The Highways Bill could represent the first major step taken by the government towards the creation of an independent authority with the power to cut delays and streamline the project approvals processes, thereby addressing major problems faced by the Indian roads and highways industry today and potentially opening up huge private investment, writes Aakanksha Joshi.
FlashNews:
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Seeking Revival
The 6th Annual India Roads Conference organised by ASAPP Media invited industry think tanks and sector people to deliberate, discuss and ponder over the issues plaguing the roads sector in the country. The conference focused on 'Accelerating India's Road to Growth'.
US trade mission plans $250 mn investments in India
The members of a recent delegation of US investors announced their readiness to invest $250 million worth of investments in India within the next 6-12 months. The 12-member trade mission, which visited Delhi and Mumbai last month, consisted of large US investors in sectors like logistics infrastructure, roads, power and energy, engineering, smart cities, manufacturing, and private equity.
Rs 1.5k cr road projects on deck
India is home to several bad roads be it the metropolitans, the cities or the villages. Bad road conditions are nothing new to India and the problem is being addressed since the last 30 years. However, of lately, many road projects have been sanctioned by the government and are up for bidding.
Road policy: Course corrections
Hindsight: The roads sector had planned for a highly ambitious growth rate. Earlier we were doing around 2,500-3,000 km every year. We then stepped up and said we would do 8,000 km-the confidence stemming from the fact that we were able to achieve as much as 7,800 km. In the last year or so, there hasn´t been much of a response in the market, partly because the economy had slowed down, and partly because there were some problems involving major players.
Road policy: Course corrections
Hindsight: The roads sector had planned for a highly ambitious growth rate. Earlier we were doing around 2,500-3,000 km every year. We then stepped up and said we would do 8,000 km-the confidence stemming from the fact that we were able to achieve as much as 7,800 km. In the last year or so, there hasn´t been much of a response in the market, partly because the economy had slowed down, and partly because there were some problems involving major players.
Relax ECB norms for infra NBFCs
2013 has been a bad year for infrastructure sector. Certain sectors like roads & highways have been hit hard in particular. Though power sector has been growing, it must be kept in mind that while coal continues to account for almost 60 per cent of power production in India
Interventions needed to remove roadblocks
Recognising the adverse implications of poor development in some of the infrastructure segments, the Indian government has significantly increased its infrastructure spending over the last 10 years.
Madurai gets new bridges, roads to ease mobility
The Tamil Nadu government's decision to construct bridges roads in Madurai and its suburbs will aid in preventing road mishaps and easing traffic jams. At a a three-day annual conference of collectors and police officers in Chennai last week the Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa announced this.
India identifies 73 key roads along China border
For construction of roads along the China border, Indian government has identified as many as 73 roads as strategically important. Out of the 73 roads, 19 roads measuring 440.74 km are in Uttarakhand, Union Defence Minister A K Antony told the Lok Sabha on December 17.






