Delhi airport to get India's first air train 

India will get its first air train to connect Terminal 2 and T3 on one side and T1 on the other at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi by the end of 2027. Delhi International Airport (DIAL) has issued a tender to build an air train or automated people mover (APM) that will have four stops — T2/3, T1, Aerocity and cargo city. The alignment for the 7.7 km route has been provided by GMR-backed DIAL. Once ready, trudging by DTC buses between these two distant terminals from the city side will be history. Work will then begin and it is targeted to be over before the end of CY 2027. The APM system is intended to provide reliable, fast and seamless connectivity between T1 and T3/2 spanning a route length of around 7.7 km via Aerocity and Cargo city.

ICRA projects 12–15 percent revenue growth for Indian construction sector 

The government's focus on infrastructure development and a healthy order book position are expected to help Indian construction companies maintain revenue growth in FY25, with a projected year-on-year growth of 12–15 percent for this fiscal year, according to an ICRA report. As of June 2024, the combined order book-to-sales ratio of the companies in ICRA's sample set was 3.1x, indicating strong medium-term prospects for revenue growth. Fresh order inflows remained modest during Q1 FY25, mainly due to the General Elections similar to the FY20 election period. The order-awarding activity picked up from Q2 FY25 onwards. 

E-system will now  detect entry of overage vehicles

The government is set to roll out an online system to detect diesel and petrol vehicles older than 10 and 15 years plying on Delhi roads and those without valid fitness and pollution certificates. The “e-detection” system, which will enable the transport departments to find out where such vehicles are registered to generate e-challans automatically, will start by Diwali. This will be a big deterrent for old polluting vehicles from any state entering Delhi roads. Under this system, as soon as vehicles cross National Highway toll plazas at Delhi borders, the details from FASTags fixed on vehicles, photographs and registration will be captured.   

Coastal protection in Maharashtra gets ADB's $42 million loan nod

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 42 million loan to provide coastal and riverbank protection ecosystems in Maharashtra to increase resilience of natural protection ecosystems. ADB said the Maharashtra Sustainable Climate-Resilient Coastal Protection and Management Project will establish coastal erosion and riverbank protection solutions such as offshore reefs, sheet piles, beach nourishment, and vegetation planting to restore and stabilise the coastline. The project will adopt new engineering hybrid approaches.

Contact: Asian Development Bank

Website: www.adb.org

85 mn EVs expected on roads globally by 2025, India to see 500,000 EVs

At least 85 million electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to be on the roads globally by the end of 2025, with India clocking 500,000 EVs in the same time-frame, driven by various government incentives. Despite several hurdles affecting the EV market over the past few months, Gartner projects the number of EVs in use globally to total 64 million units in 2024 and increase 33 per cent in 2025. Many companies overestimated how quickly the switch to EVs would occur. This caused those companies to delay launching new EV models. Globally, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in use are forecast to total almost 62 million units by the end of next year, an increase of 35 per cent from 2024.

Centre approves road strengthening networks worth Rs 110 billion

The Union government approved Rs 110 billion to strengthen road connectivity in Chhattisgarh. The nod was received from Nitin Gadkari, Minister, Road Transport and Highways. The approved fund will be spent to develop four major national highways which will transform the state's transport landscape and promote industrial growth. Gadkari also approved the preparation of DPRs for other projects. The Union minister reviewed progress of the ongoing national highway projects in Chhattisgarh and emphasised the need to remove hindrances that are delaying these works, the government said.

E-vehicles to replace public transport buses by March

Sukhvinder Sukhu, CM, Himachal Pradesh announced a plan to make public transport buses run by Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) a ‘green one’ by replacing fossil fuel-run buses with electrical ones by March 2025. The Chief Minister made several key announcements. He said salaries of HRTC employees and pension of pensioners would be paid on October 28. Also, the government will allocate Rs 0.5 billion to cover 55 months of overtime dues for employees, which would be fully disbursed by 31 March 2025. Contact: Himachal Road Transport Corporation.

Website: www.hrtchp.com

Jharkhand PM inaugurates developmental projects worth over Rs 830 billion 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone, inaugurated and launched various projects worth over Rs 830 billion in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh. This visit marks the second time in 17 days that PM Modi will be in Jharkhand, following his previous visit to Jamshedpur on September 15. In order to boost the educational infrastructure for the tribal communities, the Prime Minister inaugurated 40 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and laid the foundation stone for 25 EMRS worth over Rs 28 billion. According to the Prime Minister's Office, the initiative will cover approximately 63,000 villages.

Bengaluru to become water surplus with Cauvery Phase 5 launch: Deputy CM  

The city is set to become water surplus with the commissioning of the long-awaited Cauvery Phase 5 project, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said. The ambitious project is expected to provide water to an additional 5 million people across the city, ensuring every household receives a steady supply, the Bengaluru development minister added. Water from Cauvery Phase 5 will be distributed to several key areas, including Yeshwantpur, Bengaluru South, Byatarayanapura, T Dasarahalli, Mahadevpura, Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Bommanahalli.

As part of its broader mission, BWSSB has already facilitated 1.06 million water connections across Bengaluru, with an additional 400,000 connections planned under the new phase.

Rs 147 billion allotted to state for rail development: Railway Minister

A sum of Rs 147 billion has been allocated to Madhya Pradesh for development of railways, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. The railway minister virtually flagged off a train service from Jaura to Kailaras in Morena district after the route was converted from narrow gauge to broad gauge. Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and MP speaker Narendra Tomar too showed green flags when the train departed from Jaura station. Rs 147 billion has been allocated for the development of railways in Madhya Pradesh. Right now, five Vande Bharat trains are running in Madhya Pradesh.  

State cabinet clears Rs 247.02 billion for the Jalna Nanded expressway

The Maharashtra Cabinet gave approval to the allocated budget of Rs 247.02 billion, covering both construction and land acquisition costs for the Jalna-Nanded expressway. The Jalna-Nanded Expressway is a proposed 179.8-km, six-lane Greenfield project to enhance connectivity between Marathwada’s major cities—Jalna, Parbhani and Nanded—and link them to the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway. By cutting the distance between Jalna and Nanded from 226 km to 179.8 km, the route will greatly reduce travel time between Mumbai and Nanded.  

Aizawl will be 4th capital city to come under railway link within nine months 

Mizoram's Aizawl will be the fourth capital city [after Assam's Guwahati, Tripura's Agartala and Arunachal's Naharlagun] in the Northeast to come under railway link within the next nine months as the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is laying the new broad gauge track up to Sairang. The

Rs 82.13 billion Bairabi-Sairang and 51.38 km railway line is to be completed by July next year. The project involves 48 tunnels in tough terrain. The work of construction of the tallest pier of the project has been completed. The pier's height is 104 metres - 42 metres taller than the Qutub Minar. The project also includes five road over bridges and six road under bridges.

Chief Minister gives nod for construction of 13,400 km of link roads

Bhagwant Mann, Chief Minister, Punjab gave his nod for construction of 13,400 km of link roads at a cost of Rs 24.36 billion. The chief minister said that these link roads will give an impetus to the state's economic growth. The state government has decided to give a major facelift to the link road infrastructure by widening, strengthening and upgrading these rural link roads across the state, he said. Mann also reviewed the work of setting up medical colleges in the state. Mann asked the officers to ensure the work on medical colleges is completed in a time-bound manner. Mann said the work is progressing in full swing for constructing medical colleges at SAS Nagar (Mohali), Kapurthala, Sangrur, Hoshiarpur and Malerkotla. 

Centre approves 2,280-km road project worth Rs 44.06 billion in border areas

The Union cabinet approved a project for construction of 2,280-km roads in border areas of Rajasthan and Punjab. Amit Shah, Union Home Minister hailed the cabinet's decision, saying this will not only facilitate the movement in the border villages but also improve the quality of lives of people in these areas which will be developed as 'Vibrant Villages'. The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved construction of 2,280 km roads in border areas of Rajasthan and Punjab at an investment of Rs 44.06 billion.

EIB sanctions Rs 9.16 billion for Rudrapur and Kashipur water supply project

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved funding of Rs 9.16 billion to provide clean drinking water to two cities in Udham Singh Nagar district – Rudrapur and Kashipur. Under the project, 50 new tube wells will be installed across both cities – 25 in each city. Six existing tube wells will also be renovated to enhance their efficiency. The construction of 17 overhead water tanks, seven in Rudrapur and 10 in Kashipur, is also planned, with varying capacities to meet the growing water demand. The project will involve laying a total of 1,000 km of new pipelines, to ensure round-the-clock availability of clean drinking water for 33,000 families in Rudrapur and 30,000 families in Kashipur.

China unveils magnetic levitation train: 1000 kmph in a vacuum capsule 

China has taken steps to develop high-speed transportation after testing a magnetic levitation (Maglev) train in a vacuum tube. An ordinary trip of 400 km could be covered in less than 30 minutes using a Maglev train. Furthermore, the high-speed train could compete with short-haul flights, potentially decreasing the overall carbon footprint in countries where such technology will be implemented. Also shifting from regional passenger flights to ultra–high–speed trains would cut carbon emissions by 3 to 4 percent in some nations. After replacing jet fuel with clean electromagnetic propulsion, the train is environmentally friendly compared to air transport if renewable energy is used.

RITES and Etihad Rail sign MoU for rail infra projects in UAE

The UAE National Rail Network's developer and operator, Etihad Rail, and transport infrastructure consultant RITES signed an agreement to explore potential collaboration and synergies in development of railways and related infrastructure services in UAE. The partnership aims to leverage strengths of both the entities to explore collaborative opportunities in railway projects.

Contact: RITES

Website:  www.rites.com

Colliers Project Leaders, Middle East secures $250 mn project

Leading diversified project management firm, Colliers Project Leaders – Middle East, has won the mandate to deliver end-to-end project management solutions for Armenia’s new World Trade Centre in Yerevan, valued at USD ~250 million. A public-private partnership between the Armenian government and Renshin, the project is designed to be a mixed-use development that will be home to commercial spaces, offices, retail outlets, hotels and exhibition halls. Well known for its expertise in the real estate industry and project management, Colliers has a proven track record of delivering large-scale, marquee projects including the World Trade Centre in Bengaluru. Colliers Project Leaders has a growing presence in the Middle East.

Maersk achieves 45 percent intake of women cadets in India

To make its workforce more gender inclusive, Danish shipping major Maersk achieved a 45 percent intake of women nautical and engineering cadets in India for 2024 as part of the company’s 'Equal At Sea' initiative. Maersk’s Indian women seafarers surged from 41 to over 350 in three years as the company takes a holistic approach towards gender diversity. According to the company, the number of women seafarers in its fleet has more than doubled from 295 in 2021 to over 650 in 2024. The percentage of women in Maersk's global seafarer pool has risen from 2.3 percent in 2022 to 5.5 percent in 2024.

Contact: Maersk

Website: www.maersk.com

Tata Steel ceases operations at Port Talbot in the UK

Tata Steel ceased steel-making operations at Port Talbot in the UK after it shut down the remaining blast furnace, the sinter plant, and some secondary steel-making and energy systems. The largest producer of steel in the region had shut a blast furnace and coke ovens earlier this year after the assets were not economically and environmentally viable. Port Talbot has been a plant where new technologies have been introduced to enhance its output, often setting standards for other steelmakers, Rajesh Nair, CEO, Tata Steel UK said.

Contact: Tata Steel

Website: www.tatasteel.com