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Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Real Estate

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

The new Nalanda University campus at Rajgir in Bihar, remodelled after the 1,600-year-old Nalanda Mahavihar, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2024, marking a significant revival of the first residential university in the world, originally founded in 427 CE by Emperor Kumara...

The new Nalanda University campus at Rajgir in Bihar, remodelled after the 1,600-year-old Nalanda Mahavihar, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2024, marking a significant revival of the first residential university in the world, originally founded in 427 CE by Emperor Kumaragupta.Steeped in historyThe world’s first residential university gained its name from ‘nalam’ (lotus) and ‘da’ (to give), symbolising the blossoming of knowledge.Green campusRevival of the university gained momentum in 2006 after Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, then President of India, proposed its reestablishment. The architectural design was chosen on the basis of a global competition and the jury, consisting of architects including Liu Thai Ker, chose Pritzker Prize laureate and Padma Vibhushan late BV Doshi’s firm, Vastu Shilpa Consultants, as the winner of the design competition.The new campus, built at an initial cost of Rs 18 billion and spread over 485 acre, merges eco-friendly architecture with ancient Vaastu principles. The campus is among the largest in India and its commitment to sustainability is evident in its net-zero green campus, which includes a 6.5-MW DC on-grid solar plant, a 500-kld water treatment plant, a 400-kld water recycling plant and 100 acre of water bodies with an innovative 1.2-MW AC biogas-based waste-to-energy plant. Indeed, the new campus of Nalanda University symbolises the revival of an ancient institution and serves as a beacon of modern educational excellence and sustainability.A Forest of MemoriesSmritivan Earthquake Memorial is on UNESCO's 2024 list of the most beautiful museums.The Smritivan (Forest of Memories) Earthquake Memorial Museum in Bhuj, Gujarat, has been honoured as one of the world’s seven most beautiful museums globally by UNESCO’s Prix Versailles Award for Architecture and Design. It is the first museum in India to receive international recognition for adherence to local culture, environmental conservation and sustainable practices.Situated on the Bhujiyo Dungar (a small hill) on the outskirts of Bhuj and spread over 470 acres, it is the first earthquake memorial in the country. The site features the world’s largest Miyawaki forest, with around 0.5 million trees, 50 check dams adorned with plaques bearing the names of the victims of the 2001 earthquake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, which claimed close to 13,000 lives and affected 890 villages. The museum also includes a special theatre that offers a realistic simulation of the earthquake experience using sound, light and vibration along with a 360º projection. The architect was Rajeev Kathpalia from Vastushilpa Sangath LLP while the exhibition design and curation for the museum was done by Design Factory India.Design intentThe hill’s steep slope posed a challenge in constructing a building that blended with the landscape as the hill holds cultural significance to the community and constructing a large-scale box contrasting with the hill was considered inappropriate. So, the natural contours of the hill were incorporated into the design.Resilience and regenerationAs Smritivan was planned to be a pilgrimage site for bereaved families of the victims, each element of the museum, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, stands as a symbol of Gujarat’s resilience in the face of adversity and focuses on regeneration and hope for a better future.- R SRINIVASAN      

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Infrastructure Urban

India to Invest Rs 600 Billion to Upgrade 1,000 ITIs

As part of its drive to modernise vocational training, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with Gujarat’s Labour and Employment Department, held a State-Level Workshop at the NAMTECH Campus within IIT-Gandhinagar to discuss the National Scheme for ITI Upgradation.The consultation brought together key stakeholders from industry and the training ecosystem to align expectations and support implementation of the scheme, which aims to transform 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across India using a hub-and-spoke model. The total outlay stands ..

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Infrastructure Urban

India Unveils Rs 600 Billion Maritime Finance Push

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) hosted the Maritime Financing Summit 2025 in New Delhi, bringing together over 250 stakeholders including policymakers, industry leaders, global investors, and financial institutions. The summit, held under the ambit of Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV) 2047, focused on transforming India into a leading maritime power with strengthened financial, infrastructural, and technological capabilities.Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal emphasised India's strategic progress, noting that average port turnaround times have dropped from four days to u..

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Infrastructure Urban

Govt Allocates Rs 500 Million To Boost Community Radio

The Central Government, through its ‘Supporting Community Radio Movement in India’ scheme, has allocated Rs 500 million to strengthen the community radio ecosystem across the country. The initiative aims to assist both newly established and long-operational Community Radio Stations (CRSs), ensuring their relevance to local educational, social, cultural, and developmental needs.According to the policy published by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, CRSs may be set up by not-for-profit organisations with at least three years of demonstrated community service. These stations are ex..

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