Development Watch – Week #4 Oct’26

Development News

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India’s longest train journey of 75 hours

India’s longest train journey, the Vivek Express, connects Dibrugarh in Assam to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, covering around 4,188 km in approximately 75 hours. The journey takes passengers through several states, from Assam’s tea gardens and the plains of Bengal to the cities of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, before reaching the greener landscapes of Kerala and the southern coastline in Tamil Nadu. Kanyakumari is known for its coastal scenery and its location near the meeting point of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. Popular attractions include the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and views of the sunrise over the sea.

Indian aviation and domestic startups

India’s aviation sector could see new possibilities as domestic startups work on electric aircraft designed to take off and land vertically. Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu has expressed encouragement for one such effort by Punjab-based Nalwa Aero, which has reported successful preliminary flight tests of its experimental aircraft. The company’s work centres on an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that uses an unconventional box-wing design and tilting rotors. The technology could eventually find applications in air taxis, medical evacuations, cargo transport and defence, although the aircraft will need further testing and regulatory approvals before commercial use.

Yamuna Boat Ride launched for Rs. 500

Namo Yamuna River Safari is a cruise service on the Yamuna river in Delhi. It will run along a 5km stretch from Sonia Vihar to Jagatpur. Each ride lasts 40 minutes and accommodates up to 30 passengers per boat. Ticket price is Rs 500 per person. Tickets will be available online through Delhi Tourism’s website. The air-conditioned boats will be equipped with inboard bio-toilets with zero discharge, safety jackets and an announcement system. Boats must not be more than two years old and can be either leased or owned by the operator. A minimum of four trips per day is required from the operator.

TBMs to be manufactured in India

Nitin Gadkari urged the industry to focus on developing tunnel machinery indigenously due to recent export controls from China. The Indian government plans to invest over Rs 7 lakh crore in infrastructure projects, including highways and tunnels. Gadkari highlighted the importance of quality in highway construction and stated that poor-performing contractors would face consequences. Additionally, he mentioned ongoing efforts to improve logistics costs and connectivity through various projects.

Blackstone opens 2nd office in India

Blackstone, the US-based alternative asset manager, has opened its second office in India in Bengaluru, establishing a global capability centre (GCC) to strengthen its operational capabilities and support the firm’s businesses worldwide. Located at an office park jointly owned by Blackstone Real Estate and Prestige Group, the centre will bring together Blackstone employees and professional services partnerships across corporate function.

India’s wind energy to reach 8 GW by 2027

India’s wind energy sector is poised for a new phase of accelerated growth, with annual installations expected to reach 8 GW in FY26-27 and scale progressively to 13.2 GW by FY30-31. The projected trajectory takes cumulative installed capacity to approximately 107 GW. The country holds 59.2 GW of installed capacity, while 43 GW remains under construction. This provides clear project visibility across 102.2 GW of capacity, creating a base for sustained expansion. Grid expansion under the Rs 1.86 lakh crore Green Energy Corridor Phase-III underpins this pipeline, aiming to integrate higher renewable volumes to support the national goal of 900 GW non-fossil capacity by 2035.

Jakson Group’s solar wafer & cell plant in AP

Jakson Group, one of India’s largest solar module manufacturers, plans to invest Rs 6,863 crore in an integrated solar manufacturing plant in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district to produce 10 GW of silicon ingots and wafers and 5 GW of solar cells. The Noida-based group will set up the plant in Meedivemula village. The State Investment Promotion Board, led by Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu, has recommended allotting 290 acres to Jakson Integrated Solar for the project. Andhra Pradesh’s Integrated Clean Energy Policy, 2024, targets 20 GW of solar manufacturing capacity across the value chain.