Way paved for Ghaziabad expressway

April 17, 2008

GHAZIABAD/GREATER Noida: The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has finally decided to complete work on a number of roads, including the 12-kilometre expressway linking Greater Noida to NH-24 in Ghaziabad.

While 10.5 kilometres of the 12-kilometre expressway having been completed five years ago, a 1.5-kilometre stretch on NH-24 had been encroached upon. Now, GDA vice-chairman SK Dwivedi said compensation and alternative plots of land will provided to residents along the route to clear the area in order to complete the expressway.

Meanwhile, the GDA has decided to go ahead with plans to build a six-lane expressway linking the Hindon bridge at Meerut Road and the Greater Noida-Ghaziabad expressway. The GDA and NHAI have already decided to widen NH 24 from UP Gate to Lal Kuan.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

NATIONAL HIGHWAY PROJECTS IN THE NORTH EASTERN REGION

April 8, 2008

Execution of National Highway works in North Eastern Region (NER) is carried out by Border Roads Organisation, National Highways Authority of India and State Public Works Departments (PWDs). Border Roads Organisation is executing NH works in Sikkim and Tripura fully and in other States partly against lump sum amount allocated by the Ministry each year. National Highways Authority of India is executing the special programmes for which Annual Plan is not drawn. PWDs of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland are also engaged to execute NH works in these States on the basis of sanctions accorded by the Ministry in successive annual plans. Eleventh Plan for development of national highways is yet to be finalised by the Government. The amount of works for development of National Highways approved by the Ministry during 2007-08 (1st year of eleventh plan) and the amount of works included in the list of works prepared by Ministry for sanctions during 2008-09 in respect of the above-mentioned 6 States to be executed by 6 PWDs is given below:-

(Rs in crore)

State

Amount of sanctions

accorded during 2007-08

Amount of works listed

for sanctions during 2008-09

Assam

112.12

292.00

Manipur

37.97

99.00

Meghalaya

43.87

264.00

Mizoram

21.95

119.50

Nagaland

47.08

50.50

The expenditure incurred on development of National Highways in NER during 10th Plan is Rs 2383.93 crore. In addition expenditure on development of National Highways have also been incurred on Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North East (SARDP-NE). The expenditure under SARDP-NE during 2006-07 is Rs 91.65 crore. The budget of 2008-09 is yet to be passed by the Parliament.

Four lane Guwahati bypass was completed during 10th Plan. Karimganj,  Nagaon, Daboka, Lanka, Lumding, Maibang, Udharband, Mahour, Baihata and Agartala  bypasses are under construction and bypasses of Dibrugarh, Tinsukhiya, Makum, Dum Duma, Rupai, Digboi, Margreita, Ledo and North-Lakhimpur in Assam and Shillong, Jowai and Tura bypasses in Meghalaya and Dimapur and Kohima bypasses in Nagaland and Gangtok bypass in Sikkim are in Planning and Survey & Investigation stage.

Timeframe for works of double laning, 4-laning and construction of bypasses approved during 2007-08 is given below:

 List of  works for  double laning, four laning and bypasses approved under Annual Plan during 2007-08

 This information was given  by the Minister of  State for  Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Shri K.H. Muniyappa in a written reply in the Lok  Sabha today.

Source: pib.nic.in

Faridabad-Badarpur flyover to just beat Games deadline

April 8, 2008

With the authorities rushing up to complete all the projects related to road infrastructure before Commonwealth Games in 2010, commuters taking the Badarpur-Faridabad road can expect a smooth ride on this stretch by September 2010.

According to sources in the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Badarpur-Faridabad 6-lane elevated highway at a cost of Rs 340 crore is expected to be completed by September 2010. NHAI has already shortlisted five bidders for the 4.4 km signal-free road and the work is likely to be awarded by this June.

This proposed elevated corridor, to be built on BOT basis, will be a crucial link between Delhi and Faridabad. The proposed road will start from near NTPC, Badarpur and will end near Sector-37 crossing in Faridabad. The entire elevated corridor has five major intersections (two in Delhi and three in Haryana) namely NTPC junction, Sarai junction, Jaitpur junction, Mehrauli junction and Sector-37 junction.

Frequent traffic jams are reported from this road due to heavy traffic and encroachments and on average commuters spend over half an hour to cross this stretch on NH-2.

The elevated corridor will do away with all the seven junctions on this stretch. There will be three subways on the road for pedestrians.

The commuters using the elevated road will have to pay toll tax, said an NHAI official, adding that there will be two toll gates – one at Delhi-Faridabad border and the other near Sector-37 in Faridabad. The toll rates will be announced when the stretch gets operational, said the official. However, commuters using the ground road will not pay any toll. According to the project plan, the concessionaire will construct and maintain the entire project including the ground level roads for the period of 20 years.

While the NHAI had prepared the detail project report way back in 2004, it got delayed due to various “political” and “procedural reasons”.

“Haryana government gave the clearance in 2006, but Delhi government and Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) cleared it only in January this year. But now there will be no extension to the deadline of the project since everything has been cleared and the required land is acquired,” said an NHAI official.

Source: indiatimes.com

Haryana govt inks MoU with NHAI for construction of Delhi-Rohtak six laning road

April 8, 2008

CHANDIGARH: Haryana  Government has signed a Memorundum of Understainding (MOU) with National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)for construction of six laning of Delhi-Rohtak road costing Rs 487 crore and it would be completed within next 30 months.

This was revealed by the Haryana PWD B&R Minister, Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav while interracting with the mediapersons after flagging of Mobile Highway Maintenance Van here Tuesday.

Capt. Yadav said that this prestigious Delhi-Rohtak project of six laning would be 63 km long and would have 16 fly over and three railway over bridges. He said that 16 km long bypass would be
constructed at Bahadurgarh and 23 km long bypass would be constructed at Rohtak.

The Minister said that the department had executed a record  number of works under National Highway and Central Road Fund Schemes.

He said that Rs 120 crore had been spent on NABARD works besides a sum of Rs 450 crore had been sanctioned during last year by the Ministry of Rural Development under the PMGSY Scheme. While during the previous regime a sum of Rs 100 crore was incurred within a span of five years
under PMGSY scheme.

Capt. Yadav said that similarly under the National Capital Region Planning Board a sum of Rs 1200 crore had been sanctioned while only a sum of Rs 65 crore were incurred during the previous regime under NCR schemes.

He said that during next two years, a sum of Rs 2000 crore would also be incurred for improving the infrastructure in the State under the Rajiv Gandhi Road Infrastructure scheme. This programme was
launched in the State on October 7, 2007 by the UPA Chairperson,  Sonia Gandhi from Dadri district Bhiwani.

The Minister said that NHAI would incur a sum of Rs 5000 crore in the State for strengthening the road infrastructure and a number of works were in the pipeline. He said that  a sum of Rs 588 crore would be incurred on Gurgaon-Nuh-Alwar road and Hodal-Nuh-Patudi road.

He maintained that a sum of Rs 1500 crore was required in the State during next two year to bring the road into a proper shape.

Yadav said that department had decided to procure these funds from various sources which included a sum of Rs 400 crore from National Capital Region Planning Board, Rs 250 crore from NABARD, Rs
350 crore from PMGSY and the rest money would be spent from the state resources.

He said that the department had also incurred a sum of Rs  400 crore for the construction of various government buildings during last year which was more than the total amount spent on construction of public building during previous regime.

He said that a number of bypasses which included Rewari, Sirsa, Kaithal and Dadri were being constructed. He revealed that Nirman Sadan was being constructed in sector 33, Chandigarh and it wouldbe constructed in two phases, the Chief Architect office would be ready within next three months while the office of PWD B&R would be ready by December end.

Capt. Yadav said that the main aim of starting Mobile Highway Maintenance Van to enable carrying out maintenance work of patch work on Highways besides these vans would be eco-friendly, pollution free, economical and very easy to handle. In the first phase, such 10 mobile
vans would come in operation from Wednesday.

The Commissioner and Secretary PWD B&R, K.K. Jalan said that Panipat flyover was almost ready and the final inspection of the same would be made on April 9.

He said that the testing for the same had already been completed and it would be opened for the public in the last of this month or in the first week of May. He said that a commuter had to pay a sum of Rs 20 as toll tax. He said that Panipat over bridge had been completed 8 months before the scheduled time.

Engineer-in-Chief, Mahesh Kumar said that about 12,000 crore would be spent by the Haryana Government in maintenance, construction and repair of roads and bridges during the tenure of present government. Out of this, a sum of Rs 4500 crore would be incurred by the NHAI and the rest would be incurred by the State Government. He said that a total sum of Rs 5000 crore was required to make six laning road from Dehi to Chandigarh.

On the occasion Chief Engineer, Roads, Mahavir Singh and Chief Engineer, Buildings, G.D. Goel and senior officers of the department were also present.

Source: punjabnewsline.com

State agency offers ‘permanent’ solution

April 8, 2008

A perpetual or permanent road is a long-life bituminous road that needs no maintenance, is of superior quality and ideal for heavy-traffic corridors

Bangalore: Bumpy rides on Indian roads may soon be a thing of the past, if the Central Road Research Institute, or CRRI, has its way. The institute is compiling a report on its research on introducing perpetual roads— that last as long as 30 years without cracking—in the country.

Perpetual roads are hugely popular in the US and China.

“Perpetual roads are the future for important roadways like the national and state highways where maintenance is a huge concern and need to be refurbished because of high traffic volume,” said Sunil Bose, deputy director of pavements at CRRI, which has just completed laboratory tests on perpetual roads in India.

Once the report is complete by July, the New Delhi-based institute wants to collaborate with the National Highways Authority of India, or NHAI, and run a pilot project on a stretch of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP).

A perpetual or permanent road is a long-life bituminous road that needs no maintenance, is of superior quality and ideal for heavy-traffic corridors such as the national highways, said Bose. It has three layers: a wear-resistant top layer, an intermediate layer and a fatigue-resistant base layer, he said.

In India, important roads are overloaded with traffic and therefore suffer harsh weathering, leading to cracks and potholes. Entire structures have to be rebuilt every four-five years at high cost. According to NHAI data, India’s 66,590km of national highways, for example, constitute 2% of its road network but carry 40% of the traffic.

Nirmaljeet Singh, technical member at NHAI, said despite good construction, NHDP roads invariably deteriorate due to the heavy traffic and have to be relaid every five years.

Road experts say that in perpetual roads, the layer of bitumen, a petroleum product that is used to lay roads, is 25-30% thicker than the usual 900mm, and of better quality, giving the roads a stronger cover.

“We are open to such research but it needs to be tested and seen whether it suits our roads and can be effectively maintained in the long run,” said Singh.

These roads are also less expensive in the long term, says CRRI. Bose said that while the cost of building 1km of any NHDP road is around Rs4.2 crore, a perpetual road would cost 25% more. However, these roads would last much longer, recovering the additional costs.

“Perpetual roads are a boon for the economy because goods are delivered on time and there is less fuel wastage because of reduced obstruction in traffic movement. And once you construct these roads, they don’t deteriorate,” said B.B. Pandey, emeritus professor of civil engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.

Source: www.livemint.com

PROPOSAL FOR SETTING UP NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT BOARD IS IN FINAL STAGES OF APPROVAL

April 7, 2008

THIRU BAALU ADDRESSES CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

The Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Thiru T.R. Baalu has said that the proposal for setting up of the National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board, as recommended by the Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Management, is in the final stages of approval. Similar Boards would be set up in the States also. Thiru Baalu was addressing the Seventeenth Meeting of the Consultative Committee of Members of Parliament attached to his Ministry here today.

Thiru Baalu also informed the Members that the Department of Road Transport and Highways is also contemplating constitution of a Committee of Experts to suggest a comprehensive scheme to improve the public transport system. The proposed scheme would stipulate certain reform measures to be undertaken by the States to be eligible for seeking financial assistance from the Central Government.

The Minister further informed that a ‘Working Group’ has been constituted by the Government to determine the technology for Advanced Traffic Management System, Advanced Travel or Information System and Electronic Toll collection. He said that a System is proposed to be installed for automatic traffic counting and classification to have better assessment of traffic moving on National highways. He said that these steps are being taken as part of Government’s efforts to give more emphasis on the modernisation of the toll collection system for which introduction of Intelligent Transport System (ITS) is proposed to be gradually introduced.

Thiru Baalu said that a proposal has recently been approved for creation of State and National Registers of driving licenses and registration certificates envisaging inter-linking of all Regional Transport Offices. This would enable creation of authentic database for road transport sector, ensuring transparency in the process of registration of motor vehicles and issuance of driving licenses at a total cost of Rs. 148 crore. The project period is two years. It would check issuance of fake driving licenses / registration certificates and lead to better enforcement of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act / Rules, he added.

The Minister also informed that to formulate a scheme for trauma care facilities across the country in general and along the National Highways in particular, his Ministry has been working closely with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to work out a -2- combined plan of action. For this purpose, Thiru Baalu informed that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has introduced a scheme for setting up of an integrated network of Trauma Centres along the GQ, North-South and East-West Corridors of the National Highways by upgrading the trauma care facilities in 140 identified State Government Hospitals at a total cost of Rs.732.75 crore during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period. Our Ministry has to supply 140 ambulances and NHAI has to provide 50 Ambulances with advanced life support equipment to identified hospitals.

Giving an account of the progress made on the National Highway Development Programme (NHDP), Thiru Baalu observed that upto February 2008, out of the 5,846 kms under the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) Project, 4/6 laning of about 5,650 kms has been completed and works are in progress in the remaining 196 kms length. Out of about 7,300 kms length under the North-South and East-West Corridors, 4/6 laning was completed in 1,962 kms and works were under implementation in about 4,359 kms. Under NHDP Phase-III, out of 12,109 kms length, 4-laning has been completed in 330 kms and works are in progress in about 1,745 kms and under NHDP Phase-V, out of 6,500 kms length, 6-laning was in progress in about 1,030 kms.

So far 86 projects valued at Rs.29,576.94 crore have been awarded on BOT (Toll) basis. Out of these, 34 projects have been completed and 52 projects are in progress. Also, so far 25 projects valued at Rs. 9,411.88 crore have been awarded on BOT (Annuity) basis; out of which, 8 projects have been completed and 17 projects are in progress, the Minister informed.

The Members of Parliament who participated in the meeting are: S/Shri M.R. Reddy, S. Ajaya Kumar, L.R. Patil, Hari Kewal Prasad, M.L. Mandal, Tiruchi Siva and Ms. Mabel Rebello.

Source: pib.nic.in

Four-laning of Hyderabad-Vijayawada road from December

April 7, 2008

VIJAYAWADA: The long-awaited Rs 1460 crore four-laning of Hyderabad-Vijayawada Road will commence in December. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will finalise the tenders by June.

Currently, the four-laning has been completed between Vijayawada and Nandigama (50 km) and Hyderabad and Malkapuram (40 km). The 181 km stretch between Malkapuram and Nandigama will now be four-laned.

NHAI Vijayawada-Hyderabad section project director P Srinivasa Rao said the work will be completed in two years time. The NHAI, the State Government and the contractors will enter into a state-support agreement before commencing the works, he added.

VIJAYAWADA-MACHILIPATNAM ROAD: Srinivasa Rao said the the Vijayawada-Machilipatnam Road will also be widened to 200 feet. This would be done for 150 km. The tenders would be finalised in June and the works would begin from December.

The widening is estimated to cost Rs 493 crore. The widening has become necessary in view of the heavy vehicular movement on the road and the future needs that may arise after the establishment of the new port.

The project director met superintendent engineer of Irrigation T Shivaji recently to discuss the widening as some irrigation canals pass along the road.

Source: newindpress.com

20-year delay for Shillong bypass

April 5, 2008

P.R. Kyndiah: Hopeful

Shillong, April 4: Union tribal affairs minister P.R. Kyndiah and officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) visited Ri Bhoi district today, concerned over the delay in the construction of the Shillong bypass.

The construction of the bypass has been delayed for more than 20 years because of problems in land acquisition and hurdles imposed by red tape.

Kyndiah said the delay in completing the bypass has caused hardship to the people of the state and the rest of the Northeast, as traffic congestion has become the order of the day.

Once the bypass is constructed, the trucks plying through Shillong will be diverted through the bypass to reduce traffic snarls.

He said the land acquisition process was nearly complete and the proposal is now pending with the Union ministries of shipping, road transport and highways.

The cost of the project is Rs 220.35 crore and the length of the proposed bypass is 47.06km, starting from National Highway 40 at Barapani in Ri Bhoi district and ending at National Highway 44 at Mawryngkneng in East Khasi Hills district.

Truck movement along the National Highway 44, which passes through Shillong, is at present banned for 12 hours.

Kyndiah said once the Union transport ministry sanctions the project, the proposal will be sent to the Union finance ministry for approval.

The tender for the project will be called after the clearance and the NHAI will execute the project.

“I am taking up the matter with both the ministries so that the work can start at the earliest,” Kyndiah said, adding that the Union ministry of environment and forests has also cleared the project.

The NHAI will construct one major bridge and eight minor ones to complete the bypass.

The general manager of NHAI, D. Gogoi, accompanied Kyndiah on the tour.

He said Rs 19 crore has been released as land compensation in East Khasi Hills and Rs 5 crore will be released for the landowners in Ri Bhoi district soon.

Source: www.telegraphindia.com

DR. KARUNANIDHI TO INAUGURATE FOUR NHAI PROJECTS IN CHENNAI

April 4, 2008

DR. KARUNANIDHI TO INAUGURATE FOUR NHAI PROJECTS IN CHENNAI. ALSO TO LAY FOUNDATION STONE FOR FOOT OVER BRIDGE AT CHROMEPET

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Dr. Kalaignar M., Karunanidhi will inaugurate four projects completed at a total cost of Rs. 80 crore by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Wednesday the 9th April 2008. He will also lay the foundation stone for Foot-over Bridge at Chromepet on the same day.

The function for the inaugural ceremony would be presided over by the Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Thiru T. R. Baalu and the Minister for Local Administration, Government of Tamil Nadu Thiru M.K Stalin would be the Chief Guest. The Guests of honour of the function would be Thiru M.P. Swaminathan, Minister for Highways, Government of Tamil Nadu and Thiru T.M. Anbarasan, Minister for Labour, Government of Tamil Nadu.

The Irumbuliyur Underpass has been built at a cost of Rs. four crore, four-laning of Chennai Bypass Phase-I up to Porur has been completed by NHAI at a cost of Rs. 70 crore, the pedestrian subway at Tirisulam has cost Rs. five crore and the Bus Shelter at Chromepet built under the MPLAD Scheme has cost Rs. 82 lakhs. The completion of the Irumbuliyur Underpass will facilitate right turn for the Tambaram Traffic to access Chennai Bypass and thereby quicker connectivity to the Golden Quadrilateral Corridor.

The Chromepet Foot-over Bridge for which the foundation stone will be laid on Wednesday to facilitate the commuters in crossing NH-45 to access the railway station on the other side and vice versa which provides rail connectivity to southern part of Tamil Nadu, would cost Rs. 2.40 crore.

Thiru T.R. Baalu has expressed the hope that with the completion of these four projects, the people living in and around these areas would be greatly benefited.

Source: pib.nic.in

New bypass proposed for Mangalore city

April 3, 2008

MANGALORE March 18: The State Government has sent a proposal to the Union Government to construct a 91.2 km four-lane bypass from Mulki to Thokkottu via Kateel, Bajpe, Polali, B.C. Road, Panemangalore, Mudipu and Mangalore University.The proposed bypass is expected to not only provide better connectivity between Udupi and Bangalore but also to fuel the growth of the city outskirts as it may attract more Information Technology-based companies.This proposal is aimed at easing the traffic congestion on national highway 17 between Mulki and Thokkottu (near Mangalore) and national highway 48 between Mangalore and B.C. Road, sources told The Hindu.The project involves conversion of stretches of different State highways from Mulki to B. C. Road covering a distance of 58 km via Kinnigoli, Kateel, Bajpe, Kaikamba and Polali. The second stretch of 5.2 km length is from B.C. Road to Panemangalore on NH 48. The third stretch of 27 km is the major district road (MDR) between Panemangalore and Thokkottu via Mudipu and Mangalore University.The proposal, sent through the State Public Works Department, is before the Union Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, sources said.N. Gokulram, chairman, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Delhi, visited Mangalore on March 14 to assess the feasibility of this project and took stock of the four-lane work between Surathkal and B.C. Road.Mr. Gokulram held discussions with Deputy Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao, authorities of Mangalore City Corporation, Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd (MESCOM) and NHAI.On the utility of the bypass, sources said that the area between Thokkottu and Mudipu on Thokkottu-Panemangalore road had emerged as education hub of Mangalore. Besides Mangalore University, one engineering college, three medical colleges and associated hospitals, two dental colleges have come up on this road. A prominent Information Technology company has opened its second unit in Mangalore near Mudipu. When this road becomes a four-lane stretch, more IT companies, colleges and industries are likely to set up their establishments in the region. This is likely to create more direct and indirect employment opportunities. The real estate business in this region is set to boom, probably making the purchase of property in the region unaffordable to common man, sources said.When the State highways such as number 70, 67 and 101 were developed, the area between B.C. Road and Mulki via Kaikamba, Bajpe could witness many developments. This road would pass by the airport as it would be within five km from the proposed new terminal building of the airport, the sources said.This road will serve as a ring road covering Mulki, Mangalore, Thokkottu, Panemangalore, B.C.Road, Polali and Bajpe.The Udupi-bound traffic from Bangalore will be able to divert at B.C. Road and reach Mulki via Bajpe and vice versa. Then, Mangalore city will have to bear with traffic plying between Kerala and Udupi, according to sources. Source:  http://mangalorean.com

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