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As a part of the redevelopment plan, trams will be introduced on a 2.5 km long stretch to connect Subash Marg with Fatehpuri Masjid
A file photo of tram playing in Kolkata street. Photo: Indranil Bhoumik/Mint
New Delhi: In a bid to revive the lost heritage of National Capital, Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has approved a proposal which will pave the way for trams to ply on the streets of Delhi.
First introduced in Delhi on 6 March 1908, at the behest of Viceroy Lord Hardinge, the heritage joyride faded into oblivion in 1960 outdone by growing modern means of transport and the vehicular traffic.
As a part of the redevelopment plan, trams will be introduced on a 2.5-km-long stretch to connect Subash Marg with Fatehpuri Masjid.
“Apart from trams, the proposal involves introducing lanes for non-motorised vehicles and 50% of the area will be reserved for pedestrain pathways. Vehicular traffic will be restricted in the area”, said a senior Delhi government official, adding the proposal was approved last week.
“The tram service will connect the stretch linking Red Fort with Fatehpuri Masjid and will run alongside wide footpaths,” according to sources, techincal partners like Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC) would be roped in for implementation of the trams project.
The details and designs of the proposal will be submitted to the Unified traffic & Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre to be chaired by Lt Governor himself next week.
Tenders will be issued to invite investment proposals in this regard.
The meeting was attended by officials from the Public Works Department, civic bodies and representatives from traders and non-motorised vehicle users of the area.
Trams, which was one of the cheapest means of conveyance, ran from 1908 to 1960. It connected Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk and Sadar Bazaar. However, trams were discontinued mainly because of space crunch and growing number of vehicles.
Source-http://www.livemint.com/
Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Transport
The infrastructure finance company has proposed to allow repayments of loans over 25-30 years
IDFs will refinance the existing debt of infrastructure companies, freeing up funds of banks for lending to new projects. Photo: Mint
New Delhi: India Infrastructure Finance Co. Ltd (IIFCL) has approached the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with a proposal to increase the loan repayment period for infrastructure projects, especially road projects, to make them more viable.
The infrastructure finance company has proposed to allow repayments of loans over 25-30 years, compared with the current 10 years, to lessen the pressure on project developers who face fluctuations in cash flows.
“Project financing is slowing. It will soon come to a dead end. There is a need to extend the economic life of an asset so that the project becomes viable for promoters,” said S.B. Nayar, chairman and managing director of IIFCL, which has presented an approach paper to RBI on this issue.
The proposal was also discussed at a meeting of executives of state-run banks and financial institutions with the finance minister last week.
“When you have large projects and there is 75:25 debt-to-equity, it is impossible for the developers to pay back the loans in the next eight to 10 years,” he said.
Along with giving surplus in the hands of promoters, better private equity valuations for the project and lower user charges like tolls for projects, the risk for banks will also lessen, encouraging them to lend to this sector.
Banks are now the main source of funding for these projects.
Asset-liability mismatches and loan exposure limits to industries set by RBI have, however, made it difficult for banks to provide long-term funding.
The government has been looking at ways to make more funds available for the infrastructure sector, including setting up of infrastructure debt funds (IDFs).
IDFs will refinance the existing debt of infrastructure companies, freeing up funds of banks for lending to new projects. The government has also allowed IIFCL to continue as a sole lender in a project even after the lead lender has exited.
The Planning Commission has projected an investment of $1 trillion for infrastructure development during the 12th Five-Year Plan period ending March 2017.
India Ratings, in a report dated 30 January, had pointed out that only 20% of infrastructure loans were restructured till 31 March 2013 and the proportion could increase to 30-40% over the next two years.
“Restructuring of infrastructure loans will likely continue as the sector grapples with execution challenges and rising costs,” the report had said.
Samir Kanabar, tax partner at consultancy firm EY, said infrastructure projects, which are typically 25-30 years consortium contracts, need funding for a longer duration.
“At present, RBI has set many conditions on funding by banks. But any major relaxation by RBI, like a special carve out for infrastructure projects, given their long-term nature, will also depend on how it perceives the risks on the banks’ balance sheet,” he said.
By Express News Service – BHUBANESWAR
Traffic woes along National Highway-5 in the Capital City are set to be alleviated as the flyovers on one of the busiest thoroughfares in the State are likely to be thrown open for use by the end of March.
Of five flyovers being constructed by the NHAI, four at Vani Vihar, Acharya Vihar, CRPF Square and Fire Station Square are on the verge of completion. The commissioning of the flyovers is expected to commence from the third week of this month. The Rasulgarh project, though, has fallen behind on account of land acquisition process and is targeted to be completed by July.
The flyovers will also be complemented by the one at Phulnakhara and the new bridge on Mahanadi river which will drastically reduce commuting time for passengers not only within the Capital but also to Cuttack and onwards.
Executed by the Shree Jagannath Expressways Pvt Ltd (SJEPL), the NHAI flyover projects at the four points of Vani Vihar, Acharya Vihar, CRPF Square and Fire Station span 130 metres each. They have been constructed at a cost of `10.85 crore each. The Phulnakhara flyover extends over 180 metre and is built at a cost of `14.92 crore.
The NHAI had started the projects in January, 2012 to cover a distance of 67 km along Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Chandikhol stretch. The highway development entails construction of seven flyovers with four lanes along with bridges over Mahanadi, Kathjodi, Kuakhai and Birupa rivers with a total project cost of `1500 crore.
According to sources, the flyovers have been completed before the deadline of 2014-end. The project execution has been expedited by the use of pre-cast concrete in segmental casting technology. In the method, the concrete segments are built off-site and are brought to the site for joining.
While overcoming the space constraints at the project location, the method also saves a lot of time and reduces chances of accidents and other traffic-related issues, sources said.
The new bridge on the Mahanadi will also be opened by the first week of April that will enable linking and commissioning of the Jagatpur flyover.
The bridge, which would be the third on the river, has been constructed at a cost of `120 crore within a period of three years. It will have three lanes and facilitate onward movement of traffic from Cuttack to Chandikhol. The existing two bridges with four lanes will be used for downward traffic to Cuttack.
Work on the new bridges on Kathajodi, Birupa and Kuakhai are progressing satisfactorily. They will also have three lanes but will be used for downward traffic from to Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, sources said.
Source-http://www.newindianexpress.com/
Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Flyovers
Rajesh Moudgil, Hindustan Times Chandigarh,
Here is bad news for the Haryana government as well as for thousands of motorists plying on Ambala-Yamunanagar national highway (NH-73). The private contractor who was given the contract to four-lane the 102-km stretch of the NH-73 has opted out.
Ironically, the company has cited the inordinate delays in getting various clearances from the official agencies, hence request for cancellation of its agreement. Satish Chandra, member, finance, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), ministry of transport and roadways, informed the state government in this context on March 10.
The stretch that connects Ambala, Panchkula, Barwala and Saha with Yamunanagar is currently 7.5-metre wide and its condition is pathetic as there are potholes.
The private contractor (concessionaire) which was awarded the work for the said Rs. 934.39 crore project on March 30, 2012, and which was to be completed by January 2015, recently wrote to NHAI requesting it to terminate the contract.
The contractor held that it was due to the inordinate delay in grant of necessary approval for diversion of forest land to the contractor and there still being uncertainty for obtaining the same, the cancellation of his contract was sought.
The NHAI has now asked the state government to maintain the said stretch on its own besides initiating the process for fresh bids.
The application made by NHAI to the state forest department way back in 2009 was reportedly not processed in time which led to delay in possession of the land to the concessionaire making the concessionaire to make a request to NHAI to opt out of the project.
About 10-km road on the said stretch falls in Khol Hi Raittan wildlife sanctuary influence area in Panchkula district whereas only 700 metre passes through the wildlife sanctuary. The non-timely clearance of 10 km of the said stretch has resulted in the situation leading to the concessionaire opting out.
Source -http://www.hindustantimes.com/
Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Highway
Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) proposes to open the third section of the Eastern Freeway, a three-km stretch from Panjarpol to the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road, in the third week of April, a few days before Mumbaikars vote in the general elections.The MMRDA stated on Tuesday that this portion “is expected to be commissioned for traffic in the third week of April, 2014″. The date for the opening has not been decided.
According to the election schedule, Mumbaikars will vote on April 24. Consequently, in keeping with the election code of conduct, the opening of the final stretch of the freeway will not have any fanfare.
Construction of the Eastern Freeway began in January 2008. It was originally planned to run between South Mumbai and Ghatkopar, bypassing the Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar in Ghatkopar. But it has been shortened to connect with the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road, some distance before the settlement.
A 13.5-km section from South Mumbai to Panjarpol was inaugurated on June 13, 2013. An estimated 22,000 vehicles use the freeway daily and this is likely to increase when the remaining portion opens next month.
When completed, the 16.84 km road would cost about Rs1,460 crore.
The elevated road has reduced congestion on the old existing thoroughfares in the eastern suburbs, while significantly cutting down the travel time. The MMRDA is working on reducing the size of the rotary at Chembur to streamline the movement of vehicles.
Source-http://www.dnaindia.com/
Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Freeways
MUMBAI: The entire stretch of Eastern Freeway from Orange Gate in south Mumbai till Ghatkopar will be thrown open to public in the third week of April, making it the longest such dedicated corridor in the country. The 16.59-km route can be covered in 25 minutes, cutting down on travel time by almost 50 minutes.Usually, it takes one-and-a-half to two hours to cover the stretch by road, depending on traffic.
“The last 3 km portion of the Freeway from Chembur to Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road is on the verge of completion. Once that stretch is inaugurated, it will especially benefit motorists from Ghatkopar and those travelling to Thane and beyond,” said a senior official of MMRDA, the implementing agency of the project. The first stretch of the Freeway—9.29km of elevated corridor from Orange Gate to Anik and 4.3km ground-level stretch till Shivaji Chowk in Chembur—was opened in June 2013. The official further said, “We have undertaken several measures such as improving the condition at the Panjrapole junction in Chembur so that the waiting time at the signal can be reduced. We plan to shorten the radius of the rotary island at the signal to provide more road space.” The entire project cost Rs 1,463 crore.
Besides the 3-km stretch, the second tunnel, meant for vehicles bound for south Mumbai, will also be opened. “The work on the second tunnel is complete. But the road surface there is being improved and so, the entire width is not available to traffic for the time being,” the official added. Work on a pair of ramps near Bhakti Park, which will help motorists take the freeway to Chembur, is also at an advanced stage of completion. Two other pairs of ramps—one at the Govandi ROB junction and the other at Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road—will also be inaugurated at the same time. A fourth one, which will help vehicles to and from Wadala, Dadar, Mahim and Matunga access the Freeway will be ready in May.
Diversion of vehicles to the Freeway has already eased snarl on Dr Ambedkar Marg, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg, MbPT road and the Eastern Express Highway. The opening of the last phase will help further reduce congestion on Dr Ambedkar road. Around 50% fuel consumption and that in the levels of harmful emissions and noise are also likely to go down.
Explaining the delay of the last stretch, officials said that MMRDA had to rehabilitate 495 families. Rehabilitating them, land acquisition and hurdles faced by the presence of transformers and pumping stations in the way pushed back the deadline, an official said.
Source-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
Hindustan Times (Delhi)
Asheesh Mamgain
With a little vision, the authorities could have avoided digging the second time. SURINDER SINGH, Nihal Vihar
The Nangloi-Najafgarh Road is a vital road link that connects north Delhi with west Delhi. The road sees heavy vehicular traffic throughout the day, and is one of the worst stretches in the city. Commuters lament that this has been the condition on the road for the last few years and given the state of affairs, the problems are likely to continue next year as well.
NADEEM HASSAN / HT PHOTO Work on Nangloi-Najafgarh Road was completed six months back and now it will be dug up again by DJB .The main reason for the problems related to the Nangloi-Najafgarh Road is the lack of coordination between different government agencies and lack of planning as well. The public works department (PWD) was involved in giving a fresh concrete layer to the road in the last few years. But the work was hampered when the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) initiated a major rupees nine crore sewerline project for the villages lining the road. The residents of villages such as Baprola, Bakarwala and Nilothi had been demanding a sewerline for years.
As a result the road was dug up and the road laying project got derailed and was consequently delayed. Though the road was completed six months ago after a delay of a couple of years, it is again going to be dug up by DJB. Says Pankaj Singh, the area councillor, “The sewerline the DJB had laid down for five villages along NangloiNajafgrah Road was a small one. Now in addition to these villages there are 25 other unauthorised colonies lining the road. Now the DJB has cleared another project of Rs 24 crore for putting in a bigger line.”
Says Surinder Singh, a resident of Nihal Vihar, “Only with a little vision, the authorities could have included these unauthorised colonies in the earlier sewerline project. This would have saved a lot of taxpayer’s money and also avoided another round of digging on the recently laid down road. The commuters are now going to have a tough time. But sewerline for our colonies is also an important issue.”
Another problem pertaining to the Nangloi-Najafgarh Road has been illegal vendors occupying precious road space. The problem still continues. Says Sukhdev Dabbas, a resident, “During evening hours, the road sees so much traffic and the presence of illegal vendors whose numbers is ever increasing, only compounds our problems.”
Source-http://paper.hindustantimes.com/
India is set to commence a new Rs62.84bn ($1bn) project to increase the Eastern Peripheral Expressway of National Highway Number NE-II to six lanes in the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
The total cost of project includes the cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities.
The project covers the districts of Sonepat, Faridabad and Palwal in Haryana and Baghpat, Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.
Development of the 135km stretch will help uplifting of the socio-economic conditions of the region of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, while accelerating improvement of infrastructure in the two states.
The project will ease congestion on Delhi roads, which are crowded by trucks and buses. It will also lower pollution levels in the city.
It will also increase generate employment opportunities for local labourers for project activities.
The project was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), and will be executed under a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) model in build, operate and transfer (BOT-Annuity) mode of delivery.
The latest project follows a major national highway widening project approved by CCEA in Haryana, under the government’s flagship road development programme.
The widening project includes four-laning the Kaithal Rajasthan border section of National Highway-152/65 (NH-152/65) in Haryana under National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase IV.
Source-http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/
5 March 2014
The Abu Dhabi Department of Transport (DoT) has announced the start of work on a new adaptive traffic control central system project.
The AED33m ($8.9m) project comprises deploying and implementing the new ‘SCOOT’ traffic control central system.
Currently used in more than 120 cities across the world, the system offers improved flexibility and interactivity to respond to varying traffic conditions through data generated by vehicle counting and classification sensors.
It also coordinates traffic movement with nearby intersections facilitating integrated management of traffic on Abu Dhabi road networks.
The project will replaceme the present central control and field control systems with this new central control system on the emirate’s 125 intersections via around 20 sensors at each intersection.
The system comprises built-in capabilities to prioritise public transport vehicles, while leveraging instant response levels to traffic incidents.
“It will ensure better management of the road traffic network and less congestion.”
It also helps provide traffic data and information required for study and analysis by monitoring and reporting on level of service (LoS) at the controlled corridors.
This information helps in making adjustments to the traffic signal timings on the road network, and will also used to alert motorists on traffic congestion.
The project is in line with the surface transport master plan (STMP) to build world-class integrated and sustainable transport infrastructure, and is expected to be completed by early 2015.
DoT integrated intelligent transportation systems director Salah Al Marzouqi said: “This project is considered one of the key projects of the intelligent transport systems (ITS) strategy launched by the DoT in 2010.
“It will ensure better management of the road traffic network and less congestion whilst boosting the levels of vehicle safety and movement within Abu Dhabi.”
Image: The new system provides information to help alert motorists on traffic congestion. Photo: courtesy of Matthew Shiroma.
Source-http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/
Author PR BureauPodgorica,
Montenegro (26 February 2014) – Montenegro’s Transport Minister Ivan Brajović and representatives of the Chinese company China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) signed earlier today in Podgorica the Framework Agreement and the Agreement on the project design, construction, and procurement and installation of equipment and materials for the construction of the Bar-Boljare highway, that is the priority section Smokovac-Uvač-Mateševo.
The signing of the agreement was one of the preconditions for starting negotiations with the Chinese EXIM Bank on financial viability of the project, Minister Brajović told the press conference following the signing ceremony.
The agreement on the project design and construction, and the financial agreement with the EXIM bank which is to be signed, as well as the Law on Highway, will be submitted to the Parliament of Montenegro for approval, he explained.
The Government of Montenegro selected the Chinese companies CCCC International (China Communications Construction Company) and the CRBC (China Road and Bridge Corporation) as best bidders for the construction the the 44-km priority section on the future Bar-Boljare highway on 4 July 2013. The offered price for the construction of the priority part of Montenegro’s greatest infrastructural project is EUR 809.577.356,14.
Source-http://www.gov.me/en
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