Author: Neel Achary

IHCL Announces a SeleQtions Hotel in Digha, West Bengal

Chandigarh, March 17: Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, today announced the signing of a SeleQtions hotel in Digha, West Bengal. The upcoming property will be developed as a greenfield project.

Commenting on the development, Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President – Real Estate & Development, IHCL, said:

“Digha is one of Eastern India’s most frequented beach destinations, and its growing relevance in spiritual tourism is widening its visitor base beyond the traditional leisure segment. This combination of coastal and cultural appeal is strengthening demand throughout the year and enhancing the destination’s hospitality potential. The signing aligns with our strategy of expanding in emerging tourism hubs. We are delighted to continue our longstanding partnership with the Ambuja Neotia Group for this project.”

Giriraj Damani, Whole-Time Director, CEO and CFO – Ambuja Neotia Hospitality, added:

“We are pleased to collaborate with IHCL to bring the SeleQtions experience to Digha. This project will play an important role in elevating the region’s hospitality infrastructure.”

The 56-key IHCL SeleQtions Digha will feature an all-day dining restaurant and a bar, along with spacious meeting and event venues designed for social gatherings and corporate events. Recreational amenities at the hotel will include a swimming pool, fitness centre, and spa, offering guests a comprehensive hospitality experience.

Situated along the Bay of Bengal, Digha is known for its wide beaches, tranquil shoreline, and scenic beauty. The destination offers a range of attractions, including New Digha Beach, Old Digha Beach, Talsari Beach, Digha Science Centre, Marine Aquarium & Regional Centre, and Amarabati Park.

With the addition of this property, IHCL will have 17 hotels in West Bengal, including 9 under development, further strengthening its presence in the region.

Kumar Corp Unveils ‘Kumar Plumeria’ – A Premium Luxury Residential Development near KIADB Aerospace Park, Bengaluru

Bengaluru, March 17: Kumar Corp has announced the launch of its new residential project, Kumar Plumeria, located near the KIADB Aerospace Park in Bengaluru. The premium residential development is thoughtfully designed to blend contemporary architecture with expansive landscaped living spaces, offering residents a harmonious balance of open green environments, recreation, and refined urban comfort.

Each residence at Kumar Plumeria is designed to maximise natural light and ventilation, complemented by expansive balconies that enhance the sense of openness and comfort. The development comprises six residential towers (A to F), offering spacious 3.5 BHK, 3.5 BHK + Staff, and 4.5 BHK + Staff residences.

Project Highlights

• 3.5 BHK residences: Saleable area ranging from 2,680 sq. ft. to 2,710 sq. ft.

• 3.5 BHK + Staff residences: Saleable area ranging from 2,860 sq. ft. to 2,890 sq. ft.

• 4.5 BHK + Staff residences: Approximately 3,070 sq. ft. saleable area

Kumar Plumeria is anchored by a comprehensive Landscape Master Plan that integrates open green spaces and community zones throughout the development. Key features include a grand entry and exit with a security cabin, clubhouse drop-off zone, and a Central Celebration Plaza equipped with a stage and seating area for events.

The project also features landscaped terraces, a swimming pool with a shaded lounge deck, yoga and meditation deck, children’s play area with an outdoor gym, mini soccer and box cricket court, basketball practice court, and an amphitheatre designed for community gatherings.

Residents will also have access to a wide range of indoor and outdoor amenities, including a badminton court, gymnasium, indoor games facilities, multi-sport courts, landscaped terraces, and dedicated wellness and children’s zones.

Each residence will include two car parking slots, with one slot equipped with a dedicated EV charging point, reinforcing the project’s focus on modern and sustainable living. Kumar Plumeria aims to set a new benchmark in boutique luxury living.

Commenting on the launch, Umang Badjatya, CEO, Kumar Corp, said:
“Kumar Plumeria reflects our commitment to creating thoughtfully designed, spacious homes in emerging growth corridors. With only 100 residences, the project offers exclusivity, privacy, and connectivity in equal measure. This development aligns with our long-term vision of delivering premium, low-density communities that prioritise space and sustainable urban growth. Our aim is to provide not just a home, but an elevated lifestyle experience that blends comfort, elegance, and community.”

Sharper LEO navigation through outer-loop framework

Positioning, navigation, and timing services are now essential for autonomous systems, logistics, and mass-market electronics, yet conventional GNSS remains vulnerable in urban canyons, tunnels, and other obstructed environments. LEO constellations such as Starlink, OneWeb, and Iridium have drawn growing interest because their signals are strong, plentiful, and fast-moving, making them attractive as backup or complementary navigation sources. But unlike GNSS satellites, many LEO platforms do not provide transmission timestamps or pseudorange-style observables, leaving signal propagation time uncertain. Previous studies have focused heavily on orbit-related errors, while the role of propagation time in state estimation has received far less attention. Based on these challenges, deeper research into propagation-time-aware LEO positioning is needed.

In 2026, researchers from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelonareported (DOI: 10.1186/s43020-026-00189-w) in Satellite Navigation a new outer-loop positioning framework for LEO Doppler observations that explicitly accounts for signal propagation time, demonstrating improved accuracy and stability in both simulations and real Iridium measurements.

The proposed method combines an outer loop and an inner loop to better reconstruct the true geometry of LEO signal transmission. In the outer loop, satellite states are updated with TLE+SGP4, predicted Doppler observations are generated, and residuals are estimated through weighted least squares. In the inner loop, intermediate quantities—especially signal propagation time—are iteratively refined. The framework also introduces a finite-difference Doppler observation model that reduces the influence of atmospheric delay and better links Doppler drift to receiver position, velocity, and clock states. Experiments showed that the algorithm improved three-dimensional position accuracy by more than 15% and velocity accuracy by more than 25%, while significantly improving clock-related error estimation. In measured Iridium observations, point-positioning error fell by 13.4% compared with an existing coarse-time approach, and solution stability also improved. The study further identified a practical convergence limit: when the initial position error reaches 200 km, the tolerable receiver clock error drops below 50 ms, underscoring the importance of good initialization in real deployments.

The findings suggest that propagation time is not merely a secondary correction in LEO navigation, but a central factor that shapes the quality of the final solution. By treating it explicitly rather than absorbing it into a rough coarse-time estimate, the researchers showed that Doppler-based positioning can become both more accurate and more robust. The work also provides a clearer understanding of how spatial and timing uncertainties interact, offering valuable guidance for future receiver design and algorithm development.

The broader implications are considerable. As LEO constellations continue to expand, propagation-time-aware positioning could help build resilient navigation services for GNSS-challenged or GNSS-denied environments. The approach may prove especially useful for low-cost devices, mobile platforms, and Internet-of-Things applications that cannot rely on high-end atomic timing hardware. While further validation under more diverse real-world conditions will still be needed, this study establishes a practical and theoretically grounded route toward more accurate, stable, and scalable LEO-based navigation services in the years ahead. 

Mahanagar Gas Limited Ventures into Renewable Energy

Mumbai, Mar 17th: Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL), one of the largest city gas distribution (CGD) companies in India, has signed a Share Subscription Agreement (SSA) and Shareholding Agreement (SHA) with Fourth Partner Energy’s FPEL Reliant Energy Private Limited and its holding company FPEL Saur Vidyut Private Limited on March 09, 2026, to acquire a 26% stake in FPEL Reliant. With this investment in solar power, the company has taken a step towards strengthening its sustainability agenda.

The investment, amounting to approximately INR 389 lakhs, will support the setting up of a solar power plant in the state of Maharashtra. The power generated from the power plant will be utilised for consumption at CNG stations across the State and will help the company move towards cleaner energy sources while optimising energy costs.

The acquisition is compliant with regulatory requirements related to power consumption under the Electricity Act, 2003 (read with the Electricity Rules, 2005. By integrating renewable energy into its operations, MGL aims to strengthen its commitment to sustainable business practices and reduce the carbon footprint associated with its operations.

Commenting on the company’s foray into renewable energy, Ashu Shinghal, Managing Director, Mahanagar Gas Limited said, “Mahanagar Gas Limited is continuously exploring opportunities to integrate cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions into its operations. Our foray into solar energy is a step towards adopting cleaner energy sources for our CNG station network while optimising energy costs and meeting regulatory requirements. As we continue to expand our footprint within the state of Maharashtra and beyond, incorporating renewable energy solutions will remain an important part of our long-term growth strategy.”

The acquisition will be completed through a cash investment and is expected to be finalised within six months from the execution of the agreements. Following completion, FPEL Reliant will become an associate company of Mahanagar Gas Limited.

Jay Kumar Waghela, CEO (Distributed Business Unit), Fourth Partner Energy said, “We at Fourth Partner Energy are proud to partner with Mahanagar Gas Limited in its endeavour to integrate renewable power into their operational ecosystem and supporting India’s transition towards cleaner energy solutions. Corporates across various sectors are boosting their use of solar and other renewables to lower carbon emissions and promote a greener environment.  At FPEL, we are proud to offer all integrated clean energy solutions including solar, wind, battery storage, hybrid power and carbon credits on a single platform to help players like MGL fast-track its net zero goals. We are thrilled and look forward to this new journey with MGL.”

Fourth Partner Energy is India’s leading renewable energy developer, with an operational capacity of over 1.6 GW clean energy assets, and a target of a 9 GW portfolio by FY31. The firm has solar and wind projects under development across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu – with a focus on clean power supply to hard-to-abate sectors.

US Dollar Sees Volatility Risks On Geopolitical Developments And Ahead Of Fed

Today’s markets analysis on behalf of Zaheer Anwari – Co-Founder and CEO at The Revacy Fund

The dollar stabilized to a certain extent today after retreating in the prior session, but could remain relatively volatile as markets react to geopolitical developments in the Middle East. Treasury yields were firmer following a pullback on Monday as well. While the dollar and yields receded yesterday as oil slipped, the resurgence in crude prices could drive them to the upside again.

From a technical perspective, while oil prices have been edging up since December 2025, caution is important as risks remain, unless a sustained trend above $100 is confirmed. Meanwhile, the trend could remain bullish overall, leaving short bets at risk.

As a result, traders could continue to monitor the developments in the Middle East and their impact on inflation expectations. Plans to put in place military escorts for oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz could drive oil, the dollar, and yields down if they materialize. 

While the market could react to a certain extent to the ADP job data today and PPI figures tomorrow, the focus remains on the Federal Reserve’s Wednesday decision, where a hold is expected. However, markets could respond to Chair Powell’s comments and inflation outlook under current conditions, in addition to the Fed’s economic projections.

15-Year-Old Inaara Mehta Luthria Secures Top Global Rankings at FEI World Dressage Challenge 2025

Mumbai, Mar 17th: The Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) has officially declared its rankings for the FEI World Dressage Challenge (WDC) 2025, with India’s young equestrian talent, Inaara Mehta Luthria, delivering an exceptional performance on the global stage.

Representing the Amateur Riders’ Club, Mumbai, the 15-year-old rider competed astride her horse, Dasha Deluxe, achieving an impressive score of 69.875% in the Youth Category (12–16 years). Inaara secured the No.1 rank in India, No.1 in FEI Zone 9 (comprising India, Singapore, Philippines, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and China), and an outstanding No.6 rank in the world.

Inaara was also selected to represent Team India alongside Gaurav Pundir, Miraya R. Dadabhoy, and Samanna Everaa T. The team delivered a commendable performance, securing the No.1 position in FEI Zone 9 and ranking No.7 globally.

The FEI World Dressage Challenge is a unique global initiative designed to promote dressage worldwide. Under this format, international judges travel across participating countries throughout the year to evaluate riders locally, ensuring a fair and consistent standard of judging while eliminating the need for horses and riders to travel internationally. In 2024, India was judged by Natalia Rubashko from Belarus.

Inaara Mehta Luthria is a student of Hillspring International School. Reflecting on her achievement, she said, “I am extremely grateful to my parents and my coach, Hriday Chheda, who have continuously supported me and helped me through this journey. My horse, Dasha Deluxe and I have formed a strong bond which truly enriched my experience and made it successful.”

This remarkable achievement highlights the growing prominence of Indian equestrian talent on the global stage and underscores the country’s continued progress in the sport.

Beyond Meetings: Why Flexibility Matters in Business Travel

Mar 17: Corporate travel is no longer defined by rushed itineraries and back-to-back meetings. Today, it is evolving into a more thoughtful experience that balances productivity with comfort. As Indian companies expand into new markets, business travel is picking up pace. But with packed schedules, flight changes and tight itineraries, many professionals are finding that work trips can quickly become exhausting rather than productive. As travel increases, expectations are shifting. Today’s business travellers are looking for smoother, more flexible journeys, whether that means easier booking options, the ability to adjust plans on the go or a travel experience that allows them to stay focused and refreshed.

1. Flexibility is Essential
Business travel often requires a degree of flexibility. Meetings run over, schedules shift, and priorities change. Flexible fares and booking options allow companies to adjust plans effortlessly, ensuring travel stays smooth.

2. Supporting Both the Company and the Traveller
As business travel grows, companies are increasingly looking for programmes that offer both convenience and added value. With MHcorporate by Malaysia Airlines, businesses can manage work travel more efficiently while offering employees additional benefits – not only for work trips but also when travelling for leisure with their loved ones. When employees book their personal travel through the portal, companies can also earn Corporate Loyalty Points that can be redeemed for flights across the Malaysia Airlines network. This allows organisations to streamline travel management while rewarding both the business and its employees.

3. Travel Supports Business Growth
For many organisations, travel remains a key driver for building partnerships and expanding into new markets. Strong airline networks and reliable regional connectivity help teams move efficiently across key destinations in Asia-Pacific and beyond. Corporate programmes such as MHcorporate by Malaysia Airlines offer structured benefits while keeping travel simple and manageable.

4. Efficiency Makes a Difference
Time saved during travel can be reinvested into business priorities. Reliable routes, convenient connections and smooth coordination all contribute to a more efficient travel experience. For small and medium-sized businesses in particular, a dependable travel programme helps reduce uncertainty and allows teams to focus on their core work.

5. Smarter Travel Planning
Frequent business travellers are increasingly choosing airline partners based on reliability, connectivity and ease of booking. In response, companies are taking a more strategic approach, prioritising long-term value over one-off bookings.

As business travel continues to grow, companies of all sizes are rethinking how they manage it. Flexible options, clear benefits and strong global connectivity are now central to decision-making. Programmes such as MHcorporate by Malaysia Airlines – offering corporate fare benefits, greater booking flexibility, and access to the airlines’ international network – provide a practical way for companies to manage business travel with greater flexibility and value.