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Nitin Gadkari announces over Rs 500 crore for highway strengthening & widening in Bengal: What will change for commuters travelling on NH-14 and NH-114
Nitin Gadkari has announced Rs 508.66 crore for strengthening and selective widening of NH-14 and NH-114 in West Bengal’s Birbhum district. The project will cover 91.90 km of NH-14 and 56.40 km of NH-114, with the upgrades aimed at improving road safety, reducing congestion and travel time, and strengthening connectivity for commuters and freight movement.
Nitin Gadkari highlighted the significance of infrastructure development in transforming India into a leading economy. He advocated for the use of alternative materials, including municipal waste, in construction to enhance sustainability. Gadkari urged the formulation of an international code of conduct to integrate new ideas and technologies in the sector. He suggested creating a 'Bank of Ideas' website for global research collaboration.
Kashi Ropeway trial runs begin: How 3.85-km aerial link could transform Varanasi travel
NHAI to conduct special quality checks on 17 highway projects with bids 15% below estimate
NHAI to begin special quality inspections for 17 under-construction National Highways projects due to their substantial cost discounts. These inspections are in addition to regular quality checks intended to identify construction issues early. A second round of inspections will take place after six months to verify quality and progress. The selected projects encompass various states and include significant infrastructural developments.
Actis merges 11 India road assets into $1 billion trust
Actis LLP has consolidated 11 road assets worth around Rs 10,000 crore into its NXT-Infra Trust after raising Rs 1,180 crore from investors. The fundraising reduced Actis’ stake to 71%, with domestic investors holding the remainder. The move comes amid growing investor interest in India’s operating road assets, while Actis also sees opportunities in digital infrastructure, electric vehicles, waste recycling and water services.
Infra projects see cost overrun of Rs 2.88 lakh crore in August: MoSPI
In India, infrastructure initiatives monitored by 17 ministries have faced significant cost overruns, totaling approximately Rs 2,88,122 crore. The updated project expenditure has escalated to Rs 33,60,069 crore from an initial estimate of Rs 30,71,947 crore. Impressively, out of 1,731 active projects, 38 percent have achieved more than 80 percent physical completion. The Transport and Logistics sector stands out with 1,191 projects worth Rs 16.
Varanasi’s Bhelupur gets Rs 78.26 crore infrastructure push with 17-km sewer, drinking water pipeline
Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari launched projects worth ₹78.26 crore in Bhelupur Ward during a groundbreaking ceremony. The initiatives include a major project for sewer and drinking water lines along with household connections. Smaller projects for road construction and mini tube wells have also been initiated to enhance infrastructure. These efforts aim to address persistent issues with water supply and sewer blockages experienced by residents.
National highway contractors must get government permits for foreign workers, ministry clarifies
National highway contractors must obtain government permits for hiring foreign workers. Any change in concessionaire ownership requires prior designated authority approval. Such employment is subject to regulatory approvals, including visas and work permits. Refusal of permits will not excuse concessionaires from their contractual obligations. The ministry issued a revised model concession agreement for national highways.
NHAI releases new guidelines for high-speed access-controlled national highways to boost safety
New guidelines for high-speed access-controlled national highways have been released by NHAI. These standards aim to ensure uniformity and improve road safety across the network. The move will apply to all upcoming four and six-lane greenfield and brownfield projects. India plans to develop 50,000 km of these corridors by 2047. This initiative seeks to boost connectivity and reduce logistics costs nationwide.
August core sector growth hits 3-month low as energy sectors lose steam
India's core sector output growth slowed to 4.8 percent in August. This easing was due to contractions in energy sectors and an unfavorable base. Fertilizer production declined significantly for the sixth consecutive month. However, electricity and cement sectors showed strong growth during this period. Cumulative core sector growth for April-August rose to 4.3 percent.
India needs up to Rs 172 trillion infrastructure investment by FY31 to turn demand into financeable projects: NaBFID-BCG Report
India needs Rs 168-172 trillion in infrastructure investment through FY31, but Rs 78-80 trillion is yet to enter the announced project pipeline, a NaBFID-BCG report said. With much of future demand coming from urban infrastructure and greenfield projects, the report called for stronger project preparation, viable revenue models and more private capital.
West Asia crisis: National Highways Builders Federation seeks 3-month extension of road relief measures
NHBF has sought a three-month extension of relief measures until December, citing continued West Asia crisis-related volatility in fuel, logistics, supply chains and costs that is straining road projects.
Nabfid sanctions Rs 3,000 crore-plus loans to at least four data centres as AI capex accelerates in India
Nabfid is sanctioning significant loans for India's growing data center infrastructure needs. These facilities support the nation's push for artificial intelligence and cloud computing capacity. The lender anticipates continued strong demand from hyperscalers and cloud service providers. Nabfid plans to raise approximately Rs 1 trillion to fund these large projects. This financing aligns with India's broader infrastructure investment in the digital economy.
Nitin Gadkari has a new plan for Mumbai traffic: After getting stuck for an hour, minister proposes a tech-driven solution to the city’s congestion problem
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari recently faced frustrating traffic delays in Mumbai, prompting him to reflect on the 55 flyovers and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link he constructed years ago. With today's traffic vastly increased, he highlighted the urgent need for modern solutions, proposing the development of multi-level structures to maximize roadway efficiency within the constrained urban landscape.
Arunachal Pradesh Frontier Highway: Clearing hurdles on road to 2029 target
India's Arunachal Frontier Highway project is now on track for construction. This strategic road aims to boost connectivity along the Chinese border. Land acquisition issues and compensation disputes have been largely resolved. The project completion deadline is set for the year 2029. This highway will facilitate rapid movement of defence forces in the region.