Guwahati, December 12 – Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport has announced the launch of a new daily direct flight service between Guwahati and Ahmedabad. Managed by Adani Airport Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited, the initiative aims to enhance connectivity and drive economic growth.

Connecting Key Destinations

IndiGo, a leading private airline, commenced the Guwahati-Ahmedabad flight service on Tuesday. According to a statement released on Wednesday evening, "This is the longest flight route from Guwahati. Linking these two prominent destinations will significantly boost both business and personal travel opportunities."

The new service is expected to facilitate easier access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities for residents of both regions.

Flight Timings

The IndiGo flight will depart daily from Guwahati at 4:55 PM, arriving in Ahmedabad at 8:35 PM. Conversely, the flight from Ahmedabad will take off at 8:30 AM and land in Guwahati at 11:15 AM.

Boost to Regional Growth

The introduction of this route is seen as a step toward fostering better trade and tourism ties between Assam and Gujarat. It also underscores LGBI Airport’s commitment to enhancing regional connectivity and supporting economic development.

This new service marks another milestone in the airport's efforts to connect the northeast to major cities across India.

Gandhinagar, India – In preparation for the upcoming 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) 2024, the Gujarat government is embarking on a series of roadshows across India and internationally. On November 24th, a roadshow will be held in Guwahati, Assam, to highlight Gujarat's industrial strengths and establish the state as a hub for innovation and growth.

The roadshow aims to attract investment and partnerships in sectors such as IT, ITeS, semiconductors, electronics, aerospace & defense, biotechnology, and chemicals & petrochemicals. Additionally, it will showcase Gujarat's GIFT (Gujarat International Financial Tech City) and Dholera SIR (Special Investment Region), two future-ready mega projects that offer promising opportunities for businesses.

Gujarat's Tourism, Cultural Activities, Forest and Environment and Climate Change Minister Mulubhai Bera will lead the roadshow and deliver a keynote address on Gujarat's development trajectory. The program will also feature presentations by government officials and industry leaders, highlighting the state's business-friendly environment and its commitment to sustainable development.

"The objective of these road shows is to interact with industry and business leaders and invite them to the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit to be held in January 2024," stated a government official. "We believe that Gujarat has the potential to become the 'Gateway to the Future' for India's development, and we are committed to showcasing the state's capabilities to the world."

The roadshow in Guwahati is expected to attract a significant number of businesses and investors from the Northeast region and beyond. Gujarat's strategic location, skilled workforce, and strong infrastructure make it an attractive destination for companies seeking to expand their operations in India.

Key Takeaways:

• Gujarat government is organizing roadshows to promote the state's industrial strengths and investment opportunities.
• Guwahati roadshow will showcase Gujarat's GIFT (Gujarat International Financial Tech City) and Dholera SIR (Special Investment Region) projects.
• Roadshow aims to attract investment and partnerships in key sectors such as IT, ITeS, semiconductors, electronics, aerospace & defense, biotechnology, and chemicals & petrochemicals.

Guwahati, August 7 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday visited the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati to take stock of the ongoing renovation work as the state government has decided to convert the facility to a 50,000 seating capacity venue eyeing to hold some national and international sports events in the future.

The renovation work is almost finished, which represents a huge step forward in improving sports infrastructure.

The renovated Nehru Stadium will help to promote athletics and support the hosting of significant events.

The state government is also actively contemplating a restoration plan for the Jorhat Stadium also as part of a larger programme, signalling a desire to improve sports facilities throughout Assam.

These developments highlight the state government’s commitment to creating an atmosphere that is favourable for sports lovers and athletes.

Assam envisions a thriving sports scene that will accommodate both local and international events as the repair work draws to a close and plans for Jorhat Stadium take form.

Guwahati, June 12 (IANS) An 8-year-old child was killed and his parents injured in an attack by wild elephants in Assam's Golaghat district, officials said, adding that around 50 houses were damaged.

According to a forest department officer, the incident took place in the Shyamraipur Tea Estate near Numaligarh town on Sunday night when a herd of wild elephants wandered into the region in quest for food.

The elephant herd went on the attack spree and destroyed at least 50 nearby houses. An 8-year-old boy died during the attack, and his parents suffered severe injuries.

The deceased has been identified as Rohit Kumar.

The forest officials arrived at the scene after the tragedy, and sent the body for post-mortem.

The tusker herd is currently moving through a nearby tea garden, the forest department said.

Man-elephant conflict is on the rise in Assam, and many lives have been lost in the last couple of years.

Recently, a wild elephant was seen roaming the streets of Guwahati creating panic among locals.

The tusker entered the residential area and roamed freely on the streets.

However, no casualty occurred there and the elephant could be sent back to the nearby forest.

Guwahati, June 8 (IANS) Senior students at the Gurukul Grammar School in Guwahati brutally trashed a student's father for objecting to his child being ragged by his classmates.

On social media, a video of the incident has gone viral.

Outraged by the incident, many have demanded appropriate punishment for the accused pupils.

According to sources, a student in Class XI of the school was teased by his older classmates.

Later, when the student's father protested the ragging, the bunch of students beat the boy till he was severely hurt.

The boy's father was injured and is receiving care at a city hospital.

The school administration hasn't issued an official statement regarding the incident.

Prasanta Bhuiyan, the IGP law and order of Assam police told IANS: "We have not received any official information about the incident until now."

Guwahati, June 6 (IANS) S.P. Singla Construction Pvt. Ltd has come under the scanner for its ongoing and completed projects in Assam after the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge it was developing at a cost of Rs 1,710 crore over the Ganga river in Bihar's Bhagalpur district collapsed twice in just 14 months.

The dramatic collapse of the under-construction occurred for the second time on Sunday evening.

Following that, questions were raised whether the construction company should be allowed to go ahead with some key projects they have been handling in Assam.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that IIT Guwahati and IIT Roorkee will be given the responsibility to inspect the situation of bridges developed by S.P. Singla Construction Pvt. Ltd in Assam.

"S.P. Singla Construction Pvt. Ltd has built the Guwahati-North Guwahati and Kolia Bhomora Bridges on Brahmaputra River. Kolia Bhomora is an old bridge and it has been in good condition. However, we are asking IIT Guwahati and IIT Roorkee to inspect the construction work done by the company," Sarma told reports on the sidelines of a program here.

The construction company is also building another two-lane bridge over Brahmaputra in Jogighopa.

The 4 km-long bridge is being built at an estimated cost of Rs 746.76 crores.

The firm is also constructing two major four-lane bridges over Subansiri and Luit rivers in Assam.

Guwahati, May 6 (IANS) A 20-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by five men and the entire act was recorded on a mobile phone in the Gohpur area in Assam's Sonitpur district, police said on Saturday.

The accused were arrested by police in connection with the incident.

"The victim last night filed a complaint against the five accused, stating that she was gangraped and the criminal act was recorded on mobile," an officer at the Hawajan police station in Gohour said.

The prime accused in the case, identified as Poransadgoura Basumatary, took the girl in his car and later committed the crime along along with his aides.

Interrogation is on.

Guwahati (India), May 5: ZERUND, a Guwahati-based manufacturer of sustainable bricks, has announced that it has attained a noteworthy YoY growth of 410% in revenue from FY 2021-22 to FY 2022-23. This indicates its substantial growth trajectory in the sustainable construction industry with 2500+ clientele since its inception. Additionally, the company has sold 40,00,000 bricks to date, providing an eco-friendly solution to the construction industry, and has a very aggressive plan for this fiscal of taking this no. to more than 80,00,000 bricks.

ZERUND is currently witnessing a Month-on-Month (MoM) growth rate of 20%, which solidifies its position as a frontrunner in sustainable manufacturing practices. Last year, the company recycled over 1500+ tons of plastic waste and 10,000+ tons of industrial waste to manufacture its sustainable bricks, which further exemplifies its unwavering dedication to environmental responsibility. The brand’s net emission stands negative and it commits to recycling subsequent amounts of other waste too which is also aligned with its aggressive expansion plans.

“At ZERUND, we strongly believe that sustainable growth is the way forward to achieving a greener and more equitable future. We are proud of our sustainable manufacturing practices, which have been recognized and supported by prestigious institutions, reaffirming our steadfast commitment to sustainable development. As we strive to expand our operations and increase our reach, we remain dedicated to promoting eco-friendly practices and minimizing the carbon footprint of the construction industry. Through our continuous pursuit of innovation and refinement in our manufacturing processes, we aim to provide the construction industry with environmentally friendly solutions that are not only more efficient but also more cost-effective. With an eye towards scaling our operations, we eagerly look forward to contributing to building a better world for the present and future generations to come” said DAVID GOGOI, CO-FOUNDER & CEO,  ZERUND.

In an effort to expand its reach and presence in the sustainable construction industry, ZERUND is actively seeking partnerships and exploring new opportunities to establish additional manufacturing facilities in both South and North India. Currently, the company has manufacturing facilities in North-East India and some parts of West India with a combined monthly manufacturing capacity of 3,50,000 bricks. Presently, the geographical reach of the company is in Northeast India, Bhutan, Bengal, and Maharashtra, where it has established itself as a leader in sustainable brick manufacturing. With the introduction of new manufacturing facilities, ZERUND aims to expand its footprint to 3 new cities which include Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, and Bangalore.

ZERUND has secured significant financial backing from a multitude of renowned institutions, such as Gruhas Proptech, DLF family office, NEDFI, Anthill ventures, Villgro, Numaligarh Refinery Limited, Habitat for Humanity, and Assam Government (Grants), which align with its mission of fostering sustainable development. These investments have enabled the company to increase its production capacity, expand its operations, and cater to the escalating demand for environmentally friendly construction materials. In pursuit of further expansion, ZERUND plans to raise additional funds in the current year.

At present, ZERUND boasts a team of 50 highly skilled professionals dedicated to sustainable manufacturing practices. In a bid to bolster its operations and promote employment opportunities, the company also has very aggressive hiring plans this fiscal year. This initiative is poised to stimulate economic growth while creating new opportunities for skilled professionals across the country. By scaling up its workforce, ZERUND is reaffirming its commitment to sustainable growth and contributing towards the nation’s economic development.

About Zerund

Founded by Mousum Talukdar, David Gogoi, and Rupam Choudhury, Guwahati Based Sustainability startup Zerund was started in the college lab as a final-year engineering project. Zerund with its proprietary technology makes Carbon negative, eco-friendly, lightweight bricks which have high strength, save 15-20% of the cost, and provide high insulation and high earthquake resistance.  Industrial production of this sophisticated building material started towards the end of 2018 in Guwahati, India. With the continuous expansion of additional manufacturing plants to sustain the growing demand, the brand is ready to cater to the manufacturing capacity for the next phase of growth. Builders, Engineers, architects, and contractors not only appreciate the excellent properties of Zerund but also take a keen interest in the energy-saving and pollution-free technology of the manufacturing process.

Social Media Handles:

Website: http://zerund.com/

Twitter Zerund – https://twitter.com/ZerundBricks?t=EM-sI0eAN7RY9OIgtwkK5w&s=35

Twitter David Gogoi- https://twitter.com/davidgogoi21?t=2RRdqoAy9c21jLlumTIQnw&s=35

LinkedIn Zerund – https://www.linkedin.com/company/zerund/

LinkedIn David Gogoi – https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-gogoi-35099a118/

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Guwahati, April 25 (IANS) Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed liquid marbles using nano clay that can be pre-programmed for medicine delivery and cascade chemical reactions.

Nanoclays are nanoparticles of layered mineral silicates.

Conventional treatment for disease involves tablets, capsules, syrups, ointments, among others.

A controlled drug delivery system, on the other hand, is a more efficient technique to deliver the required dose at the specific site gradually over the desired period of time. Loading and release of drugs in its soluble form is another important aspect -- which can be achieved with the liquid marble.

The team from IIT Guwahati engineered liquid marbles to have a 'time bomb' type release effect and to carry out a spontaneous chemical reaction.

"Release of drugs from a liquid marble in response to a stimulus for instance light, temperature, electricity has been reported earlier. But the time-programmed release was not yet achieved. We have chemically modified the lifetime of a floating liquid marble on a water pool," said Dr. Uttam Manna, Associate Professor, at the varsity's Department of Chemistry and Centre for Nanotechnology, in a statement.

Unlike normal droplets, a liquid marble is a non-sticking, non-wetting droplet. It is created by wrapping a droplet with fine hydrophobic particles i.e., water-repelling particles.

Liquid marbles can be rolled, squeezed, and even float without spilling when put in a water pool. In nature gall-forming aphids create liquid marbles by coating the honeydew they secrete in a powdery wax.

Liquid marbles are soft spherical solids that can be used for multiple applications by replacing the liquid inside them. Some examples are in the field of sensor platforms, soft robotics, healing agents, biosystems, etc.

Described in a paper, published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, the nano clay marbles were made of a shell of nanoclay that holds the liquid.

To programme the marbles for timed release of the content, the researchers modified the nanoclay with chemical groups that were either water-loving (hydrophilic) or water-hating (hydrophobic). A water droplet was laid on a powder bed consisting of hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanoclay powders.

The properties and stability of the liquid marbles changed according to the relative amounts of the water-hating and water-loving groups on the nanoclay surface.

"The surface modifications on the nano clay changed the time taken for the liquid marble to break and release its contents when put in a pool of water. We were able to control the timing of the release of the content from seconds to hours by changing the nature of the surface groups. This is the time bomb type collapse of liquid marbles," Dr Manna said.

Guwahati, April 11 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday claimed that the BJP will again form the government at the Centre in next year's Lok Sabha election, winning more than 300 seats.

He asserted that Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister of the country for the third time in a row.

While addressing a rally of BJP workers in Assam' Dibrugarh, Shah also expressed confidence that the BJP will be victorious in at least 12 out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state. According to him, the party is set to win big in the entire northeast, which accounts for a total of 25 seats in Lok Sabha.

"The Northeast was once thought to be a bastion of the Congress," Shah stated in a withering attack on the opposition party.

He said, "Despite Rahul Gandhi's yatra (Bharat Jodo Yatra), the party struggled in the most recent assembly elections in three states in this region."

Polls were held in Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland. Besides getting the majority on its own in Tripura, the BJP also won the other two states with the coalition partners.

Shah referred to Rahul Gandhi's contentious comments made during his recent visit to Cambridge in United Kingdom by saying, "He (Gandhi) attacked India from foreign soil. If he keeps acting in this manner, Congress will lose support not just from the northeast, but from the entire nation."

He claimed that the more Prime Minister Narendra Modi is disparaged, the more BJP will expand.

According to Shah, the contentious Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, or AFSPA, has been repealed throughout 70 per cent of Assam and peace has been restored to Bodoland and Karbi Anglong.

"Also, border conflicts between the state and its neighbouring provinces have been settled," he said.

Guwahati, April 2 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday criticised his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma at a rally here over a multitude of issues including education, health and governance.

Kejriwal also criticised the Assam Chief Minister for his wife's decision to open a private school in the state.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor said: "I have heard that the Assam Chief Minister's wife has opened a private school where lakhs of rupees in fees were taken. This is very dangerous. If the Chief Minister's wife herself runs private schools, the state education system would soon collapse entirely."

He also claimed that these things earlier were happening in Delhi also.

"Every MLA and minister used to run private schools in Delhi once upon a time. They paralysed the education system and forced people to take admission to private schools with high fees. But we have changed the entire scenario, and you can see how Delhi government schools are performing now," Kejriwal said.

The Delhi Chief Minister also claimed that not a single MLA in the AAP is involved with private school businesses.

"If AAP comes to power in Assam, we will develop schools in this state like we did in Delhi," he said.

Kejriwal also drew a comparison between the performance of the BJP government in Assam and the AAP government in Delhi.

"In 2015, our party formed the government in Delhi, and Himanta Biswa Sarma came to power in Assam in 2016. You can see how we developed Delhi in all these years. We have built world-class schools and opened Mohalla clinics. The treatment and medicines are now free in Delhi. Nobody has to think about the treatment, whether he is rich or poor," the Delhi Chief Minister said.

Kejriwal further alleged that Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has not done anything for the people of Assam in all these years except promoting 'Mafia Raj'.

"A paper leak happened in Assam a few days ago, but no punishment was given. This is because a syndicate is going on under the BJP's rule here. From coal to betel nuts, everything is controlled by mafias who have links with the ruling dispensation," the Delhi Chief Minister alleged.

He also claimed that the unemployment rate is very high in Assam, and Sarma failed on his promise to provide employment to the youth.

"I met some young people before arriving here. At least 22 lakh people are unemployed here, appealing for jobs, but nobody hears them. Himanta Biswa Sarma promised before the last election to provide jobs, but he miserably failed. At the speed at which he is providing employment, it would take a minimum of 100 years to deal with the unemployment issue in Assam," Kejriwal said.

He claimed that the Delhi government has given jobs to 12 lakh people. The AAP government in Punjab has created 28,000 jobs in just one year.

Kejriwal also took a swipe at Himanta Biswa Sarma for threatening to file a defamation suit.

The AAP leader said: "The people of Assam are very good. They offer good hospitality to guests, and this is the tradition here. But unfortunately, Himanta Biswa Sarma, even after becoming the Chief Minister of the state, could not learn the traditions of Assam."

"He (Himanta Biswa Sarma) has been threatening to lodge me in jail. Why? Am I a terrorist?" Kejriwal asked.

He also said: "Himanta Biswa Sarma may have issued threats against me, but I invite him to be my guest. I will drive him in my car to show him the schools and Mohalla clinics in Delhi."

Notably, earlier, Assam Chief Minister said that if Arvind Kejriwal called him corrupt during his Assam tour, he would lodge a defamation case against the AAP leader.

Sarma also called Kejriwal a coward.

Guwahati, March 27 (IANS) While the self-styled Sikh radical preacher Amritpal Singh is still on the run, another of his associates was brought to Assam on Monday and lodged at the Dibrugarh central jail, raising the total tally of 'Waris Punjab de' members in the prison to eight.

According to sources, a team of Punjab Police accompanied the aide, identified as Varinder Singh, to Dibrugarh's Mohanbari airport on Monday where they were received by the Assam counterparts.

The police then took him to the Dibrugarh central jail under tight security.

The Assam Police is yet to issue an official statement regarding the latest associate's identity.

Earlier, the seven other associates, including Amritpal's uncle Harjit Singh, were brought to the Dibrugarh jail in the past one week.

Meanwhile, a multi-layer security has been arranged around the prison.

The task of securing the jail's outer perimeter has been allocated to a group of the elite Black Panther of Assam Police commandos, while the inner security has been handled by members of the CRPF, Assam Police, and prison guards.

CCTVs have been installed throughout the jail's outer boundary.

NSA has been invoked on all 'Waris Punjab De' outfit members flown to Dibrugarh.

In view of this, they were kept at a separate security arrangement, an official said.