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ANS Navigator App Running On iGO Navigation Engine Now on Google Play
MUMBAI: ANS and NNG have just launched the India edition of the new ANS Navigator App for AndroidTM smartphones – a fully-featured turn-by-turn navigation application which is available immediately on the Google Play Store at 1,399 INR. The app includes the very latest 2013 Q2 India map and content covering over 1.7 million km of road and more than 7.3 million Points of Interest (POIs).
Powered by NNG’s iGO Navigation Engine, the application comes with a wide range of India-relevant features such as Live Traffic for 11 major Indian cities, Point Addressing, Enhanced Junction Views, Route Alternatives, Speed Limits, and many more. Specially developed for India, the new Integrated Quick Search (IQS) enables users to enter their destination easily and within seconds.
The application currently supports two screen resolutions on the following smartphones, with more models to follow soon:
• 1280×720 (HTC One X, HTC One X, Samsung Galaxy S3)
• (800×480 (HTC One V, HTC incredible S, Samsung Galaxy S1, Samsung Galaxy S2)
Péter Bolesza, Vice President of Eastern Europe and Emerging Markets at NNG commented: “We have experienced a very strong demand for iGO Navigation in India. Our cooperation with ANS allows us to deliver our India-optimized solutions straight to the end user across a wide range of devices including PNDs, iPhone and now Android smartphones. The new application enables both drivers and pedestrians to find the optimal route at any time and in any situation – easy and quick, in the palm of their hand.”
Amit Sharma, Director at ANS India says, “Our recent product launches have confirmed the fast upward trend of navigation usage in India. With the iGO Navigation Engine at the heart of our products we can supply Indian drivers with proven and easy-to-use navigation solutions that take the stress out of driving on the busy Indian roads.”
Along with the turn-by-turn ANS Navigator App, ANS and NNG have also launched two map viewing applications on the Google Play Store:
• ANS Traffic for Android (with Live Traffic updates): 199 INR
• ANS Map Viewer for Android: free of charge
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
