MoD, TIDCO Sign MoU For Defence Testing Site in Tamil Nadu

31 Jul 2025 CW Team

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a state-of-the-art Mechanical and Material domain testing facility in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor. The agreement, signed on 28 July 2025 in New Delhi, falls under the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) and was formalised in the presence of Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production), MoD.

The DTIS provides up to 75 per cent government funding as Grant-in-Aid, with the remaining 25 per cent to be contributed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), comprising Indian private entities and Central/State Government bodies.

For this project, Micro Labs will lead the SPV consortium, which also includes Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO), Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Vaidheswaran Industries. Once operational, the facility will offer advanced mechanical and materials testing services to both government and private industry, bolstering India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

Launched with an outlay of Rs 4 billion, the DTIS aims to foster indigenous defence production and reduce reliance on imported military equipment. Spearheaded by Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, the initiative supports the establishment of cutting-edge testing infrastructure through public-private partnerships.

To boost the defence and aerospace ecosystem within India’s industrial corridors, seven such testing centres have been approved—four in Tamil Nadu and three in Uttar Pradesh.

Infrastructure Urban

06 Apr 2026

CFI Appoints New National Council for FY27 and FY28

The Construction Federation of India (CFI) has announced its newly elected National Council and office bearers for a two-year term covering FY27 and FY28. M. V. Satish, Advisor to CMD and Lead Ambassador for Middle East, L&T, has been elected President; Priti Patel, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, Tata Projects, has been appointed Vice President; and Ajit Bhate, Managing Director, Precast India Infrastructures, has taken charge as Treasurer.The newly formed National Council brings together senior leaders from major EPC and infrastructure companies, reflecting CFI’s continued focus o..

India REIT Market Gains Momentum with Strong Returns

India’s Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) market is witnessing strong growth, emerging as a competitive investment avenue both domestically and across Asia. According to a recent ANAROCK report released at EXCELERATE 2026 by NAREDCO Maharashtra NextGen, the sector is evolving into a mature asset class driven by solid fundamentals, regulatory backing and rising investor confidence.The introduction of Small and Medium REITs (SM REITs) in 2025 has further widened access through fractional ownership, unlocking a potential monetisation opportunity of Rs 670–710 billion. Indian REITs have deli..

G R Infraprojects Secures Rs 4,130 Million BESS Contract From NTPC

G R Infraprojects said it has secured a contract from NTPC to supply and implement a battery energy storage system (BESS) valued at Rs 4,130 million (mn). The company reported the order was awarded as part of NTPC's ongoing efforts to enhance grid flexibility and energy storage capacity. The contract represents a notable addition to the firm's project pipeline and underscores demand for utility scale storage solutions. The award is expected to strengthen G R Infraprojects' presence in the energy infrastructure sector and to contribute to the firm's order book and future revenues, subject to st..