Development Watch – Week #4 July’26
Development News
Delhi-Katra Expressway dedicated by the PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway on Friday (July 24). This new expressway will significantly reduce travel times between Delhi and Katra from 14 hours to 6 hours. Delhi-Amritsar journey will reduce from 8 to 4 hours. the Prime Minister will dedicate the 157.92 km long, four-lane Packages 1 to 5 of the Greenfield expressway, developed at a cost of around ₹9,680 crore, during his visit to Jind, Haryana. Later in the day, he will inaugurate the 30.9-km-long Package 6 of the expressway in Jalandhar, Punjab.
Approval for Shipbuilding and Repair clusters in Gujarat
Gujarat will soon establish a new shipbuilding cluster in Porbandar. A significant ship repair facility is also planned for Vadinar in the Gulf of Kutch. These projects aim to boost India’s maritime infrastructure and capacity. The Vadinar facility will include a long jetty and two large floating dry docks. Both initiatives are part of the Shipbuilding Development Scheme.
Modified UDAN scheme to receive Rs. 28,840 Crores
The Centre has proposed an overall budgetary support of Rs 28,840 crore over 10 years for the next phase of the regional air connectivity scheme, including viability gap funding for airlines and the development and maintenance of airports and heliports. Rs 10,043 crore has been proposed as viability gap funding support over 10 years. Another Rs 12,159 crore has been earmarked for developing aerodromes, at a proposed cost of Rs 100 crore per airport over the next eight years. The plan also allocates Rs 3,661 crore for developing modern helipads at a proposed cost of Rs 15 crore per helipad over eight years. Operation and maintenance support has been pegged at Rs 2,577 crore, while Rs 400 crore has been proposed for acquiring two Dhruv helicopters and two Dornier aircraft.
GCC contribute to rise in workplace strategy
India’s Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are transforming multinational operations beyond cost considerations. Enterprises now prioritize talent and speed for strategic business enablement. Managed workspaces offer speed and flexibility over conventional leasing models. Table Space focuses on enterprise needs, delivering premium workplaces with strong governance. AI will further reshape enterprise infrastructure for collaboration and innovation.
PM launched India’s first hydrogen train
Hydrogen train launched: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched India’s first hydrogen-powered train from Jind. This train generates its own electricity onboard using hydrogen fuel cells. It will operate on the Jind-Sonipat route, marking a cleaner rail transport milestone. The train consists of eight coaches and two power cars accommodating passengers. This initiative supports India’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
Structural Audits for ageing apartments in Karnataka
Karnataka unveiled a draft law for mandatory structural stability certification for apartment buildings. This certification will be required after thirty years and then every five years. The proposed bill also addresses undivided share calculations and resident rights. It mandates forming an association within three months of booking half the apartments. The government seeks suggestions on this draft legislation by August sixth.
Local Feedback
LocalFeedback.org aims to track and document actionable parameters that help improve urban and rural infrastructure. The founder, Susmita, has juggled diverse roles in real estate, project budgeting, valuation and execution on construction sites. Having traveled to more than 20 countries, she has worked across 4 regions in India. Her areas of interest include sustainable buildings, electric mobility and urban development. She visited top-ranking cities on livability indices and has presented published papers at international conferences.