Nath promises overhaul of road & highway sector

May 30, 2009

In what could be seen as strong indications of an overhaul in the working of road transport and highway sector, new minister Kamal Nath on Friday made it clear that he would go for wholesome changes in the ministry to put road construction back in top gear.

After taking charge of the ministry, Nath said his focus would be on implementation of projects on the ground rather than making big plans — a clear indication that the sector will get a major boost.

“Sadkon ko napi jaati hai, plans ko nahin (roads are measured and not the plans). Lot of thought has been given to planning in the past two years. Now we have to deliver. Performance is evaluated on the basis of kilometres of roads that are built. Now our agenda is of change. The system has to be overhauled so that work on the ground happens. Planning has to be delivered on roads,” he told reporters.

Nath, who was shifted from commerce and industry to road transport and highways, said he was “excited” about his new portfolio. He said he was looking forward to a challenge and he had got one.

On highway projects under public private partnership (PPP) model finding lukewarm response from private developers, the minister said, “Models which are not working have to be done away with and we need to adopt models which can attract investors. Moreover, just awarding the work is not just enough. We have to ensure progress is made on the ground.”

Spelling out his approach to bring the key infrastructure sector back on track, the minister said he was looking at structural changes in the system and procedures to make it result oriented. “Some of the old regulatory frameworks relating to transportation like multiple permit and Motor Vehicles Act have to be looked at from new perspectives. Old laws have to be amended,” he said.

Ministers of state Mahadev Khandela and R P N Singh also assumed charge on Friday.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Construction, Highway, Infrastructure, Investment and Finance

Nath promises action on roads

May 30, 2009

Once the high-profile commerce minister making India’s voice heard at global trade fora, Kamal Nath is now tasked with putting the country’s teetering highway projects on track. The surface transport ministry had drawn criticism for slippage in project implementation and delay in awarding contracts , but the new minister says actions will speak for themselves . Excerpts from an interview:

What will be the key focus areas of the new government?

In the past, there has been enough planning. Now thoughts have to be transformed into action. We have to ensure that the system and platforms are workable. Performance has to be measured not in terms of plans, but actual work. Things have to be looked at in a new way. In a few weeks, a new model will be found so that India can build the highest number of road kilometres. We have to see that all the outlays are utilised. A successful plan is that which is converted into action.

There have been talks of roads as a stimulus to the economy…

The greater the outlay on construction of roads, the greater the impetus to the economy. If you look at the development of countries like China, Japan and those in Europe, it is all based on their roads and other major infrastructure. There could be better airports but without good roads it doesn’t help much. Along with highways, rural roads too have to be given proper attention.

Earlier, there were delays on the part of the government… but a big hurdle was the paucity of cash owing to the impacts of the financial slowdown, which too delayed project implementation…

We will meet all the states in a month’s time to remove the bottlenecks . Some old regulatory frameworks on transportation such as multiple permit and others have to be reviewed . We are looking at new models . We will look at new ways of capital inflow.

Source: economictimes.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Construction, Infrastructure, Investment and Finance

Kapsch TrafficCom delivers 30,000 transponder units for the Eazy Pass electronic toll system in Ireland

September 12, 2008

Kapsch TrafficCom AG has secured an order for the first Eazy Pass electronic toll system in Dublin. The company has satisfied the particularly demanding criteria of Eazy Pass and is to supply 30,000 transponder units (or tags for short) to Ireland. Eazy Pass will be used on the new M50 toll route in Dublin. The system will also allow barrier-free driving throughout Ireland. Eazy Pass enables electronic payment at all Irish toll stations, without the need to stop.

The latest order for Kapsch TrafficCom comes from Ireland. The Kapsch TrafficCom subsidiary Kapsch TrafficCom Ltd. is to supply 30,000 transponder units to Dublin. These will be used in the first electronic toll system Eazy Pass on the new M50 toll route in Dublin. Eazy Pass is now also accepted on the N4/N6 Kilcock-Kinnegad, N8 Fermoy Bypass, Dublin Port Tunnel, East-Link and M1 Dundalk Western Bypass. Within the scope of this order, Kapsch will supply transponder units for passenger cars and tags for goods vehicles.

“We have worked with Kapsch TrafficCom since we pioneered electronic tolling in Ireland. Kapsch is our principle technology supplier and a real key partner. We are therefore very pleased that Kapsch TrafficCom has been able to meet our requirements in order to support us in what is a particularly important step towards the expansion of electronic tolling in Ireland,” explains Dermot MacEvilly, CEO of Eazy Pass.

Vienna, 12th September 2008

For further information:
Brigitte Herdlicka
Public Relations & Sponsoring
Kapsch Group
Phone: +43 (0) 50 811 1705
A-1120 Vienna, Wagenseilgasse 1
E-mail: [email protected]
www.kapschtraffic.com
www.kapsch.net

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Infrastructure, Investment and Finance, Kapsch, Press Release

Kapsch TrafficCom delivers Toll Systems for Urban Motorways in Bangkok

September 4, 2008

Kapsch TrafficCom impresses yet again with a new project in Asia: The company is constructing modern toll systems for three of the largest motorways in Bangkok. Kapsch TrafficCom Sweden will be working with two Thai companies under the joint venture FKS. The order for more than 55 kilometres of motorway in total will be completed in August 2009. Its worth is estimated at 8.5 million euros.

Kapsch TrafficCom delivers Toll Systems for Urban Motorways in Bangkok

(Signing of contract – Christer Weiner, Kapsch TrafficCom Sweden, together with the Thai partners and customers)

As from autumn 2009, visitors to Bangkok will be escorted on their journey into the centre of the city by Austrian toll equipment. For Kapsch TrafficCom was able to notch up an order recently to fit out three large motorways in Bangkok. More specifically, the company will install the system by order of the Expressway & Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (EXAT), in cooperation with the two Thai companies Fatima Group and Smart Traffic Co Ltd – as FKS Joint Venture. The Chalerm Maha Nakhon Expressway (consisting of three sections with a total length of 27.1 kilometres), the Chalong Rat Expressway (six-lane with a length of 18.7 km) and the Ramindra Outer Ring Project (with a total length of 9.5 kilometres) are set to be equipped with toll systems.

“Kapsch TrafficCom has repeatedly been successful in Asia. By replacing the 8-year old equipment and upgrading the electronic toll system, the flow of traffic on these three motorways will be sped up and traffic jams will to a large extent be avoided. This was possible primarily because of the extensive expertise of our employees and due to our many years of experience on the Asian market”, declares Erwin Toplak, Member of the Board, Kapsch TrafficCom AG.

The contract to set up the largest electronic toll system to date and a central system for registering and guiding traffic comprises altogether 80 lanes. The new infrastructure will include 100,000 CEN DSRC compatible transponders, 100,000 non-contact smart cards and other equipment (i.a. server equipment, a network and a CCTV video camera system). The system will be completed in autumn 2009 and comprises an order volume of approximately 8.5 million euros.

Kapsch TrafficCom is an international supplier of innovative road traffic telematics solutions. Its principle business is the development and supply of electronic toll collection (ETC) systems, in particular for the multi-lane free-flow (MLFF) of the traffic, and the technical and commercial operation of such systems. Kapsch TrafficCom also supplies traffic management systems, with a focus on road safety and traffic control, and electronic access systems and parking management. With more than 140 reference projects in 30 countries in Europe, Australia, Latin America, in the Asian/Pacific region and in South Africa, and with almost 12 million on-board units (OBUs) and nearly 11,000 equipped lanes, Kapsch TrafficCom has positioned itself among the leading suppliers of ETC systems worldwide. Kapsch TrafficCom is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and has subsidiaries and representative offices in 20 countries.

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under CEN DSRC, Infrastructure, Investment and Finance, Kapsch, Media, Press Release, Toll Management System, Toll Plaza, Tolling

LANCO bags two toll road projects in Karnataka

August 4, 2008

LANCO Kondapalli Power Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of LANCO Infratech Ltd, has bagged the contract for construction and operation of two road projects in Karnataka on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase III.

The company has formed two Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) – LANCO Hoskote Highways Pvt Ltd and LANCO Devihalli Highways Pvt Ltd for undertaking the projects. The concession agreements for the projects have been signed with the National Highways Authority Ltd. The two road projects are the 81 km Bangalore-Hoskote-Mudbagal stretch on National Highway 4 and 82 km Neelamangla – Devihalli stretch on National Highway 48. The project involves six laning of 16 km stretch and four laning of the remaining stretches. The total project cost is estimated at Rs 1,006 crore. The concession periods are 20 and 25 years for the two projects respectively, including 30 months of construction period. The contracts have been awarded through a competitive bidding process.

LANCO Group is one of the fastest growing corporate entities in India. LANCO has more than two decades of experience operating in the core sectors of Power Generation, Power Trading, Realty, Engineering and Construction, Information Technology and Manufacturing. At present, the power portfolio includes an operating capacity of 518 MW and additional capacities under construction aggregating to more than 3,200 MW. The Construction and EPC division of the company is executing various orders worth more than Rs 7,500 crore. LANCO is also developing LANCO Hills, one of the largest integrated township properties in Hyderabad, which will have a developed area of more than 30 million square feet and one of the tallest residential towers in the world. The development of the property is estimated to cost Rs 5,500 crore.

Source: moneycontrol.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under BOT, Infrastructure, Investment and Finance, NHDP, Projects

Gammon India Ltd sees FY09 topline at Rs 3K cr

August 2, 2008

Gammon India has declared its results for the quarter ended June 2008 (Q1). The company’s standalone net sales were at Rs 585.24 crore versus Rs 540.31 crore.

Parvez Umrigar , MD, Gammon Infrastructure Projects said that Gammon India Limited, the contracting arm of the company will book a topline turnover of Rs 3,000 crore for the current year. He added that Gammon Infrastructure, the development arm is more of a value based play and they have capital investment plans of around Rs 7,500 crore scattered over the next few years.

Excerpts from CNBC-TV18’s exclusive interview with Parvez Umrigar:

Q: Numbers look good, Operating profits margins stood at about 71%, the key concern right now is whether are not incremental orders are expected to slow down and more importantly for the current order book that you enjoy at Rs 9,500 crore is there an issue on execution?

A: The privatization space across the sectors continues to keep pace and infact the government has given us a choice that would like to promote more on a privatization model.

We have had some slow down in the road sector because the implementation under NHI new model agreement have had some issues raised by some developers and that once in a while you do change a model agreement so those things arise but otherwise if you see the action in BOT (Build, Operate, Transfer) space for example the government just announced the qualifications of Ennore.

Q: So out of the Rs 9,500 crore of order book, how much execution will be possible in this year and the incremental orders that are coming in, what is the average size that you are looking to bid right now?

A: Gammon India Limited, the contracting arm will book a topline turnover of Rs 3,000 crore for the current year. Gammon Infrastructure, the development arm is more of a value based play and they have capital investment plans of around Rs 7,500 crore scattered over the next few years.

Q: We understand you have 14 projects underway, what is the kind of outlay for these projects?

A: The 14 Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) companies that we have has an overall capital outlay of Rs 7,000 crore which would involve an equity investment of Gammon itself of around Rs 500 crore.

Q: What is the overall target for FY09 for Gammon Infrastructure at this point in time and what are the kinds of projects you are bidding for right now?

A: Gammon Infrastructure for the current year we expect to grow our current 14 SPVs by at least four more, there two SPVs where we are lowest in the bid and we await the letter of intent (LOI) ending which we can make the official announcement. The topline for the current year on a turnover basis will be around Rs 250 crore.

Source: moneycontrol.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Construction, Infrastructure, Investment and Finance, Media, NHAI

HCC joint venture bags Rs639-crore Andhra irrigation project contract new

July 31, 2008

Mumbai: Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) jointly with SEW Infrastructures Ltd and Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) has bagged a Rs639-crore contract for building a barrage of around 3.5 km on river Pranahita near Tummidi Hetti village in Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh.

HCC will have a share of Rs326.03 crore in the work being undertaken for the Pranahitha-Chevella Package-3 being undertaken by the Irrigation & Command Area Development (ICAD) department of the government of Andhra Pradesh.

The contract covers detailed investigation, preparation of designs, drawings and construction of a barrage including fixing of gates, head regulator and 500 meter long gravity canals. The project will be completed in 48 months.

The project is a part of the government’s ‘Jalayagnam’ programme, an initiative to provide immediate irrigation benefits to all underdeveloped regions of Andhra Pradesh.

Pranahitha-Chevella lift irrigation scheme will irrigate an ayacut of 12.20 lakh acres and provide drinking water to about 1,000 villages in Adilabad, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Medak, Nalgonda and Rangareddy districts in Telangana region.

HCC is currently involved in construction of Godavari lift irrigation phase I and Phase II in Andhra Pradesh where Phase I has already been commissioned and phase II is in advanced stages of completion. In addition, HCC is currently executing four major projects in Andhra Pradesh, including the country’s first cavern for strategic storage of crude oil at Visakhapatnam, the Veligonda lift irrigation project, the Rajiv Sagar lift irrigation project and a 30 km highway of NHAI on NH-7 under north-south corridor on BOT basis.

HCC constructed the first bridge over the river Godavari at Shahgar, in Andhra Pradesh way back in the 1930s. Since then it has built several infrastructure projects, including the Godavari Barrage at Rajahmundry, the Papavinasam Dam, the Vizag Monolith & West Wall Protection and the Railway Bridge over Godavari which is the first and only bow-string bridge in India, the company said in a release.

HCC has so far constructed over 45 dams, barrages and 15 powerhouses in the sub continent, contributing to over 30 per cent of the country’s installed hydropower capacity.

Source: domain-b.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under BOT, Construction, HCC, Infrastructure, Investment and Finance, Mumbai

SIX Laning of delhi-Dehradun National Highway

April 24, 2008

Delhi-Dehradun stretch of NH-58 & 72 has been identified for 4/6-laning under National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase III on Build, Operate & Transfer (BOT) mode based on the criteria of high density of traffic and connectivity of State capitals with corridors of NHDP Phase I & II . The present status of this stretch is as under:

Delhi-Meerut section of NH-58 is already 4-laned and preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for 6-laning is in progress.
The work of 4-laning of Meerut-Muzaffarnagar section of NH-58 on BOT basis is in progress and targeted for completion by March, 2009.
The work of 4-laning of Muzaffarnagar-Haridwar section could not be awarded as only single bid was received and the same was cancelled. For re-bidding of this section, updation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) as per new Model Concession Agreement (MCA) as decided by Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) is in progress. The Haridwar-Dehradun section is passing through Rajaji National Park and clearance is to be obtained from the Central Empowered Committee constituted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. After clearance from Central Empowered Committee and PPPAC, bidding process is to be taken up for award of 4-laning work. It is too early to indicate the completion time of 4-laning work of Muzaffarnagar-Haridwar-Dehradun section at this stage. However, the same may not be completed by 2010 keeping in view the time taken in obtaining the clearance from Central Empowered Committee & PPPAC as well as response of bidders.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Shri K.H. Muniyappa in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

Source: pib.nic.in

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Construction, Highway, Infrastructure, Investment and Finance

PROPOSAL FOR SETTING UP NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT BOARD IS IN FINAL STAGES OF APPROVAL

April 7, 2008

THIRU BAALU ADDRESSES CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

The Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Thiru T.R. Baalu has said that the proposal for setting up of the National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board, as recommended by the Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Management, is in the final stages of approval. Similar Boards would be set up in the States also. Thiru Baalu was addressing the Seventeenth Meeting of the Consultative Committee of Members of Parliament attached to his Ministry here today.

Thiru Baalu also informed the Members that the Department of Road Transport and Highways is also contemplating constitution of a Committee of Experts to suggest a comprehensive scheme to improve the public transport system. The proposed scheme would stipulate certain reform measures to be undertaken by the States to be eligible for seeking financial assistance from the Central Government.

The Minister further informed that a ‘Working Group’ has been constituted by the Government to determine the technology for Advanced Traffic Management System, Advanced Travel or Information System and Electronic Toll collection. He said that a System is proposed to be installed for automatic traffic counting and classification to have better assessment of traffic moving on National highways. He said that these steps are being taken as part of Government’s efforts to give more emphasis on the modernisation of the toll collection system for which introduction of Intelligent Transport System (ITS) is proposed to be gradually introduced.

Thiru Baalu said that a proposal has recently been approved for creation of State and National Registers of driving licenses and registration certificates envisaging inter-linking of all Regional Transport Offices. This would enable creation of authentic database for road transport sector, ensuring transparency in the process of registration of motor vehicles and issuance of driving licenses at a total cost of Rs. 148 crore. The project period is two years. It would check issuance of fake driving licenses / registration certificates and lead to better enforcement of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act / Rules, he added.

The Minister also informed that to formulate a scheme for trauma care facilities across the country in general and along the National Highways in particular, his Ministry has been working closely with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to work out a -2- combined plan of action. For this purpose, Thiru Baalu informed that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has introduced a scheme for setting up of an integrated network of Trauma Centres along the GQ, North-South and East-West Corridors of the National Highways by upgrading the trauma care facilities in 140 identified State Government Hospitals at a total cost of Rs.732.75 crore during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period. Our Ministry has to supply 140 ambulances and NHAI has to provide 50 Ambulances with advanced life support equipment to identified hospitals.

Giving an account of the progress made on the National Highway Development Programme (NHDP), Thiru Baalu observed that upto February 2008, out of the 5,846 kms under the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) Project, 4/6 laning of about 5,650 kms has been completed and works are in progress in the remaining 196 kms length. Out of about 7,300 kms length under the North-South and East-West Corridors, 4/6 laning was completed in 1,962 kms and works were under implementation in about 4,359 kms. Under NHDP Phase-III, out of 12,109 kms length, 4-laning has been completed in 330 kms and works are in progress in about 1,745 kms and under NHDP Phase-V, out of 6,500 kms length, 6-laning was in progress in about 1,030 kms.

So far 86 projects valued at Rs.29,576.94 crore have been awarded on BOT (Toll) basis. Out of these, 34 projects have been completed and 52 projects are in progress. Also, so far 25 projects valued at Rs. 9,411.88 crore have been awarded on BOT (Annuity) basis; out of which, 8 projects have been completed and 17 projects are in progress, the Minister informed.

The Members of Parliament who participated in the meeting are: S/Shri M.R. Reddy, S. Ajaya Kumar, L.R. Patil, Hari Kewal Prasad, M.L. Mandal, Tiruchi Siva and Ms. Mabel Rebello.

Source: pib.nic.in

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under BOT, CARE, CHENNAI, ETC, Infrastructure, NHAI, NHDP, Tolling

DR. KARUNANIDHI TO INAUGURATE FOUR NHAI PROJECTS IN CHENNAI

April 4, 2008

DR. KARUNANIDHI TO INAUGURATE FOUR NHAI PROJECTS IN CHENNAI. ALSO TO LAY FOUNDATION STONE FOR FOOT OVER BRIDGE AT CHROMEPET

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Dr. Kalaignar M., Karunanidhi will inaugurate four projects completed at a total cost of Rs. 80 crore by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Wednesday the 9th April 2008. He will also lay the foundation stone for Foot-over Bridge at Chromepet on the same day.

The function for the inaugural ceremony would be presided over by the Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Thiru T. R. Baalu and the Minister for Local Administration, Government of Tamil Nadu Thiru M.K Stalin would be the Chief Guest. The Guests of honour of the function would be Thiru M.P. Swaminathan, Minister for Highways, Government of Tamil Nadu and Thiru T.M. Anbarasan, Minister for Labour, Government of Tamil Nadu.

The Irumbuliyur Underpass has been built at a cost of Rs. four crore, four-laning of Chennai Bypass Phase-I up to Porur has been completed by NHAI at a cost of Rs. 70 crore, the pedestrian subway at Tirisulam has cost Rs. five crore and the Bus Shelter at Chromepet built under the MPLAD Scheme has cost Rs. 82 lakhs. The completion of the Irumbuliyur Underpass will facilitate right turn for the Tambaram Traffic to access Chennai Bypass and thereby quicker connectivity to the Golden Quadrilateral Corridor.

The Chromepet Foot-over Bridge for which the foundation stone will be laid on Wednesday to facilitate the commuters in crossing NH-45 to access the railway station on the other side and vice versa which provides rail connectivity to southern part of Tamil Nadu, would cost Rs. 2.40 crore.

Thiru T.R. Baalu has expressed the hope that with the completion of these four projects, the people living in and around these areas would be greatly benefited.

Source: pib.nic.in

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under BOT, CHENNAI, Construction, Expressway, Infrastructure, Investment and Finance, NHAI, NHDP, Projects

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