18 Jul 2025

PCMC has wrapped up public consultations on its revised development plan (DP) for the city's old limits, receiving a record 49,000 objections and suggestions. This marks the first major update since 1995, outlining new zoning rules, land use, and transit routes. The proposed High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR) sparked major protests, with residents in areas like Rahatni and Tathawade opposing routes cutting through homes and community spaces. Other flashpoints included a now-withdrawn municipal abattoir near Alandi and TP schemes in Chikhali and Kudalwadi. A technical committee will now review all objections before public hearings are held and the plan is finalised.Read more

18 Jul 2025

With high-rise living on the rise in NCR, Noida's fire department is upgrading its systems for better emergency response. A major boost comes from the Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS), recently tested at the 74-storey Supertech Supernova. Unlike conventional tenders, CAFS can reach up to 100 storeys and uses foam to fight fires more efficiently. At a recent expo, new gear like heat-resistant suits and air-purifying helmets was showcased. UP's MSME Minister announced district-level disaster units and a new digital portal for compliance checks. Backed by INR 30 crore each, Noida and Greater Noida are investing in audits, awareness drives, and robotic fire vehicles.Read more

18 Jul 2025

Indian Railways plans to install CCTV cameras in over 7,400 passenger coaches and 15,000 locomotives to enhance safety. The high-end cameras will provide clear footage at 100 kmph and in low light. Each coach will have four cameras, and locomotives will have six CCTVs and two microphones. Tenders were floated on July 11, with installation by Northern Railway workshops. This initiative, following a successful trial run, aims to deter miscreants, protect passenger privacy, and explore future AI integration for security.Read more

17 Jul 2025

India's electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure has expanded significantly over the past three fiscal years, with public stations seeing a five-fold increase due to strong government support. However, despite this rapid growth, a recent report from CareEdge Ratings reveals a persistent gap: there is currently only one public charging station for every 235 electric vehicles on the road. This situation clearly highlights an urgent need for faster and more balanced development of charging facilities nationwide to match the soaring adoption of EVs and fully support the country's transition to electric mobility.Read more

17 Jul 2025

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced stringent measures against consultancy firms delivering substandard Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for national highway and tunnel projects. Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari recently stated that consultants failing to adhere to technical and procedural standards would now be penalised. A rating system has been introduced to assess DPR quality, with provisions to incentivise high-performing firms. He also underscored the misalignment of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spending and pushed for a targeted, audited approach to ensure funds are utilised for the benefit of economically and socially marginalised populations across sectors like education, agriculture, and healthcare.Read more

17 Jul 2025

The Chhattisgarh government has approved the formation of a State Capital Region Authority (SCRA) to oversee the coordinated growth of the Raipur Metropolitan Region. The newly constituted authority will manage infrastructure expansion, land use planning, and regional governance across multiple jurisdictions. It aims to build on the fiscal success of Nava Raipur India's first debt-free modern planned city and support the state's broader economic ambitions. This move follows similar development models in states like Uttar Pradesh and comes at a time when the government is pursuing aggressive investment plans, including semiconductor manufacturing, AI data centres, and lithium block auctions.Read more

17 Jul 2025

Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel has approved INR 212 crore for a new two-lane bridge over the Mahisagar river near Mujpur, Padra taluka. This decision comes five days after the collapse of a four-decade-old bridge at the same site, which claimed 20 lives on July 9. The new bridge, with an 18-month deadline, will be built parallel to the old one. The state government also distributed INR 62 lakh in financial aid to affected families, including INR 4 lakh for each of the 15 deceased. Search operations continue for one missing person.Read more

16 Jul 2025

Kochi Municipal Corporation's e-governance transition has triggered a major civic disruption, with nearly 50,000 building records missing from the newly implemented K-Smart portal. This breakdown followed Tata Consultancy Services' exit from the project, reportedly due to unpaid dues and delayed timelines. As a result, property owners are unable to access basic services such as property tax payments, building number verifications, and licence renewals. Over 1,450 complaints have already been registered, and opposition members claim the number of affected properties may be significantly higher.Read more

16 Jul 2025

The Maha Mumbai Metro has expanded its operational capacity on Metro Lines 2A and 7, increasing daily services from 284 to 305 trips. To address peak-hour crowding, 21 additional services have been introduced, reducing the frequency interval to 5 minutes and 50 seconds from the previous 6 minutes and 35 seconds. This service upgrade is backed by the deployment of three newly-inducted trainsets aimed at meeting growing commuter demand. The move reflects the authority's continued effort to enhance connectivity and efficiency across Mumbai's expanding metro network.Read more

16 Jul 2025

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari recently inaugurated the Sharavathi bridge in Shivamogga, Karnataka-India's second-longest cable-stayed bridge, spanning 6 km and built at a cost of INR 472 crore. The bridge is designed to improve connectivity across the Malnad region. The event, held on July 14, also included foundation stone-laying for nine National Highway projects totaling over INR 2,000 crore. These include upgrades like the 47-km Bidar-Humnabad stretch, aimed at reducing travel time between Kalaburagi and Bidar. Restoration of the Shiradi Ghat section of NH-75 was also announced to ensure safer travel during monsoons. The ruling state party partially boycotted the ceremony.Read more

16 Jul 2025

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) implemented strict height restrictions within a 20-kilometre radius of the upcoming Noida International Airport. The directive prohibits any form of vertical construction whether residential or commercial buildings, telecom infrastructure, or even tall trees without securing prior clearance through an official No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued via AAI's NOCAS portal. This action comes amid rising real estate activity around the Yamuna Expressway and Jewar region.Read more

16 Jul 2025

The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) has signed an MoU with the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development for Transaction Advisory Services. This aims to design a financial blueprint for infrastructure projects in Amaravati. The institution will help formulate financial strategies, evaluate public-private partnership models, and identify revenue sources from land assets. This partnership seeks to strengthen the financial ecosystem for Amaravati's development, optimizing capital deployment for its transformation into a world-class capital city.Read more

15 Jul 2025

The 'Projonmo Chattar' structure in Shahbagh, Dhaka, a symbol of the 2013 Shahbagh protests for justice, was demolished in the early hours of Saturday. The Ministry of Housing and Public Works carried out the demolition. Police confirmed the act, stating the Ministry plans a new installation related to last July's protests, which led to the ouster of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The demolition occurred quietly to prevent unrest, and a section of the structure has been dismantled.Read more

15 Jul 2025

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project has opened the first section of its 21 km undersea tunnel between Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Thane. This milestone was announced by the Ministry of Railways. The overall 508 km corridor, developed with Japanese Shinkansen technology, has completed 310 km of viaducts, 15 river bridges, and 5 stations. The BKC station's excavation is 80% complete. This progress highlights rapid construction in Maharashtra and aims for new benchmarks in speed and reliability, with E10 Shinkansen trains set for simultaneous introduction in India and Japan.Read more

15 Jul 2025

The Gujarat government has intensified road repair and patchwork efforts following heavy monsoon rains that severely impacted infrastructure across the state. Under the direction of Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, the Roads and Buildings Department is prioritising quick restoration of roads to avoid public inconvenience. So far, over 50% of both minor and major patchwork has been completed, with more than 62% of pothole-filling works also accomplished. With more than 183 roads affected by diversions, structural repairs and traffic restoration efforts are underway in multiple areas.Read more

15 Jul 2025

Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis recently announced that construction of India's first offshore airport, the Vadhvan Airport near Mumbai, is expected to begin in 2026. The state has already appointed an agency to prepare the detailed project report. This would be the third airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region after the existing Mumbai airport and the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport. Fadnavis also shared progress on the Purandar airport near Pune and plans to expand aviation infrastructure across the state's districts.Read more

15 Jul 2025

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) plans to install rooftop solar power plants on 989 of its buildings, aiming to reduce reliance on conventional power and lower electricity costs. This project could yield 10-15 MW capacity. Executed in collaboration with NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN) under the RESCO model, NVVN will cover installation and maintenance, reimbursed through a fixed tariff. This initiative supports India's clean energy goals, aligning with national targets for non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, and builds on MCD's existing 13.25 MWp solar capacity.Read more

14 Jul 2025

Siemens has secured two significant contracts from Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MAHA-METRO), valued at approximately INR 773 crore, to provide cutting-edge signalling and telecommunication systems for the Nagpur Metro Rail Project Phase 2. Spanning a network of 43.8 kilometres with 32 stations, the orders cover the design to commissioning of Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) and advanced telecommunication systems. The project execution timeline is set at 42 months and aims to enhance safety, efficiency, and passenger experience while supporting Nagpur's urban mobility goals.Read more

14 Jul 2025

A team of Karnataka legislators and officials is on a two-day tour in Gujarat to study its town planning schemes. The visit aims to gather information on growth and infrastructure development, intending to implement similar initiatives in Karnataka. They plan a pilot project in Hubballi-Dharwad, focusing on developing essential infrastructure on 200-500 acres. This inter-state learning highlights efforts to create effective urban planning schemes in partnership with farmers and locals, adapting successful models for Karnataka's urban growth.Read more

14 Jul 2025

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started work on a 1.2 km stretch of the Coastal Road Project's second phase in Goregaon, Mumbai. This section lies outside the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). The north phase of the project, connecting Versova to Bhayandar, encompasses elevated roads and twin tunnels, with most of its area within CRZ limits. The BMC recently received Stage 1 approvals for mangrove diversion and will now approach the High Court for working permissions before final environmental clearances.Read more