Chennai Airport Contractor Must Be Appointed via Tender: HC

12 Jun 2025 CW Team

The Madras High Court has directed that any new ground handling contractor appointed at Chennai International Airport must be selected through a transparent public tender process. The ruling comes amid legal proceedings related to the Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) cancellation of its agreement with Celebi Ground Services Chennai Pvt. Ltd.

The court specified that the tender must explicitly state that the final appointment of a contractor will be subject to the outcome of cases pending before both the Madras and Delhi High Courts. These proceedings concern the revocation of Celebi’s security clearance, which led to the termination of its April 2023 concession agreement by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.

The bench, led by Justice Abdul Quddhose, acknowledged AAI’s argument that appointing a third-party ground handler was essential to ensure uninterrupted airport operations and to safeguard public interest.

While adjourning the matter to 7 July to allow AAI to file its counter affidavit, the court recorded the authority’s undertaking that it would not use any equipment or software belonging to Celebi. Additionally, Celebi was granted permission to take inventory of its assets, subject to prior approval from AAI, with the court directing that AAI should raise no objections to this process.

The ruling seeks to strike a balance between the operational needs of the airport and Celebi’s rights, until the legal questions surrounding its security clearance are resolved.

Infrastructure Urban

13 Oct 2025

Daikin Boosts Haryana’s Innovation Push with Rs 10 billion R&D Plan

Japanese multinational Daikin Industries has committed an investment of Rs 10 billion to set up a new research and development centre in Haryana. The proposed facility will focus on advanced technologies and sustainable industrial solutions, marking a significant boost to the state’s innovation and industrial ecosystem. The announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Osaka, Japan, during a visit by a Haryana government delegation held from October 6 to 8. The MoU was signed by Amit Kumar Agrawal, Commissioner and Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, ..

Lloyds Metals to Build Rs 250 billion Steel Plant in Gadchiroli

Lloyds Metals & Energy Limited (LMEL) has announced an investment of Rs 250 billion aimed at transforming Gadchiroli in Maharashtra from a region once associated with the red corridor into a key industrial and growth hub. The company’s plans are centred on establishing an integrated steel production ecosystem, which will contribute significantly to regional development and employment. As part of its expansion strategy, LMEL is setting up a 4.5-million-tonne blast furnace in Gadchiroli, scheduled for completion by 2027–28, along with another 1.2-million-tonne facility in Chandrapur by 2029..

UPI Crosses 500 Million Users, Fuels MSME and Digital Growth

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has achieved a new milestone, surpassing 500 million consumers and 65 million merchants across India. The platform, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has expanded its reach to nearly 99 percent of the country’s pin codes, underlining its deep penetration into both urban and rural markets. According to a report by NPCI and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) launched during the Global Fintech Fest 2025, UPI has evolved from being a digital payments mechanism into a key enabler of financial inclusion and small business growth. I..