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09 Mar 2026
The proposed master plans for Bhopal and Indore have been placed on hold as the Madhya Pradesh government moves to finalise broader metropolitan region planning under the newly enacted Madhya Pradesh Metropolitan Region Planning and Development Act, 2025, a senior minister informed the state assembly in the past week. Although draft master plans for both cities were completed about 18 months ago, they may be reworked to align with regional strategies envisaged for the two metropolitan clusters, which include surrounding districts such as Ujjain, Dewas and Dhar for Indore and Sehore, Raisen and Vidisha for Bhopal. The pause reflects a policy shift towards integrated regional planning and comes amid concerns that outdated or delayed planning frameworks have hindered urban development and investment confidence in the state's largest cities. Officials indicated that specialised metropolitan planning committees and authorities will now prepare cohesive, area-specific development plans.Read more
09 Mar 2026
A recent government survey in **Odisha has identified approximately 120 unsafe buildings spread across 18 districts, raising safety concerns in urban and semi-urban areas, officials said in the past week. The survey, carried out as part of a broader structural safety audit, flagged buildings that pose potential hazards due to their fragile or deteriorated conditions. The findings are expected to lead to urgent action by local authorities, including issuing notices to occupants, rehabilitation or demolition of high-risk structures and reinforcement where feasible. Districts such as Cuttack reported a higher concentration of unsafe buildings, with authorities set to examine repair, vacate or demolition options to prevent accidents and protect residents and neighbouring communities. The exercise underlines the challenge of maintaining ageing building stock and enforcing safety norms across the state.Read more
08 Mar 2026
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has made it compulsory for large housing societies to install monitoring sensors on sewage treatment plants (STPs) to ensure proper wastewater treatment and prevent untreated sewage from entering the city's drainage network and rivers. The rule applies to residential complexes with more than 100 flats and will cover nearly 750 private STPs across Pune. The sensors will send real-time operational and water quality data to a central civic monitoring system. The step forms part of the civic body's wider effort to control pollution in the Mula Mutha river and strengthen sewage management in the city.Read more
08 Mar 2026
A scientific study by the Indian Institute of Science has raised concerns about a possible groundwater shortage in several parts of Bengaluru, identifying around 65 wards that could face supply stress during the coming summer months. The findings show a steady fall in groundwater levels due to heavy dependence on borewells and rising urban demand. In response, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board has prepared an emergency plan worth about INR 10 crore. The plan includes tanker deployment, stricter monitoring of borewells, faster water connections, and conservation measures to manage potential shortages.Read more
08 Mar 2026
The district administration in Thiruvananthapuram has asked Southern Railway to complete the pending works on Vattavila Suresh Road and submit a compliance report. A portion of the road was earlier handed over to the railway authorities for the railway line-doubling project near Nemom. Residents had raised concerns about safety and loss of connectivity after the road was removed for construction activities. Railway officials had earlier agreed to construct a retaining wall and build a tarred road to restore access. However, the work remains incomplete more than 18 months after the railway project began.Read more
08 Mar 2026
KPMG International leaders met with Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee to discuss implementing global standards in contract management and infrastructure governance across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The talks focused on risk management, procurement reforms, dispute avoidance, and digital performance monitoring to reduce delays and cost overruns. Separately, Dr. Mukherjee hosted the Russian Consul General, who presented a draft cooperation program covering urban mobility, healthcare, education, trade, and cultural exchange, while inviting MMRDA to upcoming smart city forums. These initiatives aim to strengthen international collaboration, enhance urban project delivery, and expand economic and innovation opportunities for the region.Read more
08 Mar 2026
The Bombay High Court has asked the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to respond to a public interest litigation seeking a third-party safety audit of Mumbai's metro infrastructure after a slab collapse at the Metro Line 4 construction site in Mulund. The petition also requests a halt to construction at the accident location and details of compensation provided to those injured. The incident involved a heavy concrete parapet slab falling from an elevated structure onto vehicles on LBS Marg, injuring three people. The case has raised wider concerns about safety practices at metro construction sites across the city.Read more
08 Mar 2026
The Union government has made the process of obtaining permissions for access roads and utility connections along national highways completely digital through the upgraded Rajmarg Pravesh Portal. The platform allows individuals, companies and government agencies to apply online for No Objection Certificates for fuel stations, industries, private properties, wayside amenities and connecting roads. Applications for utilities such as pipelines, optical fibre cables and electricity lines can also be submitted digitally. The system introduces defined timelines, online tracking and reduced paperwork, aiming to bring greater transparency and faster approvals in highway-related infrastructure development.Read more
08 Mar 2026
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has instructed nearly 750 housing societies with over 100 flats to install sensors on their sewage treatment plants (STPs). The sensors will provide real-time data to a central PMC unit, ensuring STPs operate efficiently and preventing untreated wastewater discharge. The move complements previous regulations requiring local sewage treatment and builds on technology used in the Mula Mutha River Pollution Abatement Project. PMC also plans air quality monitoring at construction sites, upgrades to six existing STPs, and development of 11 new plants under AMRUT funding, increasing capacity to 1,000 MLD.Read more
08 Mar 2026
Chinmaya Vidyalaya is set to be established in Amaravati with a Bhumi Pooja and foundation stone laying ceremony conducted by Swami Swaroopananda, the Global Head of Chinmaya Mission. Minister Nadendla Manohar and MLA Tenali Sravan Kumar attended the event, showing support for the new school. The institution will occupy 3 acres in Nelapadu and is expected to strengthen the educational framework in the capital. Officials also provided detailed explanations of layouts related to the Negotiated Settlement Policy in Mandam village, highlighting careful planning and execution for the project.Read more
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08 Mar 2026
The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) has directed officials to speed up several important road widening works across the Visakhapatnam metropolitan region to strengthen connectivity and ease traffic movement. Metropolitan Commissioner N. Tej Bharath reviewed the progress of multiple projects including the Adavivaram Shonthyam, Veppagunta Pinagadi, and Gambheeram Nerellavalasa Tallavalasa road stretches. During the inspection, officials were instructed to accelerate land acquisition, clear utility obstacles such as electrical poles, and ensure timely compensation or Transferable Development Rights (TDR) certificates for affected landowners. The projects are part of broader infrastructure efforts aimed at improving urban mobility as the city continues to expand.Read more
07 Mar 2026
Planning authorities in Ahmedabad have started preparing a new Development Plan targeting 2041, extending the city's planning horizon from the usual 10-year cycle to a 20-year framework. The move is linked to long-term infrastructure requirements, including preparations associated with the proposed 2036 Olympic Games bid involving Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. The Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority has initiated the process by setting up a dedicated planning unit and seeking technical assistance from national agencies and consultants. The plan will guide urban expansion beyond the Sardar Patel Ring Road, identify land for large infrastructure and sports facilities, and include a mid-term review after ten years.Read more
07 Mar 2026
The Velachery St Thomas Mount extension of Chennai's Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) moved closer to operations after the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety carried out the mandatory inspection of the corridor. The inspection included a speed trial, verification of track quality, signalling systems, electrification infrastructure and passenger amenities. The 4.5-km elevated stretch includes three stations and has been developed at an estimated cost of about INR 734 crore. The project has faced several delays since it was first proposed due to land acquisition issues, coordination with other infrastructure works and technical challenges.Read more
07 Mar 2026
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) carried out a large demolition drive in Pune, removing about 78,000 sq ft of illegal constructions across the Lohegaon and Nagar Road areas. The action targeted 18 unauthorised structures, including residential units, commercial establishments and extensions built without civic approval. Officials said notices had previously been issued under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966 asking property owners to remove the violations. As the structures were not removed within the given time, PMC teams carried out demolition under development control regulations as part of the civic body's continuing action against illegal construction in the city.Read more
07 Mar 2026
The Tamil Nadu government has moved forward with plans to introduce 220 electric air-conditioned buses to strengthen last-mile connectivity for commuters using the Chennai Metro network. The buses will operate as feeder services linking nearby residential and commercial areas with metro stations. The fleet will include smaller vehicles designed to move easily through narrow city streets. Operated by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation, the initiative is expected to improve metro accessibility, reduce dependence on private vehicles for short trips, and support the state's broader push toward cleaner and more sustainable public transport.Read more
07 Mar 2026
Recent RTI data shows that Thane district has lost over 89,000 trees, with nearly 98,540 proposed for felling due to infrastructure projects. The Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway accounts for the largest share of deforestation, followed by the Mumbai-Vadodara Expressway, Nirmal Road expansion, and various irrigation schemes. Central Railway projects and other road works have also diverted significant forest land. Environmentalists warn that mature trees cannot be quickly replaced, leading to long-term losses in carbon absorption, oxygen supply, biodiversity, and groundwater recharge, urging stricter oversight and transparency in forest clearances.Read more
07 Mar 2026
The Delhi government has started issuing the Saheli Pink Smart Card to provide free bus travel to women residents and enable seamless access to metro and Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) services under the One Nation, One Card framework. The card replaces the earlier paper slip system used in DTC buses. Distribution began across nearly 50 centres in the city, with Aadhaar-based verification required for eligibility. On the first day, over 3,000 women collected the card. Authorities said the move will improve monitoring, reduce duplication, and simplify daily travel for women commuters.Read more
07 Mar 2026
The Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda) has resolved a protracted impasse over the Gokuldham township near Ahmedabad by empowering its chairman to grant new and revised development permissions for agricultural land, ending a 12-year standstill in approvals. Originally laid out in 2002, the mixed residential and agricultural township in Sanand taluka had seen phased permissions for housing units before a dispute in April 2014 halted progress. With legal advice and state government concurrence, the delegation of authority now allows development on the agriculture component of the more than 10 lakh square metres site to proceed. The resolution unlocks dormant development rights long withheld and aligns regulatory powers to pursue revised permissions under prevailing urban planning norms, potentially reactivating stalled construction activity.Read more
07 Mar 2026
Bihar's Nitish Kumar has called on state officials to expedite the construction of major drainage works in Patna, emphasising the need to address chronic waterlogging and sanitation concerns ahead of the impending monsoon season. In a meeting with senior administrators on 2 March 2026, he directed that progress on the Saidpur and Bakarganj drain infrastructure projects be accelerated and any bureaucratic obstacles be removed to ensure timely delivery. The Chief Minister underscored the importance of improved coordination among departments for regular monitoring and execution, given growing public concern over flooding risks in residential neighbourhoods. The directives reflect a broader state focus on strengthening urban infrastructure as part of ongoing efforts to modernise Patna's drainage network and reduce seasonal disruption.Read more
07 Mar 2026
Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has introduced Braille-enabled navigation facilities at Changampuzha Park metro station to improve accessibility for visually impaired commuters. Implemented with the support of the Confederation of Indian Industry Young Indians under Project Disha, the initiative includes tactile Braille station maps, Braille markings on handrails and Braille signboards identifying key facilities such as lifts, restrooms and exits. The system helps passengers understand the station layout through touch and move independently. Officials said the initiative is aimed at promoting inclusive public transport and enabling visually impaired commuters to travel with greater confidence.Read more
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