President Murmu Lays Foundation for Key Rail and Development Projects

10 Dec 2024 CW Team

President Droupadi Murmu laid the foundation for six major projects worth Rs 64 billion in Odisha, including three new railway lines—Bangriposi-Gorumahisani, Buramara-Chakulia, and Badampahar-Keonjhargarh. The ceremony was attended by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram. The President also virtually inaugurated three additional projects in Rairangpur: a Tribal Research and Development Centre, Dandbose Airport, and a 100-bed sub-divisional hospital. Addressing the event, she highlighted the transformative impact of these initiatives on transportation, commerce, healthcare, and education in the region. The new railway lines, spanning 228 kilometers, are poised to enhance connectivity and economic growth in Odisha: • Badampahar-Keonjhargarh Line: Covering 82 kilometers through Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts, the project is estimated at Rs 21.06 billion. • Bangriposi-Gorumahisani Line: An 86-kilometer route costing Rs 25.49 billion, aimed at improving passenger and freight movement. • Buramara-Chakulia Line: A 60-kilometer link between Mayurbhanj and Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district, developed at Rs 16.39 billion, to bolster industrial transportation. President Murmu also emphasised the Central Government's "Purvodaya" initiative for Eastern India, noting its role in accelerating development through welfare schemes in education, health, tourism, and transportation. She highlighted the expansion of Eklavya Model Residential Schools, with over 100 new schools in Odisha, including 23 in Mayurbhanj, aimed at empowering tribal children to contribute to societal and national progress. The President concluded her five-day Odisha visit, which included key events such as the Indian Navy Day celebration in Puri and the 40th convocation of OUAT in Bhubaneswar. (ET)

Infrastructure Transport

13 Oct 2025

Tata, Airbus to Build India’s First Private Helicopter Line

In a landmark development for India’s aerospace sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus will establish the country’s first private-sector helicopter assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka. The facility will manufacture the Airbus H125 and H125M, marking a significant milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in aviation and defence manufacturing. The new Final Assembly Line (FAL) will produce the H125, the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, known for its versatility and performance in extreme environments. The first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected to ro..

NeGD to Support Bharat Taxi in Building Cooperative Ride Platform

In a significant move for India’s digital and mobility transformation, the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has entered into an advisory partnership with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the company behind Bharat Taxi — a first-of-its-kind, cooperative-led national ride-hailing platform. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NeGD and Sahakar Taxi to provide strategic advisory and technical support covering key areas such as platform integration, cybersecurity..

MeitY Hosts Pre-Summit for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted a series of Pre-Summit events for the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. These sessions mark a key milestone ahead of the main summit, scheduled for 19–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, highlighted India’s innovative and frugal approach to AI development. “We have adopted innovative means by learning from others’ experiences to build projects and products that..