eNews
Andhra Pradesh powers ahead with major EV mobility MoU
VISAKHAPATNAM: Andhra Pradesh has hit the accelerator on its clean transport ambitions, signing an MoU that puts the state firmly in the fast lane of India’s electric mobility race.
A consortium of ThunderPlus, ETO Motors and Roqit has inked a Rs 515 crore agreement with the Andhra Pradesh Government at the Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam, setting the wheels in motion for one of India’s most ambitious state-led EV mobility and charging programmes. The pact, formalised with the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board, is expected to generate more than 5,000 jobs, including 1,450 direct roles, with a strong focus on women-led employment.
Endorsed by chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu in the presence of Industries and Commerce minister TG Bharath, the initiative aims to create the country’s first fully integrated multi-modal EV ecosystem. This blueprint ties together EV manufacturing, city and intercity electric transport, statewide charging infrastructure and a unified digital ticketing platform.
ThunderPlus, the consortium lead, will build the core charging backbone. Plans include urban charging hubs, large depots for electric buses, and park-and-charge points across residential, commercial and metro zones. For highways, the company will install 120 kW chargers every 25 kilometres and 1 MW ultra-fast chargers every 100 kilometres to support electric buses, trucks and long-haul logistics. It has already set up a 3 MW ultra-fast hub in Vijayawada and 0.5 MW sites in Nellajarla and Visakhapatnam, and is advancing works along the Vizag–Chennai Industrial Corridor.
The rollout begins in two clusters, the Amaravati Capital Region, covering Gannavaram Airport, Vijayawada, Amaravati and Guntur, and the Visakhapatnam Urban Region spanning NAD Junction, Pendurty, Simhachalam and Dwarakanagar. These will form the first operational corridors of the state’s integrated EV shuttle system. A sizeable share of the newly created jobs will be reserved for women in operations, charging station management, software, customer support and mobility services.
ThunderPlus CEO Rajeev YSR said the partnership marks a pivotal stride towards making Andhra Pradesh the clean mobility capital of India, adding that the integrated approach will serve as a model other states could emulate. ETO Motors CEO Nirmal Reddy said the unified mobility system will ensure reliable, sustainable commuting for lakhs of citizens. Roqit’s leadership emphasised that its single ticketing platform will bring all transport modes into one seamless app.
Positioning Andhra Pradesh as a national frontrunner in electric mobility, the consortium will work with APEDB, municipal bodies, transport departments and industrial corridor authorities to ensure the programme’s rapid and scalable implementation.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
