Latest news with #MasterPlan
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Essex, Amherstburg officially open Co-An Park's new playground
As co-owners of the 40-acre Co-An Park in McGregor, Essex and Amherstburg jointly worked on a Master Plan for over two-years to map out a multi-year document to help guide future development of the park. That Master Plan was adopted by both municipal Councils last year. One of the outcomes of the Master Plan was to add a playground to the outdoor sports facility. After further collaboration between both municipalities, that playground has been installed. A ribbon cutting was hosted last Friday afternoon. 'Today is really exciting,' Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy said, while youths sat atop the slide, ready to head down to the bottom. Most importantly, the ribbon cutting was exciting for the families and children, who now get to enjoy the new playground facility. The new playground replaces an existing structure that was smaller and older. Staff and Council members of both municipalities, in addition to members of the Co-An Park Advisory Committee and the Town of Essex Accessibility Advisory Committee, took part in the ribbon cutting on Friday afternoon, officially opening the new playground. They all had a hand in developing the Master Plan. Bondy called it a 'bold plan that outlines thoughtful future improvements to this beloved park,' while prioritizing accessibility, inclusivity, recreation, and bringing people together. As part of developing the Master Plan, a public survey highlighted the desire to add a playground and splashpad, with administration noting previously that adding the latter feature will be more complex. 'This project is a true example of collaboration and action. Funded equally by the Town of Essex and the Town of Amherstburg, it reflects what we can do when we work together to accomplish a shared vision for our communities,' Bondy said. Adding the playground, Bondy commented, is one of the first steps in the implementation of action items set out in the Co-An Park Master Plan. She thanked the members of the Co-An Park Advisory Committee and the Town of Essex Accessibility Advisory Committee for their input and guidance. She also extended appreciation to New World Playground Solutions for providing the playground's design. In selecting the playground design, three companies, with each providing two designs, submitted to the process. Four of the six designs were ranked high enough to qualify for the public feedback portion. To obtain public input the Town of Essex held a two-week virtual vote in February, allowing the public to review and rank the four designs. Back in March, Essex Council awarded the Request for Proposal to design, supply, and install the playground equipment for Co-An Park to New World Park Solutions Inc in the amount of $389,791, with half of the cost coming from Amherstburg. That was after Essex put $200,000 aside for the playground. So too did Amherstburg. 'This playground is more than just slides, it is where families can come together, where friendships form, and where the community feels a little bit closer,' Bondy added. 'It is our duty to ensure these spaces are not only safe and fun, but accessible.' 'This is a really important playground,' Amherstburg Mayor Michale Prue added, also recognizing the work Amherstburg's Accessibility and Park committees contributed to the Master Plan. He acknowledged the park is not located in his municipality, but it is 'part of Amherstburg's soul.' He noted people on both sides of Walker Road in McGregor – the municipal boundary line – come and utilize this park. 'I'm really delighted how it has turned out,' he added, because he often says not enough is done for accessible groups. 'This playground is a testament to all of the people who worked on it. It is a testament to how many hours went into making sure every child – and I mean every child – has the opportunity to come out and play.' The park has sensory features and rubber matting. Prue hopes the facility will be well utilized. Co-An Park was established in 1977. The playground is added to the facility that already houses an array of amenities, such as six baseball diamonds, three soccer fields, two tennis courts, washrooms, pavilion and canteen, walking paths, and the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
We'll need 217 acres of TN land to expand Puducherry airport: Centre
PUDUCHERRY: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has prepared a comprehensive master plan for the expansion of Puducherry Airport, paving the way for the operation of larger aircraft, including the Airbus A-320, Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Rammohan Naidu, said in reply to a question raised by Puducherry Lok Sabha member V Vaithilingam. The plan includes extending the runway to 2,300 metres in length and 45 metres in width to handle larger flights, he said. As per the proposal, a total of 402 acres of additional land will be required for the expansion. Of this, 217 acres fall under the jurisdiction of Tamil Nadu, while the remaining 185 acres are located within Puducherry. The Master Plan has already been shared with the Government of Puducherry for further implementation. The runway alignment is being altered by a rotation of around 20 degrees in the master plan. This would facilitate the expansion of the present runway 1500 x 30 metres (which is capable of handling smaller aircrafts only) to get a total runway of 2,300x45 metres (suitable for operations of Airbus 321 and similar type of aircrafts). The reorientation would not require huge earth filling as required in the previous master plan and would save cost and prevent environmental issues, government sources said. Currently, Puducherry Airport offers flight services to only two destinations—Hyderabad and Bangalore. Following the repeal of the Air Corporation Act in March 1994, airlines now enjoy full freedom to expand operations, said the minister, answering another question on whether flights would be operated from Puducherry to Kochi and Shirdi. AAI is in the process of engaging a consultant for preparing a land plan schedule, which will be shared with the centre and UT for land acquisition.
Gizmodo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Gizmodo
After Years of Promises, Tesla Says Its Cheaper Car Is Actually on the Way
For nearly a decade, it has been the holy grail for Tesla fans and the key to its mainstream future: a truly affordable electric car for the masses. After years of promises, delays, and speculation, the company confirmed on Wednesday that the long-awaited cheaper Tesla is finally moving from myth to reality. In its Q2 2025 earnings release, Tesla stated, 'We continue to expand our vehicle offering, including first builds of a more affordable model in June, with volume production planned for the second half of 2025.' This is the most concrete evidence to date that what many have dubbed the 'Model 2' is in production. The confirmation sent a ripple of excitement through the market, suggesting Tesla is finally making good on a promise that dates back to Elon Musk's original 'Master Plan,' written in 2006. The so-called 'Model 2' has long been rumored as a smaller, mass-market vehicle for customers priced out of Tesla's current lineup. Speculation—never confirmed by Tesla—pegs its price at around $25,000, compared to the Model 3, the company's cheapest car, which starts at $42,500. However, the excitement was quickly tempered by the complex reality of Tesla's current business challenges. During the company's earnings call, CFO Vaibhav Taneja revealed that the rollout will be slower than initially hoped. The reason? A strategic choice to prioritize a last-minute sales blitz of its more expensive models before the $7,500 federal EV tax credit expires on September 30th. 'We started the production of the lower-cost model as planned in the first half of 2025,' Taneja told analysts. 'However, given our focus on building and delivering as many vehicles as possible in reverse, before the EV credit expires and the additional complexity of ramping a new product, the ramp will happen next quarter slower than initially expected.' Elon Musk provided a slightly more optimistic, if still distant, timeline, telling analysts, 'We'll be running with the more affordable models available for everyone in Q4.' He also sought to reassure investors that affordability would not come at the expense of profitability. 'The goal with those products was not to negatively impact revenue or gross margin, but just to make a car that everyone loves and wants at a more affordable price,' Musk said. Many Tesla fans were disappointed and quickly voiced their frustration on X, Musk's social platform. 'I don't understand why they are delaying it. Could they not initially sell it in other countries. Then it would show people in the US they can get a better car in Q3 for the same/better price as the cheaper car in Q4,' one user said. I don't understand why they are delaying it. Could they not initially sell it in other countries. Then it would show people in the US they can get a better car in Q3 for the same/better price as the cheaper car in Q4. — Craig Mouser (@mouser58907) July 24, 2025For a long time, Tesla's enormous market capitalization was based in part on the fact that the carmaker would produce a car that millions of people could afford. Last year, Musk suggested that Tesla had shelved its plans for an affordable model. The arrival of a cheaper Tesla could be a game-changer, unlocking a vast new market of buyers who have been priced out of the EV revolution. A successful launch could help Tesla combat slowing sales and increasing competition from Chinese automakers who have flooded the market with low-cost EVs. But major questions remain. While the company has not revealed official pricing or specifications, Musk offered a clue about the car's identity during the call, seemingly putting an end to years of 'Model 2' speculation. When asked about the new model, Musk quipped, 'It's just a Model Y. Let the cat out of the bag there.' This suggests the affordable car will be a simplified or stripped-down version of its best-selling SUV, rather than an entirely new vehicle built on a different platform. It's a more affordable take on the company's best-seller. 'I bet it uses the same body with scaled back features,' said Gene Munster, analyst at Deep Water Management. 'This is just like Apple does with the iPhone. But if it really looks just like the Y, it will cannibalize the Y. I have to think more about that trade off.' Musk says the new affordable model will 'look just like the Model Y.' My take: I bet it uses the same body with scaled back features. This is just like Apple does with the iPhone. But if it really looks just like the Y, it will cannibalize the Y. I have to think more about that… — Gene Munster (@munster_gene) July 23, 2025Still, the 'slower ramp' means that by the time this cheaper Model Y is available in significant numbers, the federal tax credit that could have made it even more affordable will be long gone. For Tesla, the stakes are enormous. Delivering a successful, profitable, mass-market vehicle would fulfill a core part of its founding mission. But after years of waiting, the company must now prove it can execute on its most important promise yet, all while navigating a more challenging and competitive landscape than ever before.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
AAI designs Master Plan for Puducherry Airport expansion
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has developed a Master Plan for Puducherry airport with the provision for operation of A-320 class of aircraft, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said in Parliament on Thursday (July 24, 2025). Responding to a question raised by Member of Parliament V. Vaithilingam on the status of expansion of the Puducherry airport, Mr. Naidu said that the AAI Master Plan envisaged an extended runway length of 2,300m and 45m width. The total additional land requirement will be 402 acres, out of which 217 acres are situated in Tamil Nadu and 185 acres are in Puducherry. The Master Plan has been shared with the Government of Puducherry, the Minister said. Responding to another part of the starred question, Mr. Mohan Naidu said the Puducherry airport was currently connected to Hyderabad and Bengaluru. To the MP's query on whether the Union government proposed measures for operating flights from Puducherry to Kochi and Shirdi in view of a large number of people travelling to these places, the Civil Aviation Minister said airlines were free to decide on markets/routes following the deregulation of the aviation sector in the country. 'With the repeal of Air Corporation Act in March 1994, the Indian domestic aviation has been deregulated. Airlines are free to induct capacity with any aircraft type, free to select whatever markets and network/route they wish to service, depending on their commercial and operational feasibility,' the Minister said in his reply.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Gujarat nears completion of statewide logistics master plan covering 8 key cities: Industries Minister
Gandhinagar: Gujarat is on the verge of finalising a comprehensive Logistics Master Plan for the entire state, including dedicated City Logistics Plans for eight major municipal corporations, said State Industries Minister Balvantsinh Rajput. During a review meeting of the Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB) held in Gandhinagar, the minister emphasised the state's commitment to align with national infrastructure goals and mentioned that projects exceeding Rs 500 crore, being implemented by Central agencies, are regularly monitored under the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) mechanism. GIDB acts as the nodal agency in Gujarat to facilitate and expedite resolution of such issues. Once completed, the master plan will help identify and improve industrial transport needs across the state, optimize goods movement, and support the development of a shelf of infrastructure projects. This initiative is seen as a critical step toward reducing logistics costs and boosting industrial competitiveness. The minister chaired a detailed review of GIDB's logistics and infrastructure planning initiatives. Minister Rajput urged officials to accelerate the completion of the City Logistics Master Plans for Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, and Junagadh. He also emphasised the creation of a Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) database to integrate logistics information across agencies and stakeholders. Further, he directed officers to ensure that Gujarat maintains a competitive position in the national LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States) rankings and continues proactive efforts to strengthen its logistics ecosystem. Highlighting the broader vision, the minister stated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Viksit Bharat@2047" initiative, Gujarat is moving in sync to realise the state's developmental goals. He credited Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's leadership for driving effective infrastructure planning aimed at lowering logistics costs and fast-tracking key infrastructure projects. GIDB's CEO, P. Swaroop, briefed the minister on various initiatives, including the PM Gati Shakti Gujarat plan, efforts to cut logistics expenditure, monitoring of critical infrastructure projects, and the development status of Special Investment Regions (SIRs).
