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News18
11 hours ago
- News18
Pune Gears Up For Palkhi 2025: List Of Key Routes, Traffic Advisory Issued
Last Updated: Pune is preparing for the Palkhi processions on June 19 and 20 this year Thousands of devotees are expected to arrive for Pune's annual Palkhi processions of Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj on June 19 and 20. In preparation, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has issued detailed safety and traffic guidelines. The advisory aims to manage the large crowds drawn by this deeply respected tradition observed by pilgrims from all over Maharashtra. As part of the advisory, 1,494 hoarding agencies within PCMC limits have been asked to check and strengthen their hoardings, especially those along the Palkhi routes, according to Times Now. Since large crowds are expected, officials have emphasised the importance of making sure these structures are safe. The PCMC has also warned that any agency found careless about safety may face strict action. The PCMC has reportedly shared a list of main routes under its limits that will be used for the Palkhi processions to help people stay informed. These routes include: Nigdi to Dapodi, Dehu to Alandi, and Dighi to Bopkhel. Heavy foot traffic is expected on these roads, and residents are advised to avoid travelling through these areas unless necessary during the procession days. Palkhi Procession 2025: Real-Time Updates The Pune Police will provide live updates on the Palkhi's movement through their official social media handles. For information on traffic conditions and alternative routes during the procession, people can visit: To manage the Palkhi processions smoothly, the PCMC, along with local police, is putting traffic diversions and extra security measures in place. Roads along the main routes will have closures, detours, and no-parking zones to avoid traffic jams and ensure safe passage for devotees. Concerned officials are also preparing crowd management steps, such as deploying marshals and setting up first-aid teams at important points. Residents and businesses along the procession paths are urged to support these efforts by staying updated on road changes and following safety guidelines to help the event run safely and efficiently. Palkhi 2025: Know More About It The Palkhi processions go beyond tradition—they are a powerful expression of faith and unity, reflecting Maharashtra's rich devotional culture. Pilgrims march together, singing devotional songs (abhangas) and carrying the symbolic footwear of saints Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar as a mark of respect and humility. As preparations continue, the PCMC has assured that the 2025 Palkhi will be both spiritually fulfilling and safely managed. Citizens are advised to check the official PCMC website for the latest updates on route maps, traffic changes, and emergency contacts.
Qatar Tribune
20 hours ago
- General
- Qatar Tribune
Air India says one engine on crashed plane was new
One of the engines of the Air India plane that crashed last week was new, while the other was not due for servicing until December, the airline's chairman has said. In an interview with an Indian news channel, N Chandrasekaran said that both engines of the aircraft had 'clean' histories. 'The right engine was a new engine put in March 2025. The left engine was last serviced in 2023 and due for its next maintenance check in December 2025,' he told Times Now channel. At least 270 people, most of them passengers, were killed last Thursday when AI171, a London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed less than a minute after taking off from Ahmedabad airport in western India. Investigators are now sifting through debris and decoding recorded flight data and cockpit audio to reconstruct the flight's final moments and determine the cause of the incident. (Agencies)
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Sorry and thank you: Air India CEO writes to flyers a week after crash
Stepping up its communication process since last week's AI171 Dreamliner crash, Air India on Thursday reached out to its frequent fliers about flight cancellations and operational disruptions in the aftermath of the tragedy. Signed by Air India chief executive and managing director Campbell Wilson, the email communication comes a day after Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran admitted in a media interview that the airline's communication with passengers, after the crash, had not been strong. Chandrasekaran, who's also the Air India chairman, had told Times Now on Wednesday evening that the airline had now set up a 'strategic communications team' in addition to its regular one. As part of this change, Air India issued a detailed public statement, explaining the events of June 12—the day of the crash--and the reasons for the subsequent wave of cancellations. In his email to frequent flyers on Thursday evening, Wilson gave a glowing tribute to the flight crew of AI171, stating that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal had over 10,000 hours flying widebody aircraft and First Officer Clive Kunder had over 3,400 hours of experience. Against the backdrop of multiple cancellations and lower demand, he assured flyers that the aircraft had undergone all required maintenance checks. Thanking flyers for their patience, the Air India CEO wrote: 'This is a challenging time for all of trust means everything to us,' He elaborated that as a result of the enhanced safety checks and other external disruptions, the airline would reduce its international widebody flights by around 15 per cent starting June 20, 2025, through to at least mid-July. This move, he said, would 'allow us to have more backup aircraft ready to handle any unexpected issues'. Passengers affected by the revised schedule would be contacted directly and offered a choice of rebooking at no additional cost or a full refund. 'We understand that this temporary reduction to our schedule may affect your travel plans, and we're deeply sorry for any inconvenience,' he wrote. Wilson spoke of 'deep sorrow' over the loss of 241 passengers and crew members, and 34 people on the ground, calling the AI171 crash on June 12 in Ahmedabad a 'devastating event'. He said Air India was working closely with authorities and was fully committed to supporting the affected families. 'Words cannot express the pain we feel for the families and loved ones affected by this devastating event,' he wrote. "The plane was well-maintained, with its last major check in June 2023 and the next scheduled for December 2025. Its right engine was overhauled in March 2025, and the left engine was inspected in April 2025. Both the aircraft and engines were regularly monitored, showing no issues before the flight," he noted. He confirmed that 26 of the airline's 33 Boeing 787 aircraft had undergone DGCA-mandated enhanced safety inspections and had been cleared for service. The remaining aircraft would be inspected before being returned to operations. 'As a confidence-building measure,' he added, 'we have elected to continue enhanced pre-flight safety checks on our Boeing 787 fleet and, as an added measure, our Boeing 777 aircraft.' He acknowledged that the additional checks, along with other external and operational factors, had resulted in a 'higher-than-usual number of cancellations' in recent days. Chandrasekaran had pointed out on Wednesday that Air India had taken several internal steps in recent days to strengthen its communication and operational response. Wilson's email to frequent flyers would perhaps be counted as one of those steps.
The Print
a day ago
- General
- The Print
Tata Group chairman Chandrasekaran ‘apologises' for Ahmedabad AI plane crash
Over 270 people were killed on June 12 when a London-bound Air India plane — a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner — carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed into a medical college complex in Ahmedabad and crashed less than a minute after takeoff. In an exclusive interview with the Group Editor-in-Chief of Times Now and Times Now Navbharat, Navika Kumar, Chandrasekaran said, 'It is an extremely difficult situation where I have no words to express to console any of the families of those who died.' 'I deeply regret that this accident happened in a Tata-run airline. And I feel very sorry. All we can do is to be with the families at this time, grieve with them and we will do everything to support them at this hour and beyond,' Chandrasekran was quoted as saying in a release. Mumbai, Jun 18 (PTI) Tata Sons and Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran on Wednesday 'apologised' for the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last week that claimed more than 270 lives. When specifically asked about the reason for the crash and whether Air India is privy to any preliminary findings, Chandrasekaran said, 'One would have to wait for the probe to conclude.' The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has begun its investigations into the crash, and the DGCA has also appointed a committee. Chandrasekaran said that it could be a month until some of the preliminary findings are out. He, however, claimed that AI171, the flight that crashed, had a clean history and there were no red flags that had been raised. 'There are speculations about human error, speculations about airlines, speculations about engines, maintenance, all kinds,' Chandrasekaran said. 'There are a lot of speculations and lot of theories. But the fact that I know so far is this particular aircraft, this specifical tail, AI-171 has a clean history. As for the engines, the right engine was a new engine put in March 2025. The left engine was last serviced in 2023 and due for its next maintenance check in December 2025. Both engine histories are clean. 'Both pilots were exceptional. Captain Sabharwal had more than 11,500 hours of flying experience, the first officer Clive (Kundar) had more than 3400 hours of flying experience. What I hear from colleagues is that they were excellent pilots and great professionals. So, we can't jump to any conclusions. I am told by all the experts that the black box and recorders will definitely tell the story. So, we just have to wait for that,' he said. When asked about the show-cause notices that had been issued by the DGCA in the recent past to Air India or fines levied on the airline for delays and operational matters, Chandrasekaran said these were not related to the AI171 aircraft. 'These are different from safety issues. If there is a safety issue, there is no way the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) will allow us to fly. And with respect to this specific aircraft, what I have seen is what I have told you.' Chandrasekaran also said that none of the 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliners that are part of Air India's fleet are serviced by Turkish Technic, amid questions being raised about any Turkish link to the aircraft that crashed. 'None of them (the 33 Dreamliners) are maintained by Turkish Technic. Most of them are maintained by AIESL (AI Engineering Services Limited) or SIA Engineering Company (whose parent organization is Singapore Airlines),' he said. The former union minister for civil aviation Praful Patel has questioned the 'silence' of Singapore Airlines, which he said, apart from being a shareholder in Air India, was also responsible for maintaining a significant number of Air India's wide-body aircraft. Chandrasekaran, in the interview, responded to Patel's claims, stating, 'Singapore Airlines has been a great partner. And since we took over, they have helped us in many dimensions. Even some of the safety procedures, the best processes, we have taken from Singapore Airlines. 'We have taken it from Vistara, and many of the processes where we needed best-in-class benchmarks, they have helped us. They have reached out even at this time, their CEO is in constant touch with me. Whether it is customer experience or any other process, they are always available. They have been offering all the help they can.' Chandrasekaran was also asked about whistleblowers who had spoken out against Boeing, specifically in the context of the manufacturing processes associated with the production of the 787 Dreamliner. The Air India Chairman responded by saying, 'These are things that are being dealt with by investigative agencies in the US, but overall 787s have been flying for a very long time, we already had 27 787s by the time we bought Air India. And we have not had any red flags in our checks,' according to the release. Since the June 12 tragedy, several Air India flights have been cancelled, or faced delays, raising serious concerns among passengers. Chandrasekaran acknowledged Air India needs to do a better job communicating with passengers about these matters. 'There are more than 1100 flights that we fly every day. And in the last six days, there have been in general, anywhere from 5 to 16 or 18 flights, depending on the day, that have been cancelled.' 'We've got to do a better job at communication. We have put a strategic communications team in the last three days,' Chandrasekaran said. Chandrasekhar has met with senior officials of Boeing following the tragedy. He said: 'So I did connect with both Boeing and GE at the highest levels. Parallel to the DGCA checks that we have gone through, I have asked them to check and tell us if there have been issues with any of the aircraft or engines,' the release said. PTI IAS RKL MR MR This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
'Right engine was overhauled, left inspected': Air India CEO on plane crash
A London-bound Air India plane crashed outside the Ahmedabad airport moments after take-off on 12 June, resulting in the deaths of 241 passengers and crew, as well as 34 people on the ground Air India's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) Campbell Wilson on Thursday said that the aircraft involved in the tragic Flight AI171 crash was well maintained, with its right engine overhauled and left engine inspected. "The plane was well maintained, with its last major check in June 2023 and the next scheduled for December 2025. Its right engine was overhauled in March 2025, and the left engine was inspected in April 2025. Both the aircraft and engines were regularly monitored, showing no issues before the flight," Wilson wrote in an email to the airline's customers. The same point was highlighted by Tata Sons and Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran during an interview with Times Now on Wednesday. "As for the engines, the right engine was a new engine put in March 2025. The left engine was last serviced in 2023 and due for its next maintenance check in December 2025. Both engine histories are clean," Chandrasekaran said yesterday. "The flight was led by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a highly experienced pilot and trainer with over 10,000 hours flying widebody aircraft. First Officer Clive Kunder had over 3,400 hours of flying experience," he said. He added that the airline is following a directive from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to carry out thorough safety inspections on its Boeing 787 fleet. So far, 26 of the 33 aircraft have been cleared after inspections, with the remaining undergoing maintenance checks, Wilson said. 'To ensure safety, we have elected to continue enhanced pre-flight checks on our Boeing 787 fleet and, as an added measure, on our Boeing 777 aircraft for the time being,' he added. International flights to be reduced Due to the time required for these checks, Air India will reduce its international widebody flights by about 15 per cent from 20 June through to mid-July, the company announced on Wednesday. "This will also allow us to have more backup aircraft ready to handle any unexpected issues. We understand that this temporary reduction to our schedule may affect your travel plans, and we're deeply sorry for any inconvenience. If your flight is impacted, we will contact you to offer rebooking on another flight at no extra cost, or a full refund. We will share the updated international schedule within the next few days," the airline's statement said. The ongoing probe Investigators are currently examining several possible causes of the crash, including whether the aircraft's wing flaps were fully extended and the reason for the deployment of the landing gear. Other lines of inquiry include the possibility of fuel contamination or whether a failure in the electronic systems led to the engines shutting down. A report by The Wall Street Journal, citing investigators, also claims that the aircraft's emergency power unit, known as a ram air turbine, may have been deployed during the flight. This system—a small propeller that extends from the underside of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's fuselage—is designed to provide backup electrical and hydraulic power in flight. According to the aircraft manual, it can be triggered automatically if both engines fail, if all three hydraulic systems lose pressure, or if cockpit instruments or electric motor pumps lose power. The turbine's operations during the crash raise questions about whether the plane's engines functioned properly during takeoff.
