07 Mar 2026

The district in-charge minister for Mysuru, HC Mahadevappa, has directed officials to immediately advance a series of road-widening initiatives across the city to address escalating traffic congestion. In a meeting convened earlier this week, Mahadevappa emphasised the urgency of widening several arterial routes, including those connecting major junctions and public transport hubs, and instructed streamlined land-clearance and approval processes. The Mysuru City Corporation commissioner identified multiple stretches earmarked for widening, such as roads linking Dr BR Ambedkar Circle, Fountain Circle and the Suburban bus stand, as well as Pulakeshi, Hyder Ali and Dr Rajkumar Roads. Local legislators and senior administrators committed to coordinated action to accelerate implementation. The directives reflect growing pressure on urban infrastructure due to rising vehicle numbers and commuter demand in the historic city.Read more

Pune News Desk

07 Mar 2026

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has finalised 34 locations across the city where parking facilities can be developed near Pune Metro stations to improve commuter access and last-mile connectivity. Most of these sites are within around 500 metres of Metro stations and fall under amenity spaces that can be used for organised parking. Civic officials have assessed the sites and found 31 suitable for development. Work has already started at four locations. The initiative aims to support Metro users who travel to stations using private vehicles and to strengthen the city's public transport network.Read more

06 Mar 2026

Dr Anshu Kataria, President of the Federation of Self Financing Technical Institutions and the Punjab Unaided Colleges Association, has urged the Central Government to review land and infrastructure norms for colleges and universities. He said outdated regulations and high land costs are restricting expansion, especially in urban centres. With India projected to need around 2,500 universities and nearly 1 lakh colleges by 2040 to raise the Gross Enrolment Ratio to 55-60 percent, he stressed that private participation is essential and requires practical, transparent and investment-friendly policies.Read more

Mumbai News Desk

06 Mar 2026

Ruxmani Lying-In Hospital, a 78-year-old maternity facility in South Mumbai, is relocating to Nana Chowk to allow an 80-storey luxury high-rise on its original site. The hospital, handling 900 childbirths annually and serving underprivileged families, will operate from a temporary 7,700 sq ft facility for four years before returning to a larger dedicated building. The Dhuleva Group acquired surrounding plots for over INR 300 crore, planning 50 residences with extensive amenities. The redevelopment follows city regulations for unsafe buildings but raises concerns among heritage experts about demolition of Grade 3 heritage structures.Read more

Noida News Desk

06 Mar 2026

The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has proposed a 500-acre FinTech hub in Sector 11 near the upcoming Noida International Airport and has invited expressions of interest from developers. The project is planned as a dedicated financial and technology ecosystem accommodating banking, digital finance, IT/ITeS and support services. Officials have indicated that stakeholder consultations are guiding the selection of a suitable development model, including possible public-private partnership options. The initiative forms part of YEIDA's master plan to position the region as a major fintech and institutional destination.Read more

06 Mar 2026

The Nashik Municipal Corporation has approved a plan to spend INR 135 crore in the current financial year to repair city roads that have deteriorated following repeated excavation for utility installations, particularly by Maharashtra Natural Gas Ltd (MNGL) and other service providers, civic officials said earlier this week. The funding includes an unspent provision of INR 60 crore from the current year and INR 75 crore earmarked under the draft budget for 2026-27. The work will address uneven surfaces and potholes in major localities such as Panchavati, Gangapur Road, Nashik Road and Nashik West, where poorly restored trenches have caused traffic delays and increased accident risks. Municipal Commissioner Manisha Khatri confirmed contractors have been appointed and repair operations, including resurfacing and pothole filling, are scheduled to begin in the coming months as part of broader infrastructure maintenance efforts.Read more

06 Mar 2026

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has proposed a comprehensive mission to clean the 313-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna in the state, alongside key welfare and infrastructure measures in the 2026-27 budget. The plan includes scientific treatment of drain water, expansion of sewage capacity and stricter industrial monitoring. The budget also proposes raising minimum wages, installing remaining smart meters, expanding pilgrimage schemes, purchasing electric buses and creating a Special Assistance Fund of INR 100 crore to address salary delays. Air connectivity from Hisar is also set for expansion.Read more

06 Mar 2026

Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India (MHRIL) has signed a 110-key resort in Dapoli near Murud Beach, marking a further expansion of its presence along Maharashtra's coastline. The first phase of 52 keys is scheduled for launch in Q1 FY27, with the remaining inventory set to open in Q2 FY27. The addition forms part of the company's FY26-FY30 growth roadmap, under which it plans to exceed 10,000 keys under the Club Mahindra brand and scale its overall portfolio to 12,000 keys. The move reflects MHRIL's strategy of strengthening inventory in high-demand leisure destinations, catering to India's expanding base of holidaying families and growing domestic travel demand.Read more

06 Mar 2026

The Rural Works Department in Bihar has suspended three engineers and moved to blacklist a contractor following the collapse of a section of an under-construction bridge over the Ghoghari river in Gopalganj district, officials said earlier this week. The reinforced cement concrete bridge, part of a INR 2.87 crore project, gave way while casting work was ongoing in Gangwa village's Siddhwalia block, with no casualties reported. A preliminary inspection by the district magistrate found apparent use of substandard materials and poor supervision, prompting immediate departmental action against the project's assistant and junior engineers. The contractor, Bapudham Construction of Motihari, faces blacklisting amid rising public concern over recurring infrastructure failures and oversight lapses in the state's rural works. A high-level inquiry has been ordered to assess quality control and future accountability measures.Read more

Delhi News Desk

06 Mar 2026

The New Delhi Municipal Council has issued a public notice directing residents of the Palika Dham housing complex near Gole Market, New Delhi, to vacate the premises by March 7, 2026, after declaring the building structurally unsafe for habitation. The directive follows a recent structural assessment that found the over-50-year-old brick-masonry Type I residential complex in a dilapidated condition, posing potential risks to occupants. NDMC has offered affected residents alternative accommodation options in Type I and II quarters at regular licence fees, with bidding also closing on March 7. The order, which echoes earlier evacuation notices issued last year, has met with mixed reactions from residents some seeking repairs rather than relocation, and others beginning to explore housing alternatives. The civic body has maintained that no deadline extension will be granted to those still residing in the complex.Read more

06 Mar 2026

India's Indian Railways is preparing to absorb an estimated INR 90,000 crore escalation in the cost of the Mumbai -Ahmedabad bullet train project, raising the total project outlay to nearly INR 1.98 lakh crore from the originally sanctioned INR 1.08 lakh crore. The cost overrun, driven primarily by delays in land acquisition and associated logistical challenges, represents an approximate 83 per cent increase on initial estimates. Senior officials have indicated that additional borrowing from the Japan International Cooperation Agency is unlikely, with the railways instead planning to meet the shortfall largely through gross budgetary support and increased allocations from the Union Budget. The revised estimate will be presented for approval to the Union Cabinet, and the finance ministry is expected to explore funding options to ensure project continuity.Read more

06 Mar 2026

The Maradu Municipality in Kerala has adopted its 2026-27 budget, projecting total revenue of approximately INR 111.27 crore with planned expenditure of around INR 101.84 crore, yielding a surplus of INR 9.42 crore, officials said earlier this week. Presented by Deputy Chairperson Jinson Peter, this is the first municipal budget drawn entirely through the K-Smart digital system. The plan allocates funds to a range of urban infrastructure and community development initiatives, including tourism enhancements in Valanthakkad, installation of LED lighting on key bridges, and lift facilities on the Kundannoor-Thevara bridge. Additional provisions include upgrades to educational facilities, construction of a biowaste treatment plant, renovation of public halls and commercial complexes, and stronger enforcement against illegal hoardings. The budget emphasises both civic improvements and revenue strengthening measures.Read more

06 Mar 2026

The Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) has resolved to enforce provisions of the city's building by-laws against properties developed without mandatory off-street parking space, officials said in the past week. The decision follows a review of ongoing construction and newly completed buildings, where multiple developments were found non-compliant with parking requirements stipulated under the Hubballi-Dharwad Development Plan and building regulations. Under the enforcement drive, the civic body will issue notices to violators, seek rectification measures and, if necessary, initiate action under relevant municipal and Karnataka Urban Development Laws. Authorities indicated that adherence to parking norms is critical to easing traffic congestion and ensuring orderly urban growth in one of North Karnataka's largest urban agglomerations. The push aligns with broader efforts to strengthen rule-based development governance amid rising concerns over infrastructure strain and public safety.Read more

06 Mar 2026

Private investment in India's national highways sector is poised to approach INR 1 trillion in the current financial year FY27, driven by the re-emergence of the build-operate-transfer (BOT) toll model and plans to open large-scale corridors to private bidders. Projects worth around INR 35,000 crore are expected to be tendered in the first quarter of the year, with further opportunities worth INR 50,000-60,000 crore likely to follow later in the year. The renewed focus on BOT projects, after a period of subdued private participation, reflects efforts by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the National Highways Authority of India to attract capital by de-risking revenue streams and expanding avenues for institutional investors. This anticipated private commitment would mark one of the highest annual inflows of private capital into India's roads sector, underscoring policy shifts aimed at crowding in long-term funding for infrastructure.Read more

06 Mar 2026

The Chandigarh administration has initiated the first comprehensive amendments to the Chandigarh Master Plan 2031 (CMP-2031), originally notified in April 2015, as part of a broader effort to modernise urban planning and optimise scarce land resources, officials said in the past week. The revisions follow the central government's Deregulation 2.0 push and are aimed at enhancing land-use efficiency while retaining the city's unique urban identity. Key proposed changes include permitting higher building heights and floor area ratios (FAR) in peripheral areas, liberalising fire safety norms, converting leasehold industrial plots to freehold, introducing zoning flexibility, doing away with minimum land requirements for private schools and creating a strategic land bank. The draft amendments are expected shortly after directions to submit preliminary proposals were issued by the Union Territory's chief secretary, with assurances that heritage and planning principles will be respected.Read more

06 Mar 2026

The Assam government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Airports Authority of India to conduct pre-feasibility studies for five potential greenfield airports in the state, officials said in the past week. The agreement was formalised in Dispur, Guwahati, in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and senior AAI officials, and was signed by the state's Transport Commissioner and AAI Chairman. The proposed sites for the new airports include areas near Manas National Park, Umrangshu, Majuli, Diphu and Charaideo. The initiative is intended to strengthen regional air connectivity, improve access to remote and tourism-rich regions and support economic growth in Assam's interior districts. The move also aims to reinforce the state's role as a key gateway to the North East. The studies will inform subsequent detailed project planning and potential infrastructure investment.Read more

06 Mar 2026

The Jaipur Development Authority has sanctioned INR 240 crore for construction of a long-awaited Sanganer elevated road in Jaipur, officials confirmed in recent approvals aimed at tackling severe traffic congestion in the city's southern corridor. The executive committee's clearance paves the way for construction of the elevated corridor from the Sanganer flyover to Malpura Gate, with connections through Chordia petrol pump and the Sanganer Railway Overbridge (ROB). Work is expected to begin imminently, with authorities indicating that all required clearances are in place and construction is set to start in early March. The project includes multiple entry and exit ramps to streamline traffic flow and is designed for completion within about 30 months, with an objective to reduce daily congestion for thousands of commuters. The elevated road remains one of several infrastructure initiatives to improve mobility in the Jaipur metropolitan area.Read more

Mumbai News Desk

05 Mar 2026

The BMC's 2026-27 budget demonstrates a focused approach to addressing Mumbai's water supply challenges by investing heavily in infrastructure and alternative sources. By reviving the Gargai dam, building water conveyance tunnels, and implementing a desalination plant, the civic body aims to reduce the supply gap while increasing resilience. Combined with efforts to recycle sewage water and expand treatment capacity, these measures are intended to meet long-term demand and ensure sustainable supply. The plan positions the city to better handle future shortages and maintain consistent service for its residents and businesses.Read more

05 Mar 2026

Residents of Tripunithura in Kochi, Kerala are urging authorities to extend the Seaport Airport Road (SPAP Road) beyond its current terminus to ease persistent traffic bottlenecks, local officials and community representatives said in the past week. The existing four-lane arterial road, designed to connect Kochi Seaport with Cochin International Airport, has significantly reduced transit times since its opening, but its current alignment ends near Puthencruz, forcing vehicles onto narrower local roads that are now struggling under increased traffic volumes. Community groups are calling for the SPAP roadway to be extended towards Thripunithura town centre and major regional junctions, improving last-mile connectivity and decongesting residential streets. Advocates argue that such an extension could better integrate surrounding growth areas into the broader road network, support economic activity and enhance commuter safety. Authorities have acknowledged the concerns and indicated that feasibility assessments are under consideration amid competing infrastructure priorities.Read more

05 Mar 2026

Kerala recorded a decline in road accident deaths in 2025 even as the total number of crashes and injuries increased. Data released by the Motor Vehicles Department showed 49,889 accidents during the year, leading to 3,733 deaths and 56,922 injuries. Fatalities fell by 142 compared to the previous year. Two-wheeler and motorcycle deaths also declined for the third consecutive year. Officials attributed the reduction in deaths to stricter enforcement and awareness drives, despite the number of registered vehicles in the state rising to nearly 1.9 crore.Read more