Railways to inspects development work in Pondy rail station

30 Jul 2024 CW Team

The redevelopment of Puducherry railway station, which is being undertaken at a cost of Rs 92 crores, includes the construction of two main buildings with centralized air conditioning, similar to airport facilities, complete with separate drop-off and pick-up bays. The project also involves renovating and upgrading existing platforms and platform shelters, building two new Foot Overbridges, and constructing a new parcel office, drivers' room, operational building, sewage treatment plant, and parking areas for various types of vehicles including four-wheelers, two-wheelers, taxis, and autorickshaws.

During his inspection, the Union Minister evaluated various aspects of the redevelopment, including improvements to the station layout, modernization of facilities, and the implementation of new safety measures. He interacted with key project personnel and field staff to get an update on the current status of the redevelopment and address any operational challenges.

Additional General Manager of Railways Kaushal Kishore, Chief Administrative Officer (Construction) Amit Kumar Manual, Divisional Railway Manager Tiruchirappalli M.S. Anbalagan, and Chief Engineer (Construction) K. Ravi Kumar briefed Somanna on the project's features. The officials informed the Minister that efforts were being made to complete the redevelopment work within the stipulated timeframe while minimizing disruption to passenger services. The Speaker of the Puducherry Assembly R. Selvam, Home Minister of Puducherry A. Namassivayam, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament S. Selvaganapathy, and other legislators were also present during the visit.

It was reported that Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Sakthi V. Somanna inspected the ongoing redevelopment work at Puducherry railway station on Sunday. According to a release from the Tiruchirappalli Division of Southern Railway, the central minister's visit was intended to review the progress of the redevelopment projects at Puducherry station, which are expected to significantly improve passenger amenities and infrastructure. The redevelopment of Puducherry railway station, which is being undertaken at a cost of Rs 92 crores, includes the construction of two main buildings with centralized air conditioning, similar to airport facilities, complete with separate drop-off and pick-up bays. The project also involves renovating and upgrading existing platforms and platform shelters, building two new Foot Overbridges, and constructing a new parcel office, drivers' room, operational building, sewage treatment plant, and parking areas for various types of vehicles including four-wheelers, two-wheelers, taxis, and autorickshaws. During his inspection, the Union Minister evaluated various aspects of the redevelopment, including improvements to the station layout, modernization of facilities, and the implementation of new safety measures. He interacted with key project personnel and field staff to get an update on the current status of the redevelopment and address any operational challenges. Additional General Manager of Railways Kaushal Kishore, Chief Administrative Officer (Construction) Amit Kumar Manual, Divisional Railway Manager Tiruchirappalli M.S. Anbalagan, and Chief Engineer (Construction) K. Ravi Kumar briefed Somanna on the project's features. The officials informed the Minister that efforts were being made to complete the redevelopment work within the stipulated timeframe while minimizing disruption to passenger services. The Speaker of the Puducherry Assembly R. Selvam, Home Minister of Puducherry A. Namassivayam, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament S. Selvaganapathy, and other legislators were also present during the visit.

Infrastructure Transport

09 Jan 2026

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 ..

Infrastructure Urban

09 Jan 2026

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 ..

Infrastructure Urban

09 Jan 2026

India Post, MoRD Tie Up to Boost Rural Inclusion

The Department of Posts and the Ministry of Rural Development have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate rural transformation and expand financial, digital and logistics services for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and rural households across India. The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The collaboration aligns with the government’s “Dak Sewa, Jan Sewa” vision and seeks to repositi..