Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), and eco-friendly mobility -Connecting India through National Highway - Business Potential In India-Potential Investment of US$ 50-60 billion over the next five years

Potential Investment of US$ 50-60 billion over the next five years

India has the world’s second largest road network, aggregating over 3.34 million kilometers. The share of road transport in GDP is over 3.6 per cent.

The government's ambitious highway development plan has the potential to add 3% to the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) and provide 10 million jobs.

The National Highways Development Project (NHDP) is a project to upgrade, rehabilitate and widen major highways in India to a higher standard. The project was started in 1998 under the leadership of Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The NHDP represents 49,260 km of roads and highways work and construction in order to boost economic development of the country.

Major Projects

The Golden Quadrilateral - Phase I

The Golden Quadrilateral (GQ; 5,846 km) connecting the four major cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. This project, connecting four metro cities,Total cost of the project is Rs.300 billion (US$6.8 billion).

North-South and East-West corridors- Phase II

North-South and East-West corridors comprising national highways connecting four extreme points of the country. The North–South and East–West Corridor (NS-EW; 7,142 km) connecting Srinagar in the north to Kanyakumari in the south, and Silchar in the east to Porbandar in the west. Total length of the network is 7,142 km. Project cost was of Rs.350 billion (US$8 billion).

Connectivity of state capitals via NHDP- Phase I and II and connectivity to centres of economic importance. - Phase III
NHDP-III to upgrade 12,109 km of national highways on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis,

Convert existing single-lane highways into two lanes with paved shoulders.- Phase IV

Widening 20,000 km of highway.

Four-lane highways will need to be upgraded/expanded to six lanes.- Phase V

Government approved for upgrade of about 5,000 km of four-lane roads.

Connect major commercial and industrial townships. constructing expressways - Phase VI

The government is working on constructing 1,000 km expressways.
Vadodara (earlier Baroda)-Mumbai section -400 Km
Expressway between Chennai—Bangalore -334 Km
Expressway between Kolkata—Dhanbad- 277 Km
The World Bank is studying this project. The project will be funded on BOT basis.

Improvements to city road networks- Phase VII

Improvements to city road networks by adding ring roads to enable easier connectivity with national highways to important cities. In addition, improvements will be made to stretches of national highways that require additional flyovers and bypasses

The government has planned to invest Rs. 16,680 Cr for this phase.
The 19 km (12 mi) long Chennai Port—Maduravoyal Elevated Expressway is being executed under this phase.

Maharastra

10 National Highway projects of 292 kms worth Rs.8,181 Crore in Solapur, Maharashtra

7 National Highway Projects worth Rs.5569 crores in Aurangabad,Maharashtra

Referance: PIB, Wiki

Government Initiatives

Launch of an ambitious National Highway Development Programme (NHDP), involving a total investment of US$ 54.1 billion up to 2012, has been established.
Starting Bharat Nirman programme that aims to cover every village of over 1000 population or over 500 in hilly and tribal areas with an all-weather road. To achieve the targets of Bharat Nirman, 1,46,185 kms of road length is proposed to be constructed by 2009.
Permitting 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) under the automatic route for all road development projects.
Providing various incentives like 100 per cent income tax exemption for a period of 10 years, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) providing grants/viability gap funding for marginal projects; formulation of model concession agreements among others.

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), and eco-friendly mobility

Cooperation with Japan in the sector of highways development, administration, and monitoring with the implementation of digital technology-enabled ITS services  

India sustainable transport goals

Digital transformation in the areas of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), and eco-friendly mobility.

Connectivity India through Ropeways -National Ropeways Development Programme-Parvatmala scheme

National Ropeways Development Programme-Parvatmala scheme 

Connectivity through Ropeways -Himachal Pradesh

NHLML and State Government  for construction of Ropeways in Himachal Pradesh under the  Parvatmala Yojana, 7 ropeway projects of length 57.1km at cost of Rs 3,232 Crore to be constructed in the State

National Ropeways Development Programme will be implemented using a public-private partnership (PPP) model with the goal of improving connectivity and increasing tourism.

Kind Attention: 

• NHLML( National Highways Logistics Management Limited)
• Union Minister for Road transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari
• Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Shri Jai Ram Thakur

Ambitious Parvatmala Yojana

7 ropeway projects of total length 57.1km at total cost of Rs 3,232 Crore will be constructed in the State.

1. Palampur Thatri – Chhunja Glacier of length 13.5km with a cost of Rs. 605 Crore.

2. Shirgul Mahadev Temple to Chudhar ( District – Sirmour) of length 8 km with a cost of Rs. 250 Crore.

3. Lunhu – Bandla (District – Bilaspur) of length 3 km with a cost of Rs. 150 Crore.

4. Himani to Chamunda (District – Kangra) of length 6.5 km with a cost of Rs. 289 Crore.

5. Bijli Mahadev Temple (District - Kullu) of length 3.2 km with a cost of Rs. 200 Crore.

6. Bharmour to Bharmani Mata Temple of length 2.5 km with a cost of Rs. 120 Crore.

7. Killar to Sacch Pass (District – Chamba) of length 20.4 km with a cost of Rs. 1618 Crore.

Ropeways are already in use in Guwahati, Jammu, Gujarat, Nainital.
More projects have been undertaken at Ibudhou Marjing in Imphal, Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib

Reference : PIB, news18

Ropeway Infrastructure

Ropeways are less expensive to build because they are an aerial mode. As a result, despite having a greater construction cost per kilometre than motorways, ropeway projects are more cost-effective to build than roadways.

This particular transportation process also has the advantage of being able to be built in a straight line across mountainous terrain, allowing for the quickest travel time. Additionally, these projects using 3S (three cables — two for support and one for propulsion) or related technologies can convey 6000-8000 passengers per hour.

The Ropeways In India

Gujarat: Girnar Ropeway covers a distance of 2.3 km in under 7.5 minutes. In addition, the Girnar Ropeway offers a spectacular perspective of the lush greenery that surrounds the mountain. Earlier, the only option to visit Girnar Mountain was by climbing 9,000 stairs. Now, the ropeway has given another facility to devotees. It used to take 5-6 hours to travel to the temple; now, it takes only a few minutes. More than 2.13 lakh people have used it in just two and a half months. -Modi inaugurated this Girnar Ropeway on October 24, 2020.

Sikkim: Gangtok’s Bi-Cable Zig Back is known for being one of the most durable, stable and standard ropeway engineering marvels. This is situated at 1,676-m height and covers a 1-km distance within just seven minutes.

Jammu: The Gulmarg Gondola cable car circuit in Jammu is situated at 2,730 meters in height, covers a distance of 2.5 km. This circuit takes visitors to an astounding height from where visitors can spectacular views of the towering mountains.

Assam: The Guwahati Passenger Ropeway, which connects Guwahati and North Guwahati across the Brahmaputra River, was opened to the public on August 24, 2020. This is India’s longest ‘ropeway over a river’, measuring about 2-km long and stretching across the Brahmaputra. The ropeway, built at the cost of Rs 56 crore, has two cabins, each with a capacity of 30 passengers, and one operator. It is one of India’s most modern and longest Aerial Tramway systems for bridging rivers.

Uttarakhand: Aerial Ropeway transports people from Mallital to the Snow View Point, one of the most popular sites to visit in Nainital, with hundreds of visitors flying in each day. This three-minute trip is nothing short of a dream since it provides the best bird’s-eye view of Nainital City and Naini Lake. It is situated at a height of 2,270 m, and takes 151.7 seconds to reach there.

Rajasthan: Mansapurna Karni Mata Ropeway, located 3 km from Udaipur City Railway Station, is a popular cable car ride that connects Sri Karni Mata Temple at Machhala Hill Top and Deendayal Upadhyay Park in Udaipur. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Udaipur and the ride takes only a few minutes.

Future Ropeway Projects Under National Ropeway Development Programme

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB), which is responsible for the development of ropeways in the state. In the beginning, seven projects in Uttarakhand were identified. Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib DPR Ropeway construction are underway, and NIT has been invited to participate.

It was announced that Gap Funding for Passenger Ropeway system from Pelling to Sanga-Choeling in West-Sikkim. The Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North-East “PM-DevINE” would be implemented through the North-Eastern Council, according to the Finance Minister. The new initiative would be given an initial budget of Rs 1,500 crore. The estimated cost of this project is Rs 64 crore.

Separately, PM-DevINE, with a budget of Rs 58 crore, would fund infrastructure and social development projects in the spirit of PM GatiShakti. These initiatives (West Sikkim and South Sikkim) will enable youth and women to engage in livelihood activities, addressing shortages in many sectors, according to the minister. The ropeway project is one of the first projects to be recognised as part of the scheme.

Upcoming projects also include ropeway at Ibudhou Marjing, Imphal East. On January 4 this year, PM Modi paid a visit to the states of Manipur and Tripura. He laid the foundation stone for 22 development projects in Imphal, totalling over Rs 4,800 crore, including a ropeway project at Ibudhou Marjing, Imphal East.

There is another project, which will take place in Hemkund Sahib. Last year, on December 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. While the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor has been completed, the PM announced that plans are in the works to build a ropeway for quick and easy access to Hemkund Sahib.

Policy Level support from The Government of India

The Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules 1961 were revised in February last year, allowing the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to oversee the development of ropeways and alternative modes of transportation. The action will assist the industry by establishing a regulatory framework.

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways