ArcelorMittal Seeks Return of 2,643 Acres for Karnataka Steel Plant

09 Oct 2023 CW Team

ArcelorMittal, the global steel giant, has informed the Supreme Court of India of its intent to return the 2,643 acres of land it had acquired for the construction of a steel plant in Karnataka. This significant development comes after years of legal battles and environmental concerns surrounding the project.

The company had initially acquired the land with ambitious plans to set up a state-of-the-art steel manufacturing facility, but various obstacles, including land acquisition issues and environmental clearances, had delayed the project. The decision to return the land suggests a reevaluation of their investment in light of changing market dynamics and regulatory challenges.

ArcelorMittal's move could have far-reaching implications for the steel industry in Karnataka and the local economy.

It raises questions about the future of the proposed steel plant and the fate of the land, which had been a subject of contention for years. This decision may also reflect the company's strategic shift or reallocation of resources.

Infrastructure Urban

09 Apr 2026

Mineral Auction Rules Amended To Speed Mine Operationalisation

The Ministry of Mines notified the Mineral (Auction) Second Amendment Rules, 2026 on 30 March 2026 to accelerate operationalisation of mines and improve ease of doing business in the mining sector. The amendment follows a prior change to the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 effected on 17 October 2025 that introduced intermediary timelines between issuance of a letter of intent (LoI) and execution of the mining lease. The 2025 change provided that one per cent of performance security would be appropriated for each month of delay by the preferred bidder and introduced incentives for early operatio..

Indian Railways Strengthens Telecom And AI Safety Systems

Indian Railways strengthened its telecom and digital infrastructure during 2025-26 with the aim of improving safety, operational efficiency and the passenger experience. The programme promoted modernisation through advanced technologies, robust communication systems and passenger-centric solutions. These measures were presented as part of a drive to build a digitally integrated rail ecosystem. A key development was the enhancement of the Internet Protocol Multi-Protocol Label Switching (IP MPLS) backbone, commissioned at 1,396 stations to meet bandwidth needs of mission-critical applications. ..

NHAI Holds Workshop on Litigation Management and Coordination

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) organised a day-long workshop in New Delhi to strengthen capacity and interdepartmental synergy for faster execution of national highway projects. The event was held under Mission Karmayogi – Sadhana Saptah, an initiative of the Government of India to enhance governance through capacity building and improved processes. The workshop focused on structured and solution oriented deliberations to address implementation constraints. The session was chaired by the NHAI chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav and brought together senior officials from NHAI, the M..