Chennai Metro Phase 2 Gets Record Funding

28 Apr 2025 CW Team

In a major boost to urban infrastructure, Rs 84.45 billion has been sanctioned for the Chennai Metro Phase 2 project this financial year — the highest allocation received by any metro project across India so far.

This significant progress follows the Centre’s decision in October 2024 to categorise the project as a centrally-assisted initiative, ending over three years of financial clearance delays that earlier forced Tamil Nadu to fund the project independently.

Initially, the Tamil Nadu government had expressed reluctance to shoulder the entire borrowing burden, fearing an adverse impact on its debt ceiling. This situation had also led to payment delays of up to 10–14 days for contractors.

However, with the Centre stepping in, financial hurdles have been effectively cleared. A senior official from Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) mentioned that contractor invoices typically range from Rs 200 million for elevated corridors to Rs 400 million for underground sections.

In another major development, the long-pending Airport–Kilambakkam Metro Corridor has received approval from the Tamil Nadu state government. The 15.4 km extension project is estimated to cost around Rs 93.35 billion. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been forwarded to the Centre for its final approval.

Meanwhile, industry experts and stakeholders can look forward to the 5th edition of InnoMetro, India’s leading rail transportation expo. Explore the latest innovations in rail safety, infrastructure, signalling, and AI at the event.

Real Estate

04 Aug 2026

LML Realty Launches Cinema Campaign on Industrial Vision

LML Realty has launched a cinema advertising campaign in partnership with PVR INOX across 81 screens in Gurugram and Faridabad, showcasing the brand’s transformation from a mobility icon to an industrial infrastructure developer.The campaign features a cinematic brand film tracing LML’s journey since 1972, beginning with its iconic scooters and highlighting its evolution into creating infrastructure solutions that support India’s manufacturing growth.The film focuses on LML Industrial Park at Jhirka Valley, the company’s flagship industrial development approved under the Haryana Govern..

IIM Ahmedabad Publishes Case Study on HoABL’s Business Model

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has published a case study on The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL), examining the company’s digital-first consumer journey and business model that created India’s branded land category.Titled “HoABL: Ready for Scaling Up”, the case study has been published by the IIMA Case Centre and co-authored by Sourav Borah, Associate Professor of Marketing at IIMA, and Dr Aparna Kansal of IMT Ghaziabad. IIMA case studies are used across management and executive education programmes to help students and business leaders analyse strategic decision..

Advait Energy and MEIL Partner for Energy Transition Projects

Advait Energy Transitions Limited (AETL) and Manipal Energy Infratech Limited (MEIL), a company of The Manipal Group, have entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on power and energy transition opportunities across India and international markets.The partnership aims to combine AETL’s expertise in innovative energy technologies and manufacturing with MEIL’s EPC execution capabilities and project management experience. The collaboration will focus on opportunities across Power Transmission & Distribution, Renewable Energy, Battery Energy Storage Systems..