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04 Feb 2026
Odisha is establishing India's first commercial airport drone test corridor by partnering with local startup BonV Aero. The Rangeilunda Airport in Ganjam district will be transformed into a National UAV Test and Innovation Corridor, enabling live trials of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in low-altitude airspace up to 1,000 metres. The project supports BVLOS operations, indigenous research, and advanced UAV development. It also includes a dedicated UAV training centre and a flying training organisation, aiming to equip youth with aviation and drone skills while promoting defence, disaster response, and commercial drone applications.Read more
04 Feb 2026
Kerala has made significant progress in integrating renewable energy into its power grid, primarily through rooftop solar, which now meets about 22 per cent of daytime electricity demand. The state continues to rely on the central grid during peak hours, highlighting the importance of energy storage solutions. Draft regulations are being prepared to allow Vehicle to Grid systems, peer to peer energy trading, and virtual power plants. Despite legal stays on certain policies, Kerala's initiatives in solar, green hydrogen, and decentralized energy mark a steady move toward 100 per cent renewable energy by 2040 and carbon neutrality by 2050.Read more
04 Feb 2026
The government has raised the UDAN scheme's allocation by 27 per cent to INR 550 crore for the next financial year, up from INR 434.50 crore, to expand air connectivity in smaller towns and underserved regions. The Civil Aviation Ministry's overall budget has risen slightly to INR 4,699.92 crore, with higher funding for regulators DGCA and BCAS. Customs support at 27 tier II and tier III airports is also covered, while the drone PLI scheme remains unfunded. The initiative focuses on reviving dormant airstrips and making air travel more accessible.Read more
04 Feb 2026
The Economic Survey 2025-26 advocates congestion pricing and parking reforms as central strategies to reduce traffic congestion in Indian cities, emphasising a shift from vehicle-centric planning to people-focused urban mobility. It highlights global models like Singapore's Electronic Road Pricing and London's Congestion Charge which dynamically charge vehicles in dense business districts to manage demand, improve travel speeds and cut emissions. The survey also notes India's own policy progress, including demand-based parking management, such as the Chennai Metropolitan Area Parking Policy (2025), which treats parking as valuable urban real estate and supports public transport, walking and cycling. These demand-management tools are proposed alongside scaling up bus fleets, accelerating e-bus adoption and strengthening last-mile and shared mobility options, as part of a broader integrated approach to tackle gridlock and improve liveability in fast-growing metropolitan regions.Read more
04 Feb 2026
Veteran rail engineer E. Sreedharan has initiated groundwork for a proposed high-speed rail corridor in Kerala by setting up a project office in Ponnani, signalling progress despite the state not being named in the Union Budget's announced rail corridors. The office will support public consultations, preliminary planning and preparation of a detailed project report for a line between Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur, designed for trains running up to 200 kmph. Fieldwork is expected to begin before the monsoon, with alignment and station locations to be decided through on-site assessments.Read more
04 Feb 2026
Meghalaya is expected to receive INR 9,631 crore in tax devolution for 2026-27, enhancing the state's capacity for infrastructure development and capital expenditure. Over the past decade, central transfers have steadily increased, totaling INR 69,339 crore as tax devolution and INR 40,452 crore as grants-in-aid from 2014 to 2024. The Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment has further supported capital projects with INR 6,523 crore allocated between 2020-21 and January 2026. Infrastructure improvements include over 1,156 km of National Highways and 170 km approved under Bharatmala projects. Welfare schemes like Jan Dhan and PM Mudra Yojana have also seen wider reach.Read more
04 Feb 2026
The Uttar Pradesh government has prepared a detailed proposal to introduce a metropolitan corporation for Noida, following directions issued by the Supreme Court after examining governance concerns at the Noida Authority. The move comes in response to findings by a Special Investigation Team that highlighted structural weaknesses, limited public accountability, and financial irregularities involving excess land compensation of about INR 118 crore. Since Noida is governed under the Industrial Area Development Act, legislative amendments will be required. The proposal is expected to be placed before the state cabinet for an in-principle decision.Read more
04 Feb 2026
The Union Budget has proposed a long-term tax holiday to encourage global investment in India's digital infrastructure ecosystem. The incentive applies to foreign companies offering cloud services globally through data centres located in India, with benefits extending until 2047. Industry experts believe the move will support large-scale data centre development, improve tax certainty for IT and Global Capability Centres, and strengthen India's role in cloud, AI and digital services. The proposal aligns with rising demand for secure and scalable digital infrastructure across sectors.Read more
04 Feb 2026
The Supreme Court has asked the Maharashtra government, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), and other concerned authorities to respond to a plea challenging a Bombay High Court ruling on slum rehabilitation. The case revolves around redevelopment projects on land reserved for parks, gardens, and playgrounds, with the High Court allowing such projects under conditions to restore a portion for public use. Petitioners argue the regulation legalises encroachment and reduces public open spaces, critical in a city where per capita greenery is limited and urban density is rising.Read more
04 Feb 2026
GG Tronics India Private Limited, a Bengaluru-based subsidiary of CG Power and Industrial Solutions Ltd, has received a major INR 433.34 crore order from Chittaranjan Locomotive Works for the supply and deployment of the indigenous Kavach train collision avoidance system. The contract includes installation, testing, commissioning, complete wiring, integration with locomotives, and an 11-year annual maintenance contract starting from the fifth year. The project is scheduled for completion within a year. GG Tronics is also advancing final RDSO clearance for Kavach 4.0, with mandatory safety assessments successfully completed.Read more
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04 Feb 2026
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is advancing the construction of the 650 metre Vikhroli-Vidyavihar east-west flyover, designed to connect Ramchandra Chemburkar Marg with Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg over Vidyavihar railway station. Officials have instructed completing major works by the end of May to avoid monsoon delays, while the flyover is scheduled to open to traffic by June 25. Key tasks include finalising approach roads, removing affected structures, revising road alignments, and completing railway station access works, including pedestrian connectivity and reconstructed ticket counters.Read more
04 Feb 2026
Andhra Pradesh is accelerating its highway development programme, with Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu instructing officials to complete ongoing National Highway projects worth INR 1.40 lakh crore by 2027. The initiative includes the Bengaluru-Kadapa-Vijayawada Economic Corridor linking the greenfield capital region at Amaravati. Officials are tasked with enhancing port connectivity to Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Machilipatnam, Ramayapatnam, and Krishnapatnam, while preparing detailed project reports for new expressways and regional road links. Modern construction technologies like Danish fibre, waste plastic bitumen, and IIT Tirupati's nano concrete are being adopted to improve durability and freight efficiency.Read more
04 Feb 2026
PRISM-backed Sunday PropTech, the asset-owning hospitality arm of OYO, has acquired a portfolio of eight premium hotel properties in India, according to people familiar with the development. While the transaction value has not been officially disclosed, the combined valuation of the assets is estimated at around INR 800 crore. The acquisition has been funded through a mix of debt and equity instruments and marks another step in the company's strategy to build a sizeable owned and managed hotel portfolio across premium and mid-premium segments. The newly acquired properties will be operated under PRISM's brand ecosystem, including Sunday Hotels, Belvilla and other appropriate brands based on asset positioning. The deal underlines Sunday PropTech's continued focus on asset-led growth, as it evaluates further acquisition opportunities to strengthen its presence in India's organised hospitality market.Read more
04 Feb 2026
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has signed a contract with Pawan Hans Ltd for the supply of 10 Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopters, valued at over INR 1,800 crore. The deal includes helicopters, spares, and accessories, with delivery scheduled to complete by 2027. The Dhruv NG, an advanced version of HAL's indigenous helicopter, features twin Shakti engines, a civil-certified glass cockpit, terrain awareness systems, and enhanced safety measures. Pawan Hans, operating a fleet of 42-46 helicopters, will be the first major civil operator of this platform.Read more
04 Feb 2026
Delhi has approved Phase 1A of its elevated Ring Road project, covering a 5 km stretch from Majnu Ka Tila to Salimgarh Fort, to address persistent traffic congestion. This section has been prioritised for its high traffic density and feasibility, while the overall project spans 57.5 km in six planned corridors. The project will integrate with existing infrastructure like the Red Line Metro and grade separators, while adhering to O-Zone and heritage protection norms. The detailed project report will guide tendering and construction, marking a significant step in improving city mobility and bypassing major bottlenecks.Read more
04 Feb 2026
Air India, jointly owned by the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, is revising its strategy to achieve profitability, which is now expected to take three to four more years. The airline is likely to record a loss exceeding INR 15,000 crore in the current fiscal due to factors including the Pakistan airspace closure and expenses from last June's Dreamliner crash. Under the ongoing five-year Vihaan.AI transformation plan, Air India aims to grow domestic market share to 30% and expand international operations, while modernising its fleet with over 570 new planes planned.Read more
04 Feb 2026
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has completed its first double-decker viaduct on the Maujpur Majlis Park corridor under Phase IV. The elevated structure between Bhajanpura and Yamuna Vihar is now ready for metro train operations after trial runs and statutory safety inspections. The lower deck, meant for road traffic, is still under construction and is expected to be completed later this year. This project is part of a broader plan to integrate metro and road infrastructure in congested city areas.Read more
04 Feb 2026
Mumbai continues to face a shortage of classrooms as several school buildings under slum rehabilitation projects remain undelivered. The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have been coordinating to resolve the long-standing dispute over ten school sites, with six buildings expected to be handed over before mid-year. Some buildings are ready and pending clearances like fire no-objection certificates, while others need minor safety work or are still under construction. A few projects face regulatory delays, and full completion may extend into the next decade.Read more
04 Feb 2026
Gurgaon's shift towards electric mobility in public transport remains uneven, with progress largely confined to e-cabs and electric autos. Over 20,000 electric commercial vehicles are registered in the city, but its entire public bus fleet continues to operate on CNG. Plans to introduce electric buses have been discussed for several years under national schemes, with Gurgaon expected to receive a large share of the proposed fleet. However, pending approvals and slow execution have delayed implementation, keeping large-scale public transport outside the EV transition.Read more
03 Feb 2026
Odisha's government has emphasized major infrastructure developments in Rourkela, focusing on upgrading the airport and expanding the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP). The airport, currently with a 1,930 metre runway and limited passenger handling, is slated for a Category C upgrade to manage moderate traffic. RSP, producing 4.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), is planned to nearly double its capacity to 9.5 MTPA by 2030. A state central task force is actively monitoring progress, with multiple official visits and discussions signaling a renewed momentum for long-pending projects in the region.Read more
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