Pune Metro?s underground service expected to begin in September

14 Jun 2024 CW Team

The underground rail service of Pune Metro, connecting Civil Court to Swargate, is anticipated to commence operations in September. Hemant Sonawane, executive director of Pune Metro, confirmed that successful trial runs have been conducted on the two lines of the underground rail service. The railway safety team is scheduled to visit in August after the completion of all work to provide final approval for operations to begin.

Initially targeted for launch by March 31, the start date was postponed due to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Once operational, this segment will mark the completion of Phase 1 of the Pune Metro project, spanning from Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to Swargate, with the Vanaz to Ramwadi route already fully operational. The PCMC to Civil Court section is operational except for the underground stretch.

Sonawane also mentioned that Pune Metro has begun extending the route from PCMC to Nigdi as part of Phase I, while a decision from the Centre regarding the extension of the Swargate to Katraj route is pending. Furthermore, Phase II proposals have been submitted to the Maharashtra government for approval, following which they will be forwarded to the Centre. (Source: Financial Express)

Infrastructure Energy

25 Jun 2026

Centre Prioritising Energy Security With Coal Gasification

Union minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy said the Centre is prioritising energy security through a strategic shift to coal gasification and has announced incentives totalling Rs 460 billion (bn) to support the effort. He said more than 35 companies will start coal gasification activities in India within two months and that the government is encouraging firms that bring technology to close the domestic technology gap. The minister described the initiative as aimed at reducing import dependence and developing indigenous capacity. India has the fifth-largest coal reserve in the world, and..

BHEL and Coal India Invest Rs 250 bn in Odisha Gasification

Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) and Coal India (CIL) are jointly investing Rs 250 billion in a coal gasification project in Odisha, with the Prime Minister laying the foundation stone in Jharsuguda. Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy described the initiative as a transformative shift in coal utilisation that will open industrial avenues for the state. The project moves coal beyond conventional power generation to industrial feedstocks. Coal gasification will convert coal into synthesis gas, a versatile feedstock for chemicals, fertilisers and synthetic fuels, and the technology is ex..

BCCL Hands Over Dugdha Coal Washery To JSW Steel

Bharat Coking Coal has handed over the Dugdha Coal Washery to JSW Steel, marking the first coal washery asset monetisation under the Ministry of Coal's asset monetisation programme. The handover took place in the presence of senior officials from Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, JSW Steel and JSW Energy. The washery has a capacity of two million tonnes per annum (mn t per annum), and its transfer is intended to introduce private sector practices into coal beneficiation operations. The monetisation is aimed at modernising coal sector assets, improving operational efficiency and enhancing resource utilis..