Govt Announces Major Advances in Smart Cities and 5G Projects

07 Aug 2024 CW Team

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Tokhan Sahu, the Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs, provided an update on the Smart Cities Mission and the 5G rollout in India.

As of July 12, 2024, data from 100 smart cities indicated that work orders had been issued for 8,016 projects with a total value of Rs 1.64 trillion. Among these, 7,218 projects worth Rs 1.45 trillion had been completed, reflecting considerable progress in the mission?s implementation.

The minister also outlined the government?s efforts to advance the spread of 5G services nationwide. Key measures included allocating adequate spectrum through auctions, implementing financial reforms to rationalize Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), and simplifying the procedures for radio frequency allocations.

Furthermore, steps have been taken to streamline Right of Way (RoW) permissions and speed up clearances for telecom infrastructure. This includes the introduction of the PM GatiShakti Sanchar portal and provisions for time-bound permissions for utilizing street furniture to install small cells and telegraph lines.

These initiatives have shown promising results, with approximately 170 million wireless data subscribers adopting 5G services within 19 months of its launch on October 1, 2022.

The advancements in both the Smart Cities Mission and 5G rollout are anticipated to significantly contribute to the country?s on-going digital transformation and urban development efforts.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Lucknow Metro East-West Corridor Consultancy Contract Awarded

The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation has awarded the first construction-related consultancy contract for the Lucknow Metro East West Corridor to a joint venture of AYESA Ingenieria Arquitectura SAU and AYESA India Pvt Ltd. The firm was declared the lowest bidder for the Detailed Design Consultant contract for Lucknow Metro Line-2 under Phase 1B and the contract was recommended following the financial bid. The contract is valued at Rs 159.0 million (mn), covering design services for the corridor. Lucknow Metro Line-2 envisages the construction of an 11.165 kilometre corridor connecting Cha..

Div Com Kashmir Urges Fast Tracking Of Jhelum Water Transport Project

The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir has called for the fast-tracking of the Jhelum water transport project, urging district administrations and relevant agencies to accelerate planning and clearances. In a meeting convened at the divisional headquarters, the commissioner instructed officials from irrigation, public health engineering and municipal departments to prioritise the project and coordinate survey and design work. The directive emphasised removal of administrative bottlenecks and close monitoring to ensure timely mobilisation of resources and contractors. Officials were told to in..

Interarch Reports Strong Q3 And Nine Month Results

Interarch Building Solutions Limited reported unaudited results for the third quarter and nine months ended 31 December 2025, recording strong revenue growth driven by execution and a robust order book. Net revenue for the third quarter rose by 43.7 per cent to Rs 5.225 billion (bn), compared with Rs 3.636 bn a year earlier, reflecting heightened demand in pre-engineered building projects. The company’s total order book as at 31 January 2026 stood at Rs 16.85 bn, supporting near-term visibility. EBITDA excluding other income for the quarter increased by 43.2 per cent to Rs 503 million (mn),..