Karnataka CM Seeks New Date for NH Ceremony

17 Jul 2025 CW Team

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, requesting a rescheduling of the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Shivamogga National Highway project, originally planned for 14 July 2025.

In his letter, the Chief Minister expressed disappointment over not being consulted prior to the scheduling of the event, despite his name featuring on the draft invitation. Siddaramaiah noted he had prior commitments, including an inauguration of various development schemes in Indi Taluka, Vijayapura district, on the same day.

“I have not been informed in advance of this programme, and as I am presiding over another significant event on that day, I would not be able to attend,” he stated.

He urged Minister Gadkari to instruct the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to coordinate with the state government when planning such events in future. The Chief Minister stressed that it would have been “more appropriate” for the Ministry to have consulted the state before finalising a date for a state-level event.

The letter further requested the postponement of the event and asked for alternative dates convenient to the Union Minister to ensure the Chief Minister’s presence at the important ceremony.

The event is being jointly organised by MoRTH and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at Nehru Field in Shivamogga district.

Real Estate

17 Sep 2025

BlackRock India Leases 1.4 Lakh Sq Ft in Bengaluru

BlackRock Services India, the domestic arm of global asset manager BlackRock, has leased 1.4 lakh sq ft of office space at IndiQube Symphony in Bengaluru, according to Propstack data. The 10-year deal is valued at around Rs 4.10 billion.The lease, among the largest transactions in India’s co-working sector, highlights the growing preference of global institutions for flexible office providers. The agreement, commencing October 1, 2025, covers ground plus five floors in KNG Tower 1 at Ashoknagar, MG Road — one of Bengaluru’s prime commercial hubs.As per the lease document, BlackRock will ..

L&T Bags Rs 25–50 Bn Order for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Track Works

Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) Transportation Infrastructure business has secured an order valued between Rs 25 crore and Rs 50 billion from the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor.The contract, Package T1, involves the design, supply, construction, testing, and commissioning of 156 route km of high-speed ballastless track on a Design-Build Lump Sum Price basis. The stretch runs from Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex to Zaroli village in Gujarat and includes 21 km of underground track and 135 km of elevated viaduct.Se..

Govt Plans Six-Month Import Relief for E-Bus, Truck Makers

The government is considering a six-month relaxation for electric bus and truck manufacturers, allowing them to import fully assembled motors containing heavy rare earth materials without losing eligibility for incentives under the Rs 109-billion PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-Drive) scheme.The relief is expected to benefit companies such as Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, PMI Electro Mobility, JBM Auto, EKA Mobility, Olectra Greentech, Propel, and IPLT Demo. The exemption will apply provided all other localisation requirements are met.However, officials clari..