Indian Infra Hub Newsletter: Toll collection Surpass pre-COVID levels, Air travel To Do Soon, Tax Relief For Home Buyers & Developers, And Much More!

November 20, 2020

Dear Reader,

Greetings from India Infra Hub,

As this week has seen some important developments, related to economy and infrastructure related investments, wherein, PM Modi pitched Atmanirbgar Bharat to 20 of top global investors, and government has fast tracked 50 major infra projects to stimulate demand in pandemic hit economy, despite bleak times, India has not given up its attempts to mobilise global supply chains towards India, we provide more news and details throughout the newsletter.

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 for metro rail transit in India.

As several sectors grow back inching towards pre-COVID levels, we bring you all events in Railway, Roads, Aviation, Energy, Transport and Affordable housing sectors, our takes and expert commentaries on daily infrastructure events composed.

Railways

Habibganj Railway Station Redevelopment To Be Completed By Year End; Watch Video Of World-Class Modern Station

Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC) and the Bhopal-based Bansal Group are redeveloping the Habibganj station.

According Railway Ministry, the Habibganj railway station, once redeveloped and modernized, will boast spectacular architecture, splendid look, world-class amenities and facilities. The upgraded airport-like railway station is likely to be ready by this year end, reports Financial Express. (read full article)

IRCTC, GMR And L&T Among 16 Players Qualify For Next Stage Bidding In Private Train Operation Project

Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC) and the Bhopal-based Bansal Group are redeveloping the Habibganj station.

Tejas Service Comes To A Screeching Halt Amid Unabated Pandemic

Low occupancy and mass cancellation have forced the Tejas Express, the first train service to be operated privately by Indian Railway Catering And Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC), to stop operation as the coronavirus continues to play havoc.

While the Lucknow-New Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express will remain cancelled from November 23 and Ahmedabad-Mumbai-Ahmedabad will remain cancelled from November 24 due to the less demand, there are about 700 trains including holiday specials are operational facilitating passengers movement across the country. (read full article)

Suburban Rail System For Bangalore Gets Traction

Bangaloreans can look forward to some relief from the severe traffic congestion as the much sought after suburban rail project in the city gets Karnataka Cabinet’s administrative approval for contribution of its share in the mega initiative.

The Centre had earlier in October approved the Bengaluru suburban rail project, estimated to cost around Rs 18,621 crore, and fulfilled a long-pending demand of the IT city.(read full article)

Indian Railways Upgrades Tracks At 8 Sections In Karnataka, Trains To Run At 110 Kmph

South Western Railway (SWR) has upgraded eight sections of tracks where trains can now travel at speed of 110 Kmph in state in Karnataka.

South Western Railway released a press statement, wherein it said, in a strive to routes faster and reduce travel time, tracks have been upgraded, meeting all requirements such as, correction of transition length, increase in super elevation at curves, attending points and crossings with track machine UNIMAT has been attained. (read full article)

Food Truck At Pune Rail Station To Offer A Quick Bite

Offering varied choices of menu to suit all taste buds, the first ever food truck of Indian Railways has been launched at Pune railway station.

Vada Pav fans in Pune can now grab a quick bite without leaving the station as the Jumbo King, one of India’s most trusted QSR brands, setting up the food truck in rail premises with Indian Railways Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC), taking over the task of facility management at Pune station. (read full article)

Make In India: Alstom Makes 500th Metro Car At Sri City Factory

Alstom’s Sri city factory which was envisaged as part of “Make in India” has been manufacturing metro cars for metro projects in India and other cities in world, has just completed its 500^th metro car production.

As per details by Alstom, Sri city factory is its biggest urban rolling stock manufacturing factory in Asia Pacific Region, which delivers to metro projects in Mumbai, Lucknow, Chennai, Kochi and other cities in world such as Sydney in Australia and Montreal in Canada. (read full article)

All Decks Cleared For Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project As Karnataka Cabinet Approves Borrowing Of Rs 7,438 Crore

Paving the way for the formal commencement of the project, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa led BJP government on Thursday (Oct 12) provided approval for borrowing ₹7,438 crore for the Bengaluru suburban railway project, which is being implemented jointly by the Centre and the State.

The funds will be borrowed by a special purpose vehicle — Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K–RIDE) — that has been constituted to implement the project, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J.C. Madhuswamy told presspersons after the meeting. (read full article)

Coach Upgradation Work In Abeyance As Railway Earnings Hit All Time Low

Facing the cash crunch, railways has kept several sanctioned works worth Rs 2700 cr related to coaches on hold as passenger earnings dwindled to 10 per cent of pre-Covid days.

Though freight operation is going on full throttle, not many passenger-carrying trains are in service due to the pandemic situation affecting the revenue badly. (read full article)

Road & Urban Mobility

Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway: NHAI Invites Bids For First Package Of The 263-Kms-Long Stretch

In a positive development, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) starts work on the landmark 263 kilometres long four-lane expressway between Bengaluru and Chennai, reports Times of India.

NHAI has invited bids for the building of a package under the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway and the work on the same is expected to begin by February or March 2021. The entire project has been broken down into ten packages and is aimed to be completed by March 2024. (read full article)

Highway Toll Collections In November Surpass Pre COVID-19 Levels And Mandatory FASTag From January 2021

Toll collections at highways has surpassed pre-COVID levels, collections were at 114 per cent of collections at the beginning of the year, reported ET.

This sign the sharper recovery of traffic movement on national highways, adding to toll collection, this will help NHAI plan their project awarding better and stable source of revenue. (read full article)

Norms For Hybrid Annuity Model Relaxed To Attract More Concessionaires

In the recent move government relaxed norms of government aid for projects under Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) model, government will now pay in 10 instalments against 5 as earlier, up to 40 per cent of total project cost.

This move to increase number of instalments to make frequent capital available to concessionaires is aimed to increase HAM more attractive, while its share in overall projects awarded has dropped to 28 per cent in 2019-20, from 55 per cent in 2016-17. (read full article)

National Highway Projects Gather Steam Despite Covid

Despite the Covid pandemic situation, the overall road construction in the past seven months is nearly 90% of last year while the pace for award of National Highway projects have almost doubled in this period as compared to the corresponding months last year.

According to the Road Transport Ministry, the highway award has touched 5,679 km in the past seven months compared to 2,982 km during last year. (read full article)

13th Urban Mobility Conference: Urban Mobility Patterns To Change Post COVID-19, Says Hardeep Singh Puri

Hardeep Singh Puri speaking at 13^th Urban Mobility Conference in Delhi, said that COVID-19 will lead to shifts in urban mobility patterns, and this will give an opportunity to align our urban transport systems towards long term development goals.

The theme of the conference he was speaking at was, “Emerging trends in Urban mobility”. (read full article)

Delhi Metro To Provide Real-Time Data On Waiting Time During Peak Hours At Select Stations

DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) will provide real time data during peak hours for average waiting time for few select stations.

The peak hours include morning 8:10 am to 10:30 am and evening 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm for the following 10 stations. (read full article)

Aviation, Ports & Finance

Hardeep Singh Puri: Air Travel Will Return To Pre-COVID Levels By End Of 2020

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said air travel in terms of passenger activity will return to pre-COVID levels as early as late December to early January period, while speaking at The Deccan Dialogue Event at Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.

Emphasizing at the air travel recovery happening, he said, airlines started operating from May 25 after lockdown was announced, with mere 30,000 passengers per day, and just couple of days before Diwali airlines carried 2.25 lakh passengers per day. (read full article)

PM Modi Inaugurates Ro-Pax Ferry Service Between Hazira And Ghogha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday flagged off a Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira (near Surat) and Ghogha in Bhavnagar district, Gujrat, via video conference.

Speaking at the Virtual event, Modi expressed that people of Gujrat have received their Diwali gift, this ferry service will benefit everyone, will boost connectivity and economic connectivity. (read full article)

Atmanirbhar 3.0: Income Tax Relief For Developers And Home Buyers, & More Stimulus Worth Rs. 2,64,000 Crore Announced

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today announced a series of stimulus Packages worth Rs. 2,64,000 crore under Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0.

Wherein this, income tax relief for property developers and home buyers for residential property valued up 2 crores will be provided. (read full article)