Latest news with #DarshanDevaiahB
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Uber launches India's first dedicated Uber Black pickup zone at Bengaluru airport
Uber, in partnership with Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), introduced India's first dedicated Uber Black pickup zones at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), enhancing the premium travel experience for passengers at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The initiative, launched on August 11, also covers Uber Comfort rides. It is aimed at offering a seamless transition between air and ground travel, according to Uber. Uber launches India's first @Uber_India Black pickup zones at Bengaluru Airport's Terminal 1 & Terminal 2 in partnership with @BLRAirport today. @the_hindu@ — Darshan Devaiah B P (@DarshanDevaiahB) August 11, 2025 The new zones feature enhanced amenities such as water dispensers, charging stations, a staffed helpdesk kiosk, and trained on-ground personnel to assist passengers. Uber stated that high-rated drivers and well-appointed vehicles are part of the service, ensuring a more refined commuting option for airport travellers. This marks the ride-hailing company's first-ever Uber Black zone at any airport in India. Arnab Kumar, Director of Business Development for Uber India and South Asia, said, 'Bengaluru airport is one of the busiest and most important airports in India. With the introduction of Uber Black pickup zones for Uber Black and Uber Comfort, we are enhancing the travel experience from the moment passengers step out of the terminal.' A BIAL spokesperson said, 'The dedicated pickup zones for Uber Black and Uber Comfort are a step forward in our vision to deliver seamless, high-quality experiences at every stage of travel.' KIA, which handled over 41.88 million passengers in FY 2024–25, is the busiest airport in south India, and the third largest in India. It recently surpassed 350 million cumulative passengers since its inauguration, and remains India's leading airport for perishable cargo for the fourth consecutive year.
The Hindu
02-08-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Bengaluru metro facilitates organ transport for transplant
For the first time, Bengaluru's Namma Metro successfully facilitated the transportation of an organ via metro train on Friday. Officials from Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) said the operation was executed with clockwork precision. For the 1st time ever, #NammaMetro facilitated organ transport in #Bengaluru A donated liver was swiftly moved from Whitefield to RR Nagar via metro, saving crucial time for a life-saving transplant. 2nd such instance in #India. @the_hindu@ — Darshan Devaiah B P (@DarshanDevaiahB) August 2, 2025 A donated human liver, intended for transplant, was transported from Vydehi Hospital in Whitefield to Sparsh Hospital in Rajarajeshwari (R.R.) Nagar using a combination of ambulance and metro train. The liver was moved in an ambulance from Vydehi Hospital to the Whitefield Metro Station at 8.38 p.m. by a team comprising one doctor and seven medical staff. 'Upon arrival at the station, the medical team was received by an Assistant Security Officer (ASO) and metro personnel, who facilitated documentation and security checks. The organ was then swiftly transported on a metro train that departed Whitefield at 8.42 p.m. and arrived at R.R. Nagar Metro Station at 9.48 p.m.,' an official said. Green corridor Green corridors were created to cover the distance from the hospital to the metro station in Whitefield and from the metro station to the hospital in R.R. Nagar. At the destination, another team of metro officials and security personnel assisted the medical team in transferring the organ to a waiting ambulance. 'It was then safely delivered to Sparsh Hospital in time for a life-saving transplant procedure,' the officials added. According to BMRCL, the entire operation was carried out under guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), and as per the Joint Procedure Order (JPO) of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). The organ-carrying team covered the entire 31-km journey in less than an hour — a trip that could have taken over three hours by road on a congested Friday evening. Young donor, young recipient The donated liver — retrieved from a 24-year-old accident victim whose family generously donated the organs — was urgently needed by a critical patient at Sparsh Hospital, R.R. Nagar. The recipient, a young male suffering from severe hepatitis-related liver failure, had been on the transplant waiting list for over two months, desperately hoping for a suitable match. 'Time was of the essence. If we had taken the road, the organ could have been wasted due to heavy weekend traffic. The Metro transport gave us the fastest and safest option. We are deeply grateful to the BMRCL and SOTTO Karnataka for their swift and wholehearted support,' said Mahesh Gopasetty, senior consultant, Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery at the hospital. The complex transplant surgery, conducted overnight, concluded successfully around 3 a.m. on Saturday. The patient is currently in the ICU, stable and under post-operative care.
The Hindu
02-08-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Namma Metro facilitates organ transport in Bengaluru for transplant
For the first time, Bengaluru's Namma Metro successfully facilitated transportation of an organ via metro train on August 1. Officials from Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) said the operation was executed with clockwork precision. For the 1st time ever, #NammaMetro facilitated organ transport in #Bengaluru A donated liver was swiftly moved from Whitefield to RR Nagar via metro, saving crucial time for a life-saving transplant. 2nd such instance in #India. @the_hindu@ — Darshan Devaiah B P (@DarshanDevaiahB) August 2, 2025 A donated human liver, intended for transplant, was transported from Vydehi Hospital in Whitefield to Sparsh Hospital in Rajrajeshwari Nagar using a combination of ambulance and metro train. At 8.38 p.m., the liver was moved in an ambulance from Vydehi Hospital to Whitefield metro station. It was accompanied by a team comprising one doctor and seven medical staff. 'Upon arrival at the station, the medical team was received by an Assistant Security Officer (ASO) and metro personnel, who facilitated documentation and security checks. The organ was then swiftly transported on a metro train that departed Whitefield at 8.42 p.m. and arrived at Rajarajeshwarinagar metro station at 9.48 p.m.,' an official explained At the destination, another team of metro officials and security personnel assisted the medical team in transferring the organ to a waiting ambulance. 'It was then safely delivered to Sparsh Hospital in time for a life-saving transplant procedure,' the officials added. According to BMRCL, the entire operation was carried out under guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), and as per the Joint Procedure Order (JPO) of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
BMRCL rolls out ad-wrapped Namma Metro trains to boost non-fare revenue
In a move to ramp up its non-fare earnings, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has rolled out advertisement-wrapped trains on both the Purple and Green lines of Namma Metro. The initiative, which began on June 9, marks the first time in the 13-year history of Namma Metro that full-body train advertisements have been introduced. BMRCL has entered into two separate seven-year agreements with advertising firms for this initiative. Mudra Ventures has secured exclusive rights for the Purple Line while Lokesh Outdoor has been granted the same for the Green Line. The contract values are ₹1.26 crore and ₹81.49 lakh, respectively. Letters of Acceptance (LoA) for both companies were issued on January 29. According to senior officials at BMRCL, the contracts include permission for full exterior train wrapping and internal advertising. 'We expect to generate at least ₹25 crore per year from these contracts,' said a senior BMRCL official. The move comes shortly after BMRCL increased metro fares by up to 71%, a decision that drew public criticism. BMRCL wraps trains with ads for the first time in 13 years to boost non-fare revenue. Aiming ₹25 Cr/year from Purple & Green Line deals. @THBengaluru@the_hindu#NammaMetro#Bengaluru#BMRCL# — Darshan Devaiah B P (@DarshanDevaiahB) June 10, 2025 BMRCL sheds ad-wrap fears after trials This is a significant shift in policy for BMRCL, which until recently was hesitant to allow wrapping trains with advertisements. Officials had previously cited concerns that such wraps might damage the exterior surfaces of the trains. However, trial runs on two trains helped alleviate those fears. 'We conducted successful trials to ensure that the vinyl wraps do not damage the train surface. The applications will be done with care, ensuring that the aesthetic value of the coaches is maintained,' the official added. The only prior instance of a train being fully wrapped by BMRCL was not for commercial purpose. In March 2022, as part of the government of India's 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' campaign, one train was wrapped with visuals and slogans celebrating India's freedom struggle. That project cost around ₹8.5 lakh and took 10 days to complete. Currently, BMRCL operates 57 six-coach trains across its Purple and Green lines. While this is the first time the corporation is wrapping trains for commercial purposes, metro trains in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kochi have long adopted this practice. Delhi Metro, for instance, began wrapping its trains with advertisements in 2014. Metro's other non-fare income To enhance non-fare revenue has been a consistent part of BMRCL's strategy. Advertising within stations and coaches, renting out commercial space for outlets, ATMs, and parking, and granting permission for filming inside metro premises are just some of the revenue-generating initiatives the BMRCL has implemented over the years. BMRCL has also introduced promotional kiosks, electric vehicle charging stations, and leasing of space for telecom infrastructure, such as towers and optical fibre cables. One of BMRCL's most notable deals was with IKEA India Private Limited. It leased 13 acres near Nagasandra metro station to the retailer under a 60-year agreement signed in 2017. This single transaction netted the corporation ₹251 crore. Mixed commuter reactions The decision to use metro coaches for advertising has evoked a range of responses from commuters. Shreya Natarajan, a daily user of the Green Line and resident of Jalahalli, expressed concern over the aesthetic compromise. 'I remember reading that the windows wouldn't be covered. But they have gone ahead and done it now. The whole look of the trains is ruined. I know they need funds, but this feels excessive. We are surrounded by ads everywhere: buses, hoardings, even on our phones. Must the metro become a moving billboard too?' On the other hand, some passengers see the move as a necessary financial strategy. 'If the advertisement revenue helps in keeping ticket prices down and improves services, then I support it. But after the recent 71% fare hike, BMRCL must now consider reducing fares, or at least stop raising them,' said Mohan R., a commuter on the Purple Line and resident of Vijayanagar. BMTC also banks on ads for revenue boost Since January this year, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has begun fully wrapping its fleet of 3,000 non-AC buses with advertisements, aiming to enhance its non-fare revenue. Previously, advertising was restricted to the rear panels of the buses. This initiative follows a 15% fare hike implemented across all four State-run transport corporations in Karnataka. According to BMTC officials, the bus wrapping initiative is expected to bring in over ₹3 crore every month. With a total fleet of 6,158 buses, including 1,027 electric buses, the corporation anticipates a significant boost in revenue. In the financial year 2023–24, BMTC earned ₹811 crore from non-traffic revenue sources, such as leasing out land, bus terminals, commercial stalls, office spaces, and parking lots. Revenue from rear-side bus advertisements also contributed to this sum.
