HIGHWAYS
Highway contracts stuck for a right scheme
NHAI struggles to meet expressway construction targets amid investment constraints in India's road infrastructure development.
NHAI activates flood plan after IMD forecast
NHAI's proactive flood plan, joint inspections, and resource availability ensure effective disaster preparedness amid above-normal monsoon forecasts. Collaboration with district administration and constant monitoring safeguard lives and national highways.
NHAI to do GIS-based land acquisition for upcoming national highway projects
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Tuesday entered into an MoU with the Survey of India for development and validation of GIS-based land acquisition plan for upcoming national highway projects in the country. As per the agreement, the Survey of India will help develop standard operating procedures and in preparation of terms of reference for consultants preparing a detailed project report for land acquisition.
NHAI sets up dedicated cell to review detailed project reports of national highways
The NHAI has established a DPR cell at its headquarters in New Delhi to meticulously review detailed project reports for national highway projects, aiming to ensure high construction standards, cost efficiency, and timely completion. This dedicated cell, comprising around 40 professionals with expertise in various domains, will harmonise the review process and guarantee the preparation of quality DPRs before project execution for uniformity and project success.
After proposing no tolls for poor highways, Nitin Gadkari asks officials to work on passes for cars
Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has proposed the introduction of monthly or annual passes for cars on the National Highway network to simplify toll collection and reduce commuter hassles. This suggestion comes alongside his call for tolls to be waived on poorly maintained highways, emphasizing the need for quality service before collecting tolls.
NHAI InviT head Suresh Goyal to quit
Prior to joining NHAI InvIT, Goyal was the Head of Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets for South East Asia & India region. Under Goyal, Macquarie Group had won the rights to manage 648km of national highways by bidding Rs 9,682 crore in an auction National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in 2018.
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Highway tolls shouldn't be charged for pothole-filled or muddy roads, Nitin Gadkari tells highway agencies
Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari emphasized that highway agencies should not charge tolls for poorly maintained roads. Speaking at a global workshop on satellite-based tolling, he stressed that good services must precede toll collection. Gadkari addressed the inefficiencies and long wait times at toll plazas, promoting a GNSS-based toll collection system to enhance transparency and efficiency, reducing logistics costs and benefiting users.
GNSS-based toll collection to add Rs 10,000 crore to India’s toll revenue: Nitin Gadkari
Speaking at the international workshop on GNSS-based electronic toll collection in India, union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari said since commercial vehicles including trucks account for 75% of annual toll revenue it is important that the new system is implemented on commercial vehicles first. India’s toll collection stood at Rs 64,809.86 crore in 2023-24 as against Rs 48,028.22 crore in 2022-23, an increase of 34.9%.
NHAI to collaborate with IIIT Delhi to enhance road safety through artificial intelligence
As per the ministry of road transport and highways, NHAI and IIIT Delhi has entered into an MoU under which IIIT Delhi will conduct surveys for collecting imagery and other data related to availability and condition of road signages on selected national highways stretches spread over 25,000 km for accurate identification and classification of road signs.
Road construction down by 12.1% to 1288 km in the current financial year up to May 2024
As per the monthly update, released the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) on Wednesday, the capital expenditure incurred during the period stood at Rs 57,925 crore till May 2024, which is 42.5% of the capital outlay under the vote on account provision for the first five months of 2024- 25.
NHAI to offer Rs 44,000 cr worth of BOT road projects in FY25; PPP mode may return to fast lane
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to offer 15 road projects valued at Rs 44,000 crore, covering 900 km, under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) mode in FY25. This initiative aims to revive public-private-partnership projects in highways, following amendments to the model concession agreement earlier this year. These projects are part of a larger plan to offer 53 projects worth over Rs 2.2 lakh crore, spanning 5,200 km, under BOT mode over the next three to five years.
NHAI to undertake Miyawaki plantations along national highways to restore green cover
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), under the ministry of road transport and highways, has identified 53 acres of land parcel adjacent to national highways in and around Delhi and the national capital region where Miyawaki method of Japan will be used for plantations during the upcoming monsoon season and the process will be replicated across India following its success in Delhi-NCR, NHAI said in a statement.
NHAI to monetise assets with Rs 15000 to Rs 20000 crore in 2024-25 through InvIT
The National Highways Infra Trust (NHIT), its infrastructure investment trust formed in October 2020, has so far garnered Rs 26,125 crore in three rounds of monetisation with the per unit net asset value at Rs 124.75 as against the launched value of Rs 101 per unit in November 2021.
Nitin Gadkari- a go-getter and man behind India's mega push to road infrastructure
Senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari, known as the 'Highway Man of India', has been instrumental in the construction of national highways and new roads, serving as the Minister for Road Transport & Highways in the last two governments led by Narendra Modi.
NHAI's revised toll rates come to effect across highways
NHAI has hiked toll charges by 5% on national highways. The revised user fee has been implemented from Monday, affecting motorists across the country.
India to increase road toll charges from Monday
India will hike road toll charges across the country by 3-5% from Monday, officials said, after putting the annual increase on hold in April due to the country's general elections. Toll charges in India are revised annually in line with inflation, and highway operators have announced hikes of 3% to 5% at nearly 1,100 toll plazas starting Monday.
Highway builders want infra loans provision pared to 2%
"By increasing the provisioning from 0.4% to 5%, project viability will be the biggest impediment as interest cost will increase which is turn will increase the cost of the project both for the investor as well as the government," the National Highways Builders Federation (NHBF) said in its submission to the National Highways Authority of India, the finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of India.
India's infrastructure leap under PM Modi: Former NITI Aayog CEO Kant highlights nation's capex drive
Amitabh Kant highlighted India's infra advancements over the past nine years, noting a tripling of cities with metro coverage, 92,000 km of new highways, and a 100% increase in airports and port handling capacity. Additionally, India has electrified 40,000 km of railway lines, built 120 million toilets and 50 million homes, and provided piped water to 250 million people, achieving 100% household electrification.
Infrastructure cost overruns hit a 12-month high
Cost overruns and delays continued to afflict central government projects in April with experts citing the general election as a key reason for the current slowdown in infrastructure activity. The ratio of cost overruns in central government projects hit a 12-month high of 20.09% in April, rising from 18.65% in the previous month, government data showed on Tuesday.
Road Ministry against hike in project lending rates, bats for status quo
"RBI, as a regulator, will have to create that balance to ensure financial viability of road projects does not take a hit," an official said. The central bank earlier this month proposed tighter norms, requiring lenders to allocate 5% of the project loan amount as general provisions during the construction phase, up from 0.4% provisions now.
NHAI's road assets monetisation can fetch up to Rs 60,000 cr for govt this fiscal
ICRA predicts NHAI's road asset monetization plan could yield up to Rs 60,000 crore in FY2025, part of the National Monetisation Pipeline. NHAI plans to sell 33 assets through toll-operate-transfer (TOT) and InvIT modes, totaling 2,750 km with Rs 4,931 crore annual toll collection, likely attracting various investor types.
NHAI's infra trust got $217.13 mn in FY24 from Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) announced investments totaling USD 217.13 million in the National Highways Infra Trust and USD 394.78 million in Interise Trust for road concessions acquisition. Additionally, they committed USD 100 million to Kedaara Capital Fund IV and USD 300 million to an India-based asset manager focusing on credit opportunities. The organization manages funds for over 22 million contributors and beneficiaries of the Canada Pension Plan, investing globally in various asset classes.
NHAI receives 164 insurance surety bonds as guarantee for road projects
In a workshop organized on Wednesday on the implementation of insurance surety bonds (ISB) for NHAI contracts, NHAI said out of the 164 ISBs received, 20 bonds are for performance security and 144 bonds are for bid security. It is estimated that around 700 insurance surety bonds valued at around Rs 3,000 crore have been issued by different insurance companies so far.
National Highways construction to decline by 7-10% to 31 km/day in FY25: CareEdge Ratings
CareEdge Ratings predicts a 7-10% slowdown in the pace of National Highways construction in India, estimating around 31 km/day for the current fiscal year due to increased execution challenges. Despite a healthy 20% uptick to 34 km/day in FY24, the agency expects a decrease to 11,100-11,500 km in FY25. The pace remains lower than FY21's 37 km/day due to execution difficulties and competition. BOT-HAM remains the preferred mode of award, constituting around 55% of projects awarded during FY21-24.
Road ministry working on mega plan for building 50,000 km of new, access-controlled, expressways
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is set to unveil a plan for constructing 50,000 km of new expressways by 2037 in the first 100 days of the new government. The program, replacing Bharatmala, aligns with Vision 2047 and aims to reduce logistic costs and modernize road infrastructure.
As India gives effect to new highway-building playbook, a key change in measuring method is coming
The govt is looking to modify its measuring method from ‘road km’ to ‘lane km’ from this financial year. This is part of India's shifting focus to building more expressways and roads that have at least four lanes.
Road ministry capex surpasses Rs 3 lakh crore in 2023-24
Ministry of Roads Transport and Highways achieved a record capital expenditure in 2023-24, constructing 12,349 km of national highways. Despite exceeding capex targets, project awards and constructions fell short of initial goals.
NHAI spends record ₹2.07 lakh cr in 2023-24, builds 6,644 km of roads
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) spent a record ₹2,07,000 crore on national highway construction in 2023-24, marking a 20% increase from previous years. The construction of highways reached 6,644 km, a 53% increase from the previous year. NHAI's monetization receipts reached ₹40,314 crore in FY 2023-24, 70% higher than the previous year.
Amritsar-Jamnagar Expressway: Time, cost, distance, pics and marvellous features
The Amritsar-Jamnagar Expressway, which is under construction, will be the longest ever built in India upon completion. It will stretch for a colossal 1,256.95 kilometers (781 miles), connecting Amritsar in Punjab to Jamnagar in Gujarat. A section of the 4/6 lane highway was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi last year in July.
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