Development Watch – Week #3 July’25

Development News

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6L villages to get high-speed fibre broadband

Up to six lakh villages will get connected with a high-speed optical fibre-based (OFC) broadband network within three years. The announcement was made by the Telecom Secretary. Within 3 years, all village panchayats (2.5 lakhs) and roughly 6 lakh villages associated with them will get connected to a high-speed fibre network. The government has started rolling out Bharatnet Phase 3 with an outlay of Rs. 1.39 Lakh Crores. The project will also connect mobile towers with OFCs that will boost network speed, as the country will look to begin high-speed 6G services in the future. India has a significantly lower data cost of 9 cents per GB compared to global average of $2.6. India’s median broadband speed is about 138 mbps. The government is working on freeing up additional spectrum and creating R&D, SMEs and startups in these fields. The government is trying to bring ease of doing business for cable landing stations through a single window portal.

Waste plastic Geocells for roads in difficult terrains

The Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) have innovated Geocells. They have been crafted from end-of-life plastic, for road construction in challenging terrains. For high-stress, difficult to access regions. These three-dimensional block-shaped modules, filled with soil or construction debris, are set for field trials in August with the Military Engineering Services. Recycling end of life plastics is challenging due to wide material quality. The innovation is jointly patented by CSIR-CRRI and BPCL. The material has been processed through mechanical recycling, producing modules with a 4-8mm thickness. Plant trials in collaboration with TATA projects and 160m road section, supported by NHAI, helped validate the concept. As part of the initial deployment, CRRI and BPCL used Geocells to pave a stretch near the DND-Faridabad-KMP Expressway.

India needs Rs. 72,000 Crores investment for seniors

India’s senior living segment will need investments of $4.8-$8.4 billion (about ₹41,000-₹72,000 crore) between 2025 and 2030, according to a report by Savills India. a rapidly ageing population urgently needs purpose-built homes. The growth in the ageing population, projected to reach 21% of the total population by 2050, is primarily driven by advancements in healthcare, improved living conditions and declining fertility rates. Global best practices are shaping India’s senior living framework, with developers beginning to draw on their expertise. There have been early signs of success in joint ventures and knowledge transfers with global players. Non-metro cities are emerging as growth hotspots, with about 34% of the under-construction projects based in cities such as Vadodara, Coimbatore and Goa. The senior living segment in India, currently valued at approximately $1-$2 billion, is poised for significant expansion by 2030. Approximately 1,000 acres of land is required to develop senior living projects.

Delhi triples subsidy under solar energy policy

Delhi government has amended the Delhi Solar Energy Policy (2023). It has increased the subsidy for households to Rs. 10,000 per kW for rooftop solar systems up to 3 kW. It has a maximum subsidy of Rs. 30,000 per consumer. The changes are aimed at boosting rooftop solar adoption will be effective from July 10. The amendment also introduced a new capital subsidy for group housing societies and resident welfare associations. These entities will now be eligible for ₹2,000 per kW for solar systems for common facilities, including electric vehicle charging infrastructure for systems up to 500 kW. The policy also refined the hybrid renewable energy service company, or the RESCO model, a financing structure where solar installations are funded and owned by developers. The subsidies will be credited directly to consumers’ bank accounts, with application data sourced either from the National Rooftop Solar Portal of the PM Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana or the Delhi Solar Portal, depending on the channel used.

Tesla launches Model Y in India at Rs. 59.89 Lakhs

Tesla Tuesday entered the Indian car market, launching its Rs 59.89 lakh Model Y SUV. Maharashtra has rolled out a red carpet for the EV maker, urging it to go beyond imports and anchor its manufacturing and R&D base in the state. At an event to mark Tesla’s formal entry, Maharashtra Chief Minister made a strong pitch to the Elon Musk-led automaker, positioning the state as Tesla’s long-term base. The CM highlighted the state’s “most progressive” EV policies, with incentives for manufacturing, R&D, and charging infrastructure. Tesla, which has begun hiring for roles in charging infrastructure and government affairs, will initially sell its cars in Mumbai, with Delhi and Gurugram set to follow as its next retail markets. The car is priced significantly higher than in markets like the US due to the 70-100% import duty levied on fully-built electric vehicles in India. Deliveries will begin in September, with imports currently routed through Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory.

Rs. 1,310 Crores investment for Andhra desalination plant

Amaravati Kakinada SEZ Limited is establishing a desalination plant in Andhra Pradesh with an investment of Rs 1310 crore. The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) has recommended Coastal Regulation Zone clearance for the project. It includes seawater intake and outfall pipelines. The project aims to supply water to industries and reduce reliance on freshwater sources, allocating Rs. 10 crore for environmental measures. The desalination plant facility comprises two seawater intake pipelines to draw 380 MLD from the sea to the desalination plant. Further, the product water from the desalination plant will be distributed to the industries and port through various pipelines. The outfall pipeline will be laid in the sea to carry the brine rejects of 230 MLD from the desalination plant. The project proponent shall assist in developing a prototype to reuse brine discharge, instead of discharging it into the sea, to reduce marine pollution.

Railways to adopt AI/ML for train maintenance

The Indian Railways will adopt Machine Vision Based Inspection System (MVIS), an Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)-based technology solution for train maintenance. An official statement said this technology will improve service efficiency and automate the maintenance of rolling stock. MVIS captures high-resolution images of the under-gear of moving trains and automatically detects any hanging, loose, or missing components. On detecting anomalies, the system generates real-time alerts to facilitate prompt response and preventive action, the statement added. The Dedicated Freight Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) has been tasked with procurement, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of four MVIS units. The technology is expected to significantly enhance the safety of train operations, reduce manual inspection efforts and help avoid potential accidents or service disruptions.