Latest news with #GlobalStartupEcosystemRankings2025
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar visits Air India plane crash site, calls tragedy 'heartbreaking'
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday visited the site of the devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar locality. The crash, which occurred on June 12, claimed the lives of 260 people, leaving the nation in shock. Also Read - Bengaluru climbs to 14th spot in Global Startup Ecosystem Rankings 2025 Describing the scene as deeply distressing, Shivakumar expressed his sorrow over the magnitude of the loss. 'Heartbreaking scenes,' he posted on social media platform X after visiting the crash site. 'My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of all the victims — those on board the aircraft and the innocent people on the ground, including young medical students. The scale of this tragedy is profound, and the nation stands united in grief.' Several senior Congress leaders accompanied Shivakumar and Kharge during the visit to the accident site, where an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI 171) crashed into a medical students' hostel building shortly after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Also Read - Bengaluru woman witnesses rare 'peaceful accident': 'No fights, just handshakes' The ill-fated flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew, of whom 241 lost their lives. The impact also claimed the lives of several medical students and staff who were inside the hostel at the time. According to officials quoted by PTI, the aircraft had passed its comprehensive maintenance inspection in June 2023 and was due for its next major check in December this year. Investigations are ongoing to determine what caused the fatal mishap just moments after takeoff. In a bid to provide immediate relief, Air India announced an interim compensation of ₹25 lakh for the families of the deceased, in addition to the ₹1 crore payout already pledged by parent company Tata Sons. Authorities have assured that full support will be extended to the victims' families, while a detailed probe continues to uncover the circumstances behind the tragic incident.
Hindustan Times
19 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Mangaluru survivors recount 2010 plane crash tragedy amid recent Air India mishap
As India grapples with renewed concerns over air safety following a recent Air India incident, memories of one of the country's worst aviation tragedies have resurfaced in Karnataka's Mangaluru. It's been 15 years since the fatal crash of Air India Express flight IX 812 — a day seared into the minds of survivors and the families of 158 people who lost their lives. Also Read - 'They solve Bengaluru's traffic crisis': Chorus grows online as Karnataka bans bike taxis For K Pradeep, one of the eight survivors of the 2010 crash, the passage of time has not dulled the memory. Now working as a civil contractor in Mangaluru, he returns every year on May 22 to the crash memorial at Kulur. There, in quiet remembrance, he lays flowers, prays, and reflects on what he calls his miraculous escape. 'I believe it was the blessings from my parents and their good deeds that protected me,' Pradeep told PTI. He still recalls the horror when the aircraft overran the runway and plunged into a deep gorge, bursting into flames. Another survivor, Usman Farooq, who today serves with an ambulance service, echoes a similar sentiment. He believes divine intervention saved him. Farooq, who had been seated near the aircraft's wing, said that part of the fuselage broke apart at just the right moment — creating an opening through which he managed to escape. Also Read - Bengaluru climbs to 14th spot in Global Startup Ecosystem Rankings 2025 'I see my work in emergency services as a way to repay life's gift. I was saved for a reason,' he said. On May 22, 2010, Air India Express flight IX 812, a Boeing 737 operating on the Dubai–Mangaluru route, crash-landed at Mangaluru International Airport. The aircraft touched down far beyond the intended point — nearly 5,200 feet down an 8,000-foot runway — leaving little room for braking. As it hurtled past the runway's edge, the aircraft fell into a steep gorge and broke apart. Of the 166 people on board, 158 died. It remains one of India's most devastating aviation disasters. A detailed inquiry by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) concluded that the primary cause was human error. The captain, investigators found, had ignored repeated alerts from both the co-pilot and the aircraft's ground proximity warning system, continuing with an unstable approach. It was also revealed that the captain had been asleep for a significant part of the flight and was likely suffering from 'sleep inertia' — a condition that impairs decision-making after abruptly waking up. The Court of Inquiry, headed by Air Marshal B.N. Gokhale, affirmed these findings and added that infrastructure issues at the airport contributed to the tragedy. One key concern was that the localiser antenna structure — which the plane crashed into — was not built to break upon impact, violating international aviation safety norms.
Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
‘They solve Bengaluru's traffic crisis': Chorus grows online as Karnataka bans bike taxis
The Karnataka High Court on Friday upheld an earlier order by a single-judge bench mandating the suspension of bike taxi operations in the state from June 16, triggering widespread criticism on social media. The ruling, which follows a legal battle involving major operators like Rapido, Uber, and Ola, has sparked a wave of frustration among commuters, entrepreneurs, and public figures — many of whom are now urging the state government to rethink its stance, at least for Bengaluru. Also Read - Amazon enters quick commerce race with 'Now' service in Bengaluru, targets rapid expansion: Report The initial six-week grace period for bike taxi operators to wind down services was to end in May. However, in response to pleas from the platforms, the court had extended the deadline to June 15. With the latest decision refusing to delay the suspension any further, these services will now come to a halt across Karnataka starting Sunday. Bengaluru, infamous for its chronic traffic congestion, has seen bike taxis emerge as a convenient and cost-effective mobility option. For many daily commuters, they've provided a crucial alternative to overcrowded public transport and slow-moving traffic. Social media has since exploded with posts supporting bike taxis. Former Infosys CFO T.V. Mohandas Pai took to X (formerly Twitter), tagging key state ministers and the chief minister. 'Please allow bike taxis in Bengaluru. They offer jobs, ease traffic, and help citizens. Our Metro is delayed, bus services are inadequate, and we can't afford more personal vehicles,' Pai wrote, calling the move "anti-citizen" and urging intervention from Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar and IT Minister Priyank Kharge. Several users echoed this sentiment, highlighting the utility of bike taxis for urban India. 'Bengaluru's traffic woes can be tackled by services like Rapido — affordable, quick, and efficient. Why reject a working solution?' one post read. Also Read - Bengaluru climbs to 14th spot in Global Startup Ecosystem Rankings 2025 Others emphasized the socioeconomic value of bike taxis, especially for students and gig workers. 'Legalize them like autos — only KA-registered yellow-board bikes. These services helped struggling youths pay for college, cover EMIs, and manage daily expenses. Don't take that away,' a user wrote. Some citizens drew comparisons with global cities, asking Karnataka to take cues from successful two-wheeler taxi ecosystems in Southeast Asia. 'Jakarta relies on ojek (bike taxis). Bengaluru should too. We should look to Asia-Pacific models, not other Indian states,' another post said.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
‘For every ₹1 we give, Karnataka gets only ₹0.15 back': Siddaramaiah seeks ₹1.15 lakh crore for Bengaluru
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday made a strong pitch before the 16th Finance Commission for a more equitable share of central taxes for the state and sought a ₹1.15 lakh crore investment over five years to bolster Bengaluru's infrastructure. In a detailed meeting with Commission Chairman Arvind Panagariya, the chief minister flagged the fiscal disparity Karnataka faces, stating that despite contributing nearly 8.7% to India's GDP with only 5% of the population, the state receives disproportionately low returns from the Centre. Also Read - Bengaluru climbs to 14th spot in Global Startup Ecosystem Rankings 2025 'For every rupee Karnataka contributes to union taxes, we receive just 15 paise in return,' Siddaramaiah said, calling the imbalance stark and deeply unjust. He added that the discussion with Panagariya was cordial, and the Commission appeared open to the state's demands. The chief minister also drew attention to the state's reduced share in central funds under the 15th Finance Commission. Karnataka's share in tax devolution dropped from 4.71% to 3.64%, leading to an estimated loss of over ₹80,000 crore during the award period. Moreover, Karnataka's per capita devolution fell from 95% to just 73% of the national average between the 14th and 15th Finance Commissions. In its formal submission, the state government called for a significant overhaul in the devolution formula. Karnataka urged the Commission to raise states' share of divisible taxes to at least 50%, cap cess and surcharges at 5%, and include the Centre's non-tax revenues in the divisible pool. Siddaramaiah stressed that states are currently excluded from revenue earned through central cess and surcharges. 'If cess and surcharges exceed 5%, they should be brought into the divisible pool so that states can benefit,' he said. Also Read - Bengaluru woman witnesses rare 'peaceful accident': 'No fights, just handshakes' To ensure a fairer distribution among states, Karnataka proposed a model in which each state retains about 60% of its contribution to central taxes, while the remaining 40% supports less-developed regions — striking a balance between equity and incentivising performance. The chief minister also criticised the current design of revenue deficit and state-specific grants. He cited Kerala's receipt of a ₹38,000 crore revenue deficit grant, while Karnataka received nothing under that head. He also questioned the denial of a ₹5,495 crore special grant recommended for Karnataka by the 15th Finance Commission but ultimately not sanctioned by the Union government. To correct these imbalances, the state has suggested recalibrating the weight of the income-distance criterion — currently favouring poorer states — by reducing it by 20%, and reallocating that weight to reflect each state's contribution to the national GDP. This, Siddaramaiah argued, would ensure that economically productive states like Karnataka are rewarded rather than penalised. He concluded by urging the Finance Commission to consider reforms that would make the devolution system more predictable, performance-based, and transparent — with a focus on both promoting national growth and addressing regional disparities.
