Latest news with #QUAD
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Thiruvananthapuram: Technopark invites ₹381 crore tender for IT building under 'QUAD' project
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : The Technopark on Wednesday said that it has invited a composite tender of around Rs 381 crore for the construction of the first IT office building under its integrated IT micro-township project 'QUAD' to be developed at its Phase IV (Technocity) campus near Pallippuram here. This state-of-the-art IT building will span 8.5 lakh square feet, comprising two basements and nine floors, with dedicated IT office spaces and a rooftop cafeteria, the Technopark release said. The basements are designated for parking and utility services, while the upper floors will host office modules tailored for tech companies, it said. The tender is being floated under a two-bid system consisting of prequalification and techno-commercial bid and the estimated project cost is Rs 380.08 crore, it said. The project work will consist of civil and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) works, and the contract period is set at three years, the release said. "A pre-bid meeting will be held on June 10 at 11.30 am at Park Centre, Technopark Phase I campus. Minutes of the meeting will be published on the e-tender portal within two days. "The last date for tender submission is June 25, 2025, at 5 pm, and the bids will be opened on June 26, 2025, at 5.10 pm. The bid validity period is 150 days from the opening of the techno-commercial bid," it said. Designed to be self-sufficient, the building will include a full array of services, including transformers, 100 per cent DG backup, integrated building management system, firefighting systems, sewage treatment plant, and high-side air-conditioning up to tenant space, it said. Besides fully automated systems like robotic cleaning, it will also have the most advanced security surveillance system and access control, the release said. The building will also have parking facilities that will accommodate 465 cars and 348 two-wheelers across the basements and surface areas, and it will emphasise sustainability and energy efficiency, through natural day-lighting, LED lighting, stormwater management and water recycling, it said. "The building aims to secure a Gold Rating under the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) as per the 2019 new building rating system. "Construction will adhere to IGBC guidelines, including sustainable practices, use of eco-friendly materials, and energy-and water-efficient systems to ensure quality, environmental safety, and performance," the release said.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Tenders invited for first building of Technopark Phase 4
The 'QUAD' integrated IT micro-township project on the Technopark Phase 4 (Technocity) campus at Pallippuram is set to take off with the park authorities inviting composite tenders for the construction of the first IT office under the project. The IT building is proposed to span over 8.5 lakh square feet with nine floors of IT office spaces and two basement floors for parking and utility services. The estimated project cost is ₹380.08 crore with the contract period set at three years. The building will be equipped with sewage treatment plants, robotic cleaning, LED lighting, water recycling and advanced security surveillance system and access control. A pre-bid meeting will be held on June 10 at 11.30 a.m. at Park Centre, Technopark Phase I campus. Minutes of the meeting will be published on the e-tender portal within two days.
Express Tribune
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Reassessing nuclear deterrence in South Asia
Listen to article In the wake of the Pahalgam incident on 22 April that killed 26 Indian tourists, the tension between Pakistan and India intensified. On 7 May, India attacked some 6 sites of Pakistan, primarily villages in Punjab and Azad Kashmir, which reportedly killed 31 and injured more than 50 noncombatants. It is reported by many credible national and international sources that Pakistan in retaliation shot down at least 5 Indian jets that included 3 state-of-the-art Rafale aircraft. Neither side crossed each other's airspace while attacking each other despite the border contingency. However, India continued to hit Pakistan, sending more than 70 Israeli-made Harop drones. Pakistan claimed to have shot all of them down. The question is: why has India under the pretext of terrorism been looking for preventive strikes below the nuclear threshold and what does it mean for broader South Asian strategic stability? Although the two South Asian nuclear rivals are not aiming for a large-scale war after going nuclear, many argue that India, which is many times stronger than Pakistan in terms of conventional force, has aggressively been looking for space to wage a limited war under the nuclear overhang. India is undertaking a dangerous shift in the South Asian deterrence dynamics, thereby practising coercive strategy against Pakistan. Out of frustration, it has crossed such a dangerous threshold many times with expected retaliation. Primarily, there are multiple reasons: One, India has been modernising both its conventional and nuclear force capabilities by having a growing strategic partnership with several international players such as the US, Israel, France and Russia. Two, India with its growing strategic partnership with the US especially being in the QUAD for containment of China has developed a hubris which can be blind, dangerous and short-lived particularly against a nuclear rival. Therefore, India in dangerous confidence is cashing out on this opportunity against Pakistan for preventive strike without producing credible evidence and/or without even caring much about international norms and values. It is also dangerously replicating Israeli policies in South Asia. Three, India while following the Chanakian principles poses to be the hegemon of the broader South Asian region. It aspires to have escalation dominance, and would continue to undermine the nuclear threshold. In a dangerous precedent, it could opt for more preventive strikes against Pakistan for any inevitable crisis largely orchestrated by India. Four, it is always tempted to undermine Pakistan's policy of credible minimum deterrence and its doctrinal posture of full spectrum deterrence falling within the ambit of minimum deterrence. Pakistan's nuclear policy is largely misperceived by many Indian analysts, including Happymon Jacob in his recent piece in The Hindustan Times. Either Jacob badly lacks a conceptual understanding on nuclear strategy or misreads the evolving events between India and Pakistan, as follow: a) Amidst the escalatory conflict between the South Asian nuclear rivals, India targeted a few Pakistani airbases and hit and damaged the Neelum Jhelum hydropower project, prompting Pakistan to retaliate in somewhat similar pattern to restore deterrence. Nevertheless, India became cautious not to further escalate given the fear of escalation to a nuclear level. b) Exercising greater restraint being a responsible nuclear state, Pakistan continues to keep its conventional and nuclear deterrence intact against its potential adversary. Pakistan's nuclear forces bolstered with sophisticated delivery systems along with production of effective strategic countermeasures have become a reality that the adversary cannot escape away. Given such reality, the Indian security leadership may think many times before escalating the crisis up the ladder. On the one hand, Pakistan should have the following imperatives: 1) It should continue to demonstrate being a confident and responsible state, practising a full spectrum deterrence falling within the ambit of credible minimum deterrence specific to India. 2) It should continue to modernise its retaliatory capabilities as part of effective countermeasures largely supported by emerging technologies. This is for restoring deterrence and broader strategic stability in South Asia. 3) It should continue to develop strategies by plugging the gaps that India has been exploiting to the best of its tactical and strategic advantages. 4) It needs to engage with leading international and regional players for crisis management and ultimately conflict resolution of all outstanding issues including the core issue of Kashmir. The unresolved Kashmir issue has been a nuclear flashpoint. Unless it is resolved, crises in South Asia are inevitable. 5) Despite India's hubris and rejection of the proposed strategic restraint regime in South Asia, Pakistan needs to urge India on such an imperative through both diplomatic and political channels. On the other hand, the international community, especially the US, needs to: i) practice a balancing strategy in South Asia, as siding with one against the other is not a viable strategy which may not only harm their own geopolitical and geo-economic interests, but also threatens more serious crises in South Asia; ii) exercise its influence over India to potentially avoid its hubris and temptation for preventive strikes that accidently could escalate to dangerous level, as it is not in the best interest of India itself; c) convince India that in the absence of direct talks with Pakistan and without producing credible evidence to any undesirable episode, it cannot simply make terrorism a pretext to preempt Pakistan; and, d) be itself unequivocally clear that two nuclear powers should never fight given the danger and wider implications of the use of nuclear forces. Unfortunately, Indian security leadership appears to be crossing such thresholds, undermining the broader South Asian strategic stability.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Japan's speaker expresses his country's full cooperation to India in fighting terrorism
The Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, Nukaga Fukushiro, conveyed his country's full cooperation to India in fighting terrorism as he condemned the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians, mostly tourists, dead. On a visit to India, Mr. Fukushiro held bilateral talks with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla as he expressed solidarity with India in eradicating terrorism, according to an official statement. In the current global scenario, the friendship between India and Japan is essential for global peace, prosperity and stability, Mhe Fukushiro. It said, 'The speaker of Japan assured the Speaker of Lok Sabha, Om Birla, of Japan's full cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Japan stands with India in this regard.' Terrorism is such a global challenge that all democratic countries will have to come together to eliminate it, Mr. Birla said. In the current global scenario, the friendship between India and Japan is essential for global peace, prosperity and stability, he said. 'We have common concerns and shared thinking on regional and global issues.' Mr. Birla noted the two countries were partners in many multilateral forums such as QUAD, G20 and the International Solar Alliance and that their relations were based on mutual understanding, which is extremely important for co-beneficial progress as well as peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The Lok Sabha speaker said India and Japan had a shared heritage of culture, traditions and spirituality. Every year, a large number of Japanese tourists and pilgrims come to India and visit places related to Buddhism and it has promoted people-to-people connect between the two countries, he added.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Japanese Speaker Nukaga Fukushiro expresses his country's full cooperation to India in fighting terrorism
Nukaga Fukushiro, Japan's Speaker, pledged support to India in combating terrorism following the Pahalgam attack. He met with Om Birla, Lok Sabha Speaker, to discuss bilateral cooperation. Both leaders emphasized the importance of India-Japan friendship for global peace. They highlighted shared values and collaboration in forums like QUAD and G20. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Nukaga Fukushiro , conveyed his country's full cooperation to India in fighting terrorism as he condemned the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians, mostly tourists, a visit to India, Fukushiro held bilateral talks with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla as he expressed solidarity with India in eradicating terrorism, according to an official said, "The speaker of Japan assured the Speaker of Lok Sabha, Om Birla, of Japan's full cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Japan stands with India in this regard."Terrorism is such a global challenge that all democratic countries will have to come together to eliminate it, Birla the current global scenario, the friendship between India and Japan is essential for global peace, prosperity and stability, he said. "We have common concerns and shared thinking on regional and global issues."Birla noted the two countries were partners in many multilateral forums such as QUAD , G20 and the International Solar Alliance and that their relations were based on mutual understanding, which is extremely important for co-beneficial progress as well as peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Lok Sabha speaker said India and Japan had a shared heritage of culture, traditions and year, a large number of Japanese tourists and pilgrims come to India and visit places related to Buddhism and it has promoted people-to-people connect between the two countries, he added.
