MoC Announces New First Mile Connectivity Initiative

22 Dec 2025 CW Team

The Ministry of Coal is trying to improve the moment of coal from mines to railways through its new First Mile Connectivity initiative. This initiative aims to improve India's coal transportation capabilities overall through systems such as conveyor belts, silos, and automated loading arrangements.

Currently, 65 connectivity projects with a total handling capacity of 552 million tonnes are operational. This initiative plans to create 74 more connectivity projects which will bring the total capacity to 1319 million tonnes.

The initiative would lead to greater reliance on road transport and manual handling of coal which in turn leads to faster movement of coal, reduction in transportation costs, improved safety, and lower environmental impact due to reduced dust and emissions.

Infrastructure Energy

02 Feb 2026

Tata Power Arm Crosses 10 GW EPC Milestone

Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL) has achieved a major milestone by executing 10 gigawatts of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) renewable energy projects to date, reinforcing its position in India’s clean energy infrastructure sector. According to the company, the executed portfolio comprises 4.2 gigawatts of in-house projects and 5.8 gigawatts of third-party projects. Of the total 10 gigawatts commissioned so far, 9.7 gigawatts are solar projects and 290 megawatts are wind projects. In the first nine months of FY26, TPREL commissioned 1.88 gigawatts of EPC renewable en..

SCI Seeks Bids for Eight New Gas Carriers

The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has invited bids to acquire eight new very large gas carriers (VLGCs), reinforcing its expansion plans while supporting India’s domestic shipbuilding industry. According to the tender, six of the vessels must be constructed in India, while the remaining two can be built by international shipyards. The requirement aligns with the government’s policy push to strengthen local shipbuilding capacity and comply with Press Note 3 regulations governing foreign participation in sensitive sectors. SCI has issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) to identify el..

Union Budget 2026–27 Focuses on Growth, Jobs and Infrastructure

Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman recently tabled the Union Budget 2026–27 in Parliament, outlining a growth-led roadmap anchored around three ‘kartavyas’—accelerating economic growth, building people’s capacities, and ensuring inclusive development across regions and sectors.The Budget estimates non-debt receipts at Rs 36.5 lakh crore and total expenditure at Rs 53.5 lakh crore, with capital expenditure at about Rs 11 lakh crore. Public capex is proposed to rise to Rs 12.2 lakh crore in FY27. The fiscal deficit is pegged at 4.3 per cent of GDP, whil..