Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project Faces Delays, 2026 Deadline Unlikely

22 Apr 2025 CW Team

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the long-delayed 148-km Bengaluru suburban rail project in June 2022, promising completion within 40 months. However, 34 months later, progress remains sluggish. Contractor L&T has shifted most of its resources to other projects, leaving work on earthworks, blanketing, and retaining walls sporadic.

The Union government had approved the project in October 2020, with a deadline of 2026, but meeting this target now seems unlikely. Only two of the four corridors, Mallige Line (Baiyyappanahalli–Chikkabanavara) and Kanaka Line (Heelalige–Rajanakunte), have started construction.

L&T, which won the contract for the two corridors, has cited delays in land acquisition as a reason for suspending work. The company has even threatened to withdraw from the project. With court stay orders from private landowners adding to the delays, the project’s timeline is now in jeopardy. Engineers assigned to the project are quitting due to frustrations over slow progress and stalled work.

Government sources stated that land acquisition delays and rising costs are major hurdles, and while some land has been handed over, ongoing disputes with private landowners complicate matters. Additionally, the lack of a full-time managing director at K-RIDE, coupled with poor coordination, has further hampered the project.

Despite these challenges, efforts continue, with the state government pledging to resolve land-related issues and keep the project moving forward. However, given the current pace, meeting the 2026 deadline is becoming increasingly unlikely.

Infrastructure Urban

05 Nov 2025

TBO Tek Q2 Profit Climbs 12%, Revenue Surges 26% YoY

TBO Tek Limited one of the world’s largest travel distribution platforms, reported a solid performance for Q2 FY26 with a 26 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue to Rs 5.68 billion, reflecting broad-based growth and improving profitability.The company recorded a Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of Rs 8,901 crore, up 12 per cent YoY, driven by strong performance across Europe, MEA, and APAC regions. Adjusted EBITDA before acquisition-related costs stood at Rs 1.04 billion, up 16 per cent YoY, translating into an 18.32 per cent margin compared to 16.56 per cent in Q1 FY26. Profit after tax r..

Northern Graphite, Rain Carbon Secure R&D Grant for Greener Battery Materials

Northern Graphite Corporation and Rain Carbon Canada Inc, a subsidiary of Rain Carbon Inc, have jointly received up to C$860,000 (€530,000) in funding under the Canada–Germany Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Programme to develop sustainable battery anode materials.The two-year, C$2.2 million project aims to transform natural graphite processing by-products into high-performance, battery-grade anode material (BAM). Supported by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Programme (NRC IRAP) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs a..

Antony Waste Q2 Revenue Jumps 16%; Subsidiary Wins Rs 3,200 Cr WtE Projects

Antony Waste Handling Cell Limited (AWHCL), a leading player in India’s municipal solid waste management sector, announced a 16 per cent year-on-year increase in total operating revenue to Rs 2.33 billion for Q2 FY26. The growth was driven by higher waste volumes, escalated contracts, and strong operational execution.EBITDA rose 18 per cent to Rs 570 million, with margins steady at 21.6 per cent, while profit after tax stood at Rs 173 million, up 13 per cent YoY. Revenue from Municipal Solid Waste Collection and Transportation (MSW C&T) reached Rs 1.605 billion, and MSW Processing re..