Traffic Control

January 31, 2012

To remember our original peaceful state during certain moments of the day creates a space for us to recharge and to be released from accumulated negativities, which have influenced our mind without our realizing it.

‘Traffic control’, is a method to check and control the flow and type of thoughts that we create. Are our thoughts wasteful or are they useful, necessary, positive, and peaceful? By stopping for a minute every hour, we can step inside, apply a brake to the flow of thoughts and instead focus on the experience .I am a peaceful being (soul).. This practice has an immediate cooling effect on the mind, and if done regularly, has a very positive impact on our daily lives.

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Traffic Control

Unveiling ID India Expo 2012 Conference Program

January 30, 2012

The program of related events at ID India Expo is every bit as innovative and forward-looking as the exhibition itself. It features events that are designed to promote your business, give you access to valuable knowledge and sharpen your eye for new and unusual prospects.

Conference Agenda

The conference is a leading business forum for government officials, industry professionals, academia, and students. Interact with industry leaders from around the globe to share experiences, learn what works and meet the leading experts at the most important event in digital security covering Smart Cards, RFID, NFC, Biometrics and e-Payments.

View the agenda

Speakers

Meet and know our international panel of experts from around the globe.

More about the speakers

Delegate Fee & Registration

Learn to profit by hobnobing and networking with the international leaders in identification technologies. Have a one-to-one dialogue with the industry experts. Participate in the conference and don’t miss out this annual event.

Speaker Information is available on

http://idindiaexpo.com/conference/conference.html

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Expo & Events

E-Z pass only

January 27, 2012

Source: www.dailyink.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Leisure

Engineering Procurement Construction Conference

January 27, 2012

It gives us immense pleasure to inform you that “Cerebral Business Research”, is organizing the EPC Sphere Delhi to be held on February 17 -18 February, 2012 at Le Meridian.

EPC Sphere Delhi 2012 conference looks set to be a houseful event with highly-influential speakers and participants bringing together all of the key industry players. EPC Sphere – Regional & Annual Conferences will be attended by senior management, from large domestic and multinational EPC / Infrastructure companies & owner companies in India. The purpose of the ERS is to network, discuss and debate key opportunities and issues along with focus upon latest technologies/ solutions and services for the sector. Theme for the conferences will be Excellence in Delivering EPC and Infrastructure Projects for various sub sectors like Airports, Ports, Railways, Marine, Power, Logistics, Oil & Gas and Energy. Conference is expected to be attended by 150 + senior level delegates. Please visit www.cerebralbusiness.com/epcsphere for more details on the events.

Date & Venue of Engineering Procurement Construction Conference

Date: February 17-18, 2012
Venue: Le Meridian, New Delhi

Key Subjects

Public Private Partnership in India – Government Approach
EPC Contracting in India – Vision 2030
Typical Challenges in Projects around the World
Local Conditions in Projects Implementations – State Government’s Perspective
Latest EPC Contracting Formats – A Perpetual Improvement Process
Updates on Latest Technology for Infrastructure Sector
Updates on Latest Solutions for Infrastructure Sector
Traditional Project Management Flaws Intensify the Problems – How?
Fixing Project Management Flaws using Dr. Goldratt’s “Critical Chain” Project Management -
Panel Discussion on “Shifting focus from Established Markets to Global Markets”
Panel Discussion on:”Successful EPC Business Scenario with Respect to Indian Conditions”
CEO’s Panel on Preparing for Future and Excellence in Delivering EPC / Infrastructure Projects
“Critical Chain” Practical implications and Case Studies
Case Study on Doing Projects Right
Key Legal, Taxation and Regulatory Issues
Risk Management
Project Financing – Opportunities and Challenges in current Economic Scenario

EPC Sphere Advisory Board

N Kannan, CEO, Shapoorji Pallonji EPC Group
Sunil Shinde, MD & CEO, Welspun Projects
Arun Karambelkar, President & Whole Time Director, HCC Limited
Russell Waugh, Managing Director, Welspun Leighton Contractors
Syed Rizvi, Senior Advisor, IDFC Projects (E&C) (Former , ED – BHEL)
Anil Mehta, Chief Executive Officer, Power & Special Projects, Atha Group
Anirudh Ray, Chief Executive Officer, Steiner India – 100 % subsidiary of Steiner AG, Switzerland
Sanjeev Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, Realization Inc., USA
DP Misra, Head Marketing & Business Development (Former Dy. MD Jacobs Engineering)

For more details on Speaking / Sponsoring / Exhibiting / Registering please contact Meghana Vyas
Email: [email protected] | Handheld: +91 95409 91022

Team Cerebral Business Research | www.cerebralbusiness.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Expo & Events

2nd Annual Metro Expansion India

January 23, 2012

India is developing a number of urban transport projects across many of its larger cities. The Indian government has already invested Rs 80,000 crore in different cities for construction purposes and forecasted a further spend of Rs 200,000 crore for additional metro projects.

Date & Venue 2nd Annual Metro Expansion India

Date: February 23-24 ,2012
Timings: 10:00 AM onward
Venue : Radisson Blu Paschim Vihar, New Delhi, India

Event Brochure

Following the success of IQPC’s Metro Expansion India summit held last year, IQPC is proud to announce its 2nd Annual Metro Expansion India conference. The event will take place in from 23 – 24 February 2012 at the Radisson Blu Paschim Vihar in New Delhi. The conference will feature international case studies, local project updates and new developments addressing the challenges facing metro development and expansion in India today.

Visit our website at: http://bit.ly/yF1zWC

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Expo & Events

Infrastructure Project Management and Delivery

January 20, 2012

Theme: Spearheading efficient project management, effective utilisation of skilled labour and resources for successful project delivery and spend efficiency.

As per the planning commission, India plans to spend up to $1 trillion between 2012 and 2017 fixing infrastructure, which economists estimate shaves two percentage points from annual economic growth. With huge emphasis on infrastructure growth, successful project delivery and spend efficiency is imperative to realise the desired growth and consequent benefits.

While modest strides have been made in enhancing project delivery, projects are still burdened by serious time and cost overruns, misconduct, wastage, all within an inflationary environment. As per the report by KPMG and PMI, Out of 1035 infrastructure sector projects completed during April 1992-March 2009, 41 percent faced cost over-runs and 82 percent witnessed time over-runs.

Date & Venue Infrastructure Project and Delivery 2012

Date: April 11-13 ,2012
Timings: 10:00 AM onward
Venue : Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, India

Event Brochure

Marcus evans brings its hugely successful 3rd edition of Infrastructure Project Management and Delivery conference where we would be addressing issues that the infrastructure sector is facing such as risk management, programme management, project management, inventory management, contractor relationships, funding issues and many more…

With emphasis on best practices and international case studies on project management for the infrastructure industry, the professionals will be able to take back practical examples of how to fast-track the projects and make their own projects a success-story! A conference that you definitely cannot afford to miss!

For more details, please visit http://www.marcusevansindia.com/mpit or email Ms Catherine Foo at [email protected] or call +603 2723 6757

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Expo & Events

Project of six laning of Vijaywada –Gundugolanu section of NH 5 in Andhra Pradesh

January 16, 2012

The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure today approved the implementation of the project of six laning of Vijaywada –Gundugolanu section of NH 5 in Andhra Pradesh under NHDP Phase V on DBFOT basis in BOT (Toll) mode of delivery.

The total project cost estimated will be Rs.2011 crore out of which Rs.327 crore will be for the land acquisition, rehabilitation, resettlement and pre-construction.

The total length of the project will be 103.590 kms.

The project, on completion, will reduce the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Vijayawada – Gundugolanu. It will also increase the employment potential for the local labourers for the project activities.

The main objective of the project is to expedite the improvement of infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh, increase the capacity of Golden Quadrilateral corridor and also to reduce the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Vijayawada- Gundugalanu. The National Highway No.5 is an important link connecting Kolkata to Chennai, which is part of the Golden Quadrilateral Corridor. This will facilitate road users, particularly traffic on Chennai-Kolkata section of Golden Quadrilateral passing through Guntur, Krishna and West Godavari districts and Chennai- Hyderabad and Kolkata – Hyderabad section.

The project is covered in the districts of Guntur, Krishna and West Godavari in Andhra Pradesh.

Background:

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in the meeting held in October 2006 approved six laning of 6500 km of four-lane National Highway comprising 5700 km of Golden Quadrilateral and 800 km of other sections at a cost of Rs.51,210 crore under NHDP Phase V. Of the total investment required, Rs.35,692 crore is expected to come from private sector and the balance Rs.5,518 crore from Government funding for bridging the viability gap and for the cost of land acquisition, utility shifting, consultancy etc. The average cost per km after acceptance of the recommendations of B.K. Chaturvedi Committee by the Government is now Rs.10 crore /km for NHDP Phase-V projects.

Source: p ib.nic.in

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Andhra Pradesh, BOT, Construction, NHDP

Japan keen on Bangalore-Chennai highway project

January 16, 2012

The Government of Japan on Thursday evinced interest to build the proposed Bangalore-Chennai expressway.

Japan’s Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLITT) Takeshi Maeda, during his meeting with the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister C P Joshi here, said the country is keen on executing the project, especially with a Japan-based company being involved in preparing a detailed project report.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Joshi said: “We told them (Japan government) that we have a very transparent system, where you have to enter into the bidding process.

If Japan government is interested in taking up the project on government to government (G-G) basis, then you have to discuss it at the higher level.” The project could be discussed at the Prime Ministerial level, he added.

However, G-to-G negotiations might deprive Indian entrepreneurs the opportunity to participate in the bidding, as projects are straightaway given to a country and would be executed by companies from there.

In the highways sector, 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) is allowed and the Japanese companies can also tie-up with domestic companies to bid for the project, the Minister said. Currently, Egis-Secon, a private company, is preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) expected to be ready by March 2012.

“After getting the DPR, the government will decide how to implement the project -whether to go for competitive bidding or adopt any other method,” the minister said.

The expressway, first of its kind in the country, will be built with public-private participation on build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis.

The 100 per cent access-controlled road would cut down travelling time between Bangalore and Chennai to just three hours from the current five to six hours.

As per the proposal, the expressway will have six lanes and vehicles can travel at a speed of 120 km per hour.

The proposed road will run parallel to the existing National Highway–4 and pass through Kolar, Palamaner, Chittur and Ranipet.

Source: deccanherald.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under BOT, FDI, Highway, International, MLITT, Projects

Vinayak Chatterjee: The high road to efficiency

January 16, 2012

For a historically capital-starved and infra-deficient nation, we have rightfully been obsessed with asset creation in the public-utility space. Little emphasis has been paid, however, on the maintenance of these assets or the delivery of pre-determined service levels from these assets. Take, for example, our roads and highways. Highway users continue to be a frustrated lot in spite of massive investments in this sector. Waiting-time at toll-plazas, safety aspects, ride quality and haphazard lane-management continue to bedevil even newly constructed roads.

Highway operators must eventually get prepared for regulatory raps as well as individual and “class action” litigation for failing to provide desired levels of service. They will have to wake up to the reality that toll cannot be charged merely for the privilege of being allowed to use a particular stretch of road. The “purchase consideration” inherent in charging a toll has to come bundled with the commitment of a smooth ride at a designated average speed, with full consideration of safety and highway amenities. Failure to ensure this should attract penalties and damages.

In this cauldron of frustrations and rising aspirations, it is interesting to note that the responsibility for operations, maintenance and tolling (OMT) is gradually shifting from the developer or the contractor group to independent and professional OMT service providers. Simultaneously, the focus is also shifting from merely reducing capital expenditure to optimising life-cycle cost, as well as, providing an accountable delivery of services.

My friend and colleague, Vivek Rastogi, who has a deep knowledge and insight on these issues, likes to draw out lessons from Brazil’s experience.

Brazil, with emerging-economy demographics much like India, has faced similar challenges in highway operations. Brazil embarked on its public-private partnership (PPP) highway development programme a decade ago. Its journey in developing national highways on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis has been equally successful. The operations and management (O&M) for these highways started the same way as where India is today — a toll revenue leakage as high as 25 per cent, below par patrolling and unsatisfactory maintenance and traffic management.

What is remarkable is that in the last 10 years Brazil has improved the O&M performance to reach close to world standards. There are four main reasons for this success:

An independent governance and regulatory body: the Brazilian Agency for Land Transportation (ANTT) was set up in 2001 to monitor the performance of concessionaires. ANTT sets aggressive service-delivery standards. These include mandatory electronic tolling, patrolling every 90 minutes, fixing pot-holes in 24 hours and replacing damaged safety signals in three days. It has a monthly monitoring mechanism for each concession. Any major gaps in performance are severely penalised.
Electronic tolling accounts for 60 per cent of the collections. This has significantly improved the productivity for heavy transport vehicles and also resulted in more accurate toll collection.
There is a strong and time-bound legal support for issues affecting the concessionaire. Users paying toll are answerable to the legal system and these cases are closed within 30 days. Major accidents and erring drivers are also referred to the same legal set-up. This level of processing is possible since the legal set-up directly reports to ANTT.
The police is extremely responsive and officers are actually stationed in the control rooms of the concessionaire. This support from the police has helped the concessionaires in reducing revenue leakage to near-zero levels.In essence, Brazil has created a virtuous circle in which concessionaires have near-100 per cent toll collection and thereby have adequate funds and motivation for O&M. They have strong legal and police support to ensure this is an ongoing process. In case they do not deploy adequate funds or do not perform activities in a timely fashion, the regulator ANTT has the stick ready. The same is the case in other developed countries with large PPP highway development programmes — such as Portugal, Spain and Malaysia.In contrast, India has a vicious circle – one that reduces the value and impact of the new asset – and this, unfortunately, starts from the design and construction phase.
Sarkari authorities often “under-design” to reduce project costs and sometimes to save “viability-gap” funding. The under-provisioning of service-lanes, under-passes and pedestrian facilities are simply obstinacy to recognise genuine consumer needs. The state also often abdicates its role in removing encroachments and ensuring hassle-free right of way. Many Indian concessionaires have their roots in the construction business. They enter BOT highway projects for the construction revenue and not for operating a long-term asset. As a result, profit maximisation during construction is often in conflict with the desired asset lifecycle longevity. The concessionaire has little legal or police or state support to make all users pay. This is one of the reasons 20-30 per cent leakage in toll collection is not uncommon.

These three aspects – poor design parameters, short-sighted development and collection difficulties – together create a financial pressure on the concessionaire. This is the start of the slippery slope — a story with which we all are very familiar across most Indian roads. The resultant poor O&M of roads leads to more headaches and accidents.

Similar to ANTT of Brazil, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is currently performing the role of setting O&M requirements in the concession agreements and monitoring implementation. The NHAI role in follow-up and corrective action often lags intent, leading to the known “chalta-hai” attitude.

Is there hope for the Indian highways? Yes. There are well known, implementable solutions. However, most of these are systemic solutions requiring states and NHAI to play a bigger coordinated role:
NHAI needs to be strengthened for O&M supervision and related penal action. The authority should go to the extent of displaying the service levels on the road and invite comments from users of the highway. In case of continued low service levels, either the toll rate could be reduced or NHAI should appoint a third party to manage the O&M of the highway.
State governments need to find an effective mechanism for providing better police support.
A separate legal tribunal for highway-related cases should be considered.
NHAI and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways need to ensure the implementation of electronic tolling systems that will not only improve throughput, but also lead to more accurate toll collection.
The bureaucracy will have to get used to a widely different nature of contracting. From the centuries old, lowest capital cost tender system, the bureaucracy will have to define service-level agreements and choose parties that will deliver agreed levels of service at “minimum” cost to the citizen.With
all these in place, the romance of a long-road journey can surely be brought back. All we need is 21st century attitudes, technologies and systems in place.

Source: business-standard.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under BOT, Highway, Road

Government approves road projects of Rs 5,388 crore in three states

January 16, 2012

NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday approved three road projects in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh entailing a total investment of Rs 5,388.36 crore.

The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure cleared widening of Kiratpur-Ner Chowk section in Himachal Pradesh at a cost of Rs 2,356.20 crore, six-laning of Vijaywada -Gundugolanu section in Andhra Pradesh worth Rs 2,011 crore and Rs 1,021.16 crore scheme for four-laning of Uttar Pradesh/Haryana border- Panchkula section in Haryana.

“The main objective of the project is to expedite the improvement of infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh and also in reducing the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Kiratpur and Ner Chowk,” an official statment said about the Himanchal Pradesh project.

The widening of 84.38 km stretch on National Highway (NH) 21 in state will be implemented under NHDP phase III on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis in BOT toll mode of delivery, it said adding of the entire cost, Rs 537.37 crore will be spent on land acquisition, rehabilitation, etc.

The project, on completion, will reduce the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Kiratpur and Ner Chowk. It will also increase the employment potential for the local labourers for the project.

NH 21 is not only an important link connecting national capital and tourist destination of Manali in Himachal Pradesh but is a major link to Leh in Ladakh.

About Andhra Pradesh project comprising 103.59 km, the statement said it will be implemented under NHDP Phase V on DBFOT basis in BOT (Toll) mode of delivery.

“The total project cost estimated will be Rs 2,011 crore out of which Rs 327 crore will be for the land acquisition, rehabilitation, resettlement and pre-construction,” it said.

It added, “The main objective of the project is to … increase the capacity of Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) corridor and also to reduce the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic between Vijayawada- Gundugalanu.”

NH 5 is an important link connecting Kolkata to Chennai, which is part of the GQ Corridor. This will facilitate road users, particularly traffic on Chennai-Kolkata section of GQ passing through Guntur, Krishna and West Godavari districts and Chennai- Hyderabad and Kolkata – Hyderabad sections.

Out of the total cost of the 104.7-km Haryana project on NH 73 under NHDP Phase-III on DBFOT basis in BOT (Toll) mode, Rs 86.23 crore will be for land acquisition, rehabilitation, resettlement and pre-construction.

The project, on completion, will reduce the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between UP/Haryana border – Yamunanagar – Saha – Bawala – Panchkula. It will also increase the employment potential for the local labourers for the project activities.

Source: articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under BOT, Infrastructure, NHDP, Projects, Road