Union Cabinet approves Rabi MSP hikes, Green Energy Corridor-III, and Delhi ITMS

The measures cover higher support prices for six Rabi crops, renewable power evacuation and storage across states, and technology-driven traffic management across 42 Delhi corridors.

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved three major measures spanning agriculture, power infrastructure and urban mobility, including higher Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi crops for the 2027-28 marketing season, a Rs 1.86 lakh crore Green Energy Corridor Phase-III scheme and a Rs 1,789.52 crore technology-led traffic management system for Delhi. The Rabi MSP increases range from Rs 25 per quintal for wheat to Rs 675 for safflower, while the Green Energy Corridor-III scheme will strengthen intra-state transmission networks and add 50 GWh of battery storage capacity. Meanwhile in Delhi, the new Intelligent Traffic Management System will cover 42 traffic corridors and use adaptive signals, automated enforcement and real-time traffic data.

Rabi MSP raised; safflower gets highest increase

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved higher MSPs for all six mandated Rabi crops for the 2027-28 marketing season, with the government saying the move will ensure remunerative prices for farmers and encourage crop diversification. Safflower received the highest increase of Rs 675 per quintal, taking its MSP to Rs 7,215. Rapeseed and mustard MSP was raised by Rs 413 to Rs 6,613 per quintal, while lentil (masur) saw an increase of Rs 390 to Rs 7,390. The MSP for gram was raised by Rs 83 to Rs 5,958 per quintal, barley by Rs 136 to Rs 2,286 and wheat by Rs 25 to Rs 2,610. The government said the new MSPs are in line with the 2018-19 Budget commitment to fix MSP at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production. The expected margin over the cost of production is highest for wheat at 106%, followed by rapeseed and mustard at 96%, lentil at 92%, gram at 59%, barley at 58% and safflower at 50%. The government has in recent years sought to encourage farmers to grow pulses and oilseeds instead of focusing primarily on cereals by offering relatively higher MSPs for these crops.

Green Energy Corridor-III approved

The Cabinet also approved the third phase of the Green Energy Corridor scheme, with a total outlay of Rs 1,86,405 crore to strengthen intra-state transmission systems and facilitate the evacuation of up to 135 GW of renewable energy across states and Union territories. The scheme, targeted for completion by FY2032-33, includes Rs 1,36,378 crore for intra-state transmission systems and Rs 50,000 crore for deploying 50 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). The Centre will provide financial support of Rs 54,082 crore under the scheme. The government said the assistance would help offset intra-state transmission charges and keep power costs lower for end users. The battery storage component is aimed at improving grid flexibility by addressing renewable energy intermittency, transmission congestion and peak-hour curtailment, while also meeting demand during non-solar hours. Greenfield transmission projects will be implemented through tariff-based competitive bidding, while brownfield upgrades and network strengthening will be undertaken on a cost-plus basis. The government said GEC-III will help integrate renewable energy into state grids and contribute to its target of 900 GW of installed non-fossil fuel capacity by 2035. The scheme is also expected to generate employment across power, manufacturing, construction and energy storage sectors.

AI-enabled traffic management system

The Cabinet approved a Rs 1,789.52 crore Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) for Delhi, aimed at using real-time data and technology to manage the city's existing road network more efficiently, a system which union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said "will add brain" to Delhi's traffic management system. The project will cover 42 identified traffic corridors and be implemented in three phases over 24 months, followed by five years of operation and maintenance. The system will use adaptive traffic signals that can alter signal timings based on prevailing traffic conditions and coordinate signals along identified corridors. It will also facilitate priority movement for ambulances and other emergency vehicles through green corridors. Delhi has around 71 lakh active registered vehicles, according to the government, with vehicle growth outpacing the expansion of road infrastructure. The new system is intended to reduce reliance on fixed signal timings and manual intervention by using real-time traffic information. The project will cover 1,092 adaptive traffic control system locations and 1,029 enforcement locations. Automated systems will detect violations including red-light and stop-line violations, speeding, wrong-way driving, illegal parking and non-use of helmets and seat belts. Traffic Command and Control Centres will bring traffic regulation, enforcement and information dissemination onto a common platform, backed by a Data Centre and Disaster Recovery infrastructure. The system will also provide commuters with information on congestion, diversions, parking availability and traffic conditions through variable message signs and digital platforms. The government said such information may also be shared with navigation service providers. It will be implemented by Delhi Police through a Master System Integrator selected through competitive bidding, with C-DAC providing technical support as project management consultant.