A month in the India Transport Sector

July, 2012

FOCUS: INFRASTRUCTURE
INDIAN MONSOONS: INFRASTRUCTURE NEED FOR BETTER ROADS AND

EDITORIAL
Road construction is definitely a serious issue. It lies at the articulation of two somewhat contradictory elements : the need for infrastructure and the financial burden this represents. The result is that the NHAI is unable to find bidders for its projects. When the road agency called for bids to award 1 500 km of highways, private players just showed interest for 100 km. The situation is critical for BOT projects. What was seen to be the most lucrative infrastructure segment is now deserted by bidders. Several reasons explain such disinterest. Some officials say that major players are fully satisfied after bidding aggressively in 2011. Even when the NHAI offered a 40 per cent subsidy, they showed no interest. Another reason is related to aspects of the BOT process involving bank funding. Banks suffered losses in some power projects that could have harmed their funding capacities. Several ideas have arisen from infrastructure companies in order to ease the financial issue. There are about RS 12 000 of payments awaiting Government clearance. Expediting their release would help improve the situation. Another idea is to increase banks funding limits regarding infrastructure projects. Furthermore, some other stakeholders could be interested in participating in the projects such as pension funds and insurances companies. Infrastructure companies also asked for easier procedural and environmental processes. An NHAI official recently announced that the government could take care of some 3 000 km stretches with total financial support. Well, it shows at least that infrastructure development is seen as a priority for the Government. Quoting the Rural Development Ministry regarding the land acquisition issue: A developing economy like India requires government intervention to facilitate development. What more can you ask for? Anyway, there is just one place to review and watch the road construction issue, it is our road construction surveillance tool.

Monsoons in India which are characterised by heavy downpours create the perfect recipe for chaos on roads. The infrastructural lacunas of the country are partly responsible for this crisis. More information on ITP LAND ACQUISITION One of the greatest difficulties faced by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is the acquisition of continuous stretches of land to build national highways. If there is a shortage of as little as 100m of stretch then it can result in the sudden halt of the construction. More information on ITP CONTINUOUS DIGGING OF ROADS LEADING TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION In January this year, the Times of India published a report on the traffic jam situation in the city of Allahabad. The heart of the city, MG road and other areas like the Medical College crossing were immersed in such high volumes of traffic that even school kids and patients heading for the nearby hospitals were trapped on the roads for over an hour. The reason was the digging activities of the sewage lines on MG road. Unfortunately this situation is all too common across the whole country. More information on ITP IF WE ARE ABLE TO CONSTRUCT THE NEED BASED TUNNELS IN FOUR YEARS, IT IS AN ACHIEVEMENT. MR. SUKARM KUMAR Highway tunnels are need based in mountainous and strategic regions. In Metro cities, ultimately fast mode of passenger transport is through railways. There underground tunnel would be constructed where there is intense urbanization and high demand of mobility. More information on ITP

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A month in the India Transport Sector

July, 2012

TRAFFIC ISSUES
IMPLEMENTATION OF TRAFFIC RULES It is not uncommon to see drivers jumping red lights in the middle of heavy traffic forcing others to stop in order to give way to the errant driver and avoid an accident. Or drivers can often be seen holding a conversation on their mobile phones, not paying attention to whats going on around them. More information on ITP USE OF INDICATORS: A RARE SIGN IN INDIAN ROAD TRANSPORT All vehicles are fitted with a number of signalling devices or indicators with specific functions and purposes. They are meant to be used by drivers to convey to other road users what they intend to do with the vehicle. They ensure better communication on road and overall safety. More informations on ITP

TRUCK OVERLOADING
TRUCK OVERLOADING India is in the midst of rapid infrastructure development with a deeper and keener focus on building highways under the National Highways Development Programme (NHDP) to sustain its economic growth. The subsequent increase in demand in vehicles, including trucks, has propelled a strong growth in the tyre industry in India. According to the Indian Tyre Industry Analysis from November 2011, the Indian tyre industry has witnessed formidable growth with radial tyres for trucks and busses emerging as a clear winner. The study estimates that in the period from 2011-2014, the radial tyre industry will grow 18 percent CAGR. More information in ITP WHAT IS BEING DONE? Overloaded trucks are a very common and unfortunately dangerous sight on Indian roads. Not surprisingly, overloaded trucks have impacted on the statistics of fatal accidents on Indian roads in recent years. Nearly 70% of all traffic on national highways comprises of cargo vehicles while 22% of cargo vehicles are involved in road accidents. Although the issue of truck overloading is being widely debated and discussed in newspapers, websites and other media, overloaded trucks continue to ply on Indian roads to the detriment of lives and the environment. More information on ITP

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE FINES IN TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS? The Union Cabinet of India has recently amended the provisions in the Motor Vehicles Act for penalties for traffic offences ranging from drunk driving to not wearing seat belts when driving. The Indian vehicle driver will have to pay about ten times more for traffic violations and may also be imprisoned if the offence he or she is guilty of carries a jail term. For repeat offences, traffic fines are increased. More informations on ITP

HIDDEN CAMERAS ON BUSY ROADS The increasing traffic in Indian cities poses a huge challenge when it comes to traffic control and management. With new cars being added on the road every day, traffic jams have become a common sight. The situation is further complicated by errant drivers who break traffic rules and jeopardize the safety of all commuters. Strict punitive action against traffic violators is the only way to stop drivers from breaking traffic rules. However, catching traffic offenders isnt an easy task. More informations on ITP

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A month in the India Transport Sector TYRES

WHY IS INDIA SO FAR BEHIND THE RADIALISATION TREND? One of the ground breaking evolutions that has taken place in the tyre manufacturing industry is radialisation. In this innovative technology the orientation of the plies mark a significant departure from that of the cross-ply variants as, with the former, plies are placed perpendicular to the travels direction. More information on ITP RADIALS FOR CARS Embracing radial technology is one of the first steps towards having state-of the-art tyres and following the arrival of this technological development, the world has largely shifted towards this trend. More information on ITP RADIAL TYRES FOR TWO WHEELERS The following bikes like Bajaj Pulsar, Zmas, CBZs and Karizma's have radial construction tyres. Probably the only single negative thing associated with radial tyres is that radials are not re-treaded. This is not much of a concern for bike riders though, as tyres for two wheelers are not easily thrown away unless absolutely necessary. More information on ITP TUBELESS TYRES: HOW USEFUL ARE THEY ON INDIAN ROADS? Tubeless tyres unlike conventional tubed tyres do not have a separate inner tube. Their build means they can contain the air by themselves and do not require a tube within. The tyre and rim form an air container sealing and keeping the compressed air inside the assembly. More information on ITP TYRE RECYCLING Tyre recycling, as the name suggests, is the method of recycling the multi millions of tyres which are disposed of worldwide due to wearand-tear or punctures. Because of the large volume of disposed tyres (about one per person per year) and their robust material, tyres are amongst the most challenging sources of waste. More information on ITP

July, 2012

ELECTRIC VEHICLES
ELECTRIC VEHICLES growing environmental concerns and steep rise in the price of petrol have made fuel economy a central issue for consumers. Fuel economy is calculated by the kilometres per litre of fuel consumed by a vehicle; the smaller the number the better. It also helps reduce climate change brought on by the release of carbon dioxide (CO ) from burning gasoline and diesel. And as oil is a non-renewable source of energy, reducing its consumption will help in increasing energy sustainability. More information on ITP FOCUS ON THE REVA Fuel saving has become an important topic in everyday life. Be it in urban or rural life, human beings are in constant need of fuel in different forms and with the increasing prices of fuel, industry players are looking at ways of saving fuel across the board and in particular in the automobile sector. Reva Electric Car Company is best known for its fuel efficient car as it is an electric vehicle: the REVAi. The REVAi is a small car which accommodates four people: two adults and two children ideally. REVA is powered by batteries (lead-acid batteries or lithium-ion batteries). The latter is a bit more expensive and is normally used for better performance. More information on ITP The

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A month in the India Transport Sector

July, 2012

TRAINS & RAILWAYS

FREIGHT TRAINS Indian Railways is in a true sense the lifeblood of the nation. Since its inception, the Railways has played a pioneering role in bringing together Indian people, the countrys market and economy. Apart from ferrying thousands of people every day, it also carries a wide range of goods throughout its vast network. Indian Railways Freight Service is the primary revenue earner for the railway sector and often compensates for the loss incurred in passenger service earnings. More information on ITP FREIGHT TRAIN TRANSPORTATION: ON-GOING PROJECTS AND BUDGETS As the second largest railway network in the world and the biggest employment generating sector in India, Indian Railways commands a position of great importance in the countrys economy. Apart from ferrying millions of people every day, it is also responsible for transporting a wide range of goods and heavy commodities to different parts of the country. Freight is the primary revenue earner and profit making segment of Indian Railways and quite simply constitutes its backbone. More information on ITP RAILWAYS SAFETY BUDGET Over the years, the Indian Railways, with its extensive geographical coverage and large workforce, ferrying millions of people and freight across the country, has served the nation well, both in times of peace and war. The enormous contribution of Indian Railways has often been scarred by unfortunate incidents and accidents that claim lives, lead to loss of productivity and immense damage to public property. Time and again the one area that has attracted considerable public attention and media glare is the issue of safety. Recognising the magnitude of its importance, the Railway Minister adopted safety as his key mantra while presenting the 2012-13 Railways budget. More information on ITP

MISCELLANEOUS
TWO WHEELERS AND ROAD SAFETY The safety of two wheelers is a matter of great concern to the traffic department. More information on ITP

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ABOUT US
Indian Transport Portal is an online news center covering the most critical industrial issues related to transport markets in India. India Transport Portal is edited by Digital Bizzline Ltd. a UK based press agency recently launched by a group of freelance journalists. Digital Bizzline Ltd. is registered at the Companies House UK: 07301455 contact@indiatransportportal.com
MEDIA PARTNER WITH URBAN TRANSPORT CONFERENCE August 21 - 22, 2012 New Delhi TUNNELS & UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION September 12 - 14, 2012 New Delhi P LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN EVENTS December 7 9, 2012 Pune

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