** BMRCL confers Kannadiga of the year award to Kumbara Veerabhadrappa but masks forgotten

The first ‘Namma Metro-Kannadiga of the Year’ award instituted by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited was conferred on noted Kannada novelist Kumbara Veerabhadrappa.

** KIA commissions Rosenbauer Firefighting Simulator, first in South Asia

It helps firefighters train in a realistic environment

Kempegowda International Airport, on Monday, commissioned the Rosenbauer Firefighting Simulator, which provides firefighters the opportunity to train in a realistic environment and master the tactical use of Crash Fire Tenders (CFTs) in a risk-free environment. In a press release, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) said KIA is the first airport in South Asia to commission the Rosenbauer Firefighting Simulator.

** BIAL Genie Hackathon to develop super app for air passengers

To foster technology-led innovation and seamless passenger experiences, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has partnered with Microsoft India for the ‘BIAL Genie Hackathon’ to develop an app using Microsoft Azure.

** NIT-K develops e-bike for forest surveillance, commute

Its battery can be charged by solar power and the headlight doubles up as a torch

The National Institute of Technology-Karnataka (NIT-K), Surathkal, has designed and developed an e-bike to ensure that commuting in the forests is eco-friendly in its true sense.

A unique feature of this bike is that its battery can be charged using solar power and it has a removable headlight which doubles up as a torch for using during night surveillance.

** A museum now, Navy vessel INS Chapal faces danger of permanent damage

The mammoth, 325-tonne INS Chapal, a decommissioned Navy vessel that was converted into a museum 15 years ago and docked at the Karwar port, is a picture of utter neglect

** Octocoptered: Bengaluru sees its first Covid vaccine delivery using a drone

The NAL’s octocopter can carry a payload of 15 kg, boasts of a hovering endurance of 40 minutes, and can fly at an operational altitude of 500 metres at a maximum speed of 36 km/hour.

 At precisely 9.53 am on Saturday, the staff at Haragadde Public Health Centre (PHC) in Anekal on Bengaluru’s outskirts were pleasantly surprised to see a multi-copter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) land at their premises with 50 vials of Covid-19 vaccines and syringes in a special container from Chandapura PHC, in Bengaluru Urban district about six kilometres from Electronics City. The distance of seven kilometres was covered in 10 minutes, instead of the 40 minutes it would have taken by road.

** Dedicated air cargo terminal becomes operational at Hubballi Airport

A dedicated domestic air cargo terminal at Hubballi Airport, the first such facility in North Karnataka region, became operational on Wednesday.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has, in coordination with Airports Authority of India – Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Limited, operationalised the dedicated domestic air cargo terminal.

** No more RC smart cards for new vehicles

RCs will be in a digitised format and printed on paper

After issuing smart cards for registration certificates (RCs) for over 12 years, the Transport Department will do away with the exercise in the future. Instead of smart cards, owners of new vehicles will get their RCs in a digitised format and printed on paper.

On Monday, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai launched 30 contactless online services related to the Transport Department.

Among the services, the prominent ones are registration of new vehicles (non-transport) at the dealer point, issuing of learning licence, transfer of ownership, temporary registration certificate, and issuing of international driving permit.