2017 has been a major milestone year for the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. While the period since 2014 to 2016 was utilised for the purposes of reform and course correction, 2017 witnessed consolidation, culmination and the rollout of a new road-map for the Highways sector. Keeping the rapid developments in the sector in mind, RBI appreciated the highway infrastructure development sector in their Annual Report 2016-17, noting that there is a decline in cost and time overruns to the tune of Rs. 1.5 Billion and an all-time rise in award and construction of highways projects including a peak of daily additions to the roads constructed. Further, it pointed out that stalled projects had declined, both in terms of value and numbers. Another creditworthy development was that following the upgrade of India's sovereign rating from Baa3 positive to Baa2 stable on 16th November 2017, Moody's Investors Service upgraded the issuer ratings of National Highways Authority of India to Baa2 from Baa3 and revised the outlook to stable from positive.
1.2 2017 witnessed several highlights. This was the year when engineering marvels like the Dhola Sadiya bridge in Assam and Chenani Nashri tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir were opened up to connect far-off areas and pave the way for their socio-economic development. This was also the year that saw the launch of Bharatmala Pariyojana, India’s largest ever highways development programme that promises to optimize the efficiency of road traffic movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps. In the area of road safety too, we witnessed a slight decrease in the number of road accidents.
1.3 Year 2017 can also be seen as a major turning point for transport planning in the country, with the idea of multi-modal transport development gaining ground. The Union Budget 2017-18 set the ground for this with a comprehensive budget for the transport sector as a whole. MoRTH took the idea further by organising the India Integrated Transport and Logistics Summit, organized in May 2017 and by actively promoting multi-modal transport planning with greater synergy in investments in railways, roads, waterways and civil aviation.
1.4 The Ministry and its project executing organizations have carried forward the good work of the previous years in 2017, expanding the national highways network in the country, taking various steps to make these highways safer for the commuter and making best efforts to minimize adverse impacts on the environment. Significant activities taken up by the Ministry during the year are as follows:
2. CONSTRUCTION OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
2.1 Award / Construction Statistics:
Award and construction activity is a direct consequence of demand, land availability and management of contracts. March 2017 witnessed the highest awards at 15948 kilometres and construction at 8231 kilometres. The table below details the trends of NH construction over the years:
Year
|
Award (kms)
|
Construction (kms)
|
2014-15
|
7972
|
4410
|
2015-16
|
10098
|
6061
|
2016-17
|
15948
|
8231
|
Note: 2017-18 is work in progress and with the finalisation of the Bharatmala Pariyojana and its contours, the activity of award and construction has been focused in concerted directions
| ||
2.2 New Programmes, Projects and Structures
(i) Bharatmala Pariyojana: Phase-I
This is a new umbrella program for the highways sector that aims to optimize the efficiency of road traffic movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps. Special attention has been paid to fulfilling the connectivity needs of areas of economic activity, places of religious and tourist interest, border areas, backward and tribal areas, coastal areas and trade routes with neighbouring countries under the programme. Multi-modal integration is one of the key focuses of this programme. A total of around 53,000 kms of NHs have been identified to improve National Corridor efficiency, of which 24,800 kms are to be taken up in Phase-I, which will be implemented over a period of five years i.e. 2017-18 to 2021-22 in a phased manner. This includes 5,000 kms of the National Corridors, 9000 kms of Economic Corridors, 6000 km of Feeder Corridors and lnter-Corridors, 2000 kms of Border Roads, 2,000 kms of Coastal Roads and Port Connectivity Roads and 800 kms of Green-field Expressways.Total likely fund provision for Bharatmala Phase-I is Rs. 5,35,000 cr. Bharatmala will be a major driver for economic growth in the country. lt is estimated that more than 35 crore man-days of employment shall be generated under Phase-l of the programme.
(ii) Chenani- Nashri Tunnel
An ideal example of the government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Skill India’ initiative, the 9 km long, twin-tube, all-weather tunnel between Udhampur and Ramban in Jammu & Kashmir is not only India’s longest highway tunnel but also Asia’s longest bi-directional highway tunnel. Built at an elevation of 1200 metres on one of the most difficult Himalayan terrains, the tunnel cuts the travel time between Jammu and Srinagar by two hours, bypassing about 41 kms of road length. It will also ensure an all-weather passage on a route that often sees heavy traffic jams and disruptions due to landslides, snow, sharp curves, breakdown of vehicles and accidents. The tunnel has been constructed at a cost of about Rs 3720 crores and is a part of the 286-km-long project for four-laning of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
(iii) Dhola Sadiya Bridge
The Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, inaugurated India's longest bridge- the 9.15 km long Dhola-Sadiya Bridge over River Brahmaputra in Assam on 26th May 2017. The bridge has ensured 24x7 connectivity between upper Assam and Eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh, marking a major transformation from the ferry-based, day-only connectivity that collapsed during floods. It has considerably reduced the distance and travel time between the two states. The distance between Rupai on NH- 37 in Assam to Meka/Roing on NH-52 in Arunachal Pradesh has been cut down by 165 KM. The travel time between the two places has come down from six hours to just one hour – a total five hour reduction.
(iv) Extra-dosed Bridge across River Narmada at Bharuch
A new four lane, Extra-dosed Bridge across river Narmada at Bharuch, inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 9th of March 2017, has brought major relief for people travelling on the Vadodara- Surat section of NH-8. The 1.4 km ‘Extradosed’ cable stayed bridge is the longest in India and the second such bridge in the country after Nivedita Setu over Hooghly.
(v) Bridge over River Chambal at Kota
A 6-lane Cable Stayed Bridge across river Chambal at Kota was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 29thAugust 2017. Built at a cost of Rs. 278 Crores, this bridge marks the completion of the East-West corridor.
2.3 Status/ Progress of important programmes/ projects under implementation
(i) Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna
The projects envisages development of easy access to the four prominent Dhams, namely, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedranath and Badrinath, situated in the state of Uttrakhand. These four Dhams are prominent pilgrimage centres. The project entails development of 889 km of roads with configuration of two-lane with paved shoulders at an estimated cost of about Rs. 12,000 crore. So far, 24 works have been sanctioned traversing a length of 395 kilometres. 22 works covering a length of 340 kilometre have been awarded. The projects are being taken up on EPC mode amd the program is targeted for completion by March, 2020
(ii) Eastern Peripheral Expressway– Western Peripheral Expressway
The project of Peripheral Expressways around Delhi, comprising Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) and Western Peripheral Expressway (WPE) emanating from NH-1 (near Kundli) and terminating at NH-2 (near Palwal), bypassing Delhi aims to decongest Delhi and reduce pollution levels in the NCR. While the EPE is being developed by the NHAI, the WPE is being developed by the State of Haryana. Each of these Expressways is 135 km long, leading to an outer-outer ring road of 270 kms for Delhi. These Peripheral Expressways are to be access controlled six-lane roads. The work, being executed in six packages, is due for completion before March 2018.
(iii) Delhi-Meerut Expressway
The Delhi-Meerut Expressway aims to provide a fast link between the two cities. The alignment of DME starts from Nizammudin Bridge from Delhi and follows existing NH 24 upto Dasna. While one leg of DME will continue from Dasna on NH 24 to Hapur, a Greenfield alignment has been planned from Dasna to Meerut. The 8.7 km, 14-lane highway is being completed in a record time of about 15 months as against the originbal scheduled completion period of 30 months. This first stretch from Nizamudin Bridge to UP Border is provisioned with with 14 lanes, and has several features that would help reduce pollution. These include a 2.5 metre wide cycle track on either side of the highway, a vertical garden on the Yamuna Bridge, solar lighting system and watering of plants through drip irrigation only.
(iv) Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway
The 473 km expressway will link Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway to Mumbai-Pune Expressway thus providing Expressway connectivity from Ahmedabad to Pune for a length of about 650 Km. The project will be taken up in three phases. Land acquisition, environment clearance etc are at advanced stage of approval for Phase I and II. Bids have also been invited for the First package of of phase -1.
(v) Bangalore-Chennai Expressway (262 km)
Bangalore-Chennai Expressway is a green-field alignment and will be operated with a closed toll system. There are two existing roads connecting Bangalore-Chennai, one is via Hoskote (Bangalore)-AP then to Chennai & second is via Electronic City (Bangalore) Hosur (Tamil Nadu) and then to Chennai. The alignment of proposed expressway is passing in between these two stretches. The processes of land acquisition, environment and other pre-cnstruction activities are under progress.
(vi) Byet Dwarka – Okha Bridge
The Ministry has taken up constuction of a signature 4-lane Bridge to connect the mainland at Okha to Byet-Dwarka Island off the Gujarat Coast with this signature Bridge spanning a length of 2.32 kms. The Project has been awarded on 01.01.2018 at a cost of Rs. 689.47 crores. This will be the longest span cable stayed bridge in India with the main span of 500 mtrs. The project is scheduled to be completed in 30 months time.
2.4 New Expressways planned under under Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I
(i) Delhi-Jaipur Expressway
(ii) Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway
(iii) Vadodra-Mumbia Expressway
(iv) Hyderabad- Vijayawada- Amravathi (HVA) Expressway
(v) Nagpur-Hyderabad-Bangalore (NBH) Expressway
(vi) Kanpur Lucknow (KL) Expressway
(vii) Ring road/ Expressway at Amravathi
2.5 Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS)
The Ministry took-up a new initiative, known as Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS), to inventorise all structures e.g. Bridges and culverts constructed on the National highways. The consultants have completed their report and also undertaken the condition assessment of all the existing bridges on National Highways. As such, inventory for more than 1,62,000 bridges and culverts has been completed. A total of 147 Bridges have been identified as distressed structures which call for immediate restoration/ replacements. A time-bound action plan to undertake repairs and restoration or construction of new bridges in place of the decadent structures has been put in place.
2.6 Setu Bharatam
In order to ensure safe and smooth flow of traffic, Ministry has envisaged a plan for replacement of Level Crossings on National Highways by ROBs/ RUBs under a scheme known as Setu Bharatam. Under this programme, construction of 208 RoBs/ RuBs on Level Crossings (which are not falling under any other programme like NHDP etc.) at an estimated cost of Rs. 20,800 crore is envisaged. Out of these 208 ROBs, Detailed Project Reports for 127 ROBs have been received in the Ministry, out of which 78 ROBs with an estimated cost of Rs. 6428.57 crore have been sanctioned till 31.03.2017, of which 35 works have been awarded so far. 09 ROBs with an estimated cost of Rs. 576.58 crore have been sanctioned till date during FY 2017-18.
2.7 Funding Models and other policies to facilitate construction of National Highways
(i) Measures to revive Languishing stalled projects:
The Ministry has focused on completion of on-going projects along with sanction and award of new projects. A total of 73 projects (8,187 km) worth an estimated investment of Rs.1,00,000 crore were identified as Languishing Projects. The reasons for delay were identified and policy interventions undertaken to address the same. This, inter alia, includes (a) One Time Fund Infusion Scheme (OTFIS) whereby financial assistance is provided by NHAI to the contractor/ concessionaire in the form of a working capital loan, (b) Rationalized Compensation whereby a one-time compensation, equivalent to annuities that were missed on account of delay in completion of the project , is provided to the concessionaire in the case of BOT (Annuity) projects; (c) Extension of concession period, (d) Substitution of concessionaire & Termination. As on date, the entire portfolio of languishing projects that have been taken up for revival/ completion is as per table below:-
Description of Projects
|
Number of Projects
|
Length in Kms
|
Projects where issues have been resolved through regular monitoring
|
15
|
2054.94
|
Projects terminated and re-packaged and re-bid.
|
48
|
5090.68
|
Projects revived after policy interventions
|
10
|
1041.00
|
Total
|
73
|
8186.62 or 8187
|
(ii) Toll- Operate-Transfer (TOT)
The Ministry is monetizing its road assets constructed with public funds through Toll-Operate-Transfer (ToT) scheme. The scheme envisages bidding of bundled national highways for a concession period of 30 years. The bids for the first bundle of 9 NHs have been invited and are scheduled to be received on 09.01.2018.
(iii) Masala Bonds
Targeting mobilization of funds, NHAI launched an issue of Masala Bonds at the London Stock Exchange in May 2017. The Masala Bond saw an overwhelming response from a wide spectrum of investors. The initial benchmark issue of Rs 1500 crore was upsized to Rs 3000 crore. Asia contributed 60 percent and Europe 40 percent of subscription. 61 percent of the amount is from fund managers or insurance funds, 18 percent from banks and 14 percent from private banks. NHAI’s Masala Bonds have been rated the best for the year 2017.
(iv) Planning for Multi Modal Transport Systems
An India Integrated Transport and Logistics Summit was organized in New Delhi from 3rd to 5th May 2017. It was attended by around 3000 delegates from India and abroad which included central and state government organizations, international organizations like World Bank and ADB, global transport and supply chain experts and representatives of private companies. Thirty-four MoUs amounting to about Rs 2 lakh crores were signed at the end of the Summit. Carrying the initiative further, the Ministry is actively engaged with a few states for establishment of Multi-modal Logistics Parks in this direction.
Further, it has been decided to develop state-of-the-art Inter-modal stations at Varanasi and Nagpur as the two pilots. A Committee has been constituted for review, monitoring and implementation of these Inter-modal Stations at these locations under the Chairmanship of respective Divisional Commissioners with the charter to facilitate DPR preparation etc.
(v) Decentralisation & Administrative Measures
(a) Enhanced powers for approval of projects have been delegated to the NHAI Board specifically in the case of EPC projects and all PPP (BOT) projects where no VGF is involved. This will fast track the decision making process.
(b) Powers for appraisal and sanction of NH projects implemented through the state PWDs have been enhanced and certain field offices of MoRTH are now headed by the CE-ROs with a view to further streamlining various processes. This is expected to increase efficiency and speedier decision making.
(c) Within the Bharatmala Parijoyna 10% of the funds will be ear-marked under the Grand Challenge mechanism for the State Governments where sufficient and timely land is made available.
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