A sigh of Covid relief: Toll and HAM projects may benefit

In FY2021, the Government of India announced various liquidity measures under ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ financial package. Soon after, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI, rated CARE AAA and Stable) followed the suit by announcing slew of measures for the road sector in a bid to boost liquidity for roads  developers against the backdrop of Covid 19 pandemic and resurrect investor confidence. These measures have been extended on a time-to-time basis by NHAI. On 1 July 2021, NHAI proposed to MoRTH to continue the benefits till 30 September 2021 in addition to grant of extension of time (EoT) under Covid-II. 

In CARE Ratings’ view, if the proposal is accepted, the likely extension of relief measures shall augur well for the road  developers of under-construction Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) projects primarily in terms of EoT for completion and additional time for achieving financial closure. Presently, the road developers or sponsors are entitled to these benefits under the Atmanirbhar Bharat package announced in FY2021. The proposed grant of extension of concession period for  operational toll road projects is in alignment with the existing provisions of Concession Agreement. On an overall basis, in CARE Ratings’ opinion such extension in concession period for toll projects shall be limited to about 20 days. 

Osaka Expo 2025 to Feature World’s Largest Wooden Structure

Osaka Expo 2025 will showcase the world’s largest wooden structure—a spectacular canopy encircling the 155-hectare exhibition grounds. Designed by architect Sou Fujimoto, the structure combines cutting-edge technology with Japan’s thousand-year tradition of wooden construction to create a futuristic yet sustainable landmark.“This is the biggest wooden construction in the world, so we used the latest technology alongside Japan's ancient craftsmanship to achieve a futuristic design,” Mr Fujimoto said. Rigorous testing ensured the strength of the beams and joints for the immense structu..

India ranks 6th globally with 127 Net-zero firms

India has secured the sixth position globally in corporate climate action, with 127 companies committing to net-zero targets under the Science- Based Targets initiative (SBTi), according to the latest report from ICRA ESG Ratings.Although India contributes approximately 7 per cent of global emissions, its corporate commitments reflect a growing awareness of climate concerns. However, high-emission sectors such as power, energy, and cement are lagging in adopting these goals.The report reveals that fewer than 10 per cent of firms in these high-emission sectors, which contribute to 55 per cent o..

Power prices fall 31% amid renewable push

The average price of electricity traded on India’s power exchanges during October-November 2024 fell by 31 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs.3.61 per unit in the Day-Ahead Market (DAM), down from Rs.5.23 per unit in the same period last year. Similarly, Real-Time Market (RTM) prices dropped by 29 per cent to Rs.3.59 per unit, compared to Rs.5.04 per unit a year ago, as per industry data. The price drop was driven by a surge in renewable energy generation, particularly hydro and wind power, supported by favourable monsoon conditions. Improved fuel availability and government-led ini..