Ramky Infra enters into two contracts worth Rs 216.65 crore for reclamation of Kodungaiyur dumping ground in Chennai
Ramky Infrastructure on Wednesday announced that it has entered into two contracts with Greater Chennai Corporation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu for reclamation of Kodungaiyur Dumping Ground through biomining. “We are pleased to inform that the company has entered into two contracts with Greater Chennai Corporation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu for “Reclamation of Kodungaiyur Dumping Ground through Biomining” (Packages 2 and 5). These contracts have enhanced the Capability of Ramky Infrastructure Limited in the field of providing eco infrastructure solutions to the society and nation at large,” the company said in a regulatory filing.

Pune office market to cross 100 million square feet
Pune will be a 100 million sq. ft. office space market in around two years, Anshuman Magazine, chairman and CEO – India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, CBRE, said. The office space in the city is currently at 84 million sq. ft.  This is large for a city of Pune’s size, Magazine said. Office space in Pune was higher than in many global cities, he added. 

Mumbai ranks 3rd after Manila, Dubai in Knight Frank Prime Global Cities Index, sees 10% YoY growth in luxury home rates
Mumbai has secured the third position in the prestigious Prime Global Cities Index for Q4 2023, a testament to the city's burgeoning luxury housing market. Mumbai witnessed an impressive 10 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth in prime residential prices, driven primarily by affluent homebuyers seeking lifestyle upgrades against the backdrop of a robust economic environment, according to Knight Frank's latest report, released on March 20.

Indian REITs pitch for direct bank lending, classification as equity
Indian Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) industry on Wednesday pitched for the entities getting access to direct bank lending and their classification as equities. The Indian REITs Association — a newly formed umbrella body for the five-year-old sector — said such vehicles can issue bonds or borrow from non-bank lenders or mutual funds, but not directly from banks.

Commercial Real Estate Potential in Greater Noida West: Trends & Opportunities
Greater Noida West has been rapidly emerging as a hotspot for investment opportunities, particularly in the commercial real estate sector. Situated strategically within close proximity to Delhi and key business hubs like Noida and Greater Noida, the region has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few years. The Greater Noida Authority’s recent announcement about its decision to allot five commercial projects near Yamuna Expressway for the development of malls, hotels, and showrooms indicated the region’s potential quite well. This move not only signifies a boost in commercial infrastructure but also reflects the confidence of authorities in the area’s growth trajectory.

The rise of female homebuyers in India’s real estate landscape
For decades, the real estate sector in India has been predominantly male-dominated, with men typically assuming the role of primary decision-makers in property transactions. Societal norms and cultural expectations often relegated women to secondary positions in matters related to home buying, reinforcing traditional gender roles and limiting their agency in real estate matters.

Pune-based infra co to raise INR 995 cr from AG Dynamic Funds
Roadway Solutions India Infra has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with AG Dynamic Funds Limited for an investment of USD 120 million (around INR 995 crore). The company plans to use the investment to improve growth and strengthen the company’s market presence. It provides infrastructure solutions, with a focus on road construction and development. AG Dynamic Funds is a Mauritius-baed India-focused fund .

NHAI completes largest ever InvIT monetization of over INR 16000 cr through round 3
National Highways Infra Trust (NHIT), the infrastructure investment trust by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has successfully concluded fund-raising through 'InvIT Round-3' for national highway stretches of aggregate length of 889km at an enterprise value of over INR 16,000 crore, which is the largest monetization by NHAI and one of the largest transactions in the history of Indian road sector.

FE Exclusive: Vande Bharat in South America soon? Argentina, Chile highly interested in India’s semi-high speed train: RITES CMD Rahul Mithal
Within five years of its inception, India’s first semi high-speed train Vande Bharat Express has revolutionised rail travel in the country. The first-of-its-kind ‘engine-less’ train, which runs on distributed traction, has not only happy passengers but also admirers on a global level.

Jupiter Wagons approves acquisition of 94.25% stake in Bonatrans India for Rs 271 crore
West Bengal-based Jupiter Wagons on Wednesday announced that its board of directors have approved the acquisition of 94.25 per cent stake in Bonatrans India Private Limited for a cash consideration of Rs 271 crore. “We wish to inform that the Board of Directors of the company, at its meeting held today i.e. 20th March, 2024 has considered and approved the acquisition of Bonatrans India Private Limited, which shall eventually become the subsidiary company upon completion of acquisition,” the company said in a regulatory filing. 

Jammu and Kashmir: DGP reviews security of newly commissioned railway line in Ramban
On Tuesday, Director General of Police (DGP) R R Swain reviewed the security of the newly commissioned railway line between Banihal and Sangaldan in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mango orchard-inspired ‘Bilimora’ Bullet train station takes shape in Gujarat under Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor
India’s ambitious Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train corridor is progressing at a rapid pace as the government has set the 2026 deadline for opening first stretch of the project.

Indian Railways’ safety blanket for women! NCW and RPF sign MoU to combat human trafficking – Here’s how
In an effort to sensitise officials on women trafficking within the rail network, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has collaborated with the Railway Protection Force (RPF). 

Railway Board directs zones to reduce unnecessary paperwork for loco pilots to enhance safety
In an effort to enhance the safety of Indian Railways services, the Railway Board on Tuesday (March 19) directed all its zones to reduce paperwork of drivers and assistant drivers while they are operating trains. 

Indian Railways earned Rs 1,229 cr from cancelled waiting list tickets
In 2021, approximately 25.3 million tickets on the waiting list were cancelled, resulting in earnings of Rs 242.68 crore for Indian Railways. The following year, the number of cancelled tickets surged to 46 million, with revenue reaching Rs 439.16 crore. In 2023, the trend continued, with 52.6 million waitlisted tickets being cancelled, contributing to earnings of Rs 505 crore. Even in January 2024 alone, 4.586 million tickets were cancelled, generating Rs 43 crore for the Railways. Altogether, this accounts for more than 128 million cancelled waiting list tickets during the specified period.