UP Targets Solar Growth with Global Ties

06 May 2025 CW Team

The Uttar Pradesh government is intensifying its policy-driven push for a green revolution by signing initial agreements with the Hinduja Group and Australia’s Smart Energy Council. With an ambitious goal to generate 500 gigawatts of solar energy by 2030, the state aims to position regions like Bundelkhand and Vindhya as hubs for solar infrastructure and investment.

A key focus of the initiative is job creation across the solar value chain—from panel manufacturing and installation to maintenance and transmission. To support this, the state has launched the Solar Mitra Yojana, aimed at developing a skilled local workforce.

Since 2017, when solar output stood at just 288 MW, Uttar Pradesh has increased capacity tenfold. Under the Solar Energy Policy 2022, the near-term target is 2,200 MW. Future plans include solar parks in Jhansi, Jalaun, and Lalitpur, solar grids along expressways and railways, and solar-powered streetlights across cities. The Bundelkhand Expressway is set to become India’s first solar expressway.

Ayodhya is being developed as a model solar city, with Noida and 16 other municipal corporations to follow in phases. The government is also doubling its rooftop solar target to 2.65 lakh units for FY 2025–26 under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana.

Infrastructure Urban

05 May 2026

Meghalaya And Assam Hold Talks To End Transport Stoppages In Garo Hills

Meghalaya and Assam have opened talks aimed at ending recent stoppages of commodity transport in the Garo Hills, officials said. The deputy chief minister, in charge of home affairs, reported that both state governments are coordinating to resolve disruptions and to restore normal movement of goods. He acknowledged that misunderstandings may have contributed to the incidents and that clarification between administrative units is under way. The discussions are intended to produce practical arrangements that will allow consignments to move without hindrance while respecting local procedures. The..

Kochi Metro Records 1.375 mn Rise In Passengers In FY26

Kochi Metro recorded a marginal rise in ridership in the financial year 2025-26, carrying 1.375 mn more passengers than in the previous year. The service carried 36.8 million (mn) passengers in 2025-26 compared with 35.5 mn in 2024-25, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.9 per cent. The growth was described as distributed rather than concentrated in isolated spikes. A month-wise analysis shows steady gains across quarters. In the first quarter, ridership increased from 8.57 mn to 8.84 mn, while the second quarter rose from 9.13 mn to 9.51 mn. These trends indicated broad-based improvemen..

Ghaziabad Plans 16km Metro Link To Delhi Via Hindon Airport

Ghaziabad authorities are pursuing a 16 km metro link to Delhi that will run via Hindon Airport, and a detailed project report is under way. The plan is intended to improve connectivity between Ghaziabad and the national capital and to provide an interchange with the airport. Officials said the project is being studied to assess alignments, station locations and cost estimates ahead of formal approvals and tendering. The announcement follows the inauguration of the Delhi?Faridabad metro extension, which will offer hassle free travel for around 0.2 mn daily commuters between the national capita..