

Piyush Goyal Chairs Trade Meet on FTAs and SEZ Reforms
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, chaired a high-level meeting with Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) and Industry Associations at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi. The session included officials from the Department of Commerce and the Department of Revenue, alongside representatives from key trade bodies across various sectors.The meeting focused on the evaluation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) — both concluded and under negotiation — including their utilisation, associated challenges, and potential opportunities for Indian exporters. Participants also provided indust..

NGT Order Halts 70,000 MMR Homes Near Eco Sensitive Zones
More than 70,000 housing units spread across 493 developments in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) have stalled after the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Bhopal, ruled that schemes within five kilometres of any eco sensitive zone must obtain environmental clearance from the Union Government rather than the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).The NGT’s August 2023 decision, prompted by a petition from environmentalist Pranjal Karera, requires the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to assess all construction near wildlife sanctuaries, critically pollut..

BBMP Turns to Stone Matrix Asphalt for Flyover Upgrades
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is set to resurface nearly a dozen city flyovers with stone matrix asphalt (SMA) — a high strength blend of coarse aggregate, rich bitumen binder and cellulose fibres that outlasts conventional hot mix surfaces. Until now the corporation relied on cheaper micro surfacing, but its thin layer failed to smooth out undulations and soon gave way to potholes. Earlier this week the Hebbal flyover became the first structure to receive the SMA treatment, and the civic body now plans similar work on flyovers near Shri Gali Anjaneya Temple, Bennig..