Top storyThe TTD will release on Wednesday the quota of Rs 300 special entry darshan tickets for the Navaratri Brahmotsavam of Tirumala Srivari. Rs 300 darshan tickets for October had already been released online, but the quota for October 12, 13, 14, 18, 19 and 20 was kept on hold. With the Brahmotsavam approaching, the TTD is set to release the quota for these dates online at 10 am on October 7.
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday performed bhoomi puja at Burripalem in Guntur district's Tenali constituency for construction of 3 lakh houses statewide under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin. Under a pilot project of the Union Rural Development Ministry and the AP government, 175 houses — 100 at Burripalem and 75 at Obulanayudupalem — will be built with 3D concrete printing. Designs withstand earthquakes, extreme temperatures and cyclones. Another 4.20 lakh houses are targeted by March.
Field assistants staged a dharna at the Panchayat Commissioner's office in Vijayawada under a 'collective representation' call. They arrived in large numbers from various districts of the state with three main demands: release of pending dues, a wage hike and job security. With protesters gathering at one place, police were put on alert and heavy forces were deployed at the office. Police are monitoring protest permissions and the movement of demonstrators. The field assistants say the agitation will continue until the government responds.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, along with Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, performed the foundation ceremony for 3 lakh houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin 2.0 at Burripalem in Tenali constituency, Guntur district. They also launched a pilot project for 177 houses using 3D concrete printing technology in Burripalem and Obulanayudupalem at an estimated Rs 14 crore, to be implemented jointly by the Union Rural Development Ministry, CSIR-CBRI Roorkee and the state government. Officials said 5.50 lakh houses have been handed over and 4.20 lakh more are targeted by next March.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the construction of three lakh houses across Andhra Pradesh under PMAY Gramin 2.0. At the event in Burripalem in Tenali constituency of Guntur district, they also launched house construction using 3D concrete printing technology. Union Minister Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, ministers Nadendla Manohar and Parthasarathy, BJP AP president PVN Madhav, MLAs, MLCs and corporation chairmen attended. Chandrababu later addressed a public meeting.
An IndiGo aircraft, flight 6E352, flying from Pune to Hyderabad was struck by a bird while in the air. The pilot brought the situation under control and landed the plane safely at Shamshabad Airport, with no harm to passengers or crew. Experts who inspected the aircraft after landing found a dent on its front portion, preliminarily attributed to the bird strike. Officials said the pilot's prompt action averted a major accident. A Chandigarh service was cancelled due to technical problems.
IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu on Saturday announced Rs 5 lakh each to families of those killed and Rs 1 lakh each to the seriously injured in the Vikarabad district bus accident. He visited the injured in hospital. Police said 51 people from Isnapur and Kyasaram villages in Patancheru mandal, Sangareddy district, were travelling to a funeral at Chintakunta when the bus overturned at a bend on the Ananthagiri hills road. Four died. A case was registered against the travels management and the driver.
Hyderabad has 70 private vehicles for every 100 people, Lok Satta chief and former IAS officer Jayaprakash Narayan said. In an interview to a YouTube channel he said Singapore has 11, Shanghai 17, and London and New York 24-26 per 100 people. He attributed the trend to the absence of quality public transport and first and last mile connectivity, which forms 20% of distance but 40% of time and 60% of cost. Expanding Metro and RTC services is the solution, he said.
The ‘Forum for Constitutional Democracy’ was launched in Hyderabad with the aim of uniting civil society to protect constitutional values, democratic systems and political values. Senior journalist K. Ramachandra Murthy was elected convenor. At a meeting at Basheerbagh Press Club chaired by Telangana Media Academy chairman K. Srinivas Reddy, members discussed the forum's objectives and future action plan. MLC Prof. M. Kodandaram said independent institutions including universities, the Election Commission and the judiciary face challenges.
South Coast Railway has decided to run two special trains between Machilipatnam and Shivamogga Town for the festival rush. Train 07217 will leave Machilipatnam at 3.55 pm on Sunday, August 30, reaching Shivamogga Town at 3 pm the next day. Train 07218 will leave Shivamogga at 5.40 pm on September 2, arriving at 3.55 pm the following day. Halts include Gudivada, Vijayawada, Guntur, Narasaraopet, Donakonda, Markapuram, Kambham, Nandyal, Betamcherla, Dhone, Guntakal, Anantapur, Dharmavaram, Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam and Hindupur. Officials said timings may change.
Five children have died so far in the fire that broke out on Monday night in the special newborn care unit at RIMS, Adilabad. Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha announced that, on the orders of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia will be given to each bereaved family. A preliminary inquiry found the AC unit caught fire due to an electrical short circuit. An expert committee, three safety audits and a 150-bed maternal and child health centre were ordered.