. 'Binigyan lang ng papeles…hindi nga sila marunong magbasa,' he added, clearly illustrating how paper-based home modules proved ineffective without foundational literacy. (They were given papers, yet they don't know how to read.) Angara pointed out that the crisis lies in the fact that 'students are not learning at the right level.' Referring to UNICEF's observations, he said, 'Yan ang nirefer nung UNICEF kaya tinawag nilang crisis kasi nakita nila ang mga bata, behind sila sa grade level nila.' (That was what UNICEF referred to ... that's why they called it a crisis. They saw the students are behind their actual grade level.) To address this, Angara said DepEd has implemented summer programs and is putting renewed focus on basic skills. 'Sinabi ng Presidente, mag-focus tayo sa basics.' (The President said we should focus on the basics.) In the first few days of school opening, Angara reported common problems encountered during visits to schools: 'May naririnig tayo mga ibang kulangan ng classroom, may incident ang bullying, yung iba binabaha.' (We've heard of lack of classrooms, incidents of bullying, flooding.) When asked how many classrooms have been constructed this year under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Angara replied, 'Wala pa po. Yung PPP nasa Department of Development pa.' — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Delhi government plans to transform Najafgarh drain into 30 MW canal-top solar power corridor
By Tanya Chugh New Delhi [India], June 18 (ANI): In a significant push towards clean energy and water conservation, the Delhi government is set to transform the Najafgarh Drain into a 30 MW canal-top solar power corridor. According to sources, the project will be implemented in phases, the first phase of which will generate 5 MW of solar power over a 6 km stretch from the Dhansa Border to Ghummanhera. The project is estimated to save nearly 270 million litres of water annually. Solar panels will not only generate electricity but also reduce the rate of water evaporation. This initiative is a part of the Delhi government's broader plan to triple the city's solar power capacity by 2027. The project will be developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Similar proposals are being considered for other drains such as the Barapullah and the Agra Canal. The Najafgarh Drain is a major source of pollution in the Yamuna River, and efforts are underway to improve its condition. Desilting drains that fall into the river and projects for rejuvenation of the Yamuna are also underway in the national capital. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, LG VK Saxena, and PWD Minister Parvesh Verma are directly monitoring them. As part of its clean river initiative, the Delhi government is also installing 32 real-time water monitoring stations. Ten will be located on the Yamuna River itself, while 22 others will be set up on major city drains to monitor and address pollution levels, said a senior official. Meanwhile, the Delhi Cabinet also approved solar power subsidies in the state. Rs 1,08,000 will now be provided for 3KW solar panel installations. Earlier, the Central Government gave a subsidy of Rs 78,000, to which the Delhi Government has now added 30,000. Also, for 1KW solar panels, a subsidy of Rs 10,000 will be provided. The Delhi Vidhan Sabha is also being solar-powered by the government, where the foundation stone for a 500 KW Solar power plant had already been laid. This makes the Delhi Vidhan Sabha the first in the country to be solar-powered. These initiatives higlights the Delhi government's commitment to sustainable urban development and its goal of making the capital a leader in renewable energy adoption. (ANI)
