City Today News (City today.media)

Powerplay unveils AI agents to streamline construction operations

Posted on March 26, 2026 by City Today News (City today.media)

Powerplay unveils AI workforce platform for construction sector

Bengaluru, March 26, 2026: Construction technology firm Powerplay on Thursday announced the launch of what it describes as India’s first artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workforce platform for the construction industry, aimed at automating critical operational functions across project lifecycles.

The platform introduces five domain-specific AI agents designed to handle tasks such as estimation, procurement, supplier assessment, demand forecasting, compliance, and financial readiness. The company said these agents are trained on real-world construction data, enabling them to function within the complexities of Indian project environments rather than generic software settings.

According to the company, early deployments have shown significant efficiency gains, including a sharp reduction in estimation timelines—from weeks to minutes—and productivity improvements of up to 60% across key workflows.

The system has been developed using operational data from over 85,000 construction projects executed on its platform over the past four years. This dataset includes bills of quantities, procurement records, billing cycles, and compliance documentation, which have been used to build standardised execution models for the AI agents.

Powerplay said the platform maintains accuracy levels of up to 99% through a “human-in-the-loop” approach, where experienced professionals review AI-generated outputs before final decisions are taken. This model also enables outcome-based pricing for clients.

Speaking on the development, Iesh Dixit, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, said the construction sector, despite contributing nearly 9% to the country’s GDP, continues to face a shortage of specialised talent in areas such as estimation and procurement.

He noted that the emergence of “vertical AI”—systems trained on industry-specific workflows—marks a shift from conventional software that merely records activity to solutions capable of executing routine operational tasks. He added that the company aims to position India at the forefront of this transition.

The platform is designed to support incremental adoption, allowing firms to deploy individual AI agents while retaining human oversight in critical areas. Powerplay plans to extend its AI capabilities across the entire construction lifecycle, from initial cost estimation to final financial reconciliation.

Founded by entrepreneurs with experience in construction operations, the company began as a coordination platform addressing fragmented workflows among site, procurement, and finance teams. It has since evolved into a broader operational system used by contractors and developers managing multi-site projects.

The company expects the new platform to drive wider adoption among general contractors, infrastructure developers, including those in renewable energy and data centres, as well as project firms seeking greater predictability in timelines, costs, and financial outcomes.

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Dr. Kiran Jeevan Appointed Principal of Historic United Mission Degree College

Posted on March 26, 2026 by City Today News (City today.media)

Bengaluru: Dr. Kiran Jeevan has been appointed as the Principal of the historic United Mission Degree College, an institution managed by the CSI Karnataka Central Diocese (KCD).

Founded as an extension of the United Mission School established in 1834 by the London Mission and the Wesleyan Mission, the college has a long-standing legacy of academic excellence and social contribution. Over the decades, it has nurtured several eminent personalities, including Sir M. Visvesvaraya, Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Mirza Ismail, poet T.T. Sharma, Puttanna Chetty, and K.C. Reddy, the former Chief Minister of Karnataka. The institution also holds historical significance, having been visited by Mahatma Gandhi in 1929.
Located in the heart of Bengaluru near the City Corporation, the college continues to play a pivotal role in shaping young minds while upholding its rich heritage and values.

The installation ceremony of Dr. Jeevan was officiated by the Bishop of the Karnataka Central Diocese.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Jeevan expressed gratitude and described the appointment as a moment of humility and responsibility, reflecting on the institution’s enduring legacy with the words, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”

For appointments, Dr. Jeevan can be reached at +91 82964 94451.

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Ambedkar’s Vision at Risk? RPI Questions Internal Reservation Move

Posted on March 25, 2026March 25, 2026 by City Today News (City today.media)

Bengaluru: The Republican Party of India (Ambedkar) has expressed concern that the ongoing confusion surrounding internal reservation in the state is leading to increased social tension.

Addressing a press conference, State President, Prabhu G.C. stated that, according to the vision of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, reservation was never intended to be a permanent provision but a temporary mechanism to ensure social justice and equal opportunities. He explained that constitutional safeguards were introduced to address centuries of injustice, inequality, and untouchability faced by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The primary objective was to ensure equal access to education, employment, and political participation.

He further noted that Articles 15(4), 16(4), 46, 341, and 342 of the Constitution were incorporated to promote the development of backward communities. Political representation has also been ensured through reservations in Parliament and State Assemblies. However, he expressed concern that the current debate on internal reservation is creating divisions within communities, leading to mistrust and conflict.

Highlighting the root issues, he said that lack of education and employment opportunities continues to be ignored, leaving genuinely backward families still struggling for opportunities. Even decades after independence, the persistence of untouchability in certain areas remains a matter of concern.

Referring to the Supreme Court’s 2024 judgment, he pointed out that while states have been permitted to implement internal reservation, it is not mandatory. He emphasized that such decisions must be based on comprehensive and scientific data, warning that arbitrary or politically driven decisions could lead to adverse consequences. He added that the current lack of complete data calls for a cautious approach.

In this context, he stressed the importance of maintaining unity among Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and tribal communities. He demanded that the Nagamohan Das Commission report be withdrawn immediately and that the existing reservation system be continued in line with constitutional provisions.

He also urged the government to act responsibly to ensure that the issue of internal reservation does not create hatred or hostility among communities. Calling for the protection of social justice, equality, and fraternity, he appealed to the government to take appropriate steps.
He warned that if necessary action is not taken, the party will launch a strong protest in the coming days.

State-level Secretary Ramesh Natakar, State Coordinator Basavaraj, Hassan District President Darshan, Bengaluru South President Muniraju, social activist Maddurappa, organizational coordinator Girish, and Anekal Taluk Youth President Suman were present at the press conference.

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ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಜಗಳದಿಂದ ಸಮುದಾಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಭಜನೆ: ಆರ್‌ಪಿಐ (ಅಂಬೇಡ್ಕರ್) ಆತಂಕ

Posted on March 25, 2026March 25, 2026 by City Today News (City today.media)

ಒಳ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಕುರಿತಾಗಿ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಉಂಟಾಗಿರುವ ಗೊಂದಲಗಳು ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿ ಉದ್ವಿಗ್ನತೆಯನ್ನು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವುದಾಗಿ ರಿಪಬ್ಲಿಕನ್ ಪಾರ್ಟಿ ಆಫ್ ಇಂಡಿಯಾ (ಅಂಬೇಡ್ಕರ್) ಪಕ್ಷವು ಆತಂಕ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಿದೆ.

ಪತ್ರಿಕಾಗೋಷ್ಠಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದ ಪಕ್ಷದ ರಾಜ್ಯಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ, ಪ್ರಭು ಜಿ.ಸಿ., ಸಂವಿಧಾನ ಶಿಲ್ಪಿ ಡಾ. ಬಿ.ಆರ್. ಅಂಬೇಡ್ಕರ್ ಅವರ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಶಾಶ್ವತ ಸೌಲಭ್ಯವಲ್ಲ, ಅದು ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ನ್ಯಾಯ ಮತ್ತು ಸಮಾನ ಅವಕಾಶಗಳನ್ನು ಸಾಧಿಸಲು ರೂಪಿಸಲಾದ ತಾತ್ಕಾಲಿಕ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದರು. ಶತಮಾನಗಳ ಅನ್ಯಾಯ, ಅಸಮಾನತೆ ಮತ್ತು ಅಸ್ಪೃಶ್ಯತೆಯನ್ನು ನಿವಾರಿಸಲು ಸಂವಿಧಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಪರಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಜಾತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಪರಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಪಂಗಡಗಳಿಗೆ ವಿಶೇಷ ರಕ್ಷಣೆಯನ್ನು ಒದಗಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ, ಉದ್ಯೋಗ ಮತ್ತು ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮಾನ ಅವಕಾಶ ಸಿಗುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡುವುದೇ ಇದರ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಉದ್ದೇಶವಾಗಿತ್ತು ಎಂದು ಅವರು ವಿವರಿಸಿದರು.

ಸಂವಿಧಾನದ ವಿಧಿ 15(4), 16(4), 46, 341 ಮತ್ತು 342ರ ಮೂಲಕ ಹಿಂದುಳಿದ ವರ್ಗಗಳ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಗೆ ಅವಕಾಶ ಕಲ್ಪಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಜೊತೆಗೆ, ಲೋಕಸಭೆ ಮತ್ತು ವಿಧಾನಸಭೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ನೀಡುವ ಮೂಲಕ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿತ್ವವೂ ಖಚಿತಪಡಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ ಇಂದಿನ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಳ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ವಿಚಾರವು ಒಂದೇ ಸಮುದಾಯದೊಳಗೆ ವಿಭಜನೆಗೆ ಕಾರಣವಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದು, ಪರಸ್ಪರ ಅವಿಶ್ವಾಸ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಘರ್ಷವನ್ನು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಅವರು ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯಪಟ್ಟರು.

ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಯ ಮೂಲ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಮತ್ತು ಉದ್ಯೋಗದ ಕೊರತೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಅದು ಕಡೆಗಣನೆಯಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಇದರಿಂದ ನಿಜವಾದ ಹಿಂದುಳಿದ ವರ್ಗಗಳು ಇನ್ನೂ ಅವಕಾಶಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಹೋರಾಟ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಿವೆ. ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ದಶಕಗಳು ಕಳೆದರೂ ಕೆಲವು ಭಾಗಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಸ್ಪೃಶ್ಯತೆ ಮನೋಭಾವ ಇನ್ನೂ ಜೀವಂತವಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂಬುದು ವಿಷಾದನೀಯ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದರು.

ಒಳ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಕುರಿತು ಸುಪ್ರೀಂ ಕೋರ್ಟ್ 2024ರ ತೀರ್ಪು ರಾಜ್ಯಗಳಿಗೆ ಅವಕಾಶ ನೀಡಿದರೂ, ಅದು ಕಡ್ಡಾಯವಲ್ಲ. ಈ ಕ್ರಮವನ್ನು ಜಾರಿಗೆ ತರಲು ಸಮಗ್ರ ಮತ್ತು ವೈಜ್ಞಾನಿಕ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಅಗತ್ಯವಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಯಾವುದೇ ತುರ್ತು ಅಥವಾ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಒತ್ತಡದ ನಿರ್ಧಾರಗಳು ತಪ್ಪು ದಾರಿಗೆ ಕೊಂಡೊಯ್ಯಬಹುದು ಎಂದು ಅವರು ಎಚ್ಚರಿಸಿದರು. ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಡೇಟಾ ಅಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಈ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ನಡೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದರು.

ಈ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪರಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಜಾತಿ, ಪರಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಪಂಗಡ ಮತ್ತು ಆದಿವಾಸಿ ಸಮುದಾಯಗಳ ಏಕತೆಯನ್ನು ಕಾಪಾಡುವುದು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿದೆ. ನ್ಯಾಯಮೂರ್ತಿ ನಾಗಮೋಹನ್ ದಾಸ್ ವರದಿಯನ್ನು ತಕ್ಷಣ ಕೈಬಿಡಬೇಕು ಮತ್ತು ಸಂವಿಧಾನದ ಮಾರ್ಗಸೂಚಿಗಳ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಇರುವ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯನ್ನು ಮುಂದುವರಿಸಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಅವರು ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸಿದರು.

ಒಳ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ವಿಚಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದೇ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ದ್ವೇಷ ಅಥವಾ ವೈಮನಸ್ಸು ಉಂಟಾಗದಂತೆ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿಯಿಂದ ನಡೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು. ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ನ್ಯಾಯ, ಸಮಾನತೆ ಮತ್ತು ಬಾಂಧವ್ಯವನ್ನು ಕಾಪಾಡುವ ನಿಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಸೂಕ್ತ ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕೆಂದು ಮನವಿ ಮಾಡಿದರು.
ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ ಮುಂದಿನ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪಕ್ಷದ ವತಿಯಿಂದ ತೀವ್ರ ಹೋರಾಟ ನಡೆಸುವುದಾಗಿ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಕೆ ನೀಡಿದರು.

ಈ ಪತ್ರಿಕಾಗೋಷ್ಠಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಮಟ್ಟದ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ ರಮೇಶ್ ನಾಟಕರ್, ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸಂಚಾಲಕ ಬಸವರಾಜ್, ಹಾಸನ ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ದರ್ಶನ್, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಘಟಕದ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಮುನಿರಾಜು, ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಚಿಂತಕ ಮದ್ದೂರಪ್ಪ, ಸಂಘಟನೆ ಸಂಚಾಲಕ ಗಿರೀಶ್ ಹಾಗೂ ಆನೇಕಲ್ ತಾಲೂಕು ಯುವ ಘಟಕದ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಸುಮನ್ ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತರಿದ್ದರು.

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No LPG Shortage, Say Distributors; Urge Public to Avoid Panic Booking

Posted on March 25, 2026 by City Today News (City today.media)

LPG Supply Continues Amid Concerns; Distributors Urge Public to Stay Calm

Bengaluru: Amid rising public concern over LPG availability due to the evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East, LPG distributors across Karnataka have issued a reassurance that supplies remain steady and uninterrupted.
Addressing the media at a press meet held at the Press Club of Bangalore on Wednesday, Kumar LG, Secretary of the All India LPG Distributors Federation (Karnataka Circle), clarified that refills are being supplied regularly to both domestic and commercial consumers as per directives from Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
He emphasized that LPG distributors function strictly as channel partners and have no control over production, allocation, or overall supply decisions, which rest entirely with OMCs.

To ensure equitable distribution during this period of high demand, a regulated refill booking interval system has been implemented. For single-cylinder connections, the waiting period ranges from 9 to 25 days depending on cylinder size, while for double-cylinder connections, it extends up to 35 days. Ujjwala beneficiaries will have longer intervals, with up to 45 days for 14.2 kg cylinders.

Distributors have urged consumers to avoid panic booking, noting that excessive demand is causing system congestion and delays. They also advised against visiting LPG agencies or godowns, as deliveries are being systematically managed and carried out directly to consumers’ homes.

Booking services through IVRS and WhatsApp remain operational, along with official mobile applications such as Indian Oil ONE, HP PAY, and Hello BPCL. However, prepaid bookings are currently suspended, and third-party payment platforms like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Amazon Pay are not accepting bookings.
Officials acknowledged an average delivery backlog of 8–10 days across the state, attributing delays to high booking volumes and operational challenges, including software issues, slow mobile applications for delivery personnel, and non-operational days at LPG plants on Sundays and public holidays.

Consumers have been reminded that E-KYC is mandatory for booking refills. Ujjwala beneficiaries are required to complete re-verification after every seven refills. The process can be completed during delivery or through official apps using Aadhaar-based FaceRD authentication.

The federation also cautioned consumers to book refills only through registered mobile numbers and to share OTP or Delivery Authentication Codes (DAC) strictly at the time of delivery. Any misuse arising from premature sharing of such details will not be the responsibility of distributors.

In view of current supply constraints, issuance of new and additional LPG connections has been temporarily suspended, though registrations continue and connections will be provided based on seniority once the situation stabilizes. Transfer of connections within cities and across states remains unaffected.

Commercial users have been advised to procure cylinders only through authorized agencies and avoid unauthorized sellers or intermediaries. Consumers should insist on proper billing for all transactions.

Highlighting the strain on field staff, distributors appealed to the public to cooperate with delivery personnel and office staff, noting instances of abuse and harassment that have further impacted operations.

Consumers have been urged to rely solely on official updates from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and respective OMCs, and to refrain from spreading or acting on unverified information.
Reiterating their commitment, LPG distributors assured that they will continue to serve consumers in line with OMC guidelines and allocations, while seeking patience and cooperation during this challenging period.

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