State Clears Rs 944 Million Plan To Recast 125-Year Havelock Bridge

25 Jun 2025 CW Team

The Andhra Pradesh Government will commission a fresh technical investigation into the 125-year-old Havelock Bridge over the Godavari before turning the disused rail crossing into the show-piece of the Rs 944 million Akhanda Godavari tourism scheme approved by the Union Ministry of Tourism.

Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh said a previous Indian Institute of Technology–Madras survey had judged the 2.74-kilometre structure sound, but a second assessment would give planners and investors greater confidence. The blueprint envisages craft bazaars and other attractions on the historic lattice-girder span, with each of its 25 arches themed around Andhra Pradesh’s culture, crafts and folk literature. A 120-acre tent city is also proposed on a mid-river island.

Built between 1897 and 1900 and mothballed by South-Central Railway in 1997, the bridge has now been handed to the state on an “as-is-where-is” basis. Of the Rs 410 million beautification cost, Rs 340 million is already earmarked for execution by R&B Infra Projects.

Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan will perform the Bhumi Puja for the wider Akhanda Godavari initiative on 26 June. Besides the bridge makeover, the package funds a Kadiyam Nurseries experience centre, canal boating and nightly “Godavari Harathi” rituals at Nidadavolu, all aimed at showcasing the river ahead of the Godavari Pushkarams in 2027.

Infrastructure Urban

28 Aug 2025

Delhi to Add 8,000 EV Buses by February 2026

Delhi is on track to solidify its status as India’s electric vehicle (EV) capital with plans to roll out 7,000 to 8,000 new electric buses by February 2026, Transport Minister Pankaj Singh announced at the India Clean Transportation Summit 2025. The city currently has 3,400 electric buses in operation, up from just 400 at the start of Singh’s tenure. This figure is expected to increase to 6,000 by the end of 2025.Singh noted that based on route rationalisation, Delhi’s requirement stands at 7,000 to 8,000 buses. The growing EV fleet includes the city’s “Devi” buses, introduced to s..

Exponent Unveils P4 EV Charger With 15-Minute Fast Charging

Exponent Energy, an Indian energy-tech startup, has launched its next-generation electric vehicle (EV) charging station, codenamed P4, offering rapid 15-minute charging alongside a streamlined design that prioritises space efficiency, user-friendliness, and battery life extension. The P4 introduces three major innovations: a slim wall-mounted design (just 400 mm wide) that runs parallel to parked vehicles, floating cables with a 3-axis suspension for effortless handling, and offboard thermal management with pre-heating to ensure charging reliability in colder climates.Co-founder and CEO Arun V..

MSRDC to Add 8 EV Chargers on Mumbai-Pune Expressway

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will install eight new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along the Mumbai–Pune Expressway by the end of the year, as part of a larger state initiative to promote clean mobility and develop carbon-neutral highways. This move seeks to support the increasing number of EV owners in the state and address range anxiety—a key challenge for long-distance EV travel.At present, the 94.5-kilometre expressway has just five charging stations, which is insufficient given the rapid rise in EV registrations across Maharashtra. As per the Min..