Railways Prioritises General Coaches Over AC Coaches: Ashwini Vaishnaw

05 Dec 2024 CW Team

The Indian Railways is prioritising the addition of general coaches to its fleet over AC1, AC2, and AC3 coaches, with plans to introduce 1,000 new general coaches by the end of December, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Highlighting the Modi government's commitment to the welfare of the poor, Vaishnaw emphasised that the focus is on providing affordable travel options. "Efforts are directed at increasing the number of general coaches rather than AC coaches. By December, 1,000 general coaches will be added, and steps have been taken to produce 10,000 more general coaches," Vaishnaw stated during Question Hour. He also highlighted the ongoing redevelopment of 1,300 railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, calling it the world's largest station modernisation initiative. The project aims to upgrade railway infrastructure, with some stations being rebuilt at costs ranging from Rs 7-8 billion, and others between Rs 1-2 billion. Once completed, the redevelopment will significantly enhance passenger facilities across the railway network, meeting public expectations. In response to questions from MPs in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Vaishnaw urged them to coordinate with their state governments to expedite land acquisition for pending railway projects. (ET)

Infrastructure Urban

06 Apr 2026

InsideFPV Delivers ₹10 Crore Kamikaze Drone Order Under MoD’s EPR Route

InsideFPV, a Surat-based drone technology manufacturer, has successfully executed a ₹10 crore defence contract to supply indigenous kamikaze drones under the Ministry of Defence’s Emergency Procurement Route (EPR). The company completed the delivery of hundreds of FPV kamikaze drone platforms within a rapid two-month timeframe, highlighting its ability to meet urgent military procurement timelines.The supply orders were fulfilled under the emergency procurement mechanism, which is aimed at fast-tracking acquisitions for immediate operational needs. InsideFPV’s quick execution reflects it..

Vedanta Resources Secures Fitch Upgrade to ‘BB-’, Best Rating Since 2015

Vedanta Resources Limited (VRL), a global player in metals, oil & gas, critical minerals, power and technology, has received a credit rating upgrade from Fitch Ratings, marking its strongest bond rating in over a decade.Fitch has raised Vedanta Resources’ Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘BB-’ from ‘B+’, while maintaining a Stable Outlook. The agency also upgraded VRL’s senior unsecured rating, along with the ratings of US dollar-denominated bonds issued by Vedanta Resources Finance II Plc and guaranteed by VRL, to ‘BB-’.The upgrade represents Vedan..

NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter Launched

The NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter was recently launched at Excelerate 2026 in Mumbai, marking a key step towards integrating emerging real estate leaders from the National Capital Region with the national platform. The initiative aims to promote sustainable and responsible urban development through collaboration and knowledge exchange.The event brought together young developers, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across NCR, including Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Bhiwadi, and Meerut. Discussions focused on urban development, finance, sustainability, innovation, and policy, emphasisi..