Latest news with #AshutoshMishra
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Maharashtra's Big Transport Shift: EV Push, Port-Linked Growth and Vadhawan as an Economic Catalyst
As India accelerates its shift toward cleaner mobility, smarter urbanization, and strategic maritime infrastructure, Maharashtra is positioning itself at the forefront of this transformation. From recalibrating its electric vehicle policy to launching one of the country's most ambitious port-led development projects at Vadhawan , the state is pushing forward a multidimensional agenda—combining sustainability, technology, and regional economic growth. In this wide-ranging conversation with Puja Banerjee and Ashutosh Mishra of ETGovernment, Sanjay Sethi , Additional Chief Secretary, Transport and Ports, Government of Maharashtra, speaks with ETGovernment about the state's evolving policy landscape—from building an integrated EV ecosystem and redefining urban transport planning to catalyzing shipbuilding and port-centric industrialization. With a sharp focus on implementation, public-private partnerships, and data-driven governance, Sethi lays out how Maharashtra aims to balance environmental imperatives, investor interests, and infrastructure demands in the coming decade. Edited Excerpts: Maharashtra's EV policy has been in focus in the past few days. What are some of the key priorities under it? Through the Maharashtra EV Policy 2025, the thrust is on increasing penetration by working on both demand and supply. We're offering subsidies across all vehicle categories and have also waived motor vehicle tax. Two and three wheelers initially picked up, but we're now pushing for four wheelers, commercial fleets, trucks, trailers, and utility vehicles like garbage contractors to come under the policy's ambit. These categories were earlier left out of benefits, and that's changing now. Apart from that, charging is a central pillar under the policy. We've identified specific pockets - Pune, for example, has exceeded targets already. Mumbai, on the other hand, lagged behind because of multiple reasons. So we're dealing with both the physical and regulatory bottlenecks. New rules now push for setting up charging stations in bus depots, fuel stations, and all new residential and commercial buildings. We aim to have one station every 25 km on the highways. The power regulator has also been roped in to ensure load management and pricing. So, we're building a robust charging ecosystem to eliminate both supply and financial hurdles. Another big development in the port and maritime area is the Vadhawan port. What is the vision behind Vadhawan Port? Why is it being positioned as a key growth zone? Vadhawan is not just a port, it's an anchor for regional economic transformation. The idea is to not let ports function in isolation. Globally, successful models like Singapore show how a port area becomes an engine of commercial activity. We're planning for the entire Vadhawan zone to be developed as an economic and employment hub - with logistics, manufacturing, services, and housing all integrated. This is the first central government port project with state equity. Decisions are being taken jointly so that both central and state objectives are aligned. There is also a plan to promote shipbuilding and repair in Maharashtra. What's the proposal? India has begun promoting shipbuilding more actively, and the Centre has created a Maritime India fund that offers capital support. We're working on a model where Maharashtra will develop basic shipbuilding infrastructure, similar to plug and play industrial parks, and offer it to private players. They bring in the machinery, manpower and operations. We'll provide ready space, connectivity, and utilities. It's being framed under PPP models, with room for leasehold or revenue sharing agreements. Are you seeing investor interest in such a shipbuilding ecosystem? The response from stakeholders has been positive. There's a strong case for ship repair and mid-sized shipbuilding yards along the coast. Our job is to reduce entry barriers - by ensuring land availability, regulatory ease, and backend logistics. We're currently ironing out the capital and policy components so these projects can move forward. Something like viability gap funding is also under consideration. Switching to urban issues, what is the thinking around the state's parking policy and congestion control? The number of vehicles in cities has reached a point where PM 2.5 levels are far above standards. If this continues, people won't be able to commute at all, and that affects everything from work to leisure. So we need stronger parking regulations. One of the proposals is proof of parking for vehicle purchase, not as a ban, but as a way to check unregulated growth. But we also need to expand public parking to avoid making it punitive for today's generation. This must come from local urban bodies, via zoning, DC rules, and developer mandates. Does this also involve a rethink of urban design and carrying capacity? Urban transport can't be solved in silos anymore. We have to assess how much traffic an area can realistically bear. If road capacity is saturated, we must regulate fresh inflow. At the same time, robust public transport and parking options must exist. We've had extensive discussions with stakeholders, and a multidisciplinary policy is in the works. But it has to be phased, equitable, and practically implementable. There has been news about a possible consideration of regulating cab prices in Maharashtra. What is going on in that area? We have received concerns around excessive fluctuations in cab pricing from citizens for quite some time now. So we have decided to come up with a framework that will define pricing slabs for aggregators. The idea is not to fix prices, but to create a band, say, a minimum and a maximum fare. It gives some leeway but prevents exploitation. The concern is both from commuters, who find surge pricing arbitrary, and from driver partners, who feel the commission structures are not transparent. So the policy will cover both. We're studying different models and consultations with stakeholders are happening for now. How is the transport department using technology like AI and IoT in its operations? AI is deeply embedded already. We operate around 18,000 buses, and GPS based geofencing helps monitor routes and performance. Cameras and radar-based devices are used for speed enforcement, alert systems, and data analysis. From informing passengers about bus arrivals to detecting route deviations, technology is improving safety and efficiency. But we must use AI intelligently - not just for automation, but for insight and preventive decision-making. What's your policy approach when facing competing needs and limited resources? The idea is to not just respond to individual complaints but to solve systemic problems. For instance, a local traffic jam may point to flawed planning or coordination. So if we're drafting a policy, it should address root causes - not just be a patch. Each solution should be a stepping stone to something larger, not just a fix for one constituency.
Trade Arabia
13-05-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Egis appoints Regional Director for Nuclear
Egis, a leading global architectural, consulting, construction engineering, operations and maintenance services firm, has appointed Ashutosh Mishra as Regional Director for Nuclear, a key leadership role that reflects the company's growing commitment to supporting national energy strategies and sustainable development goals across the region. With nearly 20 years of experience in the energy and infrastructure sectors — including more than a decade working within the Middle East — Mishra brings a strong track record in leading complex projects, building high-performing teams, and delivering tangible results. He has led major initiatives focused on policy advisory, project execution, and capacity building. His collaborative leadership style and strategic outlook have enabled him to guide projects that balance environmental objectives with commercial and operational realities. With Mishra leading its nuclear practice, Egis strengthens its position as a trusted partner to governments and private sector clients navigating the complexities of the energy transition—helping them align infrastructure investments with decarbonisation targets, economic diversification, and global competitiveness, the company said.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Charting India's quantum future: Policy, startups & pursuit of technological leadership
Few missions in India's tech landscape have generated as much excitement—and anticipation—as the National Quantum Mission (NQM). Launched in April 2023, and operationalised in earnest from January 2024, the mission aims to catapult India into the elite league of nations pioneering quantum technologies. With a bold focus on product development, indigenous innovation, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, NQM is not just about research—it's about outcomes. At the helm of this transformative initiative is Dr. Ajai Chowdhry , co-founder of HCL and Chairman of the EPIC Foundation, who chairs the Mission Governing Board. In this wide-ranging interview with ETGovernment's Ashutosh Mishra, Dr. Chowdhry outlines the structured and goal-oriented approach of the mission—covering everything from T-Hub development and startup incubation to upcoming quantum security standards and a national policy framework. India's quantum journey, it appears, is no longer a distant aspiration but a calibrated strategy in motion. Edited excerpts: Where does the National Quantum Mission currently stand in terms of execution? The mission was launched in April 2023, but actual implementation began in January 2024 with the formation of the Mission Governing Board, which I was appointed to chair. The Board comprises key secretaries from DRDO, MeitY, Department of Space, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Defence, and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), where the mission is housed. In our first meeting, we decided to get the R&D work started. The government had given a clear directive to establish four technology hubs (T-Hubs): one each in quantum computing , quantum communication, quantum sensing, and quantum materials & devices. We issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) within a week, and received an overwhelming 315 responses. After evaluating them over two months, we selected: IISc for quantum computing, IIT Madras for quantum communication, IIT Bombay for quantum sensing, and IIT Delhi for materials and devices. Each T-Hub was asked to submit six-monthly detailed work plans. This is not research for the sake of research - the mission is product-oriented. The government has defined clear deliverables. For example, in quantum computing, the target is to build a 1000- qubit system. In communication, the goal is a secure 2500 km fiber and space link. Similarly, specific goals exist in sensing and materials. What is the structure adopted for these T-hubs and their operations? We're following a hub-and-spoke model. Along with the four hubs, we have selected 85 researchers from different institutes to work as spokes. Each hub will have its own governing board and a Section 8 company to allow operational flexibility - free from rigid government procedures. Each of these Section 8 companies will have a CEO and a board. The hubs have submitted their detailed plans, which were approved by March 2025. Initial seed funding was provided around four months ago, and the next tranche of funding for research will be released within the next 15 to 30 days. What are you doing to support startups and increase their interest and participation in the National Quantum Mission? Startups are a crucial pillar. We've launched a dedicated startup program that allows for up to ₹30 crore in funding per startup - which is unmatched under any similar support scheme. Of course, the amount varies - some get ₹30 crore, others ₹15 crore, ₹10 crore, or ₹5 crore - depending on their merit. The eligibility criteria include being an Indian company with at least 51% domestic ownership, and the IP must remain in India. In return, the government has put in place a unique security clause, that is, when these startups raise venture capital, they must offer the government the option to buy shares at a 30% discount. This is unprecedented in government funding models. So far, eight startups have been awarded grants. The first cohort was launched in mid-2023, before the T-Hubs were ready. One of the existing Department of Science and Technology hubs handled the evaluations then. Now, with the T-Hubs operational, they will take over that responsibility going forward. Any plans to scale the number of startups supported under the mission? The first phase was through an RFP, and we received nearly 100 applications - eight were selected. We are now planning a new monthly rolling cohort model, where startups can apply by the 15th of every month. This new program is under discussion and awaiting board approval. We expect it to launch in the next month or so. What are you doing, when it comes to the space of education and talent development in the Quantum computing space? We've partnered with AICTE to launch an undergraduate curriculum in quantum technology, developed by a committee under the NQM. It will roll out in 75 universities starting July 2025, and the curriculum is already finalized. We're also providing lab equipment to these universities to support teaching requirements. Additionally, we're training faculty and developing a vast library of supporting video content. An MS program is under development and should be ready in the next month or two. Meanwhile, an MS program was already launched at IISER Pune in September 2024, and the first cohort is underway from there. How is the mission being coordinated across different efforts? We've established a Mission Coordination Center in Noida, under the aegis of IIT Kanpur. Its role is to monitor and ensure that the hubs and projects stay on target. It will conduct six-monthly reviews and also oversee the startup initiative - at least until the T-Hubs fully take over. What is being done on the policy and security front, especially with the quantum threat to cybersecurity? We are developing a detailed quantum policy to guide all departments on transitioning from classical RSA standards to quantum-secure systems. The Board has approved the terms of reference, and a team has been constituted to write this policy. The shift can't happen overnight - organizations like banks operate cybersecurity systems across thousands of sites. Hence, we are advising a staggered, long-term implementation plan. Departments like the armed forces have already taken the lead in this front and have begun implementing some quantum-secure measures. We're also working on standards, accreditation, and product approvals. The Department of Defence (DoD) is helping us on this front, and we are collaborating with the National Physical Laboratory to define Indian standards rather than follow American benchmarks. We want to lead, not follow. Despite recent developments in quantum computing, the momentum of private sector involvement in this field still seems limited compared to other emerging technologies. In your opinion, what needs to be done to increase private participation in quantum R&D? We've held meetings with major IT companies - TCS , Tech Mahindra , HCL, Wipro - to encourage them to initiate quantum research in algorithms and applications, areas where they can significantly contribute. We also brought in pharma companies to demonstrate how quantum technologies could aid drug discovery. The idea was to get the groundwork laid before pulling in large numbers. With over 150 people now involved, the base is strong. Ongoing funding will be tied to regular six-monthly milestone reviews. On the funding, do you think the initial allotment of ₹6,000 crore, is adequate for such an ambitious program? The total budget is ₹6,000 crore, with ₹4,000 crore under DST and ₹2,000 crore contributed by the Department of Space, Atomic Energy, and Defence. MeitY - though initially missed out - has now joined and allocated ₹500 crore, with plans to raise that to ₹1,000 crore. Many people ask if this is enough, and I say - don't just look at the rupee number. The PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model will amplify what we can deliver. Let's first spend what we have. When we run out, we can always go back to the government and ask for more. Amidst the ever rising cyber frauds - do you think quantum technologies can help curb rising cybercrime and financial frauds? If we can make our systems quantum secure, today's cybersecurity challenges - especially in financial systems - can be dramatically mitigated. And that's the direction we're heading toward.
Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Indian Express
Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards 2023: The winners' stories, in their words
The winners of the 2023 Ramnath Goenka Awards for Excellence in Journalism on their stories that took them to different parts of India, the challenges they faced and the impact they made — from uncovering a drug scam to reporting from conflict zones POLITICS & GOVERNMENT Maitri Porecha – The Hindu Derailed and Distraught 'I'm technically a health reporter. So when I found out about the Balasore train accident, I decided to go to the hospital first. I found out that a loco pilot and an assistant loco pilot, who were reported to be dead in early flashes, were actually alive. That became my first story. Passenger bodies were so badly mutilated that they had no identifying markers anymore. It was very triggering to report. I broke down in the hospital because of all the corpses I saw. A staffer told me to contain my emotions because the relatives of those who had been injured or killed were frantically searching for hope, and they could get disturbed.' Ashutosh Mishra – India Today TV (Broadcast) Ashutosh Mishra – India Today TV (Broadcast) A Fraught State 'Manipur was hardly being reported on and the existing reportage only focused on the violence. But we wanted to show the plight of people trapped in that situation. It was the worst kind of humanitarian crisis we had seen. So we decided to go to the root cause, staying in the state for 15 days. We met people from every walk of life and showed how the state was literally divided. I was surprised that people in Manipur knew about us, a largely Hindi news channel. They also knew that we showed every side of a story. That is all they wanted, for their voices to be heard.' UNCOVERING INVISIBLE INDIA Satyasundar Barik – The Hindu (Print) Satyasundar Barik – The Hindu (Print) The Courage to Speak 'My story was about workers migrating to metro cities and being sexually exploited. Some were even forced into marriage. This was a distressing story to do. I remember going to interview a 13-14 year old girl but since she had been brutally raped, she ran away from me. That's when I decided to widen the scope of the story to probe exploitation of minor girls. I found out about thousands of minor girls who had been missing for years.' Into the Jungle 'We stayed in different parts of Jharkhand for 15 days or so to tell the story of women who were paraded naked and killed in the interior part of the state for practising 'witchcraft'. The challenge was to make them trust us and we spent time with them, eating with them and understanding the whole situation. Moreover, according to tribal beliefs, women are often not allowed to talk to outsiders.' Nilesh Christopher – Rest of World (Print/Digital) Paradigm Shifts 'The biggest issue I faced (reporting on AI and the shift in manufacturing away from China) was lack of expertise among local NGOs. I had to engage an expert from New York.' INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING The Women who led the Charge and took on Power 'The courage of the women wrestlers, who were protesting sexual harassment, was commendable because they were up against an influential MP, Brij Bhushan Singh, and by extension the government at the Centre. The challenge was to get the alleged victims and witnesses to first trust us, then open up and speak about their ordeal. A slander campaign had begun against the wrestlers, so one had to go over information from sources with a fine tooth comb before publishing stories. As journalists, it was important not to get swayed by emotion, fall for planted stories and stick to the facts.' Anurag Dwary – NDTV (Broadcast) Falling Standards 'We did ground reporting from different districts to find a medical college scam across Madhya Pradesh and took help from stringers since legwork was limited during the pandemic. We interviewed the minister who was heading the medical education department, students who suffered as well as the general public.' Twesh Mishra – The Economic Times (Print) 'The story highlighted discrepancies in the disbursal of government subsidies intended for local manufacturing of electric vehicles. There was ample resistance from large to midsize corporates, which were flouting norms, including threats of legal notices. After the initial gaffe, the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) ensured that any illegally disbursed subsidies were recovered. Norms were significantly tightened and stricter monitoring introduced.' SPORTS JOURNALISM Shahab Ali and Amarnath Kashyap – Hindustan (Print) Not Just Humble Beginnings 'We wrote the story of how renowned athlete Asha Barla's house in her village didn't even have drinking water, her sisters weren't able to study in school, the roads in the village were broken. Going there was challenging. The police didn't go there, there were militants all around controlled the area and would stop us on our way. When we published the story, the district administration threatened us. The Jharkhand government applied pressure on them and eventually action was taken.' Tejas Vaidya and Enakshi Rajvanshi – BBC Hindi (Broadcast/Digital) Leaving the Sidelines 'We had to bring sensitivity to the reportage of sports played by women. We went to Gujarat for a general story but found out about a tribal woman with a five-month-old child, who would travel far every weekend to attend a cricket camp. In a country where cricket is an obsession, there's no deep dive into women's passion for cricket. There's patriarchy in sports too. It was difficult to get in touch with anyone for the story initially because there's no fixed federation for this sport. We spent 15 days on it. Mostly private bodies are handling this. There was no government entity we could talk to to find sources. For 15 to 20 days, we just looked for people and tried to find out where people are from. One of the coaches was also difficult to reach.' Sibu Kumar Tripathi – India Today (Print/Digital) A City that could Sink 'Joshimath was a city going down due to its own weight. It was developed on the ruins of a really old landslide. The foundation was unstable. There had been an infrastructural and population boom and that contributed to the problem. We wrote on how the warning signs had been around since 1976 when a study was done on the issue. One of the challenges we faced was de-jargonising the information and simplifying it for a layperson.' Joel Michael and Rohini Krishnamurthy – Down To Earth (Broadcast/Digital) A Deadly Leak 'We wanted to look at not just the 2023 Ludhiana gas leak. That was just one crack. We wanted to find the root cause of the problem. We found people who were affected, spoke to activists who had been campaigning for better waste management and scientists who had studied the drain.' FEATURE WRITING Shubhajit Roy – The Indian Express Inside the Conflict Zone 'Reporting on a war can be a challenge so when I found myself at the Israel-Gaza border, I knew this was among the toughest assignments I would face. Hamas rockets zinged past my ears, sometimes so close that I had to run for shelter to the nearest bunker mid-interview. The days would start with coaxing drivers to take me closer to the theatre of war. My experience in Afghanistan as the Taliban took over Kabul in August 2021 helped me plan for contingencies.' PHOTOJOURNALISM Devastation Reigns 'In the aftermath of the Michaung cyclone, I captured a huge oil spill that devastated many homes. We had technical as well as physical difficulties during the story. My lungs got affected because of how polluted the atmosphere had gotten. I was unwell for a while. The doctor said my lungs were working at 45 per cent capacity. Think about the people who suffered, who lived there. They lost their homes and natural resources. Fishing is the main livelihood for Ennore (Chennai) residents. About 10 tonnes of oil had accidentally leaked from a factory and gotten mixed with flood water, entering the houses of many people. They were flooded up to four to five feet. Fishing was stopped for two to three months. Only after six months was the water clear enough to venture into. I am satisfied that this story got national attention. Since this was a man-made disaster, it can be averted in the future.' HINDI Mridulika Jha – Aaj Tak (Print/Digital) Taking Any Way Out 'We did the Dunki route story before Shah Rukh Khan's film. We went to a Haryana village and found just how much people stake to go to America. They didn't want to talk to us at first but later opened up.' Siddhant Mohan – The Lallantop (Broadcast/Digital) The Real Kerala Story 'When I went to Kerala (to report on the simplistic narratives of the movie The Kerala Story), locals resented Delhi media. They didn't talk at first. I met people from radical outfits too.' REGIONAL LANGUAGES Jisha Elizabeth – Madhyamam (Print/Digital) Across State Borders 'From Kerala, a lot of young people are going abroad and getting trapped. My story was about traffickers from Thailand recruiting youth to work as scammers. A challenge is that both the government and the victims themselves have no idea what is going on. They don't have a lot of data on these scams.' Mandar Gonjari – ABP Majha (Broadcast) The Brains of the Operation 'The main challenge we faced reporting on the story of an undertrial, who ran a synthetic drug racket from his hospital bed in Pune, was that so many government authorities are involved with drug cartels. Getting inside information inside was difficult. People don't know the magnitude of (India's) drug problem.' BOOKS (NON-FICTION) AR Venkatachalapathy – Penguin Random House Standing up against the Raj 'I first read about VO Chidambaram when I was in Class X. He became the subject of my book Swadeshi Steam: VO Chidambaram Pillai and the Battle Against the British Maritime Empire. It was a David and Goliath story. In the southernmost corner of India, a small-time lawyer decided to take on the might of the British maritime empire, one of the biggest shipping empires of the world.'
