Concrete

Most of the manufacturers are in wait and watch mode

Published

4 years ago

October 14, 2021

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Vivek Taneja, Head of Business Development ( Power), Thermax Timely policy changes and a well thought out growth plan, fortified with incentives for energy conservation, will give a strong push to the cement industry. Although order books of most plant and machinery manufacturers didn`t look exciting in 2013, the year ahead holds more potential. Vivek Taneja, Head of Business Development ( Power), Thermax says that a lot depends on how we tap the opportunities. Excerpts from the interview.

Has the economic slowdown impacted production capacity augmentation or the setting up of new cement plants?
Although some cement majors are planning for the long term and will stay the course , the pace could be slower than anticipated. From our discussions with some manufacturers, it appears that most cement companies are adopting a strategy of wait and watch before moving ahead with their capacity expansion plans. So, to some extent, yes there has been an impact.

Are you optimistic about the growth of the cement sector?
From our discussions on captive power requirements, we understand that the total capacity addition predicted during the 12th Five Year Plan will depend on the infrastructure development facilitated by government policies. If the present economic policy stasis continues, future capacity addition is going to be limited. However, we are optimistic about the potential in this sector from the long- term perspective..

What policy changes will help the cement industry regain momentum from the year 2014 onwards?
On a near term basis, there could be faster decisions related to infrastructure projects like ports, roads, etc; lowering of interest rates to facilitate growth of consumption in housing; making available fuel for captive consumption of the cement industry (cement manufacturing as well as captive power generation); quicker MOEF and other clearances, etc. From a power perspective, the government could think of offering incentives to cement and other industries, to generate power from their large and available quantity of waste heat. This can be done by bringing power produced from waste heat under the ambit of renewable energy.

What new trends are emerging in the design of cement plans, plants and machinery, and other supporting systems ?
Designing cement plants that can harness their waste heat for power generation is being actively considered by the industry. Such a move, if backed by incentives available for renewable energy, can improve the profitability of the plants. Additionally, it will also help in better environment management as the waste heat after use for power generation will be let out at much lower temperatures.

Cement plants can reduce their overall carbon footprint and also help in reducing the national dependence on fossil fuel.

As an EPC service provider and supplier of critical plant and machinery, how has 2013 been for you?
This year has seen limited orders being finalised, and most of the manufacturers are in a wait and watch mode before the 2014 elections.

While we are optimistic on the long-term perspective, we expect industry growth to be subdued in the interim.

Concrete

Niraj Cement JV Wins Railway and Metro Contracts

Two orders worth over Rs 1.64 billion boost infrastructure portfolio

Published

2 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

2 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

2 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.