Nagpur HC Raps NHAI Over Delay In 48-Km Katol Road Project

14 May 2025 CW Team

The Nagpur Bench of the High Court has strongly criticised the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for delays in completing a crucial 48-kilometre stretch of the Nagpur-Katol four-lane road project. Sanctioned in September 2021, the project鈥攕panning from the 13-kilometre to the 62-kilometre mark on National Highway 357J鈥攚as awarded to joint contractors Agarwal Global Infratech Pvt. Ltd. and Joint Stock Company Industry Association.

Due to prolonged delays and the resulting inconvenience to the public, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by Dinesh Thakre, former chairman and current director of APMC Katol, alongside other petitioners. During the latest hearing, the court instructed the NHAI Project Director to submit a detailed timeline for the project鈥檚 completion. Advocate Mahesh Dhatrak appeared for the petitioners, while Chief Government Pleader Deven Chauhan represented the state.

The court further questioned why criminal charges should not be filed against NHAI officials and the contractor firms for their alleged negligence. This comes after previous directions where the court asked the state to furnish data on accidents in Kalmeshwar and Katol tehsils鈥攄ata that was submitted during Thursday鈥檚 hearing.

Despite being awarded in March 2021 with a completion deadline of October 2023, the project remains unfinished, causing disruption for commuters over the past five years. The court expressed serious displeasure, noting that citizens had to resort to legal action because of the Union Ministry of Transport and NHAI鈥檚 inaction.

Interim orders had earlier mandated the installation of reflective boards and diversion signage for commuter safety, but the court observed that these measures remain only partially implemented. The matter remains under judicial scrutiny, with the court demanding clear accountability and immediate remedial steps.

Infrastructure Urban

13 Jun 2025

Reliance, Diehl Advance Pact for Precision-Guided Munitions

Diehl Defence CEO Helmut Rauch and Reliance Group鈥檚 Founder Chairman Anil D. Ambani have held discussions to advance their ongoing strategic partnership focused on Guided and Terminally Guided Munitions (TGM), under a cooperation agreement originally signed in 2019.This collaboration underscores Diehl Defence鈥檚 long-term commitment to the Indian market and its support for the Indian Government鈥檚 Make in India initiative. The partnership鈥檚 current emphasis is on the urgent supply of the Vulcano 155mm Precision Guided Munition system to the Indian Armed Forces.Simultaneously, the 鈥淰ulc..

Infrastructure Urban

13 Jun 2025

Modis Navnirman to Migrate to Main Board, Merge Subsidiary

Modis Navnirman Limited has announced that its Board of Directors has approved a key strategic initiative involving migration from the BSE SME platform to the Main Board of both BSE and NSE, alongside a merger with its wholly owned subsidiary, Shree Modis Navnirman Private Limited.The move to the main boards marks a major milestone in the company鈥檚 growth trajectory, reflecting its consistent financial performance, robust corporate governance, and long-term commitment to value creation. This transition will grant the company access to a broader investor base, improve market participation, en..

Infrastructure Urban

13 Jun 2025

Global Capital Flows Remain Subdued, EMEA Leads in Q1 2025

The Bharat InvITs Association鈥檚 industry update for Q1 2025 shows subdued global capital flows, with investment volumes remaining at the lower end of the five-year range despite a late 2024 recovery. According to data from Colliers and MSCI Real Capital Analytics, activity in North America declined slightly, while EMEA maintained steady levels and emerged as the top region for investment in standing assets.The EMEA region now hosts seven of the top ten cross-border capital destinations for standing assets, pushing the United States鈥� share of global activity below 15 per cent. Meanwhile, in..