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21 Feb 2026
Authorities in Gurugram have dismantled two farmhouses and a concrete wall spread over about 26 acres in the Raisina hill area of the Aravali range after identifying fresh unauthorised construction activity in the ecologically sensitive zone, officials said on Monday. The demolition, carried out by the forest department, followed a survey that found extensive concretisation, vegetation clearance and the use of earthmovers without statutory permissions on land protected under the Aravali Notification as uncultivable hill terrain. The action underscores ongoing enforcement to protect the fragile landscape from illegal encroachments and construction, which violate provisions of the Punjab Land Preservation Act and environmental safeguards. Previous directives from tribunals and courts have called for removal of unauthorised structures across the Aravalis.Read more
21 Feb 2026
France's CMA CGM, the world's third-largest container shipping company, is set to formalise a shipbuilding contract with India's Cochin Shipyard Ltd for six liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered container vessels worth about USD 300 million, marking the first time a global liner has placed such an order in India. Each vessel will have a capacity of about 1,700 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and be built with technical cooperation from a Korean partner. The deal follows an earlier Letter of Intent and comes amid government support for specialised shipbuilding.Read more
21 Feb 2026
The Union Cabinet has approved an INR 18,662 crore project to build India's first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra River in Assam. The 33.7 km corridor will connect Gohpur and Numaligarh, sharply reducing travel distance and time between the two locations. Planned as a twin-tube tunnel with road lanes and future rail provision, the project is expected to strengthen regional connectivity, improve logistics efficiency, and support economic activity across Upper Assam and nearby states.Read more
21 Feb 2026
Colliers India expects global capability centres (GCCs) to drive as much as 40-50% of India's Grade A office space demand across the top seven cities over the next few years, supported by strong economic growth and improving global trade linkages. US-headquartered firms continue to dominate GCC leasing, accounting for nearly 70% of space taken up since 2020, although demand from the UK and European Union is projected to rise steadily. According to the consultancy, annual GCC leasing could scale up to 35-40 million sq ft as trade agreements with the US, EU and UK reduce market entry barriers and encourage multinational firms to expand India operations across technology, BFSI, engineering and consulting. This shift is expected to further entrench GCCs as a core driver of India's office market.Read more
21 Feb 2026
Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has started constructing a construction and demolition (C&D) waste processing facility costing INR 11.7 crore on a 9 acre site at Hanchya Sathagalli, near the Outer Ring Road. The plant will process around 100 tonnes of C&D waste daily, addressing a significant portion of the city's 500 tonnes of daily solid waste. Preparations include site groundwork, collection of debris, and deployment of tippers. The project also aims to reduce illegal dumping and improve recycling ahead of a Union ministry cleanliness survey scheduled for mid-March.Read more
21 Feb 2026
The National Green Tribunal has allowed the INR 90,000 crore Great Nicobar infrastructure project to move ahead, stating that the environmental clearance already granted includes adequate safeguards. The tribunal found no grounds to interfere after examining objections related to ecological impact, forest diversion, and tribal rights. It noted that issues raised by petitioners had been reviewed earlier by a high-powered committee. While disposing of the pleas, the tribunal directed authorities to ensure strict compliance with all clearance conditions during project execution.Read more
21 Feb 2026
India's first Emergency Landing Facility in the Northeast has been commissioned on a national highway stretch in Assam, strengthening the region's aviation and defence preparedness. The facility allows military and civilian aircraft to land during emergencies and has been developed with support from the Indian Air Force. Fighter jets and transport aircraft successfully operated from the highway strip, demonstrating its readiness. The project adds a new layer of operational flexibility for disaster response, logistics, and strategic requirements, while also improving infrastructure resilience in a region with limited aviation alternatives.Read more
21 Feb 2026
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved three national highway projects involving an investment of INR 11,079.10 crore to upgrade key road stretches in Gujarat, Telangana and Maharashtra. The projects include four-laning of important corridors and rehabilitation of existing highways under Hybrid Annuity and EPC models. These upgrades are aimed at improving regional connectivity, reducing travel time, easing freight movement and supporting economic activity across industrial, tribal and logistics-linked districts. The projects are also expected to generate substantial employment during construction.Read more
21 Feb 2026
As Global Capability Centres (GCCs) evolve from cost-arbitrage units to strategic enterprise partners, governance models are emerging as critical enablers of sustained success. Industry leaders say governance should function not as a control mechanism but as a clarity-driven framework aligning global strategy with local execution. Clear decision rights, accountability structures and transparent performance forums help bridge the gap between headquarters intent and operational delivery. According to Alouk Kumar, CEO and MD of Inductus Group, effective governance synchronises intent and delivery while fostering trust between global and local teams. As GCCs expand into innovation, digital transformation and risk management, governance must evolve from activity-based oversight to outcome-oriented stewardship, supporting agility, talent retention and long-term enterprise value creation.Read more
21 Feb 2026
The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation carried out an anti-encroachment drive in the Koparkhairane ward, partially demolishing unauthorised constructions under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966. Notices under Section 54 had been served earlier this month to two property occupants in Sector 3, Koparkhairane. Following non-compliance, civic officials undertook partial demolition of the structures and imposed penalties of INR 10,000 each, amounting to a total of INR 20,000. The operation was conducted under the direction of Municipal Commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde, with senior officials and police personnel present. The corporation has stated that similar enforcement action against illegal constructions will continue in the future.Read more
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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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