Bharat Rakshak

Nikhil:<P>The worry about lane expansion leading to lane closure is not really justified. The concession agreements lay down very stiff penalties for lane closure. Also, if you see the current construction of the NHAI highways (I have driven on some of these roads), there is no disturbance to traffic.<P>Also, let me add why it makes sense to make bridges for future capacity while not making roads. Bridges have a low incremental cost for additional lanes since the main cost is the pylons (the towers sunk in the water). There is not a very high differential between a 4 lane bridge and 6 lane bridge. Future expansion of bridges would imply the sinking of new pylons and hence it adds enormously to expenses. For the stretches of road on level ground on the other hand, expansion would cost the same as construction right in the beginning.<P>Finally, if we have the money, sure, we could go for 6 lane roads everywhere (though I would even contest that). But if the choice is between construction of 6000Km of good four lane highways and 4000Km of 6-lane highways, I would go for the former anyday, as long as the demand was for 4-lane roads currently. This is how the whole world functions and this is how we should function too. Even in the US, where there is demand for only 4 lanes, highways are four lanes (e.g. The East-West tollway for those who live in Chicago). The whole Australian road network is 4 lane and nobody has any doubts about whether lanes would be closed for repairs etc.

Nikhil:<P>Your asked about Rest Areas on the NHAI highways. The following document gives an example of the facilities on these highways, if you have the time to go through it. This is a model concession agreement ont he NHAI website (though it is an actual document for the Panagarh-Palsit part of the Delhi-Calcutta highway). Unfortunately, I am on a slow link just now and cannot easily open this (rather long) pdf file. Hence, you would have to search this file if you are interested.<P> <A HREF="http://www.nhai.org/annuity.pdf" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nhai.org/annuity.pdf</A> <P>In short, there are rest areas on every highway with specifications for the construction and maintanence standards for the restaurants, toilets and even the garbage bins laid out in detail (and penalties for poor construction or poor maintenance). Besides, there are truck laybys at several locations, even on this small stretch of highway (usually at existing Dhaba locations). These truck laybys would have proper entry and exit lanes, parking areas for trucks and areas for the Dhabas, besides toilets. <P>Reading this concession document is pretty fascinating, since it is clear that NHAI is following international standards for both construction and maintenance. Since only large companies (many international) are getting the contracts, and the same company has to maintain the highway as well, construction would be of good standard. For proper maintenance, they have instituted proper systems of reporting and audit. There are strict guidelines for completion of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and severe penalties in case of default.<P>Also, if you see the tenders section on the NHAI site ( <A HREF="http://www.nhai.org/bmc.pdf" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nhai.org/bmc.pdf</A> ), you would see a document for their recent invitation for bids for the operation and maintenance of four stretches of highways. This also has details about the project facilities. Besides the facilities laid out in the Panagarh-Palsit document, it also details the intelligent traffic management infrastructure, including automatic video imaging, emergency call boxes, automatic toll gates, variable message signs etc.

Found the following article regarding road engineering safety. <BR><A HREF="http://www.timesofindia.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=1263889502" TARGET=_blank>Link</A>

Tough penalties for highway regulation violators<BR> <A HREF="http://www.business-standard.com/today/test8.asp?menu=4" TARGET=_blank>http://www.business-standard.com/today/test8.asp?menu=4</A> <P><BR>On a sidenote, one of the most damaging elements to a road is overloaded trucks. It seems to me that one of the key things being left out of the NHAI roads and Indian highways in general are truck weighing stations. These stations would be used to see if trucks are being overloaded and if so, then fined but it wouldn't be a crushing fine but enough to sting. This would be a way of limiting the overloading and eventually bring in a culture of following the rules.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Vick:<BR><B>Tough penalties for highway regulation violators<BR> <A HREF="http://www.business-standard.com/today/test8.asp?menu=4" TARGET=_blank>http://www.business-standard.com/today/test8.asp?menu=4</A> <P><BR>On a sidenote, one of the most damaging elements to a road is overloaded trucks. It seems to me that one of the key things being left out of the NHAI roads and Indian highways in general are truck weighing stations. These stations would be used to see if trucks are being overloaded and if so, then fined but it wouldn't be a crushing fine but enough to sting. This would be a way of limiting the overloading and eventually bring in a culture of following the rules.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Vick:<P>That is not correct. Besides the regular weigh-stations, NHAI is also introducing Weigh-in-motion devices on all stretches of National Highway. These devices provide an almost accurate estimate of the weight of the truck when it is in motion (even at high speeds). If any truck exceeds the limit, it would be automatically photographed and a message would go to the control room and the exit toll-gate.<P>For details, just see the link that I posted in my earlier post, in reply to Nikhil (the global bid documents for Operations& Maintenance contract for the Gurgaon-Amer and Ballabhgarh-Agra sections).

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Joe Fernz:<BR><B> They need cement highways, not the tar macadam type which comes off during wet weather.<P></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Indian contractors will ensure even the cement will come off during wet weather..

Just saw the movie "Dil Chahata Hai" - is'nt that the B'bay-Puna highway that they show when they<BR>go to Goa for a vacation? It sure looked like one of the pictures(still) i've seen here. Just wondering<BR>because the highway does'nt(whichever it is) look too shaby.<BR>BTW the movie is worth watching - a refreshing change from your regular norm.

Sridhar and other informed members,<P>What's to prevent the 4 legged speed breakers from venturing out on these highways while crossing over to greener pastures ?<P>On an NH in Tamil Nadu, our Tata Sumo was held up by the locals because our driver ran over a chicken that suddenly came flying on to the road. And then we have had to slow/stop to allow herds of cattle and buffalo to cross at other places too.<P>Has NHAI taken these into account in it's GQ and other highways ?<p>[This message has been edited by Vikram (edited 24-08-2001).]

The first stretches of NHAI highways already built (Delhi-Agra, Delhi-Jaipur etc.) are not fenced. The newer contracts mostly include fences in the project itself (at least on heavily populated stretches). Underpasses, at every reasonably sized village, and at regular intervals otherwise(every 4 Kms, so that the max distance for anybody is 2Kms.) are being constructed to allow people and animals to cross.<P>Having said that, the number of underpasses planned is lower than ideal on many stretches (though it is adequate on others), with the consequence that using them would mean a significant detour (about 2 kms. or so). I am sure our villagers would try to find ingenious ways of overcoming the ditches/fences. A significant part of the Operation and Maintenance contract is the daily inspection routine to prevent such tampering of the safety features of the highway. <P>The experience on the Mumbai-Pune expressway has been pretty good in this respect (it has underpasses/overpasses every 2 kms so that nobody has to walk more than a km). It remains to be seen if this change from 1Km to 2Km implies a difference in compliance with the no-crossing rule on the NHAI highways.

A special thanks to contributors of this thread especially Sridhar and others. This has been very educative to me. <P>Once R. Venkatraman, the former President was talking at a private gathering informally. He mentioned that when he was the Industries Minister in TN, Shri Kamaraj, the legendary CM of Tamil Nadu told him in his inimitable way, "First build good roads, industry and development will follow." <P>How true is that statement. I am happy to see that this initiative being given the due importance and the professional management that it deserves. This could be a better legacy for the PM than chasing some mirge of peace with Pakistan.<P>Recommend archiving of this thread. Can knowledgable members discuss here the possible development of technology and engineering capabilities that can be transfered from Defence sector to these infrastructure sectors? Or even vice versa?<P>If the projects are being managed efficiently and completed on targets, the project management experience is one thing which can be shared.<P>

PMO to review NHDP progress today <P>Anil Sasi in New Delhi <P>The Prime Minister's Office will review the progress of the Rs 58,000-crore national highways development project (NHDP) on September 5. <P>The meeting assumes significance in view of the government's assertions that NHDP is one of the most crucial projects, entailing significant government spending, for reviving the sluggish domestic economy. <P>At the meeting, to be attended by the concerned ministries, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is scheduled to give a presentation on the progress in awarding contracts for the different segments of the project. <P>The meeting will also assess the time schedule for the completion of project, set at December 2003. <P>The road transport and highways ministry had set a target of awarding all contracts on the golden quadrilateral section of the project by July 2001. <P>But it is left with about 1,500 km which is yet to be awarded for upgradation. These stretches are mainly confined to the World Bank-funded national highway no 2 and national highway no 8. <P>NHDP, which involves multi-laning of 13,252 km of national highways, comprises two separate projects --- upgradation of 5,952 km of golden quadrilateral connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta and 7,300 km of North-South corridor joining Srinagar with Kanyakumari and East-West corridor linking Silchar with Porbandar. <P>Upgradation of these corridors is scheduled for completion by 2007, but all the focus is presently on award of all contracts on the golden quadrilateral. <P>Note: Business Standard does not have archives

Probably the New Highway development would be a very nice project to begin with..<P><B>Steps to tackle slowdown under way: Sinha </B><P><A HREF="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=1812903906" TARGET=_blank>web page</A>

I still have'nt seen a single picture of the Delhi Noida Flyway besides the India Today pic where a guy's standing in front of the toll booths. <BR>Anyone have good pictures?

Good question Anurag I have no idea why the media does not show the achievements that we have accomplished. I want to see the Delhi-Noida toll bride. But somethings cannot be disclosed so you have to in person or get clearance for your questions to be answered. Iwish that when I read car news that companies fully disclose what they have in stock for the customers (features).<P> Are there ny other highways that are 6 lane bsides the Mumbai-Pune expressway? Just wondering.

<A HREF="http://www.msue.msu.edu/vanburen/India/images/roads35.jpg" TARGET=_blank>http://www.msue.msu.edu/vanburen/India/images/roads35.jpg</A> <A HREF="http://www.mumbai-central.com/album/80.jpg " TARGET=_blank>http://www.mumbai-central.com/album/80.jpg </A>

Sorry about posting the whole article but the Business Standard does not have archives. Goes to show that public spending in the right things are beneficial.<P><BR>Road sector logs 69% growth in 1999-2000 <P>Our Economy Bureau in New Delhi<P>The country's roads sector has been among the fastest growing infrastructure areas, while the coal and power sectors have seen a declining trend in growth rates during the past decade. <P>From a negative rate of growth of minus 11.7 per cent in 1996-97 and minus 34.9 per cent in 1997-98, upgradation of highways led to increase in growth rates for the roads sector to 47.6 per cent and 68.6 per cent during 1998-99 and 1999-2000, respectively. <P>With the initiation of the Rs 58,000 crore National Highways Development Project for upgradation of roads in the country last year, the rate of growth for the sector is expected to be sustained at high levels over the next few years. <P>Similarly passengers handled at the country's airports has been increasing at domestic and international terminals. <P>Growth of passengers handled at domestic terminals increased from a negative growth rate of 2.8 per cent in 1997-98 to 7.4 per cent in 1999-2000 and 7.7 per cent in 2000-01. <P>Passengers at international terminals grew at 4.6 per cent in 2000-01, as compared to a growth rate of 3.1 per cent in 1997-98. <P>Cargo handled at major ports grew at 3.5 per cent in 1991-92, with growth rates touching 10 per cent and 9.2 per cent during 1994-95 and 1995-96, when the domestic economy witnessed a boom. <P>Growth in ports has since then slowed down marginally, with the sector registering a growth rate of 3.3 per cent in 2000-01. <P>Similarly, the growth of revenue earning freight traffic in the railways has averaged around four per cent during the last decade, with 1999-2000 being an exceptionally good year which saw a 8.4 per cent growth in freight traffic. <P>In the petroleum sector, crude oil growth rates increased, from minus 8.1 per cent in 1991-92 to 19.2 per cent in the high growth year of 1994-95, ending the year at 1.6 per cent. <P>Refinery capacity saw an increase from minus 0.7 per cent to over 20 per cent during both 1999-00 and 2000-01. <P>On the flip side, both the power and coal sectors, which saw a growth of 8.5 per cent and 8.3 per cent respectively in 1991-92, registered a lower rate of growth by the end of the decade. <P>While the power sector grew at 3.9 per cent in 2000-01, the coal sector registered a 3 per cent growth over the last year. <P>The cement sector, which registered a growth rate of 10.3 per cent in 1991-92, experinced mediocre growth for a few years and then registered a 14 per cent growth during 1999-2000. The sector, however, ended the year at a negative growth rate of 0.5 per cent in 2000-01.

NHAI talks LIC into more investments in the road sector<BR> <A HREF="http://www.financialexpress.com/fe20010926/top1.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.financialexpress.com/fe20010926/top1.html</A>

Contracts for Golden Quadrilateral by December <P>Our Economy Bureau in New Delhi<P>The government is likely to award contracts for multi-laning and upgradation for the entire 5,851 km of the National Highway Development Project's golden Quadrilateral (GQ) component by the end of the current year. <P>Of the total length of the GQ project -- which entails multi-laning of national highways connecting the four metros (Delhi-Mumbai- Chennai-Kolkata) -- contracts totaling 1,070 km were still left for award till September 2001. <P>Of this, 214 km is expected to be awarded by October this year, and 769 km would be awarded by November. <P>Contracts on the balance 87 km would be awarded by end-December 2001, NHAI chairman Deepak Dasgupta said. <P>The ministry of road transport and highways had been targeting award of all contracts on the GQ by July this year, but is confident that, despite the delay in awards, bulk of the work on the quadrilaterals would be completed by December 2003. <P>The other component of the Rs 54,000 crore NHDP -- the North South-East West corridors -- entails multi-laning of 7,300 km of national highways joining the four extremes (Srinagar-Kanyakumari, Silchar-Porbandar)of the country. <P>Of this, 675 km has already been four laned and 739 km is under various stages of implementation. <P>The remaining 5,886 km of the corridors project would be awarded by 2005, with the project scheduled for completion by end of 2007. <P>In addition, projects for upgradation of 381 km of roads connecting the 10 major ports to the nearest national highways, would be awarded by the end of the current year, Dasgupta said. <P>Note: Business Standard does not have archives, hence the full article.

Road transport sector has been one of saving graces on Indian economy last quarter.<P>Indian GDP grew by 4.4% mainly due to services sector which grew by 9.9% while others agri and industrial grew by less than 3%. Within services sector Road transport has been key driver!!<P>Guess 'Information Highway' has finally been beaten by just plain vanila 'Highways'. And the best part is this growth is independent of what happens in US, Europe or our smoldering neighbourhood!! unlike IT!!<P>A very positive news indeed!! <P>I really like going thru this thread. Let's keep it alive!! <P>Shyamala, please can you remove or downsize the picture, it creates problems with page-width!! thanks

Punj Lloyd gets 77-km road rehab project from NHAI<BR> <A HREF="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/today/cm13.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/today/cm13.htm</A>

Check out the new updated NAHI site..<BR> <A HREF="http://www.nhai.org" TARGET=_blank>www.nhai.org</A>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> From a negative rate of growth of minus 11.7 per cent in 1996-97 and minus 34.9 per cent in 1997-98, upgradation of highways led to increase in growth rates for the roads sector to 47.6 per cent and 68.6 per cent during 1998-99 and 1999-2000, respectively. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>How do you get a negative growth rate in roads development?!

Amitabh:<P>I think what is being referred to is the <B>investment</B> in the roads sector, since output as such is not a perfectly measurable quantity in this sector (particularly in a scenario like ours which is largely toll-free).<P>Thus there was a decline in investment in the years mentioned and investment has grown massively in the current year.

<B>Innovative Scheme to bring traffic to Noida Toll Bridge</B><P> <A HREF="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/today/05infr03.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/today/05infr03.htm</A> <P>This company is trying everything, including free lunches to attract traffic. On a serious note, the success of this project is crucial for urban road/expressway projects in India. It is the first intra-city expressway project in the private sector and future investment would be affected by its success/failure.

An interesting link at the NHAI site about the Wayside Amenities to be provided in the GQ highway. This is a tender announcement for the amenities to be provided at two places on the Ahmedabad-Vadodra stretch.<P> <A HREF="http://www.nhai.org/tender111.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nhai.org/tender111.htm</A> <P>If this is assumed to be standard, we can expect such facilities every 50 Kms or so (Ahmedabad-Vadodra is a 93 Km stretch).

Some cool pictures from the NHAI website. They have a new NHAI brochure, which has a lot of information, maps and pictures (in addition to the usual rhetoric )<P>1. Part of Gurgaon-Kotputli section on NH8<BR> <A HREF="http://www.nhai.org/np35.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nhai.org/np35.htm</A> <BR>2. Unknown stretch of Highway<BR> <A HREF="http://www.nhai.org/np26.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nhai.org/np26.htm</A> <BR>3. Section of NH5 (Chennai-Kolkata GQ) in Vijayawada (AP)<BR> <A HREF="http://www.nhai.org/np16.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nhai.org/np16.htm</A> <BR>4. Some Bridges<BR> <A HREF="http://www.nhai.org/np15.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nhai.org/np15.htm</A> <BR>5. A trumpet Interchange on NH-8<BR> <A HREF="http://www.nhai.org/np11.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nhai.org/np11.htm</A> <P>Some maps of the National Highway Development Project<BR>1. Map of GQ, NS and EW Highways<BR> <A HREF="http://www.nhai.org/np18.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nhai.org/np18.htm</A> <BR>2. Map of GQ showing the current NHs which would be converted into the respective GQ sections.<BR> <A HREF="http://www.nhai.org/np20.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nhai.org/np20.htm</A> <BR>3. Map of NS/EW Highways showing respective NH sections<BR> <A HREF="http://www.nhai.org/np34.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nhai.org/np34.htm</A> <BR>4. Map of Major Port Connections<BR> <A HREF="http://www.nhai.org/np38.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nhai.org/np38.htm</A> <P>Further, the brochure has updated information about the current status of the various projects. The link to the brochure is <A HREF="http://www.nhai.org/brouchernew.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nhai.org/brouchernew.htm</A>

Some more nice picture of the new highways in India.<P> <A HREF="http://images.photogallery.indiatimes.com/zoomimg.asp?imid=36967895" TARGET=_blank>http://images.photogallery.indiatimes.com/zoomimg.asp?imid=36967895</A><P> <A HREF="http://www.unescap.org/jecf/images/f06highway05.jpg" TARGET=_blank>http://www.unescap.org/jecf/images/f06highway05.jpg</A> <P> <A HREF="http://www.unescap.org/jecf/images/f06highway04.jpg" TARGET=_blank>http://www.unescap.org/jecf/images/f06highway04.jpg</A> <P> <A HREF="http://www.unescap.org/jecf/images/f06highway06.jpg" TARGET=_blank>http://www.unescap.org/jecf/images/f06highway06.jpg</A> <BR>Note the new retro-reflective signages on this highway (and also the slow moving tractors )<P> <A HREF="http://www.msue.msu.edu/vanburen/India/images/roads37.jpg" TARGET=_blank>http://www.msue.msu.edu/vanburen/India/images/roads37.jpg</A> <BR>Delhi Jaipur Highway

seeing the vehicles in the pictures, it is right time, lane discipline knowledge is imparted by gov/ngo etc.

MP to invest Rs 2,500cr on roads <BR> <A HREF="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=623700655" TARGET=_blank>http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=623700655</A>

<B>'Full road connectivity by 2007' </B><P><A HREF="http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/02120009.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/02120009.htm</A>

NHAI plans unified toll setup along golden quadrilateral <P> <A HREF="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=45062705" TARGET=_blank>http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=45062705</A>

Another picture of the new NHDP highways that I liked a lot. This is from the Agra Dholpur section of NH3<P> <A HREF="http://www.nhai.org/images/prns5.jpg" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nhai.org/images/prns5.jpg</A> <P>Note the separate service lane for local traffic.

Here is a pic that I like and heralds what is to come... hopefully.<P>

Vick, do you know where this picture was taken?<P>The barriers at the side of the road look very similar to the ones they use in the US.

seems to be a collage of two pics. the<BR>fittings are better than ones I have seen<BR>anywhere.

The picture does look slightly touched up. Especially the sky, I think.

Vick:<P>Awesome find!! I somehow missed this photo completely. Though it stumps me that NHAI does not have this as its cover picture and have it stored unused.<P>The quality of the NHDP highways are more or less as they are shown in the picture - guard rails, crash barriers, concrete guard posts - the works. They have been a bit stingy on the signage (few huge overhead signages, mostly on the side of the road) and on interchanges. But hey, we can't expect the moon!<P>I never thought even a few years ago that I would actually see such a picture from India. Kudos to Vajpayee, Gen Khanduri (the minister for road transport) and NHAI!<P>The picture is probably from the Gurgaon-Kotputli stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai GQ highway, which is the best developed stretch as of now. This must be just outside Gurgaon, indicated by the narrow median, which is allowed only in urban stretches of the NHDP highways, In rural stretches, the median is at least 3.5m (one lane) wide.

The road between Bhubaneswar to Cuttack is 4 lane and is exactly like US freeways. It is a 30 km stretch and has reduced driving time from over 1 hr to 20-30 mins.

The pics have been heavily processed - though mainly the scenery/grass. But the highways seem largely untouched. <P>Where is this place?<P>If all we do is criss-cross India with such highways, that will be enough to turn the country into what we all want it to be.