17 May 2026

Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited has introduced a non-fare revenue initiative allowing metro coaches and station premises in Bhopal and Indore to be rented for birthday parties, pre-wedding shoots, film productions and social events. The programme, titled “Celebrations on Wheels”, comes as metro operations in both cities continue to witness lower-than-expected ridership levels following phased launches of services. Under the initiative, stationary metro coaches can be booked at INR 5,000 per hour, while moving coaches are available at INR 7,000 per hour, subject to operational and safety conditions. Officials stated that the move is aimed at generating additional revenue, improving public engagement with metro systems and utilising urban transport infrastructure beyond conventional commuter services amid rising operational expenditure.Read more

17 May 2026

• Peripheral residential markets around Mumbai, including Karjat, Neral, Panvel and Khopoli, are witnessing rising homebuyer interest driven by demand for cleaner air, lower-density living and wellness-focused housing.
• Improved connectivity through the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, highway upgrades and railway infrastructure has reduced travel time, supporting the emergence of these locations as residential and second-home destinations.
• Developers and property consultants stated that buyers are increasingly prioritising health, open spaces and lifestyle quality over proximity to central business districts.
• Industry stakeholders noted growing demand for plotted developments, larger homes and nature-oriented communities, particularly among hybrid-working professionals and families across the extended Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Raigad micro-markets.Read more

17 May 2026

• National Highways Authority of India has secured a favourable arbitration ruling in a dispute linked to the six-laning of the Kamrej–Chalthan stretch of NH-48 in Gujarat.
• The arbitral tribunal awarded only INR 54 lakh against contractor claims of around INR 174.49 crore related to the stalled highway widening project.
• The dispute involved a 15-km engineering, procurement and construction contract awarded in 2016 to SCIW–Unique Construction (JV) at a project cost of INR 241.41 crore.
• NHAI stated that the contract was mutually foreclosed in 2020 after physical progress reached approximately 49.79 per cent and both parties had agreed to full settlement of claims.
• The authority relied on drone videography, digital project records, and technical documentation during arbitration proceedings to defend its position and demonstrate contractor non-performance.Read more

17 May 2026

• India’s Global Capability Centre (GCC) sector is witnessing a shift in hiring patterns as artificial intelligence automates repetitive tasks while increasing demand for specialised, AI-native talent.
• Companies are moving away from volume-driven recruitment for routine support functions and are prioritising professionals skilled in AI integration, digital trust, sovereign data governance, and product engineering.
• Industry leaders indicate that GCCs are evolving from traditional back-office operations into innovation-led centres handling core intellectual property and strategic business functions.
• The rise of smaller “Micro-GCC” teams is driving recruitment in niche technology domains where employees are expected to combine technical expertise with business strategy and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experts believe the transition reflects the growing maturity of India’s GCC ecosystem, with organisations increasingly focusing on high-value innovation and long-term technology leadership.Read more

17 May 2026

• ICRA projects MoRTH road execution at 9,500-10,000 km in FY2025-26 and 9,000-9,500 km in FY2026-27.
• Construction activity has moderated from 10,660 km in FY2024-25 due to slower project awards and shrinking order books.
• Road awards in FY2025-26 are expected at 7,250-7,750 km, broadly unchanged from the previous year.
• Extended monsoon disruptions have further affected execution activity across highway projects.
• Toll collection growth is estimated at 7-9% in FY2025-26, supported by improved traffic growth.Read more

16 May 2026

• State Bank of India has urged the central government to revisit the definition of affordable housing amid rising residential property prices and higher home loan ticket sizes.
• C S Setty stated that the bank’s average home loan size has increased to around INR 51 lakh from INR 35–40 lakh over the past two years, reflecting changing market dynamics across urban housing markets.
• The current affordable housing framework largely applies to homes priced up to INR 45 lakh, subject to specified carpet area limits under existing policy norms.
• The lender stated that current thresholds may no longer reflect residential pricing levels in major cities, renewing discussions around affordable housing incentives, housing finance accessibility and policy recalibration in India’s residential sector.Read more

16 May 2026

• Ministry of Railways has granted in-principle approval for a new suburban railway station between Mulund and Thane in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
• Devendra Fadnavis announced the approval earlier this week while sharing communication received from Ashwini Vaishnaw.
• The proposed station has been a long-pending demand from local representatives and residents seeking improved suburban rail accessibility across the rapidly growing eastern Mumbai-Thane corridor.
• The station is proposed on land belonging to a government mental hospital and is expected to strengthen regional connectivity and commuter movement across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.Read more

16 May 2026

• Ashwini Vaishnaw said railways, electronics and semiconductors, and AI would drive India’s next phase of economic and industrial growth.
• The minister highlighted rising railway infrastructure investment, with capital expenditure reaching nearly INR 2.72 lakh crore in the last financial year.
• He said smartphone exports emerged as India’s largest export category amid growth in electronics manufacturing and the semiconductor ecosystem.
• Vaishnaw stated that the Dedicated Freight Corridor has reduced freight transit time, while stressing the need for AI adoption, data centres and workforce skilling.Read more

16 May 2026

• The first phase of Pune Metro Line 3 connecting Hinjewadi and Shivajinagar is expected to begin operations by the end of June, subject to mandatory safety clearances.
• Around 12 stations on the 23.2-km elevated corridor are likely to become operational initially, while work on the remaining stations is targeted for completion later this year.
• The corridor is being developed by Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited under a public-private partnership model involving the Tata Group and Siemens.
• Officials stated that trial runs across the full route have already been completed and the project has achieved over 95 per cent physical progress.
• The metro line is expected to improve connectivity between Pune’s central business district and the Hinjewadi IT hub, where large-scale residential and commercial development has taken place in recent years.Read more

16 May 2026

The Karnataka government has reopened the tender process for the proposed Mangaluru IT Park after the initial round received no bidders. The project, planned on a 3.2-acre KEONICS land parcel in Derebail, Mangaluru, is being developed under a public-private partnership model with a long-term lease structure. The initiative is part of the state’s broader effort to expand IT development beyond Bengaluru under its “Beyond Bengaluru” programme. Despite structured lease terms and planned infrastructure support, the lack of participation has led authorities to invite fresh bids from developers.Read more