Arun Sreyas and Gautam Maheswaran are founders of RACEnergy, a Hyderabad-based start-up creating waves in the battery swapping electric infra ecosystem. It is known that the government of India is pushing forth the idea of replacing fossil fuel vehicles with electric vehicles. The union minister for road transport and highways, Nitish Gadkari, had said that 80% of two-wheelers and 30% of private vehicles will be electric by 2030.In a country that is price sensitive to the extent that many do not buy automatic cars as they are a lakh or two more expensive than regular cars, battery swapping would be an ideal solution, say the founders of RACEnergy. Seeing the future and how things are shaping up, the duo, in partnership with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), recently inaugurated its first battery swapping station at HITEC City in January. In addition, three battery swap stations are being set up at various HPCL outlets at prime locations in the city in January.While the usual electric vehicles take time to get charged – one hour is the norm – battery swapping helps the vehicle owner to simply drive into a swap station and replace the battery with a new battery which is time-saving. It’s a matter of two minutes, says Arun Sreyas.RACEnergy is also providing retrofit kits that convert existing ICE autorickshaws into electric vehicles that will be compatible with the swapping network. By combining both technologies, the new-age firm can provide a similar experience of refueling ICE or internal combustion engine vehicles, but at 50% of the operating cost and with minimal upfront charges.The company intends to build a network of 500 battery swap stations across India by mid-2023, and 100 will be in Hyderabad. Arun Sreyas feels that autorickshaws and cabs will be key to the success of the battery swapping market as time and cost of the product is key here.RACEnergy has raised a seed+ round of $1.3 million led by Micello Fund and growX ventures, along with investments from Huddle, Prophetic Ventures, and BITSian Angels, among others.

All Set To RACE Into The Market of EV Battery Swapping

Hyderabad is today one of the top gastronomic destinations, and it has everything from dum biryanis to pot biryanis to shawarmas to chat to faloodas to sweets that are truly Hyderabadi. But there are some restaurants that survive the limitations of time and continue to entice their customers with their simple yet no-nonsense food, which has been served for years.All you need to do is head to the old city and have chai and Osmania biscuits, and most of these cafes are probably older than you. And a visit to the old city is not complete without having a cup of Irani chai at Nimrah Cafe. The place was started by Aboob Bin Aslam al Katheri in 1993. And beside it stands Farasha Cafe which has delectable food.That is not all. Hyderabad has some vintage restaurants that make it a foodies paradise.Famous ice cream (1951)The place is completely full during the evenings when you have large crowds coming over to taste and enjoy hand-made ice creams from fresh fruit. In 1951, Mohammed Haleem set up Famous Ice Cream at MJ Market, and in no time, it caught the attention of the locals. If you want some asli ice cream, head here.Gokul ChatThis is a huge favorite for chat lovers, and no trip to Koti is complete without eating at Gokul’s. Premchand Vijayavarg started it, and his family still runs it since the ’70s. It opens at 8.30 am and goes on till 11 pm. But if you want to avoid a mad rush, then go there before 5 pm.Subhan BakerySubhan was established as a home-based business in the 1940s. It has been 74 years, and the bakery is still popular for its puffs, cakes, and rolls. During Muharram, it sells dum ke roat and nut cookies. It is said that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru would insist on having bread for breakfast from this bakery during his visits to Hyderabad.HameediHameedi is considered to be the first sweet shop in the city that serves a variety of confectionaries and desserts. It is said Nizam too tasted sweets from this place. The place is known for Jouzi halwa, Saffron ashrafi, badam ki jali, motichur ke ladoo, chandi ke ashrafi, puran poli, pure ghee balusha, khowa puri, and Halwa Sohan Tikki. The place was established in 1913.Hotel ShadabThe restaurant opened in 1953 and offers Mughlai-Persian food, and whether you love biryani or chai, it is a must-visit in the old city. You will get to taste Asli Hyderabadi biryani here.

Vintage is What Explains The Popularity of These Hyderabadi Eateries

By profession, she is a doctor. However, for Dr. Sofiya Sujad, life happens when there is a party or event that she carefully curates and organizes. As surprising as it may sound, Dr. Sujad enjoys her chosen vocation-turned-profession of hosting events.She says the colors, the glamour, and the vibrancy of events soothe her, and she thoroughly enjoys all the nitty-gritty of creating beautiful things for beautiful people. Though she completed her medicine, Sofiya could not come to terms with all the trauma associated with her profession, so much so that she chose a different path altogether.She says she was probably chosen to heal. But Sofiya is quick to add she always has a sense of fear and insecurity tucked away under her super cool oeuvre. That could be because she comes from a family of entrepreneurs, and she happens to be the great-granddaughter of Vazir Sultan, founder of VST Industries/ Charminar Cigarette Factory, the first tobacco factory in India.“Be it through my work or my art or my events, everything directs me to the beating core of a heartfelt purpose. So, I stitch these experiences and avenues together in the patchwork quilt of life,” says Sofiya.Sofiya feels her life was too colorful to deal with the grey of trauma. Her company and its activities have been a physical manifestation of all these internal experiences, she says.

A Doctor With a Legacy Now Creating Enchanting Experiences

Sampath Kumar happens to be an entrepreneur from the city. He is known to run Colours Beauty Salon in Rd No 5, Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad. But there is another side to him that very few people know. He happens to be a blood donor. Yes, a donor who donates blood at regular intervals and is extremely satisfied with his commitment for the past 23 years.In the last two decades, he has donated blood 1000 times, and like many donors, he got on the path after hearing about a man dying because he did not get blood on time. Since then, Sampath has made it his mission to do whatever he can to bridge the gap between blood requirement and availability.He is O+ve and has saved 472 lives so far. He has also donated plasma 24 times since the pandemic broke. Sampath has also been donating platelets every 15 days to cancer patients. He regularly donates blood at Chiranjeevi Blood Bank and various private and government hospitals, shares Sampath.He says one must donate blood regularly as there is a shortage of blood in Hyderabad. Sampath says donating blood also keeps one stay active and fresh as new blood cells keep generating. He insists that there are no side effects of donating one’s blood. He points out that he has been doing it for 23 years and is fit and hale. Sampath sleeps for a good seven hours a day and says he is good to go.Also, ever since he started donating blood, he quit his habit of excessive smoking and drinking. To conclude, he says the feeling of the blood being used for a good cause gives immense satisfaction.

A ‘Blood-Written’ Success Story of 23 Years

A woman advocate from Secunderabad lost Rs 55 lakh to crypto fraudsters who lured her with huge profits in cryptocurrency trading.The victim had found that a woman named Ammie added her to a WhatsApp group a month ago where continuous updates about crypto business were posted. After following the updates in the group for a few days, one day, she received a call from Ammie, who briefed her about the bitcoin business and its profits. The victim was then introduced to Jack, who explained about the bitcoin trading and asked her to download an app on her phone. She was told to pay 20% of profits as commission, and she agreed.According to the police, the victim downloaded the app and started making small investments in bitcoin trading. Initially, she made profits and was lured by more profits; she invested over Rs 55 lakh and later got duped.In another case, a man residing in Basheerbagh lost Rs 10 lakh to cryptocurrency fraudsters. He had received a message with a link to a website on his WhatsApp number. The police said that the victim clicked on the link and got introduced to some persons who duped him for Rs 10 lakh on the pretext of helping him make profits.Two cyber fraud cases were booked, and investigations are on.

Woman Advocate Falls Prey To Crypto Fraud, Loses 55 Lakhs

Reportedly intoxicated, a youth climbed atop a police patrol car in Asif Nagar and later damaged vehicles, including the police car. A video has now gone viral on social media where the shirtless youngster can be seen sitting atop a moving police car.Later a policeman could be seen thrashing that youngster once he gets down from the vehicle at a petrol bunk.&nbsp;Revanth Reddy, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president, tweeted the video and said that the dreadful influence of alcohol has not only led to more murders and rapes but also to miscreants attacking police vehicles. He asked civil society to look into the issue.Many on social media are saying that the fear of the police has vanished in the state. Hooligans are taking police for granted; as can be seen in the video, a youngster intoxicated with Ganja is having a happy ride on top of a police vehicle.The accused also damaged an auto apart from the police vehicle. He was taken into custody by the police. The police said that overpowering that intoxicated person was a challenge as he was wielding a weapon. The police added that a case had been registered, and he will be remanded.

Intoxicated by Ganja, City Youth Climbs Police Vehicle in Asif Nagar

Check out the latest five places to eat out this monsoon season. Rains are fun, well, if you are in the right attire and have the right mean machine. We list out the places to chill this coming season.If you are a sushi or dim sum person, then Taro is the place for you. Brilliantly furnished with aesthetic appeal, it is simply ideal for Instagram and Snapchat stories. There is an outdoor dining area making it just ideal for enjoying the outdoors, and winding just blows in your hair. As we hinted earlier, the place has some of the yummiest pan-Asian food in this part of the world.Then there’s the resto-bar Tasca in Kokapet. The interiors have been done up by the same team who did Sanctuary Bar &amp; Kitchen in Film Nagar and mirror the high-end feel of Sanctuary. Well, like in any recommended place, the place has some great food options and fancy cocktails. If you live around the area, then it’s your go-to place.Voila is another place that will excite you. It has a whole load of knickknacks right from furniture to cutlery; there is something you would want something to take home. The cutlery especially is oh so cute. And while here, you can also indulge in some retail therapy. Well, Voila did it first. You can dine and shop at one go out here.Beluga is another one of the most instagrammable places in the city. It places loads of emphasis on interiors and has an aesthetic that is unparalleled in the city. The mocktails are a must-try here and the hot chocolate, they say, is ‘out of the world.’Jubilee Hills has loads of fine dining restaurants, pubs, and clubs these days. But Tom &amp; Nori on Rd No 45, Jubilee Hills, stands out as the newly opened Bistro and offers some good American fast food and continental fares like a wide variety of ravioli, burgers, and waffles. It’s the kind of place you would love to go out with.

Top 5 Go-to Places in Hyderabad This Season

Uncertain or pushed sleep hours could lead to a variety of issues, say the psychologists and psychiatrists. It has become a norm for many to work at odd hours and work into late hours due to match timings elsewhere in the world. So, many people return home from work at around 10.30 to 11 pm, and this causes sleep disorders in many.After putting in long hours, they feel they need ‘me time’ and indulge in revenge at bedtime. This is something that has become a norm among most employed in the city. Many of them feel they have to push their sleep time to watch television or something on an OTT platform just to feel relaxed. This also often leads to late-night snacking, and this results in various psychosomatic conditions, warn psychologists and psychiatrists.In many cases, people get so involved in their ‘me time’ that they end up not having sufficient sleep. While they do not take any discounts when it comes to food, they cut down on their sleep time. This is alarming, say those in the mental health segment.Some people say they sleep during the afternoons. However, psychologists and psychiatrists say that such sleep relaxes the body but does not relax the mind. Sleeplessness also leads to obesity and heart disorders, they say. Though some people assume they can follow a scattered pattern and set their own timings, there is nothing like having a good eight hours of sleep, they insist.

City Docs say, Revenge Bedtime Can Lead to Heart Attacks

In a quite easy case of a cannabis seizure, a huge quantity of marijuana was allegedly found in a vehicle that reportedly met with an accident on Monday on the ORR (Outer Ring Road) at Keesara on the outskirts of the city.According to the reports, two persons are absconding, and another two were injured. The reports also suggest that the car, reportedly from Delhi, lost control and rammed into a lorry that was moving in front of it near Leonia Resorts.The police team rushed to the spot and was surprised to find marijuana in huge quantities in the car. The two injured persons are being treated under the police radar in the hospital.

Car Loaded With Marijuana Met With Accident

We have been reading many articles about how young women spotted a hidden camera above a shelf in a washroom. Recently there was news that two students filmed a young lady in a trial room of a mall in Jubilee Hills. It goes without saying, women in the city are worried as they tend to go out quite often these days, and one cannot keep checking every nook and corner for hidden cameras.While some might brush these off as one-off incidents, prevention, as they say, is better than cure. One person who has made it his mission to create awareness among women and the public in general regarding these matters happens to be Rupesh Mittal, founder of city-based organization Cyber Jagrithi Foundation, the first organization of its kind in South Asia.Rupesh has some tips for those who are obviously worried about the way things are happening:As most cameras work via the internet, it is better to switch on Wi-Fi and look for questionable networks. If you feel unsafe, immediately move out.There are infrared camera detectors available in the market that cost about Rs 400 to Rs 500 on e-commerce websites.All cameras have dark lenses. So check the room thoroughly. Turn on brighter lights if there are dark areas in the room. Bulbs could have cameras too, so if you find a black spot on them, don't dismiss it as a design or an insect. Also, there could be a hidden camera in adapters.There have been instances of people hiding cameras in LED bulbs, be aware.Last, make sure that the mirrors are not double-layered. One way to find that out is to place your finger horizontally against the mirror. If the end of the mirror touches the reflection of your finger in the mirror, it's a double-layered mirror, and you are surely being recorded.And most importantly, when you find such a device, immediately call the police—dial 100. You will be redirected to the nearest police station, and a cop will arrive at the location. Don't make the mistake of alerting the management before calling the police. Evidence could have been tampered with, or worse still, the footage can be leaked by miscreants.

Hyderabad's Cyber Jagrithi To Spread Awareness Against Voyeurism

Film Entertainment is all set to get costly in Hyderabad. The average film-loving family will think twice before going to a multiplex in the coming days. In to the details, All Leading Multiplexes have opted for 295 Rupees from today. This will be applicable for All Running and New Movies. Asian Group run multiplexes are an exception.They charge 175-250 Rupees for now. A family of three going to a film will be spending 1000 bucks already for watching a film. The already costly popcorn and drinks will make sure that the average cinema-going budget for a weekend may cross 2000 Rupees. Trade Experts say this pricing can be detrimental for the Multiplexes and the film industry."There is no way common people will spend so much on small and medium-budget films. Even for the big films, once the first-week run is completed, the going gets tough. The pricing should be in accordance with the film. Also, there should be lower prices for the weekdays," they say.&nbsp;Multiplexes say they are following the recent G.O. released by the Telangana Government.&nbsp;The G.O. says the ticket prices can be increased up to 295 Rupees. The G.O. is brought in to help the big films sell at higher prices on the opening day or the opening weekend but the Multiplexes seems to have gone for the kill.