9OCTOBER 2026Chandigarh is strengthening its industrial presence with a Rs 50 crore investment by JM Frictech India Ltd. The development could support the city's growth as a manufacturing hub in North India. The company's new facility will expand its manufacturing capacity, with full operations expected over the next six to eight months. Auto component manufacturer JM Frictech India Ltd. (JMI) is setting up its fourth manufacturing facility in Chandigarh. The plant is being commissioned in phases, starting with warehousing and logistics before manufacturing activities gradually increase. The investment is expected to bring the company closer to customers in northern India and support its expansion in the tractor, construction equipment, and other off-highway segments. The SEPC SAIL contract, valued at Rs 854.57 crore, marks a significant addition to the infrastructure supporting Steel Authority of India Limited's (SAIL) IISCO Steel Plant expansion in Burnpur, West Bengal. Signed on October 8, 2026, the agreement covers the pellet plant balance-of-plant (BOP) package, including civil and structural works, as part of the plant's 4.08 million tons per annum (MTPA) crude steel expansion program.Beyond the contract value, the project highlights the importance of supporting infrastructure in large-scale steel manufacturing. As Indian steelmakers pursue capacity expansion, the availability of integrated plant facilities, material-handling systems and construction Indian contract manufacturing could become more competitive as India changes how it treats manufacturing services provided to foreign companies under its latest Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms. The GST Council has recommended granting export status to eligible contract manufacturing activities involving goods owned by foreign principals, while also widening tax refund provisions and easing restrictions on input tax credits.The measures could improve the economics of locating processing and assembly operations in India as global manufacturers diversify their supply chains. However, the bigger opportunity lies in whether these changes encourage foreign companies to source more components, processing services and manufacturing capabilities locally, helping India capture greater value beyond final-product assembly. IS CHANDIGARH EMERGING AS A NEW MANUFACTURING HUB IN NORTH INDIA?SEPC SAIL CONTRACT: RS 855 CRORE IISCO EXPANSION DEALGST REFORM: CAN INDIA MOVE BEYOND ELECTRONICS ASSEMBLY?WATERFLY'S SEN-1X SKIMS THE SURFACE FOR HIGH-SPEED LOGISTICSHigh-speed coastal movement takes a new form as Waterfly Technologies launches its electric seaglider. The Chennai-based aerospace startup builds an electric Wing-in-Ground seaglider that flies just a few metres above the water, blending aircraft speed with the lower costs of marine craft. Founders design the vehicle to handle coastal transport, cargo delivery, tourism and amphibious patrol without any need for runways.SEN-1X harnesses the ground-effect phenomenon to create extra lift and cut drag while staying close to the waves. This approach offers rapid movement for medical emergencies, surveillance, and contested logistics. Waterfly positions the craft as a practical solution for regions that lack airport infrastructure yet require fast, efficient coastal connections. Matt Milas, president of defense and space at Honeywell Aerospace, told CNBC-TV18 that the company remains confident about meeting these targets. It has already delivered four turboprop engines to HAL, including three in June 2026 and another shortly afterward. Four more engines are expected to arrive by the end of 2026. The company's commitment offers some reassurance to HAL and the Indian Air Force (IAF). However, timely engine supplies alone cannot guarantee that the overall HTT-40 program will remain on schedule. capabilities remains essential to translating investment plans into operational production capacity.
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