Centre Allocates Rs 13.138 Bn for Ranipet-Chittoor Highway Project

26 Dec 2024 CW Team

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, announced that his ministry has approved Rs 1,338 crore for an access-controlled highway project on NH-40, also known as Old Madras Road. This 28.1 km stretch will connect Walajapet/Ranipet to the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border.

The section between Walajahpet and Chittoor, though a four-lane road until Walajahpet from Chennai, remains a two-lane road. Gadkari confirmed that the new highway will feature a four-lane main carriageway with paved shoulders, and two-lane service roads on both sides. The project will also include a 10-km bypass around Walajapet/Ranipet, four major bridges, and two railway overbridges.

"This corridor will improve connectivity between Chennai and cities such as Bengaluru, Tirupati, and Vellore, which is home to the famous CMC-Vellore hospital. It will boost local industries like leather and small-scale engineering units that support BHEL. With a Special Economic Zone in Ranipet set to be completed in 2025, this project promises to drive economic growth while also improving local traffic flow with the addition of 2-lane service roads," Gadkari shared on social media.

The approval follows a delay in the tendering process for the widening of the Walajahpet/Ranipet-Chittoor section since September 2022. Initially, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) planned a six-lane highway for Rs 980 crore, but this plan was revised earlier this year. The project is now set to be developed as a four-lane access-controlled highway, with tenders invited in July 2024. "With the Union Ministry now sanctioning funds, the tender process will soon be finalised," NHAI sources confirmed.

Real Estate

05 Sep 2025

Vitizen Hotels Signs Deal at Manyata Tech Park

Vikram Kamats Hospitality, as part of its ongoing expansion in key metropolitan markets, announced that its material subsidiary, Vitizen Hotels, has signed a long-term lease agreement for a 45-key hotel property at Manyata Tech Park, Bengaluru.Strategically located in the city’s prominent IT hub, the property is well-positioned to serve corporate travelers, business professionals, and long-stay guests. The addition aligns with the company’s asset-light growth model, leveraging long-term leases to expand its footprint in high-demand urban markets.The hotel is expected to strengthen the comp..

CONCOR Signs MoU with BPIPL to Operate Container Terminal at Bhavnagar Port

Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bhavnagar Port Infrastructure (BPIPL) on September 4, 2025, in New Delhi to operate and maintain the upcoming container terminal at the northside of Bhavnagar Port, Gujarat.BPIPL had earlier entered into an agreement with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) in September 2024 for the port’s development. Under this arrangement, 235 hectares of land has been leased to BPIPL for 30 years, with provision for expansion by an additional 250 hectares.The new terminal is expected to significantly enhance logistic..

Concord Launches India’s First Indigenous Zero-Emission Rail Propulsion

Concord Control Systems (CCSL), a leader in embedded electronics and critical rail technologies, has announced the development of India’s first fully indigenous zero-emission propulsion system, marking a significant step toward the country’s railway electrification and net-zero goals for 2030.Powered by Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries and featuring a DC chopper-based drive, the propulsion system eliminates idling losses common in diesel engines, offering higher efficiency, lower costs, and zero emissions.What sets this innovation apart is its completely indigenous design. Except for..