Development Watch – Week #4 January ’24
Development News
Road projects to be awarded on Quality-cum-cost Basis
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will soon be moving to the quality-cum-cost based selection process for bidding of various road projects instead of going for L-1 or the lowest bidder process to improve the quality of construction. Ministry of Roads will soon be adopting qualitative tendering process to bring in quality and road safety. The International Road Federations’ event on Vision Zero – Targeting Road Safety by 5E’s was jointly organized by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Maruti Suzuki.
EMC to benefit India amid Red Sea Crisis
Indian Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways stated that given the geopolitical situation in the Red Sea and Suez Canal, the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) could be an effective alternative for movement of goods and will provide India a lot of opportunities. The EMC connects ports on India’s east coast with the ports in Far East Russia via Malacca Strait, the South China Sea and Sea of Japan.
Army and Teaching jobs most preferred in Rural India
Rural children in India have clear career aspirations with a focus on professions such as police, teaching, medicine, Army and engineering. There are notable gender differences in these choices. Boys show a preference for the Army and police, while girls commonly choose teaching and medicine. Gender gap is smallest for those aspiring to join the police. According to the ASER 2023 “Beyond Basics” report, 21% of rural children aged 14 to 18 years have not yet thought about their future careers and 2.1% do not want to work.
PM Suryodaya Yojana for rooftop solar systems
PM of India has announced a scheme to install rooftop solar systems in 1 Crore homes. The vision is to provide own solar rooftop system on the roof of houses for the people of India. The newly launched scheme will be known as Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana. This would help reduce the electricity bills and achieve self-sufficiency in energy needs. The Indian government introduced the first solar scheme with an ambitious target of achieving 100 GW of solar power by 2022. There are aspirations to generate 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030.
Delhi-Noida Airport Rapid Rail corridor
The UP government has approved a Rs. 16,000 Crores rapid rail corridor connecting the upcoming Noida Airport to Delhi’s IGI International Airport. The rail corridor, to be developed by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC). The project would take 4 years to complete, as per UP Government’s Nodal Officer at Noida International Airport. The Noida airport is slated to have its first flight later in 2024 and has already signed agreements with Indigo and Akasa Air. While Delhi airport is operated by GMR Group, Zurich airport has won the contract to operate Noida Airport.
India’s Manufacturing Landscape
India has witnessed a significant shift in its manufacturing dynamics. Traditionally known for its prowess in textiles, handicrafts and agro-based industries, the country has diversified its manufacturing portfolio. with a growing focus on technology, innovation and skilled labor, India has emerged as a dynamic hub for manufacturing. Initiatives such as ‘Make in India’ have been instrumental in fostering a favorable business environment, encouraging investment, and promoting indigenous manufacturing. Streamlining of regulatory processes has led to ease of doing business. Production-Linked Incentives (PLIs) are providing a substantial boost to various manufacturing sectors. India’s target of achieving USD 1 Trillion GDP by 2028 looks promising with key industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electronics, automotive, industrial machinery, and textiles playing a pivotal role.
Clean Energy investments rise in Emerging Economies
More than 20 ministers and CEOs from various countries, including India, on Wednesday, joined a WEF alliance to unlock an estimated $2.2-2.8 trillion needed for Global South’s clean energy transition. Currently the investment is $770 billion. The Network to Mobilize Clean Energy Investment for the Global South is made up of over 20 CEOs and government ministers, including from across Colombia, Egypt, India, Japan, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Norway, Kenya and South Africa. Countries like India, Brazil and parts of Middle East have seen an increase in clean energy and investments and projects, progress has been slower in many other emerging and developing economies, particularly aimed at expanding and modernizing grids.
Indian Government targets Swiss Railway’s efficiency
Indian Railways is seeking to take a leaf out of Swiss Railways in an effort to imbibe the legendary clockwork precision of Switzerland’s famed systems and processes. In contrast to the Swiss hub & spokes railway model, India focuses more on providing end to end connectivity. Indian Railways is planning for an MoU with the Swiss Railway on the sidelines of the Davos Summit, to learn from their best practices such as hub and spoke model and tunnelling technology. The Indian Railways Minister also visited the control center to see first hand the expertise in tunnelling technology. It is worth noting that the world’s longest 57-km Gotthard tunnel is in Switzerland.
Local Feedback
LocalFeedback.org aims to track and document actionable parameters that help improve urban and rural infrastructure. The founder, Susmita, has juggled diverse roles in real estate, project budgeting, valuation and execution on construction sites. Having traveled to more than 20 countries, she has worked across 4 regions in India. Her areas of interest include sustainable buildings, electric mobility and urban development. She visited top-ranking cities on livability indices and has presented published papers at international conferences.