BIAL to get BMW electric vehicles for use of VIPs at Kempegowda International Airport
Bengaluru: The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) recently inked a three-year contract with BMW to provide high-end electric vehicles (EVs) for Very Important Persons (VIPs) who need to arrive at and depart from the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).
The passengers of high social status who need to travel between the aircraft and the VIP terminal can uses the EV fleet comprising two BMW i7 and one all-electric MINI Countryman, reports The Hindu. The BMW has said that the cars will be used by all VIPs, including dignitaries and leading businessmen who need conveyance through the terminal at KIA.
When asked about the special vehicle facility at the airport, the officials at KIA said that, earlier, VIPs were provided Lexus cars for travel within the airport limits and added that the cars have been now replaced with the EV fleet to provide sustainability and also reduction in carbon footprint. The officials have said that the VIPs will be provided the EV vehicles based on prior bookings made by the passengers.
Vikram Pawah, President and CEO of the BMW Group, India, has said that this is the fleet to be used at KIA, which is the first-ever BMW i7 and the all-electric MINI Countryman, will redefine premium travel as it is unmatched in elegance and zero-emission performance. Pawah added that the fleet would also set new benchmarks for responsible mobility in India.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
BJP stages walkout in Karnataka assembly over 'non-disbursal' of Gruha Lakshmi payout
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The opposition BJP on Wednesday staged a walkout from the Karnataka assembly protesting the alleged "non-disbursal" of two months' installments to 1.26 crore beneficiaries under a woman's assistance scheme of the state government.
The protest followed a heated debate in which the opposition accused the state government of providing "misleading" information regarding the payment status of the flagship Gruha Lakshmi scheme.
The saffron party members trooped into the well of the House and raised slogans, leading to the adjournment of the proceedings of the House for over an hour.
ALSO READ: 'Homebound' makes it to Oscar shortlist for best international feature
The Gruha Lakshmi guarantee scheme is one of the five pre-poll promises of the ruling Congress. It provides Rs 2,000 monthly to women heads of the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
The BJP legislators accused Woman and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar of having "misled" the House by giving false information to BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginkai that all the instalments till August have been paid under the scheme.
The opposition charged that the installments for the months of February and March this year were not paid.
The BJP MLAs' grouse was that they had been demanding an explanation from the Minister for the past three days, but she never turned up to provide information.
As soon as the session started, the opposition members trooped into the well of the House demanding the Minister's presence, which led to the adjournment.
When the members assembled again, the Minister replied that this is a unique flagship programme of the Congress government, which is a model for all the states.
Hebbalkar said she always strived to ensure that this scheme is implemented religiously.
"However, when I checked, I noticed that two months' installments were not paid to the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). If my reply has hurt anyone, then I express my regret," she said.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who came to the defence of Hebbalkar, said the BJP should apologise for the lie in the Union Budget.
"Despite the Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra Irrigation Project in the budget, the money was not given to Karnataka. You should question that as well," Shivakumar underlined.
ALSO READ: Actress Shilpa Shetty's restaurant booked for breaching operating hours
To this, Leader of Opposition in the assembly R Ashoka said the matter was raised because not only were the BJP members hurt but also the 1.26 crore beneficiaries who were eagerly waiting for the money.
Demanding that the lie be expunged from the House records, he insisted on a date for when the backlog will be paid to the beneficiaries.
The Minister said she was apologising for giving a wrong reply, but she was peeved at the way a woman was targeted in the House.
Objecting to this statement, BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar asked her to refrain from playing victim card and bring up the issue of gender, caste and religious discrimination as it was a matter related to 1.26 crore people.
Ashoka and the BJP MLAs then staged a walkout, saying the Minister's reply was not satisfactory.
