Global manufacturing competitiveness index
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India is expected to rise from No. 11 (67/100) to No 5 (77.5/100) by 2020 in competitiveness rankings by virtue low-cost labour, agile manufacturing capabilities, favourable demographic profiles, market and economic growth. Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam will also show relative strength.

Dropping from No 2 spot in 2010, to settle at 11th is a shocking demotion... a reason for this accelerated decline over the past three years is perhaps partly due to the stalling of the country’s economic growth and delayed policy actions around infrastructure investments in the face of continued national political uncertainty. However, manufacturing CEOs appear to acknowledge the change in political direction brought on by a new Indian government and foresee an improvement in India’s competitiveness ranking as new initiatives, such as “Make in India” and “Skill India,” take hold over the next five years. A further indication that India can execute a turnaround is evidenced by a relatively resilient growth rate in the nation’s overall GDP.

India remains challenged by poor infrastructure and a governance model that is slow to react which may affect the speed with which it can support higher growth. As 43 per cent of its US$174 billion in manufacturing exports requires high-skill and technological intensity, India may have a strong incentive to solve its regulatory and bureaucratic challenges. HERE

Is Rupee's strength to be welcomed?
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A strengthening rupee is a challenge to Make in India and exports. Foreign trade policy has always supported exports by adjusting export incentive but more can be done through addressing trade and infrastructure bottlenecks. Govt efforts have been to promote efficiency, availability and cost reductions in logistics, capital, manpower and core inputs like power, water, steel, coal, agricultural products, minerals, oil and gas. Some examples of actions taken include digital working, universal banking, formalisation and curtailing of corruption at the top; easing of rules of doing business; increased spending on roads and railways and improvement in port operations; jobs related training.

India is also poised to make big gains in many competitive indices like Ease of doing business, logistics performance index and global competitiveness index. But as the graphic below illustrates, there is a long way to go, and much depends on the success of grand plans like Sagarmala, Bharatmala, Digital India, Skilling and expansion of higher education.

RING ROADS FOR CITIES - IN WORKS
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1. SRINAGAR & JAMMU
2. LUCKNOW, VARANASI & AGRA
3. DELHI
4. JAIPUR
5. NAGPUR & PUNE
6. BENGALURU & KALABURAGI
7. PATNA
8. AMARAVATHI & VIJAYAWADA
9. HYDERABAD, Karimnagar, Jangaon, Warangal, Hyderbad satellites
10. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
11. CHENNAI
12. AHMEDABAD & GANDHINAGA
13. BHUBANESWAR, BERHAMPUR & SAMBALPUR
14. JABALPUR
15. RANCHI & HAZARIBAGH
16. AMBIKAPUR

SPECIAL ROADS & Mega State road works
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MAHARASHTRA
1a. COASTAL ROADS of Mumbai - 29 km Marine Drive to Kandivli. Phase 1 approved. 10km 8-lane Bandra to Marine Drive to start in Oct 2017. Phase 1 is all on tunnels, reclaimed land and roads-on-stilts. Separately, elevated freeway (4 km) is planned to intersect with coastal road, MTHL and Eastern freeway.

1b. TRANS-HABOUR link - 22 km, over Mumbai Bay from Sewri to Nhava, is a 6-lane with strip edges freeway sea-link. Additionally, a link will connect MTHL to Mumbai-Pune expressway and Mumbai-Goa NH.

1c. BANDRA - VERSOVA sea link 14 km long and Rs 7,500 crore will be built parallel to the proposed coastal road on reclaimed land. Tendering has started.

1d. MUMBAI - NAGPUR super-expressway (alignment & land) will have underground pipelines which can be extended to Odisha terminals.

1e. DELHI - MUMBAI super-expressway will be a straighter route and passes through backward regions where it offers new connectivity

UTTARAKHAND
2. CHAR DHAM Project is 1100 km and Rs 12,000 crore improved connectivity project to Char Dham pilgrimage centres in the Himalayas. Upgrading 900 km NH to 2 lanes (widening to 12m) and new alignments. It provides tunnels, viaducts, elevated corridors, bypasses, landslide mitigation, culverts, sunk zone treatment and roadside amenities. Earlier destroyed by a landslide.

JAMMU & KASHMIR
3. FIVE TUNNELS of Jammu & Kashmir for all-weather roads to Leh at el: Tunnels totalling 43km will be built at Rs23,000 crore. Z-Morh Tunnel (6.5km on SKL) is U/C but slow & Zojila tunnel (14 km on SKL) at tendering stage. DPR prepared, with 2020-21 deadline, for Pir-Ki-Gali Tunnel (8.5 km on NH-244), Vailoo Tunnel (8-10 km) at Sinthan Pass, Daranga Tunnel (4.5 km) at Shudh Mahadev.

ARUNACHAL PRADESH
4. FRONTIER highway is 1840 km and Rs 40,000 crore, passes through harsh, craggy mountainous border areas of N. Arunachal. Work has not started yet.

4b. TRANS-ARUNACHAL highway is 1500 km, 2 lanes at Rs 26,000 crore, through middle AP. Progress is slow. Already some completed stretches have deteriorated or damaged. Completion date pegged at 2018.

4c. BOGIBEEL bridge over Brahmaputra river, 5 km, is nearing completion. It will be the longest rail-cum-road bridge in India. Proposed E-W INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR of 431km along Assam border, will benefit from Bogibeel bridge, other new road links and strategic railway projects incl Assam to Tawang.

KARNATAKA
5a. SHIRADI GHAT tunnel under wildlife reserve, is part of 24km, Rs 10,000 crore tunnel-cum-bridges project for a straight link between Bengaluru, Hassan and Mangaluru.

EXPRESSWAYS

1. Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressway 271 km - targeted for completion
2. Dwarka Expressway 27 km - started
3. Delhi Meerut Expressway 90 km - proceeding on 2/3 sectors
4. Delhi Jaipur super-Expressway 260 km - land acquisition talks
5. Delhi Ludhiana Amritsar Katra Expressway 600 km - project report to do
6. Gurugram Dwarka IG airport Bypass - put on fast-track.

7. Mumbai - Baroda Expressway 400 km - starts in 3 months
8. Mumbai Aurangabad Nagpur super-Expressway 705 km - land aq. (State)
9. Chennai - Bengaluru Expressway 260 km, soon for tender. Also, upgrade NH
10. Hyderabad Vijayawada Amravati Expressway 270 km (DPR for alignment)
11. Hyderabad - Bengaluru Expressway 570 km (DPR for new alignment)
12. Mumbai - Goa Expressway (State, in addition, to upgrade NH)
13. Brahmaputra Expressway 1300 km - MOU done, land acquisition talks.
14. Agra Lucknow Expressway 300 km - finish remaining by May.
15. Kolkata-Dhanbad Expressway 277 km (upgrade NH)
16. Jamshedpur Ranchi Bokaro Dhanbad Expressway 6-lane stuck at environment clearance (State)
17. Amaravati - Anantapuramu Expressway 600 km (State and Centre)
18. Delhi - Chandigarh Expressway 250 km (upgrade NH)
19. Delhi - Agra Expressway 200 km (upgrade NH)
20. Jalandhar- Ajmer Expressway (approved in principle)
21. Lucknow - Ghazipur Purvanchal Expressway 350km, start 3/18 (Centre)
22. Narmada Expressway 1300 km approved (State and Centre)
23. Chambal Expressway 185 km approved (State and Centre)
24. Chennai Port-Maduravoyal elevated corridor 18-28km (State and Centre)
25. Biju Expressway 650 km, 4/6-lane, finish all 2019 (State)
26. Bengaluru - Mysuru Expressway 117 km, tendering on (Centre)
27. Hyderabad - Nagpur Expressway 505 km, principle approval (Centre)
28. Ghazipur- Patna Expressway 180 km, approved, pt-upgrade NH (Centre)

Against the target of 6 million EV and hybrids by 2020, only 22,000 units were sold in FY16. EV manufacturers are pleading for market development via costs reduction and expanding charging infrastructure. Govt EV purchases will help and encourage other public and private enterprises to join in.

4 PSUs are making bold moves to provide infrastructure and technology solutions (see links). BHEL is setting up an exchange EV supply chain for large and small vehicles. Power Grid will build battery charging points to suit all future types including flow batteries. NTPC will build charging points and battery swapping stations for the emerging EV operators. These could be located in parking lots. ISRO is going to lease Li technology. There is scope to reuse spent EV batteries and reduce EV life-cycle costs. Smart cities missions will create charging infrastructure and popularize EVs.

"Electric city buses make sense because they can be charged safely in depots overnight. Huge benefits were seen in maintenance & fuel, longer life, fewer breakdowns and zero pollution. Intercity coaches should be hybrid with replaceable battery packs. Ditto commercial trunks. Private logistic firms can offer charging and battery replacement for smaller operators". Link

Notes: Bhel wants to manufacture electric vehicles including buses, two-wheelers and boats. It has signed deals with Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors for bus systems. It is in talks with foreign makes like Mitsubishi and Hitachi. Power Grid Corp wants to move into battery storage.

Government eyes leasing of electric vehicles in clean energy push

ROAD SAFETY

India is committed to halving accidents and fatalities by 2020. It will take more than just building safe highways.

1a. New road construction : Perform pre-construction design reviews / audits and satisfy engineering norms (eg new materials); Enhance road capacity on dense routes eg expressways, 6/ 4 laning, laybys; new roads for Naxal, NE, backwards regions; Reduce distance, improve speed (signal-free) & safety by tunnels through mountains/ hills, underpasses, new bridges, city orbital roads, city radial highways; freight specific new roads to connect freight corridors, cities, warehouses, multi-modal hubs, customs and ports; safer border roads (crash barriers, landslide protection); green cover (noise, pollution, glare) and service centres (repair, refueling, restrooms, eateries).

1b. Alternative to roads: Reduce congestion & pollution in cities by adding metro rail in major cities (to connect suburbs, satellite towns, airports, business districts, etc), commuter rail, city buses, metrino and river service. Inter-city coaches, fast rail & HSR, freight rail corridors, regional airways, waterways & coastal shipping and cable cars (hilly areas) will offer time & cost-saving options and free up key NHs. Efficient and seamless interchange is highly desirable.

2. Road safety modifications: Safety audit on all roads, Bridge management system (IT tool for inventory & timely repair or rehabilitation); Planned elimination of black spots, eg. widening, redesigned junctions, diversions, underpasses, flyovers, bridges, elimination of railway level crossings, crash barriers. Timely repair of potholes. Traffic and speed control measures like rumble strips, traffic lights, overhead lighting, clear signage, reflective stickers, speed restrictions, speed cameras.

3. Road safety policy: Education (awareness of speed hazards, timely road safety information eg accidents, hold-ups, weather hazards); Engineering (certification norms for safe roads and vehicles); Enforcement (traffic fines, vehicle fines, parking fines, driving licences) - eliminate human intervention where ever possible; Emergency care.

4 Vehicle norms: Crash tests. Seat belts. Speed limiters, tracking devices. BS-VI fuel pollution requirements. Noise norms. Rules for CNG, bio-diesel, electric vehicles, flexi-fuel autos (ethanol blending). Loading norms.

5. Implementation through States: Motor Vehicle bill 2016 constituted Group of State ministries and agreed measures. State road safety council will be set up to prepare safety action plan, provide funding, identify black spots, awareness & education, training & adequate staffing, provision of ambulances and other emergency care, enforcement of speeds/ fines/ etc via IT, computerized driving schools, regional driver instructor training centres, automated vehicle fitness testing centres, etc.

6. Emergency care: Highway trauma centres at 50 km intervals, equipped with cranes, ambulances, etc. Cashless treatment. Vehicle location tracking devices, emergency buttons & call points.

KEY ACTIONS

National Road Safety Policy
Motor Vehicle (amendment) bill 2016
Scheme for correcting 786 black spots (funds from central road fund). Rs 11000 crore for such road safety measures.
Setu Bharatam (build and repair bridges)
Indian Bridge Management System

NH development & expressway building programme
Bharatmala / Sagarmala (border roads, ports)
Logistic Efficiency Enhancement programme (freight specific)
Total Mobility plan with smooth interchanges & safe transfers
State road building programme

State road safety council, action plan, safety fund, road safety audit for all roads.
State driver training HQs and regional schools
Automated driving testing centres
Automated vehicular fitness checking centres
Highway trauma centres, equipment for same
Roadside amenities
Media safety campaign, Highway Advisory system (free info)
IT systems (eg suppliers marketplace, digilocker for licencing, offences, etc)
Skills development

Vehicle fleet modernisation programme (scrapping scheme).
Improved norms for all vehicles and strict enforcement.
Move to BS-VI fuel use. Norms for flex-fuel autos, green fuel buses, electric vehicles
National Green Highway project (greening of NH)
National Green Highway mission mobile app (monitoring of projects, bottlenecks)
E-tolling (reduce bottlenecks at toll booths)
E-rickshaw (reduce pollution)

Building Safe Highways, Ministry Of Road Transport & Highways

THE MIGHTY GANGA

Ganga is odious in the plains. It is not like that when she begins her journey from the Gangotri glacier. She is pristine, pure and ecstatic as she traverses through deep valleys before reaching the holy town of Haridwar in Uttarakhand. It comes as a shock to see the emerald colour of the river (see pic). It is stunningly beautiful. It's enchanting and inviting.

You realise why seers and mendicants head to the banks of the river Ganga in the mountains to seek peace and solitude.

Ganga in Shivpuri, a few kilometres ahead of Rishikesh, is fast flowing and energetic. Clean fast river is a sight for sore eyes. It is said that the river washes away your sins!! Frothing and crashing on rocks, the Ganga is ideal for rafting and having an adventure. There are over a dozen rapids between Shivpuri and Rishikesh. When the water is placid, the boat masters encourage you to jump overboard.

The crisp, clean water of the Ganga will leave you feeling melancholic. For you will realise that she is going to get really, really dirty in no time.

It is high time we quickly clean up the rest of the river to match the state she is in when she starts her journey.

A happy, gurgling Ganga and that sinking feeling

If Reliance Jio was making money, then carry on .. but Jio is all about hurting and driving away competition. This is not healthy for govt, banks and customers. Customers with no choice will pay higher prices later.

Trai forces Reliance Jio to withdraw Summer Surprise offer - The Economic Times

LITHIUM

"India does not have reserves of lithium. Most deposits are in the “lithium triangle” in Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. We are going to be completely dependent on exports from these countries for the battery storage system – whether for electric vehicles or for using solar energy for electricity or in portable electronic devices,” according to experts.

According to Palit, “Bolivia has the world’s largest untapped reserves, so from India’s geo-economic standpoint, Bolivia is very important. Indian industries may forge partnerships to set up joint ventures in these South American countries, especially, to produce processed lithium that will be required for the batteries,”

As reported by FE earlier this year, “Bolivia has vast reserves of natural gas, and is largely dependent on natural gas and mineral exports, is seeking Indian capital to invest in developing Bolivia’s massive lithium deposits, which account for 60% of the world’s reserves.”

Estimates indicate that Bolivia has the world’s largest deposits of Lithium in the Salar de Uyuni. Some studies indicate that Salar de Uyuni has 140 million tonnes of Lithium. The government of that country is inviting expression of interest from Indian companies to set up and operate a Lithium Carbonate plant in Salar de Uyuni.

LITHIUM FABRICATION FACILITY

Experts have suggested that as part of Make in India Programme, the government should strive to set up R&D and technology development centres for indigenous lithium-ion battery manufacturing plants, which is crucial to India’s ambitions of achieving energy security.

For the first time, last year, the Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu, set up the first indigenous Li-ion fabrication facility that has applications in defence, solar-powered devices, railways and other high-end usages. CECRI is part of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

India looks to source lithium from Latin America

ISRO Offers Space Tech To Electric Vehicle Makers In India

Typical e-bike has woefully low top speed (of 25 kmph) and range (of 30-50 km per charge). ISRO has demonstrated battery technology that will radically change the scene for electric bikes. Manufacturers put in a small battery (up to 1kWh) and restrict maximum speed in order to extend effective range. The speed is not sufficient to keep pace with other traffic. The engine that does 50-60kmph for one hour, would use around 2.5kW, so a 1kW battery can only run for 24 minutes or less. The weight of lead-acid batteries, used in bikes, limits battery capacity. A 2.5kW would weigh 50kg!! Not only would it create severe engineering and design issues, but the scooter would not provide benefits of speed, range and handling.

ISRO has considerable experience of lightweight Li-ion batteries. 2.5kW Li battery weighs only 12 kg or a quarter of the lead unit. A bike fitted with 1.5kW Li-ion battery did 98 km at 50 kmph under test conditions. Li-ion bike burns less power per distance covered because it is lighter. Compared to Hero photon, it scores on top speed, range and fuel efficiency. ISRO is willing to licence its Li-ion battery technology but the complicating factor is the cost of lithium. The present cost of a lithium battery starts from Rs 11k per 1000 Wh. Cost of comparable Li battery shoots up to Rs 26k, adding 25% more to the cost of the bike. Hidden benefit of Li-ion is it last 5-15 x longer. Li-ion bike would not need a battery replacement whilst a typical lead-acid bike will need 5 to 10 changes. Ownership cost of lead bike would be 2-3x the initial cost of a lithium-ion bike. India or ISRO is however nowhere in the scene. Foreign manufacturers (like Tesla of US & China) are set to dominate lithium battery production as they upscale production with a view to cutting the present price by 40%.

ISRO Offers Space Tech To Electric Vehicle Makers In India

Jethmalani knows Kejri & Sisodia stole Delhi govt money for it, that it was not their own money.. yet he is OK to accept it. Of course, once caught he has backed out.. but Jethmalani's first instinct is to take the money.

And why did Kejri hold a press conference, if he had no facts and then say very damaging things? If the committee has done this, they clearly have not followed the proper process and should not be defended by public money.

Ok, if the committee feels so strongly about it, then get govt legal advice, take Jaitley to court, and see if the court wants to start a trial. A public servant is not supposed to hold anyone guilty without a court verdict.

As Kejri and AAP gang went public suo moto, they are doing it in their private capacity and should bear all consequences. Delhi govt does not get involved in personal missions of AAP!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yhIGyxycLY&feature=youtu.be

AAP illegally using public money: BJP - The Economic Times