Haridwar cancels Mansa Devi ropeway tender after court flags safety gaps in tender process
1
2
3
4
Haridwar: The civic body in Haridwar has cancelled the tender for operation and maintenance of the Mansa Devi temple ropeway after Uttarakhand high court flagged serious safety concerns and lack of transparency in the bidding process, which allowed firms without ropeway experience to apply.
The court was about to deliver its judgement when the civic body withdrew the process on Tuesday.
Usha Breco Ltd, which has managed the ropeway since 1981, challenged the tender in court. The company said allowing firms with experience only in road construction to bid could compromise passenger safety. HC agreed and disapproved of the civic body's move, prompting the withdrawal.
The petitioner's counsel, Sandeep Kothari, said, "The court had ordered that Usha Breco, if it applied, could be permitted to run the ropeway on an interim basis until a new tender was floated.
The civic body cancelled the tender after the company informed the court about the withdrawal before the final judgement was delivered."
Kothari also pointed out that the civic body acted after a five-member committee formed by the govt submitted its report on June 3. The panel had reviewed the tender's terms and raised concerns. Originally, the tender required bidders to have operational experience in ropeway systems.
But later, the terms were revised to include firms involved in highways, bridges, tunnels, and hospital construction, said sources.
Mayor of Haridwar Municipal Corporation Kiran Jaisal told TOI that while the municipal board gave permission to initiate the tender, the terms were finalised by the municipal corporation. She said she was unaware of the criteria or the changes made to them.
Follow more information on
Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here
. Get
real-time live updates
on rescue operations and check
full list of passengers onboard AI 171
.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
DGCA orders 'enhanced' safety inspection of Air India's B787 fleet
A day after the deadly crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad that claimed 241 lives on board and at least 24 on the ground, India's aviation regulator DGCA on Friday ordered an immediate 'enhanced safety inspection' of the airline's entire Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleet. Moreover, the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, collectively known as the black box, were recovered on Friday afternoon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site the same day, chaired a high-level review meeting, and met the injured. Air India CEO & MD Campbell Wilson also visited the crash site. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) recovered the black box within 28 hours of the crash from the accident site in Ahmedabad, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated on X. "This marks an important step forward in the investigation. This will significantly aid the inquiry into the incident,' he added. On Thursday afternoon, Air India's AI171 flight -- bound for Gatwick -- plunged into a residential neighborhood of Ahmedabad shortly after taking off from the city's airport, killing 241 out of 242 people on board and causing widespread devastation on the ground. The flight was being operated on a Boeing 787-8 aircraft powered by General Electric's GEnx engines. In a directive issued Friday, the DGCA ordered Air India to carry out a fresh round of intensive checks across its entire Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleet with GEnx engines. These inspections are to begin from Sunday onwards. The directive called for a series of specific checks before each flight's departure from India, including inspection of fuel parameter monitoring systems, cabin air compressors, and electronic engine control (EEC) units. The fuel parameter system ensures correct fuel flow to the engines and monitors discrepancies, while the cabin air compressor is responsible for cabin pressurisation and ventilation. Electronic Engine Control (EEC) system tests are required to verify engine health and response. The directive also mandated operational testing of the engine's fuel-driven actuator and oil systems, both of which are essential for regulating engine components and ensuring proper lubrication and cooling. Air India operates a fleet of 34 Boeing 787 aircraft (also called Dreamliner), including both the 787-8 and 787-9 variants, one of which was involved in the crash, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The airline has placed firm orders for 20 more Dreamliners, with options for an additional 24. Overall, Air India's total fleet stands at 190 aircraft, with an average age of 8.4 years. Globally, there are 1,148 Boeing 787s currently in service, with an average age of 7.5 years, Cirium stated. The DGCA on Friday also directed that the hydraulic system -- which powers critical functions such as the landing gear, braking system, and flight control surfaces like flaps and rudders -- be thoroughly checked to ensure it is fully operational. Additionally, Air India must conduct a detailed review of take-off performance data to detect any anomalies in engine output, aircraft weight calculations, or environmental factors that could compromise safe departure. The DGCA also ordered that flight control inspections be included in all transit checks -- routine inspections conducted between an aircraft's arrival and its next departure -- to ensure no issues are overlooked during quick turnarounds at airports. Power assurance checks, which confirm that engines are delivering adequate thrust, must be completed within two weeks. Additionally, Air India has been asked to address and resolve all repetitive technical snags observed over the past 15 days. All inspection reports will be submitted to the DGCA for review, and regional offices of the regulator have been tasked with ensuring compliance. As technical scrutiny intensified, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and met the injured. He also met the family of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the deceased. 'We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words. Condolences to all the bereaved families. We understand their pain and also know that the void left behind will be felt for years to come. Om Shanti,' the Prime Minister wrote on X. Modi also met the injured, including the sole survivor of the crash. 'Met those injured in the aftermath of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, including the lone survivor and assured them that we are with them and their families in this tough time. The entire nation is praying for their speedy recovery,' he wrote. He chaired a review meeting at Ahmedabad airport with top aviation officials and emergency response authorities to assess the situation and ensure coordinated relief efforts. The meeting was attended by senior DGCA and AAIB personnel, representatives from Air India, and state government officials. The Prime Minister paid a personal tribute to Vijay Rupani, recalling decades of working together. 'It is unimaginable that Vijaybhai is not in our midst. I've known him for decades. We worked together, shoulder to shoulder, including during some of the most challenging times. Vijaybhai was humble and hardworking, firmly committed to the Party's ideology,' he wrote. The AAIB, now in possession of the black box, will begin detailed analysis of the data and cockpit recordings to determine the sequence of events leading up to the crash. Cirium said the Boeing 787-8 aircraft involved in the Air India tragedy first flew on December 14, 2013, and was delivered to the airline on January 28, 2014. While noting that the aircraft had done 700 flight cycles in the past year, Cirium said it was an average for an aircraft of its type and age. Japan has also moved to tighten oversight of Boeing 787 operations in the wake of the Air India tragedy. On Friday, the country's transport ministry announced that it had instructed Japanese carriers to inspect their Boeing 787 aircraft. The directive, issued a day earlier, applies to All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, and its budget arm Zipair the inspections will focus on both engine systems and the aircraft's structural integrity, the ministry clarified that it is not grounding the fleet and flights will continue as scheduled.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Bombay high court dismisses TikTok plea challenging ‘well-known' trademark status denial
Mumbai: Bombay high court dismissed a petition filed by TikTok Ltd that challenged the refusal by the trademarks registrar to recognise 'TikTok' as a well-known mark under the trademark laws in India. Justice Manish Pitale, in a June 10 order, said that it was obvious that due to the ban imposed by the govt of India against TikTok, its mark cannot be used. The reasons for the ban pertain to the sovereignty and integrity of India, its defence, and public order, the HC noted. "These are serious matters, which cannot be ignored," said the HC, holding that hence the registrar "did take into consideration relevant factors while refusing to include TikTok in well-known marks" and no error can be attributed to the assistant registrar who on Oct 31, 2023, denied its application. TikTok was launched in 2017. In two years, it had a presence in 155 markets and 75 languages, said the company seeking entry into the 'well-known' marks category. The HC said it is undisputed that the TikTok app remains banned in India. The HC said the registrar found that there was material indicating that the ban on TikTok was also in the backdrop of concerns regarding data privacy of the users and the fact that the servers are located in China. The said respondent also referred to certain instances indicating that pictures of some women and girls downloaded from TikTok were found to be morphed and that there were cases of cyberbullying and sexually explicit content. "Thus", the HC said, "merely because the ban on certain other applications has been lifted cannot be a ground for the petitioner to claim that the impugned order is rendered erroneous." Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Siruvani dam seepage rectification awaits approval from Central Water and Power Research Station
Coimbatore corporation commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran inspect Siruvani dam along with Kerala irrigation department officials COIMBATORE: A pressure grouting method suggested to arrest the seepage on the Siruvani dam is awaiting approval of the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Coimbatore corporation officials have said. Siruvani dam, situated in Kerala , is a major source of drinking water for Coimbatore city. Corporation commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran inspected the dam along with Kerala irrigation department officials on Thursday. A senior corporation official stated that regular maintenance work, including painting, lubricating the gates and other structural supervision, were being carried out at the dam. "It was a routine joint inspection to check the ongoing work and the water level at the dam. Besides, there were discussions on the progress of curbing the dam seepage. Earlier, the installation of a geomembrane material was suggested. Now it is suggested to go for a pressure grouting method to arrest the seepage. However, final approval from consultant CWPRS is required, and the corporation will be writing, requesting a joint inspection for the approval to proceed with grouting. " The dam's permissible seepage level exceeded over time as the diameter of the holes increased, leading to excess water loss. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo The official mentioned that it is doubtful if the suggested technique could be executed due to the dam's current water level. "The dam's water level is almost full due to recent rain, and we are unsure if the technique can be implemented, for which we are requesting final approval from the CWPRS," he said. According to official sources, the Siruvani dam's water level as on Friday was recorded at 38.74 feet against its full capacity of 49.53 feet. As per the dam safety officer's (DSO) instructions, water level is restricted to 44.61 feet. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
