JanSamvaad

Bengaluru’s Water Supply and Sewerage Board has adopted a decentralized wastewater treatment policy requiring all new apartment complexes (200+ units) to install on-site treatment plants (STPs) with ≥90% reclamation. Reclaimed water is used for landscaping and flushing. In the first year, six complexes have been certified, saving 150 ML of fre…

The Delhi Metro has begun a ‘Green Corridor’ pilot between Janakpuri West and RK Ashram stations. Solar panels installed on roofs and soundproofing acrylic tunnels generate energy used to power escalators, lights, and station HVAC systems. Energy-sharing smart inverters supply surplus energy back to the Delhi Metro grid. The pilot has reduced …

Central Railways has begun retrofitting suburban electric trains with AI-based anti-theft and surveillance cameras. The system can detect suspicious behavior like luggage left unattended or possible snatching incidents. Alerts are sent to onboard staff and Thane’s Railway Police Control. A pilot on 4 rakes in Mumbai’s fast trains recorded a 60…

Anna University has launched VR-enabled smart classrooms for mechanical and civil engineering courses. Students use VR headsets to inspect virtual models of complex systems like turbines, bridges, and CAD-rendered structures. Faculty integrate Unreal Engine simulations into labs. Surveys show a 45% increase in conceptual clarity compared to tradit…

Delhi Airport (T3) has introduced biometric facial recognition boarding for international departures. Passengers pass through seamless gates that verify boarding pass and biometric data in under 3 seconds. The system uses live facial verification without physical documents. First-month data shows an 80% reduction in boarding delays and improved st…

Odisha’s Forestry Department in partnership with international partners has initiated a mangrove restoration project aimed at issuing carbon credits. Planting over 2,000 hectares of mangrove forests along the Kendrapara coastline, the project will generate verified carbon offset credits by 2030. Local communities receive income through plantin…

Indian Railways has tested a prototype hydrogen fuel-cell locomotive on a 5‑km goods yard near Secunderabad. The engine, built locally with DRDO support, runs on a hydrogen-electric hybrid system with zero emissions. Load tests with a 1,200‑ton freight train showed stable performance. The railway ministry plans to retrofit similar engines acro…

Himachal Pradesh has unveiled a plan to construct climate‑adaptive greenhouses across apple and vegetable farms in Shimla, Solan, and Kinnaur. These greenhouses use smart cooling and heating systems driven by sensors measuring soil moisture and temperature. They reduce frost damage and extend growing seasons for high-value crops. A public-privat…

Punjab’s Agricultural University in Ludhiana has opened India’s first autonomous farming robot test field. The site hosts prototypes for weed extraction, soil analysis, and selective harvesting using AI and robotics. Four startups are currently piloting their machines, and the university plans to certify at least 20 models for statewide deploy…

To boost electric mobility, Delhi has launched a battery swapping policy for e-rickshaws. Over 100 stations will be set up in the first phase, allowing drivers to exchange discharged batteries for fully charged ones in under 5 minutes. The model reduces downtime and eliminates the need for home charging. Supported by incentives and private players…