The Union Cabinet has approved a four-lane NH-139W project in Bihar, connecting Sahebganj, Areraj, and Bettiah over 78.942 km at a cost of INR 3,822.31 crore under HAM. Designed to enhance connectivity across northern Bihar districts and improve freight and passenger movement, the project will link key economic, social, and tourism nodes, including heritage and Buddhist sites. It aims to reduce travel time, provide high-speed routes, and boost regional economic development. Employment generation, both direct and indirect, is projected to be substantial.Read more

Singapore's Seatrium Offshore Technology (SOT) and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), India's largest shipbuilder and ship repair company, signed a virtual Memorandum of Understanding earlier this week to strengthen cooperation in offshore engineering and services across Asia. The agreement focuses on Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) activities, joint marketing, project execution, and technology collaboration. It aims to bring together Seatrium's engineering expertise with CSL's infrastructure and fabrication capabilities. The partnership builds on their earlier collaboration in late 2024, when both worked on designing and supplying equipment for jack-up rigs in India.Read more

The Himachal Pradesh government has begun deliberations on developing 300 acres of land in the Gheer Industrial Area of Nalagarh, Solan district, to establish a modern industrial hub. At a Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting held earlier this week, Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan stated that the proposed project would include advanced infrastructure, reliable utilities and high-speed connectivity, aiming to accelerate economic growth and employment opportunities in the state.Read more

Delhi Metro's Pink Line is set to become the network's longest corridor at 71.6 km with 46 stations once the Majlis Park-Maujpur extension becomes operational later this month. The extension will also make it the line with the highest number of interchange stations at 12, surpassing other lines in the network. The Pink Line's completion will create a circular route, improving connectivity and allowing smoother transfers between different metro lines. Phase IV expansion plans will add more interchange stations, further enhancing the network.Read more

Indian Railways has launched four new freight services with fixed, notified schedules in North India to connect production and consumption centres more reliably. These services include Annapurna, Gati-Vahan, Niryaat Cargo and Anantnag Cement that carry goods such as food grains, automobiles, containers and cement. Transit times have been significantly reduced on many routes. The move comes after consultations with stakeholders like the Food Corporation of India (FCI), automobile manufacturers, and exporters. A change in land leasing rules will allow setting up grading and sorting units on vacant railway land to support e-commerce freight too.Read more

President Smt Droupadi Murmu travelled this past week to Mathura and Vrindavan on the Maharajas' Express, which was designated as the "President's Special" for the visit. The 18-coach formation included luxury coaches, restaurants, lounges, and additional AC coaches for staff, with two locomotives assigned for reliability. The itinerary covered prominent temples in Vrindavan and Mathura, and security arrangements were coordinated between Northern and North Central Railway zones. This was the President's second notable train journey, following her earlier trip from Bhubaneswar to Rairangpur in 2023.Read more

KPI Green Energy has secured INR 3,200 crore from the State Bank of India to finance its solar and hybrid projects in Gujarat, totaling more than 1 GWp. The funding will support a 250 MW solar project and a 370 MW hybrid project, both backed by 25-year PPAs with GUVNL. Developed in Bharuch and Surendranagar, the projects follow a 75:25 debt-equity structure and aim to strengthen recurring revenue streams. Once operational, they will contribute to KP Group's 10 GW target by 2030 and reduce over 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 annually.Read more

The Union Cabinet has approved a INR 69,725 crore package to strengthen India's shipbuilding and maritime sector. The package focuses on enhancing domestic capacity, providing long-term financing, supporting greenfield and brownfield shipyard projects, improving technical skills, and implementing policy, legal, and taxation reforms. The Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme will continue until 2036 with INR 24,736 crore, including a shipbreaking credit note of INR 4,001 crore. The Maritime Development Fund of INR 25,000 crore and Shipbuilding Development Scheme with INR 19,989 crore will further support the sector, overseen by the newly established National Shipbuilding Mission.Read more

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Odisha to inaugurate railway projects valued at over INR 1,700 crore and flag off the Amrit Bharat Express connecting Berhampur in Odisha to Udhna in Surat, Gujarat. The new train aims to improve connectivity across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, supporting both passenger travel and industrial transport. During the visit, Modi also addressed a public meeting in Jharsuguda, inaugurated key road and rail infrastructure, and announced initiatives under the 'Seva Parv' program, including expansions for IITs, hospital upgrades, skill development schemes, and aid for thousands of beneficiaries.Read more

Indian Railways is rolling out a new Vande Metro service linking Secunderabad and Muzaffarpur through Patna and Gaya. The service is aimed as migrant workers from Bihar living in Hyderabad often struggle to secure seats on long-distance trains. With an equal number of general and sleeper class coaches, the train promises better affordability and accessibility. The move is part of South Central Railway's broader plan to expand low-fare regional connectivity. Companies and daily wage earners are expected to benefit as the new route reduces dependency on the limited weekly express service.Read more