Dear Reader,
New Year Greetings from India Infra Hub,
As we step into 2021, budget session is only few weeks far promising huge boost to infrastructure, the omens are already seen in government’s action now, cabinet approved Multi-modal Logistics and Transport Hub in Noida, UttarPradesh building India’s biggest expressway, Coal production capacity to grow and more, bringing more infrastructure development news to you every week.
And, further nudging you with niche analysis and deep insights into various sectors of Indian infrastructure, we are launching our first infrastructure exclusive print and e-magazine. our first magazine looks at Metro rail systems in India, current developments and envisions a future of metro rail transit in India cities.
Interviews & Top-Commentaries
UP Is Building The Longest Expressway Network In The Country. Meet Awanish Awasthi, The Man Steering This Mega Project To The Finish Line
– by Prakhar Gupta
When Yogi Adityanath came to power in 2017, Uttar Pradesh had two functional expressways — the 165-kilometre-long Yamuna Expressway, which links Agra with the National Capital Region, and the Lucknow-Agra Expressway, stretching 302 km. These projects were completed over a period of nine years between 2008 and 2017.
But when it completes five years in office in 2022, less than 15 months from now, the Yogi Adityanath government would have finished work on three expressways — the 340-km-long Purvanchal Expressway, the 296-km-long Bundelkhand Expressway and the 91-km-long Gorakhpur Link Expressway. Work on the state’s sixth and longest, the 594-km-long Ganga Expressway, would have begun by then. (read full article)
Why 2021 May Be Even More Turbulent Than 2020 For India’s Airlines
– by Satyerndra Pandey
The coronavirus pandemic continues to haunt airlines. With demand at an all-time low, down by over 70 per cent of previous levels, airlines the world over are set to book over $120 billion in losses.
Quarantine measures continue and international travel has several restrictions. While domestic traffic for some countries has shown signs of revival, it does not quite translate into breaking even, let alone profitability.
For India’s airlines which were facing challenges even prior to the pandemic, 2020 has effectively wiped out several years of growth and the path has been anything but smooth. Yet, 2021 may be even more turbulent than 2020.(read full article)
Railway & Road
Modi Led CCEA Approves Multi-Modal Logistics Hub At Greater Noida, And Industrial Corridor At Krishnapatnam & Tumakuru
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved three projects concerning industrial and trade development, multi-modal logistics hub (MMLH) and multi-mode transport (MMTH) hub at Noida in Uttar Pradesh, and industrial corridor in Krishnapatnam and Timakuru.
The approved projects are proposed by Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade Promotion worth Rs. 7,725 crores, MMLH and MMTH costs Rs. 3,883 crore, Industrial corridor at Krishnapatnam and Tumakaru costs Rs. 2,139crore and 1,701 crore respectively, said Minister Prakash Javadekar. (read full article)
Revamped E-Ticketing Site Offers One Stop Solution For Train Travelers
In what could be described as a New Year gift for passengers, the Railways has upgraded its e-ticketing site by providing one stop solution for the needs of the traveller.
The revamped site managed by the IRCTC, the ticketing arm of Indian Railways, has added user personalization features linked to user login incorporated for the first time ever offering service such as the booking of meals, retiring rooms and hotels has been integrated and can be directly along with the tickets,
IRCTC has undertaken the exercise to enhance the booking experience of the rail users with simplifying the train search and selection by putting the information on one page to reduce the time used by passengers. (read full article)
Big Boost For The Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor As Union Cabinet Approves Construction Of Greenfield Nodes At Krishnapatnam And Tumakuru
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved proposals for construction of industrial corridor nodes at Krishnapatnam Industrial Area in Andhra Pradesh at an estimated cost of the project of Rs. 2,139.44 crore and Tumakuru Industrial Area in Karnataka at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,701.81 crore
The establishment of industrial corridor nodes at Krishnapatnam Industrial Area in Andhra Pradesh and Tumakuru Industrial Area in Karnataka is expected to provide a big boost to the upcoming Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor Project. (read full article)
Railways Complete 180 Kmph Speed Trial Of Vistadome Coach
Adding muscles to Atma Nirbhar Bharat Mission, Indian Railway has completed successful speed trials of the new design Vistadome tourist coaches made at Chennai’s Integral Coach Factory.
With the aim of providing world class modern travelling experience, the Vistadome coach has large glass windows, glass roof, observation lounge and rotatable seats allowing passengers to experience breathtakingly beautiful locations and sites enroute the journey. (read full article)
Coal India To Invest Rs. 3,370 Crore In Developing 21 Railway Sidings To Transport Coal
Coal India Ltd. (CIL) will invest Rs. 3,370 crore to develop 21 greenfield and brownfield sidings in four of its subsidiaries, in efforts to strengthen rail infrastructure.
CIL already has 152 rail sidings, this development will take tally to 173 sidings by 2024.
CIL aims to transport one billion tonne of coal per year by 2024, and intends to move bulk of coal by rail, and is ramping up rail evacuation facilities. (read full article)
Railways To Adopt Homegrown TCAS Technology To Prevent Accidents
Shifting the strategy, Indian Railways would go for indigenously developed accident prevention system instead of costlier European technology to ensure passengers’ safety in train journey.
Leading from the front in the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign, the national transporter has now decided to install Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), an indigenously built technology, while discarding the earlier plan for ETCS Level-2 in the rail network.(read full article)
PM To Inaugurate Bhaupur-Khurja Section Of Dedicated Freight Corridor On December 29
Launching one of the largest rail infrastructure projects, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the ‘New Bhaupur- New Khurja section’ of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) tomorrow (December 29).
Built at a cost of Rs 5,750 crores, the 351 km New Bhaupur- New Khurja section of EDFC in Uttar Pradesh will open new vistas of opportunity for the local industries such as aluminium industry (Pukhrayan region of Kanpur Dehat district), dairy sector (Auraiya district), textile production/block printing (Etawah district), glassware industry (Firozabad district), pottery products (Khurja of Bulandshahr district), asafoetida or ‘hing’ production (Hathras district) and locks and hardware (Aligarh district). (read full article)
Affordable Housing & Urban Transport
PM Modi To Launch Global Housing Technology Challenge Tomorrow; 6 Companies To Build Over 6000 Houses In 6 Cities Using State-Of-The-Art Construction Tech In Shortest Time-Frame
In a move that will provide the country a basket of new technologies to build cost effective houses in a compressed time-frame, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC)-India on January 1, 2021 through video conferencing.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) initiated the Global Housing Technology Challenge- India (GHTCIndia) with the objective to identify and mainstream a basket of innovative construction technologies from across the globe for housing construction sector that are sustainable, eco-friendly and disaster-resilient. (read full article)
PM Modi Unveils Global Housing Technology Challenge: To Use New Technology In Developing Light Affordable Housing
Leading to a new era in the construction technology in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation of six Light House Projects (LHPs) as part of Global Housing Technology Challenge – India (GHTC -India) initiative, in six States across the country through
video conference.
About 1,000 houses at each location are to be constructed in a year, using six distinct technologies from a basket of 54 such technologies shortlisted under the GHTC-India, 2019.. (read full article)
Validity Of Vehicular Documents Like DLs, RCs Extended Till March-End
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has extended the validity of vehicular documents like DLs, RCs, Permits etc till March 31, 2021 in the light of need to prevent spread of Covid -19.
The Ministry has issued a directory to the States and Union Territory administrations in this regard.
MoRTH had earlier issued advisories dated March 30, 2020, June 9, 2020 and Aug 24, 2020 regarding extension of validity of documents related to Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989.
It was advised that the validity of Fitness, Permit (all types), License, Registration or any other concerned document(s) may be treated to be valid till December 31, 2020. (read full article)
Other Reads
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Role of infrastructure in promoting SDG 9 in India’s Northeast– ORF
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Delhi Metro joins elite global club as it introduces driverless trains, all eyes on smooth ops on Magenta Line – Financial Express
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Bengaluru’s wishlist for 2021 – The Hindu
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KKR to float private InvIT in bid to house renewable assets– Live Mint
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