IIT Mandi start up to launch world’s first giant swing backed by AI in Manali

The Indian Express | 20 hours ago | 09-10-2022 | 05:40 pm

Come January, tourists in Manali will be able to get adrenaline rush riding a giant swing backed by Artificial Intelligence (AI), which has been built by a start up incubated at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi and is claimed to be the first-of-its kind in the world.Founded by four childhood adventure enthusiast friends who are engineers and certified rock climbers and mountaineers, the start up called ‘ManaliSwing’, has completed its human jump trials and is in process of filing five patents for the concept and design.The team claims it has already been approached by Dubai government to launch the swing in the country and is in conversation with interested agencies in Switzerland too.“We will offer one of the world’s most creative and safe giant swing like bungy jumping but instead of going down on rubber bungy cord, here one freefall followed by giant swing on dual dynamic ropes with over 100 possible jump styles allowing one to experience the adrenaline of 70m free fall with AI promising impeccable safety like never before,” Utsav Soni, one of the founders, told PTI.“The plan is to launch in Manali on new year. The tourists will have to pay Rs 3,000 for each jump. The cost will include transportation from a certain point and professional photography and videography service,” he added.The start up conducted a full-scale trial of 1,000 dummy jumps followed by successful Human Jumps under the special presence of IRATA experts at IIT Hyderabad.“The AI will also help track participants and jump master’s performance across millions of data points and deliver optimized approvals for jumping. Having a really intelligent AI will be an edge for a Jump Master and his team making sure no injury, incident, or causality can happen on the site. For example, AI will not approve the jump if there is anything wrong with the followed jump protocol or international standards.“This will be one of the best intersections of technology, innovation and adventure sport of this decade which has potential to disrupt the whole adventure tourism industry. The good part is that we don’t need to have some special hi-tech cameras and expensive setups to do this. This can be franchised anywhere in the world with an existing standard hi-res CCTV security camera feed,” he added.The team has plans to launch the second similar swing in Goa and then take the technology to other countries.“India, despite been world’s youngest country with 50 per cent population below 25, stands at 96th position in global Adventure Tourism Competitive Index (ATDI) 2020. That too is consistently decreasing since last 4 years. India ranks much lower than its neighbours, Bhutan (14th), and Nepal (67th). Especially, when there is a 178 per cent increase in demand of adventure activity in last 3 years.“Somewhere, India has failed to cultivate the culture of innovation in extreme adventure tourism. It’s Incredible India but not innovative India in terms of adventure tourism compared to its global potential. We already have been approached by Dubai government and talks are on at Switzerland too but plan is to launch in India first,” Soni said.The project which was conceptualised five years back was commercially registered last year as a start up. “We approached IIT Mandi with the idea and three months later we were an incorporated company with firs working prototype,” he added.

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Min: GoaMiles counter by next wk at airport

Times of India | 1 day ago | 09-10-2022 | 01:04 am

Times of India

1 day ago | 09-10-2022 | 01:04 am

Panaji: Transport minister Mauvin Godinho on Saturday said that a GoaMiles cab counter would open at Goa International Airport, Dabolim, next week, as per the state’s commitment to the high court.“Our app-based taxi counter will be opened at the Dabolim airport next week,” he said. “The high court has given directives, yet people are interfering. Our GoaMiles app is such a good app. A 25-year agreement has been signed with them by the tourism department, which again is not my department. We cannot throw them out. Let us bring them in first. A decision on Ola or Uber can be taken later.” He said that private taxi operators in Goa opposing the move to start the GoaMiles counter will be allowed to work for both the app as well as to take customers at the prepaid counter. “I am giving you an open offer, you join GoaMiles, but if you are getting a better charge at the prepaid cab counter, you can choose to take that customer. You are getting the best of both worlds. If they are not able to understand this, they have some thinking to do. Whether they (private taxi operator associations) agree or not, I am going ahead with my decision. Our legal officials have given a commitment in the court,” Godinho said.He said that earlier, private taxi operators had been opposing the fitting of digital meters, but had to comply when the high court issued directives. The transport minister said that the high court may also similarly step in in the app-based cab aggregator matter.“Karnataka may have banned Ola and Uber, that is their issue,” he said. “We are not concerned with it. All I want to say is that GoaMiles app of Goa is better than Ola and Uber. Now that Karnataka has banned it, two agencies have to take a call over it — one is our government and GMR. GMR is a private airport (at Mopa). We cannot tell them to take Ola or someone else. They want to give multiple choices. Let them take a call. I want to put things in order at Dabolim.”

Panaji footbridge, Reis Magos ropeway get GCZMA approval

Times of India | 2 days ago | 08-10-2022 | 07:58 am

Times of India

2 days ago | 08-10-2022 | 07:58 am

PANAJI: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) at its meeting last month has granted CRZ clearance to a number of tourism related projects, including the footbridge connecting the multi-level parking complex in Panaji to Santa Monica jetty. The passenger ropeway from Reis Magos to Panaji and temporary jetty behind Aguada Jail museum have also got nod from GCZMA. Based on the application by the tourism department, GCZMA asked its expert member to carry out site inspection in August for the footbridge connecting the multi-level parking building to Santa Monica jetty. “The project proponent, K Gandhi Raju, showed the place where the pile foundations are being laid. The foot overbridge is being constructed with the purpose to ease pedestrian movement from the parking area to the jetty. Currently, there is no space for the visitors to cross the road and access the jetty area,” the inspection report stated. The GCZMA expert member said that the foot overbridge will not require much excavation, except for the pile foundation on either side. “Near the parking area, there are two trees that need to be cut. It is recommended that proper permission for cutting the trees may be obtained from the Goa forest department. Efforts must be made to transplant these trees to a safer place. The proposal seems to be good in terms of easing the traffic movement, especially pedestrians. The same may be permitted after due deliberation in the authority meeting,” the expert member recommended. GCZMA accordingly decided to approve the project. Similarly, the general manager of Goa Tourism Development Corporation sought clearance for the passenger ropeway from Reis Magos to Panaji to allied tourism activities, which was also permitted by the coastal body based on a report by its expert member. Drishti Cruise Ferries has also been granted NOC for ‘installation of temporary jack-up jetty at Aguada Jail Museum Project’ and at Bogmalo beach.

CM launches new ind’l policy, mega projects assured perks

Times of India | 2 days ago | 08-10-2022 | 04:08 am

Times of India

2 days ago | 08-10-2022 | 04:08 am

Panaji: CM Pramod Sawant on Friday pitched Goa as a favourable investment destination that has supportive policies, excellent road infrastructure, skilled labour and globally-recognised value. Sawant released the new industry policy for Goa at the Invest Goa 2022 summit, where he also promised to ease all hurdles for investors who choose to do business in Goa.In his address at the two-day investment summit, Sawant said that there has been an improvement in the ease of doing business environment, with significant reforms brought in.In a bid to increase private sector participation in Goa’s economy, the state is willing to offer special incentive packages for mega-projects that bring in more than Rs 100 crore, along with a single-window clearance and greater emphasis on public-private participation, said senior government officials.Sawant informed investors that the greenfield airport at Mopa will be inaugurated in December at the hands of PM Narendra Modi.“In ease of doing business, over the past three years, Goa has witnessed a spate of reforms,” said Sawant. “The new industrial policy is industry friendly, where one requires just a self-attested declaration rather than NOCs, which is a game changer.”The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and Ernest & Young (EY) organised the event at the Taleigao community centre.Sawant handed over letters of intent to 23 firms which have submitted business proposals to invest in Goa. The Invest Goa 2022 summit organisers said that many more investments are expected to come into the state, particularly in the logistics, tourism, IT and startups space.“It is for you to decide to make Goa your venture state, and when you arrive, you will find that Goa is indeed the place to do business with pleasure. All eco-friendly industries are most welcome in Goa,” said Sawant.Sawant, along with industries minister Mauvin Godinho and IT minister Rohan Khaunte, released the Goa industrial growth and investment promotion policy, 2022, which offers a series of sops for investors. State government officials are counting on the revamped policy and the Invest Goa summit to become an inflection point in the state’s investment trajectory and industrial activity.“A lot of interest is generated after the new industrial investment policy was released,” said summit convener Manguirish Pai Raiker. “Many are calling to enquire and substantiate the various sections in the policy and are wanting to make their presence in the state. GCCI has decided to start a facilitation centre in their Panaji office and would collaborate with the prospective investors and the government agencies.”

Goa: ‘Water sports ops to remain with locals’

Times of India | 2 days ago | 07-10-2022 | 04:40 pm

Times of India

2 days ago | 07-10-2022 | 04:40 pm

PANAJI: Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte on Thursday clarified that his ministry has no intent to corporatise the water sports activities, and the profession which has been with Goan operators will remain with them. “Water sports will remain in the hands of Goans. We are only streamlining the system. There is no mention of corporate in the draft,” Khaunte told reporters as he explained the motive for having a jetty policy and the purpose of reducing the number of documents required to be submitted by an entity while registering with the department. Any activity linked to tourism has to be registered with the tourism department. Recently, the department reduced the documents required to be obtained from it during registration. Ever since the draft jetty policy was released, the department has come under fire, with some alleging that the government has a hidden agenda behind the move. Addressing the media along with tourism director Nikhil Desai, Khaunte said the main purpose was to remove illegalities in the water sports activities, and to stop illegal guides and touts who have become the main beneficiary of the water sports activities. Pointing out to the illegal operation of boat rides with pick-ups happening close to a starred hotel at Campal, Khaunte said no action has been taken despite bringing it to the notice of the police department. “We have not given them permission to operate, and yet they conduct their activities,” said Khaunte. The minister said that his department wants to put things in order so that tourists are not cheated, and appealed to stakeholders not to get misled by those who have been making allegations ever since the government unveiled its plan. The jetty policy has been proposed only to weed out illegal operators and to ensure tourists are offered quality and secured service, he said. By having a jetty policy, the department plans to regulate the services offered at jetties which are in its domain. It feels removal of unregulated and illegal operators will plug revenue leakages. The tourism minister also stated that they will discuss the issue with stakeholders before finalising the jetty policy.

After babus, ministers set to take governance to doorstep

Times of India | 4 days ago | 06-10-2022 | 10:55 am

Times of India

4 days ago | 06-10-2022 | 10:55 am

PANAJI: After ‘Sarkar Tumchya Daari’ in which government officials visited villages to help resolve issues, now the state will hold a ‘Mantri Tumchya Daari’ programme. Ministers will visit taluka level offices, interact with locals and try to understand and resolve their issues this month. The programme will be held from October 6 to 14. The ministers address issues related to their departments in the presence of department staffers and municipality or village panchayat officials. The programme will begin from Thursday with minister for power and housing Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar visiting Bicholim. On day two, Friday, minister for agriculture and civil supplies Ravi Naik will visit Sanguem taluka and minister for fisheries and animal husbandry Nilkanth Halarnkar will visit Mormugao taluka. The same day, minister for art and culture Govind Gaude will travel to Salcete. October 10 will see minister for labour, revenue and waste management Atanasio Monserrate touring Ponda, while PWD and environment minister Nilesh Cabral will visit Sattari. Minister for health and TCP Vishwajit Rane will be in Pernem on October 10. On October 12, social welfare minister Subhash Phaldessai will visit Bardez, followed by WRD minister Subhash Shirodkar’s visit to Dharbandora on October 13. The initiative will end with transport minister Mauvin Godinho visiting Canacona and tourism minister Rohan Khaunte visiting Quepem.

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