MRTS-CMRL Merger Gets In-Principle Nod

04 Aug 2025 CW Team

The long-awaited merger of Chennai’s Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) with the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) could finally move forward, as the Railway Board has given its ‘in-principle’ approval to the proposal. However, a formal decision is still pending, officials confirmed.

The development follows the completion of a key infrastructure project and the drafting of a framework for asset transfer between Indian Railways and the Tamil Nadu government.

In a written reply to queries raised in Parliament by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that both parties have jointly prepared principles for a formal memorandum of understanding (MoU). However, the operational merger will depend on resolving challenges linked to train operations, asset maintenance, and safety compliance.

The transfer of MRTS operations to CMRL was previously held up awaiting the completion of the fourth railway line between Chennai Beach and Chennai Egmore. Sanctioned in March 2022 at a cost of Rs 2.8 billion, this crucial segment was commissioned earlier this year.

A special committee, comprising representatives from Indian Railways and the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), has since outlined the broad terms for the MoU, the minister added.

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 ..