Twesh Mishra

A parliamentary committee has urged Indian Railways to boost revenue, especially from AC classes, to offset losses in the passenger segment. While acknowledging the need for affordable general class travel, the committee emphasized aligning AC fares with costs. The committee also recommended policy changes for faster land acquisition and increased private sector involvement in infrastructure projects.

India is building a massive maritime museum at Lothal. The complex will feature 14 galleries, theme parks, and a recreated Lothal city. It will highlight India's 5,000-year-old maritime heritage. The project will cost over ₹4,000 crore. Six galleries will open by September 2025. The entire complex will be complete by 2029. The government expects 25,000 visitors daily.

Hindustan Copper (HCL) has strengthened its contract award criteria following scrutiny from India's Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The CAG criticized HCL for awarding a significant mining contract to a financially unstable firm, IVRCL, despite the company being blacklisted by other entities. HCL now incorporates stricter financial checks and quarterly performance-based penalties in its contracts.

India launched its first subsidized cargo vessel service on National Waterways 1 and 2. The service connects Kolkata with Patna, Varanasi, and Guwahati, aiming to reduce congestion on roads and railways. Three vessels carrying cement, gypsum, and coal embarked on their maiden voyages under the Jalvahak scheme, which incentivizes long-haul cargo transport via waterways.

India witnessed a surge in electric vehicle registrations, reaching 13.06 lakh between April and November 2024, a 25.64% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The PM E-DRIVE scheme, with a Rs. 10,900 crore outlay, fuels this growth by supporting electric buses, three-wheelers, two-wheelers, and charging infrastructure, while promoting local manufacturing under the Phased Manufacturing Programme.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is poised to grant compliance certificates to three Chinese steelmakers for cold rolled grain oriented steel (CRGO). This move addresses a domestic shortage of this crucial alloy, used in transformers and other industries, with India's production meeting only 7% of local demand. The certification comes despite concerns over dumping by Chinese manufacturers.

India and Japan are finalizing the bullet train design for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor. Modifications include increased luggage capacity, higher temperature tolerance, and dust management. Over half of the civil work is complete, and rail laying has begun. India is also developing its own high-speed trains for future corridors.

The Indian government clarified that investments in dedicated EV assembly lines within existing factories will qualify for incentives under the SMEC. This clarification was sought by global EV makers, including those already present in India, who are considering participating in the scheme. Some automakers are awaiting final guidelines before committing, while others, like Mercedes-Benz, currently have sufficient local production capacity.

Foreign companies, including those with existing facilities in India, can apply for benefits under SMEC, which allows automakers to initially import

"Guidelines will be finalised in consultation with the National Health Mission (NHM). Subsidies will be linked to the battery capacity in a vehicle," a senior official told ET, adding PM E-DRIVE funds will supplement the support from NHM for these ambulances.