Development Watch – Week #3 May’25

Development News

---

Three re-developed stations to be inaugurated in Bengal

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate three redeveloped railway stations in West Bengal on May 22nd under the Centre’s Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The three stations are Panagarh, Kalyani Ghoshpara and Joychandi Pahar are among 103 Amrit Bharat railway stations to be inaugurated through video conferencing. The focus was on enhancing passenger amenities, improving accessibility and incorporating sustainable design. A total of 100 railway stations in West Bengal are being developed under the scheme.

MMRDA redevelopment project in Ghatkopar, Mumbai

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has secured a Rs 1,500 crore loan from Bank of Maharashtra . It is for redeveloping the Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Kamaraj Nagar slums in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar suburb. Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Kamraj Nagar slum rehabilitation project is being undertaken on land area of over 78.6 acres comprising around 17,000 slum dwellers. This marks MMRDA’s first direct slum redevelopment project, and the first major financial closure for the Rs 8,498-crore project under Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme. To ensure financial viability, MMRDA has devised a multi-source funding strategy. Out of the total Rs 8,498 crore project cost, Rs 3,916 crore will be raised through loans. Of the total funding, 46% will come from institutional loans and 39% from internal revenue sources.

Amravati to be fully powered by RE

Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh’s planned capital, aims to be the world’s first city powered entirely by renewable energy, targeting 2,700 MW of green energy. This Rs. 65,000-crore project integrates solar, wind, and hydropower, setting a global benchmark for urban sustainability. Amravati is spread across 217 square kilometers, with Andhra Pradesh Capital Region spanning an area of 8,352 sq km. The 2,700 MW capacity will not only ensure zero dependence on fossil fuels but also set a global benchmark for urban sustainability. Town Planners have already installed 415 kW of rooftop solar panels across 16 Aanganwadis, 14 e-health centers, 13 public schools, and a multi-faith funeral center. Cooling is a critical consideration for Andhra Pradesh, which faces the highest number of heat wave days in South India with temperature as high as 47.7 degrees in 2024. ndhra Pradesh anticipates peak power demand to rise by 57 per cent, reaching 19.9 GW by 2029.

Employment survey to cover rural India for the first time

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will enhance labour force data dissemination. It will publish the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) monthly, starting with the April 2025 bulletin in May 2025. The quarterly survey results will extend to rural areas, providing comprehensive employment-unemployment indicators for the entire country. The first bulletin is expected in August 2025. The revamped PLFS sample design will enable generation of the monthly estimates of key labour market indicators viz. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR) and Unemployment Rate (UR) at the all-India level following the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach. The MoSPI has also decided to make district as the the primary geographical unit, called basic stratum within a state/UT separately for rural and urban sectors for selecting FSUs for most part of the geography covered.

Delhi govt subsidy for Rooftop Solar panels

The Delhi Cabinet has approved a subsidy of Rs. 30,000 for installing 3 kW rooftop panels. The rate of subsidy is Rs. 10,000/- per kilo watt. This supplements the central government’s Rs. 78,000 subsidy under the PM Surya Ghar (Muft Bijli) Yojana. To facilitate the adoption, the government will collaborate with banks to offer easy loans for installation. This will potentially save residents Rs. 4,200/- monthly. Delhi cabinet under the new CM has also approved procurement of litter machines, anti-smog guns, mechanical road sweepers and water sprinklers as part of pollution control measures.

Reliance to start Solar Energy project in Bhutan

Reliance Power and Bhutan’s Green Digital Private Limited have partnered to construct Bhutan’s largest solar power plant. It will generate 500 MW of electricity. The Rs. 2,000/- crore project is a 50-50 venture with Bhutan’s Druk Holding and Investments. It aims to boost clean energy in the region. Reliance Power has initiated the bidding process for construction and is securing funding for the project. Reliance Power’s total clean energy pipeline stands at 2.5 GWp solar and >2.5 GWhr BESS, making it India’s largest player in the integrated Solar + BESS segment. The agreement included the joint development of a 500 MW solar power project and the long-term execution and operation of the 770 MW Chamkharchhu-I hydroelectric project.

Rapid developments in Green Hydrogen Development

India has made remarkable strides in green hydrogen development, allocating 862,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) production capacity annually to 19 companies. The National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched in 2023, and supportive policies will propel India to achieving energy independence and Net Zero Emissions. India has also awarded 3,000 MW annual electrolyzer manufacturing capacity to 15 firms. Pilot projects have been launched across various sectors and aims to become a major global exporter by 2030. The announcements were made at the World Hydrogen Summit 2025 in Rotterdam. India has already installed over 223 GW of renewable energy. It includes 108 GW from solar and 51 GW from wind. National Green Hydrogen Mission will provide production incentives for setting up domestic capacity, achieve 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen production by 2030 and avert nearly 50 MMT of CO2 emissions annually. It will attract investments of about $100 billion and generate over 600,000 jobs.

Rs. 1,000 Crores for Inland waterways in Assam

The central government will invest an additional Rs 1,000 Crores for projects in Assam and the Northeast by 2026. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways reviewed ongoing projects of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in Assam. Projects worth Rs 1,000 crore are already underway in the Northeast while works with Rs. 300 Crores already completed. The government focuses on infrastructure along Brahmaputra and Barak rivers. The announcement was made at Maritime Skill Development Centre (MSDC) in Guwahati. The government is developing key infrastructure projects along NW-2 (Brahmaputra) and NW-16 (Barak). This includes construction of passenger vessels of various capacities, terminal facilities and capacity-building initiatives. Feasibility studies for Inland Water Transport (IWT) development on the Tiawng and Chhimtuipui rivers in Mizoram, as well as on Umiam Lake and the Ummgot River (NW106) in Meghalaya, were also reviewed.

Private Sector to enter Atomic Energy space

India is considering establishing a regulatory authority to oversee the nuclear fuel supply chain and waste management, aiming to prevent misuse as the nation expands its nuclear energy capacity. Amendments to the Atomic Energy Act are underway to facilitate private sector participation. This will ensure stringent oversight of fuel import, utilization, and disposal, aligning with global safety standards. India plans to ramp up its nuclear energy 40 GW by 2035 from 8 GW. It is banking on public private partnerships to set up small modular reactors to meet green energy requirements. The design of plants would have to be vetted and approved by the Atomic Energy and Regulatory Board (AERB). AERB will also be responsible for monitoring regulatory compliance in view of safety concerns.