Latest news with #Vehicles
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
CAQM response to RTI: no study behind Delhi-NCR overage vehicle ban
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has acknowledged that it has not conducted any independent study or research on the pollution levels caused by so-called End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) vehicles -- diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol ones older than 15 years -- that have been banned in Delhi-NCR. Delhi government has filed a plea in the Supreme Court to review the 2018 blanket ban on overage vehicles. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo) In response to a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by environmental activist Amit Gupta, CAQM stated it had not undertaken any such analysis. To be sure, the body clarified that its policy was based on judicial directions, including the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) ruling in Vardhman Kaushik vs Union of India and the Supreme Court's order in MC Mehta vs Union of India. The ban on ELVs applies irrespective of the state in which a vehicle is registered. While CAQM had earlier ordered a fuel sale ban for ELVs at Delhi fuel stations starting July 1, it later postponed the implementation until October 31 following a Delhi government request. The government cited 'operational and infrastructural challenges' in enforcing the order on time. Delhi alone has over 6.2 million ELVs, including 4.1 million two-wheelers. Across NCR districts, an estimated 4.4 million such vehicles are estimated to be operational. CAQM's phased rollout plan involved using Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and the VAHAN database to identify banned vehicles, starting from November 1 in Delhi and five major NCR districts, and extending the system to the entire NCR by April 1 next year. However, the Delhi government has reported issues with the ANPR system, including software errors, misaligned cameras, faulty sensors, and lack of integration with adjoining states' databases. Amit Gupta criticised the lack of planning and called for a holistic strategy to combat pollution. 'The fight against pollution is not a one-day task. Vehicular emissions are just one part. We also need urgent action against dust, industrial pollution, and poor public transport. Even Delhi's system is not robust, and the rest of NCR is far worse,' he said. Both the Supreme Court and the NGT have previously criticised the delay in removing old, polluting vehicles from NCR roads. Meanwhile, the Delhi government has filed a plea in the Supreme Court to review the 2018 blanket ban on overage vehicles.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Vehicles can access Hull's biggest park again as its gates reopen
Vehicles can return to one of Hull's biggest parks after its traffic gates reopened following improvement Park's main gates on Holderness Road were closed to vehicles in 2020 during the Covid-19 had temporarily opened last month to meet demand but soon closed changes include increased and accessible parking, a new footpath with tactile paving, pedestrian crossings, and a new road layout. Hull City Council cabinet member Rob Pritchard said: "We would like to thank our park users for their patience and understanding while these works were completed and hope that they enjoy the improvements for many years to come." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
Economic Times
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Economic Times
Spark Minda teams up with Qualcomm to develop next-gen driver experience for Indian cars
Spark Minda teams up with Qualcomm Minda has collaborated with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to develop smart and advanced cockpit solutions for the Indian automotive market, the company announced on Wednesday. The flagship company of Spark Minda announced that it is designing a next-gen cockpit platform powered by the Snapdragon® Cockpit Platform from Qualcomm Technologies. The driver's compartment, designed under this collaboration, will be equipped to support rich multimedia experiences, AI-driven interfaces and seamless cloud integration enhancing the cockpit performance, digital user interface and vehicle connectivity for Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs). This cockpit platform enhances in-car experiences by delivering sophisticated displays, audio, computing and connectivity, making them more responsive and enjoyable, the company said. Also read: Qualcomm aims to diversify revenue base amid muted global smartphone growth The American company Qualcomm Technologies aims to redefine the in-vehicle experience for Indian consumers with this collaboration. "We are excited to collaborate with Spark Minda to deliver advanced, localized cockpit solutions tailored for India's evolving automotive landscape using our Snapdragon Cockpit aim to redefine the in-vehicle experience for Indian consumers, bringing innovation and connectivity to the next generation of vehicles," Savi Soin, Senior Vice President, India President, Qualcomm Technologies said.
Hans India
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Hans India
Flood alert issued across several districts in Nepal
Kathmandu: Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology issued a flood alert on Thursday, warning of elevated water levels in the small rivers across several districts. Although major rivers like Koshi, Narayani, Karnali, Mahakali, Kamala, Bagmati, and Rapti in Nepal are presently below critical levels, the threat of localised flooding persists, the local media reported. The districts, including Doti, Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur, Kailali, and nearby regions, are reportedly at risk of sudden floods due to a rise in water levels. Meanwhile, nine people have been confirmed to be dead in the flash floods that struck Nepal's Rasuwa district on Tuesday, according to Nepal Police. Additionally, the search operations for 19 people who have gone missing following the devastating flood are underway. The missing reportedly included 11 Nepali nationals, including two police personnel and six Chinese nationals. The devastating flood wrought destruction in Rasuwa prompting rescue and relief operations to assist those in the flood affected areas. 'We are fully deployed in the field. We rescued more than 150 individuals including 127 foreign nationals and airlifted to Kathmandu,' Nepal's leading newspaper the Kathmandu Post quoted Arjun Paudel, Chief District Officer of Rasuwa as saying. 'Electricity and telephone services are also disrupted in the area, making rescue and other operations difficult. We are currently maintaining limited communication through the Chinese border. Efforts are underway to restore telephone connectivity and resume electricity supply,' Paduel added. He also stated that more than 2000 people remain stranded due to flooding, with only a few days of food remaining. 'Efforts are now focused on delivering food, restoring power and communication lines, and continuing search and rescue operations,' said Paudel. The massive flood had also swept away the Nepal-China Friendship Bridge and several newly imported Electric Vehicles (EVs) parked at the dry port. Furthermore, the flood has extensively damaged four hydropower plants, while local officials report that the dry port has been nonfunctional. Reports suggest that the entire stretch of the Rasuwagadhi–Timure area is severely disrupted. Several road access points have been paralysed, and electricity, internet, and telephone services have been cut off since Tuesday.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Elektrobit launches lightweight software for smart ECUs to power future-ready SDVs
Global automotive software leader Elektrobit has launched EB tresos AutoCore Light, a streamlined and scalable software platform designed for smart, cost-efficient Electronic Control Units (ECUs) used in the next generation of Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs). AutoCore Light is aimed at peripheral ECUs such as smart sensors and actuators. It is built for seamless integration into zonal and domain-based architectures, allowing automakers to reduce development costs and system complexity. This innovation marks an important step in Elektrobit's strategy to offer flexible, modular software tailored to the demands of future mobility. Jagan Rajagopalan, Head of Strategy & Portfolio at Elektrobit Automotive GmbH, said the new platform provides a smart, efficient entry point for customers building future-ready software. He highlighted its modular, lightweight design as a move away from the traditional monolithic architecture. The platform supports signal-based communication and is compatible with resource-constrained microcontrollers, including Cortex M0+ and M4F. It is ASIL-B ready and CSMS certified, ensuring that it meets current automotive safety and cybersecurity standards . Additionally, optional extension packages such as J1939 and DLT can be added to address specific functional needs. Internal estimates suggest that AutoCore Light can help OEMs reduce costs associated with electrical/electronic architecture and R&D by up to 30 per cent compared to traditional AUTOSAR Basic implementations.
