Category Archives: Records, All

Anthem to set up operations in city

Business & Economy, Records, All, World Opinion

Healthcare services provider to have a 2.5 lakh sq ft facility, employ 2,000 employees

Leading healthcare services provider globally, Anthem has chosen Hyderabad to set up its operations, a release from the office of Industries and IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao said on Thursday.

The company has announced a major presence in the city with 250,000 sq ft of space in an SEZ. The proposed facility will employ about 2,000 employees. Founded in the 1940s and headquartered in Indianapolis, US, the company had revenues of $ 90 billion in 2017.

The release said United Healthcare Group (UHG), the largest firm in the healthcare services sector, has the biggest Indian presence in Hyderabad. It has expanded significantly over the last four years consuming over 830,000 sq ft in the city.

On the Innovation front, tech start-up incubator T-Hub — HealthTech which is one of its seven thrust areas — has recently partnered with Australian MedTech entrepreneurs for cross border growth with the government of Victoria providing a grant of AUS $ 80,000, the release said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – September 28th, 2018

Dubai firm acquires Hyderabad-based bus-shuttle app Commut

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Commut was the brainchild of six IIIT-H alumni

Hyderabad-based bus-shuttle app Commut has been acquired by Dubai-based ride-hailing app Careem Networks FZ. The value of the deal has not been disclosed. Commut was started by six alumni of IIIT-Hyderabad about three years ago.

“As per our deal with Careem, we are supposed to shut down the local operations and launch Careem Bus in MENAP (Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan) region,” said a spokesperson of Commut. “The Indian operations have been handed over to Shuttl in a separate deal,” said the spokesperson, when asked about continuing operations of the service in Hyderabad. Cummut currently services 50 routes using 70 buses.

Started in November 2015 by IIIT-H students Hemanth Jonnalagadda, Prashanth Garapati, Charan Thota, Sandeep Kachavarapu, Akshay Chennupati and Srujai Varikuti, Commut has been a successful startup, which transitioned from idea to reality. Last year, Commut was selected for MAN Accelerator Programme. “Joining Careem and building the mass transportation vertical will help us fulfil our mission at a much larger scale,” said Prashanth Garapati, one of the founding members of the startup.

“Mass transportation is one of the biggest issues facing many fast-growing cities in our region. Commut has a successful track record in mass transportation, and we are excited to bring their expertise into the Careem family,” said Magnus Olsson of Careem.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – September 25th, 2018

Hyderabad Metro Rail is now second largest metro network in country

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An image of the Hyderabad metro rail in the L.B Nagar-Ameerpet Metro stretch. | Photo Credit: Photo: G. Ramakrishna

Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan flagged off the metro train from the Ameerpet metro interchange station towards L.B.Nagar in the city suburb just after noon on Monday.

With the opening of this 16 km stretch, the entire Corridor One of Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) project of 29 km from Miyapur to L.B.Nagar has been completed.

It will be the first corridor to be completed in all respects and has been opened to general public by evening. Construction is underway in two other routes: Corridor Two – Jubilee Bus Station to Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (Imlibun)/Falaknuma – 15 km and Corridor Three – Nagole to HiTec City/Raidurg – 28 km. Altogether 72 km of elevated metro line is being built in three dense traffic corridors of the capital.

Last November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had opened the inaugural 30 km metro line of Nagole-Ameerpet-Miyapur in the presence of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and others. It covered parts of Corridor Three – Nagole to Ameerpet (17 km) and Corridor One – Miyapur to Ameerpet (13 km).

More than a lakh passengers have been riding on the trains and it is expected to double now.

With Monday’s opening of another metro stretch, the Hyderabad Metro Rail will be covering 46 km and has become the second largest metro rail network in the country after New Delhi, announced Minister for Municipal Administration K.T. Rama Rao during a presentation made to the Governor at the terminal station of L.B. Nagar.

It is also the world’s largest public-private partnership project. The Government spent close to ₹3,000 crore for land acquisition, road widening and shift of utilities, while L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad (L&TMRH) invested more than ₹12,000 crore. The Central Government too chipped in with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of ₹1,458 crore. The entire work has been estimated to cost up to ₹14,132 crore.

The Minister said HMR was also taking care of improving ground level infrastructure all along the metro corridors like designer footpaths, drains and signages while barricading is being taken up underneath stations to prevent spillover of passengers onto the main road. Skywalks are in the offing and all metro stations could be used as road crossovers. Frequency of trains is about 7-8 minutes and first train chugs in at 6.30 a.m. and last train 10.30 p.m.

First and last mile connectivity is being provided through bicycles, bikes and taxis. Soon electric charging points will be provided for bringing in electric vehicles into its fold, he added. The Governor commended the project and requested the citizens to make use of the facility for the sake of personal health and environment. He called for speedy induction of smart card/smart phone ticket facility and opening of HiTec City line by Dec.15.

Mr. Narasimhan after travelling from Ameerpet to L.B.Nagar, got down at Khairatabad and cycled towards Raj Bhavan along with other senior officials. Mayor B. Rammohan, Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi, HMR MD N.V.S. Reddy, L&TMRH CEO & MD K.V.B. Reddy and others were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V. Geetanath / Hyderabad – September 24th, 2018

China firm opens software development centre in city

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Thundersoft Global CEO Larry Geng with IT Secretary Jayesh Ranjan at the centre’s opening in the city on Monday.By arrangement

Keen on acquisitions, having own campus and hiring 1,000 engineers

Smart device operating system and platform technology provider Thunder Software Technology Co. Ltd. of China has made a foray into India by establishing an IT development centre in Hyderabad.

A company that counts US chipmaker Qualcomm as an investor and key customer, Thundersoft has hired 25 engineers for the facility. Their numbers are expected to go up to 80-100 by December, Global CEO Larry Geng and Thundersoft India vice-president Sudharani Pillai said on Monday.

In an interaction, after the centre was formally opened by IT Secretary Jayesh Ranjan, they said the company planned to have on board 1,000 engineers in India in the next 3-5 years. While Hyderabad would remain the India headquarters, it was considering setting up software development facilities in Bengaluru and Pune as well. In about two years, the company would also take a decision on having a campus of its own.

Thundersoft was set up 10 years ago and has 20 research and development centres globally, including the Hyderabad facility. The company’s global headcount is 3,400 and in 2017, it had revenues of $200 million.

Seeking to highlight the role India could play in as the company looks to grow its global presence, Mr. Geng estimated Thundersoft to invest $10 million in the country over the next two years. It could be higher if the Beijing-headquartered firm is able to give shape to plans of acquiring firms in India.

In India, the company would be looking at firms developing technologies in its focus areas of smart phones, IoTs and automotive solutions.

The Hyderabad centre, he replied to query, would be an Intelligent software technology development facility and would work closely with Qualcomm.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – September 25th, 2018

Yesteryear sportspersons wallow in nostalgia

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Sportspersons from the city being honoured at an event on Saturday.

Football legends and athletes felicitated by Ethic Sports Foundation
It was an evening when some of the football legends from the city went down memory lane while reflecting on the state of the sport.

On Saturday, Ethic Sports Foundation felicitated some of the finest sportspersons from the city, under the banner of ‘City of Heroes’, which also saw a sprinkling of outstanding women athletes like 2004 Athens Olympian J.J. Shobha, Arjuna Awardee and volleyballer Mulini Reddy and quite a few kabaddi players.

The objective of the event was to honour these stars of yesteryears and also remember the contribution of legendary football coach S.A. Rahim, who scripted India’s golden era in football.

Some of the speakers included sports historian and commentator Novy Kapadia, former sports scribe N. Ganesan, Olympians T. Balaram, M.S.S. Hameed, D.M.K. Afzal, S.S. Hakeem, son of late S.A. Rahim, renowned badminton coach and Dronacharya S.M. Arif, former SAI boxing coach Emani Chiranjeevi, hockey Olympians N. Mukesh Kumar and Edwards Alloysius, former India football captain Victor Amalraj, Mohd Habib, Shabbir Ali, rowing coach and Dronacharya Ismail Baig, Arjuna Awardee Mir Khasim Ali.

Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary to Telangana Government, was the chief guest.

To inspire youth

Kailash Nath Yadav, MD of Ethic Sports Foundation, said they hosted the event to inspire youth by showcasing the diverse nature of sports in Hyderabad along with highlighting the efforts of the greats like S.A. Rahim.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – September 15th, 2018

Hyderabad comes up with exclusive park for pets

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Puppy love: The park for canines has been established by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation on 1.3 acres of land

Hyderabad’s first-ever exclusive pet park will soon be filled with joyous bow-wows much to the delight of pet owners.

The park for canines, touted as the first such in the country, may be inaugurated in a week’s time.

It has been established by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on 1.3 acres of land, which is a former dump yard.

Features galore

The brainchild of the Commissioner, West Zone, GHMC, D. Hari Chandana, the park has many enabling features for the physically challenged.

A walking track wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair, ramp accesses to every nook, and accessible lawns are a few among them.

“There is a cafeteria with menu in Braille script, and variety of dog food,” says Ms. Chandana.

“We are also planning to install sign boards in Braille,” she adds.

Ms. Chandana says the thought of an exclusive pet park germinated in her mind when a few differently-abled pet parents and NGOs approached her sometime ago.

Unlimited fun is in the offing for the pooch too, what with pet play equipment, splash pools, and separate play areas for small and big canines.

Films to be screened

Short films spreading awareness among pet owners may be screened at the amphitheatre, and dog trainers will be available on order.

“The amphitheatre may be used to celebrate pets’ birthdays, for hosting vaccination drives on World Zoonosis Day, or to conduct dog shows,” says the Deputy Director (Veterinary) Abdul Wakeel.

Vaccination mandatory

The idea is to make the park a venue for regular vaccinations, and also issuing pet licences or licences for setting up private pet clinics.

Vaccination is mandatory for dogs entering the park, says Mr. Wakeel.

A total ₹1.1 crore has been spent on the park to equip it with state-of-the-art equipment.

The plan is to maintain them through private partnership. Tenders have been called for this.

Entry is not free for random curs though. Each pet will be charged ₹10 per visit.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad/ by Swathi Vadlamudi / Hyderabad – September 15th, 2018

Hyderabad gets device to preserve liver

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Dr. G. S. Rao, MD of Yashoda Group of Hospitals, and Craig Andrew Marshall, CEO of OrganOx Ltd. Oxford-UK, showcasing the normo-thermic liver perfusion machine . | Photo Credit: K.V.S. GIRI

It can tell doctors if a marginally sick liver can be considered for transplant

The wait for individuals vying for a liver just got shorter. The city is in receipt of a machine which helps put to use cadaver livers that were earlier deemed unfit for transplant.

Through a process called ‘normo-thermic perfusion’ technology, the Metra device, not just preserves but can also tell doctors if a marginally sick liver can be considered for transplant. A UK-based organisation OrganOx produces the machine.

“Presently, cadaveric liver is accepted based on liver function tests, ultrasound and its pre-operative appearance. Hence a lot of livers get rejected or retrieval is not attempted. With this machine, we can get a real-time picture of quality and functioning of a liver,” said Balachandran Menon, who headed three surgeries involving the machine at Yashoda Hospitals.

The Metra device will be available for use by all hospitals where transplants are performed in the city. The device simulates a human body’s functioning to keep the liver in a condition that would render it fit for use up to 24 hours after harvesting. Patients will have to pay around ₹ 5 lakh if they want a marginally sick liver assessed for transplant.

In Telangana, 1,968 people registered with the State’s Jeevandan cadaver donation programme are waiting for a liver. The rise in demand for an organ is significantly higher than the rate of rise in donations, said G. Swarnalatha, in-charge for Jeevandan.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff Reporter / Hyderabad – September 11th, 2018

Award for HMR

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Indian Concrete Institute- UltraTech awards ceremony in the city.

Metro rail MD receives award from former T.N. Governor K. Rosaiah

The Hyderabad Metro Rail Project was awarded the ‘Outstanding Concrete Structure for Infrastructure’ from Indian Concrete Institute- UltraTech Awards-2018, at a ceremony held here on Saturday. HMR MD N.V.S. Reddy received the award from former A.P. Chief Minister and ex-Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah.

L&T Metro Rail-Hyderabad Project Director M.P. Naidu also received the Outstanding Concrete Structure-Infrastructure (Project Concessionaires & Designers) and (Architects Award) on behalf of the company.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – September 10th, 2018

City girl achieves another high in mountaineering

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Jaahnavi Sriperambaduru holding the tricolour after conquering the virgin peak in Stok Ranges in Ladakh region.

Scales a virgin peak in Stok Ranges and names it after her family

For teenager Jaahnavi Sriperambaduru, it has been a unique experience of naming a summit ‘Mt. Sriperambuduru’, which is in the Stok Ranges of the Himalayas in Ladakh region on Monday.

Receiving technical support from Ladakh Mitra and guide Narbu Sherpa with Jimmy as partner, 16-year-old Jaahnavi, who was recently invited by Ladakh Mitra, achieved what is said to be another first in the adventure sport. Ladakh Mitra is one of the authorised trek operators who manage the whole of Stok Ranges.

Mission7Summit
Jaahnavi was invited to guide their clients and also be a part of her training for her Mission7Summit to Mt. Aconcagua in South America coming December and Mt. Everest in Asia in April 2019. Scaling the virgin peak in the Stok Ranges has been on the wish list of this young mountaineer.

Local tradition
And, Jaahnavi did not disappoint any as she and her team reached the summit at 11.00 a.m. on Monday and hoisted the Indian national flag. They also followed a local tradition of worshipping the mountain with incense sticks and special prayer flags blessed by the monks.

With this feat, Jaahnavi has become the youngest Indian girl ever to climb a virgin peak and name it after her family too!

“I would like to thank all the supporters and motivators who have been supporting, directly or indirectly, my mission. I would especially like to thank T-Sports Hub for encouraging me as I embark on my future trips to make the country and Telangana proud,” she signs off.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – September 06th, 2018

IIIT-H turns 20, celebrates with a host of events

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Panel discussions, alumni meet held over the weekend

Celebrations spread over two days, with a global alumni meet, panel discussions and showcase of its research and innovations marked the 20th anniversary of the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H).

While the alumni meet was held on Saturday, the panel discussions took place on Sunday.

Secretary to the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Ajay Sawhney, Director General of Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad Ajit Rangnekar, Director of Amazon Development Center Hyderabad Jayaram Valliyur and Dean (R&D) of IIIT-H Vasudeva Varma were among those who participated in the deliberations.

IIIT-H Governing Council Chairman Raj Reddy highlighted the founding objectives of the institute.

Director of IIIT-H P.J. Narayanan shared an overview of the Institute and its plans. “Our research is today ranked among the top in the country in several areas, such as robotics, computer vision and AI. Undergraduate research continues to pay rich dividends for the Institute, in terms of a large, global diaspora of researchers who stay engaged with the Institute,” he said.

A release from IIIT-H, on the 20th anniversary celebrations, said from just 50 students in the first batch to around 1,800 students in 28 programmes, IIIT-H is ranked as the No.1 institute in AI (computer vision, machine learning and data mining, and Natural Language Processing) in India and Asia’s 2nd best institute for robotics.

A short film on ;Making of IIIT-H, How it All Started’ was screened, followed by a tour of the campus and showcase of its research work and innovations as well as technologies created by the labs and start-ups seeded at the Institute, the release said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – September 03rd, 2018