Author: News Desk

The Centre is preparing a ₹9,280 crore scheme to partially fund the development of water metro systems across India, in partnership with state governments and private players. The initiative aims to utilise India’s rivers, canals, lakes, backwaters, estuaries, creeks, and coastal waters to ease road congestion and promote sustainable urban transport. This proposal forms part of the draft National Water Metro Policy 2026 prepared by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Connecting Cities and Islands Water metro projects will link city centres with nearby areas and islands, catering to daily passenger travel, tourism, and integration with other transport modes.…

The government’s capital expenditure for 2026–27 is set at Rs 12.2 lakh crore, with major allocations for shipbuilding, national highways, railways, and metro rail projects, Expenditure Secretary V Vualnam said. In a post-Budget interview with PTI, he noted that sectors with large ongoing and new infrastructure projects—particularly highways, railways, and urban transport including metro networks—will continue to dominate public capex spending in the next fiscal year. Overall Budget and Capital Outlay The total government expenditure for 2026–27 is pegged at over Rs 53.47 lakh crore, with Rs 12.22 lakh crore earmarked as capital expenditure aimed at creating physical infrastructure and…

The Union government has decided to move away from the routine practice of converting state highways (SHs) into national highways (NHs), adopting instead an “economy-focused” model that prioritizes industrial connectivity and freight efficiency. The policy change was highlighted during a recent high-level review of the highways sector chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. New Framework for State Highways Officials said the transport ministry has been tasked with preparing a framework by the end of July to reduce the need for reclassifying state highways as national highways. Over the last eleven years, about 55,000 km of SHs were upgraded to NHs,…

Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran is taking a more hands-on role at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to guide India’s largest IT company through a critical phase, ensuring the group’s biggest cash generator remains secure as artificial intelligence threatens traditional business models, according to sources familiar with the matter. The renewed focus includes positioning TCS as the default AI partner for Tata Group companies and exploring acquisitions of AI-focused startups to accelerate its shift toward AI. “The legacy business model of TCS cannot remain as it was,” said an executive close to the matter. “Chandrasekaran has instructed his team to do…

Exporters in Tiruppur expect garment shipments to the United States to double to Rs 30,000 crore over the next three years, following the recently signed trade deal between India and the US. The textile hub, located around 450 km west of Chennai, is also likely to see a major surge in employment during this period, according to industry leaders. Major Boost for Exports Tiruppur Exporters’ Association president K M Subramanian said garment exports from Tamil Nadu currently stand at around Rs 15,000 crore. With the new agreement in place, that figure is expected to rise sharply. “The exports are projected…

Swiss luxury watchmaker Rado’s global CEO Adrian Bosshard has said that while the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) trade agreement, effective October 2025, offers a price advantage for consumers, the depreciation of the Indian rupee has largely offset these benefits. Without the agreement, he noted, Indian buyers would have faced significantly higher prices for Swiss-made watches. “Any trade deal that lowers taxes is good for consumers, as they pay for the product and not the taxes. But with the Swiss franc being strong and the rupee weakening, the impact is limited,” Bosshard told ET during his visit to India. Under…

Indian Railways is moving toward a passenger-focused model offering faster, more comfortable, and premium travel experiences. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Union Budget announcement of seven new high-speed rail corridors underscores this effort to transform intercity travel. The move comes as Indian Railways upgrades overnight journeys with Vande Bharat sleeper trains, which combine speed, comfort, and modern passenger amenities, while Amrit Bharat trains improve facilities for the common traveller. The seven new high-speed corridors are designed to serve as growth connectors, linking major economic centres across India: Experts note that these corridors will drastically reduce travel times, increase passenger capacity, and…

Entrepreneur Anjana Shaji has made a mark in the world of embroidery with her brand One Hand Embroidery, where every piece is crafted using only one hand. She specializes in children’s dresses, t-shirts, kurtis, and cotton shirts, customizing each piece personally and delivering her work to customers across India and abroad. Anjana, who completed her MSW, discovered embroidery during a period of personal and professional challenges. “I struggled to find a job, and embroidery became a way forward,” she said. Her unique skill and creativity allowed her to build a brand that now operates largely online through social media platforms.…

Indian Railways (IR) maintains several booking quotas to address specific travel needs, including the Emergency Quota (EQ), which is designed to meet urgent travel requirements. This quota, however, is not available to all passengers and is reserved for select categories. The Emergency Quota is primarily intended for High Official Requisition (HOR) holders, such as Central Government Ministers, Supreme Court and High Court judges, and Members of Parliament. Limited seats in different trains and classes are set aside for these passengers, especially if they are on the waiting list. Beyond these categories, Indian Railways also considers emergency travel requests for other…

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday welcomed the proposal for an underground railway tunnel through the Siliguri Corridor, calling it a transformative project that will strengthen connectivity between the Northeast and mainland India while ensuring uninterrupted movement of passengers and goods. In a post on X, CM Sarma said the tunnel would reinforce India’s strategic and economic links with the Northeast, a region that relies heavily on the narrow Siliguri Corridor, often called the “Chicken’s Neck,” for surface connectivity. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that the initiative reflects the Centre’s long-term commitment to national…