Exploring ways to fund India's road network expansion through land value

26 Apr 2024 CW Team

The government was reported to be actively exploring policy mechanisms to leverage the increase in land value resulting from road projects, with the aim of bolstering funding for infrastructure development.

It was stated that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) was examining global best practices for innovative infrastructure financing methods. It was further mentioned that the decision on the chosen mechanism would be finalized after the new government assumed office.

According to a government official, the strategy aligned with the ministry's long-term vision. They expressed that the goal was to capture and reinvest the rise in land value along upcoming expressways to finance future infrastructure projects.

The proposed 'betterment' levy entailed a one-time charge on property owners near expressways who benefited from government infrastructure development. It was noted that the fee would vary based on proximity to the expressway.

It was highlighted that land value capture was a globally recognized tool for generating revenue for public services. It was mentioned that countries like Colombia and Brazil were experimenting with the betterment levy, while the US and Canada were implementing impact fees for certain projects.

Furthermore, it was mentioned that Latin American countries were exploring additional development rights, and Japan and Germany were considering land pooling or readjustment.

Infrastructure Urban

27 Oct 2025

Coal Ministry Achieves Milestones under Special Campaign 5.0

The Ministry of Coal and its Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have achieved notable milestones under the Special Campaign 5.0, focusing on cleanliness, operational efficiency, and sustainability across the coal sector. During the implementation phase from 2–31 October 2025, over 1,205 sites were cleaned, covering 68,04,087 sq ft, nearing the target of 82,51,511 sq ft. Scrap disposal of 5,813 MT against a target of 8,678 MT generated Rs 228.7 million in revenue. In addition, 1,11,248 physical and 30,331 electronic files were reviewed, with 74,123 weeded out or closed. Key initiatives showc..

Vesting Orders Issued for Three Coal Blocks under Commercial Auctions

The Ministry of Coal’s Nominated Authority has issued vesting orders for three coal blocks under commercial coal block auctions on 23 October 2025. The Coal Mine Development and Production Agreements (CMDPAs) for these mines were earlier signed on 21 August 2025. The three blocks include Rajgamar Dipside (Deavnara), Tangardihi North, and Mahuagarhi. Of these, two are partially explored while one is fully explored, with a combined peak rated capacity of around 1 MTPA and geological reserves of approximately 1,484.41 million tonnes. These mines are expected to generate annual revenue of abou..

TEC, IIT-Hyderabad Partner to Boost 6G and Telecom Standards

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) for joint research and technical collaboration in advanced telecom technologies and standardisation. The partnership focuses on developing India-specific standards and test frameworks for next-generation networks, including 6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). It also aims to enhance India’s participation in international standardisation f..