Privatisation of Indian Railways

After privatisation of the Tejas Express (to be run by the IRCTC), the government is currently in the process of forming a task force to draw a blueprint for handing over operations of as many as 150 trains and a total of 50 railway stations to private operators. The Bibek Debroy committee recommended that the…

Boosting Regional Air Connectivity

Context Civil Aviation, being a central subject, gets little attention from states. It is evident from the fact that very few States in India have active civil aviation departments. The Regional Connectivity Scheme, Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN), has become a game changer as this flagship programme has a built-in mechanism to develop stakes of State governments in…

Government plans 27,000km economic corridors

The government is planning to make 44 highway stretches totalling 27,000 km to be developed as “economic corridors” for seamless movement of cargo vehicles, cut delays, deepen economic activities and create jobs. This will be the biggest highway expansion plan since the rolling out of Golden Quadrilateral and North South East West Corridor, totalling 13,000…

Power cuts in a time of surplus

India has, for the first time in history, declared that it will not have a power deficit this year. The country will have a surplus of 3.1% during peak hours and 1.1% during non-peak hours during 2016-17, latest data from the Central Electricity Authority shows. This is the first time that the country has declared…

India set to seize big opportunity in logistic costs saving through Sagarmala

A new report by Ministry of Shipping has said that Sagarmala project can save up to Rs 35,000-40,000 crore by 2025 per annum for India by optimizing logistics flows for key commodities. The study says that augmenting operational efficiency of ports and optimizing logistics evacuation can be a big boost to Indian trade. What else…

With connectivity comes growth

Livemint Issue: The paramount measure of power in the 21st century is connectivity, specifically to global infrastructure networks, trade flows, capital markets and the digital economy. India is now getting connected in each of these arenas and is thus taken much more seriously as a long-term pillar of the global system. India in its neighbourhood:…

Govt. targets 120 mn tonne capacity addition in ports

The Hindu News: Union Shipping Minister has set an ambitious target of capacity addition at 12 major ports by 120 million tonnes in 2016-17. These ports had added the highest-ever capacity of 94 million tonnes in 2015-16. Minister has asked shipping ministry officials to aim for awarding new projects to add capacity of 180 million…

INFRACON, ePACE and up-Scaled INAM PRO launched

The government has launched ePACE, INFRACON and an updated version of INAMPRO, three innovative IT initiatives of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, developed in house by NHIDCL(National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.) Details: ePACE (Projects Appraisal & Continuing Enhancements) is an online integrated Management Information System that brings projects from all wings…

The turnaround in infrastructure

The government has achieved a breakthrough, unblocking previously stuck road projects, while also accelerating the initiation of new projects. Of the total number of stuck projects worth Rs 3.8 lakh crore, this government has already unblocked Rs 3.5 lakh crore worth of projects. Consequently, road construction has risen from 8.5 kilometres a day during the…

Sagarmala project to be completed in 5 years

The government has decided to halve the previously estimated 10-year timeframe to complete the Sagarmala port development project. The project targets to provide one crore employment. Port-led development has potential for direct employment generation for 40 lakh persons and for 60 lakh persons indirectly. About Sagarmala: The Sagarmala project seeks to develop a string of…