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India’s infrastructure output grows 4.9% in August: Govt
India’s annual infrastructure output grew at its fastest pace in five months in August, driven by higher coal and electricity production, government data showed on Tuesday.

The output grew 4.9% in August compared with a revised 2.6% year-on-year growth in July.

During April-August, the annual output growth was 3.0%, data showed.

Eight infrastructure sectors include coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, electricity, steel, cement, and fertiliser, accounting for about 40% weight in index of industrial production.
Electricity production grew 10.3% in August from a year ago, while coal output grew 15.3%.
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/9W...mp&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=googleamp
 
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India’s manufacturing output expands in September
India’s manufacturing sector expanded marginally in September due to stronger domestic demand, key macro-economic data showed on Tuesday.

The Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), a composite indicator of manufacturing performance, stood at 51.2 in September.

The index remained unchanged from August. However, it indicated a modest improvement in manufacturing sector business conditions in September.

An index reading of above 50 indicates an overall increase in economic activity and below 50 an overall decrease.

September data painted an encouraging picture as the sector continued to recover from the disruptions caused by the introduction of the GST in July,” said Aashna Dodhia, Economist at IHS Markit and author of the report.

This sustained amelioration reflected expansions in new work and output, supported by stronger domestic demand conditions. Subsequently, business confidence strengthened among manufacturers as they reportedly anticipate long-term benefits from recent government policies.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/busin...n-september/story-juuirnZhQGknUykN5C3UtJ.html
 
India's air passenger growth on the back of excess capacity: IATA
Capacity addition by airlines has led to double-digit passenger growth in the country, airline body International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said today.

“Indian airlines achieved a 36th consecutive month of double-digit traffic growth as demand rose 16%. Traffic continues to be stimulated by sizeable increases in the number of domestic routes served,” IATA said in global passenger traffic data for the month of August released today.
IATA today announced global passenger traffic data for August showing that demand (measured in total revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) climbed 7.2% compared to the year-ago period.

At the same time, the upward trend in seasonally-adjusted traffic has eased from that seen at the end of 2016. “August capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs) increased by 6.3%, and load factor climbed 0.7% percentage points to 84.5%, which was just below the record for the month set in 2015,” IATA said.
IATA, however, said that demand drivers for the aviation industry like lower air fares are easing.
“Following the strong summer traffic season in the Northern hemisphere, 2017 is on course to be another year of strong traffic growth.

However, some important demand drivers are easing, particularly lower fares. As we head towards the end of the year we still expect growth to continue, but potentially at a slower pace,” Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO was quoted as saying in the release.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...pacity-iata/articleshow/60956451.cms?from=mdr
 
A silent Cobot revolution is brewing in Indian workspaces
For Denmark-based Universal Robots, India has become its fastest growing market in less than two years of starting operations in the country , Jürgen von Hollen, president, Universal Robots told ET. The company , which is one of the leading player in `Cobots' or ( Collaborative Robots that work alongside human beings), already has automotive companies such as ajaj Auto and Royal Enfield as its customers along with healthcare provider Aravind Eye Hospital and educational and research institute such as Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.

We see India as a high-potential market. In terms of geography, America and European region are largest markets but Asia Pacific is now growing faster than both of those markets,“ said Hollen. “I know of a lot of companies that have invested in India for India but here is a tool that allows India to invest in India and also take it global,“ he said.

Hollen who was on a recent visit to the country said according to his estimate, Asia would soon present the largest share for the company . “The Apac region will be the fastest growing, that's a given. China and Japan are going to be the main staple but I see India as a third element. India, if it adopts similar programmes as the Chinese and the Japanese towards promoting automation, will become larger than the rest,“ Hollen said. He said the company started its India operations in the beginning of 2016, and it has shown the highest growth among all other countries and regions.

The Cobots, which are designed just like an arm, works alongside a human being to enhance their productivity instead of replacing them. Hollen said contrary to popular perception, none of the companies that have deployed Cobots have laid off even a single employee because of it. He said Auro Labs, which is part of the Aravind Eye and designs lens to treat cataract, has begun exporting to 150 countries after deploying Universal Robots' Cobots from just supplying to its parent hospital earlier. “The fundamental is to make it as simple to use as possible and that has created an environment for innovation around this concept,“ said Hollen.
http://m.economictimes.com/jobs/a-s...in-indian-workspaces/articleshow/60949924.cms
 
India’s wind power tariff falls to a record low of Rs2.64 per unit
India’s wind power tariff fell to a record low of Rs2.64 per unit in an auction conducted by state-run Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI) for 1 gigawatt (GW) of wind power contracts that ended on Thursday.

While ReNew Power Ventures Pvt. Ltd and Orange Sironj Wind Power Pvt. Ltd bid Rs2.64 per kilowatt hour (kWh) to win contracts for 250 megawatts (MW) and 200MW each, Inox Wind Infrastructure Services Ltd and Singapore-based Sembcorp Industries Ltd’s Green Infra Wind Energy Ltd bid a tariff of Rs2.65 per unit for securing contracts of 250MW each. Adani Green Energy (MP) Ltd also bid Rs2.65 per unit to win a 50MW contract.

“Against the 1,000 MW capacity SECI received 12 number of bids totalling to 2,892 MW capacity of which nine bids with a cumulative capacity of 2,142MW were shortlisted for e-reverse auction,” the government said in a statement. These firms quoted the price at which they will sell electricity, to win contracts under the tender that received demand for three times the grid-linked capacity being sold.

These tariffs are lower than the average rate of power generated by coal-fuelled projects of India’s largest power generation utility, NTPC Ltd, at Rs3.20 per unit. The price gap between electricity generated from thermal, solar and wind projects has been bridged. This is primarily due to costs of solar modules and wind turbine generators falling by 80% and 20%, respectively, over the past five years.

Experts believe that such tariffs couldn’t have been expected earlier.

“These are unbelievable prices. One would have never imagined these kind of margins existed for the industry,” said Anish De, partner at the infrastructure and government practice at KPMG.

All the nine firms in the fray for the reverse auction bid below the earlier recorded low of Rs3.46 per kWh for another 1GW tender in February floated by SECI. In a reverse auction, developers are chosen on the basis of the lowest prices offered.

The aggressive bids came in the backdrop of India’s wind sector transitioning from a feed-in tariff regime to tariff-based competitive auctions. Feed-in tariffs ensure a fixed price for wind power producers. The winning prices are not an outlier, as was evident by the bids placed by BLP Energy Pvt. Ltd, global private equity fund Actis LLP’s Sprng Energy Pvt. Ltd, Hero Wind Energy Pvt. Ltd and ReGen Powertech Pvt. Ltd, which also bid low tariffs.

In such a scenario, obtaining finance at the lowest cost has become key. India has also witnessed record low solar tariffs of Rs2.44 per unit in May which firmed up to Rs2.65per kWh in an auction conducted by the Gujarat government last month.

While a Sembcorp spokesperson in an emailed response said, “Sembcorp Green Infra Ltd has participated in the second wind auction and has emerged as one of the successful bidders,” queries send to the spokespersons of a ReNew Power, Adani Group and Inox Group on Thursday remained unanswered.

India has a target of installing 175,000MW of renewable energy by 2022. Of this, 100,000MW are to be generated by solar projects and 60,000MW by wind projects.

The latest bids were placed at a time when concerns have been expressed over some states looking to renege on their offtake commitments for projects awarded at a comparatively higher tariff.

Apart from the tariffs for executed power purchase agreements facing a downward tariff pressure from the states, the projects are also facing other impediments such as curtailment of wind power procurement, payment delays and the absence of guidelines for state-level wind bids, according to lobby group Wind Independent Power Producers’ Association.

“These wind projects are to be commissioned within 18 months from the date of issue of Letter of Award by SECI to successful bidders,” added the government statement.
http://www.livemint.com/Industry/sM...tariff-falls-to-a-record-low-of-Rs264-pe.html
 
Vice President's Secretariat
06-October, 2017 13:36 IST
Ongoing discussion on Economy in country is good for democracy: Vice President

Inaugurates International Conference on Technological Advancements in Railway & Metro Projects 2017

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that the ongoing discussion on Economy in the country is good for democracy. He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the International Conference on Technological Advancements in Railway & Metro Projects 2017, here today, organized by the Defence Infrastructure Planning & Management Council, the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Urban Development and the Niti Aayog. The Union Minister for Railways and Coal, Shri Piyush Goyal, the Chairman, Railway Board, Shri Ashwani Lohani and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.


The Vice President said that any transformation or reformation will have hiccups in the initial stages. He further said that revolutionary taxation and reformation is taking place in the country.


The Vice President quoted the World Bank President, Mr. Jim Yong Kim, who has described the recent slowdown in economic growth in India as an aberration, which is mainly due to temporary disruptions in preparation for the GST. He went on to recall the World Bank President’s statement that this aberration will get corrected in coming months and that the GST is going to have a hugely positive impact on Indian economy. He also cited recent reports that indicated a significant increase in sales of cars, televisions and refrigerators as compared to last year showing an upswing in consumer spending.


The Vice President said that with urbanization taking place at a rapid pace in India, the need for efficient and cost-effective transport is critical in ensuring faster mobility and sustainable development. He further said that new concepts such as ‘Transit Oriented Development’ should be tried out and promoted which will improve the lives of people living around the metro stations in a big way.


The Vice President said that the Indian Railways need to plan for a massive expansion very meticulously with forward looking, efficient technologies and innovative practices currently available across the globe and adopt them to serve our country’s aspiring population. He further said that the IT revolution sweeping the world, to which India has also been a major contributor, is bound to improve the efficiencies in signaling, communications and safety and help in areas like intelligent transportation systems.


The Vice President said that in the Indian ethos, we believe that science and technology are tools to improve the quality of life and we say “Bahujana hitaya, bahujana sukhaya” implying that we aim at the good of humanity at large and also care for the happiness of the entire population on this planet. We also believe this is possible if we are open to new ideas and concepts, either home grown or from outside, he added.


The Vice President expressed his hope that the discussions and the deliberations in this two-day conference will provide a fast-track approach to build many state of the art railway systems that will improve the economy and the quality of life of people in India and the rest of the world.


Following is the text of Vice President’s address:


“I am extremely happy to address this august gathering at the inaugural session of the International Conference on Technological Advancements in Railways and Metros.


From its origin purely as a colonial project in 1853, the Indian railways has emerged today as one of the largest rail networks in the world and an important economic engine in the growth and development narrative of India. It is estimated that in the next five years the Indian Railways will be the third largest railway system in the world accounting for 10 per cent of the global market.


With its extensive network, Indian Railways caters to lower, middle and upper middle classes for both, short and long distance travelling. It also one of the largest employers in the government and generates informal employment through forward and backward linkages.


Rail historian and journalist, Christian Wolmer, in an article succinctly summed up the transformative role played by the railways. He said: “Nowhere other than India is the railway so indelibly connected with the image of the nation. Just as there is no single country on earth that has such a broad cultural, ethnic, and racial mix as India, there is also no railway system that has played and, crucially, continues to play such a fundamental role”.


The Indian Railways connects the vast country through its extensive network of 64,000 km of track covering about 8,000 railway stations and 1,00,000 bridges as well as signalling and telecom network. It provides transport services to about two crore or 20 million passengers every day. Each day, 20,000 trains criss-cross the length and breadth of India serving, in a year, a population of about 700 crore (seven billion) people and transporting more than 1,000 MT (billion tons).


With the number of passengers projected to touch thirty million in the next few years and the demand for transportation of goods also touching four million tons of freight daily in the near future, the railways are poised for a massive expansion.


I am told that investments to the tune of Rs. 8 lakh crore are planned in the next five years on various projects in the railways.


With urbanisation taking place at a rapid pace in India, the need for efficient and cost-effective transport is critical in ensuring faster mobility and sustainable development.


As part of meeting the growing transport demand in cities, several new metro rail projects are in different stages of execution, apart from those in operation at Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi, Lucknow and Mumbai. Metros are under construction at Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Noida, Navi Mumbai and Pune, among others. Several others are under consideration and planning. Once various metros become operational, the intra-city mobility will improve by leaps and bounds.


I also understand that new concepts such as ‘Transit Oriented Development’ being tried out will improve the lives of people living around the metro stations in a big way.


So, friends, the Indian Railways will have to plan for this massive expansion very meticulously. It will have to look for technologies and innovative practices currently available across the globe. It will have to be forward looking, efficient and adopt the state of the art technologies that serve our country’s aspirational population. Against this backdrop, this conference is very timely.


I am glad that this international conference is focusing on a host of technologies that are going to play a key role not only in improving the services but also in the safety of the commuters.


The IT revolution sweeping the world, to which India has also been a major contributor, is bound to improve the efficiencies in signalling, communications and safety and help in areas like intelligent transportation systems.


I am glad that we have amidst us the Inventor of Maglev, also called magnetic levitation train. Maglev trains are very fast trains. Maglev trains float over a guide way using the basic principle of magnetic repulsion. This technology is apparently even ahead of High Speed Railways. Recently, we have embarked on collaboration with Japan to introduce high speed, ‘bullet trains’.


I am glad that technology is being harnessed for the welfare of the common man. In the Indian ethos, we believe that science and technology are tools to improve the quality of life and we say “Bahujana hitaya, bahujana sukhaya” implying that we aim at the good of humanity at large and also care for the happiness of the entire population on this planet. We also believe this is possible if we are open to new ideas and concepts, either home grown or from outside.


The ancient visionaries in India had given expression to this receptive approach when they said: “Aano Bhadrah Kratavo Yantu Vishwathah” (Let noble thoughts come to us from all sides). We should continue to build on this commonwealth of knowledge and wisdom.


Technology will also be a potential ally for improving the safety and security and enhance the quality of passenger experience. I hope this Conference will provide some new insights in this regard drawn from the global best practices.


The managers of our railway system must use every opportunity to update their knowledge and skills. Even the best systems in the world have to constantly keep learning and doing things differently to serve the populations better.


With about eight lakh crore planned investments, opening up of FDI in rail infrastructure and implementation of GST, I am sure the Indian railways will stand to benefit particularly in the long-distance transportation in the years ahead. Technology along with managerial excellence can chart a new trajectory.


The discussion which is going on our economy is always good for our democracy. But at the same time, we need to understand the experience. If some transformation or any reformation is going on, there will be some initial hiccups. But at the end of the day, it will help. A revolutionary taxation and reformation is taking place in the country. In future there will be a very happy situation with such a massive transformation taken place in a vast country like India.


The World Bank Chief, Mr. Jim Yong Kim has said that the recent slowdown in economic growth in India as an aberration mainly due to temporary disruption in preparation for the GST. That will be corrected in coming months. He also said that the GST is going to have a huge positive impact on Indian economy.


There is a discussion going on slow-down. Sales of cars, televisions and refrigerators increased more than 15 per cent in this Navaratri and Dassehra from last year. This shows how the country is moving forward.


I take this occasion to welcome all the experts gathered here today, congratulate the organizers and wish the conference a grand success.


I do hope that the discussions and the deliberations in this two-day conference will provide a fast-track approach to build many state of the art railway systems that will improve the economy and the quality of life of people in India and the rest of the world.


I wish to conclude with a fervent wish and a prayer from the 10th chapter of the Rig Veda that emphasises how we must continue this Jnana Yagna - the churning of ideas and sharing of creative thoughts- on a continuous basis with a common objective- creating for every one the happy world we all want:


SAMAANI VA AAKOOTIH

SAMAANI HRIDAYANI VA

SAMAANAMASTU VO MANO

YATHA VAH SUSAHASATI


May our intentions and aspirations be alike, so that a common objective unifies us all ”.


JAI HIND!”

***
 
India services activity returns to growth in September on stronger demand: PMI
Activity in India's services companies limped out of contraction in September as demand recovered and pushed firms to increase hiring at the fastest pace in over six years, a business survey showed on Thursday.

The lingering impact of the government's cash ban late last year pushed growth in Asia's third-largest economy to slow unexpectedly to a three-year low of 5.7 percent in the April-June quarter from a year earlier.

Disruptions to businesses from confusion on product pricing after the implementation of a goods and services tax (GST) on July 1, which aimed to unify multiple taxes, have also cast a shadow on economic growth.

But last month, a surge in demand helped a recovery in activity among services firms after contracting for two months prior to that.



The Nikkei/IHS Markit Services Purchasing Managers' Index <INPMIS=ECI> rose to 50.7 in September from 47.5 in August, moving back above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction.

"The Indian private sector regained some lost ground since the implementation of July's goods and services tax (GST) as service providers followed the manufacturing industry back to growth," said Aashna Dodhia, an economist at IHS Markit.

A sub-index on new business, which measures both domestic and foreign demand, jumped to 51.1 from 47.3 in August.

That pushed firms to increase hiring at the fastest pace since June 2011 in September after cutting headcount in the previous two months.

A composite PMI, which takes into account both manufacturing and services activity, returned above break-even last month to 51.1 from 49.0 in August, aided by an expansion in manufacturing activity in September.

Both manufacturing and services firms continued to absorb some input cost pressures in September to attract demand, which is likely to keep inflation below the Reserve Bank of India's 4 percent medium-term target.

But the RBI kept its policy rate steady at a near seven-year low of 6.00 percent on Wednesday, reflecting its concern consumer inflation could accelerate further after hitting a five-month high of 3.36 percent in August.
http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/bu...september-on-stronger-demand-pmi-2405505.html
 
India/SOUTH ASIA- P148775- Capacity Augmentation of the National Waterway- 1 (JAL MARG VIKAS) Project - Procurement Plan (English)
http://documents.worldbank.org/cura...way-1-JAL-MARG-VIKAS-Project-Procurement-Plan

GST Council meets today: From support for MSMEs to tax rate cuts; how govt plans to ease the pain
Some measures to ease the difficulties being faced by traders owing to Goods and Service Tax (GST) are likely to be announced after the GST Council's meeting on Friday. On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and BJP President Amit Shah and discussed the state of the economy and steps to revive growth.

While Amit Shah cut short his tour of Kerala, Jaitley returned from Dhaka for the meeting with Modi, who on Wednesday night put up a strong defence of the government's handling of the economy and hit back at critics saying they were spreading pessimism all round.


SMEs are the worst hit. Reuters

Though Jaitley himself refused to disclose anything about the discussions at the Prime Minister's meeting with him and the party president, media reports have been speculating on many likely measures.

In his speech at the Institute of Company Secretaries in the capital on Thursday, the Prime Minister had promised the traders that the government would not dig into the past through any retrospective investigation of traders joining the formal economy.

Given below are the key points:

It is understood that the GST council can decide to make easier refund of input credit for exporters, deferring of reverse charge mechanism for unregistered traders and promise of no enquiry into the tax matters of the previous VAT regime of indirect taxes.

Steps for exporters: PTI reported that the committee headed by Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia on issues faced by exporters is likely to submit its preliminary report to the GST Council on Friday. Based on that, the council is likely to recommend some relaxation for exporters so that their working capital which is locked up in refunds is released, officials told the news agency.

Also, the Central Board for Excise and Customs (CBEC) will inform the Council that it is ready to release Integrated Goods and Service Tax (IGST) refunds to exporters from 10 October. In a meeting with the Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia last month, exporters had said that an estimated Rs 65,000 crore is locked up in GST refunds. Also, steps like easy compliance for exporters such as quarterly filing of returns instead of monthly filing, is likely to be discussed by the Council.

However, it is not clear whether the Council take a final decision on this. The government has already allowed exporters to furnish Letter of Undertaking (LUT) instead of bonds at the time of exports, which will ease the compliance burden and stop locking up of capital.

GSTN glitches: The PTI report also said the Council will review the glitches that have affected the GST Network. Officials in the ministry said that the Group of Ministers, under Sushil Modi, set up to look into GSTN glitches will brief the GST Council on the portal's functioning.

Support for MSMEs: This is one of the key area of concern. Transitioning to the new tax regime has been painful for small units. According to a report by India Ratings, companies with weak credit profiles, especially small units, are likely to be hit due to lingering short-term liquidity mismatch arising from the delayed input credit refunds.

"The short-term liquidity crisis arising from delayed input credit refunds is due to the difficulties in mapping the inventory held on the transition date with respective invoices, various GST Network-related technical issues and admissibility of these refund claims," the report has said.

Ahead of the GST rollout, media reports had warned that small and medium scale companies are likely to be severely impacted as they are not prepared fully for the new system.

A report in The Economic Times has said that the Council is likely to consider raising the threshold for composition scheme from Rs 75 lakh to Rs 1-1.5 crore. The likely tweak in the returns filing rules will also help the small scale units.

Tax rate cuts: The biggest surprise is likely to be the tax rate cuts. According to a report by Moneycontrol, the Modi-Jaitley-Shah meeting is learnt to have taken a decision to cut GST rates on as many as 60 goods and services.

The Centre is going to propose GST rate cuts on many items that fall in the highest tax bracket of 28 percent, the report said, citing an unnamed official. Such a move, if it materialises, will prove to be a major boost for the sagging economy.
http://www.firstpost.com/business/g...-how-govt-plans-to-ease-the-pain-4115043.html
 
Under NDA, railways laid tracks 11.5% faster in first three years than UPA
Indian Railways did track laying work, which includes laying new tracks, doubling the existing lines, and converting narrow gauge to broad gauge, 11.5% faster during the NDA’s initial three-year rule than the Congress-led UPA-II’s.

The Railways has laid 7,666km of tracks during 2014-17 (NDA’s rule), which is 794km more than the UPA-II’s between 2009 and 2012, an RTI response revealed.

Addressing the nation from Red Fort on Independence Day this year, Prime Minster Narendra Modi had said railway tracks are being laid at double the speed. But data from the ministry of railways do not substantiate that claim.The railways’ achievement under the UPA-II’s first year was 27% more than the target. It encouraged the government to set target at 2,301km in 2010-11, 31% more than the last year.

“It outdid the target and laid 2315km length of tracks. But after that there is a constant decrease in the target leading to considerable decline in achievements as well,” says a former member of the Railway Board, requesting anonymity. The change of government at the Centre in May 2014 changed the growth trajectory and the railways, in the next three years, laid down tracks 13% more than its target.



Year Target(Distance in KM) Achievement
2009-10 1745 2222
2010-11 2301 2315
2011-12 2275 2335
2012-13 2200 1811
2013-14 1525 1562
2014-15 1450 1983
2015-16 2500 2828
2016-17 2800 2855
2017-18 3100 716.75 (till Aug 17, 2017)
However, the data defies Modi’s claim that “the railway tracks are being laid at double the speed”. A senior railway official, however, justified his statement, saying, “In 2013-14, railways laid down only 1,562km of track while in 2016-17, it is 2,855. So it’s almost double.”

As far as 2017 is concerned, the initial four and a half months shows only 23% achievement of the ambitious target of 3,100km.

Railway officials say that they are confident of outdoing it as they did in the past.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...rs-than-upa/story-ElR4vwQCNW9P91e9vKknjP.html

The Delhi Metro To Dombivali?
With a total network length of 218 km, the Delhi Metro carried an astounding 1,001 million passengers in 2016-17; that is, 2.76 million passengers a day. An eight-coach train running on its various colour-coded lines carries 2,400 passengers during peak hours, or as many as 300 passengers per coach. But the most impressive feature of Delhi Metro lies perhaps somewhere else: it sees no passenger deaths, except for the rare suicides that can be counted on one’s fingers. There is no instance of a Metro passenger dying by falling off from trains—the automated doors ensure that—or, more importantly, due to any accident so far.
Let us compare Delhi Metro’s safety and security performance with that of the Mumbai Suburban Rail system. At 465 km, the latter covers over double the length—and carries 7.5 million passengers a day. The peak capacity is roughly the same: 290 passengers per coach. Each 9-coach EMU train set that we call a ‘Mumbai local’ can carry up to 2,600 passengers, and usually does. So far, so good.



No one falls off a Delhi metro. No one has had any fatal accidents. Who better to crack Mumbai’s puzzle?
But this is where the problem starts. The 2016 CAG report on suburban railways says as many as 3,527 passengers died every year on these Mumbai locals between 2010 and 2014. This is unacceptable by any standards of public transport operation. More shocking are the modes of death: most occurred at line-crossings, or when passengers fell into the platform gap, or fell from running trains, or crashed against poles. Passengers resort to crossing open lines due to inadequate transfer systems; and overcrowding mostly accounts for the rest. But despite similar peak load ratios, Delhi Metro has no such public safety inadequacies. The reason for this near-impeccable safety and security record is simple: the Metro Rail was designed, planned and built by harnessing advanced rail technologies in track guideway infrastructure, station space design for passenger flows and rolling stock design.

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The glaring glitches in the Mumbai system are presently under the nation’s spotlight. It’s a shame this megacity has to live with a technologically obsolescent “at-grade” (i.e. at the same level as the ground) suburban rail network that’s, by definition, prone to mishaps. The coaches are shabbily designed and furnished. Cleanliness is difficult. The open doors and windows bring in dust and pollution. Then there’s the heat—the coaches are not air-conditioned. Passengers also endure very high decibel levels, above 90, which is injurious to health Incremental, low-budget ‘jugaad’ improvisations have brought no relief to commuters. Because of the Railways’ stubborn refusal to provide better comforts, commuters also resist any fare increase. But with rising incomes, people have the right to seek a drastic change in the way they commute daily.

It’s time, therefore, to look for some disruptive innovation in planning the future of the Mumbai Suburban Rail system. Indian Railways thinks of it as an albatross around its neck; its officials are probably at their wit’s end trying to manage this massive, 2.7 billion passenger business, stretching their low-technology assets and track network capacities to extreme degrees. The more Indian Railways continues with this misadventure, the more they expose rail users to avoidable risks.

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The first solution that comes to mind is this: why not lease the entire Mumbai Suburban Rail system, including the existing track network, to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation? The DMRC has the best technology to build a new network along working railway lines, with least disruption to operations. Its planning and implementation capabilities are far superior to that of the Railways. The 1-billion passenger Metro functions with almost zero mishaps—even when they fill a coach with 300 people, users evidently like DMRC’s operations. There’s no better candidate to crack the Mumbai puzzle.

This author’s only worry is that DMRC may not be willing to take up this challenge because its hands are full, with several running projects. Possibly, given the urgent need to reform Mumbai Suburban Rail, a presidential directive initiated jointly by the railway and urban development ministries can compel DMRC to take up the job. Only, DMRC must be endowed with total freedom to modernise the existing system, using the Delhi Metro brand of BG train sets. DMRC need not invest money in those train sets; they can be leased from a new company owned and backed by a consortium of banks.

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The real purpose is to convert the “at-grade” track system into an elegant, efficient elevated system, on existing railway land, while giving space for right of way in a modular manner. One problem to be addressed is the partial disruption likely when existing lines are dismantled one by one in the Western Railway corridor, and using that space for building an elevated track. This is a huge challenge really, but creative solutions can be found for this.



The bullet train can provide support by sharing a line until the new suburban system is ready.
Another radical thought: the proposed Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (HSR) can come to the rescue here by being temporarily integrated with the suburban network. That would mean accelerating the needed sanctions to kickstart the HSR work, with the mandate to start construction from south Mumbai and complete it in five years. In this scenario, the HSR line can provide support to suburban passengers in the interim. The new HSR stations can share facilities with the suburban system till their own elevated stations are ready.

The only impediment here is ingrained inertia. The railway ministry, with its unwieldy organisational structure both at the central and zonal level, displays an unhealthy zeal for preserving and protecting existing technologies. The ‘nested mutualism’ breeds a conservative spirit—within that comfort zone, they tend to block new technologies from entering and changing existing systems.

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This conservatism is what we notice in the concerted opposition towards the High Speed Rail project. It is incremental upgrades that suit the existing rail industry players, rather than leapfrogging into advanced HSR technologies as China did. India is several decades behind in high-speed technology research. In fact, neighbourhood nations are developing ultra-high speed trains or vacuum pods at speeds higher than fighter jets with a view to using them for military logistics and missile launches!

The best thing in such a scenario is to go for drastic reforms with a long-term, macro perspective. Now that the government has moved to separate freight business from passenger business by speeding up dedicated freight corridors, the next set of radical and effective reforms will be to take away some of the passenger business segments (like suburban rail and HSR) from conventional railways.

Envisage a DMRC-controlled body looking after the suburban system and an independent regulator, say a National High Speed Rail Commission, reporting directly to the railway minister. Not through the Railway Board, which will tend to behave like a competitor to HSR and any professional suburban system. Many might raise the false alarm of coordination here. But salutary things can be achieved through mutually beneficial contracts.

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The advantages of creating an entirely new, modern network in place of the decrepit one that exists in Mumbai will be many. Aligning it with HSR means new world-class train sets can bring in a pleasant culture shock among Mumbai suburban rail users even before the elevated track system is built. It may be another culture shock, of course, to encounter one fare for all metros. Adopting Delhi Metro’s Re 1 per km tariff can by itself turn things around, helping pay back the lease charges and also contributing to building the tracks. The per km cost of elevated tracks with a capacity to carry 3.5 million passengers per day need not be more than the cost of building a 16-lane world-class expressway.

When a giant transport network becomes too old and unwieldy, let us not hesitate to dismantle it and shift to better business models. The old ‘Mumbai local’ has done its job for years. Now retire it, free the Mumbaikar from its geriatric pains, keep the railway bureaucracy out, bring in DMRC, and elevate Mumbai’s daily commute to a higher track.

(The author is a former financial commissioner, Indian Railways)
https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/the-delhi-metro-to-dombivali/299411

Wow! Indian Railways Rolls Out First 100% ‘Make In India’ LHB Coaches That Enhance Passengers Safety
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream ‘Make in India’ project just got a boost from Indian Railways! For the first time, Indian Railways has rolled out 100% ‘Make in India’ LHB (Linke-Hofmann-Busch) coaches, with each and every component made in the country. Manufactured at ICF (Integral Coach Factory) at Chennai, the ‘Make in India’ the coaches have been allotted to Western Railways. The technology for making modern coaches was acquired by Indian Railways from Linke-Hofmann-Busch, Germany back in 1995. However, till now even though the coaches were made and assembled here, some components were imported.

“Coach No. LACCN 111 and LSDD 166 with 100% indigenous content was flagged off after inspection from Member Rolling Stock of the Railway Board,” an ICF official told FE Online. Out of the two ‘Make in India’ coaches that have been rolled out by ICF, the non-AC one has 100% indigenous components. The AC coach has one imported component. “The non-AC coaches are fitted with wheel disc manufactured at Rail Wheel Factory at Bangalore. The AC coach has an imported wheel that has been assembled at ICF with some value added component,” the ICF official said.

Asked about how soon the AC coaches will also have 100% indigenous components, the official said, “Member Rolling Stock has said that talks are on with local manufacturers. We should be able to zero in on someone soon. Once that happens, the AC coaches too will have all indigenous components.”

Given the spate of rail accidents over the last year, Indian Railways has decided to stop production of traditional ICF coaches in 2017. Now, ICF Chennai will make only LHB coaches. LHB coaches boast of stainless steel bodies and have anti-climbing features. This ensures that in case of a derailment, the coaches do not pile onto each other, hence making them safer. The LHB coaches also have a graduated release modular braking system the axle mounted disc brakes.

READ Vedanta to invest $10 bn on expanding business across verticals
But, will all of them be 100% ‘Make in India’? Not yet, that’s a gradual process, says the ICF official. “We have been asked to almost double our production of LHB coaches, so 100% ‘Make in India’ will take some time to be absorbed completely,” he says, adding that focus is on meeting the twin goals of safety and ‘Make in India’.
Meanwhile, ICF is also working on project ‘Train-2018’ – a technological leap for the coach factory under which ‘Make in India’ self-propelled train sets will be manufactured. The ‘first of its kind’ semi-high speed self-propelled train set has been proposed for inter-city superfast travel.
http://energyinfrapost.com/wow-indi...-india-lhb-coaches-enhance-passengers-safety/
 
Happy Diwali for delivery boys as e-commerce sales jump
Bom H', 'Bom R' and 'BomS' are not the names of agents in a Hollywood spy movie but simply how 26-year-old Shamsher Shaikh's seniors identify the neighbourhoods of Ghatkopar, Bhandup and Goregaon. Mahimbased Shaikh, who became a delivery man for a leading ecommerce firm+ recently, is still too new to start calling his workspace 'Bom O' -- the official demarcation for the roads of Marol on which his second-hand scooter has done so many rounds that it feels like an extension of him.

Soon after joining, his rickety Activa had capitulated to Mumbai's rain and the delivery-bag-to ting Shaikh had to drag it to a mechanic and then to around 20 addresses waiting for their orders. The deal ended up extending his eight-hour workday by two hours and pushing his dinner to 1.30am. Yet, this father of two isn't complaining.

Like hundreds in the country, Shaikh is the beneficiary of a happy logistical problem. Every year before Diwali, when e-tailers gear up to meet the spike in demand that follows festive season discounts, men like Shaikh end up getting not only a temporary job but also unprecedented perks. Diwali's e-retail boom+ is seeing a spurt in tempo rary jobs and unusual perks for blue collar workers.

Compared to Shamsher Shaikh's earlier gigs - delivering ironed clothes for a professional laundry service for Rs 9,000 a month and towing vehicles for a Malad police chowky for Rs 350 a day - Shaikh can hope to fetch not only a monthly standard of Rs 11,600 at his new job but also an overtime of Rs 130 per hour, apart from a joining and an exit bonus that will arrive at the end of his month-long contract. It was this sum of Rs 5,000 that made Shaikh say yes to the vacancy that came to him through an HR portal.

The recent downpour of shopping bonanzas - Flipkart's The Big Billion Days, Amazon's Great Indian Festival and Snapdeal's Unbox Diwali -brought in an exceptional harvest with gross sales expected to hit up to Rs 9,000 crore, a 40% jump over last year, as per industry estimates. Such graphs find recruitment agencies excitedly talking about "sourcing network" and "hiring pipeline" - things they must strengthen to meet projections.

Dinesh Goel, co-founder and CEO of Aasaanjobs, an HR portal for entry-level jobs which is now working with five e-commerce players in Mumbai, says it is typical for demand for delivery boys to outstrip supply at this time of year. This is why "companies fight with each other for the limited pool of delivery boys by luring them with incentives like overtime, joining bonus and exit bonus", says Goel, whose firm has had to up its game with each passing year. "Earlier, we only did field activities to source last-mile workers," he says, referring to the recruitment drives held chiefly in colleges. "Now, we have started running referral programs to incentivize to help us source more," adds Goel, who has seen a "250-300%" jump in job applications this season.

Not all jobs listed during the festive season are temporary; those that are, see a high application rate. "This is because blue-collar workers look at these short-term jobs as extra income," says Amit Jain, V-P and business head of placement agency QuikrJobs, which added over 3,500 vacancies in metros in September alone.

This is why the delivery boy looks a tad different now.The industry has grown to include not only Class X passouts with two-wheelers but also college students, graduates, entrepreneurs who've suffered business setbacks and, in an emerging trend, even women. "We look for associates who have good communication skills and the ability to provide a good experience to customers at their doorstep," says Akhil Saxena, V-P, India Customer Fulfilment, Amazon India. Amazon has created more than 22,000 "seasonal" positions across India -a figure that's three times the number of seasonal associates hired during its sale in January.

Needless to say, the increased workload during the festive season brings its own set of challenges. "We map the delivery route in the morning but often, four clients will call saying they want the delivery early because of some reason or the other so the map changes and we have to go back and forth," says 24-year-old Azem Shah, who finds himself delivering close to 40 items ranging from shoes to clothes daily in the Ghatkopar-Vidyavihar belt. Carrying 20 kg a day is not easy. But the burden becomes easier when he remembers his first salary at this e-comm firm was almost "tible" (triple) what he used to earn at a food delivery service.

The demand for last-mile workers during the festive season is not driven by e-commerce platforms alone. Bharat Ahirwar of Russsh, a same-day delivery service for things like cake, laptop, keys, documents and garments, is in the process of bolstering his workforce of 150 delivery personnel by hiring close to 90 college students on a temporary basis this year. "Earlier we had to run after students," says Ahirwar, whose firm will pay its new recruits Rs 100 per delivery, "but now, they approach us." Among the new temp recruits is second year commerce student Anil Kumar, whose three-month gig at the same firm last festive season had thrown up a cool Rs 25,000. It translated into a new cellphone and a memorable birthday party in January . Besides, the delivery gig had unexpected fringe benefits. "I met Malaika Arora and Suzanne (Khan)," he says.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...-commerce-sales-jump/articleshow/60989335.cms
 
KIA to become India’s first fully Aadhaar-enabled airport by 2018
After a two-month pilot project in February, the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has given push to its plan to make Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) the country's first airport to have complete Aadhaar-enabled entry and biometric boarding system.

According to the Request For Proposal (RFP) issued by BIAL, the airport is expected to be completely Aadhaar-enabled by December 2018, and the initiative is in line with its endeavours to become a Smart Airport—a digitized, seamlessly connected and intuitive one.

BIAL wants to tap benefits of using Aadhaar-enabled entry and biometric e-boarding process to confirm personal identity for airport passenger processing and access control among other things. The process enables a passenger to be verified in under five seconds at every checkpoint right up to the boarding gate, completing the screening process in 10 minutes compared to the average 25 minutes. This helps more passengers enter through the same gate.

"With real-time authentication of passengers, entry using biometric readers can enhance security, speed up clearance and alleviate delays at the airport. In addition to eliminating the need for passengers to present their ID and boarding passes at multiple stages of the airport journey, passengers can expect passage through various touch-points to be smooth and stress free," a spokesperson said.

BIAL executive director and president Hari Marar said the new move will speed up the validation process and provide a significant increase in security. The use of biometrics will soon be the only verification required at each passenger touch-point and will go a long way in improving the flow of passengers, providing a better travel experience as well as greater operational visibility for stakeholders, he added.

"A key driver to creating an airport-of-the-future is to embrace technologies that simplify, streamline and enhance travel processes. And as we continue to see exponential growth in passenger traffic, there's an urgency to implement systems that allow quicker transit time, ensuring the smooth ingress and egress of passengers, " Marar said.
According to the RFP, issued on October 3, BIAL has set a 325-day deadline to implement the new system. By March 30, 2018, the project will go live as far as airport entry is concerned, and in another 90 days, under phase-2, all domestic airlines will be roped to make phase-2 live.

By October 4, 2018, even those boarding international airline flights will be able to access the new system and by December 31, 2018, the project will be complete.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...bled-airport-by-2018/articleshow/60988503.cms

'India's renewables to double by 2022, overtake EU expansion'
India's renewable energy capacity will more than double by 2022, which would be enough to overtake renewable expansion in the European Union for the first time, International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...vertake-eu-expansion/articleshow/60938563.cms
 
Ministry of Railways
10-October, 2017 15:27 IST
Indian Railways and German Railways sign Joint Declaration of intent regarding carrying out of feasibility study on existing Chennai-Kazipet corridor of Indian Railways for increasing the speed trains to 200 kmph .

A Joint Declaration of Intent was signed between Ministry of Railways and Germany on 10th October,2017 in Rail Bhavan in the presence of Shri Ashwani Lohani, Chairman, Railway Board regarding carrying out of feasibility study on existing Chennai-Kazipet corridor of Indian Railways by German Railways for increasing the speed of passenger trains to 200 kmph on 50.50 percent cost sharing basis.


The current Joint Declaration of Intent is intended to deepen the cooperation, more specifically towards the achievement in the priority area of Semi High Speed Rail: the upgrading of current passenger services to SHS (Semi High Speed) upto 200 kmph on the Chennai-Kazipet corridor (643 km).

The Project is envisaged to consist of three phases to be carried out over a 22 month period with the objectives to provide :

● Phase 1: Definition of three demand-based Upgrade scenarios for the corridor

● Phase 2: Selection of the preferred Upgrade scenario for SHS on the corridor, based on analysis of respective operations and economic-financial impact.

● Phase 3: For preferred scenario, Reference design and technical Tender document:

1. Development of Reference design for technical solution on preferred Upgrade scenario.

2. Procurement concept for Construction works and Railway Systems.

3. Concept and Requirements for construction Phasing under railway Operations.

4. Preparation of technical tender documents for preferred Scenario usable for Design & Build tendering.

5. Development of recommendations on the implications for a larger SHS program for India.

6. Possible financing options for the implementation of the corridor.


The cost of the feasibility study will be shared 50.50 percent by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India and Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The final terms and conditions of carrying out of this feasibility study shall be completed through signing a separate Agreement.


Earlier, a Protocol on cooperation in Rail sector was signed between both sides in May, 2016 in Germany, with following priority areas.

a) Concepts for increasing the design and the actually driven speeds;

b) Concepts for increasing the capacity of railway lines in passenger and goods transport;

c) Concepts for improving operational safety to avoid incidents and accidents;

d) Concepts for reducing operational costs, in particular by means of energy efficient railway operations;

e) Concepts for the cooperation between education and training facilities in India and Germany with the objective of enhancing the railway know how;

f) Supporting the expansion of the high speed and semi high speed network;

g) Joint development of user oriented standards and norms for India with the participation of the competent regulatory authorities;

h) Concepts for speed raising on longer stretches for multiple traffic;

i) Concepts for station redevelopment on modern lines.

·



Salient Features of Chennai-Kazipet Corridor



Route: Chennai-Gudur Jn-Nellore-Tenali Jn-Vijayawada Jn-Warangal-Kazipet Jn Total length of the corridor – 643 km (135 km in Southern Railway and 508 km in South Central Railway) and the entire corridor is electrified.

● Divisions Involved – Chennai (135 km), Vijayawada (311 km) & Secunderabad (197 km).

● The maximum sectional speed on the corridor is 110 kmph in Southern Railway and 120 kmph for South Central Railway.

● There are 216 (Southern Railway-68 & South Central Railway-148) level crossings on the corridor and all are manned.

● There are 1979 (Southern Railway-514 & South Central Railway-1465) number of bridges on this corridor.

● There is only one direct train from Kazipet to Chennai i.e. Train No. 12760/Charminar SF Express taking 11 hours 20 minutes with 13 stoppages at an average speed of 57 kmph.

● Majority of the trains are from Warangal to Chennai (638 km) and the fastest train is Train no. 12433/12434 Rajdhani Express taking 8 hours 29 minutes with average speed of 75.3 kmph with one stoppage at Vijayawada.

● Details of coaching trains on the route: Gareeb Rath-1, Janshatabdi-1, Superfast-40, MailExpress-21 & Holiday Special-8, Total-71.

● Total number of enroute stations – 108 (Southern Railway-28 & South Central Railway-80).

● Total number of stations where platform is on the mainline – 29 (Southern Railway-23 & South Central Railway-06).

● Southern Railway – Automatic/Absolute signalling, South Central Railway – Mainly absolute and MACLS.



·

****
 
Indian cabinet approves MoU with Switzerland on collaboration in rail sector
The Government of India’s union cabinet has approved the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Ministry of Railways and Switzerland concerning technical collaboration in the railway sector.

The MoU was signed with the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications of Swiss Confederation for technical cooperation in Rail Sector on 31 August this year.

It is a follow up of the meeting between the then Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu and Swiss Ambassador to India Dr Andreas Baum in July last year.

The MoU will allow the two countries to develop bilateral cooperation in various sectors in railway, including traction rolling stock, emu and train sets, traction propulsion equipment, freight and passenger cars, as well as tilting trains.

"The institute will focus on research and studies related to the field of railway tunnelling and intends to train KRCL’s own personnel."
It will also facilitate technical cooperation in operational improvement, railway electrification, modernisation of rail stations and tunnelling technology.

Simultaneously, a second MoU was signed between Konkan Railway (KRCL) and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich to establish the George Fernandes Institute of Tunnel Technology (GFITT) in the Indian state of Goa.

The institute will focus on research and studies related to the field of railway tunnelling and intends to train KRCL’s own personnel.

The Indian railway ministry has signed MoUs for technical cooperation with multiple foreign governments and their respective national railway companies.

The deals help to exchange information on railway development, share technical expertise, and organise training, seminars and workshops.
http://www.railway-technology.com/n...rland-on-collaboration-in-rail-sector-5942602
 
NHAI launches app to ensure staff don’t skip project site visits
Field staff of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will from now onwards need to visit each project site at least twice a month and also present evidence of their visit. They need to click a selfie from the spot and upload it on the NHAI app, which will capture the longitude and latitude of the site visited.

NHAI launched the app for project management information system (PMIS) on Tuesday which tracks progress of more than 3,000 projects online. At present, the app can be used only by NHAI functionaries. NHAI has struggled for long to keep track of project directors and regional officers and their site visits.

In the next two months, public will also be able to use the app for getting details of projects, their progress and money spent. Moreover, they will be able to rate a highway on different parameters including road condition, greenery along the stretch, amenities and safety.
Sources said the app with provision of mandatory uploading of selfie by officials will bring more accountability. "The app will be a tool for actual inspection and visit to the project," NHAI chairman Deepak Kumar said. He added once people are allowed to use the app to report their experience and complaints, it will prove to be a bigger asset for NHAI.


"The rating of officials will be linked to the rating of highways," he added.

Chief general manager of NHAI's IT wing Akhilesh Srivasatava, who has developed the mobile app, said the PMIS app will be the single largest platform for all stakeholders to get details of project and see the progress.

Considering that NHAI now needs to focus its effort on maintenance and operation of already built stretches, the authority recently set up a separate wing for this purpose. Soon after taking charge Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked officials to make the highway drive "enjoyable" and last year he had even asked the highways ministry to assess " highway users satisfaction".
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...site-visits/articleshow/60929173.cms?from=mdr

To go 100% electric, auto companies have to change machinery, take risk: Transport Minister
India could switch to 100% e-vehicles much before 2030 because cost advantage will significantly boost demand, roads transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has said. Gadkari, who's also the minister for river development and water resources, said he's creating a water grid on the lines of power grid to end the perennial problem of frequent droughts and flooding in different parts of country once and for all. Edited excerpts from an interview with ET:

Automakers are sceptical about the government's plan to move to 100% electric mobility by 2030. What have you told them?
The principle of any market is demand and supply. The cost advantage of e-vehicles is so huge that once companies make good quality affordable cars available, people would buy it because it's economically viable. That would expand the market on its own. As compared to traditional fuel, the benefits of electric vehicles are immense. The time has come that we should be getting serious about cutting down vehicular pollution.

Auto companies say the government has no clear vision on e-mobility as charging infrastructure is not in place...
When solar energy came, the tariff was Rs 16.5 (per unit) now it's Rs 2.5. That time also companies were reluctant. Automakers don't want change. They have made one dye (technology) and they're manufacturing the same products through that dye. To move to 100% electric, companies have to change machinery, take risk. Mercedes and Audi have come to me that they can offer BS VI fuel or electric whatever the need is. Mahindra and Nissan are already offering e-vehicles. We're running several such taxis in Nagpur. Now you have companies competing for government tenders to supply e-vehicles. It all depends on the scale which we already have. I think we are capable of moving to 100% electric mobility even before 2030.

Is a clear policy on e-vehicles expected soon?
We are soon coming up with the e-vehicles policy that will provide for setting up of charging stations. These charging stations would itself have huge employment opportunities. The government can fund individuals to set up charging stations. Cabinet should clear the policy very soon.

There's been a slowdown in economic growth post demonetisation . Exporters and small businesses are complaining that GST is hurting their businesses...
There have been initial hiccups, but things are gradually improving as far as implementation of GST is concerned. There are structural changes happening in the economy and that's why we have these temporary problems.

Will the fund crunch hit government's ambitious highway construction targets?
There's no fund crunch in my department. I can raise money from EPFO (Employees' Provident Fund Organisation), LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India) and other funds. We can also get NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) listed. That plan is currently being prepared. Then we're monetising existing NHAI highways through the toll-operate-transfer model. The tenders for the same would be out in a day or two. We'll be raising Rs 6,500 crore by leasing 11highways. We have 100 such highways in the pipeline. You can imagine the potential of off budgetary funding we can arrange.

You said daily road construction target for current FY would be 41km. Is it being achieved?
Highway construction pace has touched 28 km per day. Problems in land acquisition are slowing the pace of highway construction. However, there are no delays in project timelines. We're trying to fast-track the land acquisition process, but local factors are not in our control.

The government was also planning to bring in a vehicle scrapping policy to phase out the old polluting vehicles. That proposal hasn't moved forward...
We have already prepared a draft policy under which we have decided the lifetime of commercial vehicles. We are waiting for the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill to be cleared by Parliament after which we'll follow up on the policy that would phase out old polluting vehicles.

You're on the panel for divestment of Air India. Is any decision expected soon?
The final meeting for the divestment is going to be held soon. It was unreasonable for the government to keep investing in the airline and incur losses. We have losses piled up to Rs 60,000 crore. So, the decision for divesting it was well in time. We hope that an Indian company will acquire it. All these Indian carriers such as IndiGo have evinced initial interest. The valuations and other things would be finalised very soon.

The government is also planning to divest Shipping Corporation of India, a PSU that comes under your ministry. Are you supporting that?
It's a profitable public sector company that is managed professionally. Last year it posted a profit of Rs 1,000 crore. I don't think any government company that is making profit should be shut.

You've recently got the charge of river development and Ganga rejuvenation. What plans do you have for these ministries?
Within two years we will invest Rs 1.5 lakh crore to bring 1.8 crore hectare of land under irrigation through river linking projects. River development is the most important subject today. Through it we can increase the agriculture growth, and in five years we can post double digit growth, which would push rural demand.

We have two river systems in the country — Himalayan and Deccan peninsular. River connectivity is the most important subject. Most southern and western states have water shortage. Almost 60% of water is going into the sea. Here, Punjab and Haryana are fighting over water, and water of rivers is going to Pakistan. I'm creating a water grid on the lines of power grid to reduce the wastage of river water. Israel gets only six inches of water and not even a drop is wasted. We need to have a similar system. I've already cleared four river linking projects that would solve problem of water shortage in eight states.

Is there a separate river dredging policy in the pipeline?
Rivers are not being dredged currently. We are preparing a cabinet note that wherever there's frequent flooding we should be allowed to dredge that. It will be a self-sustaining model. NHAI can do it for free and use the sand for building highways.

Very little has been done towards cleaning of Ganga in last three years. Will there be any tangible difference before 2019?
I am starting works worth Rs 2,000 crore for cleaning of Ganga in next one month. The tenders for almost 20 sewage treatment plants would be awarded. Almost 80% of pollution in Ganga is because of flow of sewage. I'm planning to reduce that to 50% in next two years by setting up treatment plants. We will ensure that work would be very much visible before 2019.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...rt-minister/articleshow/60966976.cms?from=mdr

Gadkari, Rajnath to lay foundation stones for several projects in Andaman and Nicobar
Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh will lay foundation stones for four national highway projects and many shipping projects worth Rs 1,321 crore during their two-day visit to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which begins today.

The highways projects include construction of 26 km of stretch between Beodnabad-Ferrargunj at a cost of Rs 170 crore and 56 km between Austin Creek and Kalra Junction at a cost of Rs 410 crore, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement.

In addition, the foundation stone will be laid for construction of Middle Strait Creek Bridge and Humphrey Strait Creek Bridge at estimated cost of Rs 262.97 crore and Rs 277.17 crore, respectively, it added.

Union Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources Minister Gadkari, along with Home Minister Rajnath Singh, will lay the foundation stone for highway projects worth Rs 1,121 crore and several shipping projects worth Rs 200 crore in Andaman and Nicobar Islands in events at Port Blair, Diglipur and Baratang today and tomorrow, the statement said.

An alternate sea route to Baratang Island, which aims improve the connectivity of island from Port Blair and reduces traffic, would also be launched.

Both the ministers will also lay the foundation stone for extension of Wharf in Hope Town, Port Blair by 200 meters. Indian Oil Corporation uses Wharf to discharge LPG and other petroleum products.

"The extension of jetty would allow berthing of bigger vessels of up to 160 meter length and higher capacity. This will help in increasing availability of LPG cylinders in the area while reducing logistic costs," it said.

As part of its drive towards ensuring and upholding the cause of Swachh Bharat mission, the National Highways Authority of India has so far planted about 10 lakh plants along national highways in this monsoon season, the ministry said in a statement.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...and-nicobar/articleshow/60958694.cms?from=mdr

NHAI awards Myanmar project to Punj Lloyd-Varaha venture
The National Highway Authority of India has awarded its first international project in Myanmar to a Joint Venture of Punj Lloyd-Varaha.

This is for the upgradation of Yagyi-Kalewa section in Myanmar to Two Lane with Earten Shoulder on the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction mode.

An official statement said that the 120-km long project was estimated to cost ₹1,177.02 crore and is to be completed within 36 months.

Punj Lloyd-Varaha’s bid was identified as most competitive among four qualified bidders. It was at ₹1,177 crore or 0.0017 per cent lower than the estimated cost.

In year end review of 2016, the Ministry of Road Transport Highways said that India is funding construction of 120.74 km road between Kalewa and Yargi section of the India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway, in Myanmar to improve connectivity with South-East Asia by road.

The Trilateral Highway starts from Moreh (Manipur) in India up to Mae Sot in Thailand through Myanmar. India will also fund the construction of 69 Bridges on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa Road (149.70 km) section.

Construction of 130 km length stretch of road connecting Moreh (India)/Tamu (Myanmar) to Kalewa in Myanmar has already been completed by Border Roads Organisation of India.
http://m.thehindubusinessline.com/e...o-punj-lloydvaraha-venture/article9848434.ece

NHAI says it will exceed highways construction target this fiscal
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Tuesday said it will “certainly exceed” the current fiscal’s target of constructing 3,500km of highways, which may require extra expenditure.

“Our award target is 6,500km and construction target is 3,500km. We have to exceed this (target). Certainly we will exceed this target,” NHAI chairman Deepak Kumar said. He was speaking to reporters after the launch of new website of NHAI and project monitoring information system (PMIS) mobile app in New Delhi.

“The moment we exceed it (the target) there would be extra expenditure. Right now I would not be able to say what would be (extra) expenditure. But the expenditure will exceed. It will exceed our budgetary allocation,” he said.

The decision on the extra expenditure — whether it would come from borrowing or budgetary supplement — is yet to be taken, he added. The board, Kumar said, has approved the monetisation of operational highway projects. Under the scheme, nine highway projects will be auctioned by this month-end which would generate Rs6,700 crore.

“The board has approved it (monetisation of operational highway projects) and by October-end we will bring it. There is a target we will do before it... There are a total of nine projects (its total cost, the bid amount is Rs6,700),” he said.

Last year, NHAI had been authorised by the cabinet committee on economic affairs to monetise the public-funded highway projects for mobilising funds. Elaborating further the chairman said, “We will come out with one RFP (request for proposal) in October and we will come out with two more RFP by 31st March.” On fund raising, he said: “(till August) we have raised Rs19,880 crore from the market in which LIC is Rs8,500 crore and EPFO is Rs5,000 crore,” among others.
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/pm...exceed-highways-construction-target-this.html
 
Ministry of Railways
11-October, 2017 17:57 IST
The report released on Unusual occurrence of stampede on North end FOB of Elphinstone Road station on Mumbai Central division on 29/9/17

Railway Board constitutes a high level expert committee to inquire into the reasons for delay in the tender process for new Elphinstone Road station Bridge and suggest measures to minimise such Delays.

Pratyush Sinha, Former CVC, to head the expert committee.

A committee consisting of 5 Senior Administrative Grade Officers (Joint Secretary level) under the Presidentship of Chief Safety Officer, W.Rly, was formed to inquire into the incidence of stampede on north end FOB of Elphinstone Road Station on Mumbai Central - Dadar suburban section on 29/9/17. The enquiry committee issued public notice inviting members of public having knowledge relating to the incidence and any matter connected therewith and desiring to give evidence. The committee examined all the matters pertaining to the incidence including the evidence from the witnesses, the written statement of injured persons, Railway officials of Elphinstone road station and analysis of footages of all the CCTV cameras installed at the station including those located on the FOB.

The Committee concluded that the incident occurred due to sudden downpour of heavy rains and accumulation of commuters on FOB and stair case at around 10.00 hrs onwards on that date. The situation got further aggravated when one bundle of flowers of a vendor dropped followed by someone shouting that "Majha phool padla" and some commuters mistook the word “phool” for “pull”. This may have possibly triggered panic and led to stampede.

The committee also recommended certain short term and long term measures for Mumbai Suburban stations.

It is brought out that the issue of Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) for Elphinstone Road FOB took about 18 months. Railway Board has decided to constitute a high level expert committee to inquire into the reasons for delay in the whole process and suggest ways and means to ensure that such delays can be minimised in future. This committee would be headed by Shri Pratyush Sinha (Retd Chief Vigilance Commissioner) with Shri Vinayak Chatterjee, Chairman CII Economic Affairs council, and Shri Subodh Jain, (Retd Member Engineering , Railway Board) as Members and current Director Safety, Rly Board, Shri Pankaj Kumar as Member Secretary.


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