31 Jan 2026

Southern Railway has assigned MIC Electronics Limited to modernise passenger information systems across five stations in its Salem Division under the Amrit Bharat Scheme. The INR 56.43 lakh project involves supplying and installing RDSO-compliant display boards, Full HD and 4K UHD units, network monitoring devices, public address systems, cabling, and related infrastructure. The work also includes civil, signalling, and telecom tasks, along with testing, commissioning, and a five-year maintenance contract. The initiative aims to improve real-time passenger communication, enhance station-level digital infrastructure, and support operational efficiency.Read more

31 Jan 2026

Kerala has recently seen the launch of three Amrit Bharat Express trains aimed at improving long-distance connectivity. While these trains were largely welcomed, passengers using the Alappuzha route have raised concerns since the new services bypass this corridor in favor of the Kottayam route. The single-line Alappuzha section, coupled with limited track capacity, continues to restrict additional train operations. Commuters are calling for more MEMU services, better scheduling, and stoppages at key stations to ease travel, while passenger groups highlight delays due to the pending doubling project along this coastal line.Read more

31 Jan 2026

Kerala's Vizhinjam International Seaport is moving into a larger expansion phase, with the state government expecting significant employment creation and local economic activity. The port has already begun regular operations, reducing dependence on foreign transshipment hubs. The ongoing second phase, backed by a major private operator, aims to scale capacity sharply over the next few years. Government leaders have highlighted benefits beyond cargo handling, including tourism support, crew services, and related infrastructure, positioning Vizhinjam as a key maritime asset for the state and the country.Read more

Kochi News Desk

31 Jan 2026

Kochi Municipal Corporation is evaluating the future of the RoRo ferry service between Fort Kochi and Vypeen after sustained financial losses and operational issues. The civic body is considering ending its agreement with Kerala Shipping & Inland Navigation Corporation Ltd (KSINC) and exploring alternatives such as transferring operations to Kochi Water Metro or inviting new tenders. Audit findings revealed discrepancies in revenue and expenditure reporting, while high maintenance costs and vessel downtime added pressure. Safety concerns, infrastructure decay, and commuter challenges have also intensified the need for a sustainable solution.Read more

31 Jan 2026

The MATECIA Exhibition, in collaboration with SURFACES REPORTER, is set to host a major architecture, interiors and building materials event in Kolkata, bringing East and Northeast India into sharper national focus. Scheduled from 30 January to 1 February 2026 at Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, the three-day platform will bring together architects, interior designers, developers, manufacturers and dealers from more than a dozen states across the region. Spread across 1.5 lakh sq ft, the event will feature over 100 brands, showcase more than 500 projects and attract up to 16,000 visitors. With dedicated honours, knowledge platforms and curated showcases, the initiative aims to challenge long-held perceptions about the region and underline its growing role in India's architecture, design and building materials landscape.Read more

31 Jan 2026

The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has appointed Aarvee Engineering Consultants Limited to prepare the master plan for the new Hathras Urban City, covering nearly 4,000 hectares. The plan, expected to be completed in nine months, will guide the city's growth until 2041, emphasizing industrial, residential and infrastructure development. Hathras, with over 10,000 existing MSME and cottage industry units, is planned as a potential satellite town of Agra. The project also aims to boost employment, exports and agro-based and manufacturing sectors, aligning with broader Yamuna Expressway Phase II plans.Read more

31 Jan 2026

Railway infrastructure in Uttarakhand is making steady progress, with the 27.45 km Roorkee Deoband line now ready for commissioning, featuring new stations at Banhera Khas and Jhabrera. The 125.2 km Rishikesh Karnaprayag rail project is advancing rapidly, with 12 stations, 35 bridges, and 17 tunnels, and major tunnels nearly 94% complete. Redevelopment of Harrawala, Roorkee, and Kotdwar stations is also underway under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Officials emphasized timely preparation for Ardh Kumbh travel to ensure smooth facilities for devotees and passengers, reflecting sustained focus on strengthening regional rail connectivity.Read more

31 Jan 2026

As global capability centres (GCCs) continue to scale in size and scope, a quieter shift is taking place in early-stage innovation. Nano GCCs compact teams typically comprising 20 to 100 professionals are emerging as disproportionately effective engines for idea generation, experimentation and problem-solving. Their strength lies not in scale, but in intent, agility and proximity to decision-making. Free from heavy governance structures and layered approvals, these small teams are better positioned to challenge assumptions, explore uncertainty and test feasibility at speed. With overlapping roles, direct leadership involvement and lower costs of failure, nano GCCs are increasingly being used by enterprises as discovery units within a broader innovation portfolio. Their growing relevance suggests that meaningful innovation often begins in focused, low-profile environments rather than large, formalised centres.Read more

31 Jan 2026

GreenFortune Windows & Doors has rebranded as IndiFrame, marking a strategic shift aimed at building a trusted, consumer-facing windows and doors brand in India's largely unorganised fenestration market. Backed by funding of USD 5.55 million from a mix of global and Indian investors, IndiFrame seeks to introduce standardisation, performance-led products and end-to-end accountability in a segment dominated by fragmented local players. The rebrand reflects a structural separation between GreenFortune's materials-led business and IndiFrame's finished products and solutions offering, allowing sharper focus on homeowner needs. Operating across multiple states with pan-India execution capabilities, IndiFrame positions itself as a vertically integrated brand, controlling design, manufacturing, installation and after-sales service. The company aims to offer India-specific solutions tailored to local climatic and usage conditions, while expanding gradually across multiple materials beyond uPVC.Read more

31 Jan 2026

The Andhra Pradesh government has extended the Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) application deadline to April 23,2026, following multiple requests from citizens and real estate stakeholders. The scheme, aimed at regularising unauthorised plots in municipal and master plan areas (excluding Amaravati), has seen nearly 62,000 applications in the last six months. Applicants must pay a minimum fee of INR 10,000 and follow online submission procedures. Authorities have strengthened anti-bribery measures, fixed 15-day processing timelines, and linked LRS funds to local infrastructure improvements, while unregularised plots face strict restrictions including penalties and potential demolition.Read more