Char Dham Project requires Himalayan geological study

04 Dec 2023 CW Team

When the first of the 41 workers stranded in the Silkyara tunnel was rescued on November 28, night after a 17-day ordeal, a collective sigh of relief was breathed by the nation. Although the rescue efforts were deserving of applause, the collapse of a section of the 4.5-km Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel in Uttarakhand on November 12, which ensnared the workers, gives rise to several inquiries regarding the mega infrastructure project in an ecologically fragile zone.

The tunnel constitutes a segment of the Union government's ambitious Char Dham Mahamarg Pariyojana?a highway widening project spanning almost 900 km in Uttarakhand, aiming to establish all-weather connectivity to the Hindu pilgrimage sites of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath. In August 2019, the Supreme Court established a high-powered committee to scrutinize the "cumulative and independent" impact of the project "on the entire Himalayan valleys."

Infrastructure Transport

20 Jun 2025

Dassault To Build Falcon Jets In India With Reliance

Reliance Infrastructure Ltd鈥檚 subsidiary, Reliance Aerostructure, has signed an agreement with France鈥檚 Dassault Aviation to manufacture Falcon 2000 business jets in India, with the first batch expected to roll out from its Nagpur facility by 2028. This marks the first time a Falcon aircraft will be entirely built outside France.The announcement sent Reliance Infrastructure shares surging, hitting the 5 per cent upper circuit on the BSE. Anil Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Group, hailed the agreement as a 鈥渟ymbol of India鈥檚 technological and manufacturing strength鈥�, adding that it aims..

Infrastructure Urban

20 Jun 2025

INDEA Lays Foundation for India鈥檚 First Auto Design School

The Indian School for Design of Automobiles (INDEA), the country鈥檚 first institute focused solely on automobile design and management, held its foundation stone ceremony at XLRI Delhi-NCR. The event was graced by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, who virtually unveiled the stone as Chief Guest.INDEA aims to become a premier talent hub, driving innovation in the Indian automotive sector. The school will focus on advanced design, mobility solutions, and sustainable practices, playing a vital role in shaping India鈥檚 transition from a cost-driven to a quality-led a..

Infrastructure Transport

20 Jun 2025

Karnataka Launches Global Innovation Hub at Airport City

The Government of Karnataka, in collaboration with Bengaluru Airport City Limited (BACL) and ANSR, has launched a global innovation hub named District I at Bengaluru Airport City's business park. The initiative aims to elevate India鈥檚 innovation ecosystem to a global scale by fostering collaboration among startups, academia, enterprises, and government bodies.District I will serve as a platform for deep-tech entrepreneurship, enterprise innovation, and commercialisation of academic research. It brings together Global Capability Centres (GCCs), IT firms, corporate labs, startups, venture capi..