Saturday, November 3, 2018

AP's New Capital Amaravati to Host F1H2O on Krishna River from November 16-18


The F1H2O India Grand Prix is all set to take place in Amaravati on River Krishna from November 16 to 18.

The World Championship returns to Indian shores after a gap of 14 long years. More than 350 international drivers from the F1H2O circuit will compete in the debut season of Amaravati in UIM motorboat racing.

This year the championship began in Portugal on May 18 and will end in Sharjah on December 15. The race in Amaravati will see the world's top teams in action including teams from Portugal, Italy, the UAE, France and our very own, Team Amaravati.
Amaravati has extended a warm welcome to the racing aficionados and sports-lovers of Bengaluru to witness the one of a kind international event.

While addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Srinivas Rao, CMO, Department of Tourism (Govt. of Andhra Pradesh) said, "We are happy to welcome Bengaluru to come and witness the spectacular event that is followed by millions across the globe. We are confident this will change the way grand sporting events are held in the country. Amaravati is all set to put our country on the global sporting map with the F1H2O grand prix. The Government of Andhra Pradesh and AP Tourism has put together elaborate initiatives in terms of hospitality and logistics for all visitors and participants. Our efforts are an endeavour to create solid resonance for Amaravati with F1H2O."

Amaravati will be decked up and there will be a carnival-like atmosphere with a host of attractions for everyone present. The resident organising committee of the F1H2O Grand Prix is geared to promote water sport culture in the region which will also benefit the local fishermen communities in the area.

Marco Pietrini, Director of Logistics, F1H2O is working closely to set up the teams and is extremely happy with the progress of the state in hosting the gala event, "I'm happy with way this event is shaping up. The state of Andhra Pradesh and the Tourism department has left no stone unturned to put up a gala show for all spectators and visitors and I am confident this initiative will take the sport to greater heights in the years to come. I won't be surprised if India has its own team competing on the global arena in the coming years."

The capital city is gearing up to welcome visitors from across the globe to witness the event. The 23 km stretch along the River Krishna will turn into a carnival site celebrating best of the sport along with a host of other exciting activities.

On November 16, powerboats will have a free practise session. On November 17 , teams will be battling for pole position while on November 18 the India Grand Prix will start.

Sandeep Mandava, CEO, India Xtreme of Malaxmi Group spoke on the occasion and shared further plans "We have made extensive planning over the last few months and have worked relentlessly to make this event a grand success. It would be our pleasure to have the sports enthusiasts from Bengaluru come in big numbers and witness the return of F1H2O to Indian shores. I am also thankful to Marco Pietrini for his guidance and the respected officials of AP Tourism department for their unwavering support."

Canara Bank Posts Rs 300 Crore Net Profit During Q2, 2018


Despite higher provisions, leading public lender Canara Bank has announced a higher Rs 300 crore net profit for second quarter ending September 30, 2018 and said it was looking at more organic growth to boost its profits further.

The company had posted net profit of Rs 284.1 crore in the quarter ended September 2017.

The company's gross NPA was down at 10.56 percent against 11.05 percent, while net NPA was down at 6.54 percent versus 6.91 percent.

The net interest income was down 15 percent at Rs 3,281.3 crore, while provisions were up at Rs 2,835.1 crore versus Rs 2582.3 crore.

In the absolute term its gross NPA was up marginally at Rs 45,233.2 crore against Rs 44,659.6 crore, while net NPA was up at Rs 26,777.6 crore versus Rs 26,693.5 crore, QoQ.

Bank Executive Director P V Bharati told reporters that Canara Bank geared up for organic growth with enhanced focus on domestic business.

The net profit grew by 15.38 per cent YoY backed by a healthy 17.89 per cent YoY growth in Net Interest Income (NII). The good performance in NII growth was driven by 18 YoY growth in domestic advances supported by a retail credit growing at good pace at 35 per cent YoY.

The global business of the bank surged 12.49 per cent to reach Rs. 9.61 lakh crore, with specific thrust on domestic business which registered a robust growth of 18 per cent YoY to reach Rs. 9.12 lakh crore.

The global deposits improved by 11.18 per cent, while domestic deposits growth was higher at 15.95 per cent, she added.

Ultra Toys and Gifts Launches an Exciting Wide Range of Gifting Products this Festive Season

These unique and articulately designed combination of soft toys are all set to woo your kids & toddlers this festive season. All these toys are made from soft materials adhering to the safety standards, which are reliable and harmless to be used by them. The entire collections are premium quality, washable, skin friendly and non - toxic. It can be also be gifted for Diwali, Christmas, New Year, Birthday & for special occasions throughout this season. Soft and adorable, these toys are stuffed with 100% plush fabric which remains fluffy even after multiple number of washes.

These Toys will be available in all leading stores across India. This range of toys are also available just a click away by ordering online at : www.ultragiftbox.com, Firstcry, Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Shopclues, Paytm’ etc . Each item ordered will be attractively gift wrapped & swiftly delivered anywhere in India for free. Shoppers can pay for the items ordered through: Cash on Delivery and Online Credit/ Debit / Credit Card Payment options.

Let your child build up stories, let him create a new fascinating world of toys, and let him enjoy every moment of his childhood as the holiday season begins. Diwali, Christmas and New Year are just around the corner, it's time when children of all ages create their wish lists. With so many toys, games and sporting equipment to choose from, it's hard for parents and grandparents to know which gifts make the best choices for their love ones.

News Wiz Season 3 Grand Finale Winners get a Chance to Win a Trip to Oxford


India’s popular quiz show NEWS WIZ Season 3, the brain child of Siddhartha Basu of KBC fame, anchored by veteran journalist  Rajdeep Sardesai is back with great aplomb, on India Today Television. The journey has been eclectic as students from as far from Kashmir to Kerala have participated in great numbers to make the show a super success. Now it is time for the GRAND FINALE and three teams from the south have scored over the rest and will battle it out on the 3rd November for the title of NEWS WIZ 2018. The lucky winners will also get a chance to go on a trip to Oxford, England.

According to Vivek Khanna, Group CEO, India Today Group said, “The scale of the show can be gauged from the fact that 7,50,000 students from different schools transcending geographical boundaries of the country participated and 3500 were selected through a process. The News Wiz team under the leadership of Mr Rajdeep Sardesai has travelled widely across the country to pick up Wild Card Entries for the very first time in this 3rd edition. The show has elicited a massive response from schools across the country.to find the brightest brains. Hyderabad was one of the wild card entries that has reached the finale and has a shot at the title this year.”

As the stage is set for the Grand Finale, as three teams hailing from Thrissur (Sreeram Madhavan V & Paul Binu, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Vidya Mandir, Poochatty), Hyderabad (Hussain Ahmed & Syed Abdul, Mannan Little Flower High School, Hyderabad and Bengaluru represented by Dishita Swaika & Rishab Devaiah Sishu Griha Montessori High School, Bengaluru) will gear up for the final challenge and beat the odds to prove their mettle. The News Wiz trophy therefore moves to South India this year.

The on-ground event has been a roaring success, as students from the top schools of India making their mark with their intellect. A total of 3,500 students actively participated in the News Wiz hosted on-ground by the prolific TV anchor Mr Rajdeep Sardesai, as they fought hard for a wild card entry for the first time ever. The Euphoria created by News Wiz has been phenomenal & never seen before in the history of a Quizzing show.

The iconic show is slated for the final countdown on 3rd November on India Today Television at 8 pm.

New Open Applications Advance Comprehensive Modeling Environment for Multidiscipline Collaboration

The Year in Infrastructure 2018 Conference – Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the leading global provider of comprehensive software solutions for advancing the design, construction, and operations of infrastructure, today launched OpenSite Designer, a built-for-purpose application for the design and construction of civil site projects. It also launched OpenBuildings, bringing together its AECOsim building design and Speedikon factory and industrial design applications; and announced the availability of OpenBuildings Station Designer, a specialized application for designing rail and metro stations. At the same time, Bentley announced the availability of OpenBridge Designer, which combines Bentley’s bridge modeling, analysis and design capabilities into one comprehensive package, and OpenFlows FLOOD, a flood analysis and early warning system.

In addition, in pursuit of its ‘industrialization’ strategy, Bentley announced it has rebranded under its Open portfolio several of its applications based on MicroStation technology which collectively accelerate the advancement of its comprehensive modeling environment by connecting digital workflows across disciplines and sharing digital components in its Connected Data Environment (CDE).

Bhupinder Singh, chief product officer, Bentley Systems, said, “Open has three meanings. First, it signifies open to multiple disciplines. Second, it means open to analysis and simulation. Using different applications, two different disciplines, for example, a geotechnical engineer and a structural engineer, can iterate on the same dataset in our comprehensive modeling environment, providing a ‘digital feedback loop’ and enhancing their collaboration across BIM workflows. And third, because MicroStation technology underpins Open applications, users can produce multidiscipline deliverables and accomplish multidiscipline clash resolution from any Open application. Bentley’s comprehensive modeling environment is ‘Open’ for collaborative digital workflows.”

Fully 49 of the 62 finalists and awardees of this year’s Year in Infrastructure Awards credited collaborative digital workflows in their successful outcomes. For example, OpenRoads, Bentley’s civil design applications for road networks, is credited by 22 awards finalists’ projects in 12 categories, and OpenPlant, Bentley’s plant design project management applications, is credited by 10 finalists’ projects in 9 different categories. ProjectWise and/or AssetWise were credited by finalists’ projects in 16 of 19 awards categories this year.

OpenSite Designer
The collaborative nature of digital workflows connecting analysis and simulation with design and modeling is exemplified in OpenSite, Bentley’s new solution for the design and construction of civil site projects. OpenSite provides rapid site modeling and analysis, earthwork optimization and quantification, drainage and underground utilities, and automated project deliverables.

OpenSite Designer provides the most comprehensive site design workflow available including reality modeling, geotechnical, underground utilities, stormwater drainage, terrain modeling, detailed drawing production, and visualization. OpenSite Designer optimizes design outcomes with multidiscipline information modeling and analysis. Interoperating with PLAXIS, Bentley’s newly acquired geotechnical engineering solution, site plans can be enhanced with new information about the active properties of soil including bearing capacity, stresses, and displacement.

OpenBuildings Designer
The newly launched OpenBuildings Designer incorporates all of the capabilities of AECOsim Building Designer as well as Components Center and a range of new capabilities and standards including EnergyPlus, a building energy model to help users comply with ASHRAE standards in the US, and UK energy requirements; support of international standards including IFC 2x3, IFC4 Reference View, COBie, and Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority; new capabilities to design curtain wall systems; and OpenBuildings Speedikon, a leading application for industrialized design and construction. OpenBuildings Designer takes advantage of collaborative digital workflows with other applications in Bentley’s Open portfolio, for example templates in OpenBuildings Station Designer for tunnel segments created through GenerativeComponents based on linear alignment from OpenRail. Showcasing their robustness and versatility, OpenBuildings applications were credited by 32 of 62 of the Year in Infrastructure Awards finalists projects in 15 of 19 categories.

OpenBridge Designer
OpenBridge Designer is a new, all-encompassing application that integrates the modeling capabilities of OpenBridge Modeler and the analysis and design features of RM Bridge, LEAP Bridge Concrete, and LEAP Bridge Steel to meet the design and construction needs of both concrete and steel bridges. OpenBridge Designer enables bridge designers to rapidly create an intelligent, parametric bridge model, fully integrated with analysis and design, as well as drawings. It enables seamless synchronization of various disciplines for analysis, design, detailing, documentation, construction engineering and load-rating. 

OpenFlows FLOOD
Bentley also announced the rebranding of its Haestad water modeling and ACTION Modulers flood analysis product lines to form OpenFlows for water districts, sewer utilities and flood plain managers. OpenFlows extends smart water networks capabilities with GIS-based asset-centric information for water loss reduction, water operations, flood prediction and prevention. OpenFlows FLOOD continuously monitors watersheds, integrating data from real-time monitoring stations and numerical models to calculate risk levels. OpenFlows FLOOD mitigates flood risk, improving understanding of the processes involved in flood generation, and transmitting early alerts to reduce the impact caused by floods. 

Connecting Digital Workflows Across Disciplines
Applications for analysis and simulation, on the one hand, can collaboratively and iteratively work with applications for design and modeling, and on the other, connect operational workflows and converge the work of different disciplines. Collaborative digital workflows are characterized by data captured or created for one purpose being accessed and used by other applications for other purposes thereby saving time, minimizing rework, and improving data quality over the asset lifecycle.

An example of multidiscipline collaboration with OpenFlows involves workflows that use ContextCapture to create a 3D reality mesh, feeding into OpenFlows FLOOD modeling and using the terrain as input to various analyses in a single review environment for visualization and presentation to stakeholders using LumenRT.

Connecting analysis with modeling in another Open collaborative digital workflow involves the layout of road geometry, and hydraulic analysis and design using storm analysis tools including the determination of the size of storm inlets, pipes, depth of pipes, and manholes. The collaborative nature of the workflow enables clash detection in the subsurface environment, and iteration and adjustment as needed, to confirm functional and physical characteristics.

Other instances of Open collaborative digital workflows connecting design and analysis include OpenUtilities with Siemens’ PSS©SINCAL, which helps utilities improve resilience and deal with weak spots in the grid; and OpenBuildings Station Designer with LEGION pedestrian simulation, to enable designers to design, test, and validate simulations of scenarios for pedestrian traffic.

Rebranding 
Completing its announcement about Open applications, Bentley said that Bentley Map will be rebranded as OpenCities Map; and OpenComms, aimed primarily at multisystem operators, will incorporate Bentley Fiber and Bentley Coax.

William Grant & Sons Launches New Scotch Whisky in India Ahead of the Festive Season

William Grant & Sons, the distiller of premium brands including Glenfiddich, Monkey Shoulder and Hendricks Gin, has launched Grant’s Distinction, the latest variant of its leading Blended Scotch whisky brand, ahead of the festive season in India. The new variant has been launched in Goa with an MRP of 1275 INR, in advance of a nationwide rollout.

Grant’s Distinction is a blended Scotch that has been hand-picked for smoothness by master blender Brian Kinsman himself, to appeal to a new generation of Scotch whisky drinkers. Grant’s Distinction will initially be exclusively available in India. The blended Scotch has been designed for mixing, and has a raisin cake richness that gives it a distinctive character to cut through any mixer.

Brian Kinsman, Master Blender at William Grant & Sons, said “It was a real labour of love to create this new blend Grant’s Distinction. I wanted to make a Scotch that would be rich, smooth and mixable and am really proud of what we have achieved. It was important to retain the ‘House style’ for the Grant’s family which is delicate fresh fruit flavours with subtle spice for smoothness. But at the heart of Grant’s Distinction I have used a single malt whisky from a distillery that gives a robust, malty and raisin cake rich character to the blend which makes it highly mixable.”

The uniqueness of the blend’s taste and mixability is an ingredient that comes from a distillery with teal coloured walls – the malt from this distillery is at the heart of the blend.

James Pennefather, Managing Director of William Grant & Sons India, added “We see a clear opportunity to bring in new brands targeted at the next generation of Scotch drinkers, those who are already making progress in their careers but still appreciate the fact that it is those around them who keep them grounded and real. The smooth, rich flavours of Grant’s Distinction are certain to inspire conversations amongst friends to help them ‘find their distinction’, which will be the brand’s call to action. We are also proud of the fact that not only has India been chosen as the launch market for Grant’s Distinction, it is also the only place outside Scotland where this world-famous Scotch brand is bottled.”

Through this new variant, William Grant & Sons aims to cater to the increasing demand for premium spirits in India. According to IWSR global forecasts, India is expected to be one of the largest contributors to global whisky growth over the next 5 years. The Blended Scotch market in India is expected to grow to 5 million cases by 2021. Currently the scale of the market for Scotch brands bottled in India is ten times larger than those bottled in Scotland and imported.

Hero Motocorp Drives Industry Growth with 2nd Successive Month of More than 7-Lakh Sales

Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, today reported yet another month of landmark 7-lakh sales.

Hero MotoCorp despatched 734,668 units of motorcycles and scooters in October 2018 – a growth of 16.4% over the corresponding month of the previous fiscal (October 2017) when the Company had sold 631,105 units.

Fortifying its market leadership with a strong sales growth trajectory, this is the fourth occasion in this fiscal (FY’19), and sixth overall, when the Company has registered sales of more than seven lakh units of two-wheelers in a month.

Coming immediately after the Company’s highest-ever monthly sales (769,138 in September 2018), the growth provides a positive outlook on the industry, which has witnessed a sub-par festive season sales thus far this year.

Compared to the previous year, retail off-take across the country during the initial few weeks of the festive season have been moderate, primarily on account of the significant increase in Insurance cost, followed by the associated confusion over the coverage amount and period in the matter of two-wheeler insurance. We hope to see a positive turnaround in the sentiments and retail sales to pick up in the days leading up to Diwali.

Hero MotoCorp also marked its entry into the 125cc scooter segment during the month, with the launch of its new 125cc scooter – Destini 125 – in the Delhi-NCR region. Attractively priced at Rs. 54,650/- (Ex-Showroom Delhi-NCR) for the Lx variant and Rs. 57,500/- (Ex-Showroom Delhi-NCR) for the Vx variant, the scooter will be available in the rest of country over the next 3-4 weeks.

1MG – Lido Mall Unveils Campaign to Celebrate Eco-Friendly Diwali


An urgent call to action has been taken by 1MG – Lido Mall after rising pollution levels are forcing Bengaluru residents to leave the city during the festive season to celebrate Diwali with their loved ones. The Mall has launched the eco-friendly Diwali 2018 which commits to no-pollution and no-noise keeping in mind the health and wellbeing of its visitors. With an aim to make a difference, the Mall has also partnered with leading eye care hospital Narayana Nethralaya to promote eye donation. 

Commented Suman Lahiri, Chief Operating Officer, 1MG – Lido Mall, “We have witnessed over 500 people signing up each day ever since we announced the eco-friendly and eye donation campaign on our social media platform. This goes to show that the residents of Bengaluru do care about the welfare of our community and want to play an integral role in the campaign as well”.

Also commented Bhanu Praveen, Marketing Manager, 1MG – Lido Mall, “This Diwali, we commit ourselves to lighting up lives. The figures were indeed alarming and hence we as a Mall decided to launch an eco-friendly Diwali celebration this year onwards which promotes no-pollution and no-noise. We are also addressing key areas on do’s and don’ts of bursting fire crackers and the increasing pollution levels, how loud noise can affect animals and more. All visitors to our Mall also participated in a pledge to celebrate Diwali the eco-friendly way moving forward. Post event, the visitors were treated to Diwali sweets and we tried our best to make the festive season most memorable for all”. 

Also added Roby Varghese, Centre Manager – 1MG Lido Mall, “With an attempt to raise awareness on eye donation, we are encouraging all our visitors to take a pledge towards an eco-friendly Diwali.  The eye donation campaign will also be conducted for all those who are keen to donate their eyes.  The eye donation is considered an act of charity, purely for the benefit of the society and is totally voluntary. 

With over 50 cases of eye injuries reported by Narayana Nethralaya every year on the onset of Diwali, the hospital announced that it will open its doors to offer free consultation and primary eye treatment on the 6th, 7th and 8th of November 2018 to all those whose eyes are affected by the fire crackers. With a fully equipped manpower and resources a dedicated team of doctors will be on standby through the night to administer timely aid to all those who enter their hospitals”. 

Commented Dr. Bhujang Shetty, Founder Chairman and MD Narayana Nethralaya, “Last year the supreme court banned fire crackers and it was quite challenging to have this enforced across the country, especially keeping in mind how people enthusiastically look forward to bursting firecrackers especially during Diwali. However, this year, the balanced judgment from the BBMP with restricted timings and the use of green crackers with low emissions and low sound which has paved way for a more responsible commitment on the citizens and how well we will all work towards preserving our environment. However, the only challenge is that the green cracker are not easily available in the market this year and hence the conventional ones are still being used by most”.

“A city like Bengaluru is already witnessing increasing levels of pollution because of traffic and other reasons.  With Diwali the levels of toxic gases in the air increases to over 50 percent. With so many people already suffering from asthma and allergy, this will only cause more havoc. And it is because of things like these that most people prefer to leave the city during these days, which is really unfortunate. As responsible citizens we also need to understand that it is not the pollution board or the Government to handle these issues, it should be our responsibility not to burn crackers and we inturn should influence others too!”

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Topcon and Bentley Strengthen Constructioneering Initiatives and Programs


The Year in Infrastructure 2018 Conference– Topcon Positioning Group, a world leader in positioning technology for the survey and construction industries, and Bentley Systems, the leading global provider of comprehensive software solutions for advancing the design, construction, and operations of infrastructure, announce new developments in the constructioneering workflow initiative.

Constructioneering Academy

The Bentley Year in Infrastructure Conference 2018 (YII) marks the first anniversary of the launch of the Constructioneering Academy initiative of Topcon and the Bentley Institute. The program has been held in multiple locations across North America and Australia throughout the first year and now expands into Europe with the first London-based Constructioneering Academy, part of the YII.

“The Constructioneering Academies are filled with a mix of professionals from companies, governmental agencies and organizations who are involved in putting important infrastructure projects into motion and seeing them through to completion. The uniqueness of the dialogue taking place among participants, representing more than 80 organizations in the first year, cannot be overstated,” said Ewout Korpershoek, executive vice president of Topcon Positioning Group. “The program’s educational and collaborative atmosphere is creating awareness of potential productivity gaps that can be encountered on a project, and how those gaps can be filled, resulting in a paradigm shift in how work can be accomplished.”

Alan Lamont, Bentley Systems’ vice president for Digital Advancement Academies, said, “The active participation and feedback that we have experienced during the various Constructioneering Academy events have been very informative and encouraging. The level of interest and feedback demonstrate that there is a clear need for automated digital workflows between design and construction to help project teams be more efficient and avoid mistakes. We look forward to expanding the reach of Constructioneering Academies to other geographic locations.”

“We are looking forward to building upon the success of the inaugural year of the Constructioneering Academy,” said Ron Oberlander, vice president of Global Professional Services for Topcon Positioning Group. “The industry needs these types of programs as a catalyst to drive digital automation adoption. A key part of the initiative is the interaction of field and office professionals from the ‘front lines’ and we are excited to provide this opportunity to professionals around the world.

“We believe the Constructioneering Academies are truly fostering progress. For the industry to be successful in meeting future infrastructure demands, we have to change the mindsets and processes on how we approach construction. What Topcon and Bentley have initiated and will continue to evolve is an exciting journey to help shape that change,” Oberlander said.

Sasken Becomes a Member of the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance


Sasken Technologies Ltd., (formerly Sasken Communication Technologies Ltd.), a leading product engineering and digital transformation solutions provider, today announced that it has joined the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA), the world's largest open source blockchain initiative.

Sasken has been working on Ethereum to develop solutions and accelerators for several industry use cases such as revenue-sharing solution for multimodal public transportation system, enhancing security of IoT edge network, and asset registry for industrial equipment.

“We are already leveraging blockchain for developing solutions to expedite transactions, improve working capital, improve efficiency, reduce disputes, and build trust in industry ecosystems,” said Raman Sapra, Executive Vice President and General Manager-Digital, Sasken. “We are excited to join the EEA as it provides us an avenue for networking with the alliance members, contribute to working groups, and expedite development of Ethereum-based enterprise grade solutions for Transportation, Industrial, and Manufacturing segments.”

With more than 500 member companies, the EEA membership base represents a wide variety of business sectors from every region of the world. The EEA’s industry-focused, member-driven working groups are each tasked with creating and delivering specific advancements to the development and use of Ethereum-based technologies.

1MG – Lido Mall Lights Up Lives with Eco-Diwali and Free Eye Surgery


Ensuring celebrations last for a lifetime, 1MG-Lido Mall is spreading awareness on eco-friendly Diwali and ensuring public health and safety with a strong message on no-noise and no-pollution this Diwali 2018.

Come and join the celebration on Friday, 2nd November from 5:30 to 6:30pm at 1MG Mall where all visitors will be handed out eco-friendly diya and will light lamps together. Shortly after the lamp lighting ceremony, sweets will be distributed to all mall visitors. 

With the objective to ensure an environmentally safe Diwali, the Mall in partnership with Narayana Nethralaya hospital will be offering a free surgery to anyone who has lot their eye sight on account of lighting Diwali crackers. The free eye surgery will be conducted by Dr. K. Bhujang Shetty, Founder Chairman & MD Narayana Nethralaya to anyone who has lost their eyes on account of lighting fire crackers during the Diwali season. 

In an attempt to raise awareness on eye donation, 1MG – Lido Mall is encouraging more visitors to sign in and take the pledge on a no-pollution and no-noise eco friendly Diwali moving forward. An eye donation campaign will also be conducted for all those who are keen to donate their eyes.  The eye donation is considered an act of charity, purely for the benefit of the society and is totally voluntary.

Land Rover Supports Red Cross Disaster Projects Worldwide


Natural disasters can strike at any time, so Land Rover and the Red Cross are helping people in remote areas to prepare for the worst. 

Such support has never been more important: the World Disaster Report 2018 estimates 134 million people will need humanitarian assistance this year. The report, by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), says challenging terrain, limited infrastructure, conflicts and natural hazards can all make it hard to get help to where it's needed.

To mark the release of the report, Land Rover and the Red Cross have released a film about the life-changing threats of natural hazards and the humanitarian work to help vulnerable people in isolated communities.

Land Rover funds a community preparedness project in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, which aims to support 55 000 people in vulnerable communities. In the last two years, the Mexican Red Cross has travelled over 37 015 km in order to reach these isolated communities.

Following the 2017 earthquake, the Mexican Red Cross were able to mobilise 1 200 search and rescue specialists and 31 000 volunteers to support the rescue efforts to deliver earthquake relief and response to more than a million people.

Chris Thorp, Responsible Business Director, Jaguar Land Rover said:“Through our partnership with the Red Cross we are committed to providing support to isolated communities like those in the Chiapas region of Mexico.

“The technology and capability of Land Rover vehicles enables them to get to the hardest to reach people in some of the world's most challenging terrain."

Alexander Matheou, Executive Director of International at the British Red Cross, said: “Millions of people worldwide are in crisis and need urgent humanitarian aid. In the past decade earthquakes have caused more than 350 000 deaths and the recent disaster in Indonesia has left a trail of destruction, bringing the importance of our humanitarian work to the forefront.

“These events are truly devastating. Through our partnership with Land Rover we’re able to gain access to some of the hardest-to-reach areas and support vulnerable people throughout the world. We’re committed to working together to continue helping communities prepare for and recover from disasters.”

Jessica Lara, Chiapas Programme Co-ordinator, said: “Working in such remote communities can be a challenge. We work with lots of people from different cultures and we have to earn their trust. The earthquake was one of the factors that have let us into these communities, who now understand they are exposed and that disasters can happen at any moment.” 

Land Rover has worked in partnership with the Red Cross for more than 60 years. Since 2013 the partnership has raised more than US $ 12.8 m for people in need, funding 18 humanitarian projects in 25 countries.

Electronic Health Pill Innovation for Cardiac Care Wins ‘Accenture Innovation Challenge’ 2018




Accenture has announced the winners of the Accenture Innovation Challenge 2018, a competition in India that aims to inspire students to apply their technology talent and creativity to develop innovative ideas that can create social and business impact. The grand prize was awarded to the team from Sir M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology (Sir MVIT), Bengaluru for their solution ‘Aayush’, a cost-effective ingestible battery-less electronic health pill that can continuously record health metrics to predict and prevent heart attacks and cardiac arrests.

Other winners in the competition included teams from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras; Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bengaluru; IIT-Kharagpur; Manav Rachna International Institute for Research and Studies, Faridabad; and Delhi Technological University, New Delhi. The winners were announced at the competition’s grand finale held recently in Bengaluru, which featured 16 finalists, all of them from the engineering discipline.

The Accenture Innovation Challenge 2018 was open to students pursuing graduate, under-graduate and post-graduate programs. Students were encouraged to develop ingenious technology solutions using advanced technologies such as advanced analytics, automation, artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain, cybersecurity, immersive reality and internet of things, among others.

“We are thrilled that the Accenture Innovation Challenge this year has seen a record participation – over 13,000 entries involving over 30,000 students across 1,000+ colleges in India. Technology innovation is driving disruption in many industries, and it is exciting to see how students have applied advanced technologies to develop innovative ideas in diverse areas such as medical care, trauma care, dairy farming, energy management, music, railroad management, personal data privacy, fraud management, eco construction, and so on”, said, Mohan Sekhar, senior managing director and lead for Accenture’s Advanced Technology Centers in India. “The innovative and creative abilities these students have exhibited are commendable and we heartily congratulate all the winners and participants”.

The five awards and their winners are:

Grand Prize: Awarded to the team from Sir M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, Bengaluru for ‘Aayush’, a cost-effective ingestible battery-less electronic health pill to predict and prevent heart attacks and sudden cardiac arrests. ‘Aayush’ records metrics such as PH level, body temperature, heart rate and myeloperoxidase protein content of a person using bio-medical sensors from the body and transmits data to a mobile app via a wearable smart patch. The solution features a built-in artificial intelligence-enabled virtual assistant, which monitors data for abnormal variations in the parameters, and analyzes and predicts a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest 9 – 11 minutes prior to it taking place. In cases of an emergency, the solution uses GPS location to alert the nearest hospital and the person’s family or caretaker group about the need for immediate medical care.

* ‘Innovate for Businesses’ category award: Won by the team from IIT-Madras, for their solution ‘Microwave Pyrolysis’, which can convert waste into energy through microwave pyrolysis, an age-old technique of thermal decomposition that converts non-metal waste into forms of energy including oil, gas, and char, which have multiple uses and can be incorporated into existing product supply chains.

* ‘Innovate for the Society’ category award: Won by the team from Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, for developing ‘EyeSee’, a solution which features a virtual reality (VR) app and headset to simulate the commonly used Humphrey field analyzer tool to carry out glaucoma detection tests. The solution is more affordable and portable to use, making it more feasible to use among people in rural and inaccessible areas.

* Jury’s Choice award: The jury named two teams as winners of this category:

‘MusicManiac’, developed by students from IIT-Kharagpur is a system that automatically chooses chords to accompany a vocal melody using melody extraction and Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) files, thereby giving novice musicians the opportunity to automatically create music and experiment with chord patterns without any professional knowledge of music.
‘Virtual Exposure Therapy’ (VET), is a solution jointly developed by students from Manav Rachna International Institute for Research and Studies, Faridabad and Delhi Technological University, New Delhi. VET is a solution that aims to treat people with phobias and post-traumatic disorders in a virtual reality environment, by recreating trauma relevant scenarios, providing analysis and monitoring improvement of the patient’s psychological condition.

* Employees’ Choice award: The winner of this award was chosen through voting by employees of Accenture’s Advanced Technology Centers in India. This award was won by the team from IIT-Madras, for developing ‘Artemis’, a robot that can detect and analyze cracks in railway tracks using ultrasound technology and IoT. Some key features of this fully automated method include storing the location of cracks, sending alerts on identified cracks to mobile phones, detecting loose fish plates and surveying for anomalies on tracks. The solution aims to address the problem of train derailments in India, which cause massive loss of life and property every year.

The Grand Prize winner received prizes worth INR 150,000 and each member of the two teams selected as category winners — for ‘Innovate for Businesses’ and ‘Innovate for the Society’ — received prizes worth INR 75,000.

The winners for the Accenture Innovation Challenge 2018 were chosen from among 16 shortlisted teams that presented their ideas to a jury panel featuring Anupam Sinha, Co-founder and CEO – Vxceed; Daniel Raj David, CEO and Co-Founder – Detect Technologies; Hari Bharadwaj, Founder and CEO – eSahai; Manish Singh, Senior Director of Product Mobile and Internet – Ola (ANI Technologies); Dr. M. Vijayalakshmi, Professor and Vice Principal – Vivekanand Education Society's Institute of Technology (VESIT), Mumbai; Sunil Rao, Partner, Business Services – Lightspeed Ventures Partners; Sunit Singh, Partner and Co-Founder – Design Capital; and Thomas Dal, Director and Dean – Strate School of Design.

Synechron Opens New Financial Innovation Lab in Singapore


Synechron, a leading Digital IT Consulting firm and technology services provider for financial services, has today announced that it has launched a new office and state-of-the-art Financial Innovation Lab (FinLab) in Singapore. The new facility will help build Synechron’s offering in the APAC region and partner with our clients on interactive workshops related to key digital strategies, such as AI, Blockchain, Data Analytics and RegTech that are reshaping the Financial Services landscape.

Synechron’s new office in Singapore will strengthen its capabilities in serving the APAC financial services market. Given Synechron’s new brand promise to ‘Accelerate Digital’, there will be a particular focus on Digital in the region. This comes after the appointment of a new APAC Head of Synechron, Mihir Shah. Shah brings extensive capital markets, innovation, and technology experience to the Singapore office, coming from Synechron’s London office, with 16+ years’ experience in Capital Markets and a proven track record implementing and leading innovation in financial services, with 11+ years spent at UBS.

Singapore is Synechron’s APAC hub from which we support clients across the region. Given our investment in Asia, Synechron expects to continue to add talent to the existing 50+ strong team across our Asian locations in Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Manila.

Mihir Shah, Head of Synechron APAC, said: “The APAC region is a huge center for financial services innovation, and with our new FinLab, we will be able to accelerate banks’ digital transformation journeys to include even more emerging technologies with AI and data science, machine learning, Blockchain, and more, and create new solutions and further innovation to areas like banking, user experience, and wealth management.”

The new FinLab in Singapore leverages Synechron’s 300+ digital innovation SMEs globally and hosts over 50 Accelerators and counting. The space will allow clients to have direct interaction with the latest technology and prototypes in the market, including our recent Data Science Accelerators. This opening marks the 12th FinLab operating globally, with the others located in New York, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, London, Dubai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, Serbia, Paris, and most recently, an upgraded FinLab in Amsterdam to expand its Technology business. Synechron will also be hosting its inaugural FinLabs Day on November 15th to showcase its newest innovations in Data Science.

Faisal Husain, Co-founder and CEO of Synechron, said: “Innovation and emerging technologies, and particularly their use in financial services, are evolving every day, and digital services are a large part of that. We are committed to expanding our global footprint to accelerate the digital transformation journey for banks and financial services firms, and our expansion to the APAC region is a strategic one. Our FinLab in Singapore will allow us to innovate with banks and will play a vital role in Synechron’s Accelerating Digital strategy to be the leading digital FS consultancy.”

Do Mobile Announces its Newest Feature Phone‘M4’ Priced for Rs.949


Do Mobile, one of the most innovative mobile handset brands in the country announces the launch of its newest M4 feature phone with the power packed qualities that keeps you going.

The feature phone comes with 2.4inch Bright Display bringing you the perfect viewing from any angle and accurate edge-to-edge colours.Housed in an attractive body with powerful 1000 mAh Li-ion Battery you will never run out on the most important discussions, chats and your favourite games. Also, with upto 32 GB expandable memory the feature phone aptitudes to enhance your multimedia experience and provide endless entertainment.

The Dual Sim Phone also supports Auto Call recording along with Wireless FM. A few additional features that prims up the phone is the LED Torch, Vibration Mode, Bluetooth, Video support MP3, MP4 etc.

Centred on its high performance, stylish looks and durability, the phone brings the latest in technology at the best budgeted price. Speaking on the launch Sandeep Mehra, Sales Head – Do Mobile says, “Another star performer that shall keep you going – M4, not only this phone is packed with key important features but also comes at best price,crafted specifically for the Indian consumers in mind.”

Lastly adding significance at the budgeted prices, M4 comes with Multi-Language Support –  Now take control and chat in 22 languages.

Priced at the MOP of Rs.949, the phone is available with retail stores across India.

Cybage Announces Consolidation of Its Digital Offerings for Enterprises


Cybage Software has announced the consolidation of its various organic digital offerings into a unified Digital Solutions umbrella to cater to an ever-evolving gamut of customer requirements in the disruptive digital scenario.  The decision was taken to tap in the huge demand from enterprises in various domains for a one-stop, comprehensive, up-to-date digital solutions portfolio that helps an enterprise be future-ready across operations.

The Digital Solutions umbrella will cover our flagship product DecisionMinesTM, Digital Marketing Services capabilities, Packaged Solutions offerings (CRM, CMS, E-commerce) and Centers of Excellence (Business Intelligence, Cloud Computing and Enterprise Mobility). The diversified service offerings are designed to help organizations make a smooth transition to the digital world by devising easy-to-integrate, built-to-suite solutions that can instantly enhance the efficiency of an organization without the need of any substantial re-skilling of existing employees.

The complete Digital Solutions package will serve to complement Cybage’s core Product Engineering capabilities. With this initiative, Cybage aims to fulfill the needs of enterprises, with a special focus on providing a differentiated value proposition to business decision makers across the length and breadth of internal operations and functions. As the relevance of digitization becomes imminent amongst enterprises in various domains, 360o solutions such as these are expected to be extremely popular for organizations looking to quickly jump on the tech juggernaut.

Commenting on the development, John Oberon, President–Digital Solutions, Cybage, said: “The need for our partners to maintain a competitive advantage requires digital solutions that work across all functions. These outcomes-based operational solutions provide flexibility to meet market demand just in time. Now, more than ever, business leaders will be empowered to realize adaptability to market changes with a tangible return on investment.”

Cybage’s offerings and strategies have facilitated our enterprise customers to remain competitive, efficient, and capable of optimizing returns from opportunities by implementing some of the most cutting-edge technologies and automated management frameworks. This move will allow us to consolidate our position as a leader and allow our customers easier access to our turnkey consulting and implementation capabilities.

Pure power. Sheer Adrenaline: BMW JOYFEST Exhilarates Bengaluru


BMW India commenced its exclusive driving program – BMW JOYFEST 2018 in Bengaluru today. The two day event in Bengaluru will showcase the driving dynamics, modern functionality and high performance of the entire BMW product portfolio. 

The BMW JOYFEST is a specially curated platform for customers and prospects to experience the extraordinary control, manoeuvrability and the grit of the signature BMW xDrive: the intelligent all-wheel drive system of the BMW X family of sports activity vehicles (SAVs) and explore the ultimate luxury, unsurpassed comfort and advance driving dynamics of other BMW sedans and sporty M cars.

The first-ever BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo, the all-new BMW M5, the all-new BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series, the all-new BMW X3, BMW X1 and BMW X5 will be available for test drive to participants. Further, BMW certified trainers will offer valuable advice on various driving techniques like slalom, fast laps, corner braking and emergency braking. The BMW 7 series will be on special display.

The thrill of high-performing range of sports cars – the all-new BMW M5 will be based on the Need for Speed Payback concept which made a debut at the 2017 Gamescom gaming conference in Cologne, Germany. BMW M Automobiles are produced by BMW Motorsport GmbH (a subsidiary of BMW AG). Sophisticated technology, individuality and safety - the BMW M cars offer an unmatched experience of exclusive, high-performance driving.

The 2018 edition of BMW JOYFEST will house an exclusive BMW 7 Series Individual Lounge, BMW Lifestyle zone with BMW original and BMW Motorsport accessories. It will also house BMW Financial Services zone, food and beverage section and BMW Gaming zone.

While the BMW Accessories and Lifestyle Zone will feature genuine BMW merchandise at special offers, the exclusive BMW 7 Series Individual Lounge offers customers an opportunity to customize and enhance their vehicle in line with their personal requirements. The BMW 7 Series Individual Lounge will also showcase individual paint finishes, leather upholstery and trims.

The BMW JOYFEST will feature one-of-its-kind two-tier set-up which will be created in each city, representing BMW’s premium international standards. The entrance is inspired from the iconic BMW kidney grille which is the most distinctive design feature. A special gaming zone will ensure an entertaining time for the entire family. Participants will also get to play games such as Need for Speed Payback and ring toss along with an opportunity to win lots of prizes.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Sold 13245 Units in the Month of October 2018


Toyota Kirloskar Motor sold a total of 12606 units in the domestic market this month of October 2018. The company exported 639 units of the Etios series this month thus clocking a total of 13245 units.  TKM sold a total of 12403 units in the domestic market and exported 1597 units of the Etios series in October 2017. 

The company has witnessed a growth of 15% in domestic sales from April-Oct 2018 as compared to the same period last year. This growth has been primarily driven by the positive sales growth of Innova Crysta, Fortuner, Etios Liva and the positive response to Yaris. 

Commenting on the sales performance, N. Raja, Deputy Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “ We are happy that we have been able to sustain good customer demand despite the dampening effect on consumer sentiment owing to hike in fuel prices, higher interest rates and increase in insurance premium. 

Innova Crysta has witnessed a growth of 11% in April to Oct 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017. We are thankful to our customers for their endless support to the brand and the trust they have shown for our products which define Quality, Durability and Reliability.  Additionally, Etios Liva, one of the most popular choice of Indian families has registered a growth of 17% from April to October 2018 contributing significantly towards the overall sales growth. 

We expect the buying sentiment to improve in the upcoming months and thus ensuring a positive sales momentum in the auto industry.

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Bharat BillPay Empowers Over 1 Crore Consumers of Bengaluru for Easy Bill Payment




Bharat BillPay, launched by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has on-boarded Banglore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) and Banglore Water Supply and Sewage Board  (BWSSB) to empower over 1 crore consumers for secure and easy bill payment. 

Currently, 107 billers across India with over 2.4 million agent outlets have been enabled.  Nearly thirty thousand agents have been on-boarded in Bengaluru that makes the ecosystem accessible to over 1 crore consumers. Bharat BillPay ecosystem has clocked 4.2 crore (42 million) transactions for September 2018

Key billers in Karnataka besides BESCOM and BWSSB that are part of Bharat BillPay ecosystem are Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company (GESCOM), Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Company (CESCOM) and Hubli Electricity Supply Company (HESCOM). Other major national billers are Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Jio, BSNL- Postpaid, Tata Sky, Dish TV, Sun Direct- DTH etc.

A.R.Ramesh, Chief Project Officer, Bharat Bill Payment System, NPCI said, “BESCOM has partnered with Vijaya Bank for Bharat BillPay which has significantly increased accessibility of consumers to the biller on various channels. Also, BWSSB is one of the new billers that is on-boarded for the first time on an interoperable bill payment ecosystem through Canara Bank. With Bharat BillPay, we strive to make consumer’s life easier by providing a one stop destination for all their recurring bills”.

Dr.R.C.Chetan, IRS, Chief Financial Officer and Director-Finance, BESCOM said, “With Bharat BillPay, BESCOM consumers have a convenient, safe and secure option to pay their bills as it saves time and cost of travelling to various bill collection centres. One can easily pay bills at their own convenience.”

Tushar Girinath, Chairman, BWSSB said, “Paying Water Bills has always been a pain-point for consumers across India. Bengaluru consumers now have the power and control of paying their BWSSB water bills via his/her preferred app/website enabled on Bharat BillPay.”

R A Sankara Narayanan, Managing Director and CEO, Vijaya Bank said, “We are happy to deepen our relationship with BESCOM and increase the accessibility of the consumers to the billers. Going forward Vijaya Bank aims to on board more billers in Bharat BillPay ecosystem. Consumers can be assured of a secure channel for bill payment by using any of the enabled channels under the Bharat BillPay ecosystem. It helps us to serve the consumer better by offering them ease of bill payment and future such collaborations”. 

Ashok Kumar Sahu, General Manager, Digital Banking Services, Canara Bank said, “We are happy to collaborate with BWSSB to empower bill payment of water across any of the Bharat BillPay enabled Channels. In future, to increase accessibility we would be offering Bharat BillPay to our consumers on our various platforms like Mobile Banking, Branches etc. along with on-boarding more billers that benefits the entire ecosystem”

Consumers can pay their BESCOM and BWSSB bills in four simple steps as mentioned below:

1.    Select to pay your bills via net-banking, website, app or physical outlets of banks/non-banks by just seeing the Bharat BillPay logo.
2.    Select BESCOM/BWSSB from the list.
3.    Choose your desired payment mode like Card, Wallet, Net-Banking or Cash as enabled by your bank.
4.    Receive instant receipt and confirmation with Bharat BillPay logo

The approved categories of billers on Bharat BillPay are: Electricity, Direct-To-Home (DTH), Telecom (Mobile postpaid, Landline postpaid and Broadband), Water and Gas. Once bills are paid, the consumers receive instant confirmation in the form of SMS or/and email or Print receipt with the Bharat BillPay logo.

About Bharat Bill Payment System: Bharat Bill Payment System is a Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) conceptualised ecosystem, managed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) which offers integrated, accessible and interoperable bill payment services to consumers across geographies with certainty, reliability and safety of transactions. It offers bill payment service to consumers through a network of agents/ retail shops/ bank-branches and digital channels like Internet banking, mobile apps, websites of banks and non-bank entities. As on date, 62 banks and 10 non-bank entities function as Bharat Bill Payment

Operating Units (BBPOUs) in the country. A BBPOU can be a bank or a non-bank institution which handles payment and aggregation of services related to bill payments under the scope of Bharat Bill Payment System (Bharat BillPay). Non-bank entities include aggregators, prepaid instrument issuers and consumer facing organisations. The pilot phase of Bharat Bill Payment System was launched by former RBI Deputy Governor, R. Gandhi on August 31, 2016.

After successful completion of the pilot run, RBI accorded their approval and subsequently NPCI announced the launch of Bharat Bill Payment System on October 17, 2017.

1st Tata Harrier Rolls Out from its All-New Assembly Line in Pune


Tata Motors has officially announced the roll out of the 1st Harrier from its all-new manufacturing line. With this, Tata Motors is now gearing up for the launch of its much awaited SUV in early 2019.

Tata Harrier needed a completely new approach to product development and manufacturing processes. The completely new world-class assembly line has been built in a record time of 6 months with the best manufacturing practices adopted from Jaguar Land Rover. It boasts of 90% automation levels with over 100+ KUKA and ABB robots.

According to Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors -“We have been receiving a tremendous response from the customers ever since we opened bookings of the Harrier, a fortnight ago. With the all- new assembly line ready and the roll out of the 1st Harrier, we are now gearing up to start deliveries in early 2019. The Harrier, with its stunning design will definitely appeal to customers, especially those who have eagerly waited for the product since its showcase as the H5X concept at the Auto Expo 2018. We are confident that the Harrier will set new benchmarks in the SUV segment, in 2019.”

Born of legendary pedigree with sleek looks and dynamism, Harrier is the first vehicle to sport the IMPACT Design 2.0 philosophy. It will offer an extraordinary exterior design, thoughtfully and intelligently designed plush interiors, future ready connectivity and best-in-class infotainment. The 5 seater monocoque SUV is engineered on the new generation ‘Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced’ Architecture , which is derived from the legendary Land Rover D8 architecture and developed in collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover.

Watch the rolling out of the first Harrier from its all- new assembly line on https://youtu.be/5FgTV5T9FLQ

Manipal Hospitals Unveils “Manipal Comphrehensive Cancer Centre“ & Dedicated Lymphodema Clinic

With an aim to bring forth advanced cancer care to the doorstep of millions of people, Manipal Hospitals, India’s leading healthcare provider unveiled its revamped Oncology block ‘Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Centre (MCCC)’ at the hospital’s Old Airport campus. Marking a new beginning, the Centre has introduced state-of-the-art, ultra-modern digital mammography with Tomosynthesis technology to enhance the hospital’s diagnostic capabilities for screening and treating breast cancer and a dedicated  surgical Lymphoedema Clinic.

With rising incidence of breast cancer in the country, the revamped Centre will offer super-specialized tertiary care services in medical, surgical and radiation oncology, streamlined into dedicated site-specific teams. MCCC is one of India’s most comprehensive cancer care centres which houses complete treatment protocols under one roof.

The MCCC was inaugurated by leading Indian actors Bharathi Vishnuvardhan,  Priyanka Upendra and  Aniruddha Jatkar in the presence of Dr. H Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman, Manipal Hospitals &  Dr. Somashekhar S.P, Chairman & HOD Surgical Oncology, Manipal Hospitals Bengaluru.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. H. Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman Manipal Hospitals said, “We have been championing the cause of cancer awareness for more than two decades now. We launched the new Centre with a steadfast vision - to improve cancer care and help patients get superior treatment to live longer, better lives. We want to create a model of excellence, a place where patients are treated by our physicians with the best of clinical expertise. In our pursuit to provide holistic cancer care, the team will be working in a multi-disciplinary approach with other super specialty departments like Gynecology, Neurosurgery, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, urology and many others for all round support and care provided by a dedicated team of medical and paramedical professionals under one roof.”

About 1/3 of people who undergo total Mastectomy have not received any treatment except Physiotherapy to deal with Lymphodema of limbs. Under the expert guidance of Dr Ashok B C, Consultant Plastic Surgeon who is specializes in  quality treatment protocols for cancer patients trained in Japan can now offer an array of treatments. Lymphovenousanastamosis can be done during the Mastectomy surgery or on patients who are already experiencing swollen limbs. This has been successfully done on more than twenty five patients who are leading a normal life. Lymph Nodes Transfer,  this can be conducted in patients who are already suffering from heavy limbs.  Manipal has so far successfully done four lymph node transfers on patients who are living quality life after mastectomy. The ICG machine with the help of a dye helps the doctor identify blockage .

Interacting with the media Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, Renowned Indian Actress said, “It is an honor to be associated with Manipal Hospitals. The launch of this comprehensive centre coincides with Breast Cancer Awareness Month and with the introduction of Digital Mammography technology, I urge ladies to not shy away and come forward for a check-up. Prevention is always better than cure.”

Manipal Comprehensive Centre has completed over 1500 successful complex robotic surgeries. It is currently Asia’s number one centre to perform HIPEC surgeries, which is the only hope for stage 4 cancers, with more than 300 surgeries performed in last three years. The centre is performing almost 100 HIPEC every year and is the only largest centre for the treatment of Sentinel Lymph node or Breast Lymphoedema in India.

Sharing further details, Dr. Somashekhar S.P, Chairman & HOD Surgical Oncology said, Manipal Hospitals Bangalore said, “While we make advances in technology, we are also creating an environment to accelerate new treatments whether it is with Robotics, Watsons or now with Tomosyntheses. Digital mammography is superior to the conventional mammography because it can detect cancers which are hidden owing to dense breast tissues and overlapping structures. It gives exceptionally sharp images for visualization of the finest details which is a big boon for patients and for us as doctors as well.”

Priyanka Upendra – Indian Actress said, “Manipal Hospitals is always at the forefront when it comes to creating awareness around deadly diseases. I am happy to lend my support and call upon everyone to take charge of their lives by undergoing regular medical checkups and prioritizing their health over everything else.”

Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Centre provides all cancer treatment under one umbrella with expert guidance of world-renowned specialists spanning nuclear medicine to radiation oncology.

Functional Fitness Major ‘MultiFit Announces India’s First Gym Chain Driven Fitness Incubator Program


India’s largest and fastest growing Functional Fitness Studio Brand ‘MultiFit Wellness Private Limited’, today announced India’s first Gym chain driven fitness incubator program, namely ‘MultiFit Fitness Incubator Program (MFIP)’. To be housed out of its Bangalore and Pune facilities, the program will be a healthy mix of technology-based start-ups and ideas as well as conventional ones across sports, fitness, wellness and nutrition. MultiFit has already commenced incubation of a Fitness CRM, Nutrition program ‘Fitsperts’ and MMA Academy ‘MultiFit MMA Pro-Academy’ – all to be commercially launched over the next three-four months.

Commenting on the Incubator Program, Dr. Samir Kapoor, Founder & MD, MultiFit said: “The fitness business is changing extremely rapidly, driven not just by technology but by the fast-changing socio-economic landscape of the country. It is a known fact that over 400 million will be added to our urban population count over the next decade, over 75-80% of all mortality in the country will be driven by NCDs by 2020 and technology will enter a Machine Learning / AI dominated space, transforming and disrupting everything in the process. If we are not prepared for this change, we will be left way behind. Having said that, while we understand the business of fitness and wellness extremely well we most definitely need to go the collaborative route for the rest.”


“Launching the fitness incubator program was thus imperative. Through this program we aim at tapping into all the brilliant ideas that come up on a day-to-day basis across the country but lack the financial and business experience to take it forward. Add to this the large rapidly growing organic community of fitness enthusiasts we have built over the last couple of years as a native market for these ideas, the probability of getting winners increases. While our program will largely focus on early stage ideas, we would not be averse to established entities coming up with new ideas in the space as well,” added Samir.

Assisting MultiFit in this endeavour would also be its newly inducted Technical Advisory Board comprising 11 International Olympic Athletes including Andy Turner, Marilyn Okoro, Chris Tomlinson, Sarah Stevenson, Mark Lewis Francis, Sebastian Rodger, Zoe Smith, Alyson Dixon, Georgina Cassar, Luke Lennon Ford and Manoj Pingle.


Having started off as a 3000 sq. ft. single studio in 2015, MultiFit currently operates a chain of over 32 large format multi-disciplinary Functional Fitness studios across India, UK & UAE marking a presence in 10 cities. Further it has another 20 more signed up gyms which are slated to go live over the next 4-5 months taking the total count to 52 fitness studios.

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