BMC Set to Open Southbound Connector of Mumbai Coastal Road

24 Jan 2025 CW Team

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is slated to inaugurate this section of the Coastal Road project on 26 January, coinciding with Republic Day. However, the southbound connector will officially open to traffic the following Monday, 29 January. This new connector is expected to drastically improve the flow of traffic between the north and south of the city, offering a direct route from the BWSL to Marine Drive without the need for detours. Previously, commuters from South Mumbai had to travel north via the Bandra Worli Sea Link, continue along Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan Marg in Worli, and then return to the coastal road. With the completion of the southbound connector, traffic will be able to move seamlessly between Marine Drive and the Sea Link, significantly reducing travel time. A senior civic official confirmed that while the connector will open in late January, other works on two interchanges in Worli and one in Haji Ali remain ongoing. These interchanges are expected to be completed by February 2025. Additionally, the 7.5-km continuous promenade stretching from Priyadarshini Park at Breach Candy to the Worli end of the Sea Link is anticipated to be ready by May. The project is already credited with reducing travel times by 70 percent and fuel consumption by 34 percent, according to BMC. Also nearing completion is the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) behind Tata Garden in Breach Candy. This will serve as the nerve centre for managing the Coastal Road’s Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS), allowing for more efficient traffic monitoring and control.

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..