On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet gave its nod to three proposals covering agricultural pricing, clean energy transmission and urban traffic management, namely revised Minimum Support Prices for all notified Rabi crops for the 2027-28 marketing year, a Rs 1.86 lakh crore Green Energy Corridor Phase-III programme and a Rs 1,789.52 crore technology-driven traffic management system for Delhi. Rabi MSP adjustments span from Rs 25 per quintal for wheat to Rs 675 for safflower, while the Green Energy Corridor-III initiative aims to bolster intra-state power transmission infrastructure and introduce 50 GWh of battery storage capacity. Spanning 42 road corridors, the updated traffic network will deploy responsive signalling, automated compliance monitoring, and live flow data. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has sanctioned increased minimum support prices across all six designated Rabi crops for the 2027-28 marketing year, with authorities stating the decision is intended to provide farmers with adequate returns and promote diversification in agricultural production. Among all crops, safflower recorded the steepest upward revision, with its minimum support price climbing by Rs 675 per quintal to reach Rs 7,215. The minimum support price for rapeseed and mustard was revised upward by Rs 413 to reach Rs 6,613 per quintal, with masur lentil also receiving a hike of Rs 390, bringing its rate to Rs 7,390. The minimum support price for gram was revised upward by Rs 83 to Rs 5,958 per quintal, while barley received an increase of Rs 136 to reach Rs 2,286 and wheat was adjusted by Rs 25 to Rs 2,610 per quintal. Officials indicated that the revised minimum support prices align with a pledge made during the 2018-19 Budget to set MSP at no less than one-and-a-half times the nationwide weighted average production cost. Projected returns above production costs are led by wheat at 106%, with rapeseed and mustard at 96%, lentil at 92%, gram at 59%, barley at 58%, and safflower at 50%. The Cabinet additionally gave its nod to the third phase of the Green Energy Corridor programme, allocating a total budget of Rs 1,86,405 crore to bolster intra-state power transmission networks and enable the transfer of up to 135 GW of renewable energy across states and Union territories. Allocated at Rs 1,36,378 crore for intra-state transmission infrastructure and Rs 50,000 crore toward deploying 50 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems, the project is scheduled for delivery by FY2032-33. A total of Rs 54,082 crore in funding has been allocated by the Centre under the programme. The funding was intended to reduce intra-state transmission levies and lower electricity prices for consumers. The energy storage element is designed to enhance power grid resilience by managing variability in renewable output, easing transmission bottlenecks, and reducing curtailment at peak times, while also supplying electricity when solar generation is unavailable. New transmission infrastructure will be procured via competitive tariff-based tenders, whereas upgrades and reinforcement of existing networks will be handled on a cost-plus reimbursement model. Officials stated that GEC-III would support the incorporation of clean energy sources into regional power networks, advancing a national objective of reaching 900 GW of installed non-fossil fuel capacity by 2035. The Cabinet sanctioned a Rs 1,789.52 crore Intelligent Traffic Management System for Delhi, designed to deploy real-time data and technology to optimise the use of the capital's existing road infrastructure, with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw describing the initiative as one that would introduce greater intelligence into the city's traffic operations. Spanning 42 designated road corridors, the initiative will roll out across three stages over a two-year period, followed by a five-year operational and maintenance phase. Traffic management along designated corridors will rely on responsive signal technology capable of adjusting timing sequences according to real-time flow conditions. The system will also support the unimpeded passage of ambulances and other emergency response vehicles through designated green corridors. Government figures show approximately 71 lakh registered vehicles currently in use across Delhi, with the pace of fleet expansion outstripping the city's road network growth. A total of 1,092 intersections equipped with adaptive traffic control systems and 1,029 enforcement points are included within the scope of the initiative. Surveillance technology will monitor a range of road-use offences, covering speeding, wrong-way travel, failure to stop at red lights or stop lines, unauthorised parking, and the absence of helmets or seat belts. Centralised command hubs will unify traffic management, enforcement operations, and public information services on a single integrated platform, supported by dedicated data storage and disaster recovery systems. Motorists and passengers will be kept informed of congestion levels, alternative routes, parking availability, and road conditions via electronic signage and online platforms. Navigation service providers may also receive access to that data, according to the statement. Delhi Police will oversee the rollout through a Master System Integrator appointed via open tender, with C-DAC serving as technical adviser in a project management capacity.
