10,000 km of optic fibre infra by FY25 to boost digital transformation

24 Apr 2023 CW Team

By the fiscal year 2024-2025, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will build approximately 10,000 km of optic fibre cable (OFC) infrastructure nationwide, according to plans released by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. The National Highways Logistics Management Ltd (NHLML), a wholly owned NHAI special purpose corporation, would implement the digital highway network by building integrated utility corridors alongside national highways.

The ministry has designated 512 km of the Hyderabad-Bangalore Corridor and 1,367 km of the Delhi- Mumbai Expressway as test routes for the construction of digital highways. The OFC network intends to speed up the deployment of cutting-edge telecom technologies like 5G and 6G while providing internet connectivity to remote areas. The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway's 246 km-long Delhi-Dausa- Lalsot stretch, which was just opened, has a three-meter-wide utility corridor for OFC installation, which will speed up the development of the 5G network in the area. Work on the OFC along national highways has started, and it should be finished in about a year.

The government claims that a straight plug-and-play or "fibre-on-demand" paradigm for telecom and internet services will be made possible by the OFC network. Eligible users will be able to lease the infrastructure through a web portal using a fixed fee allotment mechanism on a "Open for All" basis. In conjunction with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the OFC allotment policy is currently being finalised. The digital highway programme is anticipated to encourage expansion and advancement while assisting India's digital transformation.

Infrastructure Urban

06 Apr 2026

InsideFPV Delivers ₹10 Crore Kamikaze Drone Order Under MoD’s EPR Route

InsideFPV, a Surat-based drone technology manufacturer, has successfully executed a ₹10 crore defence contract to supply indigenous kamikaze drones under the Ministry of Defence’s Emergency Procurement Route (EPR). The company completed the delivery of hundreds of FPV kamikaze drone platforms within a rapid two-month timeframe, highlighting its ability to meet urgent military procurement timelines.The supply orders were fulfilled under the emergency procurement mechanism, which is aimed at fast-tracking acquisitions for immediate operational needs. InsideFPV’s quick execution reflects it..

Vedanta Resources Secures Fitch Upgrade to ‘BB-’, Best Rating Since 2015

Vedanta Resources Limited (VRL), a global player in metals, oil & gas, critical minerals, power and technology, has received a credit rating upgrade from Fitch Ratings, marking its strongest bond rating in over a decade.Fitch has raised Vedanta Resources’ Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘BB-’ from ‘B+’, while maintaining a Stable Outlook. The agency also upgraded VRL’s senior unsecured rating, along with the ratings of US dollar-denominated bonds issued by Vedanta Resources Finance II Plc and guaranteed by VRL, to ‘BB-’.The upgrade represents Vedan..

NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter Launched

The NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter was recently launched at Excelerate 2026 in Mumbai, marking a key step towards integrating emerging real estate leaders from the National Capital Region with the national platform. The initiative aims to promote sustainable and responsible urban development through collaboration and knowledge exchange.The event brought together young developers, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across NCR, including Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Bhiwadi, and Meerut. Discussions focused on urban development, finance, sustainability, innovation, and policy, emphasisi..