Latest news with #Vijaykumar
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Time of India
80-year-old files court petition seeking more footpaths on Bengaluru roads
1 2 Bengaluru: Enough is enough — or so he thought. After 11 years of appeals, complaints, invoking of the RTI Act, and meeting several officials from multiple govt departments, Bengaluru resident Vijaykumar D V, 80, has filed a PIL in the high court against the state govt, BBMP and DULT, seeking to have enough footpaths in the city to make its roads safe for pedestrians. In his PIL, Vijaykumar has urged the court that a special purpose vehicle or an empowered committee be created to enforce a judicial order to address the issue. "Bengaluru's roads don't even guarantee the basic right to walk safely," he said. "This is not just about footpaths, it's about accessibility, equality, and dignity." Vijaykumar had moved to Bengaluru from Chitradurga when he was 69. Once here, all he was looking forward to was the sombre somnolence of a superannuated man. Instead, Vijaykumar was forced to risk his life and limb every single day -- just trying to get to the nearest bus stop on Tank Bund Road, Mico Layout, a walk that should ideally take no more than 10-15 minutes. With no proper footpath and only narrow drains covered haphazardly with stone slabs, Vijaykumar was forced to walk on the busy roads with traffic whizzing by. "For more than a decade, I tried everything — from RTIs to meeting BBMP officials, but nothing changed. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Filing a PIL was my last resort," the Mico Layout resident said. Sharing further details of the circumstances that led him to filing the PIL, Vijaykumar said: "Back in June 2014, near Binnypet Garden on Tannery Road, I saw a man using crutches and a visually challenged woman struggling to walk on the road because there was no footpath. That imagery never left me. I realised I was not alone, grappling with this ordeal." In 2019, when he met the engineer in charge of the area and the then BBMP commissioner, the officials admitted in writing that construction of footpaths was not a discretionary matter, but a legal obligation. Yet, nothing changed. According to Vijaykumar, BBMP continues to prioritise projects for traffic movement. "They spend crores on roadworks, flyovers, and underpasses. But what about the basic right to walk safely? What about senior citizens and persons with disabilities? Even today, what passes for a footpath are just open drains, with some stone slabs thrown on top unevenly," he said.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Nirmala Sitharaman backed consumption over capex. But guess who's making billions
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel Four months after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Union Budget appeared to pivot policy focus towards consumption, the real winners in the market have emerged from an unlikely corner: capital a budget speech that dialed back aggressive infrastructure spending in favour of easing middle-class tax burdens and supporting household demand, capital expenditure stocks have not only held their ground but have outperformed. The BSE Capital Goods Index has soared 10% since Budget Day, trouncing the Nifty India Consumption Index, which managed a muted 3% rise, and even outperformed the Nifty 50's 5% rally in capital goods stocks has added a staggering Rs 1.85 lakh crore in market value. Leading the pack is Hitachi Energy India , with a 54% surge. Defence heavyweights like Bharat Dynamics (up 49%), BEL (33%), and HAL (26%) have also posted stellar returns. Other notable gainers include Schaeffler India BHEL , Kaynes Tech, SKF India Suzlon Energy , and Inox Wind—all of which have clocked double-digit the consumption story hasn't lived up to the Budget's optimism. The Nifty India Consumption Index has underperformed broader markets. Varun Beverages and Colgate-Palmolive have posted double-digit declines.'The mix of cheaper starting prices, accelerating earnings, and stronger order pipelines explains why capital goods stocks have outperformed consumption,' Anoop Vijaykumar, Head of Equity at Capitalmind Mutual Fund told ET pointed to multi-year high order books at engineering firms and the RBI's OBICUS survey showing manufacturing capacity utilisation at 75.4% in Q3 FY25—the highest in six years—as signs that the industrial engine is firing on all cylinders.'Policy support for railways, defence, renewables and the PLI 2.0 schemes has not slowed; these programmes are multi-year and continue. Meanwhile, the consumption complex faces a softer near-term backdrop: rural volumes are only just turning positive, urban discretionary demand is normalising after two strong years, and the sector entered Budget season on richer valuations,' Vijaykumar Relli, MD & CEO of HDFC Securities, echoed the sentiment, calling the capital expenditure revival a "multi-year" phenomenon. 'Between FY21 and FY25E, private sector capex has grown at 19.8% CAGR. The momentum is likely to intensify in FY26, driven by domestic manufacturing, continued government infrastructure initiatives, and healthy corporate balance sheets,' he the flip side, Relli flagged that consumption faces headwinds from 'sluggish urban demand, delayed rural recovery, and persistent inflation.' While tax reductions and early signs of rural revival offer a glimmer of hope, margin pressure and steep valuations may limit is the capex story here to stay? Vijaykumar believes it is. 'The central government has already budgeted over Rs 11 lakh crore of infrastructure spending for FY26, while states and CPSEs have pencilled in similar growth. Private sector intent is also strengthening with new project announcements rising in double digits,' he said. With healthy corporate balance sheets and a banking system ready to fund fresh investments, 'the investment cycle is broadening rather than peaking.'Venugopal Manghat, CIO – Equity at HSBC Mutual Fund, is selectively bullish within capex. 'We like power, manufacturing and defence over roads and railways. Ongoing liquidity infusion by RBI, expected rate cuts, and regulatory easing should support NBFCs and banks,' he the consumption front, Manghat is cautious on staples. 'The sector has seen disruption from tech and new formats. With higher disposable incomes, households are shifting toward aspirational and discretionary spending,' he said. He sees greater opportunity in small-cap consumer discretionary plays, citing low penetration and a large unorganised-to-organised transition in the scorecard since the Budget is clear: while policy seemed to back the consumer, the market has placed its bets on industrial India. And for now, capex is delivering the returns.: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)
Hans India
29-05-2025
- Hans India
TN: Five arrested with 1.5 kg Methaqualone in drug bust in Chennai
Chennai: In a significant breakthrough in the fight against narcotics, Chennai's Anti-Narcotics Intelligence Unit (ANIU) on Thursday arrested five individuals and seized 1.5 kilograms of Methaqualone, a banned psychotropic substance, in the city's Periamedu area. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a joint team comprising officers from the ANIU and the Periamedu Police Station launched a coordinated early-morning raid near the 'My Lady Park' locality. The operation was part of an ongoing crackdown on the distribution and sale of synthetic drugs within the city. The suspects - identified as Vijaykumar alias Manikandan (44), Kumar (36), Periyathurai (28), Rajesh (32), and Naresh (41) - were intercepted based on their suspicious movements. According to police sources, the group displayed nervous behaviour and gave conflicting responses during initial questioning, prompting officers to conduct a thorough search of their belongings. During the search, the team recovered 1.5 kilograms of Methaqualone, a powerful sedative-hypnotic substance that is classified as a controlled drug under both national and international narcotics laws. Commonly known by its street name 'Mandrax,' Methaqualone is known to induce drowsiness and has been banned due to its high potential for abuse and addiction. The seized contraband was promptly confiscated and sent for forensic analysis. A formal case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Periamedu Police Station. Senior police officials stated that all five accused are currently under detailed interrogation to determine the origin and intended distribution network of the seized drugs. Authorities are also probing the possibility of a larger drug trafficking syndicate operating in the region, using Chennai as a transit point. The accused are expected to be produced before a magistrate court following the completion of preliminary inquiries. Further arrests and seizures are likely as the investigation progresses. This latest operation highlights the Chennai Police Department's renewed focus on targeting urban drug rackets and its commitment to curbing the spread of narcotics in the city.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Time of India
Ticketless ‘godman' kicked off train, tampers with rails
Chennai: "Godmen don't need to buy tickets. I was kicked off trains for not having one. That's why I tried to sabotage them," said a man arrested for tampering with rail tracks in Tamil Nadu and Telangana. The successive instances of sabotage between April 26 and 29 at Avadi, Ambattur and Arakkonam had triggered nationwide alarm and the NIA too had joined the investigation. The culprit, however, turned out to be a 43-year-old Class XII dropout from Odisha who claimed to be a godman. The man, who styled himself as 'Om from Haridwar on a spiritual journey' believed godmen didn't require tickets, because they were above such rules. He was caught in Hyderabad two weeks ago after he tampered with the tracks between Kacheguda and Budvel and his game was up. TN's Govt Railway Police flew to Haridwar but found no record of an 'Om' there. Instead, they found his real name was Vijaykumar and that he was drifter who worked as an electrician in several states before staying at a mutt near Tiruttani. That's where he assumed the persona of a godman and believed he didn't need a ticket to ride. "He said he placed metal objects and stones on railway tracks, angry at being thrown off trains for not having a ticket," said GRP superintendent I Eswaran. It was just providence that his actions did not result in a tragedy. At Arakkonam, metal rods and stones were wedged across six rail joints. An accident as averted only because the loco pilot of the Tirupati-Puducherry Express noticed a signal anomaly and halted the train in time. The pattern became clear only after his arrest. He was brought to Chennai on a transit remand last week. He is now remanded in judicial custody and lodged in Puzhal prison.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
My Hero on OTT
The movie My Hero created a buzz among the moviegoers when it was released in August 2024. It received rave reviews from critics and got appreciation from movie buffs. Its cast included local and international other specialty of the movie is that it explores places in Madhya Pradesh that were not explored by any Kannada movie till date. Avinash Vijaykumar made his debut as a director in Sandalwood with this movie. Vijaykumar, apart from handling the megaphone, had bankrolled the movie. The movie was screened at various film festivals in many countries. Now, it is set to be streamed on Amazon Prime from May 30. 'The movie explores the emotional journey of a family dealing with a loved one's memory is a significant global problem. The movie was nominated for Sweden Film Awards, Hollywood International Golden Age Festival, and Nashville Independent Filmmakers Festival,'' said Vijaykumar.
