Latest news with #LoI
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
BMC selects RIL to develop open spaces along Coastal Road
Mumbai: Nearly a year after Mumbai's Coastal Road was opened to traffic, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has selected Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) to develop 53 hectares of reclaimed open space along the road. The company will take at least three to four months to prepare a plan, following which work on realising new open spaces along the road from Priyadarshini Park to Worli will commence, said sources in the civic body. On Thursday, BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani signed the letter of intent (LoI) outlining terms of the deal between BMC and RIL. 'Reliance was one of the companies that evinced interest in developing open spaces along the entire stretch of the Coastal Road,' said Gagrani. Another official from the Coastal Road department said RIL was the only firm that met the requirements specified in the call for expressions of interest (EOI). 'It was also the only company that had experience in developing such a large tract of open space,' the official said. The company will take at least 3-4 months to revert to the BMC with a design, said Gagrani. 'We will approve the design after discussions, perhaps involving external landscape architects,' he mentioned. HT reached out to RIL for comments on the development, but did not get any response from the company. Initially, the BMC had planned to develop open spaces along the ₹13,000-crore Coastal Road of its own accord. The plan was rolled back due to estimated additional expenditure of ₹400 crore and increased capital expenditure on big ticket projects including north-ward extension of the Coastal Road. In January this year, the civic body issued a call for expressions of interest (EoI) to develop and maintain the open spaces for a period of 30 years, extendable by another 30 years. The open spaces would include gardens, parks, waterbodies, and cycle and pedestrian walkways, and commercial activities would be allowed subject to permission from the Supreme Court, the EoI mentioned. The move to allow commercial activities subject to court approval irked many Mumbaikars, who saw it as a bid to privatise these spaces. Meanwhile, an online petition seeking an urban forest all along the Coastal Road has garnered over 40,000 signatures. Nandini Chabria, a member of the core team behind the proposal to create the urban forest, said the 53-hectare open space could be divided into three zones. The seaward side could have wind-breaker and salt-tolerant trees like Kewda, Sultan Champa, and Powderpuff mangrove while the side adjacent to the carriageway could have evergreen and deciduous trees like Jamun, Bakul and Amaltas. The zone in the middle could have shade-giving trees and flowering shrubs to attract butterflies, she said. 'This is a rare opportunity for us to turn the open space into a rich, climate-smart green zone,' said Chabria. 'Rising temperatures in the city, increase in sea levels and deteriorating air quality warrant the development of such a zone.' While the proposal was submitted to the BMC this week, municipal commissioner Gagrani said it would 'definitely be considered' while finalising the plan for the open space. Half hectare excluded A little over half a hectare – equivalent to the size of a football field – has been left out of the 53-hectare open space that will be developed and maintained by RIL. This includes the 3,000 sqm and 2,300 sqm sought by the Breach Candy Club and the Breach Candy Hospital, respectively. Both institutions claimed the portions fell within the area between the high tide line and the low tide line, and they had gone underwater over time. The hospital has been given its share as per instructions from the collector as it holds the lease for the reclaimed portion and wants to convert it into a parking lot. The Breach Candy club, which also owns the reclaimed portion it had sought, are still in the process of claiming it. 'Though these portions have been excluded from the open space, no built-up construction will be allowed on them due to the existing reservations on the plots,' said an official from the Coastal Road department. These portions would likely be out of bounds for the public, the official added.
News18
16 hours ago
- Business
- News18
Google, Starlink To Boost India's Digital Infrastructure? Exclusive From Govt Sources
Last Updated: News18 has exclusively accessed the Centre's approval letter to Starlink. News18 spoke to senior government sources on what the developments could mean for India India's digital infrastructure is set to get a boost. While Google plans to set up a key data centre in India, Starlink has received a licence authorisation for its services in the country. News18 has exclusively accessed the Centre's approval letter to Starlink. News18 spoke to senior government sources on what this could mean for India. 'Any Internet connectivity is good. Look at the amount of data India consumes. In such a scenario, a Google data centre could easily improve services and reduce the costing, which is great news," sources said. 'Apart from costing and connectivity, such a move would also boost India's global image as an international digital hub. The improvement in global sentiment always works in favour of the country," said sources. Mumbai, Kochi and Chennai have cable landing centres. The move would reinforce India's role as a key market for Google's AI and cloud growth strategy. 'Data centre will need land. Cables in Mumbai and Kochi would be key to provide services to South Asia." However, sources said the licensing provisions need to be thrashed out. 'Security should be taken into consideration. India could put a cap in case of cyber attack or a clause seeking cooperation." Earlier, reports had stated that Google was reportedly close to acquiring a 22.5-acre plot in Navi Mumbai to develop its first self-built data centre in the country. This expansion had come in the wake of Google strengthening its commitment to supporting the rapid adoption of AI and cloud technologies in India. The LoI granted: 'Unified License with authorizations for VSAT(National Area), ISP A(National Area) and GMPCS (National Area) on non-exclusive basis subject to the guidelines of Unified License dated 17.01.2022 and as amended from time to time". 'The Letter of Intent (Lol) is being issued based on the information/certificate submitted by your application ID UL20221041 dated 08.02.2024 and UL 20210651 dated 14.10.2022 with the condition that at a later date if the information/certificate is found wrong or misleading, the license shall be liable to be terminated. Further, if the information/ certificate/ undertaking being submitted by the company along with the compliance of the Lol, is found wrong or misleading at a later date, then also, the license shall be liable to be terminated or any other action as deemed fit by the licensor," it said. First Published:
Barnama
3 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Indonesia, France To Sign Defence Deal During Macron's Visit
By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar JAKARTA, May 28 (Bernama) -- Indonesia and France seek to deepen their strategic defence ties with the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) during French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Jakarta on Wednesday, officials said. The agreement aims to expand cooperation in defence, particularly in the area of strategic weapons systems, Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said in a statement after welcoming Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron. bootstrap slideshow 'We will be enhancing defence cooperation, especially in relation to strategic defence equipment,' Sjafrie said. As part of his three-day visit ending on Thursday, Macron is scheduled to travel to the Military Academy in Magelang, Central Java, where he will inspect French language training facilities for Indonesian military personnel. 'He will visit the French language laboratory used by soldiers, officers, and non-commissioned officers of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). Many of them are already fluent,' Sjafrie added. Macron's aircraft touched down in Jakarta at around 10 am local time on Tuesday and was received with a ceremonial welcome. His visit marks a renewed effort to boost bilateral ties across key strategic sectors, with defence high on the agenda. -- BERNAMA
India Today
4 days ago
- Business
- India Today
15 foreign universities to set up campuses in India this academic year
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday announced that as many as 15 international universities are gearing up to set up campuses in India in the current academic year, with a special focus on STEM disciplines—Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Biomedical Sciences (STEMB).Among them, the University of Liverpool has officially been granted permission by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to open its campus in Bengaluru. The formal Letter of Intent (LoI) was handed over to university officials at a ceremony in New Delhi, presided over by Minister makes the University of Liverpool the second international institution to receive LoI status under the UGC's 2023 guidelines for the establishment and operation of foreign higher educational institution campuses in India. The first LoI was issued to the University of Southampton last year, which is also expected to launch its India campus soon. Founded in 1881 and a member of the prestigious Russell Group, the University of Liverpool is the fourth foreign institution to publicly declare its intention to operate in to Minister Pradhan, this movement aligns with the vision of transforming India into a "Viksit Bharat" (developed India) by 2047. He reiterated that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 provides the framework for this transformation, emphasising a globally oriented and future-ready education system aimed at developing global PARTNERSHIPSadvertisementDuring the LoI event, three key Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with notable organisations such as AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited, YouWeCan, Dream11, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). These collaborations aim to drive innovation and create mutually beneficial academic and industry on the occasion, Vineet Joshi, Interim Chairperson of UGC and Secretary of Higher Education, said the LoI represents more than just a procedural milestone. 'It signals a broader transformation in India's higher education sector—anchored in strategic reforms, international collaboration, and a robust policy framework,' he global institutions recognising the potential of India's academic ecosystem, the country's ambition of becoming a global hub for education seems increasingly within Watch
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
University of Liverpool Indian campus to be established in Bengaluru
The United Kingdom's University of Liverpool received formal approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday to open its Indian campus in Bengaluru, becoming the second foreign university to receive a Letter of Intent (LoI) from the UGC to set up a campus in India under UGC (Setting Up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023 after the University of Southampton. The University of Liverpool will initially offer programs in business management, accounting and finance, computer science, biomedical sciences, and game design, and is scheduled to welcome its inaugural cohort of undergraduate and postgraduate students in August 2026, . Speaking at an event in New Delhi to formally hand over LoI to the University of Liverpool, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said this LoI reaffirms India's emergence as a trusted partner in global higher education as envisioned under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Pradhan said that the University of Liverpool is the fourth foreign university to publicly announce its presence in India. Two Australian Universities -- Deakin University and University of Wollongong-- have started their academic programmes at their Indian campuses in GIFT City of Gandhinagar, Gujarat. These two universities do not come under UGC regulations and are governed by 'International Financial Services Centres Authority (setting up and operation of international branch campuses and offshore education centres) regulations, 2022' notified by International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) – a central regulator for financial products, services and institutions – based in Gujarat. UK's University of Southampton which became the first foreign university to receive UGC approval for setting up campus in India in August last year under the 2023 regulations, is set to commence operations in August at its Indian campus in Gurugram's Sector 29. Speaking to the media after the event, Pradhan said that after receiving approvals from UGC, the foreign universities will be setting up their campuses in Lucknow, Gurugram, Greater Noida, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Bengaluru. As per UGC regulations, foreign universities intending to set up campuses in India must be ranked within the top 500 globally, either in overall or subject-specific rankings. In the QS World University Rankings 2025, the University of Liverpool holds the 165th position globally, thereby meeting the eligibility criteria. Professor Tim Jones, vice-chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said that the varsity decided to set up its campus in Bengaluru due to its partnerships and collaborations with various institutes located in Bengaluru. 'For 20 years, we have been working on various joint research projects with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru. Recently, we started collaborations with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. We closely work with Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) in Liverpool, but now increasingly in Bengaluru. So, it is a very natural location for the university to establish a campus there,' he said.
