Airlines
AI shareholders' pact to be firmed up in two weeks
THE agreement for sale of Government equity in Air India (AI) is to be firmed up within two weeks and will provide the input for certain features of the civil aviation policy, which has now been pending for some time.
AI plans marketing drive -- Adopts new software for space management
AIR India (AI) is to go in for more intensive marketing, better automation of space management and plans to offer more capacity from the hinterland areas like Cochin, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Calicut to popular destinations in the Far East and Gulf regio
n.
Automobiles
Opel Swing launch in July
GENERAL Motors India (GMI), the wholly-owned subsidiary of automobile major General Motors of the US, is planning to launch the station-wagon variant of its current mid-size sedan -- the Opel Corsa -- by mid-July. The new station-wagon variant -- the Ope
l Swing -- is being launched with two engine options, a 1.4 litre and a 1.6 litre petrol engine.
Banking and Finance
Housing finance cos get boost from `genuine buyers'
CRASH in the real estate prices seems to have warded off speculators from the market and encouraged genuine customers. This has come as good news for housing finance companies, which are seeing some increase in credit offtake.
Courts
Dismissed employee wins case in apex court
WHAT is the right of a workman, after the application filed by his employer for approval of an order of dismissal or discharge from service against him is refused by an industrial tribunal and what is the remedy open to the workman in such a situation.
Economy
Transfer pricing regime -- CII for review of penalty clause
THE Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has called for an adoption of a system that would allow a range of prices to satisfy the arm's length test stipulated under the transfer pricing legislation.
Financial Performance
Tata Elxsi net up at Rs 13.86 cr
TATA Elxsi Ltd has posted a net profit of Rs 13.86 crore for the year ended March 31, 2001 compared to Rs 6.7 crore last year.
Foreign Trade
`Trade can bridge Indo-Pak divide'
EVEN as India and Pakistan were at the threshold of initiating a new dialogue, the Pakistani High Commissioner to India, Mr Ashraf Jahangir Qazi, has said that trade will be the essential bridge in crossing the political divide and carrying the dialogue
further.
Information Technology
Silverline in consolidation mode
SILVERLINE Technologies today announced it had consolidated its offshore development operations in the country into three software development centres in Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai.
Petroleum
Gaz de France to pick up 10 pc stake in Petronet LNG
GAZ de France, the largest importer of LNG in Europe, has recently signed the shareholder's agreement with Petronet LNG Ltd (PLL), whereby the former will subscribe to 10 per cent equity in PLL with $25 million as its contribution.
Pharmaceuticals
Oral controlled release technology -- Ranbaxy arm ties up with Vectura
RANBAXY Laboratories' wholly-owned subsidiary, Ranbaxy Netherlands BV, has entered into a collaboration with Vectura Ltd to develop a novel oral controlled-release technology with potential application for a broad range of pharmaceutical compounds. The t
echnology will be patent protected.
Power
Dabhol says ready to extend conciliation
THE Dabhol Power Company (DPC) has accepted the Finance Ministry's proposal for a two months' extension for the conciliation process. The extension will be effective from June 7.
MSEB unruffled amid power talk
EVEN as officials from various financial institutions and banks split hairs in Singapore on whether to sink or sail with the Dabhol power project, the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) is cool about the entire affair.
GPEC rebuilds 2 substations in Kutch
GUJARAT PowerGen Energy Corporation Ltd (GPEC) announced it had rebuilt two 66 KV substations of GEB at Vajepar and Balasar in earthquake ravaged Kutch district in Gujarat.
Shipping
Shell orders 2 carriers to ferry LNG to Hazira
SHELL International Gas Ltd has recently ordered two LNG carriers which will ferry LNG to its Hazira terminal in Gujarat.
States
AP embarks on water sector reforms
HAVING initiated multi-sectoral reforms including ones in the power sector which witnessed unbundling of the monolith board and creation of distribution companies, the Andhra Pradesh Government is now working towards a comprehensive strategy for water se
ctor reforms.
Godavari scheme set to take off soon
Having obtained in-principle clearance from the Central Government, the State Government has decided to take up the long pending Rs 1,800-crore Godavari lift irrigation scheme aimed at irrigating parched lands in the backward regions of the State.
Courtesy call
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalitha, calling on the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, at the latter's residence on Tuesday.
TN bureaucracy shuffle leaves many an official puzzled
WHENEVER there is a change in Government in Tamil Nadu, the first to be affected are the IAS and IPS officers. Inevitably, those in posts considered good are shunted out and those in obscurity brought in to fill up these posts. And, it is these postings
that give an indication, at least to the bureaucracy, as to who is in favour with the new dispensation and who is not.
Telecommunications
WLL controversy tells on cellular subscriber base
THE controversy over the introduction of cheaper limited mobility services seems to have after all deterred people from hopping on to the cellular bandwagon. `Wait and watch' seems to be have been the norm in the past couple of months since the controver
sy erupted.
BSNL to hike interconnect charges -- Basic service operators seek TRAI help
HAVING failed to arrive at a consensus with the private basic operators, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has decided to go ahead with the hike in interconnect access charges for local, STD and ISD calls, effective from June 1.
Differences over WLL denied
THE Ministry of Communications has denied reports that the Minister of State for Communications, Mr Tapan Sikdar, was not in favour of limited mobility services.
