Latest news with #Line3
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Heliene Celebrates the Grand Opening of Rogers, MN Solar Manufacturing Facility
The new facility expands the Company's annual U.S.-made solar PV module output to 1.3GW and creates hundreds of new jobs in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area ROGERS, Minn., June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heliene, Inc., a customer-first provider of North American-made solar PV modules, celebrated the grand opening of a new solar PV module manufacturing facility in Rogers, MN on May 30. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, MN Commissioner Matt Varilek, and Rogers' Major Shannon Klick together with other State elected officials were in attendance to mark this milestone achievement for domestic clean energy manufacturing, regional job creation, and economic development. The Rogers facility houses Minnesota Line 3, Heliene's third U.S.-based manufacturing line. Minnesota Line 3 has been operational since April 29 and has an annual capacity of 500MW. Heliene also owns and operates 300MW-Minnesota Line 1 and 500MW-Minnesota Line 2 at its existing Mountain Iron, MN facility. The opening of Line 3 brings Heliene's total U.S.-made module manufacturing output per year to 1.3GW. 'Heliene is experiencing continued demand for our high-quality, high-domestic content solar PV modules,' said Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Heliene. 'By nearly doubling our manufacturing capacity at our new Rogers, Minnesota facility, we can continue to provide best-in-class fully domestic content products and service to our customers, while we deliver on our broader goal of onshoring U.S. solar supply chains, by incorporating domestically-produced, cells, frames, polymers and other critical components.' The completion of Minnesota Line 3 expands Heliene's commitment to offering U.S. solar developers high-quality PV modules made with an industry-leading percentage of domestic content. The Company is hiring more than 220 new employees in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area to support operations, maintenance, and engineering at the new facility. Heliene received $2.3M in funding from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), with specific funding from the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF), Minnesota Job Creation Fund (JCF) and the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP), to support the above mentioned job creation. 'The opening of this new manufacturing plant means high-quality solar panels will be produced in Rogers to meet increasing demand for energy across our state and throughout the country—and it will create hundreds of new jobs for the region,' said Senator Klobuchar. 'I'm committed to working together to strengthen our manufacturing economy, increase affordable clean energy, and bring the jobs of the future to Minnesota.' Across all its U.S. manufacturing lines, Heliene is producing bifacial, high-efficiency crystalline solar PV modules with the highest possible percentage of domestic content available on the market. To support this effort, Heliene has secured a number of strategic partnerships with domestic solar module component manufacturers in recent years. About HelieneHeliene is one of North America's fastest-growing, domestic PV manufacturers serving the utility-scale, commercial, and residential markets. With an in-house logistics team and remarkably responsive support staff, Heliene delivers competitively priced, high performance solar modules precisely when and where customers need them to accelerate North America's clean energy transition. Founded in 2010, Heliene consistently ranks as a highly bankable module manufacturer. For more information, visit For more information, please contact:HelieneMedia inquiries:heliene@
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Business Standard
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Business Standard
Why a few hours of rain still bring India's biggest cities to a standstill
On Monday morning (May 26), commuters on Mumbai's much-hyped Aqua Line 3 metro were met not by the promise of smoother travel, but by ankle-deep floodwater. The newly inaugurated underground station at Worli was inundated after an intense burst of monsoon rain, water poured down its walls, flooded the platform, and leaked through the roof. The city's earliest monsoon arrival in 35 years had made its entrance, and left the latest civic showpiece in tatters. Meanwhile, in Delhi, Saturday's record-breaking downpour turned the capital's roads into rivers. With 185.9 mm of rainfall this May, nearly nine times the usual, the city is witnessing its wettest May ever. Flights were delayed, traffic choked, and low-lying areas submerged as thunderclouds ripped across the skyline. Down south, Bengaluru, last week, was battered by a 12-hour rain marathon that flooded 500 homes, killed at least three people, and filled over 20 lakes to capacity. The city, perched on a plateau with no natural river drainage, turned into a bowl of chaos, yet again. From north to south, the script is the same: a few hours of rain and entire cities collapse. Why do Indian cities flood so easily? Why haven't years of warnings, policies, and crores in spending fixed this? And more importantly, who is really accountable? People are left stuck, governments rush to react, and the damage runs deeper than just flooded roads—it hits lives, livelihoods, and the economy. Why are cities like Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai so flood-prone? Much of urban India relies on colonial-era drainage systems designed over a century ago. Take Mumbai: the city's stormwater network, laid out by the British in the 1860s, was engineered to carry 25 mm of rain per hour during low tide. That might have sufficed for a coastal town of 2 million people—not for a mega-metropolis of over 20 million that now routinely sees rainfall exceeding 100 mm/hour. In Delhi, the drainage network was built for just 50 mm of daily rain, based on standards from 1976. The capital, however, now regularly receives four times that amount in a single day. Bengaluru's stormwater drains are equally archaic and poorly maintained, clogged with silt, debris and sometimes even furniture. The result then is that rainwater that should drain away instead turns city streets into cesspools. How poor planning and lost wetlands made urban flooding worse Rapid and unplanned urbanisation has only made things worse, argue infra experts. Across cities, construction has bulldozed through natural buffers like lakes, wetlands and drainage valleys. Mumbai has lost nearly 80 per cent of its natural water bodies over the last four decades. So has Bengaluru, where once-interconnected lakes like Bellandur and Varthur are now flanked by tech parks and apartment blocks. In Delhi-NCR, high-rise colonies and malls stand where floodplains once soaked up excess rainwater. These wetlands acted like sponges. With them gone, there is nowhere for the water to go, except up into homes and down into basements. Even where drains exist, they often serve as dumping grounds rather than water channels. Solid waste, silt and construction debris routinely clog drainage lines, reducing their capacity by as much as 40–60 per cent. Mumbai, for instance, produces over 9,000 tonnes of garbage every day. Much of it ends up in the city's waterways. In 2025, despite a ₹550 crore desilting budget, only 37 per cent of the silt in the Mithi River was removed before the rains began. Court delays were blamed. The consequences were predictable. In Bengaluru, experts estimate that only 10 per cent of the city's stormwater drain capacity is functional. The rest is filled with solid waste, sewage or hardened silt. Why flood-control budgets don't solve India's waterlogging problem Infrastructure breakdowns are only part of the story. At the heart of the waterlogging crisis lies broken urban governance. Drainage systems fall under a patchwork of agencies, municipal corporations, state departments and central bodies, each working in silos, often at cross-purposes. In Mumbai, the long-delayed BRIMSTOWAD project, launched in 1993 to modernise stormwater drains—its Phase II remains just 50 per cent complete, while Phase I is at 75 per cent completion. Disputes between the BMC and state authorities have stalled key pumping stations for years. Delhi's new drainage master plan has been in the works since 2016 but remains unapproved. In its absence, the city continues to combine sewage and stormwater in the same pipes—a recipe for disaster when it floods. How topography and encroachment magnify urban flood damage Topography plays a cruel trick on Indian cities. Many of the worst-hit areas are built on reclaimed or low-lying land, where water naturally collects. Mumbai's plush neighbourhoods like Worli and Nariman Point are built on reclaimed land. When it rains, water from higher parts of the city rushes down to these pockets, often blocked by construction or tidal backflow. In Delhi, the Yamuna floodplains have been encroached upon by both formal and informal settlements. During intense rains, these areas are the first to drown, and the last to receive relief. Is climate change accelerating urban flooding in Indian cities? Climate change has turbocharged these vulnerabilities. Extreme rainfall events are now more frequent, intense and unpredictable. Mumbai received 944 mm of rain in a single day in 2005, a record many dismissed as a freak event. But by 2024, such 'freak' events are becoming annual. Climate models predict a 30 per cent increase in extreme rainfall by 2030. Delhi saw over 200 mm of rainfall in 24 hours in 2024. Bengaluru, too, has faced cloudbursts that its outdated infrastructure simply cannot handle. When heavy rains coincide with high tide or construction blockages, the system collapses, and the city drowns. Who is responsible when floods claim lives and paralyse cities? The toll is not just infrastructural, it's human. In 2024, Mumbai recorded at least seven deaths from open manholes and submerged drains. Delhi saw the death of nearly 20 people last year, mostly children and workers, to drowning or electrocution. In May 2025, Bengaluru saw three flood-related deaths, including a child and a 63-year-old man electrocuted while trying to drain his home. The economic losses are equally staggering. Flood-related disruptions in Mumbai alone have cost the city thousands of crores over the years, with halted trains, shuttered offices and damaged infrastructure. Meanwhile, authorities continue to offer reactive, band-aid solutions: temporary dewatering pumps, emergency desilting drives or new bylaws for rainwater harvesting. But without long-term, integrated planning, these remain cosmetic fixes. Upgrading city-wide drainage systems requires multi-agency coordination, consistent funding and data-driven design based on updated rainfall and runoff patterns, none of which urban India currently has in place. As the climate crisis intensifies, the water will only rise. The real question then becomes how long can Indian cities tread water before they sink under the weight of their own neglect?
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Rainwater seepage floods Acharya Atre Chowk station on Mumbai Metro Line 3; MMRC suspends services on affected stretch
MUMBAI: The under-construction Acharya Atre Chowk station on Mumbai's fully underground Metro Line 3 (Colaba–Bandra–SEEPZ) corridor experienced water seepage on following a spell of intense rainfall on Monday. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRC), which is executing the project, confirmed the incident and said the affected section is not yet open to the public. The incident occurred at an entry/exit structure located along Dr. Annie Besant Road. According to MMRC, 'Due to the sudden and intense rainfall today, water seepage was reported at the under-construction entry/exit structure of Acharya Atre Chowk station. The incident occurred when the RCC water-retaining wall constructed at the entry/exit collapsed due to a sudden ingress of water from an adjoining utility.' While the seepage was limited to an area under construction, as a precautionary measure, train services between Worli and Acharya Atre Chowk have been temporarily suspended. 'However, the train services from Aarey JVLR to Worli are not affected and are running regularly,' the agency clarified. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025: Steel Suppliers From Mexico At Lowest Prices (Take A Look) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo This incident has raised concerns about waterproofing systems and drainage readiness on the high-profile Rs 37,000-crore corridor, especially with monsoon season approaching. MMRC assured that safety protocols are being followed and urgent repair work is in progress. 'Our engineering and safety teams are on-site and working on a war footing to address the issue. We deeply regret the inconvenience caused to our commuters and request their patience and cooperation. Safety remains our highest priority, and services will resume only after all systems are fully secure and operational,' the statement said.
Mint
19-05-2025
- General
- Mint
Markets with Bertie: London dreams shattered outside a metro station
Bertie fondly remembers a summer he spent in London when he discovered the convenience of the Tube to get around the sprawling city. So, when a Metro Line 3 station became operational near his office, Bertie started dreaming of an efficient commute home. An expectant Bertie thus walked to the nearby Metro station one evening. Even after he was inside the station precinct, the walk was quite long, but he rationalized that the underground walk was better than risking his life on BKC roads. Despite the rush hour, the train was quite empty, and Bertie easily found a seat. For someone conditioned to play the elaborate strategy game called 'securing a seat in a Mumbai local', this seemed like an easy win. Bertie got off at the terminating station and another walk later ascended to the street level. This time he rationalized by thinking that the Mumbai metro is ensuring his daily step count. On coming out of the station, what surprised our man was that apart from a few sleeping dogs, there were no means of further transportation from the station. No auto-rickshaws, buses or even a walkable footpath. Bertie eventually added further to his step count, secured an auto by promising 50% more than the metered fare to reach home a good twenty minutes later than what we would have had he just taken the road. His London dream had been shattered. A few days later, when he met Ron, his old friend who is now a real estate professional but had earlier worked with the government on urban infrastructure planning, he expressed his disappointment. Ron smiled and said, 'Multiple agencies. No coordination.' What he meant was that in Mumbai, the Metro was a standalone authority whose scope of work ended at the metro station. The buses were run by BEST, for footpaths it was BMC, and to get a rickshaw rank installed outside the station, one needed the RTO and police permission. Bertie then asked about the low usage despite running through prime office areas in the city. 'The network effect will take some time to show,' said Ron. 'Currently, it's piecemeal. A part of one line getting operational.' That made sense to Bertie. 'But the important thing is that the metro line has to connect with Mumbai's local train stations to get usage. A line with no train station connections won't find many takers.' Ron sensed Bertie's sadness and, to cheer him up, said, 'Matter of time, my friend.' The disappointed commuter Bertie soon gave way to the astute investor, who is never far away. 'What does that mean for real estate prices, Ron?' he asked, hoping to discover a value buy; some far-flung area in the city which would become better connected due to the new metro and road network. Ron knew what Bertie was getting at but sidestepped directly answering it. 'In general, it will lead to equalization of travel time,' he said. 'Think of the city as a circle. When the network is fully ready, commute time for any point on the edge to any other point on the edge will cluster around a mean number.' Since the conversation, Bertie was seen drawing a circle around the city map of Mumbai and peering at the edges. Bertie is a Mumbai-based fund manager whose compliance department wishes him to cough twice before speaking and then decide not to say it after all.
The Print
10-05-2025
- The Print
Mumbai Metro 3 services from BKC to Worli begin
Earlier, Mumbai Metro Line 3, also known as Aqua Line, was only operational in the suburban stretch between JVLR Aarey and BKC, which was thrown open last year. Mumbai, May 10 (PTI) Services of the Mumbai Metro Line 3 from Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli became operational on Saturday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday flagged off the phase 2A stretch between BKC and Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli and announced that the final phase of the Metro Line 3 between Worli and Cuffe Parade in south Mumbai will become operational in August. A spokesperson of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRC) said the operations began at 6.30 am, and the first train departed from Worli Naka station, while another train departed from JVLR Aarey at the same time. He said the services will be operational from 6.30 am to 10.30 pm, except on Sunday, when trains will run from 8.30 am to 10.30 pm. One of the passengers who travelled in the morning from Shitaladevi station to Siddhivinayak Temple station posted on social media that there were hardly any commuters, as most people were unaware of extended operations. Phase 2A is 9.77 km long, and its tunnel has been built through the 'rockbed' underneath the Mithi River, officials said. It has six stations, including Dharavi, Shitaladevi, Dadar West, Siddhivinayak, Worli, and Acharya Atre Chowk. The underground corridor will provide metro connectivity to offices in the Worli, Lower Parel, and Prabhadevi areas from BKC, the biggest business hub in the city. It will also ease the commute to Siddhivinayak and Shitaladevi temples, Mahim Dargah, and recreational places such as Shivaji Park and Ravindra Natya Mandir. As per the MMRC, the minimum fare will be Rs 10, and the maximum fare will be Rs 40 for the journey in phase 2A of the underground corridor. For the travel between JVRL Aarey and Acharya Atre Chowk, passengers will have to shell out Rs 60. MMRC has planned 244 services on the corridor with eight Metro trains, and the travel time between BKC and Acharya Atre Chowk will be 15-20 minutes, while that between JVRL Aarey and Acharya Atre Chowk will be 36 minutes. The headway between two trains will be 6 minutes and 20 seconds. PTI KK ARU This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
