Expansion of Virar Dahanu railway to begin

11 Jan 2023 CW Team

The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation's (MRVC) plans to increase railway line capacity between Virar and Dahanu on the western line have not yet taken off, despite receiving Stage 1 (in principle) forest clearance (FC) in February 2022 since the Bombay High Court is yet to grant permission for the project to clear approximately 24.5 hectares of mangroves in Palghar district. In the matter, a writ petition is still pending before the HC.

However, the ministry of environment, forests, and climate change's regional empowered committee (REC) has permitted MRVC to begin work on two hectares of the railway line outside of the protected mangrove patches while recommending Stage II clearance, the final level of FC required for any project. Officials claim that the HC's pending permission is all that stands in the way of the construction of the project, which is scheduled to be finished by 2025, now that the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority has granted the project CRZ clearance in November 2022.

The third and fourth railway lines will be laid parallel to the existing double line corridor for approximately 63 km between Virar and Dahanu as part of Phase III of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project. According to official records, the project will result in the removal of 25,438 trees, including 24,302 mangroves. Compensatory forestation has been proposed for 54 hectares of degraded land in three Palghar villages nearby to make up for the loss. Within one year of receiving Stage II clearance, a total of 200 trees will be transplanted from the two or three hectares of land outside the mangrove area, where work will be done without the HC's approval.

Infrastructure Energy

17 Dec 2025

Vedanta Aluminium Uses 1.57 bn Units of Green Energy in FY25

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, recently reported consumption of 1.57 billion units of renewable energy in FY25, marking a significant milestone in its 2030 decarbonisation roadmap. The company also achieved an 8.96 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity compared to FY21, reinforcing its leadership in India’s low-carbon manufacturing transition. During FY25, Vedanta Aluminium expanded its renewable energy portfolio through long-term power purchase agreements, strengthening its strategy to source nearly 1,500 MW of renewable power over the lon..

Oberoi Group to Develop Luxury Resort at Makaibari Tea Estate

EIH Limited, the flagship company of The Oberoi Group, has announced the signing of a management agreement to develop an Oberoi luxury resort at the iconic Makaibari Tea Estate in Darjeeling. The project marks a key milestone in the Group’s long-term strategy of creating distinctive hospitality experiences in rare and environmentally significant locations. Established in 1859, Makaibari is one of the world’s oldest tea estates and is globally recognised for its Himalayan landscape, primary forests and exceptional biodiversity. Spread across 1,236 acres, the estate houses one of the world�..

GHV Infra Secures Rs 1.09 Bn EPC Order in Jamshedpur

GHV Infra Projects Ltd, a fast-growing EPC company in India’s infrastructure and construction sector, has recently secured a Rs 1.09 billion work order in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Awarded by a reputed group entity, the contract covers end-to-end civil construction, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems, along with high-quality finishing works for a large building development. The project will be executed over a 30-month period, with defined benchmarks for quality, safety and timely delivery. The order strengthens GHV Infra’s footprint in Jamshedpur, a key industrial hub known fo..