logo
April heat pushes sale of ACs, coolers

April heat pushes sale of ACs, coolers

Time of India24-04-2025
1
2
Ranchi: Amid soaring temperatures, electrical stores in Ranchi are witnessing a rise in sales of cooling appliances, from basic tower fans to premium air conditioners.
"Sales have almost doubled compared to last year. The heat has pushed people to invest in comfort. ACs are flying off the shelves, and even pedestal fans are in high demand," said Rajeev Sinha, manager at Khosla Electronics on MG Road.
Retailers across Main Road, Upper Bazar, and Kutchery Chowk reported a significant spike in AC sales, with prices ranging between Rs 28,000-Rs 60,000. New models, featuring five-star ratings and smart cooling technology, are particularly attractive to tech-savvy consumers.
"Customers are increasingly conscious about energy consumption, preferring inverter technology and energy-efficient compressors. Brands offering doorstep delivery and free installation are gaining popularity," said Vivekananda, owner of Sai Electronics in Harmu.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed!
IC Markets
Undo
Electric coolers and tower fans have emerged as popular budget-friendly alternatives. "Tower fans are trending due to their child-safe features, sleek design, and effectiveness," Vivekananda said. Stores have implemented pre-booking systems and express delivery services, with EMI options to attract middle-income buyers.
Former FJCCI president Kishore Mantri said local retailers were also using online platforms to push their sales.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sumadhura Group eyes investment of ₹10,000 crore in next four years
Sumadhura Group eyes investment of ₹10,000 crore in next four years

Business Standard

time14 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

Sumadhura Group eyes investment of ₹10,000 crore in next four years

Bengaluru-based Sumadhura Group plans to invest Rs 10,000 crore by FY29 to expand residential, commercial, and warehousing projects while boosting revenue and pre-sales growth Bengaluru Listen to This Article Sumadhura Group, the Bengaluru-based real estate developer, is expected to invest about Rs 10,000 crore by fiscal year 2029 (FY29) to fuel expansion, said Madhusudhan G, chairman and managing director of the company. 'We currently have about 6 million square feet under development in the residential segment. In total, 12 million square feet are under construction, with another 10 million scheduled for FY26. Over the next two years, we also plan to launch an additional 10–15 million square feet. To drive this geographical expansion, we are looking at an investment of Rs 10,000 crore over the next four years, including

RBI receives ₹31,025 cr bids at VRR auction against ₹50,000 cr notified
RBI receives ₹31,025 cr bids at VRR auction against ₹50,000 cr notified

Business Standard

time14 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

RBI receives ₹31,025 cr bids at VRR auction against ₹50,000 cr notified

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) received bids worth Rs 31,025 crore at the overnight variable rate repo (VRR) auction on Thursday against the notified amount of Rs 50,000 crore. Market participants said the RBI's decision to conduct the auction was to avoid liquidity tightness amid tax payments. Net liquidity in the banking system stood at a surplus of Rs 2.65 trillion on Wednesday, according to RBI data. 'The bidding was along expected lines. The GST outflow is estimated to be between Rs 1 trillion and Rs 1.25 trillion. The RBI must have thought the overnight rate might go beyond the repo rate (5.50 per cent), so it was a fine-tuning operation,' said the treasury head at a private bank. The RBI had conducted two VRR auctions in July when overnight rates were trading near the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate. The weighted average call rate (WACR), the operating target of monetary policy, settled at 5.53 per cent on Thursday, compared with the previous close of 5.47 per cent. Market participants said the RBI would continue with variable rate reverse repo (VRRR) auctions as system liquidity remains in a net surplus of more than Rs 2.5 trillion. 'Even after the outflows, the liquidity is more than Rs 2.5 trillion surplus, so the VRRR auctions will continue,' said a dealer at a state-owned bank. The RBI had received bids worth Rs 1.82 trillion against the notified Rs 2 trillion at its eight-day VRRR auction on 14 August, as banks rolled over the maturing amount of previous VRRR operations conducted on 8 and 11 August. The central bank had accepted the bids at a cut-off rate of 5.49 per cent. The RBI's VRRR operations are intended to absorb surplus liquidity from the financial system and anchor short-term money market rates closer to the policy repo rate. The MSF rate, set 25 basis points (bps) above the policy repo rate, is the ceiling of the liquidity adjustment facility corridor. The standing deposit facility (SDF), 25 bps below the repo rate, is the floor. The policy repo rate is currently at 5.5 per cent.

Use of AI tech to detect landslides, waterlogging soon on highways: Gadkari
Use of AI tech to detect landslides, waterlogging soon on highways: Gadkari

Business Standard

time14 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

Use of AI tech to detect landslides, waterlogging soon on highways: Gadkari

In a bid to strengthen road safety and improve the quality of national highways, the government will use artificial intelligence (AI) to detect landslide-prone stretches, waterlogging, and accident-prone spots, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday. 'We are trying to use AI and other emerging technologies to detect landslide-prone stretches, accident-prone waterlogging, and black spots along the national highways. We have already issued a circular. We want to improve safety, especially in states like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Wherever there is flooding, we are also trying to use other technologies to check the strength of bridges and other structures,' Gadkari said. The minister made these remarks in a fireside chat on the theme India's Vision on Infrastructure during the Business Standard Infrastructure Summit 2025. He was responding to a query on the quality of roads and government measures to enhance road safety. Gadkari added that he was 'very much' conscious about road quality and would not compromise on it. 'I am very much conscious about it. I am taking strict action against defaulting contractors. I am blacklisting them, charging fines, and even pursuing criminal charges. I am not going to tolerate anything regarding quality, though sometimes there are genuine problems as well,' he said. He also spoke about the 'Rah-Veer' scheme, also known as the Good Samaritan scheme, aimed at recognising and rewarding individuals who help road accident victims by providing immediate medical attention and transportation to a hospital or trauma centre during the crucial 'golden hour'. 'If any common man takes a victim to the hospital, we are giving them an award of Rs 25,000. We want to save lives,' Gadkari said. On logistics cost The minister said he was confident that by December this year, logistics costs in India would fall to single digits from the present 16 per cent, boosting the competitiveness of exports. 'Recently, a study showed that logistics costs in India have reduced by 6 per cent. I am confident that by the end of December, logistics costs will be down to single digits. By reducing this cost, we will increase exports. To achieve a $5-trillion economy, good infrastructure is essential,' he added. This would align India with logistics costs in developed economies such as China (8 per cent), and the United States and Europe (12 per cent), he noted. On infrastructure sector development Gadkari underlined that infrastructure development was critical for the country's growth. Without good water, power, transport, and communication infrastructure, he said, it was not possible to attract industry and capital investment, limiting employment generation and poverty reduction. 'Everywhere we are constructing roads, industrial clusters, logistics parks, and real estate developments are coming up. For example, the newly inaugurated Dwarka Expressway has triggered real estate development of around Rs 8–10 trillion,' he said. He also highlighted his vision of providing an 'international standard' of public transportation with lower emissions. 'I have received proposals for ropeway cable cars, hyperloop, and sky buses. We are also working on alternative fuels and biofuels. Reducing pollution, especially air pollution, is the biggest challenge for me. My mission is also to make India free from fossil fuel imports by generating biofuels,' he added. On private investment challenges According to Gadkari, the key challenge lies not in raising funds but in deploying resources efficiently. He cited the example of the InVIT bond, which was oversubscribed within hours. 'Every project of mine is viable. The only challenge lies in pushing them through the system. Usual hurdles such as land acquisition and clearances remain, but we are constantly engaging with stakeholders to address them,' he said. On his biggest achievement Gadkari described freeing millions of rickshaw pullers and handcart pullers from human exploitation by providing them with mechanised rickshaws as his biggest achievement, besides the numerous highways and expressways he has commissioned. 'In my city and other parts of the country, there were rickshaw pullers, mostly from marginalised sections of society. It was a form of human exploitation. When I became minister, I decided to provide mechanised rickshaws. Today, nearly 15 million people across the country are using them, freeing them from this exploitation. Even women are able to earn a livelihood because of mechanised rickshaws. This has to be my biggest achievement,' he said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store