LPG Crisis Disrupts IT Firms as Canteen Services Cut, Employees Told to Pack Lunches A severe shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has led to significant disruptions in the operations of major Indian IT firms, with companies like Infosys, TCS, Cognizant, and Wipro reducing or suspending canteen services. Employees are now being instructed to bring their own packed lunches, marking a shift from the usual convenience of office cafeterias. The crisis, attributed to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, has left many IT workers scrambling to adapt to the new norm, particularly those living in hostels or PGs where home cooking is not an option. The LPG shortage has forced companies to drastically cut food services, with some canteens operating only basic meals like dal and rice. For instance, Infosys’ Pune canteen committee advised employees to “carry their own tiffins” due to limited gas supplies, while TCS campuses in Pune and Bengaluru began serving only minimal options such as lemon rice and sandwiches. Cognizant’s Pune campus reportedly shut down live counters offering South Indian dishes and pulao, leaving only rice plates available. Similarly, Wipro’s Hinjewadi campus halted fast food and Chinese counters, relying solely on rice plates as vendors struggled with the gas crunch. The impact is most pronounced for employees without access to home cooking. Many IT workers, who often reside in PGs or hostels, rely on office canteens for meals. With canteens now serving only basic fare or operating at reduced capacity, thousands face the inconvenience of preparing their own food. Pavanjit Mane, President of the Forum for IT Employees Maharashtra, highlighted the plight of 2–3 lakh IT workers in Pune who depend entirely on canteens or eateries. He urged companies to consider allowing hybrid work arrangements until LPG supplies stabilize.#tcs #lpg_shortage #wipro #infosys #cognizant
TCS Launches Seventh Gemini Experience Center in Michigan for Physical AI Manufacturing Tata Consultancy Services has officially opened its seventh Gemini Experience Center in Troy, Michigan, focusing on Physical AI solutions for manufacturing. The facility, developed in collaboration with Google Cloud, integrates AI-powered robotics, advanced sensing, and edge intelligence through the TCS Physical AI Blueprint. This center supports applications such as autonomous patrolling, environmental monitoring, PPE compliance checks, and predictive equipment health monitoring. As part of TCS’s global expansion plan, the Troy location contributes to a target of 13 Gemini Experience Centers worldwide by 2026, with six additional centers set to launch in 2026. The Troy center is part of TCS’s broader strategy to advance AI-driven manufacturing solutions. It enables manufacturers to test and scale Physical AI use cases for safety, quality, and operational efficiency. The TCS Physical AI Blueprint serves as an end-to-end framework, combining AI-powered quadruped and humanoid robotics with secure cloud orchestration. Key applications include safety monitoring through autonomous patrolling, environmental control via anomaly detection systems, compliance tracking for PPE adherence, intelligent quality inspection, and operational insights from progress mapping and equipment health monitoring. Anupam Singhal, President of Manufacturing at TCS, emphasized the transformative potential of Physical AI, stating that it allows intelligence to move to the edge, enabling manufacturers to access environments that are hazardous or inefficient for human workers.#anupam_singhal #google_cloud #troy_michigan #tcs #saurabh_tiwary
