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New Delhi: In a major change in policy, govt has increased the time allowed for construction of 6-10 km-long bridges across rivers such as Ganga and Brahmaputra to six years and for 2.5-6 km-long bridges on Mahanadi and Godavari to five years. The timelines have been revised from the current 24-30 months.Similarly, the construction period has been fixed at two years for national highway projects costing up to Rs 500 crore, 30 months for Rs 500-1,500 crore projects, and three years for works costing over Rs 1,500 crore.The change in the ‘normative construction period’ has been made after a gap of 13 years, learning from past experience of how the average time taken for completion of NH projects has been over four years against the standard timeline of 2.5-3 years. The revised timeline for construction will be applicable for all NH projects to be bid out from May 6.In a circular, the road transport ministry said present guidelines — issued in 2013 — are derived from a legacy linear model that does not explicitly account for voluminous earthwork, leading to unrealistic construction period and resulting in additional cost and risk.“Therefore, a need was felt to revise the existing guidelines based on scientific analysis, understanding of completed projects, and prescribe a realistic construction period for civil works at DPR and bid invitation stage,” the ministry said. It added that the new norm will improve predictability in completion of projects, reduce disputes, enhance value and quality of NHs, for realistic and bankable bids, better quality outcomes and improved investor confidence.An additional six months time has been provisioned in the new norms for critical projects which involve multiple flyovers, tunnels or elevated structures. Similarly, an addition of 12 months has been provisioned for projects that involve cutting and slope stabilisation in hilly states.
NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane faced heavy criticism on Monday after opting to bat first in a rain-threatened clash against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens. In matches with rain forecasts, captains usually prefer to field first to have clarity on the target in a shortened game. However, Rahane’s decision did not go down well with many, including legendary Anil Kumble and former India cricketers Ravichandran Ashwin and Saba Karim.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the rain was triggered by a low-pressure trough stretching from Bihar to Manipur, passing over North Bengal, Assam and Bangladesh, leading to moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal.“Thunderstorms with lightning and rain may occur in most districts of South Bengal. From Sunday to Thursday, scattered rainfall is likely across the state, with higher intensity on Tuesday and Wednesday,” the IMD said.Despite these conditions, Rahane’s decision to bat first drew criticism from former cricketers.“I am surprised that Rahane won the toss and chose to bat first. On a pitch like this, where there’s some rain around, ideally, you would want to field first,” Kumble said on the JioHotstar broadcast during the rain break.Ashwin took to social media and posted a sarcastic remark.“When you know it’s going to be a rain affected game, with an inexperienced bowling attack at your disposal, you choose to bat first. Interesting thought process. #ipl2026,” Ashwin wrote.“I cannot understand this call. I cannot wrap my head around it,” Saba said.Former Bengal batter Shreevats Goswami wrote: “Very surprised to see Rahane winning the toss & electing to bat first on a overcast condition. Bit of a shocker there. Immediately you can see swing and 2 caught behinds. Very very brave call. #kkr,” he said.Rain then interrupted Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL match against Punjab Kings, with the home side struggling at 25 for 2 in 3.4 overs amid steady drizzle that later intensified into a thunderstorm.Opting to bat, KKR – still searching for their first win of the season – were jolted early as Xavier Bartlett struck twice in the span of three balls.Showing excellent control over swing and seam, the Australian pacer dismissed KKR’s two key overseas batters Finn Allen (6) and Cameron Green (4), who had been promoted to No. 3.Green, the highest-paid overseas player at Rs 25.20 crore, endured another poor outing, having earlier scored 18 against Mumbai Indians and 2 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, as KKR’s struggles continued following two opening losses.Skipper Rahane (8) and young wicketkeeper-batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi (7), who has been KKR’s most consistent performer this season with back-to-back fifties, were attempting to rebuild when persistent drizzle forced the umpires to halt play at 7:45 pm.With Eden Gardens equipped with full ground covers, the groundstaff moved swiftly to cover the entire field.
Foreign firms leased a record 9.1 million square feet of office space across India’s top nine cities during the January-March quarter to set up Global Capability Centres (GCCs), highlighting strong demand for workspaces, PTI reported citing CBRE data.Real estate consultant CBRE said total gross leasing of office space rose 5% to 20.7 million square feet in the quarter, compared with 19.7 million square feet in the year-ago period.The nine cities covered in the report include Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Kochi.Leasing for GCCs stood at a record 9.1 million square feet in the March quarter, the highest ever for any quarter.“The record GCC leasing activity is a definitive signal of India’s position as the global destination of choice for high-complexity capability functions,” said Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO, India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, CBRE.He added that demand is broad-based across sectors such as e-commerce, technology and BFSI.“The demand is increasingly being driven by mid-market and nano GCCs alongside established Fortune 500 occupiers,” Magazine said.According to CBRE, American firms accounted for 73% of the total GCC leasing during the quarter.Ram Chandnani, Managing Director, Leasing Services, India, CBRE, said occupiers are increasingly preferring green-certified and amenity-rich office spaces.“As occupiers adopt AI-ready workspace strategies and GCCs evolve into multi-functional innovation hubs, we expect leasing momentum to remain healthy through 2026,” he said.Bengaluru led office leasing activity with a 29% share, followed by Delhi-NCR at 22% and Mumbai at 16%.Together, these three cities accounted for around 67% of the total office leasing across the nine cities during the January-March period, the consultant said.
Mumbai: Co-location studies to calibrate low-cost air quality sensors with existing reference grade monitoring stations have commenced in the city as part of the MANAS (Mumbai Air Network for Advanced Sciences) project. Under the project, the BMC along with IIT-Kanpur will install 75 low-cost air quality monitoring sensors, for hyperlocal monitoring of air quality in the city. The BMC hopes to complete installation of all sensors before monsoon. The sensors will help the civic body in hyperlocal level decision making on air pollution.Civic sources said the devices are being tested and fine-tuned. “Since Mumbai is a coastal city, temperature and humidity will affect the functioning of the sensors. Therefore, the sensors have to be tested and fine-tuned accordingly. We are also installing about 10 of these sensors near our CAAQMS (continuous ambient air quality monitoring systems) stations,” said a civic official. “The sensors will be installed at BMC buildings including ward offices, hospitals, schools and other civic structures across the city. We hope to get granular data from the same,” the official added. Installation of the air quality monitoring units is expected to cost around Rs 13 crore. “The city will be divided into equal-sized grids of roughly eight square kilometres and the sensor-based air quality monitoring units would be set up at each of these grids. The monitoring units are expected to help BMC in measuring air quality at hyperlocal levels. The monitoring units are expected to measure PM 2.5 and PM 10 primarily,” said an official.Data from the sensors will be linked to a cloud and a dashboard will help the civic body carry out hyperlocal action and mitigation measures. With data from these hyperlocal monitoring units along with that from AQI monitoring units installed at construction sites across the city, the BMC will be able to identify the sources of pollution in real-time. Besides, the BMC will also be able to carry out real-time mitigation action at the local level. Of the 2,700-odd construction sites in the city, about 2,500 have installed AQI monitoring units, of which data from about 2,100 are available on a dashboard for the BMC. The rest of the construction sites are in the process of installing the monitors. The IIT-Kanpur team has set up sensor-based monitoring units across Bihar and part of UP and in several cities.
NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer on Monday came out in support of former India allrounder Yuvraj Singh, who recently revealed that he did not receive clear communication from then captain Virat Kohli, head coach Ravi Shastri and selectors while reflecting on his retirement.In a recent interview with Sports Tak, Yuvraj, who played 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is, said he did not receive proper communication from Kohli and Shastri and had to approach MS Dhoni for clarity about his future.Taking to X, Jaffer, who played alongside Yuvraj, backed the allrounder and criticised the Indian team management, the BCCI and the selectors.“Earlier players used to find out in newspapers if their career is over or not, although things have gotten better in terms of communication still if a big player like @YUVSTRONG12 who’s won India two WC says he wasn’t communicated then that’s not right. Communication should be there. #Indiancricket”, Jaffer said.
What did Yuvraj say?Yuvraj opened up about the confusion he faced towards the end of his career.“For example, when I went through my own situation, I had zero clarity. There was no clarity from the National Cricket Academy, no clarity from the captain or coach. I was stuck at 36, going on 37, wondering what to do next. At the very least, if someone has played so much cricket, they deserve respect,” he said.“I feel that those who are at the end of their careers need clarity. I didn’t get it, neither did Zaheer Khan, Virender Sehwag or Harbhajan Singh. The captain, coach or selector, whoever it may be, should sit with the player and explain how they see things,” he added.During this uncertain phase, it was Dhoni who provided him with a clear and honest perspective.“I spoke to MS Dhoni. We spoke over the phone. He gave me the right perspective. He had nothing to gain, but he could see what was going on,” Yuvraj shared. Even then, he insisted on making his own decision. “I was told that if I couldn’t pass the fitness test, I should consider retirement. I said I would decide my retirement myself,” he revealed.Yuvraj last played for India in June 2017 against West Indies and announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket in 2019.
The rupee appreciated by 28 paise to close at 92.90 against the US dollar on Monday, supported by the Reserve Bank’s measures aimed at curbing speculative activity and reducing volatility, PTI reported.Forex traders said that while the RBI’s actions are positive for the currency, continued foreign fund outflows, a firm dollar and elevated crude oil prices amid geopolitical tensions are exerting pressure on the rupee.The RBI has tightened rules to curb speculative positions and capped banks’ net open positions at $100 million.At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 93.13 and strengthened to an intraday high of 92.79 against the greenback before settling at 92.90, up 28 paise from the previous close.On Thursday, the domestic currency had posted one of its sharpest gains in years, rising 152 paise to close at 93.18 after the RBI introduced a series of measures to restrict banks from onshore forward markets.Equity and forex markets remained closed on Friday on account of Good Friday.Geopolitical tensions continue to weigh on the rupee, with US President Donald Trump escalating pressure on Iran and setting a deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, failing which the US could target its power infrastructure.Meanwhile, the dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six currencies, was down 0.15% at 99.87.Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading 1.61% lower at $107.29 per barrel in futures trade, as investors tracked developments around the Strait of Hormuz.According to forex traders, the USD/INR pair may see short-term appreciation, though the broader trend will continue to be influenced by global dollar liquidity, crude oil movements and geopolitical developments.On the domestic equity front, the Sensex rose 787.30 points to close at 74,106.85, while the Nifty gained 255.15 points to end at 22,968.25.Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 8,167.17 crore on a net basis on Monday, as per exchange data.India’s forex reserves declined by $10.288 billion to $688.058 billion for the week ended March 27, the RBI said. In the previous week, reserves had dropped by $11.413 billion to $698.346 billion.On the macroeconomic front, India’s services sector growth eased to a 14-month low in March, reflecting slower new business inflows.The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Services PMI Business Activity Index fell to 57.5 in March from 58.1 in February, marking the weakest expansion in activity since January 2025.
Mumbai : Bank earnings in FY26 are set to shift from margin-led gains to volume-driven growth, even as funding pressures intensify with banks increasingly tapping costly wholesale sources to sustain credit expansion. According to data released by RBI, system-level advances grew 13.8% as of March 15, outpacing deposit growth of 10.8%, widening the gap between loans and liabilities. This divergence has intensified competition for funds, pushing banks to rely more on high-cost certificates of deposit, whose issuances have surged to record levels.A report by Systematix Research noted that the credit-deposit ratio has risen to around 83% in March from 81.7% in Dec 2025. This has forced banks to depend on wholesale funds. The report added that fresh certificate of deposit issuances jumped 46% year-on-year during the quarter, reflecting growing funding pressure.Banks’ business updates released over the weekend reinforce this trend, with most banks reporting faster credit growth than deposit accretion. The only exceptions were HDFC Bank and Yes Bank, where deposit growth exceeded loan expansion. Bank of India, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Yes Bank posted double-digit balance sheet growth in FY26, while IndusInd Bank reported contraction, highlighting divergent funding strategies and balance sheet adjustments across lenders.
The strong double-digit credit growth reflects continued economic momentum, with retail, agriculture and MSME segments driving loan demand. Bank of India reported global advances rising 15.7% year-on-year to Rs 7,70,566 crore, while deposits grew 13.6% to Rs 9,27,460 crore, pushing its credit-deposit ratio to 83.1% from about 81.6% a year earlier. Kotak Mahindra Bank saw net advances increase 16.2% to Rs 4,95,892 crore and deposits rise 14.7% to Rs 5,72,457 crore, with its credit-deposit ratio inching up to 86.6% from around 85.5%.Yes Bank stood out with stronger deposit mobilisation, as deposits grew 12.1% to Rs 3,18,970 crore, outpacing loan growth of 10.7% to Rs 2,72,454 crore.
Bengaluru: Amazon is preparing to scale down its 4-24 hour grocery delivery service, Amazon Fresh, in several major Indian cities as it sharpens focus on its quick commerce offering, AmazonNow, according to a UBS Global Research report.The transition is expected to play out across 10-15 large urban markets where AmazonNow is being expanded, effectively replacing Amazon Fresh in these locations, the report said.The move underscores Amazon’s shift towards faster fulfillment models, as competition intensifies in India’s quick commerce segment dominated by players such as Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart.AmazonNow, currently live in six cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi, is being positioned as the company’s primary vehicle for rapid delivery. UBS estimates the service could expand to 10 cities in the near term, covering a large share of quick commerce demand in the country.“We understand AmazonNow’s average order value (AOV) is Rs 260-300, while the mature stores (more than 6 months old) have a higher AOV of Rs 320-360, per our checks. The primary reason for low AOV vs Blinkit and Instamart is that AmazonNow is currently operating in FMCG and only recently adding other categories such as electronics, toys etc,” the research note said.The quick commerce push is being backed by a rapidly expanding dark store network. AmazonNow operates roughly 450 dark stores at present and is adding about two stores a day, with the network expected to scale up significantly over the next year, according to the report.Even as it pivots to faster deliveries in urban centres, Amazon continues to invest in its national logistics backbone. The company currently operates over 20 large warehouses for its broader ecommerce operations and is expected to increase this footprint further by mid-2026 to improve delivery timelines across India.Amazon Fresh, which remains operational in over 100 cities, will continue in markets where quick commerce is yet to be rolled out. However, in cities where AmazonNow is introduced, Fresh is likely to be phased down, reflecting a broader shift from scheduled grocery deliveries to instant fulfilment models.The report is based on channel checks and expert conversations and reflects third-party assessments of Amazon’s strategy rather than company-confirmed plans.
NEW DELHI:It appears that Pakistan’s star pacer Naseem Shah and trouble are going hand in hand. First, he was handed a hefty fine for his comments about a politician on social media – narrowly avoiding a ban – and now fresh concerns around his fitness that ruled him out of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).Beyond behavioural issues, his fitness worries have continued to mount, something that has not gone down well with the Pakistan Cricket Board.Naseem is likely to face action from the Pakistan Cricket Board over both his fitness concerns and his conduct. He will be required to undergo an extensive rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the medical panel.He was fined what is believed to be the largest penalty in Pakistan cricket history – PKR 20 million (approximately USD 72,000) – after criticising Punjab’s chief minister, Maryam Nawaz, in a tweet.“Naseem suffered a side strain during Rawalpindi’s match against Karachi Kings on Thursday and missed the team’s last match, which has raised serious questions over his fitness,” sources told www.telecomasia.net“Naseem’s rise has been stunted by off-field behaviour, his excessive attention to advertisements and podcasts, which has derailed his career. He also missed the 2023 ODI World Cup due to fitness issues, which are blots in his career,” Telecom Asia Sport said, quoting sources.“Naseem will appear before the medical panel under Dr Javed Mughal in the next couple of days, as the selection committee is also not happy with his frequent fitness issues,” sources added.Naseem had suffered an injury during Pakistan’s disappointing 2026 T20 World Cup campaign and was subsequently ruled out of the tour of Bangladesh.He was also demoted to the ‘C’ category in the central contracts list last year.
