FM Sitharaman Urges Railways to Prioritize Safety

23 Sep 2024 CW Team

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reviewed the Railways Ministry's capital expenditure (capex) plans, emphasizing the need to prioritize the safety and convenience of commuters. She urged officials to expedite the implementation of the Kavach system, India's indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) technology, and to meet the allocated capex targets within the stipulated timeframe.

Officials from the Ministry of Railways informed Sitharaman that Kavach-related projects are underway across over 3,000 route kilometers on key corridors, including the Delhi-Howrah and Delhi-Mumbai sections.

Highlighting the government's commitment to enhancing citizens' 'ease of living,' Sitharaman directed the Railways to focus on capacity augmentation. This includes the doubling and electrification of existing railway tracks and the construction of new lines, all aligned with the capex provisions outlined in the Union Budget.

Additionally, she called for the swift conversion of 40,000 standard rail bogies to Vande Bharat standards, a move designed to improve safety and passenger comfort.

Sitharaman reiterated the importance of achieving the capex targets for FY 2024-25 in a timely manner, building on the momentum established in the first 100 days of the current government. This meeting is part of a series of reviews with various ministries and departments responsible for significant capex allocations in the Union Budget.

Infrastructure Urban

09 Jan 2026

Mount Expands Tumkur Facility with New Automated Panel, PEB Lines

Mount Roofing & Structures Private Limited, one of India's fastest-growing manufacturers in PUF and a leading solutions provider across pre-engineered building (PEB) and polycarbonate sheets, simultaneously inaugurated its second fully automated continuous sandwich panel manufacturing line and a new PEB manufacturing plant at its integrated campus in Tumkur.The milestone expansion, part of a total investment of Rs 250 crore, marks a significant advancement in the company's commitment to engineered performance, manufacturing scale, and industrial growth. The integrated facility spans approx..

India Becomes First to Produce Bio-Bitumen for Roads

India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen for use in road construction, according to Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Bitumen, a black and viscous hydrocarbon derived from crude oil, is a key binding material in road building, and the bio-based alternative is expected to significantly improve the sector’s environmental footprint.Addressing the CSIR Technology Transfer Ceremony in New Delhi, Mr Gadkari congratulated Council of Scientific and Industrial Research on achieving the milestone, noting that the initiative would help curb ..

HILT Policy Seen Boosting Telangana Revenue Sharply

The Hyderabad Industrial Land Transformation (HILT) Policy is expected to generate around Rs 1.08 billion in revenue for the Telangana state exchequer, according to Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu. Speaking in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, he said the policy would be implemented within a six-month timeframe in a transparent manner, with uniform rules applicable to all stakeholders. Mr Vikramarka noted that without the HILT Policy, the state would have earned only about Rs 1.2 million per acre. Under the new framework, however, revenue is projected to rise sharply to Rs 70 ..