Finance Minister Reviews Urban Capex Plan

24 Sep 2024 CW Team

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reviewed the capital expenditure (capex) plans of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, emphasizing the timely and effective utilization of funds, particularly for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) scheme, which aims to address affordable housing in urban India. Sitharaman stressed the importance of accelerating the scheme's progress to meet the country’s housing needs.

As part of the ongoing reviews of ministries with significant capex allocations, the meeting focused on ensuring the efficient use of the ?28,628 crore earmarked for the financial year 2024-25. Sitharaman urged the ministry to meet its capex targets for FY 2024-25 and fully utilize the budget by the end of the financial year.

The Finance Minister also highlighted the importance of urban transport projects, specifically urging officials to meet capex targets for Metro Rail and the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), both critical to enhancing urban connectivity and infrastructure.

Infrastructure Transport

07 Apr 2026

Large Format Store Planned At M G Road Metro Station

M G Road station in Bengaluru is set to host the city’s first large-format commercial and experience space, with planning led by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited. BMRCL has invited proposals to develop and operate a central business district destination at the Purple?Pink Line interchange. The plan positions the station as a commercial hub designed to serve a broad commuter base across the city. The proposal is part of a broader effort to activate transit nodes commercially. Tender documents set a minimum monthly rental of Rs 0.944 million (mn), inclusive of GST, for the large-format..

Government Cancels Auction Of Eleven Critical Mineral Blocks

The government has cancelled the auction of 11 critical and strategic mineral blocks after receiving a poor investor response and failing to attract a sufficient number of qualified bidders. The decision represents a setback to plans to ramp up domestic exploration and production of critical minerals amid global supply chain disruptions and rising demand for materials used in clean energy and advanced technologies. The mines ministry issued an annulment notice setting out the reasons for the cancellations. The annulment notice indicated that the auction process for five mineral blocks was canc..

Gujarat Pushes Biogas Growth With 193 Operational Units

Gujarat has operationalised 193 biogas plants across the state and is planning to add 60 more units as part of a broader push to scale up clean and sustainable energy solutions. The existing plants, established under various government-supported schemes, process organic waste including cattle dung and agricultural residue to produce biogas and a nutrient-rich slurry. The output is mainly used for cooking and other energy needs in rural and semi-urban communities, while also improving local waste management practices. The Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) is leading the initiative and is..