Solar Street Lights Illuminate Rangamati in Assam

18 Jun 2025 CW Team

Rangamati village in Assam’s Kamrup rural district has received a significant infrastructure upgrade to enhance road safety and mitigate human–elephant conflict: solar-powered street lighting has been installed along its main thoroughfares. 

The project covers approximately one kilometre of village roads, providing consistent lighting from dusk to dawn. Operated by solar panels and backed by battery storage, these lights offer zero-operational-cost functionality while ensuring safety for both villagers and wildlife. Luminaries are strategically placed to illuminate key crossings and reduce the risk of encounters between humans and elephants during night-time hours.

This intervention follows a marked rise in local human–elephant incidents, which have caused roadside accidents and posed a threat to both communities and wildlife. Local residents have welcomed the initiative, expressing relief that the new lighting should deter wildlife movement on busy roads and allow safer crossings at critical times.

The solar lighting project exemplifies a low-cost, environmentally friendly solution that addresses rural safety issues through the integration of renewable energy. It reinforces Assam’s growing focus on deploying sustainable infrastructure to resolve human–wildlife conflicts and protect vulnerable communities.

Infrastructure Urban

13 Oct 2025

Daikin Boosts Haryana’s Innovation Push with Rs 10 billion R&D Plan

Japanese multinational Daikin Industries has committed an investment of Rs 10 billion to set up a new research and development centre in Haryana. The proposed facility will focus on advanced technologies and sustainable industrial solutions, marking a significant boost to the state’s innovation and industrial ecosystem. The announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Osaka, Japan, during a visit by a Haryana government delegation held from October 6 to 8. The MoU was signed by Amit Kumar Agrawal, Commissioner and Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, ..

Lloyds Metals to Build Rs 250 billion Steel Plant in Gadchiroli

Lloyds Metals & Energy Limited (LMEL) has announced an investment of Rs 250 billion aimed at transforming Gadchiroli in Maharashtra from a region once associated with the red corridor into a key industrial and growth hub. The company’s plans are centred on establishing an integrated steel production ecosystem, which will contribute significantly to regional development and employment. As part of its expansion strategy, LMEL is setting up a 4.5-million-tonne blast furnace in Gadchiroli, scheduled for completion by 2027–28, along with another 1.2-million-tonne facility in Chandrapur by 2029..

UPI Crosses 500 Million Users, Fuels MSME and Digital Growth

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has achieved a new milestone, surpassing 500 million consumers and 65 million merchants across India. The platform, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has expanded its reach to nearly 99 percent of the country’s pin codes, underlining its deep penetration into both urban and rural markets. According to a report by NPCI and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) launched during the Global Fintech Fest 2025, UPI has evolved from being a digital payments mechanism into a key enabler of financial inclusion and small business growth. I..