Development Watch – Week #1 Oct’26

Development News

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Road structures to ease Shankar Chowk congestion in Gurgaon

NHAI has approved two infrastructure projects to ease traffic congestion around Shankar Chowk and Cyber City in Gurgaon. The proposed underpass will connect Moulsari Avenue Road with NH-8 near HIL land, The plan includes a 600-metre, three-lane underpass and a 1.3-km, six-lane flyover. It will allow vehicles travelling from DLF Phase 3 towards delhi to take a direct right turn instead of the existing U-turn flyover near Cyber City. DLF will build both projects at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore, with the structures expected to improve traffic flow between DLF Phase 3, NH-8, Cyber City and nearby areas.

Indian jurist appointed Judge of Int’l Tribunal for Law of Sea

Indian jurist Bimal Patel has officially taken charge as a judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Hamburg. Patel began his nine-year term after taking oath on Thursday. He is succeeding Neeru Chadha, whose tenure ended on Wednesday. He was elected to the tribunal last year with 115 votes out of 168 valid ballots. The tribunal comprises 21 jurists representing a balanced global geographical spread, operating under staggered terms. Alongside Patel, four additional jurists were elected to the bench last year. Patel holds doctoral degrees in International Law obtained from Leiden University in the Netherlands and Jaipur National University. His extensive professional background features past service as a member of the National Security Advisory Board operating under the National Security Council Secretariat. ITLOS functions as an autonomous judicial institution headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, tasked with resolving maritime disputes and interpreting the provisions enshrined within the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Rs. 3,500 Cr transit system for Delhi Airport

Indira Gandhi International Airport aims to implement an Automated People Mover (APM) system to connect terminals by 2030. APM is a driverless transit system that can ferry people from one point to another. The system will cost approximately Rs 3,500 crore and stretch over 7.3 kilometers. It will facilitate easier travel between Terminals 1, 2, and 3 while enhancing overall passenger capacity. This project is part of a ten-year master plan expected to raise annual handling capacity to 125 million.

UltraTech 1st Indian company to reach 2GW capacity

UltraTech has become the first Indian company to cross 2 GW of captive green power capacity with a recent commissioning of a 116.55-MW wind energy project in Barmer, Rajasthan. Additionally, the company has added 10 MW of Waste Heat Recovery System capacity at its Karnataka unit. UltraTech’s current green energy capacity now meets approximately 48 percent of its power requirements across operations. India’s wind energy companies are encouraged to offer integrated solutions that include wind, solar, and battery storage. This shift is crucial as the country aims to reach its 2030 target of 100 GW of wind capacity. Improved policies and auction designs are helping, but coordination between agencies poses challenges. Grid deployment delays and permit issues are also key constraints facing the industry.

More than 88,000 rooftop solar installations added

Tata Power Solaroof has announced impressive growth in rooftop solar panel installations during the July to September quarter, registering 88,397 new setups. This is a notable 33 percent increase from last year. The first half of FY27 saw over 1,68,530 installations, achieving a 50 percent year-on-year growth. Uttar Pradesh took the spotlight with 1,16,254 installations, helping the company reach a cumulative total of 5,75,000 installations and a capacity exceeding 5. Over the last 6 months, TATA Power achieved highest number of installations in UP, followed by Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

German Mittelstands expand operations in India

German mid-sized companies are increasingly expanding their engineering and technology operations in India, particularly in Bengaluru. More than 80 German companies operate over 150 global capability centre (GCC) units employing over 130,000 professionals. Access to engineering talent and skilled professionals in India drives this rapid growth, which has seen GCCs grow by 108% in five years. Many of these companies now collaborate with universities and startups to enhance capabilities further.

Water trains for drought-hit Maharashtra

Central Railway is open to running special water trains to drought-hit districts of Maharashtra if the state government provides an adequate water source. The railway zone has not yet received a formal request. With 265 of Maharashtra’s 358 talukas declared drought-hit, officials said the scale of the current situation could make the operation more challenging than the 2016 Latur water train. During the severe 2016 drought, special Jaldoot trains transported more than 24 crore litres of water to Latur in over 100 trips. The first train left Miraj on April 11, 2016, carrying 10 wagons with a combined capacity of 50,000 litres. Railway officials said the scale of the current drought could make a similar operation more challenging. According to an official, drought conditions now cover more than 70% of Maharashtra. Neighbouring states including Karnataka and parts of andhra Pradesh and Telangana have also declared drought.