Introduction of infrastructure
Infrastructure development is critical for the economic growth and development of
India. India has made significant progress in infrastructure development over the
past few decades, but there is still a long way to go to meet the needs of its growing
population and economy.
Infrastructure in India includes a wide range of sectors, such as transportation,
energy, water supply and sanitation, telecommunications, and housing. The
government has launched several initiatives and programs to improve the
infrastructure in these sectors, such as the National Highways Development Project,
the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission,
Transportation infrastructure in India includes:-
roads,
Railways,
airports,
ports.
India has one of the largest road networks in the world, but many of its roads are in
poor condition, leading to traffic congestion and accidents. The government has
launched several initiatives to improve road infrastructure, such as the Bharatmala
Pariyojana, which aims to develop 83,000 km of highways.
Railways - are another important mode of transportation in India. The Indian
Railways is one of the largest railway networks in the world, but it also faces
challenges related to infrastructure, such as outdated tracks and insufficient capacity.
The government has launched programs such as the Dedicated Freight Corridor
project to improve railway infrastructure.
Energy infrastructure - in India includes power generation, transmission, and
distribution. India has made significant progress in power generation, but there are
still challenges related to distribution and access to electricity in rural areas. The
government has launched several initiatives to improve energy infrastructure, such
as the Ujwa
Overall, infrastructure development is a key priority for India, and the government
has launched several initiatives to improve infrastructure in various sectors.
However, there is still a long way to go to meet the infrastructure needs of India's
growing population and economy.
India's infrastructure challenges are complex and
diverse, and require a multi-faceted approach to
address them. Some of the key challenges facing
infrastructure development in India are:
1. Funding: Infrastructure projects require significant funding, and the government
alone cannot finance all the projects. Private sector investment is crucial, but
attracting private investment requires a stable policy environment and a predictable
regulatory framework.
2. Project implementation: India has a history of delays and cost overruns in
infrastructure projects, which can be attributed to a variety of factors such as
inadequate planning, lack of coordination between different agencies, and land
acquisition issues. Streamlining project implementation processes and improving
project management practices is essential to ensure timely completion of projects.
3. Technology and innovation: India needs to adopt new technologies and innovative
approaches to infrastructure development, such as smart infrastructure and green
infrastructure, to meet the growing demand for infrastructure in a sustainable
manner.
4. Regional disparities: Infrastructure development has been uneven across India,
with some regions having better infrastructure than others. Bridging regional
disparities in infrastructure development is essential for promoting balanced
economic growth.
5. Public-private partnerships (PPPs): PPPs have been identified as a key
mechanism for infrastructure development in India, but there have been issues
related to contract design, risk allocation, and dispute resolution in PPP projects.
Addressing these issues is essential to attract private investment and ensure
successful implementation of PPP projects.
There are 4 main types of highways in most countries.
National highways are large roadways built to ease the transport of people and goods across
the nation. Interstate highways connect neighbouring states, state highways promote travel
locally within a state. County highways are mostly rural.
Expressways are the highest class of roads in India. The majority of the investment required
for constructing expressways comes from the Central Government. Uttar Pradesh and
Maharashtra are the only states which are investing in building expressways through
dedicated expressway corporations.
The National Expressways Authority of India (NEAI) operating under the Ministry of Road
Transport and Highways will be in-charge of the construction and maintenance of
expressways.
The National Highways Development Project by the Government of India aims to expand the
country’s current expressway network.
Examples of expressways in India:
- Golden quadrilateral
- Chennai-bengaluru expressway
- Mumbai- pune expressway
- Delhi - amritsar-katra expressway
- Ahmedabad-vadodara expressway
- Mumbai- nagpur expressway
- chennai -port blair industrial corridor
Greenfields vs brownfields
Greenfield Expressways are designed to avoid inhabited areas and go through new
alignments to bring development to new areas and to reduce land acquisition costs and
construction timelines eg.
A brownfield site refers to previously developed land, which is or was occupied by a
permanent structure. A greenfield site refers to ANY land that hasn't been previously
developed. This could be ancient woodland, grassland, or agricultural land.
This mix of brownfield & greenfield projects was first announced in 2016 and its Detailed
Project Report (DPR) was finalised in 2019. Although bidding is underway, the project is
currently facing land acquisition hurdles in Punjab where farmers are seeking higher
compensation for their farm land.
Delhi - amritsar-katra expressway
The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway Route is a mega project that promises to
transform the face of transportation in India. The project is expected to enhance
connectivity and spur development across the region. In a recent development, the
Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway is expected to become operational by March 2024..
Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway is a 4-lane (expandable to 8 lanes) wide controlled-access
expressway. It will connect the Bahadurgarh border near Delhi with Katra in Jammu and
Kashmir (via Haryana and Punjab). Once completed, it will reduce the current Delhi-Katra
distance from 727 km to 588 km. The time travel will be reduced from 14 hours to 6 hours.
Delhi-Amritsar distance will be reduced to 405 km and time travel will be reduced from 8
hours to only 4 hours The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway is one of the 10 expressways to
be constructed under the ‘Bharatmala Pariyojana’. This 670 km-long expressway is a
combination of Greenfield and Brownfield expressways, which passes through the States of
Delhi, Punjab, Jammu, Kashmir, and Haryana. Currently, it is a four-lane wide
access-controlled expressway that has the capacity to be expanded as an eight-lane
expressway in the future.
Facilities on Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway
It will have a trauma centre, traffic police stations , ambulances research , fire brigades, bus
bays, truck stops, interchanges with refreshments, and recreational facilities ,food courts
Phases of expressway
The expressway is being implemented in two phases:
Phase 1- Delhi to Gurdaspur
Phase 2- Gurdaspur to KatraPhase
Phase 1 involves the construction of a 397.7 km greenfield expressway between Delhi –
Ludhiana – Gurdaspur and a 99 km spur connecting Nakodar – Amritsar. It has been divided
into 18 tenders / sections for construction with a 2 year deadline.
Phase 2 will connect Gurdaspur – Pathankot – Jammu – Katra and will be a brownfield
expansion of the existing NH-54 (old NH-15) and NH-44 (old NH-1) highway.
Major junctions:
South end: Jasaur Kheri village near Bahadurgarh border, Delhi
North end:
1. Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar, Punjab
2. Katra, Jammu, and Kashmir
It will be Maintained by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and pass through
three states- Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir.
650 km Delhi – Amritsar – Katra expressway project by NHAI is an under construction
4-lane access-controlled road with a route alignment connecting Jasaur Kheri, Jhajjar District
near Delhi with Katra north of Jammu city.
Delhi-Katra Expressway: Project details
● The project was announced in 2016 and the detailed project report was finalised in
2019.
● The expressway will connect the Bahadurgarh border in Delhi to Katra via Nakodar
and Gurdaspur in Punjab.
● The Greenfield expressway splits into two near Nakodar, which is a town in Punjab.
● The first Greenfield section would pass through Sultanpur Lodhi, Goindwal Sahib,
Khadoor Sahib, and TarnTarn and will end near Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International
Airport close to Amritsar.
● The second section consists of both the Greenfield expressway and the Brownfield
expressway. It goes straight to Katra and bypasses Kathua and Jammu.
● It is believed that nearly 14,000 acres of land will be acquired from Punjab and 5,000
acres from Haryana. For years, the Grand Trunk Road has been a recommended route
for travelling between Delhi and Kashmir. However, the journey is around 14 hours.
The new expressway will shorten the Delhi-Katra distance to just six hours.
Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway: Timeline ( flowchart )
● November 2019: A detailed project report (DPR) formulated for the
Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway.
● January 2020: Land acquisitions for the project started.
● June 2020: The route map for the expressway was finalised. Also, land acquisition
began in Punjab from the areas of Kang Sahib Rai Village near Nakodar to the areas
of Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Raja Sansi. A new Greenfield
Expressway was added to Amritsar.
● July 2022: Land acquisition began in areas of Jammu and Kashmir. NHAI gave the
entire stretch of the Delhi-Nakodar-Gurdaspur section for construction in two phases.
● August 2022: PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the expressway. The
construction work started between Bahadurgarh and Sangrur section.
As per the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, the 670-km long
Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway tmay open to the public between February and
March 2024.
● The Road Transport and Highways Minister also approved constructing a road up to
the Amarnath shrine at the cost of Rs 5,300 crore.
● The existing 110 km road from Khanabal to Chandanwari will also be widened,
followed by Chandanwari to Baltal via Panchtrani. A 10-km tunnel would be
constructed between Seshnag and Panchtarni.
● A 5 km concrete footpath, with barricades on both sides, will also be constructed from
Panchtrani to Amarnath shrine.
● Katra would host a world class state-of-the-art Intern Modal Station (IMS) for
Vaishno Devi pilgrims
Design & Route Map
Delhi – Amritsar – Katra Expressway’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) and alignment studies
were prepared by Feedback Infrastructure in 2019 and land acquisition started in January
2020.Phase 1 will start from Kundli Manesar Palwal Expressway (KMP) near Kheri Jasaur
village in Jhajjar district and ends at Gurdaspur Bypass in Gurdaspur district (Chainage
397+712). Its greenfield Nakodar – Amritsar spur starts from Nakodar village at intersection
of Delhi – Katra Expressway with NH 703 (old NH 71) (Expressway Km 306) and ends on
Amritsar-Ajnala Road NH 354 near Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport.
Along its route, the expressway’s alignment will pass through Jhajjar, Rohtak, Sonipat, Jind,
Karnal & Kaithal districts of Haryana State, and through Patiala, Sangrur, Ludhiana,
Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Amritsar & Gurdaspur districts of Punjab State.
The project has been divided up into roughly 20 civil tenders / packages. Phase 1 (all
greenfield) consists of 15 packages each with a 24 month (2 year) deadline. Within that, the
main Delhi – Gurdaspur Expressway consists of 12 packages and Nakodar-Amritsar spur
consists of 3
Benefits of delhi-amritsar-karta :
Delhi Katra Expressway: Impact on the real estate - The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra
expressway will touch many important religious places in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
Sacred spots, such as Golden Temple, Vaishno Devi, Goindwal Sahib, Sultanpur Lodhi,
Khadoor Sahib and Tarn Taran, will be accessible via the expressway.
Tourism and housing demands -Since tourism in and around these places will witness a
surge, the tier-2 and tier-3 localities falling along the expressway route can expect a boom in
commercial activities, employment, social infrastructure and real estate. Hence, the upcoming
expressway would not only improve the connectivity quotient but will also pave the way for
increased tourism opportunities and housing demand along the expressway.
Reduced time- The expressway will reduce the distance between Delhi and Amritsar/ Katra
by about 40-km and provide travel time from Delhi to Amritsar within 4-4.5-hours and Delhi
to Katra within 6-6.5-hours. Since the four-lane access-controlled road expandable to 8 lanes
being developed passes through Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu, it will provide the shortest
connectivity to industrial and economic hubs of Ludhiana, Mohali, Patiala, Jalandhar,
Kapurthala, Sangrur in Punjab, Ambala in Haryana, Kathua, Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir,
and Chandigarh.
Stimulates Employment opportunity and economic activity - the construction of the
expressway is expected to create employment opportunities for the local population , which
will help develop the economic status. It creates direct and indirect employment both the
construction of the expressway will create direct employment for skilled and unskilled
workers including support staff , construction workers and support staff and in indirect
employment it can create through transportation,logistics manufactures etc . the expressway
creates new opportunities for the business and industrial region which might even create job
opportunities in future.
Health and Education: Faster connectivity and accessibility to Delhi NCR will help in
higher flow of traffic from Haryana, especially for higher education, tertiary healthcare and
specialised treatments. Reduction in travel time will allow patients to avail OPD / other
medical services from the national or state capital region.
Commercial and Industrial: Traffic on the existing roads is driven by local, tourism,
commercial and industrial traffic. The Expressway will support the local businesses and
economy along the proposed corridor. The proposed expressway will act as a significant axis
of entry to Delhi from major industrial hubs like Sonipat, Karnal etc. in Haryana & Jalandhar
and Ludhiana etc. in Punjab. It will facilitate rapid growth of the small, medium and
large-scale industries mentioned above, by streamlining transport of raw materials and
finished goods. Apart from this, the project corridor would help in quicker movement of
agricultural commodities to the consumption centres and provide enhanced accessibility to
tourists, helping in the overall development of the region.
Environmental Impact: The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway Route is being
developed as a greenfield project, which means that the entire stretch will be
developed from scratch. The project is expected to have a minimal impact on the
environment, as it will avoid areas of ecological importance. The project is also
expected to incorporate several eco-friendly measures, such as the use of solar
energy and rainwater harvesting.
Savings in Travel Time and Cost: The proposed Expressway is expected to reduce
the travel time between Delhi to Gurdaspur by at least 2 hours wrt NH-44 and four
hours vis-a ̀-vis NH-352. This further leads to the following cost savings for users
Vehicle Operation Cost; Travel Time and Toll costs
Benefit to Local Trade and Economy: The proposed Project plans to link Delhi
NCR to Haryana, Punjab and Katra in Jammu & Kashmir State. The strong regional
connectivity proposed through the Project will further increase regional tourism, trade
and economic growth. The regions to be connected through the project have their
distinct economic profiles.
The expressway will also provide better connectivity between the major cities in
Punjab, such as Jalandhar and Ludhiana, and Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir. This
will provide a major boost to trade and commerce in the region. The project is also
expected to create new job opportunities in the region, especially in the areas of
transportation and logistics.
Limitations of delhi- amritsar -katra :
Inadequate land compensation Farmers protest against ‘inadequate’ land
compensation for the Delhi-Katra Expressway under the Centre's Bharatmala
Pariyojana. Farmers under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee
(KMSC) blocked rail tracks in Amritsar, Gurdaspur etc. The protesters alleged that the
government and the National Highways Authority (NHAI) started the work on the
expressway before depositing the compensation amount in the affected farmers’
accounts.
Impact on Ecological Resources:Trees within ROW are affected due to the
development leading temporary loss of micro ecosystem. The proposed alignment is
passing through strip forests declared as protected forests alongside roads, canals
and railway lines and therefore 26 ha. diversion of forest land is required. The felling
of trees shall have manifold impact. Most visible impact is the loss of shade. Also,
there is a possibility of the local people being deprived of tree products, such as
wood, fruits, leaves, etc. The removal of trees will not only lead to soil erosion but
also the loss of micro-ecosystems developed in the project region & the loss of
habitat/shelter for birds, small mammals and insects which depend on these trees.
Impact on Land During the construction of the proposed project, the topography will
change due to cuts & fills for project road and construction of project related
structures etc. Provision of construction yards for material handling will also alter the
existing topography. The change in topography will also be due to the probable
induced developments of the project.
Social Impacts 1563 ha. of land including private & government ownership was
acquired for the project. The project also impacted 1756 households & 9497
persons directly.
Water Quality :Due to site clearing activities, soils around the surface water regime
will be exposed, due to which, the suspended sediments and the associated pollutants
can be transported into these water sources. The impacts due to the increased
sediment load will be significant to some extent. Contamination of groundwater is
another likely impact of road construction and allied activities. The contamination of
the water resources due to the project is likely from following reasons:
Concentration of suspended solids in receiving water bodies due to soil erosion from
site clearing area
Run-off from the construction site near the water bodies and sources of water supply
Disposal of solid and liquid wastes by labour, spills or leaks can affect the water quality
Run-off from fuel storage and work-shop area as Oil and grease form a film on the
water surface and hinder the transfer of oxygen into water
Contamination by fuel and oil containing discharge or accidental spillage from
construction vehicles or bitumen from hot-mix plants
Sewage discharge from the labour camp
Increased sediment load, lesser sunlight, difficulty to settle, etc. will make the surface
water more turbid. If the concentrations are higher, smaller fish may be harmed. Large,
heavy sediment, particularly with slow moving water may smother algae and
eventually alter the nature of the sub- stratum. Excessive sediment loads may also
mean disruption to areas where fish lay their eggs. The water quality of surface
drainage channels is likely to be impaired as long as the construction period continues
Impact on Water Resources and Quality : The construction and operation of the
proposed project roads will not have any major impacts on the surface water and the
ground water quality in the area. Design made to avoid physical loss to the water
bodies to the extent possible.
Contamination to water bodies may result due to spilling of construction materials, oil,
grease, fuel and paint in the construction camp. This will be more prominent in case of
locations where the project road crosses drains, ponds, etc. Silt fencing shall be
provided along the major canals and pond. Oil interceptors are proposed near fuel
handling areas.
Loss of vegetation and wildlife :the construction of the expressway will lead to the
clearing of large tracts of land, which will result in the loss of vegetation and wildlife
habitat . this can have a negative impact on the local ecosystem and biodiversity
INDIA AND CHINA
China and India are the two emerging economies in the world. As of 2021, China
and India are the 2nd and 5th largest economies in the world, respectively, on a
nominal basis. On a PPP basis, China is at 1st, and India is at 3rd place. Both
countries share 21% and 26% of the total global wealth in nominal and PPP terms,
respectively. Among Asian countries, China and India together contribute more than
half of Asia's GDP.
1. India lacks the supply chain ecosystem of China
Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push to attract foreign direct investments
since he took office in 2014, India's manufacturing system still lags behind China.
According to these experts, India doesn't have the interconnectivity of a large
ecosystem like in China, where products are built from parts sourced directly in the
country.
Indian manufacturers often need to import parts from outside the country — thereby
adding to the cost of the finished product,
India's infrastructure investments lag China's
One reason India hasn't built up the extensive web of manufacturing facilities that
China has managed to construct is that it hasn't been spending as much on
infrastructure.
For example, in pre-COVID 2019, China invested about 6.5% of its GDP in
infrastructure development, while India invested just 4.5% — something the
government is working on boosting, per UBS' May 17 note
However, the Indian government has committed to ramping up infrastructure
spending, Modi's administration announced in February. It raised capital investments
by 33% in this fiscal year to 10 trillion Indian rupees, or $121 billion.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INDIA AND CHINA IN EXPRESSWAYS
India and China differ in several aspects when it comes to expressways (high-speed
road networks). Here are some key differences between the two countries in this
regard:
Length and Development:
● China has a much more extensive and developed expressway network
compared to India. As of my last knowledge update in September 2021,
China had one of the largest and most advanced expressway systems
in the world, with over 160,000 kilometers of expressways.
● India's expressway network was significantly smaller in comparison,
with around 2,000 kilometers of operational expressways at that time.
However, India has been actively working on expanding its expressway
infrastructure in recent years.
Speed and Quality:
● China's expressways are known for their high quality and speed. Many
of them have well-maintained lanes, advanced toll systems, and
high-speed limits, making long-distance travel convenient and efficient.
● India's expressways, while gradually improving in quality, may not
always meet the same standards as Chinese expressways in terms of
road condition, safety features, and traffic management.
Toll System:
● Both countries have toll systems for financing the construction and
maintenance of expressways, but China has a more extensive and
advanced toll collection system. Electronic toll collection (ETC) is
widely used in China, making the payment process faster and more
convenient.
● In India, the toll collection system has been transitioning to ETC, but it
may not be as prevalent or efficient as in China.
Connectivity:
● China's expressway network is highly connected, covering most of the
country's provinces and regions, including remote areas. This extensive
connectivity facilitates trade, tourism, and transportation.
● In India, expressway connectivity is still a work in progress, and not all
regions have expressway access. However, the government has been
investing in building new expressways to improve connectivity within
the country.
Infrastructure Investment:
● China has made significant investments in its expressway system as
part of its broader infrastructure development initiatives. The Belt and
Road Initiative (BRI) has also led to the construction of expressways
connecting China to neighbouring countries.
● India is also investing in infrastructure, with projects such as the
Bharatmala Pariyojana aiming to improve road connectivity, including
expressways, across the country.
It's important to note that the information provided here is based on my knowledge
as of September 2021, and both countries may have made further developments in
their respective expressway networks since that time. Additionally, differences may
exist in terms of road safety, regulations, and other factors related to expressways in
both countries.
Conclusion
