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A pioneering maintenance depot for Vande Bharat Express trains is under construction at Bhagat Ki Kothi in the Jodhpur Railway Division, marking a significant development in India's railway infrastructure. This facility, the first of its kind in the country, will service Vande Bharat trains from across India and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Jodhpur Divisional Railway Manager Anurag Tripathi announced that the depot will feature three pit lines, allowing simultaneous maintenance of three trains. Additionally, a proposal for a ₹200 crore workshop and training centre near the depot has been submitted, aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and workforce training. The Vande Bharat Express, which began operations in February 2019, symbolizes India's commitment to innovation and sustainable development in rail transport, operating at speeds of up to 160 km/h to improve productivity and performance across the network. 
Published: Jun 03 2025, 4 pmeznews.inChennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has signed a contract with Alstom Transport India for the procurement of 32 driverless, three-car Unattended Train Operations (UTO) trains, valued at ₹1,538 crores. The agreement, formalized on Thursday, follows a Letter of Acceptance issued to Alstom on April 28. The first train is expected to be delivered by February 2027, with subsequent deliveries scheduled between September 2027 and May 2028. Each train will undergo extensive testing at CMRL facilities for 14 months, including integration and service trials. The contract encompasses the design, manufacture, supply, testing, commissioning, and a 15-year comprehensive maintenance plan for the 96 cars forming the 32 UTO trains. This marks the third and final contract for the procurement of UTO Metro Trains under CMRL's Phase 2 project, with the agreement signed by CMRL's Manoj Goyal and Alstom's Parag Nandlal Gohel.
Published: Jun 05 2025, 1 pmeznews.inBengaluru Metro achieved a record single-day ridership of over 9.6 lakh commuters on June 4, driven by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's victory celebrations. The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) reported a nearly three-fold increase in ridership across its two lines, with the Purple line accommodating over 4.7 lakh passengers and the Green line serving more than 2.8 lakh. The Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Metro Station at Majestic, which connects both lines, recorded 203,724 commuters. This surge was particularly notable at Central Business District stations, including Cubbon Park and MG Road. The record comes amid concerns over declining ridership following a price hike that saw a 16% drop in passengers from January to February. BMRCL had limited the price increase to 70% after commuter backlash. The previous record was set on April 17, 2025, with 9,08,153 boardings.
Published: Jun 05 2025, 1 pmeznews.inLeading brand owners in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), pharmaceutical, and food and beverage sectors are increasingly demanding a shift from single-use plastics to paper packaging, driven by environmental concerns. The market for barrier-coated packaging paper and paperboard is expected to grow significantly, with projections indicating a double-digit increase over the next decade. Currently, packaging paper and board account for 15 million tonnes of India's 23 million-tonne domestic paper market. Pawan Agarwal, President of the Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA), emphasized the need for effective barrier coatings to enhance paper's usability across various segments. Barrier-coated papers are touted as safe, biodegradable, and recyclable alternatives, with a global market projected to reach $11 billion by 2030. India is expected to contribute nearly 10% of this demand, reflecting its large population and youthful demographic, as the country seeks to reduce its reliance on single-use plastics and promote a circular economy.
Published: Jun 05 2025, 12 pmeznews.inAirbus has appointed Juergen Westermeier, its procurement chief, to lead operations in India and South Asia starting September 1, as revealed in an internal memo obtained by Reuters. His successor is yet to be announced. The European aircraft manufacturer is grappling with production and delivery challenges, exacerbated by global supply chain disruptions and labor shortages post-COVID-19. Deliveries fell by 4% in May and are down 5% for the year, complicating Airbus's goal of increasing deliveries by 7% to 820 planes by 2025. Notably, production of the A320neo family has lagged behind Boeing's 737 MAX for the first time since August 2019. Westermeier's appointment follows a recent reshuffle in key engineering roles, with CEO Guillaume Faury commending his contributions. Despite concerns over supply chain issues, sources indicate that Westermeier's move is not directly related to these challenges.
Published: Jun 05 2025, 10 ameznews.inRetail inflation in India, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), is projected to decline to 3.0% in May, marking a six-year low, primarily due to falling prices of cereals and pulses, according to a report by the Union Bank of India (UBI). The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation reported a decrease in inflation from 3.34% in March to 3.16% in April. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, slightly increased to 4.18%, driven by a low base effect from the previous year. Despite this, stable commodity prices and weak demand are expected to keep core inflation in check. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) considers the current inflation rates manageable, remaining within its target range of 2-6%. Policymakers aim to maintain retail inflation around 4% to ensure economic stability, with expectations of continued control over inflation in the upcoming financial year.
Published: Jun 05 2025, 10 ameznews.inThe Chennai Unified Metropolitan Authority (CUMTA) convened its inaugural executive committee meeting, chaired by Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary N Muruganandam, to enhance urban mobility in Chennai. The meeting focused on reviewing various projects and studies, particularly the Comprehensive Mobility Plan and Accessibility Enhancements. Key discussions included improvements to metro stations, the introduction of smart parking solutions, and advancements in public transport systems. Additionally, the committee explored multi-modal integration, upgrades to metro and suburban rail projects, freight rail connectivity, and the development of intermediate public transport and cycling initiatives. Officials from multiple departments, including Chennai Metro Rail and the transport department, participated in the meeting, underscoring a collaborative approach to urban transport challenges in the region.
Published: Jun 04 2025, 9 pmeznews.inKarnataka's Minister for Large and Medium Industries, M B Patil, inaugurated a new In-Flight Entertainment & Services Lab at Thales’ Engineering Competence Centre in Bengaluru, marking a significant advancement in aerospace technology. The lab will focus on research, testing, and development of in-flight entertainment systems, reinforcing Thales' commitment to Karnataka's innovation ecosystem. Patil highlighted the company's ongoing collaboration with local industries and academic institutions, which has integrated Karnataka into Thales' global innovation network and fostered a skilled workforce in the aerospace sector. The new facility complements Thales' existing operations in Bengaluru, which include mission-critical systems in avionics and air-traffic management, and follows plans for a dedicated avionics maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility by 2025. The event was attended by Marc Lamy, Consul General of France in Bengaluru, underscoring the international ties in the region's burgeoning aerospace and defence landscape.
Published: Jun 04 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIn the 2023-24 season, global trade in grains and oilseeds surged to 880 million tonnes, valued at $330 billion, according to a Rabobank report. Despite the ongoing Ukraine conflict causing price spikes, trade volumes grew at a compound annual growth rate of 3.2% for grains and 2.4% for oilseeds over the past five years, though this was slower than the previous decade's 7% growth. Soyabeans emerged as the most-traded oilseed, with an average of 168 million tonnes traded annually from 2021 to 2023, primarily driven by demand from China, which has become a key player in the soyabean market. Wheat remains the most traded grain, with Russia leading in exports. Factors such as population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, potential declines in Chinese soyabean imports, and changing biofuel policies are expected to shape future trade dynamics, alongside weather impacts on crop yields.
Published: Jun 04 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMF) has announced the launch of Amul milk in Spain, starting with Madrid and Barcelona, and plans to expand to other cities including Malaga, Valencia, and Alicante, as well as Lisbon in Portugal. This initiative marks Amul's first entry into the European market, facilitated through a partnership with Cooperativa Ganadera del Valle de los Pedroches (COVAP), Spain's leading dairy cooperative. The official launch event took place at the Indian Embassy in Madrid, attended by Indian Ambassador Dinesh K Patnaik and Spanish officials. GCMMF Managing Director Jayen Mehta expressed pride in this collaboration, emphasizing Amul's commitment to becoming a global dairy brand. COVAP, founded in 1959, processes over 400 million liters of milk annually and exports to more than 30 countries. Amul, recognized as India's largest consumer products group, aims to further its international presence, with future plans for launches in Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.
Published: Jun 04 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIn a significant development for India's agricultural trade, last week saw the sale of 49.7 quintals of groundnut, 45 quintals of wheat, and 6 quintals of coriander through inter-State transactions, amounting to ₹2,34,197, ₹1,13,548, and ₹43,896 respectively. This activity coincides with the Centre's preparations to launch e-NAM 2.0, which aims to enhance inter-State trading by prompting states to amend their Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Acts. Initial outreach has focused on Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, with plans to expand to Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Odisha. However, experts highlight the need for structural reforms, including a unified licensing system and quality assurance mechanisms, to build trust among buyers and farmers. While some states have made amendments to facilitate e-NAM transactions, challenges remain, particularly for buyers in states without APMC laws.
Published: Jun 04 2025, 8 pm
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