Industrial AI To Boost Manufacturing Output

07 May 2026 CW Team

India’s manufacturing sector is moving from AI pilots to scaled shopfloor deployment, according to a new report by YourNest Venture Capital and Praxis Global Alliance. The report states that 90 per cent of Indian manufacturing enterprises are experimenting with AI, while funding is projected to rise ten-fold to $1.5 billion by 2030. Industrial AI is expected to unlock around $150 billion in incremental manufacturing output by 2030 by optimising existing assets, without proportional greenfield capital expenditure. The report highlights potential reductions of 30–50 per cent in unplanned downtime, 10–40 per cent in conversion costs, yield improvements of 5–15 per cent and throughput increases of up to 30 per cent. Funding in Industrial AI stood at $150 million in 2024, while average deal sizes increased nearly four-fold to around $8 million between 2021 and 2025. The report said Industrial AI is emerging as a high-ROCE lever, with payback cycles as short as 12–18 months. The report noted that Industrial AI solutions are becoming deeply embedded in manufacturing processes, creating stronger defensibility than traditional software models. It added that legacy system integration and data readiness remain challenges, but are being addressed through wider digital transformation efforts.

Infrastructure Transport

15 May 2026

MMRDA Removes 1.14 lakh m of Metro Barricades

In a bid to ease congestion and improve urban mobility during monsoon, MMRDA has undertaken one of the largest coordinated barricade removal and monsoon preparedness drives across its ongoing metro and infrastructure projects.With substantial progress achieved in viaduct and structural works across multiple metro corridors, barricades from completed stretches beneath metro viaducts are being systematically removed, restoring maximum possible road space before the monsoon. Wider carriageways across key arterial roads are expected to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, support better rainwa..

Pune Division to Remove All Diamond Crossings by Year-End

The Pune railway division has announced plans to remove all 16 diamond crossings by the end of 2026 as part of a major yard remodelling project following the derailment of a Vande Bharat Express at Pune Junction on April 27. Railway authorities said the replacements aim to improve safety and streamline train operations across the busy station. The decision followed a Central Railway finding that the accident involved a non-standard diamond crossing and highlighted the need for replacement. Regular maintenance of existing crossings will continue until the replacement work is completed. Official..

Goa Declares 80 Million Square Metres No Development Zone

The Goa state government has declared 80 million square metres (mn) of land a no development zone, designating the area as protected from new construction. The notification reclassifies tracts across the state under a no development category for planning and regulatory purposes. The declaration signals a formal halt to new building permits within the defined zone. Authorities indicated that maps will be issued to show broad boundaries while detailed surveys will refine precise limits. The move transfers responsibility for enforcement to local planning authorities and relevant departments, whic..