Anant Raj Ltd has confirmed plans to invest nearly INR 4,500 crore in Andhra Pradesh as part of a large-scale expansion of its data centre operations. The company announced earlier this week that its subsidiary, Anant Raj Cloud Pvt Ltd, had signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board to establish a data centre and IT park in a phased manner. The agreement includes provisions for state-level facilitation, job creation, and coordinated central government support. This expansion will add to Anant Raj's ongoing data centre projects and future capacity ambitions.Read more

Delhi Chief Minister Smt Rekha Gupta announced updated names for three metro stations in the Pitampura-Haiderpur belt as part of the Phase IV expansion of the Delhi Metro network. The existing Pitampura station will be renamed Madhuban Chowk, the upcoming QU Block station will be North Pitampura-Prashant Vihar, and the planned Pitampura North station will be called Haiderpur Village. She said the changes are intended to make travel easier and more locally relevant. The announcement was made during a yatra held to honour the Rezang La battle martyrs. Alongside the renaming, she also reviewed ongoing area-wide road and underpass works.Read more

Adani Group has announced plans to invest more than INR 1 lakh crore in Andhra Pradesh over the next decade, expanding across ports, cement, energy, data centres and advanced manufacturing. This is in addition to the INR 40,000 crore already invested in the state. At the Andhra Pradesh Investor Summit, Karan Adani detailed the Group's USD 15 billion Vizag Tech Park vision with Google, which will create a green-powered hyperscale data-centre ecosystem and the tech giant's largest AI hub outside the United States. He praised the state's leadership and highlighted Andhra Pradesh's role as a gateway for India's future growth. The Group's existing operations have already generated over one lakh jobs.Read more

Uttar Pradesh is preparing to launch FASTPAS, a new online system designed to simplify and speed up building plan approvals across the state. The platform has been tested over the past two months and is expected to go live in about a month. It replaces the older OBPAS system and offers larger file uploads, better GIS-based tools, and integrated access to multiple clearance authorities. The system is being fully developed with state funds, giving the government full control over data. FASTPAS also supports features linked to the state's updated building bylaws.Read more

Kings Infra Ventures has entered into an agreement with the Andhra Pradesh government to establish an INR 2,500-crore aquaculture technology park near Srikakulam. The plan was formalised during the recent CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam. The 500-acre project will be India's first AI-enabled aquaculture park, integrating hatcheries, indoor farming systems, processing facilities and a marine bio-actives unit through the company's BlueTechOS platform. Kings Infra will invest INR 500 crore directly, with another INR 2,000 crore expected through supporting industries. The project will also train 5,000 professionals and enable multi-species production for domestic and export markets.Read more

IRB Infrastructure Trust has secured a significant toll operate and transfer mandate from the National Highways Authority of India, agreeing to an upfront payment of INR 9,270 crore. The award covers a 366-km stretch across the Lucknow-Ayodhya-Gorakhpur corridor on NH-27 and part of the Lucknow-Varanasi corridor on NH-731, forming a crucial component of NHAI's ongoing asset monetisation strategy. The project has been granted for a revenue-linked concession period of 20 years. IRB Infrastructure Developers, which manages the private InvIT, highlighted the strategic importance of this religious tourism corridor in strengthening its national footprint.Read more

The Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala is moving towards becoming a key transshipment hub for India, with officials noting that it is gradually positioning itself to handle cargo that currently moves through ports such as Singapore, Colombo, Salalah and Dubai. The port's location near major international shipping routes and its strong road, rail and air connectivity give it a significant operational advantage. Officials noted that once the port attains full capacity, it is expected to offer notable savings in ship and navigation costs for Indian cargo. The project aims to strengthen India's presence in global maritime trade.Read more

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has released INR 332 crore for rural development works, with another INR 334 crore expected by late December or early January. The funds will support projects in gram panchayats, especially sanitation initiatives, as part of the state government's ongoing focus on rural upliftment. Grants will be shared in a 70:20:10 ratio among Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads, with Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur receiving the highest allocations. Cheema said the government aims to strengthen rural communities through transparent funding. He also highlighted major infrastructure efforts, including recarpeting 19,000 km of roads and investing INR 1,000 crore in sports facilities for youth.Read more

Haryana has transitioned to fully paperless property registration, eliminating the need for physical documents in all tehsils. The Financial Commissioner, Sumita Misra, reviewed the system's progress and directed measures to speed up approvals, safeguard data, resolve technical issues, and enhance citizen support through dedicated help desks and a state helpline. Early results show rapid adoption, with applications and approvals more than doubling compared to the previous period. Training for staff and public outreach are being emphasized to ensure smooth implementation and wider citizen awareness.Read more

CREDAI-MCHI convened its 43rd Annual General Meeting last week, bringing together senior government leaders, policymakers, and real estate stakeholders to outline a unified reform agenda under the leadership of President Shri Sukhraj Nahar. The association highlighted strengthened coordination with civic authorities, the rollout of Ease of Doing Business 2.0, and collective representation through a joint platform with NAREDCO, PEATA, and BDA. Key developments included institutionalised monthly reviews with BMC and SRA, acknowledgement of members� contributions during recent floods, and curated discussions on Mumbai's future development trajectory. The AGM reaffirmed CREDAI-MCHI's commitment to transparent, timely, and responsible urban growth.Read more

India and Nepal have formalized a direct rail link along the Jogbani-Biratnagar route for containerised and bulk cargo. The agreement, executed through a Letter of Exchange amending the Treaty of Transit, allows goods to move from Kolkata and Visakhapatnam ports to Nepal's Morang District customs yard. Key corridors, including Kolkata-Jogbani and Visakhapatnam-Nautanwa, are included, aiming to boost multi-modal trade and Nepal's commerce with third countries. The deal underscores India's role as Nepal's largest trade partner and is expected to reinforce economic and commercial ties.Read more

Recent state transport data revealed a contrasting trend in road fatalities across Maharashtra's two major expressways. Deaths on the Samruddhi Mahamarg rose 16%, increasing from 92 to 107 between January and September, while fatalities on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway dropped 29%, from 72 to 51. Officials attributed the difference to stricter monitoring, better infrastructure, and safety measures on the Mumbai-Pune route. In contrast, the Samruddhi stretch lacks advanced surveillance, has fewer amenities for heavy vehicles, and faces safety issues due to its design and driving conditions.Read more

The Public Investment Board has approved two new Namo Bharat Rapid Rail corridors connecting Delhi with Haryana's major hubs, marking a major step in expanding the National Capital Region's transit network. The 93 km Sarai Kale Khan-Bawal route is estimated at INR 32,000 crore, while the 136 km Sarai Kale Khan-Karnal line is projected at INR 33,000 crore. Together costing INR 65,000 crore, both projects will move to the Union Cabinet for final clearance. The approval also encourages adoption of value capture financing and transit-oriented development to integrate urban growth with mobility.Read more

The Mission PoWaR initiative in Odisha, announced earlier this week, is designed to deliver uninterrupted electricity supply, safe drinking water and last-mile road connectivity to all villages by March 2027. The programme will be driven through an inter-ministerial committee and regular status reports from district collectors. With the target revised after earlier deadlines were missed, the mission adopts the guiding principles of speed, scale and standard to address longstanding gaps in rural infrastructure.Read more

The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has recommended conditional approval to cut 1,571 trees in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) for the doubling of the Agra-Bandikui railway line. The proposal includes planting 16,230 trees across 25 hectares, maintaining them for ten years, and fencing the plantation sites. The Supreme Court will hear the matter shortly. The TTZ covers 10,400 sq km around Agra and adjoining districts, established to protect the Taj Mahal. The CEC emphasized strict environmental safeguards and penalties for non-compliance to minimize ecological impact.Read more

The UK has named Wylfa in North Wales as the location for its first small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power station, advancing its nuclear expansion plans despite US criticism. Funded with 2.5 billion pounds (USD 3.36 billion), the SMRs are designed to be faster and cheaper than traditional plants, supplying power for 3 million homes and creating 3,000 jobs locally. The government has also opened the door for a future large-scale nuclear plant, with GB Energy-Nuclear seeking a site by autumn 2026, while Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C continue construction.Read more

The Director General of Police, O P Singh, of Haryana has written to the central ministry and state PWD authorities emphasising prompt engineering intervention at 251 remaining accident-prone locations in the state. Between 2019-20 and 2023-24, the state identified 474 black spots, of which 223 have already been rectified, leaving 251 pending. Haryana recorded nearly 4,000 road-accident deaths between January and October this year, which the DGP noted was five times higher than the number of murders during the same period. The effort is part of a larger preventive policing drive involving data analysis, inter-departmental coordination and infrastructure upgrades.Read more

Dun & Bradstreet's City Vitality Index (CVI) for Q4 2025 highlights a changing pattern in India's urban economy, with smaller cities gaining strength alongside established metros. Bengaluru maintained its top position among metropolitan cities, while Ahmedabad and Pune followed. Among emerging cities, Ahmednagar rose to the top, supported by its agro-industrial base, dairy cooperatives, and sugarcane farming. Uttar Pradesh showed strong regional performance with several cities in the top 25. The index, based on satellite-based Earth Observation data, closely aligns with nominal GDP, reflecting India's expanding and diversifying urban growth.Read more

NCRTC has launched India's first solar-on-track initiative at the Namo Bharat Depot in Duhai, installing 28 solar panels along a 70-metre track stretch. With a total capacity of 15.4 kWp, the system is expected to generate 17,500 kWh annually and reduce 16 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. The project utilizes idle track space to support NCRTC's net-zero carbon goals. Combined with rooftop solar, rainwater harvesting, sewage treatment, and regenerative braking systems, the initiative strengthens sustainable operations in urban transit.Read more

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has issued a public notice concerning the control, care, and feeding of stray dogs across its jurisdiction. Following recent Supreme Court directions, the civic body reminded citizens that while the sterilisation and vaccination of strays are ongoing under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, residents must also comply with feeding regulations. The NMMC clarified that feeding will only be allowed at designated spots and specific times to prevent inconvenience to the public, in line with animal welfare guidelines.Read more