Mumbai: Work on the city’s first cable-stayed bridge by the BMC over the Mahalaxmi railway tracks is 45% complete. Originally slated for completion in March 2024, the project has been delayed due to encroachments and the relocation of trees, with the new target date now set for December 2026.

At the heart of the bridge’s design is a 70-metre-high pylon, which will serve as the primary support structure. Once operational, the bridge will ease congestion near Mahalaxmi station and improve east–west connectivity for motorists heading toward the Coastal Road from Haji Ali.

The bridge will rise from the Racecourse side along Keshavrao Khadye (KK) Marg in the west, traverse the Western Railway tracks, and conclude near Shirin Talkies on the eastern stretch of KK Marg. The BMC awarded the work order in January 2020, with construction commencing the following month.

Given that the main span across the railway lines extends 165 metres, a conventional bridge design was considered unfeasible, the civic body opted for a more advanced cable-stayed structure to meet the engineering challenge.

Notably, this marks the first instance of the BMC independently undertaking the construction of a cable-stayed bridge over railway tracks. The 736-metre-long structure includes a 165-metre cable-stayed span with an 85-metre back span and a 23-metre-wide deck carrying four traffic lanes.

Estimated to cost Rs 389 crore, the bridge will replace the existing structure, which will be dismantled once the new bridge becomes operational to ensure uninterrupted connectivity during construction.

A senior civic official said, “The project faced delays due to the impact on nearby houses, establishments, and trees, along with design changes needed after identifying key utilities such as water channels, sewer lines, stormwater drains, and BEST cables along the alignment.”

As per the schedule, the 90-metre western span will be completed by December 2025, while the 160-metre eastern span will be completed by September 2026. Approach roads will be built in parallel, with the entire project set for completion by December 2026.

New Delhi, Nov 4: The government was set to launch the third round of the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for Specialty Steel on Tuesday, which is one of the key initiatives under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

The PLI 1.2 launch will be presided over by Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, in the presence of senior officials, and other stakeholders from the sector, according to Ministry of Steel.

The ministry said that the PLI Scheme for Specialty Steel, approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2021 with an overall outlay of Rs 6,322 crore, aims to transform India into a global hub for production of high-value and advanced steel grades.

The PLI scheme has attracted a committed investment of Rs 43,874 crore so far, with Rs 22,973 crore already invested and over 13,000 jobs created under the first two rounds.

The scheme covers 22 product sub-categories including super alloys, CRGO, alloy forgings, stainless steel (long and flat), titanium alloys, and coated steels.

Incentive rates range from 4 per cent to 15 per cent, applicable for five years starting FY 2025–26, with disbursal beginning in FY 2026–27.

The base year for pricing has also been updated to FY 2024–25 to better reflect current trends.

The PLI scheme incentivises incremental production and investment in identified product categories, thereby enhancing value addition within the country and reducing import dependence in critical sectors such as defence, power, aerospace and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the country aims to achieve 300 million tonnes of crude steel production capacity by 2030. Notably, India’s domestic steel demand is growing at an impressive 11-13 per cent, fuelled by large-scale infrastructure projects, while global demand faces a slowdown, according to Steel Ministry.

Steel production surged by a robust 14.1 per cent in September compared to the same month of the previous year on the back of increased demand from big-ticket infrastructure projects being carried out by the government.

Mumbai: Mumbai woke up to bright, clear skies on Tuesday morning after moderate rainfall the previous evening brought much-needed relief from both heat and pollution. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted partly cloudy conditions throughout the day, with possibilities of light to moderate showers or isolated thunderstorms in some areas.

According to IMD’s latest weather update, temperatures are expected to stay pleasant, with a maximum of around 32°C and a minimum near 24°C. The light showers have not only cooled the city but also helped in significantly improving its deteriorating air quality. Over the past few weeks, stagnant air and rising pollution had led to hazy skies and poor visibility across Mumbai.

Data from AQI.in on Tuesday morning showed a remarkable improvement in air quality levels. Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 64, categorised as moderate, which deteriorated slightly from the good quality air recorded over the past few days. Residents across several areas reported fresher air and reduced smog.

Among the city’s various monitoring locations, Chembur registered the highest AQI at 113, placing it in the poor category. However, most other areas reflected the overall improvement. Jogeshwari recorded an AQI of 80, Mankhurd 77, and both Malad West and Wadala Truck Terminal stood at 72, all within the moderate range.

Cleaner air was observed in several localities, including Kurla and Kandivali East (both at 52), Sion (55), Bandra East (57) and Colaba (57), showing a citywide recovery in air quality.

According to AQI.in’s classification system, an index reading between 0 and 50 is considered “Good,” 51–100 “Moderate,” 101–150 “Poor,” 151–200 “Unhealthy,” and values above 200 fall into the “Severe” or “Hazardous” category.