Development Watch – Week #1 Oct’25

Development News

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Indian REITs join Global REIT Alliance

Indian REITs Association joined the Global REIT Alliance. This new international coalition promotes Real Estate Investment Trusts. The alliance launched recently in Stockholm. It unites 24 countries for REIT advocacy and knowledge sharing. This platform helps collaborate with global REIT communities. It will drive growth for REITs worldwide. Five Indian REITs are currently listed. The Global REIT Alliance was officially launched recently at the European Public Real Estate Association’s (EPRA) 2025 ReThink conference in Stockholm, Sweden. Knowledge Realty Trust, Brookfield India Real Estate Trust, Embassy Office Parks REIT, Mindspace Business Parks REIT, and Nexus Select Trust are five listed REITs in India.

Punjab firm to design 5-seater Electric Air Taxis

Punjab-based organisation, Nalwa Aero, has received design approval for 5-seater electric air taxis capable of flying intra and inter-city for maximum distance of 300 km. Nalwa Aero has become the first company in the country to receive Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for eVTOL aircraft with five seats and above. By 2028, we aim to make eVTOL operations a reality, offering cleaner, faster, and safer ways to travel while supporting the nation’s sustainability and innovation goals. The goal is to make air taxis accessible in India starting at just INR 200 and looking forward to begin its operations from Delhi – NCR.

India to monitor solar energy equipment imports

India plans to set up an import monitoring system for solar equipment to track origin, content, and compliance with harmonised codes. The system aims to boost domestic manufacturing, complementing policies like the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers. The proposed system for imports seeks to identify the content, source of origin, and adherence to harmonised systems. The ministry of new and renewable energy is in talks with the ministry of commerce and industry to firm up the system.

Modernize traditional rural jobs to stop migration

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, during his visit to Pali’s Naya Gaon, lauded Laghu Udyog Bharti for modernising rural industries and improving productivity to curb migration. He visited a kulhad factory and stressed that reviving traditional industries with a modern touch will strengthen the rural economy.

Total Energies bids for France’s largest wind farm

TotalEnergies-led consortium secured a tender to develop a 1.5-gigawatt offshore wind farm off Normandy’s coast, marking France’s largest project. This win boosts TotalEnergies’ renewable portfolio in France, despite previous concerns about slow permitting. RWE’s departure from the consortium necessitates a new partner as the project aims for a 2033 power production start, contributing to France’s 2050 offshore wind target. TotalEnergies is proud to be French and invest in France, but in effect a new PPE is necessary to reassure industry players and launch new tenders. The offshore wind award is Total’s first in France, where most previous tenders have gone to state-owned EDF or partially state-owned Engie. Of Total’s 25 GW of gross renewable capacity, just 2 GW are in France, although that will rise to 4 GW by 2030. The project represents an investment of 4.5 billion euros ($5.3 billion) excluding grid connection costs.

India-Bhutan rail links through Assam and Bengal

Boosting sub-regional connectivity and cross-border economic activity, India on Monday announced two new rail links – Kokrajhar-Gelephu (Assam) and Banarhat-Samtse (West Bengal) – between India and Bhutan at a cost of ₹4,033 crore. The MoU for these projects was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan last year and a formal agreement will be signed later on the occasion of Bhutanese foreign secretary’s visit here. India is the largest trading partner of Bhutan. Most of the EXIM trade of Bhutan is through Indian ports, therefore, it becomes very important to have seamless rail connectivity. The rail links will provide Bhutan access to 150,000 km of the Indian railway network.

Air India + Airbus advanced set up pilot training center

Tata-owned Air India has partnered with Airbus to launch an advanced pilot training center at the Air India Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram, Haryana. This 50:50 joint venture facility will train more than 5,000 new pilots over the next decade to support the growth of commercial aviation in India. The training center was inaugurated by the Minister of Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu in the presence of Christian Scherer, CEO, Commercial Aircraft, Airbus, and Campbell Wilson, MD & CEO, Air India. The pilot training center spans across 12,000 sq metre center and is equipped with 10 Full Flight Simulators (FFSs), along with advanced classrooms and briefing rooms. The facility is designed to train pilots for the Airbus A320 and A350 aircraft families and its courses are approved by both the DGCA and EASA. Air India is in an expansion mode with 570 new aircraft on order and the new pilot training centre at our Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram.

New scheme for shipbuilding and repair industry

The Ministry of Ports and Shipping will come with a National Shipbuilding Mission scheme to manage and operate ship building and repair industry. Currently 5 per cent of India’s export and import cargo is carried on Indian-owned/flagged ships. This leads to Rs 6 lakh crore being paid to foreign companies towards sea freight services. This new scheme will help our nation to save about Rs 4.50 lakh crore per year in freight charges and would provide new employment to about 25-30 lakh people. The three-pronged strategy is for transforming ship building, ship recycling and creating a robust globally competitive maritime ecosystem. For the first time ever in the history of Independent India, a significant financial outlay of Rs 70,000 crore has been earmarked for the development of the Maritime sector. Samsung Heavy Industries has partnered with India’s largest shipyard, Swan Defense and Heavy Industries, to enter the Indian shipbuilding market. This collaboration supports India’s initiative to become a top shipbuilding nation by 2047. It leverages SHI’s expertise and India’s growing maritime sector, bolstered by significant financial incentives.

Upgraded logistics data bank for trucks and containers

India’s upgraded logistics data bank system will enable real-time tracking of export containers globally and domestic truck movements, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs. Developed by NLDSL, this system offers multi-modal visibility and a live container heatmap, improving supply chain management and competitiveness for the industry. National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) CEO and Managing Director Rajat Kumar Saini said the move would help enhance logistics efficiency and reduce logistics costs for the industry. It allows exporters to track containers even after departure from Indian ports across international waters, improving coordination and enhancing credibility in global markets.