Is this a game changer for India?

[Papa Dragon]

Modi govt approves mega Rs 7-lakh crore project to develop 83,000 km highways in 5 years

NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday approved the biggest highway construction plan so far in the country, to develop approximately 83,677 km of roads at an investment of Rs 6.92 lakh crore by 2022. The highway construction programme is aimed at pushing economic activity and generating at least 14.2 crore man-days across the country over the next five years.

The programme includes the Bharatmala scheme, under which 34,800 km of highways would be constructed at the cost of Rs 5.35 lakh crore, finance secretary Ashok Lavasa said. Under Bharatmala, the road transport and highways ministry will construct 9,000 km of economic corridors across the country.

The project also entails constructing 6,000 km long inter corridor and feeder routes, 2,000 km of border and international connectivity roads, 5,000 km to be upgraded under the national corridor efficiency programme, 800 km of greenfield expressways, 10,000 km under the national highway development programme and 2,000 km of coastal and port connectivity roads.

"The economic corridors would ensure that time taken for transporting goods from manufacturing sectors is reduced," Lavasa said. He said the road transport and highways ministry has already identified new alignment for corridors, which would open new areas for development. "We'll be improving road connectivity in northeast and other border states to facilitate international trade," Lavasa said.

The government will fund Bharatmala project through market borrowings, central road funds, monetising government-owned road assets, and budgetary allocation. "For the highway construction programme, Rs 2.09 lakh will come from market borrowing, Rs 1.06 lakh crore is expected to come through private investment and Rs 2.19 lakh crore will come from the central road fund and through toll operate transfer model," Lavasa said.

In addition to 34,800 km under Bharatmala, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will parallel implement the balance works of 48,877 km roads under other current schemes with an outlay of Rs 1.57 lakh crore, Lavasa said. This will be financed by providing Rs 97,000 crore from CRF and Rs 59,000 crore as gross budgetary support.

The government has assigned NHAI, National Highway and Industrial Development Corporation (NHIDCL) and state public work departments for the highway projects. "These organisations would be given sufficient delegation of powers so that there's speedy implementation," Lavasa said.

In additional, central and state governments would spend another Rs 88,185 crore in the next three years towards constructing rural roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. The government has also sanctioned almost Rs 11,000 crore towards the development of roads in states with left wing extremism.

Read more at:
//economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/61196485.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

 

[SingaporeGuy]

If the urban planning is bad, no matter how much roads are built, the road will lead to nowwhere

 

[SingaporeGuy]

I remembered taking a cab to an adjacent area(perhaps 5 minutes walk away) when i visited india.

The taxi cab took 15 minutes to reach that place because of the unclear roads and roundabouts..totally ridiculous

Well, would the roads be for cattles or human?

I dont think humans or cattle deserve such poorly planned roads

 

[egodoc222]

Well, would the roads be for cattles or human?

@waz

 

[kinsr]

I don't know the love for roads in this government. If the objective is transporting cargo, then why not enhance the railway network, which can carry far more cargo and passengers at much high average speeds. Other than that, it's cheaper in terms of operations and maintenance. And environment friendly too.

 

[egodoc222]

I don't know the love for roads in this government. If the objective is transporting cargo, then why not enhance the railway network, which can carry far more cargo and passengers at much high average speeds. Other than that, it's cheaper in terms of operations and maintenance. And environment friendly too.

Ever heard of dedicated freight corridor?

 

[kinsr]

Ever heard of dedicated freight corridor?

Yes, I very much know about DFC. If DFC is there, why all these Golden Quadrilateral, Sagar Mala(this being multimodal), Bharat Mala, Interconnected EEZs.

By the way, will you care to explain, which is better mode of transportation for inland cargo, Railways or Road Network. Whats the comparative average speeds, distance covered per day for cargo. Comparative operations costs keeping in mind the Railway network is electrified, maintenance costs. Whats the cost of future upgrades, capacity expansion.

Roads should only be used for Last Mile delivery, rather than to be used to carry freight. For the Last Mile delivery, the State Highways and Rural roads needs to be strengthened. Creating a parallel highway network to DFC is a waste of resources and could be better used to improve feeder roads.

 

[Sankpal]

Great...

 

[anant_s]

which is better mode of transportation for inland cargo

If we take into consideration of carbon footprint and cost involved, DFC will reduce Cost, Time and Carbon emission to less than half vis a vis Road transport.

 

[kinsr]

If we take into consideration of carbon footprint and cost involved, DFC will reduce Cost, Time and Carbon emission to less than half vis a vis Road transport.

I simply don't understand this Government's love for creating super highways, where there is already a Railway network is available. Simply upgrade/expand that railway network in terms of capacity.

Create something like major warehousing zones which are interconnected and all connected to Industrial Corridors/Zones using the existing Railway network. Once expanded, de-congested, Railways are far more efficient mode of freight carriage in terms of time and costs.

 

[Jugger]

If the urban planning is bad, no matter how much roads are built, the road will lead to nowwhere

Well, would the roads be for cattles or human?

Both of your contributions to this thread by your extremely in-depth posts are invaluable.

 

[srshkmr]

I don't know the love for roads in this government. If the objective is transporting cargo, then why not enhance the railway network, which can carry far more cargo and passengers at much high average speeds. Other than that, it's cheaper in terms of operations and maintenance. And environment-friendly too.

I have to say that Indian roads are poor condition most need an overhaul or extension and especially clear the potholes. The Roads are for the common people and the cities that are developing

 

[kinsr]

I have to say that Indian roads are poor condition most need an overhaul or extension and especially clear the potholes. The Roads are for the common people and the cities that are developing

Local urban/rural roads are maintained by Municipal corporations or PWDs. National Highways come under NHAI or if state highway then it falls under respective state highway authority. This project doesn't cover local urban roads so potholes on the way to your office wont be fixed by the current project.

 

[Suriya]

Chinese butt hurt and then their low iq rants!

Chinese have moved from ignore you to laugh at you phase ....

 

[anant_s]

where there is already a Railway network is available.

There are serious attempts to separate freight and passenger movement on different corridors of tracks supporting Higher Axle load (freight movement, DFC) and higher speed at ~20/21 Ton per axle load supporting Passenger tracks respectively.
India is forced to run very light freight trains (~3500-400 Tons per rake) owing to demand for higher running speed of freight trains so as they donot become bottleneck for passenger train running on same track. As a result a lot of freight trains are looped to allow passenger movement slowing down average speed of freight trains. this is a catch 22 situation, which DFC are trying to solve by allowing heavier trains at higher average speeds using HHP locos.
Second issue which you mentioned already that majority movement takes place on Golden quadrilateral is a case of deep worry. With one train lined up behind other, IR is finding little or no time to take up safety upgrades and routine maintenance which is getting reflected in spate of accidents recently.
We definitely need more roads but we will do well to plan bulk movement on rails by adding capacity.
Given a choice of fixed budget, i would put my money on upgrading rail line capacity for that gives me much higher return on equity and at lower cost of money and environment.