Financial help for oxygen tanker drivers?
At a virtual conference, convened by the commerce ministry in early May 2021, the All India Motors Transport Congress (AIMTC) is known to have urged the government to allow free mobility along with provision of food and water for oxygen tanker drivers on RORO (Tankers on Rail and Air). Sources claim that the AIMTC core committee chairman Bal Malkit Singh also stressed on the provision of financial help (either by the government or oxygen manufacturers) for the oxygen tanker transporters to meet the treatment cost of the drivers affected by Covid-19. Drawing attention to the discussion on seamless transportation of oxygen in the country amid its acute shortage in the wake of second Covid wave, sources explain that the meeting was chaired by commerce and industry ministry joint secretary Sureshkumar Nair. They reveal that other than Nair, oxygen manufacturers like Linde, Inox and UPL participated in the meeting. There were representatives of Indian
Chemical Council and Road Safety Council also.
Stating that Singh mentioned about some drivers going into the rural parts of the country and testing positive every day, sources inform that the cost of treatment of such drivers was as much as Rupees-three to Rs.3.5 lakh, It was being borne by the respective transporters employing them, affecting badly their ability to sustain. Calling for fixed cost payment to the transporters on a per-kilometrerunning-per-month basis (as in normal times) in consultation with the stakeholders, Singh at the meeting, according to sources called for timely payment, rewards, and incentives to the transporters engaged in the oxygen supply chain by the oxygen manufacturers.
AIMTC, in a statement issued post the meeting, is known to point at eradicating fear among the drivers by conducting periodic counseling sessions, providing priority vaccination to the drivers, and giving them Covid-19 insurance cover. The statement read that the government has extended its support for hazardous goods bridge training for heavy commercial vehicle drivers, and to facilitate the supply of trained drivers for oxygen tankers.
Padmini VNA has entered into a commercial agreement with UKbased Saietta Group, which specialises in Axial Flux Technology (AFT) in electric motors. The two companies will jointly manufacture AFT motors in India to cater to the local EV market needs. Especially in two and three-wheelers. Facilitated by the UK Government’s Department of International Trade, according to Saietta sources, the arrangement to manufacture AFT motors locally is about combining the knowledge and experience of Saietta and the market experience and reach of
Padmini VNA. Catering to a wide range of auto manufacturers in India, Padmini VNA specialises in EGR valves, throttle bodies, vacuum modulation valves, pumps, solenoid valves, electronics and fuel system products among others.
The AFT motors are designed to deliver good power and torque at just 48V-120V, and are enabled by their liquid-cooled mechanism to ensure a superior continuous power output as compared to the air-cooled electric motors, especially in the hot and humid climate conditions.
Blue Dart India has formed Blue Dart MedExpress Consortium with the mission to revolutionise the delivery of vaccines and emergency medical supplies to the remotest parts of India with drones. A part of the ‘Medicine from the Sky’ project in collaboration with the Government of Telangana, World Economic Forum, Niti Aayog and Healthnet Global, the consortium is aiming to assess an alternate logistics route in providing safe, accurate and reliable pickup and delivery of health care items (medicines, covid-19 vaccines, units of blood, diagnostic specimens and other lifesaving equipment) from distribution centre to specific location and back.
Mentioned a Blue Dart India source that the consortium drone flights will deploy an immersive delivery model to optimise the current healthcare logistics within Telangana, enabling deliveries from district medical stores and blood banks to Primary Health Centers (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), blood storage units and further on.
Volvo Group India Private Limited has announced the setting up of a 100-bed COVID Care Centre (CCC) at Bangalore in partnership with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The facility at CV Raman Nagar will commence operations in two phases with the first phase comprising 40 beds sponsored fully by the Volvo Group and supported by Ikea India. Equipped to cater to Covid19 positive individuals who are either asymptomatic, or exhibiting mild symptoms or seeking isolation services, the care centre is equipped with oxygen concentrators, necessary medical equipment, and amenities such as food and medicines. With furnishings by Ikea, the centre will provide treatment and care by on-site doctors and nursing staff free of charge, as per the standards and protocol defined by the Government of Karnataka. The Volvo Group has contracted with AyurVAID Hospitals and PCMH Restore Health who will provide and administer an appropriately integrated medical approach of allopathic and ayurvedic treatment. The Volvo Group has also tied up with Aster Labs for Diagnostic Tests. Resident doctors, nurses and support staff will be stationed 24x7 at the centre. Also available at the centre is an ambulance service and, in case of escalation, the patient would be shifted by BBMP to their designated Govrenment or private hospital for further treatment.
Olectra Greentech and Evey Trans Private Limited have been declared as the L1 bidder for another 100 electric buses by a state transport undertaking under FAME II, claim industry sources. They mention that that the two have bagged the tender to supply e-buses on Gross Cost Contract (GCC) basis for inter-city operations for 12 years. As per the procedure, sources inform, Evey Trans will procure the 100 e-buses from Olectra once the ‘Letter of Award’ is received.
They would then be delivered over a period of 10 months, valued at Rs.250 crore approximately.