Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
In news: Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
Mains level : Road infrastructure
Photos of the soon-to-be-inaugurated Delhi-Mumbai Expressway have gone viral, receiving widespread appreciation online.
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
- The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is a proposed 1380 km expressway that will link the capital city of Delhi to Mumbai, India.
- The expressway is being planned as a six-lane expressway and will pass through the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
- Started in 2018, the project is set to be completed by the end of 2023.
- The expressway is expected to reduce the travel time between Delhi and Mumbai by up to 12 hours.
- The expressway will also have several rest stops and will be equipped with advanced technology such as electronic toll collection, smart traffic management and surveillance systems.
- The expressway will be built in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Some basic details
- The expressway is being constructed with an initial budget of INR 98,000 crore.
- According to claims by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, it will reduce the distance between Delhi and Mumbai by 180 km (from 1424 km to 1242 km).
- Depending on the volume of traffic the expressway sees, there are plans in place to expand it to a 12-lane expressway in the future.
- The reduction in distance and travel time is set to result in annual fuel savings of more than 320 million litres and reduce CO2 emissions by 850 million kg.
Some unique features
- Importantly, the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is set to introduce certain features seldom seen in road construction in India.
- According to claims from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the expressway will boast of a state-of-art traffic management system.
- There will also be a dedicated three metre wide corridor for laying utility lines including fibre optic cables, pipelines as well as solar power generation.
- The expressway will also have provisions for rain water harvesting at intervals of 500 m, with over 2000+ water recharge points.
Provisions for wildlife conservation
- A crucial feature of the project will be its provisions for “wildlife conservation”.
- The expressway is the first in Asia and only the second in the world to feature animal overpasses and underpasses to facilitate unrestricted movement of wildlife.
- Furthermore, the expressway has been aligned in a way to minimize the destruction of protected forests.
- Two iconic 8-lane tunnels will also be built, one through Mukundra sanctuary without disturbing the endangered fauna in the region and the second through the Matheran eco-sensitive zone.
- A 3 ft tall boundary wall and sound barriers will also be constructed in sections prone to wildlife.
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National Logistics Policy
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : NLP
Mains level : Read the attached story
The government will announce the National Logistics Policy (NLP) this week, aiming to bring down logistics costs and address challenges plaguing importers and exporters.
What is Logistics?
- Logistics refers to the overall process of managing how resources are acquired, stored, and transported to their final destination.
- It involves identifying prospective distributors and suppliers and determining their effectiveness and accessibility.
Why need a logistics policy?
- Organizing and consolidating the sector: India’s logistics sector is largely unorganized and fragmented.
- Reducing logistics cost: This is why the country’s logistics costs are as high as 14-15% of the GDP, against 7-8% in developed nations such as the Singapore and the US, who leverage it to boost exports. The NLP aims to bring down India’s logistics cost to 8% in the next five years.
- Preventing waste of perishable items: As per some estimates in India, about 16% of agri-production is wasted at different stages of the supply chain.
- Warehousing development: Moreover, due to factors such as limited capacity and availability of warehouses, the cost of transaction increases.
- Multi-modal integration: The new policy is going about simplification, technology and will have a multimodal approach that will combine rail, water, and air — all modes of transport.
What role will technology play?
- Advanced analytics: The NLP will aim to harness technologies such as AI and blockchain. It aims to create a data analytics centre for driving greater transparency and continuous monitoring of key logistics metrics.
- Single window portal: Under NLP, a portal will be created, where service providers such as warehousing providers, shipping experts, transporters, customs brokers, and various governmental agencies will be unified.
Will it boost cooperation between ministries?
- Unifying multiple departments: Currently, the logistics value chain is managed by several ministries—road transport and highways, shipping, railways, and civil aviation.
- Single-point clearances: Agencies like the Central Drug Standard Control Organization and the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India provide clearances.
- Nationwide integration: The NLP could enhance their integration at the central level.
What about reducing the carbon footprint?
- Energy-efficient transportation: The draft logistics policy lays emphasis on the shift to more energy-efficient means of transportation, as well as the use of greener fuels which could reduce the supply chain’s carbon footprint.
- Vehicular emission reduction: Moreover, the draft policy, released earlier, emphasized creating regulations for controlling vehicular noise, emissions, and wastage.
- Green warehousing principles: The new logistics policy also aims to incorporate green principles in the functioning of warehouses which contribute to nearly 10% of the logistics costs.
Will it change India’s commodity transport?
- Transport of crucial commodities: The proposed policy aims to focus on the transport of crucial commodities such as coal, steel, iron ore, food grains, steel, cement, fruits and vegetables.
- Creating nationwide clusters: The current logistical network for transporting them is mainly confined to regional clusters.
- Integrating national supply-chains: The NLP could help establish a link between the place of origin, and destination place and integrate the supply on a national level.
- Optimum logistics identification: The draft also proposes identification of the right mode of transport for each of these commodities to minimise losses during transport.
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GPS-based toll system to replace FASTag
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : FASTags, GPS
Mains level : Read the attached story
The government plans to start a GPS-based toll system in place of FASTag to ensure seamless payment and vehicle movement on national highways.
Why in news?
- The move would end the role of toll plazas across the country.
How will a GPS-based tolling system work?
- Vehicles will be fitted with an electronic device that can track their movement.
- Highways will be geo-fenced, creating virtual boundaries. The system will use GPS or radio frequency identification technologies.
- The software will recognize when a mobile device enters or leaves a particular area, and toll will be charged based on the distance travelled at the highway’s exit point.
- As the system is based on sensors, there will be no need to stop at toll plazas.
- Vehicles and users must be registered with the GPS toll system, linked to bank accounts that will be used to transfer toll payments.
What are FASTags?
- FASTags are stickers that are affixed to the windscreen of vehicles and use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to enable digital, contactless payment of tolls without having to stop at toll gates.
- RFID uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects.
- The tags are linked to bank accounts and other payment methods.
- As a car crosses a toll plaza, the amount is automatically deducted, and a notification is sent to the registered mobile phone number.
Issues with FASTags
- Since the card is affixed to the windscreen, it can be easily misplaced, damaged or stolen.
- The existing FASTag system, though faster than cash payments, still requires vehicles to stop at toll booths to enable reading of tags.
- Also, the vehicle must wait till the gate is opened.
- It has been observed that sometimes the toll fee is deducted twice from user account. Mostly, this happens due to a technical glitch.
- Some card readers take longer time to read and register. Hence the purpose of saving time is itself defied.
- Still, the wait time at toll booths is much more than the 30 seconds that was promised earlier.
- Also, it has not helped reduce the number of toll booths.
Hence the benefits of using FASTag far outweigh the challenges.
Is FASTags a total failure?
- Usage has increased since FASTag was made mandatory in 2021 after its launch in 2015.
- Penetration has grown from nearly 16% in FY18 to 96.3% in FY22.
- Total toll collection in FY18 was ₹21,948 crore, including ₹3,532 crore collected through FASTags.
- In FY22, toll collection through FASTags increased sharply to ₹33,274 crore out of total toll collection of ₹34,535 crore.
How will GPS benefit highway users?
- GPS tolling uses satellite-based navigation and requires no halting.
- Also, vehicles can be charged only for their actual travel on a highway stretch.
- Currently, toll is paid at toll booths which is fixed between two points of tolling and a user does not get any concession even if he/she exits before completing the full run between two toll plazas.
- The new system should reduce the toll amount charged for travel on highways.
What is the progress so far on GPS tolling?
- The Union road ministry has amended the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, allowing for the collection of toll based on distance travelled on national highways.
- This will facilitate the introduction of GPS tolling.
- First trials may be done on the under-construction Mumbai-Delhi expressway which will be geo-fenced.
- Also the cost of GPS devices needs to be considered at very beginning.
Way forward
- The system needs a proper legislative framework, and a full launch is still years away. The government intends to introduce it in phases.
- The road ministry is expected to amend the Motor Vehicles Act and create rules to facilitate GPS tolling as well as to penalize offenders.
- Moreover, GPS will come with its own set of complications on calculating differential tolls.
- Regulations and framework for these need to be developed first.
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‘Kerala Savari’: India’s first online taxi service as a public option
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Kerala Savari
Mains level : Cab aggregators malpractices and their regulation in India
Kerala has soft launched ‘Kerala Savari’, the country’s first online taxi service owned by a State government, to ensure fair and decent service to passengers along with fair remuneration to auto-taxi workers.
What is Kerala Savari?
- Operated by the Motor Workers Welfare Board under the aegis of the Labour Department, the Kerala Savari ensures safe travel for the public at ‘government approved fares’ without any ‘surge pricing’.
- The ‘Kerala Savari’ app would be made available to the public on online platforms shortly as it is under the scrutiny of Google now.
Why such initiative?
- The alleged unfair trade practices and violation of consumer rights by private app-based cab aggregators have come as a major concern for governments.
- Recently, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) had issued notices to cab aggregators Ola and Uber for unfair trade practices and violation of consumer rights which include:
- Charging exorbitant fares during peak hours
- Unprofessional behaviour from the part of drivers
- Lack of proper response from customer support, and
- Undue levy of cancellation charges despite the cab driver refusing to accept the ride booked by the passenger etc.
- It is against this backdrop that the Kerala government has decided to come up with an app-based platform to offer auto-taxi service for the public.
What are the main attractions of ‘Kerala Savari’?
- There will be no fluctuation in fares on Kerala Savari irrespective of day or night or rain.
- But Kerala Savari only 8% service charge in addition to the rate set by the government, whereas the private cab aggregators charge up to 20 to 30% service charge.
What are the security-related features of ‘Kerala Savari’?
- Kerala Savari is claimed as a safe and reliable online service for women, children, and senior citizens.
- This consideration has been given importance in app designing and driver registration.
- A police clearance certificate is mandatory for drivers joining the scheme apart from the required proper training.
- A panic button system has been introduced in the app.
- It has also been decided to install GPS in vehicles at a subsidised rate.
Will the new government initiative end the monopoly of private cab aggregators?
- Kerala has over five lakh autorickshaws and one lakh cabs.
- The State government plans to bring all auto-taxi workers engaged in the sector under the new platform.
- Since smartphone literacy is high in Kerala, the State is hopeful of bringing them under the scheme in a short span of time.
- In addition, the Kerala government has also decided to provide fuel, insurance, and tyre subsidies for vehicle owners in the future and has already initiated talks with major companies in this regard.
- After the evaluation of the first phase of the project in Thiruvananthapuram, it will be extended to the entire State in a phased manner.
- Kerala Savari is expected to reach Kollam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Kannur municipal limits within a month.
Regulation of Cab Aggregators in India
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Places in news: Sela Tunnel
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Sela Pass
Mains level : Strategic border infrastructure
The strategically-significant Sela Tunnel project in Arunachal Pradesh is nearing completion well before the deadline.
What is Sela Tunnel Project?
- The Sela Tunnel is the longest bi-lane road tunnel in the world.
- The total length of the project, including the tunnels, the approach and the link roads, will be around 12 km.
- The tunnel is being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation at an altitude of 13,800ft near the Indo-China border.
- It is being built on the 317km long Balipara-Charduar-Tawang (BCT) road which connects West Kameng, East Kameng and Tawang districts of Arunachal Pradesh to the rest of the country.
Why is the project important?
- All-weather connectivity to Tawang and other forward areas in the sector will be the most important advantage that the project promises.
- At the moment, Sela pass stays closed for a few winter months.
- The project will provide a new alignment on the axis towards the LAC, and allow movement of military and civil vehicles all through the year.
Significance of the tunnel
- China is undertaking massive infrastructure development and troop build-up in the Rest of Arunachal Pradesh (RALP) area.
- In military parlance, the RALP is an area in Arunachal Pradesh other than the Kameng area.
- Other than the Kameng area consisting of East and West Kameng districts, the rest of the State is referred to by the Army as the RALP.
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[pib] Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP)
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP)
Mains level : NA
National Logistics Portal (NLP) is set to be integrated with Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) to make the multi-modal logistics ecosystem more efficient.
Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP)
- ULIP is designed to enhance efficiency and reduce the cost of logistics in India by creating a transparent, one window platform that can provide real-time information to all stakeholders.
- It was also emphasized that the solution should have the visibility of multi-modal transport, and all the existing systems of various ministries, governing bodies, and private stakeholders should be integrated with the ULIP system.
- This will create a National Single Window Logistics Portal which will help in reducing the logistics cost.
- ULIP will provide real-time monitoring of cargo movement while ensuring data confidentiality with end-to-end encryption, comprehensive reduction in logistic cost resulting in competitive costing.
There are three key components which are defining the ULIP platform:
- Integration with existing data sources of ministries: As authorization, compliance and clearance are some of the critical activities of Logistics; the integration with data points of ministries shall enable a holistic view and interlink the handshaking points.
- Data exchange with private players: To enable the private players, logistics service providers, and industries to utilize the data available with ULIP and at the same time share their data (transportation, dispatch, delivery, etc.) with ULIP, thereby streamlining the processes to bring better efficiency through data exchange.
- Unified document reference in the supply chain: To enable a single digitized document reference number for all the documentation processes in a single platform.
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Chisumle- Demchok: Worlds’ Highest Motorable Road
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Chisumle- Demchok Road
Mains level : Critical border infrastructures
Ladakh’s Chisumle-Demchok Road, when it crosses the Umling Pass, is now the world’s highest motorable road.
Chisumle- Demchok Road
- The project to build the road through the pass — a part of Border Roads Organization (BRO) Project Himank — had been completed in 2017, after which vehicles had started playing on the route.
- The road is in south Ladakh. It passes through Umling La Pass, which is at a height of over 19,000 feet.
- The height of the pass makes it the highest motorable road in the world, and was recently recognized as such by Guinness World Records.
- The 52-km road ‘black-top’ tarmac road from Chisumle to Demchok betters the previous record of a road in Bolivia, which connects the volcano Uturuncu at 18,953 feet.
- The road was built under extremely challenging conditions, as temperatures in the region can fall to below minus 40 degrees Celsius, and oxygen levels go down to 50 per cent below normal.
Top of the world
- At the pass, the road is higher than both the base camps for the climb to Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain.
- The South Base Camp in Nepal is at a height of 17,598 ft, while North Base Camp in Tibet is at 16,900 ft.
- The Chisumle-Demchok road is also higher than the Siachen Glacier, which is situated at 17,700 feet.
- Khardung La in Leh, which at one time was among the highest roads in the world, is at an altitude of 17,582 feet.
Military significance of the road
- This road provides a direct route from Chisumle, which lies on the major road coming from Leh, Karu and Nyoma.
- All of these stations have important military stations which are close to the Line of Actual Control.
- Demchok has been an India-China flashpoint earlier, the site of a standoff between the two armies in 2016.
- In the current standoff in eastern Ladakh, which began in May 2020, Demchok has come up as a point of contention.
Other benefits offered
- The new axis will be helpful for the armed forces, making it easier to mobilize troops and equipment, including rations.
- The road will not only enable faster movement of armed forces to the region but will also boost tourism and improve the socio-economic condition of the local people in the region.
Certain limitations
- Since the road goes through such a high pass, road transport will be unfeasible during the winter, when the armed forces rely on air support.
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How the new Warehousing Policy will transform India’s logistics
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Not much
Mains level : Logistcs and Supply chain management in India
In order to reduce transportation and logistic cost, the union government along with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is working on warehouse policy.
What are Warehouses?
- A warehouse is a building for storing goods.
- Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc.
- They are usually large plain buildings in industrial parks on the outskirts of cities, towns, or villages.
Objectives of the New Warehousing Policy
- Logistics boost: The new policy is aimed at improving logistics throughout the country.
- Supply chain management: The modern warehouses will house cold-storage chains and will be able to store all kinds of cargo—wet and dry.
- De-congesting cities: These facilities are expected to come up outside city centres so that large trucks carrying the cargo do not need to enter the city to unload their goods.
- Fuel efficiency: This will also help boost bulk carrying capacity and save fuel.
- Curbing air pollution: The idea is to minimize pollution and traffic congestion in major cities.
Who will frame and implement the policy?
- NHAI: The policy will be framed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). It will also be the implementing agency.
How?
- Through Land Banks: There are land banks along the highways and expressways of the country with the NHAI.
- PPP mode: Tenders will be floated for such land parcels, inviting private players to develop warehousing zones in PPP mode on a revenue-sharing basis or for a fixed fee.
What will be the impact on logistic costs?
- Logistics cost-saving: Warehousing zones will help cut India’s logistics cost, which is 14%-16% of gross domestic product (GDP), compared to 8%-10% of GDP in China and 12%-13% in the US.
- Establishment of MMLPs: The warehousing zones and multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs) are being set up by the NHAI.
- FMCG sector boost: This will help Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) firms, steel and cement makers stock inventory near major hubs.
How will MMLPs aid warehousing policies?
- Integration of multi-modal transport includes the development of 35 MMLPs.
- The MMLPs are aimed at fostering inter-modal connectivity through dedicated railway lines and access from highways to provide connectivity to an airport or a seaport or an inland waterway terminal.
- The aim is to:
- Remove deficiencies related to logistics
- Draw the associated costs down, and
- Strategically integrate highway projects and other connectivity initiatives
Why such move?
Ans. E-commerce boom
- The e-commerce sector has been driving the demand for logistics and warehousing across global markets.
- It has emerged as the most prominent driver of Indian warehousing market volumes along with the third party logistics sector.
- This sector’s share in transactions has grown from 18% in FY17 to 31% in FY21.
- The Indian market is on the verge of its next phase of growth with domestic groups such as Tatas and Reliance entering the business.
- Thus far, Amazon.com Inc. and Walmart Inc. have driven the market.
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Char Dham Road Project
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Char Dham Project
Mains level : Environmental issues with the project
The needs of defence and environment have to be balanced and a “nuanced” approach is required, said the Supreme Court while hearing an appeal against the widening of roads in Uttarakhand hills for the “Char Dham project”.
What is Char Dham?
- The Char Dham is a set of four pilgrimage sites in India.
- It is believed that visiting these sites helps achieve moksha (salvation).
- The four Dhams are, Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri and Rameswaram.
The highway project
- The Char Dham highway project connects the four himalayan shrines of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath in Garhwal Himalayas.
- It has 899-km road which the Centre wants to broaden near Dehradun.
What is the controversy?
The Supreme Court formed a high-powered committee (HPC) to examine the issues. In July 2020, the HPC submitted two reports after members disagreed on the ideal width for hill roads.
- Deforestation: In 2018, the road-expansion project was challenged by an NGO for its potential impact on the Himalayan ecology due to felling trees, cutting hills and dumping muck (excavated material).
- Terrain damage: It was observed that a wider road requires additional slope cutting, blasting, tunnelling, dumping and deforestation.
- Increasing vulnerability: All of this will further destabilise the Himalayan terrain, and increase vulnerability to landslides and flash floods.
Criticism of the Project
- Work without clearance: Project work and felling of trees on different stretches, adding up to over 250 km, has been continuing illegally since 2017-18.
- Misusing old clearance: Work started on stretches adding up to over 200 km on the basis of old forest clearances issued to the Border Roads Organisation during 2002-2012.
- False declaration: The work began by falsely declaring that these stretches did not fall in the Eco Sensitive Zones of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajaji National Park, Valley of Flowers National Park etc.
The defence angle
- Even as the project grappled to come clean, it garnered support from the MoD seeking a double-lane road to meet the requirement of the Army.
- The project always had a strategic angle to it as the highways would facilitate troop movement to areas closer to the China border.
- Suddenly, this became the sole justification for building wider roads.
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Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) Report, 2021
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : LEADS Index
Mains level : Not Much
The Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2021 Index Rankings has been recently released.
About LEADS
- The LEADS index was launched in 2018 by the Commerce and Industry Ministry and Deloitte.
- It ranks states on the score of their logistics services and efficiency that are indicative of economic growth.
- States are ranked based on quality and capacity of key infrastructure such as road, rail and warehousing as well as on operational ease of logistics.
Highlights of the 2021 report
- India’s logistics costs account for 13-14 per cent of GDP, compared to 7-8 per cent in developed countries.
- Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab have emerged as the top performers in the LEADS 2021 index respectively.
- West Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Assam were ranked 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st respectively.
- North Eastern States, and J&K and Ladakh have been considered a separate group for LEADS rankings.
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PM GatiShakti — National Master Plan
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Gati Shakti Master Plan
Mains level : Infrastructure development measures
The PM has inaugurated the GatiShakti — National Master Plan for infrastructure development aimed at boosting multimodal connectivity and driving down logistics costs.
GatiShakti — National Master Plan
- PM GatiShakti is a digital platform that connects 16 ministries — including Roads and Highways, Railways, Shipping, Petroleum and Gas, Power, Telecom, Shipping, and Aviation.
- It aims to ensure holistic planning and execution of infrastructure projects.
- The objective is to ensure that every department now has visibility of each other’s activities providing critical data while planning and execution of projects.
- Through this, different departments will be able to prioritize their projects through cross-sectoral interactions.
Notable features
- Geospatial data: The portal will offer 200 layers of geospatial data, including on existing infrastructure such as roads, highways, railways, and toll plazas.
- Protected areas management: It would also geographic information about forests, rivers, and district boundaries to aid in planning and obtaining clearances.
- Realtime monitoring: The portal will also allow various government departments to track, in real-time and at one centralized place, the progress of various projects.
Monitoring mechanism
- The National Master Plan has set targets for all infrastructure ministries.
- A project monitoring group under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) will monitor the progress of key projects in real-time.
- It would report any inter-ministerial issues to an empowered group of ministers, who will then aim to resolve these.
Need for such Project
- Avoiding poor infrastructure planning: Examples of poor infrastructure planning included newly-built roads being dug up by the water department to lay pipes.
- Creating a multi-modal network: The government expects the platform to enable various government departments to synchronize their efforts into a multi-modal network.
- Timely completion of infra projects: It is also expected to help state governments give commitments to investors regarding timeframes for the creation of infrastructure.
- Inefficient connectivity: Currently, a number of economic zones and industrial parks are not able to reach their full productive potential due to inefficient multi-modal connectivity.
- Easy clearance: The portal allows stakeholders to apply for these clearances from the relevant authority directly.
Logistics costs in India
- Studies estimate that logistics costs in India are about 13-14% of GDP as against about 7-8% of GDP in developed economies.
- High logistics costs impact cost structures within the economy by making it more expensive for exporters to ship merchandise to buyers.
Benefits offered by PM-GatiShakti
- Collaborative planning: It would incorporate infrastructure schemes under various ministries and state governments, including the Bharatmala and inland waterways schemes, and economic zones.
- Logistics boost: It would boost last-mile connectivity and thus bring down logistics costs with integrated planning and reducing implementation overlaps.
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Places in news: Zojila Tunnel
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Zoji La Pass and other himalayan passes
Mains level : Critical border infrastructures
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has inspected the work on Zojila and Z Morh tunnels.
Zojila Tunnel
- The Zojila is set to be Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel.
- It will connect Srinagar, Dras, Kargil and Leh via a tunnel through the famous Zojila Pass.
- Located at more than 11,500 feet above sea level, the all-weather Zojila tunnel will be 14.15 km long and ensure road connectivity even during winters.
- It will make the travel on the 434-km Srinagar-Kargil-Leh Section of NH-1 free from avalanches, enhance safety and reduce the travel time from more than 3 hours to just 15 minutes.
- The speed limit inside the tunnel is likely to be the same as in the Atal tunnel – 80 kmph.
Z-Morh tunnel
- The Z-Morh tunnel — being developed at Sonmarg — will provide it all-weather connectivity with Srinagar allowing it to remain open to tourists all year round.
- It is likely to be ready by December 2023 and is being developed at a cost of ₹2,378 crore.
Significance of these tunnels
- The project holds strategic significance as Zojila Pass is situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway and remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall.
- At present, it is one of the most dangerous stretches in the world to drive a vehicle and this project is also geo-strategically sensitive.
UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)
Back2Basics: Major Passes in India
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: World’s longest
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
Mains level : NA
The Minister for Road Transport and Highways Union Minister Nitin Gadkari concluded the review of the work progress on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
- The ambitious infra project started in the year 2018 is being constructed at a cost of Rs 98,000 crore and is scheduled for completion by March 2023.
- States: Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra
- Once ready, the expressway will feature a spur to Noida International Airport and Jawaharlal Nehru Port to Mumbai through a spur in the financial capital.
- It will reduce travel time between certain cities to 12-12.5 hours from 24 hours.
- The project is expected to improve connectivity to economic hubs of India like Jaipur, Ajmer, Kishangarh, Chittorgarh, Kota, Udaipur, Ujjain, Bhopal, Indore, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Surat.
Key features of the expressway
- The expressway which is eight-lane access-controlled can be expanded to a 12-lane expressway depending on the traffic volume
- It will boast wayside amenities such as resorts, food courts, restaurants, fuel stations, logistics parks, facilities for truckers
- For accident victims, it will offer a helicopter ambulance service as well as a heliport, which will use drone services for business
- Along the highway, over two million trees and shrubs are planned to be planted
- The highway project is Asia’s first and the world’s second to include animal overpasses in order to facilitate unrestricted wildlife movement
- Besides, it will also involve two iconic eight-lane tunnels
- The project will result in annual savings of more than 320 million litres of fuel as well as reduce Carbon dioxide emissions by 850 million kg
- Over 12 lakh tonnes of steel will be consumed in the project’s construction, which is equivalent to constructing 50 Howrah bridges
- For the project, 80 lakh tonnes of cement will be consumed, which is around 2 percent of the country’s annual cement production capacity
- The ambitious Delhi-Mumbai Expressway project has also created job opportunities for thousands of trained civil engineers apart from generating over 50 lakh man-days of work
UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
[pib] Bharat Series (BH-series) for Vehicles
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Bharat series (BH-series)
Mains level : Not Much
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has rolled out a new series for vehicles registration ‘BH’ to avoid re-registration of vehicles while moving to another state.
Bharat series (BH-series)
- There was a procedure of re-registration of a vehicle while moving to another state.
- A vehicle bearing BH registration mark shall not require assignment of a new registration mark when the owner of the vehicle shifts from one State to another.
- Format of Bharat series (BH-series) Registration Mark –
Registration Mark Format:
- YY BH #### XX
- YY – Year of first registration
- BH- Code for Bharat Series
- ####- 0000 to 9999 (randomized)
- XX- Alphabets (AA to ZZ)
Why such move?
- Station relocation occurs with both Government and private sector employees.
- Such movements create a sense of unease in the minds of such employees with regard to transfer of registration from the parent state to another state.
- Under section 47 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, a person is allowed to keep the vehicle for not more than 12 months in any state other than the state where the vehicle is registered.
Who can get this BH series?
- BH-series will be available on voluntary basis to Defense personnel, employees of Central Government/ State Government/ Central/ State PSUs and private sector companies/organizations.
- The motor vehicle tax will be levied for two years or in multiple of two.
- This scheme will facilitate free movement of personal vehicles across States/UTs of India upon relocation to a new State/UT.
- After completion of the fourteenth year, the motor vehicle tax shall be levied annually which shall be half of the amount which was charged earlier for that vehicle.
UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
Vehicle Scrappage Policy, 2021
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Programme (VVMP)
Mains level : Vehicle scrappage
The launch of India’s vehicle scrapping policy or the Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Programme (VVMP) seeks to usher in a new age of what it means to own and use an automobile in India.
Vehicle Scrappage Policy: Key Features
- Fitness testing: The government plans to set up between 450-500 automated vehicle fitness testing stations across India on a PPP basis. Private vehicles – which are over 20 years old – will have to undergo fitness tests, at an estimated cost of Rs 300-400 per test.
- Scrappage: A total of 60-70 vehicle scrapping centers will also be built, situated no further than 150-200 kilometers away from any location in India.
- Green Tax: Vehicles that pass the automated tests will be subjected to a ‘green tax’, which will see owners shell out an additional 10 percent to 25 percent of road tax at the time of the renewal of the vehicle’s fitness certificate, along with re-registration fees.
- Penalties: Those who choose to drive a vehicle that has failed the automated test will face substantial penalties, and such vehicles could also be impounded.
- Choice of owners: The scrappage policy leaves the choice of scrapping to the owner of the vehicle, with Gadkari saying the automated tests will place emphasis on vehicle fitness, and not its age.
Implementation plan
- The implementation of the vehicle scrappage policy in India is still some time away.
- Initially, it will be heavy commercial vehicles that will need to undergo fitness tests starting 1 April, 2023.
- Fitness tests will be made mandatory for all other types of vehicles from 1 June, 2024, in a phased manner.
Why need such policy?
- Clean mobility: More than one crore vehicles on India’s roads contribute greatly to rising pollution levels, as well as their tendency to be less fuel-efficient towards the end of their life.
- Reducing oil import: The promotion of clean mobility necessitates a reduction in the country’s fuel import bills, and a reduction in emissions is a pressing need at this time.
- Road safety: Such vehicles are also inherently unsafe and can be a threat to their occupants as well as other road users.
- Consumer benefits: Scrapping an old vehicle and replacing it with a new one will bring substantial monetary benefits for motorists, in addition to reducing emissions and enhancing fuel efficiency.
Benefits for a vehicle owner
- Once the vehicle has been scrapped, the owner will receive anywhere between four to six percent of their old vehicle’s ex-showroom price, and a scrappage certificate.
- This will make the individual eligible for a road tax rebate of 25 percent, a registration fee waiver and a discount of five percent of a new vehicle’s ex-showroom cost, offered by the vehicle manufacturer.
- This will essentially make a new vehicle cheaper for someone who has scrapped their old vehicle, with potential discounts in the range of Rs 30,000 (for a car costing Rs 6 lakh) to Rs 50,000 (for a car costing Rs 10 lakh).
What are the other positives?
- Investment and Employment: The policy will attract investment of over Rs 10,000 crore, and generate 50,000 jobs in the country.
- Recycling: Proper recycling of raw materials obtained from the scrapping will help reduce the import of materials such as aluminium, copper, steel and more.
- Vehicle price control: With the potential to recycle up to 99 percent of materials used in a vehicle, raw material costs are estimated to drop by as much as 40 percent.
- Transition to EVs: There’s also a possibility to derive materials needed for local production of lithium-ion batteries from scrapping older vehicles, which could help drive the growth of the EV business.
- Circular Economy: A circular economy depends on reuse, sharing, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing and recycling of resources to create a closed-loop system, minimizing the use of resources, generation of waste, pollution and carbon emissions.
- Demand boost: Globally, a scrappage policy has been followed by a boost in demand in the auto manufacturing sector, especially in Europe and the US.
UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
[pib] Haldibari- Chilahati Rail Link
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Haldibari- Chilahati Rail Link
Mains level : Not Much
The freight trains have started commuting via the restored Haldibari (India) – Chilahati (Bangladesh) rail link.
Haldibari- Chilahati Rail Link
- The Haldibari – Chilahati rail link between India and then East Pakistan was operational till 1965.
- The distance between Haldibari Railway Station till the international border is 4.5 km, while that of Chilahati is around 7.5 km till the ‘zero points’.
- This was part of the Broad-Gauge main route from Kolkata to Siliguri during the partition.
- Trains traveling to Assam and North Bengal continued to travel through the then East Pakistan territory even after partition.
- However, the war of 1965 effectively cut off all the railway links between India and then East Pakistan.
- The link was reopened in 2020 for the movement of passenger and goods traffic.
Other railway links between India and Bangladesh
As of now, five links connecting India with Bangladesh have been made operational which include:
- Petrapole (India) – Benapole (Bangladesh)
- Gede (India) – Darshana (Bangladesh)
- Singhabad (India) – Rohanpur (Bangladesh)
- Radhikapur (India) – Birol (Bangladesh)
- Haldibari (India) – Chilahati (Bangladesh)
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
[pib] Kuthiran Tunnel
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Kuthiran tunnel
Mains level : Not Much
The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has inaugurated the Kuthiran Tunnel in Kerala
Kuthiran Tunnel
- Kuthiran Tunnel is a Twin-tube tunnel at Kuthiran in Thrissur District of Kerala.
- It is located on National Highway 544, owned and operated by the National Highways Authority of India.
- It is Kerala’s first-ever tunnel for road transport and South India’s Longest 6-lane road tunnel.
- Kuthiran gradient is situated in the Kuthiran Hills, situated in the western part of Anaimalai Hills. The hills are a notified Peechi- Vazahani wildlife sanctuary.
- It will drastically improve connectivity to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
- The road will improve connectivity to important ports and towns in North-South Corridor without endangering wildlife.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
[pib] Fast Tracking Freight in India
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Freight transport in India
Mains level : NA
NITI Aayog, RMI and RMI India’s new report, Fast Tracking Freight in India: A Roadmap for Clean and Cost-Effective Goods Transport, presents key opportunities for India to reduce its logistics costs.
Freight transport in India
- Freight transportation is a critical backbone of India’s growing economy, and now more than ever, it’s important to make this transport system more cost-effective, efficient, and cleaner.
- Due to the rising demand for goods and services, freight transport demand is expected to grow rapidly in the future.
- While freight transport is essential to economic development, it is plagued by high logistics costs and contributes to rising CO2 emissions and air pollution in cities.
Highlights of the Roadmap
- According to the report, India has the potential to:
- Reduce its logistics cost by 4% of GDP
- Achieve 10 gigatonnes of cumulative CO2 emissions savings between 2020 and 2050
- Reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions by 35% and 28%, respectively, until 2050
- The report outlines solutions for the freight sector related to policy, technology, market, business models, and infrastructure development.
Various recommendations
- The recommendations include increasing the rail network’s capacity, promoting intermodal transport, improving warehousing and trucking practices, policy measures and pilot projects for clean technology adoption, and stricter fuel economy standards.
- When successfully deployed at scale, the proposed solutions can help India establish itself as a leader in logistics innovation and efficiency in the Asia–Pacific region and beyond.
Transforming the system
- As India’s freight activity grows five-fold by 2050 and about 400 million citizens move to cities, a whole system transformation can help uplift the freight sector.
- This transformation will be defined by tapping into opportunities such as efficient rail-based transport, the optimization of logistics and supply chains, and a shift to electric and other clean-fuel vehicles.
- These solutions can help India save ₹311 lakh crore cumulatively over the next three decades.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
New Vehicle Scrappage Policy
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Not Much
Mains level : Vehicle Scrappage Policy
Auto majors have welcomed the new vehicle scrappage policy rolled out by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, saying it would encourage people to replace old vehicles while boosting the sector.
Under the policy, those choosing to voluntarily scrap their old vehicles will get financial incentives from the government and the automaker.
Vehicle Scrappage Policy: Key Highlights
- Personal vehicles older than 20 years and commercial vehicles older than 15 years will have to undergo a fitness test at the government registered ‘Automated Fitness Centres’.
- Vehicles that fail to pass the test will be declared as ‘end-of-life vehicles’, which would mean that the vehicle would have to be recycled.
- This will pave the way for older vehicles to be scrapped.
- In case, the vehicles pass the test, owners will have to pay a hefty fee for re-registration.
- According to the new policy, the re-registration fee would be hiked around eight times for personal vehicles, and around 20 times for commercial vehicles.
What Are Automated Fitness Centres?
- Every vehicle will have to go under a mandatory fitness test at the automated fitness centres.
- The government aims to have at least 718 centres across the country.
- These centres will test the vehicle’s emission, and braking and other safety components as prescribed by Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989.
- Appointments to these centres will have to be booked online and the fitness report will be electronically generated.
Change in Fee Structure
- The government has increased the fee for renewal and grant of fitness certificate of older vehicles up to 20 times.
- Here is the new fee structure for personal vehicles older than 15 years:
- Two-wheelers – Rs 1,000
- Three-wheeler/quadricycles – Rs 3,500
- Cars – Rs 7,500
(Do not worry about the data. It is the state PSCs which may ask such information)
For commercial vehicles:
- Passenger motor vehicles – Rs 10,000
- Heavy goods/large motor vehicles – Rs 12,500
Benefits for buyers
- In case you decide to scrap your old vehicle at the registered scrapping centres, you will get approximately 4-6 per cent of the value of the vehicle’s ex-showroom price.
- The ex-showroom price is the cost of the vehicle, excluding the charges paid for registering the vehicle at RTO and insurance.
- Moreover, if you buy a new vehicle you will be given a flat 5 per cent discount on presenting a scrapping certificate.
- Registration fees will also be waived on the purchase of a new vehicle.
Obtaining a Scrapping Certificate
- Old vehicle owners will be able to formally scrap their registered vehicles at the automated scrapping centres.
- These centres will be linked with the Vahan database of the transport ministry.
- After you scrap your vehicle with the government registered agency, you will be provided with the scrapping certificate.
- You will then be eligible for the benefits proposed under the scheme.
Implementation
Tentative timeline for the new rules:
- Rules for fitness tests and government scrapping centres to come into effect – 1 October 2021
- The scrapping of government and PSU vehicles above 15 years of age to start – 1 April 2022
- Fitness testing for heavy commercial vehicles – 1 April 2023
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
[pib] FASTag declared mandatory
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Fastag
Mains level : Fastag and its benefits for speedy transport
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has decided that all lanes in the fee plazas on National Highways shall be declared as “FASTag lane of the fee plaza”.
Fastag went unnoticed this year. The RFID technology deployed in this holds an intuition for its relevance in CS prelims and many forthcoming exams.
What is ‘FASTag’?
- FASTags are stickers that are affixed to the windscreen of vehicles and use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to enable digital, contactless payment of tolls without having to stop at toll gates.
- The tags are linked to bank accounts and other payment methods.
- As a car crosses a toll plaza, the amount is automatically deducted, and a notification is sent to the registered mobile phone number.
How does it work?
- The device employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it.
- It is affixed on the windscreen, so the vehicle can drive through plazas without stopping.
- RFID technology is similar to that used in transport access-control systems, like Metro smart card.
- If the tag is linked to a prepaid account like a wallet or a debit/credit card, then owners need to recharge/top up the tag.
- If it is linked to a savings account, then money will get deducted automatically after the balance goes below a pre-defined threshold.
- Once a vehicle crosses the toll, the owner will get an SMS alert on the deduction. In that, it is like a prepaid e-wallet.
Must read:
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
What are Fastags?
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Fastag
Mains level : RFID technology
From January 1, all lanes of National Highways will accept only electronic payments through FASTag.
Fastags work on a unique technology called RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). This has gone unnoticed in several competitive exams. Hence it is still relevant for the aspirants.
Also read
Fastags
- As per Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, since 1st December 2017, the FASTag had been made mandatory for all registered new four-wheelers and is being supplied by the Vehicle Manufacturer or their dealers.
- It has been mandated that the renewal of fitness certificate will be done only after the fitment of FASTag.
- For National Permit Vehicles, the fitment of FASTag was mandated since 1st October 2019.
What is ‘FASTag’?
- FASTags are stickers that are affixed to the windscreen of vehicles and use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to enable digital, contactless payment of tolls without having to stop at toll gates.
- The tags are linked to bank accounts and other payment methods.
- As a car crosses a toll plaza, the amount is automatically deducted, and a notification is sent to the registered mobile phone number.
How does it work?
- The device employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it.
- It is affixed on the windscreen, so the vehicle can drive through plazas without stopping.
- RFID technology is similar to that used in transport access-control systems, like Metro smart card.
- If the tag is linked to a prepaid account like a wallet or a debit/credit card, then owners need to recharge/top up the tag.
- If it is linked to a savings account, then money will get deducted automatically after the balance goes below a pre-defined threshold.
- Once a vehicle crosses the toll, the owner will get an SMS alert on the deduction. In that, it is like a prepaid e-wallet.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
Places in news: Zojila Tunnel
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Zojila Pass
Mains level : Road infrastructure in Himalayas
Union Transport Ministry has launched the first blasting for construction-related work at the Zojila tunnel that will provide all-year connectivity between Srinagar valley and Leh.
These days various Himalayan passes and tunnels are overwhelmingly seen in news. Open your Atlas and try to spot all of them for now and once before the exam.
Zojila Tunnel
- The Zojila is set to be Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel.
- It will connect Srinagar, Dras, Kargil and Leh via a tunnel through the famous Zojila Pass.
- Located at more than 11,500 feet above sea level, the all-weather Zojila tunnel will be 14.15 km long and ensure road connectivity even during winters.
- It will make the travel on the 434-km Srinagar-Kargil-Leh Section of NH-1 free from avalanches, enhance safety and reduce the travel time from more than 3 hours to just 15 minutes.
- The speed limit inside the tunnel is likely to be the same as in the Atal tunnel – 80 kmph.
Its significance
- The project holds strategic significance as Zojila Pass is situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway and remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall.
- At present, it is one of the most dangerous stretches in the world to drive a vehicle and this project is also geo-strategically sensitive.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
Kozhikode-Wayanad Tunnel Project
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : About the Tunnel, EIA
Mains level : NA
Kerala CM has launched a tunnel road project that would connect Kozhikode with Wayanad.
Try this PYQ:
Q.From the ecological point of view, which one of the following assumes importance in being a good link between the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats?
(a) Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
(b) Nallamala Forest
(c) Nagarhole National Park
(d) Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve
Kozhikode-Wayanad Tunnel Project
- The 7-km tunnel, being described as the third-longest in the country, is part of an 8-km road cutting through sensitive forests and hills of the Western Ghats.
- Its endpoints are at Maripuzha in Thiruvambady village panchayat (Kozhikode) and Kalladi in Meppadi panchayat (Wayanad).
- The tunnel is an outcome of a decades-long campaign for an alternative road as the Thamarassery Ghat Road is congested and gets blocked by landslides during heavy monsoon.
How will the road impact the ecology?
- The Forest Department has identified the proposed route as a highly sensitive patch comprising evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, marshlands and shola tracts.
- This region is part of an elephant corridor spread between Wayanad and Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu.
- Two major rivers, Chaliyar and Kabani that flows to Karnataka, originate from these hills in Wayanad.
- Eruvazhanjipuzha, a tributary of Chaliyar and the lifeline of settlements in Malappuram and Kozhikode, begins in the other side of the hills.
- The region, known for torrential rain during the monsoon, has witnessed several landslides, including in 2019 at Kavalappura near Nilambur and at Puthumala, Meppadi in Wayanad.
Environmental clearance issues
- Proponents of the project have been stressing that the tunnel will not destroy forest (trees).
- The MoEFCC guidelines state that the Forest Act would apply not only to surface area but the entire underground area beneath the trees.
- For tunnel projects, conditions relating to underground mining would be applicable.
- As the proposed tunnel is 7 km long, it will require emergency exit points and air ventilation wells among other measures, which would impact the forest further.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
ATAL: World’s Longest Highway Tunnel
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Atal Tunnel
Mains level : Significance of the Border Infrastructure
PM Modi has inaugurated the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang at an altitude of above 3,000 metres in Himachal Pradesh.
Refer this link to read more about Himalayan passes and rivers
https://www.civilsdaily.com/the-northern-and-northeastern-mountains-part-1/
Atal Tunnel
- The 9.02 km-long-tunnel, built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), is the world’s longest highway tunnel and connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley.
- It provides all-weather connectivity to the landlocked valley of Lahaul-Spiti, which remains cut-off for nearly six months in a year as the Rohtang Pass is usually snow-bound between November and April.
- Before the tunnel construction, the Lahaul Valley used to remain closed for vehicular movement due to bad weather conditions.
- It reduces the distance by 46 km between Manali and Leh and the travel time by about 4 to 5 hours. It is expected to boost tourism and winter sports in the region.
- The tunnel, also significant from the military logistics viewpoint, will provide better connectivity to the armed forces in reaching Ladakh.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
Atal Tunnel at Rohtang
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Atal Tunnel, Pir Panjal Range
Mains level : Not Much
The Atal Tunnel at Rohtang, near Manali, is almost complete in all respects and will be inaugurated very soon in September.
Tap to read more about Himalayas at:
https://www.civilsdaily.com/the-northern-and-northeastern-mountains-part-1/
Atal Tunnel
- The 9-km-long tunnel is constructed under the Pir Panjal range.
- It has been named after former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and will be the world’s longest highway tunnel above the altitude of 10,000 feet (3000 metres).
- It was scheduled to be completed by May 2020, in a revised estimate, but the Covid-19 pandemic pushed back the completion by a few months due to lockdown conditions.
- Vehicles can travel at a maximum speed of 80 km per hour. Up to 1,500 trucks and 3,000 cars are expected to use it per day when the situation gets to normal.
What is its strategic advantage?
- Cutting through the Pir Panjal range, the tunnel will reduce the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km.
- The tunnel will provide almost all-weather connectivity to the troops stationed in Ladakh.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
River Ropeway over Brahmaputra
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Brahmaputra Ropeway
Mains level : Not Much
India’s ‘longest’ river ropeway across the Brahmaputra River was unveiled in Guwahati.
Navigate to this page for more readings on Brahmaputra River systems:
Brahmaputra River System
Brahmaputra Ropeway
- The 1.82 km bi-cable jig-back ropeway connects the southern bank of the Brahmaputra and a hillock behind the Doul Govinda temple in North Guwahati on the other.
- It passes over the mid-river Peacock Island that houses Umananda, a medieval Shiva temple.
- It thus cuts travel time between the two banks to 8 minutes.
- The current travel options between the two banks are by ferry (30 minutes or more, depending on current and season) or by road through a bridge that usually takes over an hour in the traffic.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
[pib] Kailash – Mansarovar Yatra Route from Dharchula to Lipulekh
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Various passes in news, BRO
Mains level : India's border connectivity and the role of BRO
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has completed the construction of road from Dharchula to Lipulekh along the China Border, famously known as Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra Route.
We can expect a prelims question asking to arrange few passes from West to East or vice versa. Click here to get through all such Himalayan Passes.
Darchula – Lipulekh road
- The road is an extension of Pithoragarh-Tawaghat-Ghatiabagarh road. In this 80 Km road, the altitude rises from 6000 feet to 17,060 feet.
- It originates from Ghatiabagarh in Uttarakhand and terminates at Lipulekh Pass, the gateway to Kailash Mansarovar.
- With the completion of this project, the arduous trek through treacherous high-altitude terrain can now be avoided by the Pilgrims of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and the period of journey will be reduced by many days.
(Note: The Lipulekh Pass links Uttarakhand with China’s Tibetan Autonomous Region.)
Significance
- At present, the travel to Kailash Mansarovar takes around two to three weeks through Sikkim or Nepal routes.
- Lipulekh route had a trek of 90 Km through high altitude terrain and the elderly yartris faced lot of difficulties.
- Now, this yatra will get completed by vehicles.
Also read:
Back2Basics: Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
- The BRO develops and maintains road networks in India’s border areas and friendly neighboring countries and functions under the Ministry of Defence.
- It is entrusted for construction of Roads, Bridges, Tunnels, Causeways, Helipads and Airfields along the borders.
- Officers from the Border Roads Engineering Service (BRES) and personnel from the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) form the parent cadre of the Border Roads Organisation.
- It is also staffed by officers and troops drawn from the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers on extra regimental employment.
- The BRO operates and maintains over 32,885 kilometers of roads and about 12,200 meters of permanent bridges in the country.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)
Mains level : Read the attached story
- To augment infrastructure and create jobs in the country, the government task force on National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), which in its report projected total investment of Rs 111 lakh crore in infra projects over five years.
- It said that 18 per cent of the targeted investment is expected to be made in the road sector.
It is estimated that India would need to spend $4.5 trillion on infrastructure by 2030 to sustain its growth rate. The endeavour of the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), is to make this happen in an efficient manner.
What is the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)?
- NIP includes economic and social infrastructure projects.
- During the fiscals 2020 to 2025, sectors such as Energy (24%), Roads (19%), Urban (16%), and Railways (13%) amount to around 70% of the projected capital expenditure in infrastructure in India.
- It has outlined plans to invest more than ₹102 lakh crore on infrastructure projects by 2024-25, with the Centre, States and the private sector to share the capital expenditure in a 39:39:22 formula.
Key benefits of NIP
- Economic: Well-planned NIP will enable more infra projects, grow businesses, create jobs, improve ease of living, and provide equitable access to infrastructure for all, making growth more inclusive.
- Government: Well-developed infrastructure enhances the level of economic activity, creates additional fiscal space by improving the revenue base of the government, and ensures the quality of expenditure focused in productive areas.
- Developers: Provides a better view of project supply, provides time to be better prepared for project bidding, reduces aggressive bids/ failure in project delivery, ensures enhanced access to sources of finance as a result of increased investor confidence.
- Banks/financial institutions (F1s)/investors: Builds investor confidence as identified projects are likely to be better prepared, exposures less likely to suffer stress given active project monitoring, thereby less likelihood of NPAs.
Projects include
- The report contains recommendations on general and sector reforms relating to key infrastructure sectors for implementation by the Centre and states.
- These projects will be implemented under the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), a first of its kind exercise, by consulting states, relevant ministries and departments.
- Three committees will be set up to monitor project progress, eliminate delays, and find ways to raise resources, along with a steering committee in each of the infrastructure ministries.
- Sectors such as energy (24%), roads (18%), urban (17%) and railways (12%) amount to around 71% of the projected investments.
- The projects will also be spread across sectors such as irrigation, mobility, education, health, water and the digital sector.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
Rohtang Pass and its location
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Various passes in news, BRO
Mains level : NA
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has opened the Rohtang Pass, three weeks in advance, for transporting essential supplies and relief materials to Lahaul and Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh.
Rohtang Pass
- It is a high mountain pass (elevation 3,980 m) on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas around 51 km from Manali.
- It connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India.
- The pass lies on the watershed between the Chenab and Beas basins.
- On the southern side of this pass, the Beas River emerges from underground and flows southward and on its northern side, the Chandra River, a source stream of the river Chenab, flows westward.
Another pass in new:
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
Agartala-Akhaura Railway Link
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Agartala-Akhaura Link
Mains level : Railway connectivity in NE states
The landmark Agartala-Akhaura railway line to connect the northeastern region with Bangladesh is expected to be ready by the end of 2021.
About Agartala-Akhaura Link
- MoU for Indo-Bangla Railway connectivity project viz. Agartala-Akhaura new Broad Gauge line (15.06 Km) was signed on 16.02.2013 between India and Bangladesh.
- The link will connect Gangasagar in Bangladesh to Nischintapur in India and from there to Agartala.
- The Project was at standstill because of the sharp increase in the cost of land for the sections in India.
- The Railway Ministry would bear the cost of laying the 5.46-km track on the Indian side and the cost of the 10.6-km track on the Bangladesh side was being borne by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
[pib] Draft National Logistics Policy
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : National Logistics Policy
Mains level : Logistics sector of India
The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry reviewed the draft National Logistics Policy and the proposed action plan for implementation of the policy prepared by the Department of Logistics, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The key feature of the draft policy
- The draft National Logistics Policy has been prepared in consultation with the Ministries of Railways, Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Civil Aviation.
- Forty-six Partnering Government Agencies (PGAs)
- Inputs were analysed in detail for consideration in the Policy.
- Vision and Objectives for Logistics in India: To drive economic growth and trade competitiveness of the country through a truly integrated, seamless, efficient, reliable and cost-effective logistics network, leveraging best in class technology, processes and skilled manpower.
- Key objectives of the national logistics policy: Given the pivotal role of the logistics sector in the development of the economy and the need to incorporate learnings from global best practices, the policy outlines an ambitious set of objectives.
The following are some of the key objectives for logistics in India, to be achieved in the next five years:
1. Creating a single point of reference for all logistics and trade facilitation matters in the country which will also function as a knowledge and information sharing platform
2. Driving logistics cost as a % of GDP down from estimated current levels of 13-14% to 10% in line with best-in-class global standards and incentivize the sector to become more efficient by promoting integrated development of logistics
Objectives of the Logistics Policy
- Creating a National Logistics e-marketplace as a one-stop marketplace. It will involve simplification of documentation for exports/imports and drive transparency through digitization of processes involving Customs, PGAs etc in regulatory, certification and compliance services
- Creating a data and analytics centre to drive transparency and continuous monitoring of key logistics metrics
- Encouraging industry, academia and government to come together to create a logistics Center of Excellence, and drive innovation in the logistics sector
- Creating and managing on an ongoing basis, an Integrated National Logistics Action Plan which will serve as a master plan for all logistics-related development.
- Providing an impetus to trade and hence economic growth by driving competitiveness in exports
- Doubling employment in the logistics sector by generating additional 10-15 million jobs and focus on enhancing skills in the sector and encouraging gender diversity
- Improve India’s ranking in the Logistics Performance Index to between 25 to 30
- Strengthening the warehousing sector in India by improving the quality of storage infrastructure including specialized warehouses across the country
- Reducing losses due to agri-wastage to less than 5% through effective agri-logistics
- Providing impetus to the MSME sector in the country through a cost-effective logistics network
- Promoting cross-regional trade on e-commerce platforms by enabling a seamless flow of goods
- Encouraging the adoption of green logistics in the country
Policy thrust areas
This policy defines the key thrust areas for logistics in India, which will be the focus of the relevant ministries as well as act as guidance to the state governments. The prioritized focus areas for logistics are detailed below:
- Focusing on critical projects to drive an optimal modal mix and to enable first mile and last-mile connectivity
- Driving the development of Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs)
- Driving interventions to reduce logistics cost and promote logistics efficiency for movement of key commodities
- Creating a single-window Logistics e-marketplace
- Setting up a Logistics Data and Analytics Center
- Creating a Center of Trade facilitation and Logistics excellence (CTFL) and leveraging the expertise of multilateral agencies
- Creating an Integrated National Logistics Action Plan and align with respective state development plans
- Support strengthening of the warehousing sector
- Enhancing transport and rolling stock infrastructure
- Streamlining EXIM processes to promote trade competitiveness
- Reducing dwell time for interstate cargo movement by road
- Promoting standardization in the logistics sector
- Ensuring seamless movement of goods at Land Customs Stations (LCS) and Integrated Check Points (ICP)
- Generating employment, enhancing skilling and encouraging gender diversity in the logistics sector
- Setting up a Startup acceleration fund
Funding for logistics initiatives
A non-lapsable Logistics fund will be created, to drive progress against the key thrust areas. The Logistics fund can be deployed for the following
- Providing viability gap funding for select MMLP projects, first and last-mile projects and projects for poorly-serviced remote areas.
- Incentivizing select logistics skilling programs and training institutes
- Setting up a start-up acceleration fund to incentivize the development of new technology in logistics particularly the farm to plate space
- Creating the Center for Trade Facilitation and Logistics Excellence (CTFL) Setting up a big data-enabled logistics data hub and analytics centre
- Creating a single-window logistics e-marketplace
Institutional Framework & Governance for Logistics
For this purpose, four committees/councils will be constituted:
- National Council for Logistics, chaired by the Prime Minister
- Apex inter-ministerial Committee, chaired by the Minister of Commerce and Industry
- India Logistics Forum chaired by the Commerce Secretary with representation from key industry/business stakeholders and academia.
- Empowered task force on logistics will be created, as a standing committee chaired by the head of the Logistics Wing.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : National Infrastructure Pipeline
Mains level : $5 trillion economy: Prospects and Challenges
Union Finance Minister has unveiled Rs 102 lakh crore of infrastructure projects, under National Infrastructure Pipeline. It will be implemented in the next five years as part of the government’s spending push in the infrastructure sector.
What is the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)?
- NIP includes economic and social infrastructure projects.
- During the fiscals 2020 to 2025, sectors such as Energy (24%), Roads (19%), Urban (16%), and Railways (13%) amount to around 70% of the projected capital expenditure in infrastructure in India.
- It has outlined plans to invest more than ₹102 lakh crore on infrastructure projects by 2024-25, with the Centre, States and the private sector to share the capital expenditure in a 39:39:22 formula.
Key benefits of NIP
- Economic: Well-planned NIP will enable more infra projects, grow businesses, create jobs, improve ease of living, and provide equitable access to infrastructure for all, making growth more inclusive.
- Government: Well-developed infrastructure enhances the level of economic activity, creates additional fiscal space by improving the revenue base of the government, and ensures the quality of expenditure focused in productive areas.
- Developers: Provides a better view of project supply, provides time to be better prepared for project bidding, reduces aggressive bids/ failure in project delivery, ensures enhanced access to sources of finance as a result of increased investor confidence.
- Banks/financial institutions (F1s)/investors: Builds investor confidence as identified projects are likely to be better prepared, exposures less likely to suffer stress given active project monitoring, thereby less likelihood of NPAs.
Is NIP a road to $5 trillion economy?
- Finance minister said that the Rs 102 lakh crore National Infrastructure Projects will help make India a $5 trillion economy by 2025.
- These projects are on top of Rs 51 lakh crore spent by the Centre and the states during the last six years.
- The new pipeline consists of 39 per cent projects each by the Centre and states and the balance by 22 per cent by private sector.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
Explained: FASTags
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : RFID technology
Mains level : FASTags
From December 1, lanes on NH toll plazas across India will accept toll only through FASTag. One hybrid lane will continue to accept cash in addition to being tag-enabled.
What is ‘FASTag’?
- FASTags are stickers that are affixed to the windscreen of vehicles and use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to enable digital, contactless payment of tolls without having to stop at toll gates.
- The tags are linked to bank accounts and other payment methods.
- As a car crosses a toll plaza, the amount is automatically deducted, and a notification is sent to the registered mobile phone number.
How does it work?
- The device employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it.
- It is affixed on the windscreen, so the vehicle can drive through plazas without stopping.
- RFID technology is similar to that used in transport access-control systems, like Metro smart card.
- If the tag is linked to a prepaid account like a wallet, or a debit/credit card, then owners need to recharge/top up the tag.
- If it is linked to a savings account, rthen money will get deducted automatically after the balance goes below a pre-defined threshold.
- Once a vehicle crosses the toll, the owner will get an SMS alert on the deduction. In that it is like a prepaid e-wallet.
How can one buy it?
- E-commerce portals like Amazon and PayTM sell these tags issued by various banks.
- Places, where these counters are set up, include Road Transport Authority offices, transport hubs, bank branches, and selected petrol pumps.
- A FASTag bought from NHAI comes with a one-time fee of Rs 100 besides a refundable security deposit of Rs 150.
- Apart from the currently free tags at NHAI booths, there is also a cashback of 2.5 per cent on FASTag transactions as an offer.
- In the tag taken from NHAI, the Rs 150 security deposit, which the government is bearing as a promotion, comes back to the user as wallet value if the FASTag is linked to the NHAI e-wallet in the “My FASTag app” mobile app.
- So in this particular scheme, the user gets Rs 150 back without even paying it.
Penalties
- A FASTag is valid for five years, and can be recharged as and when required.
- Vehicles entering FASTag lanes without FASTag will be charged twice the toll amount.
Will those living close to toll roads not end up paying more frequently?
- As per a government notification, users living within 10 km of a toll plaza can avail a concession on toll to be paid via FASTag.
- They need to submit proof of residence and nearest point-of-sale location to validate.
- Once the address is verified, the concession is ensured via FASTag affixed on the vehicle.
Is it working smoothly?
- The tags sold by banks are not “bank-neutral”.
- A FASTag bought from one bank can be recharged through that particular bank only and not through other banks.
- However, tags sold/distributed by NHAI are bank-neutral as one can use any bank account to recharge/top up the value in the tag.
What about state highways?
- Under a new “One Nation One FASTag” scheme, the NHAI is trying to get states on board so that one tag can be used seamlessly across highways, irrespective of whether it is the state or the Centre that owns/manages it.
- Recently as part of a pilot, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana signed MoUs with the Centre to accept FASTags in state highways also.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
Imphal to Mandalay flight service
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : About the flight
Mains level : Infrastructure facilities in NE India
Myanmar’s private airlines Air KBZ kicked off a chartered flight service from Manipur’s state capital Imphal to Myanmar’s second-largest city Mandalay.
About the flight service
- The service is a chartered flight service.
- Once it is regularised, then pricing and ticketing will become standardised.
- Imphal will become an important part of the international travel route.
What is the importance of this flight service?
- Mandalay is an important economic centre of Myanmar and the flight service is said to be benefiting both traders and tourists.
- The service is expected to transform the transportation network through Northeast India and boost the regional economy.
Other sources of connectivity to SE
- This year, Assam rolled out flight services from Guwahati to Bangkok and Dhaka.
- Guwahati is also connected to Paro in Bhutan.
- Government plans to connect Guwahati to capitals of other ASEAN countries soon by air.
- Manipur is already connected to Myanmar by road, as is Bangladesh to Meghalaya and Tripura.
- India’s access to Bangladesh’s Chittagong port via Tripura is in the pipeline, so is the completion of the Agartala-Akhaura international railway project that will connect Bangladesh railway track with North-East Frontier Railways.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
Rohtang Tunnel
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Rohang Tunnel
Mains level : Significance of the tunnel
The Rohtang Tunnel will become the world’s longest highway tunnel above 10,000 feet, after its inauguration in Sept 2020.
Rohtang Tunnel
- Rohtang Tunnel is a highway tunnel being built under the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas on the Leh-Manali Highway.
- At 8.8 km length, the tunnel will be one of the longest road tunnels in India and is expected to reduce the distance between Manali and Keylong by about 46 km.
- For now, the tunnel provides a temporary winter link to the outside world not only to residents of Lahaul and Spiti but also to those living in Zanskar Valley of Ladakh.
- While Rohtang Pass is at a height of 13,050 feet, the pass on the road to Leh is Baralacha La at 16,040 feet.
- An alternate road link to Ladakh has also been developed by BRO on the Darcha-Padam-Nimu axis, but here again a 4.15-km long tunnel at Sinka La Pass (16,703 feet) would be required for all-weather access.
Why delay?
- It would have been completed at least four years earlier, but for a massive torrent of water encountered inside the tunnel.
- The Seri Nullah, which flows on top of the tunnel, almost threatened to derail the project and it took several years to devise ways to tackle the massive flow of water that often went up to 140 litres per second.
Significance
- The project also has significant strategic implications for the military as it will allow access beyond Rohtang Pass even in peak winters.
- All-winter connectivity to Ladakh, however, is still some time away as more tunnels will have to be built to tackle the high passes which fall beyond Rohtang.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
[pib] First ever movement of container cargo on Brahmaputra (NW -2)
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : NW-2
Mains level : Infrastructure facilities in NE India
- The first cargo consignment will sail on National Waterway-2 from Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) to Pandu in Guwahati.
NW-2
- National Waterway 2 (NW-2) is a section of the Brahmaputra River having a length of 891 km between the Bangladesh border near Dhubri and Sadiya in Assam.
- It was declared as NW No. 2 on 1 September 1988.
- It has only one fixed terminals namely the Pandu Port while rest are floating which include Dhubri Port, Jogighopa, Tezpur, Silghat, Dibrugarh, Jamuguri, Bogibil, Saikhowa and Sadiya
Some facts
- NW-1 has witnessed healthy growth with the augmentation of navigation capacity of Ganga under Jal Marg Vikas Project.
- The traffic on NW-1 has grown from 5.48 million tonnes in 2017-18 to 6.79 million tonnes in 2018-19.
- Out of the total traffic of 6.79 million tonnes on NW-1, approximately 3.15 million tonnes is the EXIM trade between India and Bangladesh using the Indo Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) routes.
What is the Indo Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route?
- The Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) between India and Bangladesh allows mutually beneficial arrangements for the use of their waterways for movement of goods vessels of both countries.
- The IBP route extends from Kolkata (India) on NW-1 to Silghat (Assam) on NW-2 (River Brahmaputra) and Karimganj (Assam) on NW-16 (River Barak).
- In addition to the above, India and Bangladesh have taken major steps to enhance utilization of waterways in the recent past.
- An SOP to facilitate the movement of goods to and from India through Chittagong and Mongla Ports in Bangladesh has been signed by the two countries on 5th October 2019.
- The proximity of these two ports will reduce logistics cost and improve trade competitiveness of North East states.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
Chenani Nashari Tunnel renamed after Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Chenani Nashari Tunnel
Mains level : Not Much
- Union Ministry for Road Transport & Highways announced renaming of Chenani Nashri Tunnel on NH 44 in Jammu & Kashmir as Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel.
Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel
- This 9 km tunnel is the longest such state of art tunnel in the country, connecting Udhampur to Ramban in Jammu.
- The key features of the tunnel are — it is a single-tube bi-directional tunnel, with a 9.35-metre carriageway, and a vertical clearance of 5 metres.
- It cuts down 31 km of travel distance and reduces the travel time between the two points by about two hours, in addition to substantial saving in fuel cost.
- There is also a parallel escape tunnel, with ‘Cross Passages’ connecting to the main tunnel at intervals of 300 metres.
- It also has smart features such as an integrated traffic control system; surveillance, ventilation and broadcast systems; fire fighting system; and SOS call-boxes at every 150 metres.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
One Nation One FASTag Scheme
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : RFID technology
Mains level : One Nation One FASTag Scheme
- Minister of Road Transport and Highways inaugurated the scheme.
One Nation One FASTag scheme
- The ‘One Nation One FASTag’ scheme will be implemented from December 1.
- The plan aims to integrate the collection of toll digitally and ensure seamless mobility of vehicles across India.
- It can be availed upon activation by new cars having Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags on national and state highways throughout the country.
Why such scheme?
- At present, 60 lakh vehicles in India have FASTags.
- According to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), these devices will make passing through tolls considerably smoother since drivers will no longer have to carry cash or stop to make a transaction.
What is ‘FASTag’?
- FASTags are stickers that are affixed to the windscreen of vehicles and use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to enable digital, contactless payment of tolls without having to stop at toll gates.
- The tags are linked to bank accounts and other payment methods.
- As a car crosses a toll plaza, the amount is automatically deducted, and a notification is sent to the registered mobile phone number.
- Sensors are placed on toll barriers, and the barriers open for vehicles having valid FASTags.
- A FASTag is valid for five years and needs to be recharged only as per requirement.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
[op-ed snap] Taken for a ride: on India’s gender-blind transport system
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Nothing much
Mains level : Need for gender sensitive public transport
CONTEXT
A 2010 report by New-Delhi based NGO Jagori revealed that 51% of women in the capital faced harassment inside public transport, and another 42% while waiting for public transport.
Ola’s survey ahead of International Women’s Day 2019, highlighted how only 9% of the surveyed women commuters in the country felt safe in public transport, but still used it due to the lack of other options.
HOW TO MAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SAFE FOR ALL
- Rope in traffic police at large bus depots, MRTC railway stations
- Provide functional and responsive helplines
- Ensure elevators and escalators are functional
- Better footpaths and clean subways
- Create safe and usable cycling tracks
- Set up the gender advisory committee
- Most importantly, educate and sensitize men
Problems
- As per a 2017 report by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, women may turn down better employment opportunities further away from home in favor of lower-paid local jobs when the public transport system is unreliable or unaffordable
- This holds true especially for those belonging to lower-income groups, thus impacting their access to better jobs, education and basic necessities
- The report also states that over 84% of trips by women are by the public, intermediate public and non-motorised modes of transport
- Efforts to improve our crumbling public transport systems — used by a majority of the population — haven’t been addressed.
Motor Vehicles Bill 2019
- The bill provides some relief to passengers as far as app-based taxi-hailing services go
- It gives power to the Centre to regulate these services and set ground rules on safety and surge pricing, and get them to invest in customer care teams
- It points out issues of road safety, heftier fines for errant drivers, vehicle recall norms
- There’s no mention of better roads or infrastructure development
Unless we have gender-responsive plans for urban transport in place, our cities will be far from inclusive.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
National Warehousing Grid
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : National Warehousing Grid
Mains level : Need for National Warehousing Grid
- The government is likely to introduce warehousing schemes at village and National level to build an efficient storage infrastructure.
- A National Warehousing Grid along the National Highways may also be introduced in the Budget.
National Warehousing Grid
- The Centre’s scheme aims at broad integration of the warehousing capacities in India.
- Approximately 90% of the warehousing space is controlled by unorganised players, with small warehouses of less than 10,000 sq ft area.
- An action plan has already been approved by the Centre on sectoral basis for the construction of steel silos with a capacity of 100 lakh metric tonnes in PPP mode for modernizing storage infrastructure and improving shelf life of stored food grains.
Why need such scheme?
- Practically, much of the country’s warehousing capacity outside of the agri sector is in the unorganised sector, with small warehouses of less than 10,000 sq ft area.
- Currently, of the total warehousing space of about 180 million sq ft in the country, the industrial segment accounts for about 86% and the agricultural sector the rest 14%, according to NITI statistics.
- Two-thirds of the warehousing capacity in the food storage segment is owned by the public sector.
- Apart from conventional storing services, India’s warehousing capacity is increasingly being used to offer value-added services such as the consolidation and breaking up of cargo, packaging, labelling, bar coding and reverse logistics.
Plugging deficiencies
- The project is aimed at plugging deficiencies given that India’s current cold storage capacity at 25 MT is barely sufficient for 10% of the fruits and vegetables produced in the country.
- The lack of adequate storage infrastructure is an important reason for the high cost of food products and wastage.
- Nearly 60% of the modern warehousing capacity in India is concentrated in top six cities, namely Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR and Pune, with Hyderabad and Kolkata being the other major markets, according to Care Ratings.
- This trend is driven by the concentration of industrial activity and presence of sizeable urban population around these clusters.
Beneficiaries
- The prime beneficiaries of the new wave of growth in warehousing include peripheral locations of Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities.
- Much of the fresh investments would go into creating storage facilities for retail and consumer goods.
Forthcoming challenges
- The primary challenge that India’s warehousing market currently faces is acquisition of a feasible land parcel, given that land cost constitutes the largest component of a warehousing project.
- While rental values that a warehouse owner can charge are primarily driven by demand and supply factors, land prices are inherently dependent on multiple factors like development control regulations, infrastructure development and the best alternative usage of land.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
National Freight Index (NFI)
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : National Freight Index (NFI)
Mains level : Utility of NFI
- In its bid to bring transparency in the road-freight marketplace, Gurgaon-based logistics start-up Rivigo has launched National Freight Index (NFI).
National Freight Index (NFI)
- The NFI aims to provide live freight rates for different lanes and vehicles across the country.
- It gives live spot rates on over 7 million lane and vehicle type combinations in the country.
- It will bring a pricing transparency, in a system where the demand traditionally flows from transporters, brokers, fleet owners and then to drivers.
- The actual freight rates are in Indian rupee per ton-km and in terms of relative movement with respect to a base month, and would be updated in real time.
- It will also give historical spot price movements of the road freight industry.
How it’s computed?
- Rivigo has adopted machine-learning and economics powered pricing algorithms.
- The rates on the exchange and index are computed using millions of data points from historical transactions, current market dynamics, micro market insights and other factors.
Utility of NFI
- The Indian road freight market size is estimated at $150 billion-$160 billion, of which $130 billion-$140 billion is full-truck load (FTL) market, but it has been facing a growing challenge of shortage of truck drivers.
- There are high inefficiencies in the existing freight market, which leads to a great loss of value.
- Nobody wants to be a truck driver anymore and the country could face a 50% shortage of truck drivers by 2023.
- Logistics account for nearly 14% of India’s GDP and 70% of it comes from road transportation.
- But, there is no pricing transparency and working conditions of drivers is deplorable.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
Traffic Index 2018
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : About the index
Mains level : Vehicular Traffic in India
- A recent study has ranked Mumbai as the most traffic-congested city in the world for the second straight year, and Delhi at fourth place.
Traffic Index 2018
- The findings published are part of the Traffic Index 2018 published by TomTom, an Amsterdam-based company.
- It offers traffic solutions, uses location technology to collect traffic information, and has been publishing city rankings for eight years.
- The index factors for peak hours, accidents, inclement weather, construction work and all other factors likely to cause disruptions.
- The latest index ranks 403 cities across 56 countries, including 13 new cities.
Defining Congestion
- For this study, congestion has been defined in terms of the additional time taken to reach a destination as opposed to when the road would have been clear of traffic.
- Mumbai’s 2018 congestion level of of 65%, therefore, means that the extra travel time is 65% more than an average trip would take during uncongested conditions.
- For Delhi, by the same yardstick, the extra travel time is 58% more.
Around the world
- Nearly 75% of the cities part of the 2018 index had increased or stable congestion levels between 2017 and 2018, with only 90 cities showing measurable decreases, states the report.
- Congestion in Jakarta, for example, decreased by 8 percentage points while that in Lima rose by the same number of points.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
[op-ed snap] Highway hurdle: the Chennai-Salem corridor
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Bharatmala
Mains level : Projects are hurriedly being implemented without much concern for environment.
CONTEXT
The Madras High Court verdict quashing land acquisition proceedings for the proposed Chennai-Salem greenfield expressway is an indictment of the arbitrary decision-making process behind the project.
Impact of Court’s Verdict
- The court has referred to how “peaceful protests were stifled, unwritten gag orders were promulgated, [and] police force was used to handle the peaceful protesters who were making a request to spare them and their lands”.
- It was only after the court intervened that “these high-handed actions subsided”.
- It invalidated the notification for intent to acquire land for the project on the ground that the National Highways Authority of India cannot acquire land without complying with the requirement of preparing an environment impact assessment report
- Need For Environment Impact Assessment and clearance – The decision is important for affirming the principle that environmental clearance ought to be obtained before any project is allowed to advance to a stage where measures become irreversible.
- It underscores that sufficient data on the possible harm to the environment is needed before resources are committed to a project.
- In this case, not only would land titles be transferred to the state; heavy compensation amounts would also have been paid by the time the environmental impact is known.
Haste in implementing infra projects
- The project was pushed by the Centre and the State even though it was set to pass through wetlands, fertile farmlands, reserve forests and waterbodies.
- Farmers who stood to lose their land and environmentalists had questioned the claim that by reducing the transit time, there would be saving of fuel, thereby cutting the carbon footprint.
- What has been exposed in the verdict is that the eight-lane corridor was never really cleared as a project under the Centre’s Bharatmala Pariyojana.
- No deliberation on the project – It did not figure in the list of road projects approved under Bharatmala-I. The NHAI did not explain in its counter-affidavit how the Chennai-Madurai highway, an approved project, was dropped and the Chennai-Salem project included in its place.
- The court examined the record and found that there was nothing to show that it was approved by either the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs or the Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee; the Chennai-Tiruchi-Madurai corridor had much higher vehicular traffic to justify its inclusion in Bharatmala.
- The court’s conclusion that labelling its replacement by the Salem project as a ‘policy decision’ was not a sufficient explanation is unexceptionable.
Conclusion
Having failed to convince the court that the procedures it followed were above board, the least that the Centre can now do is to make a comprehensive study of its impact on the environment and on farming and rural livelihoods before moving ahead.
Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : NIIF
Mains level : Government initiatives for reviving infrastructure sector and providing required capital to the sector.
News
- Roadis, a private investor and operator of transport infrastructure worldwide and the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) have jointly set up a platform to invest in road projects in India.
Platform for Road projects in India
- The platform would invest up to $2 billion of equity targeting toll-operate-transfer models, acquisitions of existing road concessions and investment opportunities in the road sector.
- With 710 km of highways under ownership and management, Roadis is one of the largest European highway concession managers in India.
- Roadis is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Sector Pension Investment Board, one of Canada’s largest pension funds.
About NIIF
- National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is a fund created by the Government of India for enhancing infrastructure financing in the country.
- This is different from the National Investment Fund.
- Objective: to maximize economic impact mainly through infrastructure development in commercially viable projects, both greenfield and brownfield, including stalled projects.
- NIIF was proposed to be set up as a Trust, to raise debt to invest in the equity of infrastructure finance companies such as Indian Rail Finance Corporation (IRFC) and National Housing Bank (NHB).
- NIIF is envisaged as a fund of funds with the ability to make direct investments as required. As a fund of fund it may invest in other SEBI registered funds.
- The functions of NIIF are as follows:
- Fund raising through suitable instruments including off-shore credit enhanced bonds, and attracting anchor investors to participate as partners in NIIF;
- Servicing of the investors of NIIF.
- Considering and approving candidate companies/institutions/ projects (including state entities) for investments and periodic monitoring of investments.
- Investing in the corpus created by Asset Management Companies (AMCs) for investing in private equity.
- Preparing a shelf of infrastructure projects and providing advisory service
Table of Contents
Challenges, opportunities & criticism of the Real Estate Regulatory Bill 2016
The Real Estate Regulatory Bill, 2016 is being hailed as a much-needed step to reform the real estate sector. It will help regulate the sector and bring in clarity for both buyers and developers.
What was the need for regulation in the real estate?
- The real estate sector has some issues such as a lengthy process for project approvals, lack of clear land titles, and prevalence of black money
- There wasn’t complete transparency as far as govt approvals were concerned
- There were also instances when projects were sold without adequate clearances
- The delayed projects, sometimes by up to 6 years and arbitrary changes in layout plans are rampant in the sector
How does the Bill seeks to regulate the sector?
The basic thrust of this Bill is to regulate the delivery of projects to home buyers. It provides them a legal safeguard for their investment, and seeks to address timely delivery of houses. It seeks to enforce the contract between the developer and buyer and act as a fast track mechanism to settle disputes
- It establishes state level regulatory authorities called Real Estate Regulatory Authorities (RERA)
- The Bill establishes state level tribunals called Real Estate Appellate Tribunals. Decisions of RERAs can be appealed in these tribunals
- It makes mandatory the disclosure of all information for registered projects like details of promoters, layout plan, land status, schedule of execution and status of various approvals
- The Bill prohibits a developer from changing the plan in a project unless two-thirds of the allottees have agreed for such a change
- It says that builders must specify the time-frame for completion of projects and stick to it, or be ready to pay penalties
- The Bill mandates that 70% of the amount collected from buyers of a project be used only for construction of that project < This provision will effectively allow developers to continue their practice of diverting funds collected for a project towards land acquisition or other projects, and will work in their favour by also allowing them to grow their land and/or project portfolio>
How will the Real Estate Regulatory Authorities help improve the sector?
- Residential real estate projects need to be registered with RERAs, except few
- Promoters cannot book or offer these projects for sale without registering them
- Real estate agents dealing in these projects also need to register with RERAs
- On registration, the promoter need to provide details of the project to the RERA
Challenges ahead
- The Bill will make life difficult for builders, as they would face more red-tapeism now, especially in procuring relevant approvals.
- This Bill does not address the developers demand of a single-window clearance from the govt
- The implementation of the Bill is up to the states, it leaves builders with greater chances of being harassed
Impact
- Timely completion of projects would lead to a steady increase in supply of homes
- It is expected that these measures will eventually bring down home prices and increase demand
- It will be good for the overall economy too, as the housing sector has strong backward (cement, steel and other building material industries) and forward (furniture and furnishings, interior decoration, electrical and electronics) linkages with other industries
- More number of job creation in the economy
Criticism
- The builder lobbies argued that the bill should have a time-frame for municipal and other authorities to give timely approvals, because the delay in approvals lead to delays in handing over possession of apartments
- In terms of pricing, which is governed by circle rates, it will be difficult to monitor
Future
- The states’ support for faster clearances to projects will be required to make this Bill successful
- Govt is also trying to bring in a National Urban Rental Housing Policy, which would take into account the requirements of tenancy hassles in modern days
Published with inputs from Pushpendra
Sagarmala Project: Smart ports for Blue Revolution in India
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Modi, on March,2015 gave its ‘in-principle’ approval for the concept and institutional framework of Sagarmala Project. Let’s take a glance on it.
What’s the prime objective of Sagarmala?
The prime objective of the Sagarmala project is to promote port-led direct and indirect development and to provide infrastructure to transport goods to and from ports quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively.
What’s the current issue and background of ports in India?
- At present there are around 200 ports (small and big) in the country, of these, only 12 are major ports which are government owned ports, which handle about 58% of sea-borne traffic.
- These major ports operate as Trusts under the Major Ports Trust Act, 1963, except for the Port of Ennore, which is a company under the Companies Act.
- There are legacy issues with these govt owned major ports, they do not keep pace with emerging technology, requirements of international trade, emerging trends in containerisation, flexible rules, size of ships etc.
Which are the 12 Major Ports ?
These are Kolkata (including Dock Complex at Haldia), Visakhapatnam, Chennai, V.O. Chidambaranar (Tuticorin), Cochin, New Mangalore, Mormugao, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Mumbai, Kandla and Ennore.
Just, Look back into the history?
In 2003, then PM Vajpayee proposed Project Sagarmala with following features:
- Setup Sagarmala Development Authority (Similar to National highway authority of India).
- It will get money via Maritime development cess. (5 paise per kg on cargo).
- It will improve ports, shipping industry, inland water transport, coastal shipping.
- PPP and FDI to gather more investment.
Then, which are the Key pillars to achieve Smart-development ?
- Supporting and enabling Port-led Development through appropriate policy and institutional interventions.
- Providing for an institutional framework for ensuring inter-agency and states’ collaboration for integrated development.
- Port Infrastructure Enhancement, including modernization and setting up of new ports.
- Efficient Evacuation to and from hinterland.
What are some of the measures to make Smart Ports?
- Ports should be registered as Companies under Companies Act.
- The port administration should only look after the provisions of infrastructure and safety and not day-to-day running of the port
- There is still no regulation to control the trade practices.
- Hence, there is a dire need to introduce a regulatory architecture that takes care of ex-ante declaration of rates of services.
Then, what’s the plan to implement such a vast initiative?
- For a comprehensive and integrated planning for “Sagarmala”, a National Perspective Plan (NPP) for the entire coastline shall be prepared within six months.
- It will identify potential geographical regions to be called Coastal Economic Zones (CEZ).
- While preparing the NPP, synergy and integration with planned Industrial Corridors, Dedicated Freight Corridors, National Highway Development Programme, Industrial Clusters and SEZs would be ensured.
What are the suggestions for effective mechanism at state level?
- Set up State Sagarmala Committee to be headed by CM / Minister in Charge of Ports.
- Sagarmala Coordination and Steering Committee (SCSC) shall be constituted under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary and others.
- This Committee will provide coordination between ministries, state governments and agencies connected with implementation and review the progress of implementation of the National Perspective Plan.
How does it ensure the sustainable development in CEZ?
- This would be done by synergising and coordinating with State Governments and line Ministries of Central Government through their existing programmes.
- Such as those related to community and rural development, tribal development and employment generation, fisheries, skill development, tourism promotion etc.
- In order to provide funding for such projects and activities that may be covered by departmental schemes a separate fund by the name ‘Community Development Fund’ would be created.
What’s the role of Institutional Framework ?
- It has to provide for a coordinating role for the Central Government.
- It should provide a platform for central, state governments and local authorities to work in tandem and coordination under the established principles of cooperative federalism.
What’s the role of NSAC?
A National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC) is envisaged for overall policy guidance and high level coordination, and to review various aspects of planning and implementation of the plan and projects.
So, Is it Good to have smart ports on the line of Smart Cities?
Can you answer some questions?
#1. Can you examine the bottlenecks in Indian port infrastructure and list the initiative taken in recent times to address this issue?
#Q.2 Indian port infrastructure can be revamped by Sagarmala project by effective management? critically comment.
Published with inputs from Arun