Infrastructure

The latest update from the Ministry of Railways says the corridor will use the Japanese J-Slab ballastless track system, based on Shinkansen technology, for the first time in India. Unlike conventional railway tracks that use loose ballast stones, this system uses a reinforced concrete track bed, cement asphalt mortar, pre-cast track slabs, rails and fasteners to create a highly stable track structure suitable for high-speed operations.

The scheme is designed to support Indian participation in key international telecom forums such as the International Telecommunication Union, 3GPP and oneM2M, giving domestic stakeholders financial assistance for attending global meetings, submitting technical contributions, taking up leadership roles in study groups and hosting international standardisation events in India.

The minister said the country’s wind energy potential at 150-metre hub height is estimated at nearly 1,164 GW, and reiterated the government’s target of reaching 100 GW by 2030 and 156 GW by 2036. He linked that expansion to India’s longer-term net-zero by 2070 objective.

The Power Ministry’s October 2024 release on the National Electricity Plan said the transmission system is being prepared to support 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 and over 600 GW by 2032.

The facility uses over 12 lakh advanced TOPCon bifacial solar modules manufactured at SAEL’s plants in Punjab and Rajasthan, reflecting strong integration of domestic manufacturing with large-scale renewable deployment.

The push comes as India looks for reliable low-carbon baseload power to support rising electricity demand over the next two decades. According to the Union government’s implementation report on budget announcements, the development of at least 100 GW of nuclear energy by 2047 is considered essential for India’s energy transition, and a formal roadmap for reaching that level has already been prepared and circulated for stakeholder discussions.

The expansion is being driven by a mix of structural factors, including rising internet penetration, widespread smartphone usage, and a strong consumer shift toward mobile-first digital behaviour. Advertisers are increasingly moving budgets to digital channels because they offer sharper audience targeting, real-time campaign tracking and clearer returns on spending compared with traditional media.

The plant, being developed by US-based 3D Glass Solutions, involves an investment of around ₹1,943 crore and will be located at Info Valley. The foundation stone for the facility was recently laid by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, in the presence of Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.