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05 Mar 2026
Kerala recorded a decline in road accident deaths in 2025 even as the total number of crashes and injuries increased. Data released by the Motor Vehicles Department showed 49,889 accidents during the year, leading to 3,733 deaths and 56,922 injuries. Fatalities fell by 142 compared to the previous year. Two-wheeler and motorcycle deaths also declined for the third consecutive year. Officials attributed the reduction in deaths to stricter enforcement and awareness drives, despite the number of registered vehicles in the state rising to nearly 1.9 crore.Read more
05 Mar 2026
The Himachal Pradesh government has amended its Town and Country Planning Rules, 2026, making it compulsory to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in commercial, public and semi-public buildings as well as new real estate projects. The move aligns urban development norms with the state's clean energy goals. Developers must also comply with the Himachal Pradesh Energy Conservation Building Code and get designs audited by Bureau of Energy Efficiency-authorised auditors before occupancy certificates are issued. The rules also introduce structured Premium FAR charges for upcoming projects.Read more
05 Mar 2026
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has unveiled a major upgrade of security arrangements at railway stations nationwide with the deployment of Smart Check II shoe-based screening devices, 250 high-tech CCTV systems and aerial surveillance drones, officials said in the past week. The initiative is part of a broader plan to strengthen passenger safety and crime deterrence across busy hubs and suburban networks. RPF Director General Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said that the technology enhancements will complement existing foot patrols, explosive detection units and canine squads, while artificial intelligence-assisted video analytics will support real-time monitoring and alerting. The roll-out will prioritise high-footfall stations and junctions, with phased implementation across the rest of the zonal network to improve threat detection, incident response and overall passenger confidence in rail security.Read more
05 Mar 2026
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) stopped demolition work in Andheri West's Seven Bungalows area after a large slab fell from the terrace of the Ratan Kunj building, which is being redeveloped. The slab's collapse caused nearby structures to vibrate and created a dust cloud, alarming residents and prompting them to contact the Versova police. Civic authorities said the demolition site lacked proper safety measures. Although no injuries were reported, the incident raised renewed concerns over compliance and monitoring at redevelopment sites in Mumbai, following past accidents in the city.Read more
05 Mar 2026
The first phase of the Indore Pithampur Economic Corridor project a key infrastructure initiative aimed at reinforcing central India's manufacturing and industrial hub is scheduled to commence with an estimated investment of over INR 250 crore, officials said in the past week. The corridor, spanning 19.60 km between Indore and the industrial belt of Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh, forms part of a larger INR 2,500 crore development plan intended to enhance industrial infrastructure, logistics connectivity and utility services in one of the country's most significant production clusters. Phase I will focus on road network upgrades, drainage systems and electricity infrastructure, including improved linkages to the Super Corridor. The project is expected to streamline freight movement, reduce travel time and attract new industrial and commercial investment, further consolidating the region's position as a central Indian manufacturing node.Read more
05 Mar 2026
Delhi is poised to approve its long-awaited Master Plan 2041, which will replace the lapsed Master Plan 2021 and provide a roadmap for the capital's growth over the next twenty years. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta highlighted that the plan will clarify land use, housing, infrastructure, and environmental strategies, addressing delays in major projects. Significant funds have been allocated to roads, metro expansion, schools, parks, and village development. The plan also focuses on cleaner urban spaces, improved governance, and inclusive development, aiming to integrate rural areas and enhance overall city planning.Read more
05 Mar 2026
Rajasthan's mining department has moved ahead with the auction of 12 new sand mining plots across Jodhpur, Kota, Pali, and Nagaur, even after the High Court annulled the 2024 auction of 93 gravel leases and requested scientific assessments on natural replenishment. Experts highlight that mining rules and Supreme Court approved guidelines require a five-year pause after lease expiry for riverbed recovery. Sources indicate that the state has issued 256 sand mining Letters of Intent so far, exceeding previous numbers, and has fragmented mining areas into smaller blocks without completing replenishment studies.Read more
05 Mar 2026
The Kolkata Traffic Department has approved two new authorised autorickshaw routes to enhance last-mile connectivity and commuter mobility across key neighbourhoods, officials said in the past week. The new routes will link Babu Bazar with Mominpore and Rajabazar with Topsia, aiming to provide structured, regulated feeder services to supplement existing bus and metro corridors. The initiative comes amid rising travel demand in the dense central and eastern sectors of the city, where informal autorickshaw services have long operated without formal routes, contributing to congestion and safety concerns. Authorities indicated that the new links will be integrated into the city's traffic management plans, with designated stops, fare guidelines and operational oversight to ensure orderly services and improve commuter experience. The move underscores ongoing efforts by civic planners to improve urban mobility through regulated intermediate public transport in Kolkata's mixed-mode transport environment.Read more
05 Mar 2026
Indian Railways has approved projects worth INR 871 crore across Rajasthan, Kerala and West Bengal to strengthen maintenance capacity and ease congestion on key routes. The works include expansion of coaching depots at Shri Ganganagar and Lalgarh in Rajasthan, doubling of the Turavur Mararikulam rail section in Kerala, and construction of a 4.75-km Kalipahari bypass line in West Bengal. The projects are expected to improve rake handling, reduce delays, support additional passenger and freight trains, and enhance operational efficiency across Northern, Southern and Eastern Railway zones.Read more
04 Mar 2026
Southern Railway has agreed to construct a 3-metre wide tarred pucca road at Vattavila in Thiruvananthapuram after sustained protests by residents and repeated representations by the Nemom Action Council. The decision follows the takeover of a portion of Vattavila Suresh Road for railway line-doubling works near Nemom, for which the Kerala government had transferred land after receiving over INR 1.15 crore from the railways. The new road will be built on railway land and later handed over to the city corporation for maintenance, subject to formal procedures.Read more
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04 Mar 2026
Indian Railways has initiated full digitisation of the Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT) by introducing the e-RCT platform for online filing and case management. The system will allow claimants to submit petitions, affidavits and documents electronically without visiting tribunal offices. Covering 23 benches across 21 cities, the reform aims to reduce procedural delays, improve transparency and simplify jurisdiction issues in accident, injury, goods and refund cases. The digital rollout, part of the 52 Reforms in 52 Weeks programme, is expected to be completed within the next 12 months.Read more
04 Mar 2026
NHAI-sponsored Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT) is set to launch its maiden Initial Public Offering (IPO) worth INR 6,000 crore, marking a significant step in expanding public participation in India's national highway monetisation programme. The IPO will open on March 11 and close on March 13, with anchor investor bidding scheduled for March 10. According to the Red Herring Prospectus, the issue size has been increased from the earlier proposed INR 5,700 crore to INR 6,000 crore. The public InvIT aims to unlock long-term value from operational national highway assets while offering a stable investment avenue for retail and domestic investors. The move aligns with the government's broader infrastructure financing and asset monetisation strategy.Read more
04 Mar 2026
The Delhi Development Authority has awarded a redevelopment mandate worth INR 775.27 crore to NBCC (India) Limited for overhauling aging staff housing colonies in New Delhi, officials confirmed in the past week. The contracts, issued through separate memoranda of understanding, cover comprehensive redevelopment of staff quarters at Old Rajinder Nagar (valued at about INR 437.79 crore) and Safdarjung Development Area (about INR 337.48 crore). Under a self-sustainable model, part of the built-up area will be monetised to fund construction, and the balance space will be handed over to the DDA for staff accommodation. Current housing comprises 117 units at Old Rajinder Nagar and 152 units at Safdarjung. The redevelopment will involve master planning, detailed project preparation and execution, subject to approvals, with built-up areas estimated at roughly 99,635 sq metres and 65,925 sq metres respectively.Read more
04 Mar 2026
VO Chidambaranar Port Authority has announced a major INR 15,000 crore Outer Harbour project to expand capacity and position the port as a key transshipment hub in southern India. The expansion, planned in two phases with completion targeted by 2027 and 2030, will allow the port to handle ultra-large container vessels with an 18-metre draft. In addition, INR 1,500 crore has been earmarked for infrastructure upgrades and green initiatives. Funding arrangements have been tied up with national financial institutions.Read more
04 Mar 2026
The Telangana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TS-RERA) has imposed a daily penalty of INR 3,000 on the developer of the Green Space Bagiratha residential project in Tellapur (near Hyderabad) for failing to comply with earlier regulatory orders, authority records show. The penalty will accrue from the original compliance deadline until the developer fulfils its obligations, according to the regulator's recent order. TS-RERA initiated proceedings after the promoter failed to adhere to directives arising from a homebuyer grievance and subsequent adjudication order. The authority underscored that continuous non-compliance could result in enhanced financial consequences under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016. The order reflects RERA's enforcement focus on timely delivery and adherence to its directives, aimed at strengthening accountability in project execution and buyer protection. (realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com)Read more
04 Mar 2026
The Border Roads Organisation has completed and opened a 400-foot bailey suspension steel bridge over the Taram Chu river in North Sikkim, restoring the crucial 28-kilometre Chungthang Lachen road. Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth inaugurated the bridge in Mangan district in the past week. The link had been repeatedly disrupted since the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood in 2023 and subsequent extreme weather events. The restoration is expected to ease civilian movement, improve supply of essentials, revive tourism and strengthen strategic access in the sensitive border region.Read more
04 Mar 2026
Cargill has inaugurated a new dairy feed plant in Wazirabad, Punjab, with an investment of INR 300 crore. Spread across 15 acres, the facility has an annual production capacity of 400,000 metric tons, making it the largest in South Asia and the second in Punjab. The plant will produce feed under the Provimi and Purina brands, benefiting dairy farmers, producers, and feed mills. The project is expected to create over 1,000 jobs, improve milk yields, enhance animal health, and strengthen the state's dairy value chain.Read more
04 Mar 2026
The Public Works Department has constructed a temporary link road near Ajni Bridge in Nagpur to address traffic congestion caused by ongoing underpass work. The link connects the Kriplani Square Ajni Bridge stretch to the Congress Nagar bypass by cutting through the central median. The step follows rising traffic pressure after part of the main carriageway was closed for construction. The underpass forms part of a broader INR 35 crore upgrade that includes six-laning and connectivity to twin cable-stayed bridges. Authorities say the temporary road will provide interim relief while long-term works continue.Read more
04 Mar 2026
A legal notice has been served to the municipal commissioner alleging corruption and procedural violations in the Mulund dumping ground reclamation project in Mumbai. The notice claims that mandatory environmental safeguards mentioned in the tender are not being followed and that irregularities are taking place in waste excavation and transportation. It further alleges manipulation at the weighbridge, leading to multiple challans for the same vehicle. The complainant has sought a departmental inquiry against civic officials and warned of court action if no satisfactory response is received. The BMC has stated that the allegations will be examined.Read more
04 Mar 2026
The 162-km Khammam Devarapalle access-controlled greenfield expressway, being developed by the National Highways Authority of India under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, is nearing completion. Built at an estimated cost of INR 3,700 crore, the four-lane corridor will be Telangana's first access-controlled highway. The project is expected to reduce the distance between Hyderabad and Rajahmundry by around 56 km and cut travel time by two to four hours. Despite delays due to land acquisition, utility shifting and monsoons, most of the construction has now been completed.Read more
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