Latest news with #Rs3
Hans India
15 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
The Cascades Neopolis, ultra-luxury project unveiled
Hyderabad: GHR Lakshmi Urbanblocks Infra LLP—a collaborative venture of GHR Infra, Lakshmi Infra, and Urbanblocks Realty—has announced the launch of 'The Cascades Neopolis,' an ultra-luxury residential skyscraper project that promises to redefine the skyline and standards of high-rise living in Hyderabad. With an estimated investment of Rs3,169 crore, the landmark project will feature five towering 63-storey buildings, each rising 217 metres high, making it one of the tallest residential developments in South India. Located in the upscale Neopolis area, the development spans 7.34 acres and is expected to be completed by March 2030. The Cascades will house 1,189 spacious 3BHK and 4BHK apartments, ranging from 2,560 to 4,825 sq. ft, alongside 10 ultra-premium triplex penthouses equipped with private pools on the 54th floor. The project includes seven levels of parking (two basement and five podium levels) and will offer both ground-level and sky-level amenities. Positioned as a future-ready and environmentally responsible community, the project incorporates smart home automation, holistic wellness zones, landscaped gardens, and advanced sustainable features such as rainwater harvesting, solar-powered common areas, and air purification systems. The project is targeting prestigious WELL and IGBC Platinum Pre-Certifications—potentially becoming the first residential development in South India to achieve the former.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Solar Projects A Ray Of Hope To Curb Electricity Budgets
Pune: When Park Royale, a housing society with 433 flats in Wakad, first installed a solar project seven years ago, the pilot phase yielded promising results. Encouraged, they scaled up the total capacity to 172.5-kW and today, their annual electricity expenses for common amenities in the complex have dropped from Rs62 lakh to just Rs13.5 lakh — almost a fifth of costs — thanks to the switch to solar. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This reduced expenditure even includes the Rs7 lakh used for operating their society's sewage treatment plant (STP), which now runs on a green meter (providing subsidized govt charges for power). Society chairman Manoj Shinkar told TOI, "Initially, we had installed a 30-kW solar plant in 2018, and the investment was recovered in just two years as we also received govt subsidy on it. Encouraged by the savings, we expanded the project gradually in four different phases and reached 172.5-kW by 2023." Park Royale is one of the housing societies in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad that are choosing to significantly cut down on electricity costs by switching to solar power. By installing rooftop solar systems, many societies have managed to power all their common area facilities—lifts, water pumps, and lighting—entirely through solar energy. Members of such societies say the move has led to substantial savings, amounting to lakhs of rupees annually, allowing them to reduce monthly maintenance charges for residents. Shinkar echoed that the benefits get passed on to flat owners. "Earlier, we charged Rs3 per sqft as maintenance. This has reduced to Rs2.5 per sqft—one of the lowest maintenance charges by any housing society in Wakad and nearby areas," he said. The entire solar setup cost the society Rs95 lakh by 2023, and the agency will handle maintenance for the next five years after each installation at no extra cost as per the agreement. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With money saved on power bills, the society has also invested in other infrastructure upgrades, including a Rs15 lakh waste composting plant. Additionally, all common areas are now equipped with energy-efficient LED lighting to further reduce power consumption. Another such example is the La Melosa Housing Society — also in Wakad — which has 234 flats. The society installed a 76-kW solar system in March this year. Society chairman Jasbir Singh said, "Over the last two months, our common electricity bill dropped from an average of Rs2-Rs2.4 lakh per month to just Rs3,500 per month. The difference is staggering." Singh said the installation agency estimated annual savings of Rs18 lakh, considering that power generation from solar systems usually reduces during the monsoon season and one may need to pay more towards electricity bills during that period."We spent Rs35 lakh on the project after receiving govt subsidy and expect to recover this cost in two years," he added. The society financed the project internally and plans to reduce the monthly maintenance fee once the investment is recovered. "For any housing society, electricity and water are the major expenses covered under maintenance. If we manage these efficiently, the overall cost for residents can be brought down significantly. That's why every society should consider installing solar systems," Singh said. Besides large complexes, many smaller residential establishments are also adopting solar energy, such as the Bhagyashree Apartments in Pune's Kothrud. The 10-flat residential building was recently recognized and felicitated by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) as the first fully solar-powered residential apartment in the entire district. The society had initially installed an 11-kW solar system two years ago to power common amenities. Encouraged by the savings and efficiency, residents decided to extend solar power usage to all individual flats. Accordingly, in Jan this year, they added another 19-kW system, including -1-kW system for four flats, 2-kW for three flats and 3-kW for the remaining three flats, making the entire building solar powered. Mandar Deshmukh, a resident here, said, "Earlier, the monthly electricity bill for my individual flat was around Rs2,000. Since switching to solar, it has dropped to zero." The building now has a total of 30-kW rooftop solar capacity, which meets the entire electricity demand of all 10 flats and common areas, making it a model for sustainable residential living. Solar agencies confirmed that they are getting increased inquiries from housing societies — but added that many hesitate to install it due to shortage of funds. On average, it costs around Rs25 lakh to install a 50-kW solar project. "However, housing societies can also opt for OPEX (operating expense model), under which the third-party vendor owns, installs, operates and maintains the solar system, and the housing society only pays for their consumption, with fixed and reduced rates compared to normal electricity charges charged by MSEDCL," a solar agency operator said, adding that the vendor and societies make an agreement for a fixed period after which the complete set-up is given to the housing society for free. The operator said, "If societies want to fund the project on their own, agencies also help them get a subsidy of Rs18,000 per kW from state govt." There has been a surge in demand from residential properties for solar system installation in the last one-and-a-half years, particularly after govt launched the 'PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana', said SunGet Solar Infra owner Dipak Kotkar. Under this scheme, consumers with individual flats or houses are provided financial assistance of Rs30,000 per kW project (which for society complexes is Rs18,000 per kW). "We had to increase our manpower after this scheme was launched as it has received a very good response. There is a need to simplify the process so that more people can apply for it," Kotkar told TOI. "For instance, the govt online portal keeps getting upgraded, so data of earlier applications is lost and needs to be constantly refilled. Further, there are no dedicated offline govt centres for troubleshooting glitches, only call centres," he elaborated. Confirming the reaction to the scheme, Sunil Kakde, chief engineer of MSEDCL Pune zone, said, "There has been a good response to the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana from housing societies as well as individual households. Residents are widely utilizing the scheme mainly to power common facilities, such as water pumps and lifts, using solar energy. Govt provides 18,000 per kW subsidy to projects at housing societies up to 500-kW capacity. "
Express Tribune
19 hours ago
- Express Tribune
TikToker allegedly raped by two men
A social media influencer and TikToker from Taxila was allegedly gang-raped by two men on the pretext of a job offer. As per reports, a 25-year-old woman was lured for a job offer and called in by the two suspects, Najeeb Khan and Faizan. According to her statement, she went to a location near Khanpur Road, where the suspects boarded her in their car and raped her. The suspects also allegedly snatched her phone, Rs3,000 in cash and a gold pendant before abandoning her. Despite reporting the incident to the police, the authorities reportedly hesitated to register a case, and the woman was sent back to Taxila after a perfunctory investigation. When the woman reported the crime to the Khanpur police station, but instead of registering a case, the police allegedly labeled her a "prostitute" and contacted her husband to come to the station. The woman was then sent back home with her husband, who has reportedly been having marital issues with her for the past three years. Sources claim that the accused men have police backing, which raises questions about the police's handling of the case. The fact that the police did not take action on the woman's complaint and instead sent her back with her husband has sparked concerns about the fairness of the justice system in the area. Local sources say that seeking justice from the Khanpur police is extremely challenging, and that the woman may need to reach out to high-ranking officials like the Hazara DIG or Haripur DPO to get her case heard. Meanwhile, the police officer on duty claimed that the woman had gone to Khanpur Dam with the accused individuals of her own accord and that the matter had been resolved.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Hans India
FASTag annual pass for cars
New Delhi: Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Wednesday announced the launch of a FASTag-based annual pass priced at Rs3,000 for cars, with effect from August 15 this year, in what he termed as 'a transformative step towards hassle-free highway travel.' The minister said that the pass would be valid for one year from the date of activation or up to 200 trips — whichever comes first — this pass is designed exclusively for non-commercial private vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans. The annual pass will enable seamless and cost-effective travel across National Highways throughout the country. A dedicated link for activation and renewal will soon be made available on the Rajmarg Yatra App as well as on the official websites of NHAI and MoRTH, Gadkari explained. The minister said this policy addresses long-standing concerns regarding toll plazas located within a 60-km range and simplifies toll payments through a single, affordable transaction. By reducing wait times, easing congestion, and minimising disputes at toll plazas, the annual pass aims to deliver a faster and smoother travel experience for millions of private vehicle owners, he added. Meanwhile, the average annual construction of National Highways has jumped by a massive 130 per cent during 2014-2024 as compared to the previous 10 years from 2004-2014. This has taken the length of national highways constructed during the last 10 years to 1,01,900 km, Gadkari informed Parliament recently.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Housefull 5 box office collection Day 13: Akshay Kumar starrer hits Rs 165 crore mark
Akshay Kumar and Abhishek Bachchan 's comedy entertainer 'Housefull 5' continues its successful run at the box office, hitting a new milestone on Day 13. Housefull 5 Movie Review According to early estimates, the film earned approximately Rs3 crore (India net) across all languages on its thirteenth day, bringing its total domestic collection to an impressive Rs 165.25 crore. The film, which had a stellar start, crossed the Rs 100 crore mark within just four days of its release—one of the fastest to do so this year. By the end of its first week, Housefull 5 had amassed an estimated Rs 127.25 crore. It maintained momentum in its second week, collecting Rs 3.75 crore on Monday and Rs 4.25 crore on Tuesday. On Wednesday, June 18, the film recorded an overall Hindi occupancy of 9.16%, showing consistent audience interest despite new competition. While Housefull 5 has successfully fended off recent Hollywood releases such as Ballerina, How To Train Your Dragon, and Materialists, it is now gearing up for a major box office clash. Aamir Khan 's Sitaare Zameen Par is set to hit theatres on June 20, and industry watchers are keen to see how this highly anticipated emotional drama will impact Housefull 5's continued run. However, according to early predictions, the Aamir Khan movie is expected to rake in just around Rs 3-4 crore, according to advance ticket bookings. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani and backed by Sajid Nadiadwala, Housefull 5 brings together an ensemble cast and continues the popular comedy franchise with a mix of humour, nostalgia, and star power.
