Arkel India Opens Rs 1 bn Lift Electronics Plant in Vadodara

02 Mar 2026 CW Team

Arkel India has opened a new manufacturing facility at the GIDC Estate in Savli-Manjusar, Vadodara, with a Phase one investment of Rs 1 bn. The technology-driven unit will focus on local manufacture of high-quality lift electronic systems to reduce import dependency and support domestic supply chains. The company presented the project as aligned with national manufacturing and infrastructure priorities.

The plant will house automated printed circuit board (PCB) assembly lines alongside semi-automatic machine-room and machine-room-less (MR and MRL) control panel lines, enabling integrated lift control system production. Product lines will include MR, MRL and slim panels designed for precision control and durability. Manufacturing processes will incorporate fully controlled temperature, humidity, cleanliness and electrostatic discharge management systems.

Solutions from the facility will feature internet of things (IoT) enabled smart technologies that deliver energy efficiency and enhanced performance for high-rise residential, commercial, healthcare and transit applications. The company said products will meet the new IS 17900 standard and claimed to be the only local Made in India electronics supplier to meet the revised lift requirements. The unit is presented as a step towards strengthening vertical mobility solutions in public buildings and urban redevelopment projects.

The site spans 135,000 sq ft and is expected to have annual output capacity of approximately 36,000 units in a single shift, with the potential to scale as demand grows. The company anticipates direct and indirect employment gains and plans collaboration with industrial training institutes, polytechnics and engineering colleges to provide apprenticeships and upskilling in electronics and automation. Management underlined the role of the plant in supporting exports to Asia-Pacific markets and in responding to annual domestic demand of over 100,000 elevator units.

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..