Latest news with #Holla
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Bike taxi ban case: ‘Without aggregators, how can commuters access motorbikes?'
The Karnataka High Court on Monday continued hearing appeals filed by bike taxi aggregators Ola, Uber and Rapido, along with others, challenging a single judge's April 2025 decision. The ruling stated that bike taxi services could not operate in the state unless the state government notified specific guidelines and rules under the Motor Vehicles Act. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi addressed the matter, specifically questioning the state govt on whether it had intentionally decided to disallow bike taxis. The state's counsel argued that the Motor Vehicles Act does not permit bikes to be used as taxis. However, the Court dismissed this argument as 'thin', noting that several states allow bike taxis under the same statute applicable across India. During the hearing, Senior Advocate Uday Holla, representing Roppen Transportation Services (Rapido), contended that the single judge assumed, though not pleaded, that the state govt had a policy against bike taxis. He argued that if such a policy exists, it contravenes the statute, which permits motorbikes as taxis. Holla further highlighted that various states, including Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Haryana and Orissa, permit bike taxis. Addressing the convenience of bike taxis, Holla stated, 'Today, Bangalore Metro has just two lines (in Bangalore)...Bike taxis help commuters and are a matter of easy convenience. The single judge has also said that the State government must be alive to the changes coming in society. Now, how will commuters access motorbikes? Without aggregators, motorbikes will just be running all around. But if there is an aggregator, bikes can be made accessible. You see how convenient bike taxis are, you get one in a minute or two.' He also mentioned that earlier whiteboards were issued to bike taxis and suggested that establishing guidelines would create a regulatory framework. Emphasising the role of aggregators in ensuring commuter safety, Holla added, 'If aggregators are not there, who will check the background of the drivers? Aggregators add to the entire mechanism... They check the antecedents of the drivers.' He also claimed that bike taxis reduce traffic congestion, citing media reports indicating increased traffic following the disallowance of bike taxis in the state.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
Team Mangaluru to fly its new ‘Tulunadu chariot', ‘water is life' kites at Dieppe International Kite Festival
Team Mangaluru, a group of kite flyers, will showcase its new kites – 'Tulunadu chariot' and 'water is life' – at the Dieppe International Kite Festival to be held in France from September 13 to 21. The chariot kite will be 18 ft. high and 10 ft. wide. Senior artist and international kite flyer Dinesh Holla, who has designed both the kites, said that they will be a applique or collage works. 'Tulunadu chariot' is unique to the Tulu-speaking coastal belt. The colourful chariot will be a new attraction at the festival in which people from 50 countries are expected to participate. Mr. Holla said that the 'water is life' kite has been designed in such a way to communicate the message to treat water like God. Hence, in the design, a pot of water is placed inside the 'pallakki' (palanquin) used to carry idols in temples. In addition, the design shows the sky and greenery (on the tile part). 'This kite highlights the importance of both nature and culture and the need to protect them. It communicates that if nature is protected there will be no dearth of water,' Mr. Holla, who took part in the Dieppe festival seven times, said. He said that a five-member team of kite flyers from Mangaluru will head to France on September 10. Team Mangaluru will participate in the Dieppe festival for the ninth time. Mr. Holla said that Team Mangaluru, led by Sarvesh Rao, has been showcasing Indian culture, particularly related to the coastal belt of Karnataka, at international kite festivals. The team has been participating in the kite festivals of 12 countries. He said kite flyers – Mr. Rao, Pranesh Kudroli, Satish Rao, and Arun – are now preparing the two new kites.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Automation in Bengaluru's kitchens: Hotels seek solutions to South Indian cook shortage
Representative Image BENGALURU: As demand for South Indian cuisine surges and hotels face a cook shortage, many are seeking new ways to integrate advanced technology into their kitchens. While automation in the hotel industry is not a new concept, it is now entering a new phase, with a focus on further automating tasks traditionally done by human hands. "Particularly South Indian cooks are hard to find," says PC Rao, Honorary President, Bangalore Hotels Association (BHA). "We have machines for vada-making, pongal preparation, and more, but there's still a need for someone to measure the ingredients and feed them into the machines. It is not 100% mechanised yet." He was talking to TOI on the sidelines of the launch of Media Day Marketing trade expo where equipment industries will meet the hospitality sector. Echoing his sentiments, President of Bangalore Hotels Association, Subrahmanya Holla said, "It's interesting how things will unfold, and we're also waiting to see." Holla, whose own hotel still favours a hands-on approach, acknowledges that machines can be a good solution for bulk production, such as in catering. "Vada making makes sense in high-volume business. Pongal machines are already in use. But you can't fully mechanise everything. Some things still require ahuman touch, like pouring ghee and sugar, in a Mysore Pak production line," Holla shares. K Rama Murthy, owner of Konark Hotel on Residency Road, who was in the industry for over 40 years, addresses the challenges in complete automation of South Indian food. "South Indian food is passed down generationally. It is not something we can easily put in a syllabus for students. Hence, while the automation of beverage preparation, like cocktail mixing, is already common, the same is harder to achieve with food. For Indian food, especially South Indian items, it is made to order." He finds the fresh food production segment at a crossroads. New manpower laws have made hiring and retaining fresh-food staff more challenging, shrinking the pool of cooks willing to learn complex, made-to-order South Indian recipes. Advanced solutions like freeze-drying plants or vacuum-packed ready-cook systems are emerging to retain higher nutrition levels, but are expensive, he added. At his hotel, he uses automation. Murthy elaborates on the same: Three-star hotels in the city have adopted this technology—a combi-oven, which can cook with steam and dry heat—giving you rice, steam veg, pulao, any rice item—bisibele bath and pongal. You can roast masalas in the machine in a systematic way. There are limitations—shallow frying and traditional methods, like masala dosa preparation, or making sambar. For Uddina vadas, there is a separate machine—the dough gets dropped like doughnuts. "We also have an in-house South Indian filter dispensing machine, and are looking for idli dropping and cooking systems," he said, being the go-to person on automation in the sector. Hospitality students are also training on the growing role of AI in the sector, including streamlining kitchen operations. Sanchari Chowdhury, Director at IIHM Bangalore, said, "Although human touch is still very much needed in hospitality, AI helps in menu planning, stock taking, and ingredient percentages, making the process faster. Even experiences are curated using tech—a Japanese restaurant in the city has automated the process of learning its guest's food and seating preference. " "We are in a city that has accepted automation well," she adds. "Key cards in hotels are replaced by mobile check-ins. Roles in hospitality are changing—but the warm body is very needed in hospitality even today."
The Hindu
11-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Bengaluru cab operators hit hard as airport closures impact travel industry post-Pahalgam attack
: Passenger transport and cab industry in Bengaluru has taken a hit following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir and the subsequent Operation Sindoor, which has led to the temporary closure of 32 Indian airports until May 15. With air travel witnessing a sharp decline, cab drivers and operators in the city are feeling its ripple effects, particularly those who primarily serve airport-bound passengers and tourists. With both countries reaching an agreement to stop military operations on Saturday evening, the industry was hopeful of airports opening up again, but ceasefire violations by Pakistan on Saturday night has left the industry anxious. Speaking to The Hindu, Karnataka State Travel Operators' Association (KSTOA) president K. Radhakrishna Holla said the situation is now reminiscent of the COVID-19 lockdown days. 'Earlier, we were getting many passengers from the airport. Now, with most of the North Indian airports shut, passenger movement has dropped significantly, though the Bengaluru airport is operating normally. The demand for cabs, especially premium services, has come down drastically. Currently, we are mostly getting bookings from office employees and a few corporate clients. Tourist bookings are barely coming in these days,' he said. Mr. Holla added that while the security situation necessitates these measures, a prolonged disruption could have devastating economic consequences for the sector. 'It is fine that the business is dull now since it is a matter of national security. But if this continues for long, it will affect the transport business on a large scale. Adding to this is the diplomatic fallout after Pakistan receiving vocal support from Azerbaijan and Türkiye. Many Indian tour operators have cancelled packages to these countries. This will indirectly affect us as well, since airport traffic for international departures is likely to remain low. It's similar to the situation when tourists from India began cancelling trips to the Maldives after derogatory remarks were made by Maldivian Ministers about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep in early 2024,' he said. Airport cab drivers, many of whom rely solely on steady flight operations for their daily earnings, are particularly hard-hit. Prakash R., a cab driver who has worked the airport route for the past six years, said: 'I used to get at least four trips a day from the airport. Now, I get one. Sometimes I wait at the airport for six to eight hours, and return empty. The flight arrivals are very low, and most passengers now prefer to stay home or cancel their travel altogether. Our earnings have dropped by more than half.' Another driver, Mahadevappa K.N., who runs a premium SUV cab, said the luxury segment has been the worst affected. 'Business travellers and high-end tourists were our main customers. Now, there's nothing. Some drivers have switched to daily rentals for corporate employees, but that doesn't fetch the same income. We're still paying EMI for our vehicles, and fuel prices haven't come down. If this situation goes on beyond May 15,it will be difficult.'
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
New lifetime tax on commercial vehicles draws flak from small operators
The Karnataka government began enforcing the Karnataka Motor Vehicle Taxation (Amendment) Act on May 1, bringing significant changes to the way commercial vehicles are taxed in the State. Under the new rules, taxis priced less than ₹10 lakh now attract a lifetime tax of 5% of the vehicle's cost, payable in full at the time of registration. Until now, commercial taxis in this price segment were exempt from lifetime tax and instead paid a quarterly tax of ₹100 per seat for a four-seater vehicle — amounting to roughly ₹1,800 annually, including cess. The updated policy replaces this quarterly system with a one-time payment, which many operators say will hit small business owners the hardest. 'This change will impact micro-level operators much more than large fleet owners,' said K. Radhakrishna Holla, president of the Karnataka State Travel Operators' Association. 'For a vehicle costing ₹10 lakh, the lifetime tax now amounts to around ₹50,000 upfront. Most commercial vehicles fall under this category, so it's going to be a major setback for small operators.' The revised tax slabs go further for vehicles in higher price brackets. Buyers of commercial vehicles priced between ₹10 lakh and ₹15 lakh must now pay 9% of the vehicle's cost as lifetime tax, while those purchasing vehicles above ₹15 lakh will be taxed at 15%. Even electric vehicles, which were previously exempt if they cost more than ₹25 lakh, will now attract a 10% tax under the new structure. Mr. Holla criticised the move to include electric vehicles in the tax net, saying: 'Karnataka already lags behind in EV adoption. Imposing new taxes on commercial e-vehicles at this stage will discourage drivers from switching to cleaner alternatives.' Ravi S., a cab driver who owns a single vehicle, expressed his frustration: 'I've been planning to replace my old car this year, but the new rule means I need to pay ₹50,000 extra right away. For drivers like me, that's just not affordable. It's like the government wants to make it harder for small players to survive.'
