Concrete

BASF and NAC join hands to promote sustainable construction

Published

4 years ago

October 14, 2021

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BASF India and National Academy of Construction (NAC) have joined hands to launch skill development programmes and improve the employability of youth across the construction industry.

BASF India has signed a MoU with the National Academy of Construction (NAC), a vocational training institution established by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, India to launch a joint programme to upskill the workforce and increase mobility and employability across the construction industry. The programme will also promote the advantages of construction chemical solutions, which help increase the durability, improve resource efficiency and ensure climate protection.

Â´Improving sustainability in the construction industry in India requires a highly trained and knowledge-based workforce. Together with the extensive reach of NAC, BASF endeavours to boost the development of the construction industry by sharing knowledge on technologies, products and expertise with industry practitioners,Â´ said Dr. Raman Ramachandran, Chairman, BASF Companies in India Â´ Head South Asia. NAC is represented on the National Council for Vocational Training for one term. It has eight constituent units covering all sectors of the construction industry and has an experienced in-house faculty of 750 personnel as well as visiting faculty.

Â´The programme aims to enhance professionalism in the construction industry by improving the knowledge and ability of construction workers, engineers, contractors, managers and supervisors.Â´, said P K Agarwal, Director General of NAC.

Upen Patel, Business Director, Construction Chemicals, BASF, said, Â´In addition to enhancing the competency of the industry workstaff, the strategic partnership will offer an ideal platform for us to strengthen existing awareness about the varied benefits and advantages of using BASFÂ´s broad construction chemicals product portfolio, and to improve the energy efficiency, durability and speed of construction.Â´ As part of the agreement, BASF will assist NAC in developing the curriculum in three broad areas: Rehabilitation and repairs of buildings; Waterproofing and use of construction chemicals in buildings, and Use of admixtures in concrete. BASF will also take part in coaching around a hundred teachers from the NAC on both the theoretical as well as the practical aspects of selection and effective usage of construction chemicals. BASF, the industry partner in the initiative, is a leading chemical company with a large portfolio of products ranging from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas.

Concrete

Niraj Cement JV Wins Railway and Metro Contracts

Two orders worth over Rs 1.64 billion boost infrastructure portfolio

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

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Niraj Cement Structurals (JV) has secured two major contracts from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NF Railway) and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), strengthening its position in large-scale infrastructure development.

The first contract, valued at Rs 815.2 million, has been awarded by NF Railway. It involves the construction of multiple-span 12.20-metre PSC slab underpasses, a major bridge (No. 727), retaining and guide walls, embankments and one minor bridge along the proposed UP and Down line near Deepor Beel. The project covers Km 163/00 to 164/200 between Azara and Kamakhya stations and forms part of the New Bongaigaon–Goalpara Town–Kamakhya (NBQ–GLPT–KYQ) railway doubling programme.

The second contract, worth Rs 826.6 million, has been awarded by MMRDA for constructing a foot overbridge (FOB) equipped with a travellator to improve connectivity between the SGMC monorail station and the Mahalaxmi metro and suburban railway stations.

The two projects underscore the company’s technical capabilities in both transportation infrastructure and environmentally sensitive construction, further strengthening its portfolio in key railway and urban mobility developments.

Concrete

Peddapalli MP Seeks Clear Timelines for Rs 42.10 Bn Projects

Peddapalli MP Gaddam Vamshi Krishna has urged the Union Government to specify execution timelines for major infrastructure projects worth Rs 42.10 billion in his constituency.

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

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Peddapalli MP Gaddam Vamshi Krishna has called on the Centre to provide definitive timelines for a series of sanctioned infrastructure works that he said are essential for the region’s economic progress. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, he stressed that many approved projects remain stalled without clear implementation schedules, limiting their potential impact on connectivity and employment.

A key pending work is the Peddapalli–Manuguru Railway Line, a 137 km stretch linking Peddapalli with Manuguru in Bhadradri Kothagudem district. Although the line has received required approvals and special project status, the execution schedule has not yet been announced. The project is expected to support freight efficiency, improve coal logistics, and strengthen local job creation.

Extending his appeal beyond physical infrastructure, the MP urged the Centre to consider including Peddapalli in the India Semiconductor Mission, citing the district’s industrial ecosystem, skilled workforce, and readiness to support advanced manufacturing.

By pressing for structured timelines, Krishna emphasised the need for coordinated planning and timely execution to advance the constituency’s long-term development goals.

Concrete

IndiaAI, Gujarat Govt Host Regional Conclave Ahead of 2026 AI Summit

A regional pre-summit event in Gandhinagar recently gathered leaders to advance AI for good governance.

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

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The IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, along with the Government of Gujarat and IIT Gandhinagar, convened a Regional Pre-Summit Event at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. The initiative is part of the build-up to the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for 15–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The conclave brought together senior policymakers, technology leaders, researchers and industry practitioners to examine how AI can accelerate economic, digital and social transformation across sectors. The programme focused on the overarching theme of ‘AI for Good Governance: Empowering India’s Digital Future’.

The inaugural session featured key dignitaries including Bhupendrabhai Rajnikant Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat; Harsh Rameshbhai Sanghavi, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat; Arjunbhai Devabhai Modhwadia, Minister for Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat; Manoj Kumar Das, Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat; Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY and Director General, NIC; and Ponugumatla Bharathi, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat.

High-impact keynote sessions led by national and global experts from MeitY, Bhashini, Google Cloud, Microsoft, IBM Research, NVIDIA, Oracle and AWS examined themes including AI in governance, public service delivery, urban development, rural transformation, healthcare, agriculture, fintech and multilingual accessibility enabled through Bhashini.
Delegates also visited an Experience Zone curated by IndiaAI and DST Gujarat, which showcased AI solutions across governance, agriculture, health and industry.

By convening government, industry and academic stakeholders, the conclave aimed to strengthen India’s AI ecosystem through frameworks that prioritise trust, scalability and public interest. Insights generated from the event will contribute directly to the agenda and outcomes of the India–AI Impact Summit 2026.