Indian Impressions
India’s 1st Vertical Lift Sea Bridge to be a tech marvel
The new Pamban bridge at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, being developed by Railway Vikas Nigam Limited, will be India’s first ever Vertical Lift Rail Sea Bridge. The 2.07-km-long new bridge is being built with the help of modern technologies, for eg, its middle portion will lift automatically to allow ships to pass through. It will be equipped with an electro-mechanical controlled system. This will be interlocked with the train control systems, providing seamless system connectivity.
India opens its doors to foreign tourists
After having its borders closed to international visitors for around 20 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, India is now welcoming fully vaccinated foreign travellers from around 100 countries. These tourists will be able to visit India without the need to be quarantined. There were 99 countries on the lists of those allowed as of November 13, 2021, including the United States, the UK, Singapore, Australia, Germany, France and Brazil. However, these tourists must monitor their health for 14 days after arrival , even if the country they are coming from is deemed “at-risk.”
A wheelchair with a speed of 25kmph
A team of researchers from IIT Madras, Chennai, has developed India’s first indigenous motorised wheelchair vehicle that can be used not only on roads but even on uneven terrains. A product of the startup NeoMotion, the innovation is a brainchild of IIT Madras professor Sujatha Srinivasan and an IIT Madras Alumnus Swostik Sourav Dash. Called ‘NeoBolt’, the wheelchair has a maximum speed of 25 kmph and travels up to 25 km per charge, powered by a Lithium-Ion Battery. It empowers wheelchair users with a convenient, safe and low-cost mode of outdoor mobility when compared to cars, auto rickshaws or modified scooters. The start-up has also developed and commercially launched ‘NeoFly,’ a personalised wheelchair designed to enhance health and lifestyle.
