Latest news with #VenkatRao
Time of India
06-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
One tunnel under Bharatmala Pariyojana completed in Koraput
1 2 Koraput: One of the two state-of-the-art tunnels under construction in Koraput as part of the greenfield six-lane Raipur-Visakhapatnam economic corridor has been completed, marking a significant milestone in the ambitious Rs 16,000-crore Bharatmala Pariyojana project. The completed tunnel spanning 3.43 km and connecting Baraja to Kandili, is one of Odisha's first three-lane tunnels with a 16-metre diameter, said Venkat Rao, project director, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Koraput. The second tunnel, stretching 2.87 km between Kurli and Ampavalli under Sunki panchayat, is expected to be completed by Dec 2025. "These tunnels are built using the most advanced technology in the country and are equipped with ventilators, modern lighting, safety systems, high-resolution surveillance cameras, footpath and traffic signages among others to ensure commuter safety," Rao added. Official sources said out of the 124-km stretch passing through Koraput district over 90 per cent of which is already complete, the tunnel segment is integral to ensuring smooth travel across the hilly terrain. The corridor, being developed by NHAI, will dramatically cut travel time and distance between Raipur (Chhattisgarh) and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) from the current 594 km to 464 km and travel time from 14 hours to just six. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Woman sells ring given by ex, then jeweler tells her 'This can't be true' Daily Sport X Undo The Koraput section alone has six access points at Kaliagura, Benasur, Tala, Lunguri, Kunduli, and Baraja. Once completed, travel time from Koraput to Visakhapatnam will drop from seven hours to under two, and Koraput to Raipur from 10 hours to under four. Officials said the entire Koraput segment is on track for completion by Jan 2026. Beyond Koraput, the highway will traverse 116 km through Nabarangpur district at an estimated cost of Rs 3,159 crore. Other portions include 125 km in Chhattisgarh and 100 km in Andhra Pradesh. To enhance commuter convenience, world-class wayside amenities are being developed every 50 km, including food courts, restaurants, fuel stations, vehicle repair shops, 24x7 medical clinics, EV charging points, and hygienic restrooms.
Forbes
27-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Sales Is Not A Department—It's A Mindset
Venkat Rao: VP and Country Head—Asia-Pac & Japan at Pitney Bowes | Stanford Seed Consultant. In our current hyperconnected and experience-driven economy, the boundaries of functions inside organizations are blurring—especially when it comes to customer engagement. There was an era where 'sales' belonged to a particular department. But that's not always the reality anymore. I've noticed that successful companies today treat every employee as a contributor to sales, because every interaction shapes the customer experience—and the ultimate driver of growth is the customer experience. The New Sales Reality Modern buyers are often well informed and selective, and they have more experience searching than ever before. The decision-making process to engage, buy or renew is not just shaped by a pitch or demo, but also by factors like: • Intuitiveness of the product (the responsibility of the product team) • Ease of managing billing issues (responsibility of the finance team) • How thoughtfully a support agent responds (responsibility of the customer success team) • Streamlined onboarding processes (responsibility of the operations team) And for attracting new employees, even how brand-aligned the hiring process feels (a responsibility of the HR team) makes a difference. In this reality, sales becomes everyone's job—because everyone is selling trust and not because everyone is selling product. Why It Matters Customers don't experience your company through silos. The experience is holistic, meaning a missed delivery or a delayed or inaccurate invoice can directly impact the customer perception as much as a missed sales follow-up. It is a brand promise built or broken. Alignment often improves when all functions have a common understanding of the customer journey. Product prioritizes what matters most. Finance communicates with empathy. Support feels empowered. Consistent, cohesive customer outcomes are often a result of cross-functional clarity. I've found the more agile and resilient teams are often those that embrace a customer-first, sales-minded culture. These teams anticipate customer needs, proactively solving problems and championing customer impact. They are seldom seen waiting for escalations. The Sales Mindset: How To Make It Real Across The Organization Culture cascades from the top. Executives and managers must model the mindset. The voice of clients (VOC) should be discussed in every meeting and show up in client calls. Don't limit customer insights to the sales and support teams. Client metrics like net promoter scores (NPS), customer journey maps and client testimonials should be shared across various functions and audiences. Let engineers hear the voice of the customer. Let finance understand how their timelines impact retention. Articulate the role of individuals and various functions in the bigger picture. Not everyone needs to know sales techniques—but everyone can benefit from training in active listening, clear communication and emotional intelligence. These 'soft skills' are now hard requirements in customer-driven organizations. Customer experience KPIs should be embedded across departments. Here are some examples: • Product: Percent of roadmap linked to client feedback • Finance: Billing issue resolution time • HR: Employee engagement tied to customer impact Celebrate moments when someone outside the sales team made a difference. For example, the development team can show enthusiasm for a client pitch about product features. Culture is built through recognition—and this is particularly important for the leadership team. The Outcome: Customer-Led Growth Organizations that make 'everyone is in sales' more than a slogan could see powerful results, such as increased loyalty and advocacy and more collaborative and purpose-driven teams as up-selling, cross-selling and renewal becomes the order of the day. In summary, it's trust—not transactions—that define sales. And every interaction has the power to reinforce or build the trust—whether that interaction is with a customer, prospect or partner. So, the point to ponder is: Does our organization simply have a sales department, or is sales a companywide mindset? Because in this era, every interaction counts. Every employee matters. And every employee, in one way or another, is in sales. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Hans India
01-06-2025
- Health
- Hans India
SP inaugurates renovated police hospital
Tirupati: SP Harshavardan Raju on Saturday inaugurated the renovated police hospital in Tirupati. The hospital was renovated with an outlay of Rs 8 lakh adding more facilities to provide medical care to policemen and their families working in Tirupati district. The SP said maintaining good health is essential for policemen to perform their duties actively. The renovated hospital will help police health requirements. It has a full pledged lab to take up 13 tests and X-Ray facilities. ASPs Venkat Rao, Srinivas Rao, Hospital Doctor Dr Madhuri, DSPs Bhakthavatsalam, Srinivasa Rao, Syam Sundar, Ramakrishnachari were also present.
New Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
'A direct threat to constitutional freedoms..': New Code of Conduct at Pondicherry University triggers student backlash
The release of Pondicherry University Disciplinary Rules and Code of Conduct for Students, has ignited a wave of protests among the student community. The code was formally notified on May 24, 2025. Issued under Statutes 8(1) and 30 of the Pondicherry University Act, 1985, the new regulations aim to enforce stricter discipline but have drawn criticism for being authoritarian and vague. The code, which applies to all Regular, Part-time, Distance, and Online Learning students, outlines penalties for a range of infractions. These include fines of up to Rs 6,000 for 'acts of moral turpitude' and up to Rs 10,000 for participating in protests—including hunger strikes, sit-ins, and group bargaining—within 100 metres of any academic or administrative building. Repeat offenders may face eviction from hostels for up to two semesters. The university administration insists the regulations are in line with standards followed by other Central universities. 'The code is intended to maintain discipline and a healthy academic environment,' said Y. Venkat Rao, Dean of Student Welfare (DSW), adding that the university is now utilizing a provision from the Pondicherry University Act, 1985, which had remained dormant for decades. Rao emphasized that the Proctorial Board's composition includes representatives from minority communities, women, and the Northeast region. 'We've ensured due process and natural justice in the disciplinary framework,' he added. However, the Students' Council of Pondicherry University and a coalition of student organizations under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) have condemned the regulations as authoritarian. The Students' Council, in its own statement titled 'Resist the Fascist Onslaught', alleged that the code introduces undefined moral standards that could be used to target dissenting voices. They raised concerns about the broad and ambiguous language used, such as 'decorous behaviour' and 'acts lowering the status of the university.' In a joint statement, the JAC—comprising ASA, AISF, BSF, Fraternity Movement, MSF, NSUI, and SIO—called the move 'a blueprint for administrative overreach and the silencing of dissent.' 'This is not a mere disciplinary code, but a direct threat to constitutional freedoms and democratic engagement on campus,' said in the JAC statement.
Hans India
29-05-2025
- Climate
- Hans India
Pre-monsoon works face hiccups as water logging grips parts of city
Hyderabad: With the onset of monsoon, the city is witnessing heavy water logging, thanks to the incomplete pre-monsoon preparations. The residents alleged that officials had ignored the seriousness of water logging and had taken no step to prevent the water inundation in localities. Despite repeated warnings and past experiences of flooding of various areas across the city, the monsoon related work appears to be moving at a slow pace. There was no proper desilting of manholes, storm water drains, and nalas which can prevent water logging. In several areas, there was no desilting and if completed following the heavy rains, heaps of desilted mud remained uncleared from the roads. Though the civic body has taken measures to ensure that no rainwater to be inundated, it has been observed that the roads were blocked due to water logging. According to activists, the status of monsoon-related works including desilting and works under the Telangana government's Strategic Nala Development Program (SNDP) in GHMC limits is still underway and nowhere near completion, despite passing the deadline. 'A brief 15-minute downpour is leaving parts of main roads in knee-deep water, which exposed the unpreparedness for the monsoon season,' said Mohammed Ahmed, an activist. Activists said that construction activities must cease during the season. However, the works are continuing in different parts of the city, posing risks to drivers during heavy rainfall, as the entire stretch where the works are going on are dug up, and filled with potholes. Venkat Rao a resident of Surya Nagar colony in Shaikpet said, 'During heavy rainfall, numerous internal roads within our locality see severe water logging, with water levels rising up to the knees. It is a challenge for us in accessing the main road. In these flooded streets, we found ourselves stranded in the middle of a submerged road, unable to proceed further in our vehicles.' During rains, various areas in the city are witnessing water logging including the worst affected colonies in Tolichowki, Attapur, LB Nagar, Uppal, Begumpet, Kukatpally, Miyapur, Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, Vanasthalipuram, Hayath Nagar, Somajiguda, Ameerpet, Nampally, among others. These areas have been witnessing massive flooding during rains. Also, several localities in the Old City like Talabkatta, Tadbun, Yakutpura, Dabeerpura, Darulshifa, Bahadurpura and Old Malakpet. Moreover, the GHMC identified over 141 locations that are affected by water logging and measures were taken to address the issue permanently.
