Maintenance of the country’s national highways for a longer period could get a new lease of life with the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur set to embark on an ambitious project which will suggest technologies for maintenance-free highways. The step is also seen as environment friendly as it will need lesser natural resources. At present, the construction of these highways requires a monolithic (in-situ) layer of cement concrete normally 300 mm thick, laid continuously over the prepared surface. The idea is innovation of technology to optimise the design of concrete pavement in its traditional form which can facilitate faster construction at much cheaper costs.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and IIT-Kharagpur signed a pact recently for a research project to develop a technology to construct long-lasting maintenance-free highways in the country. “The duration of the research project is three years and NHAI has paid Rs 1.25 crore for the project, excluding cost of construction of trial pavement section,” NHAI said. NHAI and IIT Kharagpur will develop a technology to construct Panelled Cement Concrete (Pre-fabricated in a small panel size) which can replace the design of construction of existing cement concrete road.
The common experience in the national highways are that it is prone to damage and needs frequent maintenance due to adverse climatic conditions such as rain and hot weather since they are generally paved with bituminous (asphaltic concrete) material produced from refineries. To overcome this problem, the government has recently announced a policy for the construction of concrete pavements for all major highways due to their longevity and maintenance-free life. “The paneled concrete pavement laid on a lean concrete base can fulfill the Government of India’s dream of providing long-lasting maintenance-free pavements at a cost at par with those of asphalt pavements,” NHAI said.
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NEW DELHI: Close on heels of Centre’s announcement to install advanced electronic toll collection system pan-India, the Highways Ministry has said the plazas will be solar-powered.
“The Ministry proposes to develop solar powered toll plazason NHs across the country in order to reduce their carbon footprint,” a Road Transport and Highways Ministry official said.
The Ministry has sought designs for such advanced solar plazas from architects, professionals and qualified engineers by October 31 announcing a prize of Rs 10 lakh for the best entry followed by Rs 7 lakh and Rs 5 lakh for entries qualifying for second and third places respectively, the official said.
NHAI-promoted Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) last month said it has inked a pact with Axis Bank for services related electronic toll collection, which the government plans to introduce pan-India.
Considering the complexities and geographical spread, the nationwide electronic toll collection (ETC) would be first of its kind in the whole world, the Ministry has said.
The electronic toll collection (ETC) system on Delhi – Mumbai stretch of the national highways is in the process of operationalisation and a nationwide rollout will be carried out by the end of year.
Earlier this year, IHMCL had signed agreement with ICICI Bank also and it has two banks now to perform clearing and settlement of electronic toll transaction, which is a key requirement for electronic toll collection.
This is subsequent to the initiative taken by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, NHAI and IHMCL for implementation of unified Electronic Toll Collection on Indian national highways.
Electronic Toll Collection enables road users to pay highway tolls electronically without stopping at the toll plazas.
“The unique number of the RFID FASTag affixed on the wind shield of the vehicle will be read by the readers fitted in the dedicated ‘ETC’ lanes of plazas and the toll will be deducted automatically,” a Ministry statement has said earlier.
Road users can enrol and get “FASTag” affixed on their vehicles at designated toll plaza locations or Point of Sale (POS) stations of Axis bank and ICICI bank.
Such type of highway tag brands are common in developed countries and are known by different names like “Eazee Pass”, “SunPass” in the US, “e-Pass” in Australia, “Salik” in Dubai etc.
Source:Economic Times
Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under About
The next time you travel to Puducherry via Tindivanam or to Tada falls and Vellore, you will have to pay a higher toll.
The fares at the Tindivanam and Karanodai toll plazas have been hiked from September 1, based on the increase in the wholesale price index (WPI), an index that measures and tracks the prices of wholesale goods. It is also a measure of inflation. A total of 22 plazas under the control of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in the State have increased their rates by 5.98 per cent.
V. Chinna Reddy, Chief General Manager (Technical), NHAI, said that in 2012-13, the WPI was 167.62 and in 2013-14 it was 177.64. “This is an increase of 5.98 per cent, which is reflected in the rates. The increase is done every year so as not to put too much of a burden on motorists,” he said. At the Tindivanam plaza, motorists will have to pay Rs. 39, LCVs Rs. 68 and trucks and buses Rs. 137 for one-way travel. Similarly, for those using the Karanodai plaza, cars will have to pay Rs. 44, LCVs Rs. 77 and trucks and buses Rs. 154. P. Murugesan, a cab driver from Nesapakkam, who travels often to Puducherry and Tiruchi, said the hike was not justified as vehicle owners had already been spending quite a bit on fuel. “Some middle and lower-middle class customers grumble when it comes to paying toll rates. They say as it is they have to shell out a lot for the travel. Very few customers don’t mind paying as the road is good,” he said. Though the distances between toll plazas range from 50 to 60 km, the rates are very different. “Uniform rates would be helpful,” he added.
Source:The Hindu
PTI, NEW DELHI
The Centre will not extend any assistance under the national highways programme if the Kerala government decides to develop NH stretches in the state at 30-metre width instead of 45 metres.
This was informed by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to BJP’s Kerala unit president V Muraleedharan who met him at his office here.
“We are opposing the state government’s move. We informed the minister (Gadkari) that national highway should be 45 m and Kerala government should not be allowed to convert it into a 30-m national highway. He told us that NHAI funds would not be available for NHs less than 45 m wide,” Muraleedharan told PTI.
The Kerala government is keen on fast-tracking four-laning of 30-m highways to avoid the massive land acquisition that was needed if the width was 45 m or 60 m as in the case of other NHDP projects in the country.
Bowing to pressure from the state, the previous UPA government had agreed in principle to reduce the width of 829 km of national highways being developed from 45 m to 30 m.
Muraleedharan claimed that the state government wanted to tweak the rules on the pretext that it could not acquire land.
“It was a sort of a conspiracy on their (state government’s) part,” Muraleedharan said and alleged that “if it is allowed to have a 30-m road and the central government’s assistance is available, it will benefit many people who are in this contract.”
(This article was published on July 6, 2014)
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RAHUL PRITHIANI
The Hindu Over the past couple of years, traffic growth on national highways has slid precipitously, in conjunction with the economy and industrial production. A view of National Highway 7, one of the busiest National Highways in South India with a total length of 472 km. File Photo
Road developers are in a tizzy as both debt-servicing ability and returns of national highway projects have come under severe strain as the economics has gone haywire because of low traffic, execution delays and cost overruns.
Over the past couple of years, traffic growth on national highways has slid precipitously, in conjunction with the economy and industrial production. An analysis of traffic growth across 15 national highway projects that have been operational for over three years revealed that overall traffic growth, estimated at 7-8 per cent between fiscals 2008 and 2011, slumped to 3-4 per cent in 2012 and to 2-3 per cent in 2013. In fiscal 2014 too, the traffic growth has been weak due to sluggish economic activity.
The culprit was commercial vehicle traffic, whose slowdown overshadowed a healthy 15 per cent average growth in passenger vehicle traffic during this period.
Special purpose vehicles
This deteriorating trend is also mirrored in the revenues of a dozen special purpose vehicles (SPVs) operating under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model. Revenues of these SPVs have grown by about 12 per cent in the past couple of years. During this period, toll rates rose by 8-9 per cent per annul as these are linked to the wholesale price . But poor traffic growth negated most of the benefits.
The scenario is unlikely to improve much in the near-term. Road traffic has high correlation with industrial growth . While we expect IIP to recover in fiscal 2015 to about 4 per cent from the decadal low of about 1 per cent it hit in fiscal 2014, it will remain well below the long-term average.
Consequently, commercial vehicle traffic growth will be lacklustere and overall traffic growth on national highways will languish at 3-5 per cent in fiscal 2015. As almost the entire operating costs in a road project are fixed in nature, any variation in the traffic, especially during initial years, has a significant bearing on the project returns.
Slow traffic growth on national highways is not the only problem plaguing developers. Base traffic (in the first year of a highway’s operation) has been much lower compared to the NHAI draft project report estimates. To be sure, developers would have done their own math on traffic, including expected leakages and exempt vehicles, before bidding, yet they will be concerned about how wide off the mark the original estimates were.
Compounding these problems for road developers are delays and the resultant cost overruns. Of the 78 BOT projects completed between fiscals 2000 and 2013, more than three-fourths or 61 projects faced delays, with the average time overrun at 10.5 months. The situation has only worsened in the last couple of years. Execution hasn’t begun for about 33 projects awarded in fiscal 2012 .
The double whammy of lesser-than-expected traffic and cost overruns has severely impaired the debt-repayment ability of developers. For five of these projects, the average debt-service coverage ratio during the first five years of operations is estimated to be less than one. This means equity infusion is essential to ensure timely servicing of debt, especially since tying up for additional debt will be difficult in the current scenario. Returns for these road projects are also expected to be 8-14 per cent, much lower than the 22-26 per cent returns based on NHAI traffic and cost estimates.
The above-mentioned scenario is representative of most road developers. Clearly, road developers are being buffeted by problems from all sides and have very limited room for manoeuvre. Recently, the government offered some respite by relaxing exit norms and allowing for premium deferment in the case of stressed projects. However, it might turn out to be a case of too little, too late.
The author is Director, Crisil Research, a division of Crisil
Source- http://www.thehindu.com/
Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Uncategorized
DEEPA H. RAMAKRISHNAN
The HinduThe hike has not been received very well by freight carriers, omni-bus owners and the general public. R. Sukumar, president, Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Federation, termed the hike ‘unfair’. File Photo: G. Krishnaswamy
If you are travelling to Bangalore or Tindivanam via Tambaram, you will now have to shell out more as toll rates on these roads have been hiked by 10 per cent from April 1.
Of the 40 toll plazas under the control of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in the State, the rates have been revised for 18. The rates will come into effect at the other plazas soon.
The hike has not been received very well by freight carriers, omni-bus owners and the general public. R. Sukumar, president, Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Federation, termed the hike ‘unfair’.
“About 8 per cent of our operating costs go towards paying toll charges. Already, the prices for diesel, permits, tyre and insurance premiums have increased. Load carriers are unable to increase freight charges as it would only dissuade industries from moving goods,” he said.
Mr. Sukumar complained that though a portion of the toll charges was required to go towards maintenance of the roads, the NHAI was not spending much on maintenance. “Despite the fact that accidents keep happening and over 50 vulnerable spots have been identified all over the State, they don’t have ambulances or cranes as stipulated in the contracts with the companies collecting tolls,” he said.
As far as omni buses are concerned, each of the around 600 buses that ply in and out of the city will have to pay an additional Rs. 30 for every trip. M. Chandrasekaran of the Tamil Nadu Omni Bus Owners Association said that as ticket prices were increased only three months ago, there would not be another hike in the near future.
“There is a lot of competition in the market already. If we increase the prices further, more buses will run without passengers,” he said.
KPN Travels’ K. P. Natarajan said a consultation would be held amongst bus owners soon to decide the next course of action. “The industry as such increases bus ticket fares only when diesel prices increase. When that hike is effected, we will take into account recent toll fare revisions also,” he said.
Source –http://www.thehindu.com/
Timsy Jaipuria | New Delhi |
SUMMARY –After a gap of over a year, the government is set to award a highway project in the build
After a gap of over a year, the government is set to award a highway project in the build, operate and transfer (BOT) category in what marks its effort to revive the public-private partnership (PPP) model in the sector. According to sources, the first PPP project of this fiscal in highways will soon be awarded to Mumbai-based IRB Infrastructure Developers for widening a 98.72-km stretch between Solapur and Yedeshi in Maharashtra to four lanes.
However, the project, estimated to cost R972 crore, would be supported by viability gap funding (VGF) of 19% by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Many stranded PPP projects in the sector were awarded on promises of high premium payments to the authority. “Given the poor response to the BOT projects these days, IRB’s proposal appeared to be better than what the NHAI had expected,” said a senior government official, asking not to be named.
Inability to meet toll revenue targets had forced investors like GMR, GVK and Ashoka Buildcon to quit their PPP projects in the highways sector and caused delays in other projects. Termination of projects awarded on the promise of high premiums to NHAI by the most prominent investors has resulted in renegotiation of premiums worth R98,000 crore payable over 20-30 years. Policymakers have since shifted focus to the conventional engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects, and not one new PPP project has been awarded in the sector this fiscal.
The details of the premium recast will be as per the Rangarajan panel’s recommendations, which is expected soon.
The number of new PPP projects awarded in the sector peaked in 2011-12 at 6,491 km and has since come down to 1,116 km in 2012-13.
In September this year, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had given its approval for widening the Solapur-Yedshi section of National Highway 211 in Maharashtra under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase IV on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer pattern.
While no new PPP project has been awarded this fiscal, one project was re-awarded — six-laning of the 122.88-km Barwa-Adda-Panagarh section of NH2 to IL&FS Transportation Networks in May.
Both the road ministry and NHAI have attributed the sluggish investor interest in PPP projects to not only the economic slowdown and resultant difficulty in meeting toll collection targets but also several loopholes in the model concession agreement. Developers had been vocal about financial stress, non-availability of land and uncertainty over securing environmental clearances as among various reasons behind not showing interest in bidding. Similarly, the government had also decided not to launch any bid without having all statutory clearances in place. This, according to senior officials, was the reason behind the poor awarding scenario in the current fiscal.
After the Solapur-Yedshi stretch, the government is likely to bring out another bid for a four laning project in Rajasthan, which is at a nascent stage. If this project also takes off, it will be the second project awarded on PPP mode in the current fiscal.
NHAI has a modest target to award 125 km on BOT mode this fiscal, while the target for EPC projects is set at 1,875 km. The ministry has revised its target for total awards by all agencies from 9,000 km last year to 5,600 km this year, including the 2,000 km to be awarded by NHAI.
IRB undertakes development of various infrastructure projects in the road sector through several special purpose vehicles. The company, along with its subsidiaries, has constructed, operated and maintained around 8,000 lane km of road length so far. The aggregate size of all its BOT projects (completed and under execution) is around Rs. 17,055 crore.
Source- http://www.financialexpress.com/
Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Uncategorized
Rajesh Moudgil, Hindustan Times Chandigarh,
Here is bad news for the Haryana government as well as for thousands of motorists plying on Ambala-Yamunanagar national highway (NH-73). The private contractor who was given the contract to four-lane the 102-km stretch of the NH-73 has opted out.
Ironically, the company has cited the inordinate delays in getting various clearances from the official agencies, hence request for cancellation of its agreement. Satish Chandra, member, finance, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), ministry of transport and roadways, informed the state government in this context on March 10.
The stretch that connects Ambala, Panchkula, Barwala and Saha with Yamunanagar is currently 7.5-metre wide and its condition is pathetic as there are potholes.
The private contractor (concessionaire) which was awarded the work for the said Rs. 934.39 crore project on March 30, 2012, and which was to be completed by January 2015, recently wrote to NHAI requesting it to terminate the contract.
The contractor held that it was due to the inordinate delay in grant of necessary approval for diversion of forest land to the contractor and there still being uncertainty for obtaining the same, the cancellation of his contract was sought.
The NHAI has now asked the state government to maintain the said stretch on its own besides initiating the process for fresh bids.
The application made by NHAI to the state forest department way back in 2009 was reportedly not processed in time which led to delay in possession of the land to the concessionaire making the concessionaire to make a request to NHAI to opt out of the project.
About 10-km road on the said stretch falls in Khol Hi Raittan wildlife sanctuary influence area in Panchkula district whereas only 700 metre passes through the wildlife sanctuary. The non-timely clearance of 10 km of the said stretch has resulted in the situation leading to the concessionaire opting out.
Source -http://www.hindustantimes.com/
Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Uncategorized
Timsy Jaipuria | New Delhi
After a gap of over a year, the government is set to award a highway project in the build, operate and transfer (BOT) category in what marks its effort to revive the public-private partnership (PPP) model in the sector. According to sources, the first PPP project of this fiscal in highways will soon be awarded to Mumbai-based IRB Infrastructure Developers for widening a 98.72-km stretch between Solapur and Yedeshi in Maharashtra to four lanes.However, the project, estimated to cost R972 crore, would be supported by viability gap funding (VGF) of 19% by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Many stranded PPP projects in the sector were awarded on promises of high premium payments to the authority. “Given the poor response to the BOT projects these days, IRB’s proposal appeared to be better than what the NHAI had expected,” said a senior government official, asking not to be named.
Inability to meet toll revenue targets had forced investors like GMR, GVK and Ashoka Buildcon to quit their PPP projects in the highways sector and caused delays in other projects. Termination of projects awarded on the promise of high premiums to NHAI by the most prominent investors has resulted in renegotiation of premiums worth R98,000 crore payable over 20-30 years. Policymakers have since shifted focus to the conventional engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects, and not one new PPP project has been awarded in the sector this fiscal.
The details of the premium recast will be as per the Rangarajan panel’s recommendations, which is expected soon.
The number of new PPP projects awarded in the sector peaked in 2011-12 at 6,491 km and has since come down to 1,116 km in 2012-13.
In September this year, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had given its approval for widening the Solapur-Yedshi section of National Highway 211 in Maharashtra under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase IV on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer pattern.
While no new PPP project has been awarded this fiscal, one project was re-awarded — six-laning of the 122.88-km Barwa-Adda-Panagarh section of NH2 to IL&FS Transportation Networks in May.
Both the road ministry and NHAI have attributed the sluggish investor interest in PPP projects to not only the economic slowdown and resultant difficulty in meeting toll collection targets but also several loopholes in the model concession agreement. Developers had been vocal about financial stress, non-availability of land and uncertainty over securing environmental clearances as among various reasons behind not showing interest in bidding. Similarly, the government had also decided not to launch any bid without having all statutory clearances in place. This, according to senior officials, was the reason behind the poor awarding scenario in the current fiscal.
After the Solapur-Yedshi stretch, the government is likely to bring out another bid for a four laning project in Rajasthan, which is at a nascent stage. If this project also takes off, it will be the second project awarded on PPP mode in the current fiscal.
NHAI has a modest target to award 125 km on BOT mode this fiscal, while the target for EPC projects is set at 1,875 km. The ministry has revised its target for total awards by all agencies from 9,000 km last year to 5,600 km this year, including the 2,000 km to be awarded by NHAI.
IRB undertakes development of various infrastructure projects in the road sector through several special purpose vehicles. The company, along with its subsidiaries, has constructed, operated and maintained around 8,000 lane km of road length so far. The aggregate size of all its BOT projects (completed and under execution) is around Rs. 17,055 crore.
Source-http://www.financialexpress.com
Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Uncategorized
By Express News Service – CHENNAI
The Madras High Court has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to pay the compensation amount due to an octogenarian woman, whose land was acquired for widening road near Tambaram. Justice S Manikumar, who gave the direction, pointed out that the woman is now over 80 years old. The NHAI has not paid any money for the land taken over from her five years ago.
As right to property has been recognised by the Supreme Court as a human right and considering the age of Siriyapushpam, her legitimate right to seek compensation for the land acquired must be paid, the judge said. The judge hoped that the authorities would implement the directions of this court in letter and spirit within the stipulated time.
Siriyapushpam’s land measuring 165 sqm in Irumbuliyur near Tambaram was notified for acquisition by the NHAI in 2008 for widening, maintenance, management and operation of NH 45. As she was not given any compensation for more than five years, she filed the present petition.
NHAI’s counsel informed the bench that Rs 43 crore has been sanctioned. The TN government counsel told the court that the special district revenue officer (land acquisition) would determine the amount for disbursal to the persons concerned. He also requested the court to specify time limit for completion of the process. Justice Manikumar, stipulating that necessary compensation amount should be deposited not later than one month, said persons such as Siriyapushpam should receive their compensation as expeditiously as possible. He directed the government counsel to communicate the court’s order to the authorities for ‘prompt implementation’.
Source-http://www.newindianexpress.com
Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Uncategorized
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