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21 Feb 2026
The Aqua Line of the Noida Metro Rail Corporation has seen a fourfold increase in daily commuters since its launch in early 2019, emerging as a vital transport link between Noida and Greater Noida. Ridership peaked in late 2025, driven by events like the UP International Trade Show. While connectivity between Sector 51 and Sector 52 stations remains a concern, authorities are developing a skywalk. Multiple extensions are in planning and approval stages, with one recently cleared for development. The line continues to strengthen urban transit and regional mobility.Read more
21 Feb 2026
Workers at major Indian ports held a one-day strike to protest proposed changes affecting key maritime assets, including plans to list Kamarajar Port Limited and recent investment decisions by Chennai Port Authority. The strike, called by the Water Transport Workers Federation of India one of the five recognised unions at major ports took place across Kolkata, Haldia, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Cochin, Thoothukudi and Kamarajar ports. Workers expressed opposition to the potential initial public offering (IPO) of Kamarajar Port, arguing it could dilute public ownership and jeopardise employment conditions; they also criticised Chennai Port Authority's reported acquisition of a 5 per cent stake in Bharat Container Shipping Line. The action was framed as part of wider labour concerns over port policy shifts and asset monetisation.Read more
20 Feb 2026
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has directed civic officials to take control of all projects developed under its Smart City initiative by the end of March, 2026, as the dedicated Smart City office is slated to cease operations. The corporation has established a three-member committee to manage the transition of both ongoing and completed schemes into regular municipal departments, ensuring their completion and upkeep. The Smart City initiative, launched in 2017 with combined funding from the central government, the state and PCMC, saw investments totalling close to INR 980 crore, but faced criticism for incomplete or non-functional elements, including issues with city surveillance infrastructure. As part of the transition, Smart City staff will return to their original roles, and contractual employees will be retained only until their agreements expire, while PCMC continues to bear costs for operation and maintenance of the existing assets.Read more
20 Feb 2026
The Mumbai coastal road, built to ease congestion and cut travel time, is facing criticism due to limited public transport usage. Despite having a dedicated BEST bus lane, only two bus routes currently operate on the corridor with low frequency. Commuters say long waiting times reduce the benefit of the signal-free road and force many to rely on private vehicles. Transport experts and citizens believe the infrastructure is underused and stress that higher bus frequency is essential for the project to deliver wider public value.Read more
20 Feb 2026
Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd managing director Karan Adani has approached Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to support the continuation of cabotage relaxation for Vizhinjam port. The appeal follows the Centre's move to withdraw the 2018 cabotage exemptions that allowed foreign-flag vessels to carry EXIM and empty containers on coastal routes. Industry stakeholders caution that a rollback could impact transshipment volumes, especially as Vizhinjam has emerged as a key hub since beginning commercial operations.Read more
20 Feb 2026
The International Air Transport Association has expressed concern over Mumbai airport's plan to suspend dedicated cargo aircraft operations from August 2026 to May 31, 2027 for major infrastructure upgrades. The airline body said it sought clarification from Mumbai International Airport Ltd in January but has not received a response. The airport operator has cited safety and capacity constraints due to extensive taxiway and apron reconstruction works. The proposed suspension could impact cargo movements at one of India's busiest air freight hubs.Read more
20 Feb 2026
The Tata Group and OpenAI have announced a strategic partnership to develop AI infrastructure in India, starting with 100MW of AI-ready capacity and scalable to 1GW. TCS, through its data centre arm HyperVault, will build green-powered, liquid-cooled facilities designed for high-density AI workloads. Backed by a USD 1 billion investment from TPG, the venture aims to position India as a global AI hub. The collaboration will also drive enterprise AI adoption, with TCS deploying OpenAI solutions across sectors. Thousands of Tata employees will access Enterprise ChatGPT, while AI skilling and industry-focused solutions form a key part of the initiative.Read more
20 Feb 2026
Bill Gates withdrew from the India AI Impact Summit hours before his keynote, following Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's earlier cancellation. The high-profile AI event in New Delhi, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended by global tech leaders, aimed to position India as a key player in global AI governance. Despite the setbacks, major investment announcements were made, including large AI data centre commitments from Reliance, Adani, Microsoft and Yotta. However, the summit faced logistical challenges, exhibition closures and traffic disruptions. The developments have highlighted operational concerns even as India attracts significant artificial intelligence infrastructure investments.Read more
20 Feb 2026
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd has commissioned a 71 MW solar power plant in Prayagraj, strengthening its renewable energy portfolio. The facility, spread over 210 acres, is expected to generate about 103.61 million units of green electricity annually and reduce carbon emissions by nearly 75,150 tonnes each year. Power from the plant will be supplied to BPCL's refineries in Mumbai, Bina and Kochi. The project supports the company's target of achieving net zero emissions for Scope 1 and 2 by 2040.Read more
20 Feb 2026
L&T and NVIDIA are collaborating to create gigawatt-scale, sovereign AI infrastructure in India. The joint venture will combine L&T engineering and execution expertise with NVIDIA's AI platforms to support high-density, production-ready AI workloads for domestic and global users. The initiative aligns with the India AI Mission, enabling data, model, and workload development within India while remaining globally interoperable. Key projects include scaling GPU clusters at L&T Chennai campus to 30 MW and deploying a new 40 MW data centre in Mumbai, creating a foundation for large-scale, efficient, and sustainable AI deployment.Read more
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20 Feb 2026
The Delhi government has initiated a major infrastructure programme in east Delhi's Vivek Vihar region with projects totaling around INR 1,075 crore. The plan focuses on strengthening 236 roads, constructing five foot overbridges, and upgrading drainage systems to address traffic congestion and waterlogging issues. Managed by the Public Works Department and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, the projects emphasize timely completion, quality standards, and balanced urban development. Officials are directed to ensure transparency and strict monitoring to improve living conditions across trans Yamuna areas.Read more
20 Feb 2026
Ongoing construction of the Kurla-Halav Bridge in Mumbai has come under closer scrutiny after a fatal accident at an under-construction metro site in Mulund earlier this week. Residents living near the bridge alignment have renewed concerns over safety standards, restricted road width, and emergency access, stating that their objections had been raised much before the recent incident. The Mulund accident, in which a metro parapet collapsed onto a busy road, has strengthened local demands for stricter monitoring, clearer accountability, and a reassessment of construction methods at congested urban sites.Read more
20 Feb 2026
Japanese aircraft interiors maker Jamco Corporation is set to establish a Product Engineering Centre in Bengaluru, marking a key expansion of its engineering and manufacturing footprint in India's aviation sector. The centre will focus on developing and manufacturing full-scale aircraft interior components for leading global airlines including Boeing and Airbus, underlining India's growing role in the aerospace supply chain. Company leaders noted that the investment deepens Jamco's long-term commitment to the region, supported by Karnataka's strong aerospace ecosystem and skilled workforce.Read more
20 Feb 2026
Homebuyers in Maharashtra continue to struggle to recover compensation from defaulting developers as recovery warrants remain unexecuted, even after a revised procedure was introduced by the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority. The new framework was meant to ensure faster compliance by developers and quicker enforcement through district authorities. However, buyers say delays at the execution stage have left orders ineffective. Senior citizens and long-waiting investors remain uncertain, while activists and court observations have again drawn attention to weak enforcement under RERA.Read more
20 Feb 2026
The Chamarajanagar district administration in Karnataka is set to declare 67 additional human habitations as official revenue villages, a move expected to bring greater development and government benefits to residents, officials said earlier this week. The decision follows the preparation of a final draft that will soon be notified by the state government. Currently, the district recognises 408 villages; the newly identified settlements span across Chamarajanagar, Hanur, Kollegal and Gundlupet taluks. Once formally declared, these habitations will receive official land records, residential certificates and related documentation, unlocking access to government schemes, loans and civic services that have been unavailable due to their unclassified status. Criteria for classification include minimum population, number of families and land area, with relaxed norms for forest fringe settlements. Local leaders have welcomed the move and urged inclusion of additional unrecognised settlements in future phases.Read more
20 Feb 2026
The Union Cabinet has approved an 11.56-kilometre extension of the Noida Metro Aqua Line from Sector 142 to Botanical Garden, strengthening metro connectivity between Noida, Greater Noida and Delhi. The elevated corridor will add eight new stations and enable a direct interchange with Delhi Metro's Blue and Magenta Lines. The project involves an estimated investment of INR 2,254 crore and will expand the operational Noida Metro network to over 61 km. Once completed, the extension is expected to reduce travel time, ease road congestion and improve daily commuting efficiency.Read more
20 Feb 2026
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) recently demolished unauthorised portions at H R College of Commerce and Economics in Churchgate, after the institution failed to produce approved building plans or valid permissions. The removed structures included asbestos terrace sheds, rooms on staircase landings from ground to fifth floor, and two mezzanine floors in the library and under the registrar's office. The action followed repeated notices and rejected regularisation applications dating back to mid 2024. College authorities reported disruption of HSC examinations and shifted some classes online while seeking to regularise remaining constructions.Read more
20 Feb 2026
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has amended the All India Tourist Vehicle Permit rules, reducing the maximum period such vehicles can operate outside their home state from 90 days to 60 days. The revised framework, which will take effect in early April, introduces tighter monitoring through vehicle tracking systems, mandatory clearance of unpaid toll dues, and stricter compliance with traffic violations. The move seeks to address repeated misuse of tourist permits, improve passenger safety, and strengthen toll and regulatory compliance across states.Read more
20 Feb 2026
The Haryana government has stepped up monitoring of major infrastructure projects to ensure faster and timely execution. The Chief Minister has directed senior officials to closely track projects costing over INR 75 crore through a central monitoring system and fix accountability for delays. Executing agencies have been warned of penalties if timelines are missed. The move builds on the state's recent push to accelerate urban, housing and infrastructure works, as delays in large public projects have remained a concern despite increased capital spending.Read more
20 Feb 2026
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised the External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) framework, replacing sector-based eligibility with a broader entity-based model that allows more resident non-individual entities to raise overseas funds. The updated norms explicitly permit ECB use for construction, township and integrated infrastructure projects under certain conditions, and allow funding for industrial parks and select agricultural activities. Developers must complete key infrastructure before plot sales. Resident individuals can also borrow in INR from non-resident Indian and Overseas Citizen of India relatives on a non-repatriation basis. These changes aim to ease financing and improve access to global capital.Read more
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