Development Watch – Week #3 Sept’26

Development News

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Air Quality & Traffic are top concerns for offices

Traffic congestion and commute time are foremost infrastructure challenges for office leasing. Poor air quality and water concerns also threaten business operations and employee experience. Access to public transport is crucial, with occupiers willing to pay a premium for public transport. Planned metro expansions and new expressways will unlock new office submarkets. These infrastructure initiatives aim to enhance ease of living across Indian cities. For developers and city administrations alike, this is a clear signal that connectivity investment and commercial real estate value are now inseparable.

Barrier free tolls at 9 entry points of Delhi

Municipal Corporation of Delhi is set to roll out multi-lane free-flow tolling at nine national highway entry points, including DND Flyway, Rajokri, Kundli, Badarpur and Ghazipur. It will be effective by the end of October, aiming to remove physical barriers and speed up entry into the city. The switch to barrier free tolling does not mean commuters stop paying tolls, it only changes how the payment happens. The contractor appointed for toll collection, Sahakar Global, will bear the entire cost of setting up the new infrastructure, including gantries and other equipment. The company is estimated to spend close to ₹200 crore on this under its tender conditions. In return, MCD expects an annual revenue of about ₹964 crore from the overall toll collection contract, which covers all 154 plazas under its jurisdiction.

Rs. 27,000 Crore shipbuilding cluster at Dighi to create 90,000 jobs

Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) Shipbuilders will invest Rs 27,000 crore for a new shipbuilding cluster. This project aims to create approximately 90,000 jobs and boost India’s shipbuilding capacity. The initiative is being developed under the Centre’s Greenfield Shipbuilding Cluster Development Plan and is aligned with the objectives of Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. The Dighi facility will enable the construction of large commercial vessels and strengthen maritime capabilities. This initiative aligns with the Centre’s Greenfield Shipbuilding Cluster Development Plan. The cluster will attract technology and investment, improving global maritime competitiveness. The Dighi shipbuilding cluster is being jointly developed by the Maharashtra Maritime Board and Mumbai Port Authority through NSHIPML, a special-purpose company set up for the project.

OTP based digital lockers for train stations

Northern Railway has introduced an OTP-based digital luggage locker system at four major railway stations in Delhi, allowing passengers to store and retrieve their luggage independently and securely without assistance from railway staff. The facility is currently operational at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations, while Anand Vihar Terminal and Delhi Junction will become operational shortly. Passengers can use their mobile numbers for OTP verification, making the process of storing and collecting luggage convenient and hassle-free.

World Engineer’s Day

From heavy fabrication and complex material handling to global supply-chain diversification, modern manufacturing is no longer just about building infrastructure. It is about mastering intricate processes, integrating cross-border capabilities, and solving critical industrial challenges at scale. Japan is increasingly looking to diversify its supply chains away from China, which presents a significant opportunity for India. Japan also wants to leverage India’s young workforce, which is extremely important for them. At the same time, India is a market where Japanese companies have the opportunity to introduce their design processes and business practices.

US levies on solar cell imports from India

The US Commerce Department has finalised anti-dumping and countervailing duties on solar cells and panels from India, Indonesia and Laos. It has cited unfair subsidies and harm to US manufacturers. The Department of Commerce has affixed anti-dumping margins of 123.04 per cent for Indian producers, 94.36 per cent for Indonesian producers and 65.43 per cent for producers from Laos. The USITC will make a final injury determination by October 14. The action was taken on a petition filed by The Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade seeking investigations into allegedly illegal trade practices by largely Chinese-owned manufacturers operating in Laos and Indonesia, as well as companies headquartered in India.