The Indian infrastructure sector has been snowed under unfavourable macroeconomic variables and project level stress over the past couple of years. The slowing economy had an adverse impact on the transportation sector, particularly the projects in the early ramp-up stage.
FlashNews:
GAIL Signs MoU with KABIL to Boost Critical Minerals Collaboration
India’s First Private Orbital Rocket Vikram‑1 Set for July 18 Test Flight
NHAI Engages Consultants to Strengthen InvIT‑Led Highway O&M
Porbandar Shipbuilding Cluster, Vadinar Repair Facility Get Government Nod
AM/NS India and SVNIT Launch Programme to Build Industry‑Ready Talent in Surat
Naidu Fast‑Tracks Dholera International Airport Operationalisation
KEC International Secures First Data Centre Line Order in ₹1.18 Billion Wins
Railway Minister Vaishnaw Unveils Eight New Freight Reforms
REC, CPRI Partner to Boost Quality Assurance under RDSS
HPCL Strengthens Ethanol Quality Checks with 3,651 Surprise Inspections
India’s Drone Challenge 2.0 Empowers Students to Build Smarter Drones on Indigenous Chips
GIFT City Units Freed from Coastal Shipping Licence, Boosting India’s Maritime Finance Hub
REC Commits ₹150 Billion to Power and Renewable Push in Tripura
As India’s GCCs Shift from Cost to Capability Leadership, Sitharaman Charts Next Decade of Growth
DFCCIL Advances East-West Freight Corridor with Stakeholder Push on Financing and Construction
GMR Charts Multi‑Phase Roadmap to Transform Nagpur Airport into India’s Heartland Hub
Kamarajar Port Joins Visakhapatnam as India’s Second 18‑Metre Deep‑Draft Port
El Niño Cuts 13 aGW Hydropower Across Asia, Forcing Coal and LNG Reliance
CUMI Named Armour Partner for DRDO’s Indigenous Vikram VT21 Combat Vehicles
Infra Insights
Long-term financing is what the Indian infrastructure sector needs to attain the projected growth. And Infrastructure Debt Funds (IDFs), which the government had in 2011-12 fiscal under Finance Minister P Chidambaram allowed to form to step up investment in the infrastructure sector, which requires $ 1 trillion in the 12th Plan.
A tale of two Bills
The Highways Bill could represent the first major step taken by the government towards the creation of an independent authority with the power to cut delays and streamline the project approvals processes, thereby addressing major problems faced by the Indian roads and highways industry today and potentially opening up huge private investment, writes Aakanksha Joshi.
Relax ECB norms for infra NBFCs
2013 has been a bad year for infrastructure sector. Certain sectors like roads & highways have been hit hard in particular. Though power sector has been growing, it must be kept in mind that while coal continues to account for almost 60 per cent of power production in India
West Bengal to map State highways
To prepare a detailed web-based geographic information system (GIS) mapping of around 4,500 km of highways in West Bengal by March 2014, the State Highway Development Corporation (WBHDC) has involved IIT-Kharagpur, National Informatics Centre (NIC) and Rites.
Tariff dodging dents toll income on highways
Media reports say that private companies' investments into highways in India have taken a beating with the toll dodging practice by some sections of vehicles including those of politicians in the country. Ambulances, fire trucks and the cars of senior government officials are among those exempted from paying tolls, but other drivers often claim a free ride, say an official with GVK Power and Infrastructure.
Panel blames State govt for bad highways in Kerala
The Rajya Sabha standing committee, in its 200th report on development of highways in Kerala, has blamed the Kerala government for bad roads in the state. The committee has submitted its report before the Rajya Sabha.
CCEA likely to consider Rs 2,500 cr worth Maha road projects
Two proposals of highways in Maharashtra are to be taken up by the Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) very soon. The two proposed highways involve a cost of Rs 2,500 crore.
East-West Corridor project
Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Sarvey Sathyanarayana said the four laning of the entire length of East-West Corridor has been completed except 195 km under implementation and 232 km balance for award.
Fund for Uttarakhand
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways released an additional amount of Rs 58.77 crore for immediate restoration of damaged national highways (roads or bridges) in Uttarakhand.



