The Tamil Nadu government has initiated an ambitious exercise to prepare comprehensive 25-year infrastructure development plans for 16 urban local bodies, including major municipal corporations, aimed at addressing growing urbanisation, improving civic amenities and strengthening climate resilience.

The initiative, undertaken under the World Bank-funded Tamil Nadu Climate Resilient Urban Development Project, will identify infrastructure deficiencies, assess future requirements and establish a phased investment strategy for sustainable urban development.

Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited (TNUIFSL) has invited consultancy firms to prepare City Infrastructure Development Plans (CIDPs) through requests for proposals divided into five packages.

The exercise forms part of the Chief Minister’s Integrated Urban Development Mission (CMIUDM) 2026-2031, which seeks to modernise urban infrastructure and improve the delivery of essential municipal services.

The initiative covers Chennai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Thoothukudi, Sivakasi, Avadi, Tambaram, Cuddalore, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, Salem and Hosur municipal corporations, besides Udhagamandalam special grade municipality.

Under the proposed framework, consultants will undertake detailed assessments of existing civic infrastructure, including drinking water supply, underground sewerage systems, stormwater drainage networks, solid waste management, roads and pedestrian facilities.

The study will also examine the condition of public health facilities, schools, markets, community halls, parks, waterbodies and digital municipal services. Particular emphasis will be placed on identifying flood-prone areas, assessing climate-related vulnerabilities and recommending infrastructure improvements capable of withstanding extreme weather events.

Consultants will conduct field inspections, undertake Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, verify municipal records and consult stakeholders to identify infrastructure gaps and establish development priorities.

The exercise will include population projections and assessments of future service requirements over five, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years, enabling urban administrations to anticipate increasing demand.

A comprehensive financial assessment will examine the revenue performance of participating local bodies over the previous five years and recommend measures to strengthen municipal finances.

Each city will receive a rolling five-year capital investment plan, identifying priority projects, estimated funding requirements and implementation schedules. Infrastructure interventions will be classified into immediate, short-term, medium-term and long-term priorities.

Officials expect the exercise to provide urban administrations with a structured framework for mobilising investments, improving service delivery and preparing cities for population growth and climate-related challenges over the next quarter-century.

The Delhi Police have told the Supreme Court that the decision to de-notify Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site was taken after considering changed ground realities, public safety concerns and recommendations of a committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

In a counter affidavit filed before the apex court, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar said the decision was taken independently and was not prompted by the Supreme Court’s October 9 order, as the proposal to shift the designated protest venue had been under consideration of the Central government for a considerable period.

The affidavit was filed in response to a petition challenging the de-notification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest venue.

The Commissioner said the MHA had constituted a committee on August 26, 2026, to examine the suitability of continuing Jantar Mantar as a protest site and identify alternative locations. Its report was received in September and forwarded to him on September 14.

“The decision to denotify Jantar Mantar as the designated site for protests was taken by me after due consideration of the relevant factors and criteria relevant for such decision making, and upon consideration of the recommendations of the Committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs,” the affidavit stated.

The Commissioner submitted that the ground situation around Jantar Mantar had changed substantially since the Supreme Court’s 2018 order directing the authorities to devise an appropriate mechanism for regulating protests and demonstrations at Jantar Mantar Road, with increasing concerns over public order, traffic management, crowd control, emergency access and the security of sensitive installations.

Describing Jantar Mantar as a public road rather than a designated protest site in the conventional sense, the affidavit said the stretch witnessed more than 1,300 protests and demonstrations annually, frequently constraining access for emergency services such as ambulances and fire brigades.

The affidavit said the venue had an assessed maximum capacity of approximately 1,500 people, while the number of protesters on July 20, 2026, had far exceeded its capacity, creating concerns over a possible stampede and disruption of normal activities in Janpath and Connaught Place.

Highlighting the impact on the surrounding areas, Kumar said 78 foreign embassies, diplomatic missions and offices of international organisations were situated within a radius of around 3-4 km of Jantar Mantar. It added that 99 Central government offices, ministries and autonomous institutions, including the Reserve Bank of India, were located in the vicinity and had a combined daily footfall of approximately 1.46 lakh people.

It further said that traffic congestion and disruptions caused by protests also affected commercial establishments and the functioning of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, particularly the movement of patients and ambulances requiring immediate medical attention.

The Commissioner said the MHA committee had unanimously concluded that Jantar Mantar Road was no longer a suitable location for protests and demonstrations. It recommended Ramlila Maidan in Central Delhi, CBD Ground in East Delhi and Burari Ground in North-West Delhi as alternative venues.

The affidavit said the alternative locations were identified after assessing public safety, law and order, traffic management, emergency response requirements and the need to protect vital installations.

The Delhi Police maintained that the right to protest must be balanced against the rights of other citizens, including their right to earn a livelihood, conduct business and move freely within the national capital.

“The petitioners cannot claim any vested right to insist upon a particular site for the purpose of exercising their right to protest,” it stated. It further argued that the decision was an administrative and executive measure taken in the larger public interest and urged the Supreme Court not to interfere with it.

Fresh consignments of India’s pomegranates and kiwi fruit exports have hit the Dubai market, opening new markets for the country’s farmers, backed by the Centre’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

APEDA has facilitated the export of 1.3 metric tonnes (MT) of Sinduri variety pomegranates from Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district and the trial export of 1.5 metric tonnes (MT) of kiwi from Arunachal Pradesh’s Ziro to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a Commerce Ministry statement issued on Tuesday.

The consignment of pomegranates, comprising 650 boxes of 2 kg each, was exported by Uttar Pradesh-based Amama Exports. The initiative connects local growers and a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) with an exporter, creating opportunities for Himachal Pradesh’s horticultural produce to access international markets. The pomegranates were sourced directly from local farmers and the Bhuntar FPO, which is associated with approximately 600 farmers. The Kullu district horticulture administration supported the initiative by facilitating procurement and coordination, the statement said.

The initiative demonstrates the role of direct procurement and collective participation through FPOs in strengthening market linkages for farmers. The export enabled participating farmers to achieve 50 per cent higher price realisation compared with the prevailing domestic market benchmark.

The Sinduri variety is among the pomegranate varieties grown in Himachal Pradesh, alongside Bhagwa and Kandhari. Known for its attractive red skin, juicy arils, and sweet-tart flavour, Sinduri pomegranates are suitable for fresh consumption and offer potential for export markets.

The trial export consignment of 1.5 metric tonnes (MT) of kiwi from Arunachal Pradesh successfully reached Dubai and was showcased at LuLu Hypermarket in Al Qusais. The initiative marks a step towards assessing the fruit’s potential in international markets.

The initiative, undertaken under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), seeks to promote and strengthen Arunachal Pradesh’s kiwi sector under the branding initiative “Kiwi: USP of Arunachal Pradesh”. Implemented in collaboration with the state government, the initiative aims to introduce the state’s kiwis to international markets, assess consumer response and develop stronger market linkages to expand export opportunities for local growers.

Arunachal Pradesh’s high-altitude growing conditions and natural environment support the cultivation of kiwi with distinctive fruit quality and flavour. The state’s produce offers potential in premium domestic markets, export promotion and value-added products. The major varieties grown in the region include Hayward, Monty, Allison and Bruno, with the Hayward variety showing good demand in international markets.

The initiative also seeks to connect local kiwi growers with potential overseas markets, creating additional sales channels and opportunities for improved farmer returns through future shipments. The trial export is expected to provide a basis for assessing market response and identifying requirements for expanding the presence of Arunachal Pradesh kiwi in international markets.