Ahmedabad News Desk

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 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

Kochi News Desk

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

Pune News Desk

07 Mar 2026

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has finalised 34 locations across the city where parking facilities can be developed near Pune Metro stations to improve commuter access and last-mile connectivity. Most of these sites are within around 500 metres of Metro stations and fall under amenity spaces that can be used for organised parking. Civic officials have assessed the sites and found 31 suitable for development. Work has already started at four locations. The initiative aims to support Metro users who travel to stations using private vehicles and to strengthen the city's public transport network.Read more

Noida News Desk

06 Mar 2026

The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has proposed a 500-acre FinTech hub in Sector 11 near the upcoming Noida International Airport and has invited expressions of interest from developers. The project is planned as a dedicated financial and technology ecosystem accommodating banking, digital finance, IT/ITeS and support services. Officials have indicated that stakeholder consultations are guiding the selection of a suitable development model, including possible public-private partnership options. The initiative forms part of YEIDA's master plan to position the region as a major fintech and institutional destination.Read more

06 Mar 2026

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has proposed a comprehensive mission to clean the 313-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna in the state, alongside key welfare and infrastructure measures in the 2026-27 budget. The plan includes scientific treatment of drain water, expansion of sewage capacity and stricter industrial monitoring. The budget also proposes raising minimum wages, installing remaining smart meters, expanding pilgrimage schemes, purchasing electric buses and creating a Special Assistance Fund of INR 100 crore to address salary delays. Air connectivity from Hisar is also set for expansion.Read more

06 Mar 2026

The Rural Works Department in Bihar has suspended three engineers and moved to blacklist a contractor following the collapse of a section of an under-construction bridge over the Ghoghari river in Gopalganj district, officials said earlier this week. The reinforced cement concrete bridge, part of a INR 2.87 crore project, gave way while casting work was ongoing in Gangwa village's Siddhwalia block, with no casualties reported. A preliminary inspection by the district magistrate found apparent use of substandard materials and poor supervision, prompting immediate departmental action against the project's assistant and junior engineers. The contractor, Bapudham Construction of Motihari, faces blacklisting amid rising public concern over recurring infrastructure failures and oversight lapses in the state's rural works. A high-level inquiry has been ordered to assess quality control and future accountability measures.Read more

06 Mar 2026

India's Indian Railways is preparing to absorb an estimated INR 90,000 crore escalation in the cost of the Mumbai -Ahmedabad bullet train project, raising the total project outlay to nearly INR 1.98 lakh crore from the originally sanctioned INR 1.08 lakh crore. The cost overrun, driven primarily by delays in land acquisition and associated logistical challenges, represents an approximate 83 per cent increase on initial estimates. Senior officials have indicated that additional borrowing from the Japan International Cooperation Agency is unlikely, with the railways instead planning to meet the shortfall largely through gross budgetary support and increased allocations from the Union Budget. The revised estimate will be presented for approval to the Union Cabinet, and the finance ministry is expected to explore funding options to ensure project continuity.Read more