Latest news with #WTP
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Med camp for workers at treatment plant
Ludhiana: A health camp for workers was organised at the site of the water treatment plant (WTP) in Sahnewal's Bilga village Sunday. A total of 142 labourers/workers underwent general health and eye check-ups at the camp. The check-ups were done by a specialist team from community health centre, Sahnewal. It was led by doctors Kavita Kamal and Namrata. Ensuring full compliance with health and safety protocols, the initiative aimed to ensure the well-being of on-site workers through early diagnosis and preventive care. The camp was organised by the social safeguard and health and safety departments of Ludhiana Urban Water and Wastewater Management Ltd and the contractor firm. The world-class WTP is being set up as part of the World Bank-funded canal-based water supply project for Ludhiana city.
Business Standard
11-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
SPML Infra gains after securing Rs 385 crore jal jeevan mission contract
SPML Infra added 1.55% to Rs 278.75 after the company secured an Rs 385 crore contract under the Government of India's Jal Jeevan Mission. The project pertains to the Water Production & Supply System for the Kekri-Sarwar Sector Package-III in Ajmer, Rajasthan. It also includes a 10-year operation and maintenance (O&M) component, ensuring long-term engagement for the company. The Kekri Water Supply Scheme aims to upgrade and strengthen water supply infrastructure in the Kekri-Sarwar region, drawing water from the Bisalpur Dam. The project is expected to significantly enhance water production and distribution capabilities across the Ajmer district, supporting the government's goal of ensuring safe drinking water for every rural household. The comprehensive water infrastructure project is designed to significantly enhance regional water supply and management capabilities through a suite of strategically planned components. At the heart of the project is the establishment of a 160 MLD state-of-the-art Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at Kekri, engineered to meet stringent water quality standards and ensure safe potable water supply. Supporting this facility are two Clear Water Reservoirs (CWRs) with a total capacity of 37.75 MLDcomprising a 20 MLD reservoir at the Kekri WTP campus and a 17.75 MLD reservoir at the Intermediate Pumping Station (IPS) in Nasirabad. These reservoirs will play a critical role in maintaining a steady and reliable distribution system. To ensure efficient water conveyance, the project includes the laying and commissioning of a 58.675-kilometre Mild Steel (MS) pipeline, forming a Rising Main from the WTP in Kekri to the IPS in Nasirabad. This transmission network has been designed for resilience and long-term performance. A major highlight of the project is the integration of advanced technology, including the installation of high-capacity pumping systems, associated electrical and mechanical equipment, instrumentation, and a centralized SCADA system at the Kekri pump house. These systems will facilitate automated, real-time monitoring and operational control for improved efficiency and reduced downtime. The project also addresses infrastructure development, which includes the demolition of outdated structures and the construction of new office buildings and J-2 residential quarters, enhancing both operational and administrative capabilities on-site. To ensure sustained performance, the entire scheme will be backed by a comprehensive 10-year Operation and Maintenance (O&M) contract, guaranteeing long-term reliability and optimized functionality. Subhash Sethi, Chairman of SPML Infra, commented: "We are honoured to be selected for this prestigious project under the Jal Jeevan Mission. This new project represents not just a business milestone for SPML Infra, but also our commitment to supporting the Government's vision of providing safe and clean drinking water to every household in India. The Kekri-Sarwar water supply project will significantly enhance water security for the people of Rajasthan and demonstrates our capability to execute complex water infrastructure projects with cutting-edge technology. This project exemplifies our integrated approach to water infrastructure development, combining advanced technology, efficient distribution systems, and long-term operational excellence. With the 10-year O&M contract, we are committed to ensuring the system's optimal performance throughout its operational life. SPML Infra is engaged in the business of infrastructure development, which inter alia includes water management, water infrastructure development, wastewater treatment, power generation, transmission and distribution, solid waste management, and other civil infrastructure. The company reported consolidated net profit of Rs 12.01 crore in Q4 FY25 as against net loss of Rs 8.87 crore posted in Q4 FY24. Net sales tanked 59% year on year to Rs 189.03 crore in Q4 FY25.
The Star
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Work on Sg Rasau WTP project to resume this month
Aerial view of Sungai Rasau Water Treatment Plant in Taman Mas, Puchong following the embankment collapse on Sept 7 last year. — Filepic CONSTRUCTION work on the intake component for the Sungai Rasau Water Treatment Plant (WTP) project at Taman Mas in Puchong, Selangor, is set to restart this month. The project was halted due to an embankment collapse on Sept 7, 2024, prompting a stop-work order to assess the situation and implement additional safety measures. This order has now been lifted, according to Selangor infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Datuk Izham Hashim. He said the contractor was currently engaged in preliminary works, with mobilisation proceeding in phases. 'An independent consultant appointed by Air Selangor has completed the review on the repair works and the proposed new design for the collapsed embankment at the Sungai Rasau WTP intake, as submitted by the contractor,' he said at the Selangor State Assembly sitting at Bangunan Dewan Negeri Selangor in Shah Alam. The design improvements include the implementation of a cellular cofferdam or double wall, where the space between the walls will be filled with sand. Additionally, he said the project would utilise the latest design innovations, including a more robust 'flat web sheet pile', a technology imported from Japan. He added that works were expected to be completed by January next year. Izham said this in reply to Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PN-Sijangkang) who asked when the project would resume. According to Air Selangor, the Sungai Rasau WTP is part of the RM3.4bil allocated for the first out of two stages of the Rasau Water Supply Scheme that was expected to become Malaysia's largest and most advanced water treatment facility. Stage 1 would have the capacity to produce 700 million litres of clean water daily by the end of next year. It will substantially reduce risk from river pollution, provide flood mitigation and support growing demand, including from industrial and technology sectors. It would encompass nine former tin mining ponds covering 489ha, serving as the country's first dual-function off-river storage system. When completed, it will be capable of supplying water and mitigating floods, including in flood-prone areas of Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam. Stage 2 will begin development in 2027 and is expected to be fully completed by 2030.
The Star
01-07-2025
- The Star
More people are buying premium insurance with global travel disruptions
With flight cancellations, delays and other disruptions on the rise, leisure travellers are being increasingly discerning over the level and type of insurance they buy. Businesses, too, are turning to specialist advisory services to limit risk. Since 2019, travel disruptions around the world have risen due to everything from Covid-19, extreme weather, volcanic eruptions, military conflict, jet safety issues, computer glitches and fires which have closed airports, grounded planes and stranded millions of passengers. In the United States, ongoing air traffic controller shortages and ageing technology have caused significant disruption. In May, equipment outages, runway construction and staffing shortages caused flight cancellations, diversions and delays at Newark Liberty, one of the main airports serving New York City. Recently, Israel attacked Iran, forcing carriers to cancel or divert thousands of flights to avoid conflict in the Middle East. Even with insurance, many policies specify a multitude of exemptions in the fine print. As a result, more travellers are taking out higher-end insurance policies, often at higher premiums, to better protect themselves, according to interviews with nine travel executives, insurance companies and analysts. 'We're in times that are quite unstable so people are cancelling more frequently than previously,' said Duncan Greenfield-Turk, CEO of Global Travel Moments, a luxury travel agency based in London, England. European tourists have increased their purchases of travel insurance for this summer by 3% compared with last year, according to German insurer Allianz Partners. Squaremouth, the largest travel insurance marketplace in the US, has seen a 34% year-over-year increase globally in purchases of 'Cancel For Any Reason' protection. British and US holidaymakers in particular are more willing to pay a higher premium to protect their trip, said Anna Kofoed, the CEO of Travel for Allianz Partners. About 32% more travellers globally requested an insurance quote from January to April compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from online travel insurance broker InsureMyTrip. Seeking travel advice There has also been a rise in demand for bespoke travel advice as US president Donald Trump has announced a number of immigration-related restrictions including tighter visa vetting procedures and travel bans. World Travel Protection (WTP), a global firm that advises businesses on travel risk, said it has seen a rise in US residents being detained at US borders and told their documents were no longer valid as visa rules were changing. WTP has worked with US government representatives to help those individuals return home, according to Frank Harrison, the company's regional security director for the Americas. 'We're seeing a very strong uptick in organisations coming to us wanting to know how to navigate the landscape of the US within the wider business,' Harrison said. CIBT, which provides non-legal visa and immigration guidance, has seen a 50% rise in inquiries since November 2024 from companies seeking to better prepare their employees for travel to the US, according to CEO Steven Diehl. High-end insurance One of the newest areas of business is in parametric insurance, which pays compensation automatically after a 'trigger' event such as a flight delay without the need to file a claim. Parametric insurance took off in some countries during the Covid-19 pandemic and in recent months more insurers around the world have begun to offer it. When testing the market last year, Spanish insurer Mapfre's Mawdy unit in Ireland said about 11% more customers opted for higher-tier travel insurance packages when instant compensation was included. Travel destinations have also spotted an opportunity in this burgeoning market. Marriott Bonvoy's villa rentals and waterparks, for example, offer parametric weather insurance at the point of booking, automatically paying out on rainy days. Sensible Weather, one of the providers of such coverage, reported its weather guarantees were added to 30% of theme park bookings and 10-15% of higher-value accommodation bookings when they were offered in 2024. In March, Squaremouth launched a new insurance product with cruise-specific benefits such as coverage for being confined on a cruise ship or missing the port of call. 'Everyone is trying to make it easier for people to understand that each trip ... is going to have a different set of concerns whether it's hurricanes or blizzards or what's going on with air traffic controllers,' said Suzanne Morrow, CEO of online insurance broker InsureMyTrip. – Reuters
Forbes
30-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Enterprise SaaS Pricing Blind Spot: Why Willingness To Pay Is So Hard To Get Right
Vidhi Agrawal is the Director of Commercialization at Databricks . getty If there's one lever every SaaS company should pull harder, it's pricing. According to the Harvard Business Review , a 1% improvement in pricing can drive up to an 11% increase in profits. Yet nearly half of SaaS companies have never conducted a formal pricing study. Why? Because finding the answer to a deceptively simple question—'What will the customer pay?'—is much harder than it looks. Willingness to pay (WTP) is the maximum amount a customer is willing to spend on a product based on the value they perceive it provides. Sounds straightforward, right? You're willing to pay $10 for a slice of red velvet cake if it's as good as your friends tell you. If it's priced at $15, you might walk away. Pardon the pun, but your sweet spot for the piece of cake is pretty clear, and the stakes are pretty low. Though you might be a little sad, the success of your day will not be determined by that slice of red velvet. Now try that same exercise when the stakes are higher, when the decision could change the success, efficiency or profitability of your work. How much are you willing to pay for an enterprise SaaS platform with AI features, multi-cloud integration, compliance tooling and a six- to 12-month sales cycle? Suddenly, determining WTP becomes an exercise in ambiguity, negotiation and guesswork. Five Reasons WTP Is So Difficult In Enterprise SaaS After over a decade working in pricing and commercialization, I've seen five recurring friction points that make WTP especially elusive in B2B SaaS: 1. Too Many Cooks In The Kitchen In an enterprise deal, there are often many decision-makers, all with different motivations. Procurement wants to stay on budget. IT wants something scalable. Business users want it to be easy to use. This fragmented buying committee makes it hard to pin down a single perception of value. 2. Value Is Hard To Quantify Many SaaS platforms, especially those with AI or ML features, promise future value, but customers often struggle to assess what that means today. As one pricing strategist put it: 'Buyers don't know how to value what they can't yet measure.' Pricing strategist Emanuel Martonca said it best: WTP isn't a fixed figure: it shifts based on time, context and perception. A $200K product that seems too expensive today might suddenly feel like a bargain if new regulations make it mission-critical. 4. Customization Breaks The Model Products like Databricks or Snowflake scale dramatically, which can make per-unit pricing models unreliable. Every enterprise wants tailored deals, creating friction between price standardization and customer expectations. 5. Volatile Markets = Shifting Value Perception When OpenAI dropped prices on GPT-4o, for example, it forced entire pricing teams to reevaluate their value proposition overnight. WTP is never just about your product; it's also about what your competitors and the market are doing in real time. A Practical Playbook: How To Assess WTP When You're Not A Pricing Scientist While there are many academic methods for pricing studies, including conjoint analysis , Van Westendorp , Becker-DeGroot-Marschak (BDM), most enterprise SaaS companies don't have the luxury of time or resources to deploy them regularly. In my experience, the most effective pricing teams use a practical, data-informed approach tailored to real-world constraints. Here's a five-part playbook: 1. Start With Your Own Data Dig into realized prices, not just list prices. Look across customer segments, regions and usage tiers. What are customers actually paying, and where are the discounts deepest? Internal data is the lowest-hanging fruit and often the most underutilized. 2. Track Competitors Like A Hawk Competitor pricing changes are often the fastest way to reset customer expectations. Set up alerts. Study their feature launches. Understand not just their list prices but their actual deal terms. I personally keep daily tabs on primary competitors and check in less frequently on the rest. 3. Run Focused Customer Interviews Don't default to broad surveys. Instead, run targeted interviews with decision-makers across procurement, IT and the users. Focus on uncovering what success looks like for them to understand what they're willing to invest to get there. 4. Use Beta Pricing To Simulate Value One method I've seen work well is offering a short-term, bounded-use contract. For example: $100K for three months, up to X units. This lets you test price elasticity in a real-world context and set benchmarks for future deals. 5. Leverage Third-Party Signals Platforms like Gartner, G2 and niche analyst firms sometimes provide insight into what target customers are willing to pay. These aren't always available or cheap, but when used correctly, they can be a powerful way to triangulate internal data with broader market benchmarks. Don't Forget The Seller's POV While product teams debate pricing frameworks, sellers live in the reality of live deals. They're the ones fielding procurement calls, countering pricing objections and negotiating contracts. That's why every pricing team needs a tight feedback loop with sales. Instead of asking 'What would you pay for our tool?' sellers can ask, 'What's your budget to solve this problem?' The difference is subtle—but powerful. It reframes pricing around outcomes, not just cost. As Martonca notes, the concept of a 'fair price' is often more important than the cheapest price. Customers want to feel like they're paying appropriately for the value they're receiving. Pricing teams can help sellers frame that narrative and sellers, in turn, can help teams refine what 'value' really means in the field. Meaningful Pricing At the end of the day, getting to the right price is about understanding the value your product delivers, the perceptions that shape customer decisions and the dynamic context in which those decisions are made. WTP isn't a static figure pulled from a spreadsheet. It's a moving target informed by data, shaped by psychology and conversation. As product managers and pricing leaders, our job is to build the systems, feedback loops and field intelligence that help take the guesswork out of the equation. Forbes Business Development Council is an invitation-only community for sales and biz dev executives. Do I qualify?
