Centre crafting 5-year plan to clear NHAI debt

19 Apr 2024 CW Team

The government is considering either reducing or eliminating a significant portion of the Rs 3.4 trillion debt owed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) within a five-year timeframe. They mentioned that this initiative aims to enable the agency to allocate its resources towards enhancing highways. One of the sources, who preferred not to be named, stated that the plan to retire the debt is part of the road and highways ministry's 100-day agenda. This plan involves reducing high-interest long-term debt and lowering interest payments.

The central government has expressed interest in repaying a portion of the NHAI's debt while also focusing on reducing the debt servicing obligations of the highway developer, which serves as the primary agency for surface infrastructure development in the nation. Additionally, the government is engaged in discussions with the NHAI?s long-term bondholders regarding prepayment. The second individual, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, noted that the interest payments of the roadmaker are consuming a significant portion of the government?s annual budget allocations.

Infrastructure Energy

23 Oct 2025

GAIL to Set Up Bengaluru CBG Plant Under New Concession Pact

GAIL (India) Limited has signed a 20-year concession agreement with the Bengaluru City Municipal Corporation (BBMP) to set up a compressed biogas (CBG) plant in the city. The project, expected to produce around 10 tonnes of CBG daily, will utilise municipal solid waste as feedstock, contributing to clean energy generation and efficient waste management. The CBG produced will be used in GAIL’s City Gas Distribution network to promote cleaner fuel usage. The initiative aligns with the government’s Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme and GAIL’s broader ..

Uttarakhand HC Lifts 31-Year Ban on ONGC’s Contractual Hiring

The Uttarakhand High Court has lifted a 31-year-old ban on the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) from hiring contractual workers, a restriction imposed in 1993. The decision enables ONGC’s Dehradun establishment to employ personnel on a contractual basis to meet operational requirements. The long-standing prohibition had limited ONGC’s ability to fill vacancies in its technical and administrative departments, often leading to project delays and higher dependence on outsourcing. With the court’s directive, the public sector enterprise can now proceed with temporary recruitments whil..

JSW Energy’s Utkal Unit Bags 400 MW, 25-Year Power Supply Deal

JSW Energy Limited announced that its subsidiary, JSW Energy (Utkal) Limited, has secured a Letter of Award (LoA) from Karnataka’s Power Company of Karnataka Limited (PCKL) for the supply of 400 MW of electricity for 25 years. The agreement is part of a competitive bidding process for long-term procurement of power to meet the state’s growing energy demand. The 400 MW capacity will be supplied from JSW Energy’s upcoming thermal power project in Odisha. This development strengthens JSW Energy’s presence in the southern market and aligns with its strategy to enhance long-term contracte..