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Andhra Pradesh Signs MoU For India’s First Hyperloop

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Andhra Pradesh Signs MoU,India First Hyperloop,Hyperloop Transportation Technologies,Chairman of HTT,HTT CEO Dirk Ahlbom,Startup Stories,2017 Latest Business News,AP signs MoU

The Andhra Pradesh government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the US based company, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT.) Under the agreement, HTT will introduce the futuristic “Hyperloop” transportation system in the State Capital region, Amravati.

Although the technology is far from completely developed, it could potentially reduce the travel time between Amravati to Vijayawada to under six minutes from one hour. This public private partnership agreement will be funded primarily from private sources. According to a Press Trust of India report, the agreement was signed between the AP Economic Development Board (ABEDB) and HTT.

According to an official press release regarding the MoU,  a feasibility study is scheduled to start next month to analyze the surrounding cityscapes and create the best route between the two cities. But the press release did not disclose the probable cost of the project. If successful, this will be the first Hyperloop project to be implemented in India. The actual construction of the Hyperloop will begin in the second phase of the plan after first conducting the feasibility study beginning this October. The feasibility study is expected to last around 6 months.

Speaking about the agreement, the Chairman of HTT, Bibop Gresta said they were extremely delighted to bring Hyperloop to India and will work with the local stakeholders to build the regulatory standards necessary for safe and efficient operation. HTT, according to a report in Wired, also plans to build networks of tubes in South Korea, Slovakia and Abu Dhabi. HTT was founded in 2013 by CEO Dirk Ahlbom and Chairman Bibop Gesta. 
The company has a large design and execution team consisting of more than 800 engineers besides drawing support from 40 other corporate and university partners.

Notable, the concept of the Hyperloop mode of transportation is backed by entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has also shown interest in creating a Hyperloop pod himself and is also testing his own design. Hyperloop envisions a transportation system which comprises a sealed near vacuum tube or system of tubes that propels a pod like vehicle at nearly 1,100 km per hour or above. In a press release, Krishna Kishore, the Chief Executive Officer of APEDB said, “By collaborating with Hyperloop, Amaravati is embracing a prototype for the mobility of tomorrow.

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Sundar Pichai Reaches Billionaire Milestone as Alphabet CEO

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Sundar Pichai, the visionary CEO of Alphabet Inc., has officially entered the ranks of global billionaires, accomplishing this rare feat after a decade at the helm of one of the world’s most influential tech giants. Pichai’s net worth hit $1.1 billion—according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index—fueled by Alphabet’s incredible market performance and the company’s growth of more than $1 trillion in value since early 2023. Achieving billionaire status without being a founding member sets Pichai apart, highlighting his significant impact among non-founder tech leaders.

Born in Tamil Nadu, India, Pichai’s success story is rooted in humble beginnings. He spent his childhood in a modest two-room apartment, only gaining access to a telephone at age 12. A scholarship took him to Stanford University in 1993, with his family making great sacrifices for his education. After joining Google in 2004, Pichai played a pivotal role in the development of Chrome and rose steadily, ultimately becoming CEO in 2015. His leadership through Alphabet’s restructuring and his stewardship over high-growth areas like YouTube, Google Cloud, and Google Play have been critical to the company’s success.

During his tenure, Pichai has championed aggressive investments in artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure, positioning Alphabet at the forefront of technological innovation. While his annual salary sits at $2 million, the majority of his fortune stems from stock awards and financial incentives tied to performance. Pichai’s journey exemplifies the rise from modest beginnings to extraordinary success, serving as an inspiration and proving that transformative leadership and strategic vision can redefine what’s possible—even without a founder’s equity stake.

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IIT Hyderabad Unveils Palyanka, Heavy-Lift Drone for Air Ambulance Use

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Hyderabad - Drone

The Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation Foundation (TiHAN) at IIT Hyderabad has set a new standard in drone technology with the launch of Palyanka, a heavy payload drone designed as an autonomous air ambulance. Capable of carrying up to 200 kg, Palyanka is engineered to swiftly transport patients, medical equipment, or critical cargo across challenging terrains, bypassing traditional barriers like road congestion and remote inaccessibility. This advanced UAV operates autonomously, making it highly effective for rapid response in both urban and rural emergencies, and stands at the forefront of disaster relief operations in scenarios such as floods and fires.

Built for versatility, Palyanka doesn’t just function as an air ambulance. Its robust design enables use in rescue missions, cargo deliveries, and even as an air taxi for metropolitan connectivity. Inspired by the Sanskrit word for palanquin, the name “Palyanka” reflects the drone’s role as a safe and efficient carrier. All components, from conceptual design to IP, have been developed in-house at IIT Hyderabad, ensuring the drone meets stringent standards for durability and performance under extreme conditions.

With a development journey spanning over five years and led by Prof. P. Rajalakshmi, TiHAN’s team has transitioned from early drone prototypes to a full-scale, high-capacity solution like Palyanka. The team is now preparing pilot projects in hilly terrains and working on further enhancing the drone’s endurance with innovative heat-resistant materials. By pioneering such indigenous solutions, IIT Hyderabad’s TiHAN is transforming emergency medical services and logistics, marking a pivotal advancement in India’s urban mobility and public safety landscape.

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X’s Major Price Cut in India: Premium Plans Now More Accessible Than Ever

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X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has announced a major reduction in its subscription prices across India, slashing fees by up to 48%. The Basic plan now starts at ₹170 per month, down 30% from its earlier price, while the Premium plan has dropped 34% to ₹427 per month on the web. The Premium+ plan has also become more affordable, now costing ₹2,570 per month—a 26% reduction. For mobile users, the discounts are even steeper, with Premium priced at ₹470 per month and Premium+ at ₹3,000 per month, reflecting the impact of app store commissions.

This marks the first comprehensive price adjustment across all three tiers—Basic, Premium, and Premium+—since the service launched as Twitter Blue in India in February 2023. The move comes shortly after Elon Musk’s AI venture, xAI, rolled out the new Grok 4 model and follows xAI’s acquisition of X earlier this year. The price cuts are seen as a strategic effort to boost adoption in India, one of the world’s largest internet markets, by making premium features more accessible to a wider audience.

Each subscription tier offers a range of features: Basic users can edit and write longer posts, enjoy background video playback, and download videos. Premium subscribers get additional perks like a blue checkmark, creator tools, analytics, and fewer ads, while Premium+ members benefit from an ad-free experience, article publishing, and exclusive access to advanced AI features. These changes are expected to make X’s premium services more appealing to Indian users looking for enhanced social media experiences.

 

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