CHENNAI PLUS

Motorists driving through Adyar, Guindy and the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) may soon get relief from heavy traffic congestion as the Madhya Kailash junction L-shaped flyover is likely to open shortly

Godrej Properties Ltd. (GPL), one of India’s leading real estate developers, has announced the launch of a new labour Initiative, Godrej SAHYOG, a structured mental health and well-being programme aimed at supporting construction workers across its project sites. Following a six-month pilot conducted across six construction sites in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, where over 2,000 workers were engaged through structured psycho-education, the initiative will now be rolled out across 79 identified construction sites, reaching approximately 30,000 workers in key markets including Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh. Commenting on the launch, Pirojsha Godrej, Executive Chairperson, Godrej Properties, said, “India’s growth is being shaped every day by millions who build our cities and infrastructure. Caring for the well-being of those who build the nation is not just a business responsibility; it is a societal imperative. Through Go...

अ ‑Nishchit Index 2.0 is a nationwide study commissioned by Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance that evaluates how Indians across cities and life stages perceive uncertainty. The 2025 edition broadens the framework to 49 statements across 11 parameters — spanning financial security, health, mental and social well‑being, career, safety, environmental and societal concerns — offering a deeper view of the country’s evolving anxieties. India continues to experience elevated levels of uncertainty fueled by financial pressures, health‑related concerns, safety issues, and wider societal challenges. The national Index stands at 79, reflecting persistent anxieties around financial preparedness, healthcare expenses, mental well‑being, and long‑term stability despite economic progress. Chennai mirrors this trend with an Index of 83 — significantly higher than both national and regional levels. The fear that crime rates will rise is the city’s top worry, followed by concerns that rising costs of e...

Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Ltd (TMB) one of the renowned Old Private Sector Banks, having its headquarters in Thoothukudi has a long-cherished history of 104 years of eventful existence with strong fundamentals and an enviable track record of continuous profit making in the industry. TMB is having Pan India presence with 614 branches (as on 31.01.2026) and 12 Regional Offices across 17 states and 4 Union Territories and serves more than 5.3 million satisfied customers.    The Board of Directors of Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Ltd has approved the Unaudited Financial Results of the Quarter Ended December 31,2025 in their meeting held at Thoothukudi on 04.02.2026. Shri. Salee S Nair, Managing Director and CEO of the bank declared the results. Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice Presidents and other senior officials of the Bank were also present in the event. Shri. Salee S Nair, MD & CEO, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Ltd said, “Our Q3 FY26 performance reinfo...

HCLTech, a leading global technology company, today announced that it has been selected by Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Limited (HAESL) to transform its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations. HCLTech will deploy its iMRO/4 asset management solution, integrated with SAP S/4HANA, as HAESL’s Maintenance Execution System (MES) in Hong Kong.   This collaboration will streamline HAESL’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) processes, leading to increased efficiency and scalability. It will also enable real-time data visibility, allowing for faster decision-making, while enhancing resource utilization and ensuring compliance with global standards.   “Our customers depend on transparent progress and consistent quality during every shop visit. By integrating iMRO/4 with SAP S/4HANA, we will enhance end-to-end traceability and provide a single view of the workflow from induction to release. This reduces barriers and improves execution efficiency. Partnering with HC...

The Security Solutions business of Godrej Enterprises Group has announced a strong growth outlook for its home locker business this wedding season, with sales expected to grow  by 20%,  driven by rising consumer preference for secure, long-term gifting solutions amidst India’s peak marriage period. The wedding season has emerged as a critical consumption period for home security, driven by rising investments in gold, jewellery, cash, and important documents. With gold prices skyrocketing, the risk profile has gone up and hence the need to secure the jewellery is a pressing need. Weddings are one of those events of household asset creation, and a lot of families today, are prioritising secure in-home storage as part of their wedding planning.  Aligned with this shift, the Security Solutions business of Godrej Enterprises Group offers a comprehensive range of home lockers that are much stronger than ordinary cupboards, designed to protect valuables from theft, fire...

Singapore Airlines (SIA) will launch four-times weekly non-stop flights between Singapore and Riyadh, Saudi Arabiain June 2026.The Airline will operate the medium-haul variant of its Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which is configured with 303 seats in two cabin classes: 40 in Business Class and 263 in Economy Class.   Subject to regulatory approvals, flight SQ498 will depart Singapore for Riyadh on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 1820 hrs (local time). The return flight, SQ 499, will depart Riyadh for Singapore on the same days at 2300 hrs (local time). Further details can be found in Annexe A.   Mr Lee Lik Hsin, Chief Commercial Officer, Singapore Airlines, said: “Our return to Riyadh comes amid its thriving business environment and ambitious development, which make it one of the Middle East’s most dynamic cities.Beyond anew destination, this service will potentially allow us to work with our partners to offer our customers additional travel options across the r...

Shiv Nadar Foundation (SNF), a philanthropic organisation dedicated to advancing education, is pleased to announce the launch of the ICONIQ Quizverse Challenge, a pan-India inter-college quiz competition for undergraduate and postgraduate students.   This initiative has been created to encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and a love for learning among young people. By offering a common platform for students from diverse institutions and disciplines, the Challenge seeks to nurture a supportive and vibrant quizzing culture across campuses. Envisioned as an annual event, the ICONIQ Quiz verse Challenge hopes to contribute to India’s academic and infotainment landscape by providing students with opportunities to learn, connect, and grow together.   Commenting on the launch, Sundar Mahalingam, President- Strategy, HCL Group and Shiv Nadar Foundation , said, “At Shiv Nadar Foundation, we are happy to introduce this national-level quiz platform. Through the ICONIQ Quizverse Ch...

Blue Energy Motors (BEM) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) have announced a collaboration to jointly set up Battery Swapping Stations (BSS) at HPCL fuel retail outlets across select markets. Under the agreement, BEM will leverage HPCL’s fuel station network to establish battery swapping infrastructure for electric heavy-duty commercial vehicles, creating convenient and accessible energy touchpoints for fleet operations. The collaboration aims to support the operational needs of commercial EV fleets by reducing charging time and vehicle downtime, accelerating the adoption of electric mobility, and strengthening the long-term development of BEM and HP e-Charge brands in India. Blue Energy Motors is a pioneer in alternate fuel heavy-duty trucks in India, focused on enabling low-emission and zero-emission freight solutions. The company has been at the forefront of electric freight adoption, including the launch of India’s first electric freight corridor between Mumbai an...

Malabar Group is expanding its Micro Learning Centres (MLCs) to additional states and regions as part of its ongoing efforts to rehabilitate street children and enable their return to formal education. The initiative focuses on providing basic learning support and structured care to children who are out of school due to social and economic challenges, with the objective of reintegrating them into mainstream education. As part of this expansion, a week-long training programme for State and Zonal Coordinators and volunteers leading the MLCs is currently underway at the Malabar Group Headquarters in Kuttikkattur, Kozhikode. The programme brings together domain experts and field teams to develop a structured roadmap for scaling the MLC model to new locations and strengthening operational effectiveness across existing centres. The Micro Learning Centres operate under Malabar Group’s flagship social initiative, Hunger Free World , which aims to address hunger and educational deprivation ...

State Bank of India (SBI), the nation’s largest public sector bank, announced the launch of ‘ CHAKRA’  Centre of Excellence (CoE)for financing sunrise sectors  that are critical to India’s economic transformation. Reinforcing the bank’s strategic commitment to Viksit Bharat 2047, the Centre will serve as a knowledge-led platform to enable financing for next-generation, technology-driven and sustainability-focused sunrise sectors. SBI’s focus lies in enabling these capital-intensive sectors by directing capital flows responsibly, strengthening risk assessment capabilities and developing innovative financing structures aligned with evolving business models and policy priorities. The Centre was inaugurated by Shri M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services , in the presence of SBI Chairman, Shri Challa Sreenivasulu Setty . The Bank’s Managing Directors, and representatives from other Public Sector Banksand global banks, leading conglomerates, financial instituti...

Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited (“Star Health”), India’s largest standalone health insurer, announced financial results for and upto the third quarter of Financial Year 2025-26. Under Ind AS Accounting, the Company posted Profit After Tax (PAT) of ₹ 449 Crores, a 414% Year-on-Year (YoY)growth—supported by premium growth, healthier loss ratio and improved operating efficiency. Star Health reiterated its commitment towards transparent reporting practices aligned with principles under Ind AS (IFRS–the global standard for financial reporting.) The Company built on strong business momentum, closing Q3 FY26 with Gross Written Premium (GWP) of ₹ 5,047 Crores (N basis), a 23% YoY growth. Retail GWP increased 27% YoY to ₹ 4,838 Crores (N basis), driven by 60% YoY growth in fresh retail premiums. 9M FY26 closed with Gross Written Premium (GWP) of ₹ 13,856 Crores (N basis), a 16% YoY growth. Retail GWP increased 20% YoY to ₹ 13,170 Crores (N basis) driven by 37% YoY growth in...

  “This budget marks a defining moment for commercial electrification. The ₹ 1,500 crore PM E-DRIVE allocations for e-buses and e-trucks, along with the Purvodaya Initiative's 4,000 e-buses for Eastern states, make electric public transport a national priority. With customs duty exemptions on critical minerals and charging infrastructure development, the government is addressing the entire value chain, from manufacturing to deployment. The road ahead is clear: clean mobility in India is no longer experimental; it is industrial and irreversible.”

“The Union Budget reflects a clear recognition that the banking system is now in a position to shift from balance-sheet repair to purposeful credit expansion. Measures such as mandating TReDS for CPSE–MSME transactions and strengthening credit guarantee mechanisms will improve cash-flow certainty, reduce working-capital stress, and enable banks to lend with sharper risk visibility. At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, these reforms reinforce our focus on MSMEs, agriculture and retail lending, where disciplined credit delivery can translate policy intent into sustainable, grassroots growth.”— Mr. Salee S Nair MD & CEO of Tamilnad Mercantile bank  

Mr.Srikanth Kandikonda, Chief Financial Officer, ManipalCigna Health Insurance, stated that key announcements such as the ₹ 10,000-crore BioPharma Shakti initiative, strengthening of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation through faster scientific approvals, exemptions on select cancer and rare disease drugs, and continued investments in medical education, rural healthcare, hospital capacity, and digital health platforms are positive steps towards improving access, quality, and affordability of care.  The expansion of allied health professionals, creation of advanced mental health institutions including NIMHANS 2.0, and support for traditional systems of medicine through upgraded AYUSH infrastructure further strengthen the overall healthcare delivery ecosystem.  From an industry standpoint, the Budget provides an enabling environment for health insurers to enhance affordability, encourage wider adoption of health insurance, and support the broader goal of healthcare...