Urban Transport Infrastructure November 2022

By Mitu Mathur, Architect & Urban Designer

By Satish Jain, Chairman, PMI Electro Mobility

Rajesh Agrawal, IRSEE Corporate Consultant, Former Member (Rolling Stock), Railway Board

Dr. Richa Chowdhary Professor University of Delhi, New Delhi

Keshav Kumar Rail, MRTS & Transit Expert, Gurugram

Dr. Vivek Vaidyanathan Urban Transport Scientist Steer, Bangalore

Dr. Surabhi Singh Professor Institute of Management Studies (IMS), Ghaziabad

Ar. Priyanka Kumar Urban Planner Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board, Ahmedabad

Karuna Gopal Smart Cities Advisor Foundation for Futuristic Cities, Hyderabad

Dr. Valavan Amudhan Public Transport Expert Director MTC Chennai

Sudhanshu Mani,

MC Chauhan, IRSEE Senior Railway Expert Ex. Chairman KMRC, Ex. GM/NCR, Indian Railways

Mamta Shah Managing Editor

Vinod Shah Head Marketing Anushka Khare Associate Editor

Naomi Pandya Associate Editor Surya Prakash Head of Design

Sangeeta Singh Media Coordinator

Khushboo Parveen Marketing Officer

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Carbon dioxide (CO2) is not a pollutant but a greenhouse gas which contributes mainly to global warming effects and which is associated climate change. Transport is one of the sectors targeted where effective public interventions are being called for to reduce CO2 emissions and where adaptation measures are needed to reduce the vulnerability to climatic changes. Currently, the CO2 emissions in the transport sector are about 30% in the case of developed countries and about 23% in the case of the total man made CO2 emissions worldwide. There is widespread agreement to reduce CO2 emissions from transport by a minimum of 50% at the latest by 2050.

India aims to reach net zero by 2070. India's Long Term Low Emissions Development Strategy (LTS), submitted to the UNFCCC in November 2022, details India's vision and plan of action for achieving its target to become a net zero emitter by 2070 The European Union has decided to ban the sale of petrol diesel operated Cars from 2035.

In this edition, we have covered in depth analysis on India’s National Logistics Policy along with Industry Reactions and How electric buses can reimagine the future of Indian public transport? We have also covered interview of leading Industry leaders/policy makers such as Dr Jivisha Joshi, Deputy Secretary, DPIIT, Govt of India; Ms Martha Larence, Senior Railway Expert, The World Bank and Mr. Harpreet Singh, Malhotra, Chairman & Managing Director, Tiger Logistics.

Kindly provide your feedback on the quality of contents of our publications, so that we can make more improvement in future editions.

I wish all our readers a very happy New Year 2023.

Stay Safe and Stay Happy!

Mamta Shah Managing Editor

editor@urbantransportnews.com

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH

KMRL begins Drone-based LiDAR survey for Kochi Metro Phase 2

Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has started a drone based LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) survey as part of the preliminary design and planning works of the Kochi Mtro’s 11 20 km Phase 2 extension to Kakkanad The survey is being carried out along the Kochi Metro Phase 2 alignment from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Infopark, Kakkanad It will help KMRL to map and update the recent developments and also the changes in topographical features along the alignment in recent years It will help plan non motorised transport initiatives and first and last mile connectivity on the proposed stretch

Philippines signs $1.87bn civil work contract for the South Commuter Railway Project

The Department of Transportation of Philippines signed four civil works contracts totaling $1 87 billion for the South Commuter Railway Project (SCRP) The project, which will lay nearly 55 kilometers of railway segment to connect Metro Manila with Laguna province, is being financed with $4.3 billion in loans approved by ADB in June 2022. The South Commuter Railway Project is part of the North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) network, which is ADB’s largest infrastructure financing in Asia and the Pacific to date

China launches world's fastest train that runs at the speed of 600 km per hour

China has unveiled world's fastest maglev train which is capable to run at the top speed to 600 km per hour. China's train maker CRRC released the high speed maglev train at a railway industry trade fair, InnoTrans 2022 in Berlin, Germany According to the manufacturing company, the train is developed with indigenous technology developed by China It said that the train prototype has already conducted a successful test run in China

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has issued civil tender notices to contractors to look at significantly extending the Dubai Metro Rail network in the city The work would involve construction of 20 6km of tracks along with 11 metro stations, if the project goes ahead The Green Line extension would be the most significant of the two lines, with 20 6km of new track and 11 new stations, according to the procurement notice issued by RTA.

RTA floated civil tender for construction of 20 km tracks under Dubai Metro Extension

Indian Railways soon to launch new Vande Bharat based Freight EMU services

With an objective of capturing additional high value time sensitive cargo, which is presently being transported through other modes of transport, Indian Railways is planning to introduce super fast parcel services These services are being planned via new "Freight EMU" rolling stock built on the Vande Bharat platform, the first rake of which will likely be introduced in service very soon

Stations in India

The Bullet Train Stations for the Mumbai Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor will be developed by Indian experts with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to improve commuter accessibility and stimulate the local economy. In order to strengthen the capacities of the Maharashtra and Gujarat state governments, municipal corporations, urban development authorities, and National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited, JICA, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and the Ministry of Railways have signed a Record of Discussions for the "Project for Station Area Development Along Mumbai Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project "

Indian Railways has embarked upon an ambitious plan of electrification of its complete Broad Gauge network which would not only result in better fuel energy usage resulting in increased throughput, reduced fuel expenditure but also savings in precious foreign exchange During the FY 2022 23, till September 2022, Indian Railways has achieved 851 Route Kilometers (RKMs) as compared to 562 RKMs during the corresponding period of FY 2021 22. It is 51.4% more than the previous year's figures for the corresponding period. The target set for electrification during this Financial Year is 6500 RKMs

Fourth Vande Bharat Express Train launched on Una New Delhi Railway Route

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off the inaugural run of the fourth Vande Bharat Express train at Amb Andaura railway station in Himachal Pradesh’s Una district on 13th October 2022. The fourth in the Vande Bharat Express series which will connect Una to New Delhi and vice versa will reduce travel time between Una, Chandigarh and New Delhi and also comes equipped with advanced safety features This train is said to be lighter and capable of reaching higher speeds in a shorter duration of time

Indian Railways achieves over 80% electrification of the total Broad Gauge network

Japan to provide assistance to develop TOD-based Bullet Train

Hindalco Industries Limited launched India’s first all aluminum freight rail rakes, helping fast track the country’s ambitious plan to modernise freight transportation and enable large carbon savings for Indian Railways The gleaming rakes are 180 tonnes lighter than existing steel rakes, can carry 5 10% more payload, consume less energy with relatively negligible wear and tear to rolling stock and rails.

Wisk Aero Unveils World’s First Self Flying, All Electric Air Taxi in Dubai

Wisk Aero, a leading Advanced Air Mobility company and pioneer in autonomous, electric flight, unveiled the world’s first self flying, all electric, four passenger vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi in Dubai on 3rd October 2022 As Wisk’s go to market aircraft, Generation 6 represents the first ever candidate for type certification by the FAA of an autonomous eVTOL The most advanced air taxi in the world, Generation 6 combines industry leading autonomous technology and software, human oversight of every flight, and an overall simplified design to deliver one of the safest passenger transport systems in commercial aviation

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to create green Public Transport routes in each district by 2025 to ensure plying of e buses there and promote the transition of public transportation to electric vehicles in other urban and rural areas as well The government also aims to attain a 100% transition of public transport to electric vehicles (EV) in 17 cities, including Lucknow, by 2030 This goal is in accordance with the new Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy 2022 approved by the state cabinet on 13th October 2022

Tata Motors has won a contract of 200 electric buses, floated by Jammu Smart City Ltd, for Jammu & Srinagar Tata Motors has entered into a strategic collaboration for the deployment of the electric buses in twin capital cities of Jammu & Kashmir The collaboration is a part of an initiative of Housing and Urban Development Department, Government of Jammu & Kashmir to establish an

Tata Motors to provide eco friendly public transport solutions to Jammu & Srinagar

environmentally, socially and financially sustainable network of public transport for Jammu and Srinagar

Hindalco launches India’s first all aluminium freight rail rakes

UP Govt plans to create green Public Transport routes in all 75 districts by 2025

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH

Tamil Nadu Govt to invest ₹2,200 crore to upgrade about 4,600 km Urban Roads

The Tamil Nadu government is planning to upgrade about 4,600 kilometres stretch of damaged roads in the urban civic bodies at a cost of Rs 2,200 crore, said Chief Minister M K Stalin on 19th October 2022 At present, Tamil Nadu State Highways Network has a total of eight circles namely Chennai, Villupuram, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Tirunelveli The state has a total of 286 state highways, 161 state highways urban stretches and 905 major district roads, apart from other district roads

European Union and Singapore sign urban air mobility cooperation agreement

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together on urban air mobility development on 18th October 2022 Representatives from both agencies signed the pact at the sidelines of the four day EU Asia Symposium on Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Urban Air Mobility, held in Singapore. The agreement will see both EASA and CAAS collaborate in areas including the development of safety and regulatory standards, outreach strategies, as well as other activities and conferences related to urban air mobility matters

Uber launches electric cab services in Delhi-NCR as pilot project

Aiming to cut carbon emissions on road, Cab aggregator Uber has started electric cabs in select regions of the Delhi NCR The Uber Electric feature is available to riders under the reserve feature on its mobile app Uber's decision to offer electric cabs in its ride sharing business in India is in part influenced by the government's push for firms to help support India's pledge to reduce carbon emissions.

The Ministry of Road Transports and Highways (MoRTH) is planning to take over the State Highways with high traffic density from the State Governments for a period of 25 years Thereafter, those state highways will be converted into 4 or 6 lane highways and then the Centre will collect toll from those highways This information was shared by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in Mumbai on 15th October 2022.

Govt of India to take over the State Highways with high traffic density from the states

Promoting Indo Australian bilateral trade and investments

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari emphasized the great investment opportunities in India including the transport infrastructure sector. Among various meetings in New South Wales, Sydney (Australia), Gadkari had a fruitful interaction with Australian Senator Ayres, Assistant Minister for Trade and Manufacturing Gadkari and Ayres discussed the excellent investment opportunities for Australian Investors in the Roads and Transport sector in India

REC signs MoU with MMRDA to fund ₹30,483 crores for nine Mumbai Metro corridors

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with REC Limited for the funding of Rs30,483 crores for the ongoing nine corridors of Mumbai Metro Rail projects in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) The funding, which has been raised from REC Limited at the rate of 7 59% for the first time, will help to fast track the metro rail work across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region

National Capital Regional Transport Corporation (NCRTC), which is implementing the first Regional Rapid Transit Systems (RRTS) in India, is planning to facilitate freight movement along with passenger services between Delhi and Meerut on Delhi Meerut RRTS Corridor During the day, the trains will run for passengers but the tracks will be empty at night So, the NCRTC is planning to use night hours for logistics and cargo services, according to officials.

Home Minister Amit Shah lays foundation stone of ₹5,618-crore Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor

Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of the much awaited Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor Project and inaugurated four other projects worth a combined Rs 6,629 crore on 27th October 2022 He inaugurated the projects virtually from an event at the Parade Ground in Sector 12. He laid the foundation stone of the Rs 5,618 crore Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor project Apart from this, he inaugurated a rail coach refurbishment factory worth Rs 590 crore in Sonipat's Barhi and India's first longest elevated railway track in Rohtak, built at a cost of Rs 315 40 crore

Gadkari invites Australian industry leaders to invest in India's transport infra sector

NCRTC plans to procure special coaches to facilitate freight movement on Delhi Meerut RRTS

India’s National Logistics Policy 2022 - A Way Towards Growth

To boost both Ease of Doing Business as well as Ease of Living and reduce the cost of logistics across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Logistics Policy at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 17th September 2022

The Indian logistics sector provides livelihood to more than 22 million people and improving the sector will facilitate a 10 % decrease in indirect logistics costs leading to the growth of 5 to 8% in exports. Further, it is estimated that the worth of the Indian logistics market will be around US$215 billion in the next two years compared to about US$160 billion at present

It has been the vision of the Prime Minister to develop world class modern infrastructure through the integration of all stakeholders in holistic planning and implementation so that efficiency and synergy are achieved in the execution of the project. The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for muti modal connectivity launched by the Prime Minister last year, was a pioneering step in this direction PM GatiShakti will get further boost and complementarity with the launch of the National Logistics Policy

Need for a national logistics policy

India’s logistics sector is highly defragmented and the aim is to reduce the logistics cost from the present 14% of GDP to less than 10% by 2022.

As per the Economic Survey 2017 18, the Indian logistics sector provides livelihood to more than 22 million people and improving the sector will facilitate a 10 % decrease in indirect logistics costs leading to the growth of 5 to 8% in exports

Further, the Survey estimates that the worth of the Indian logistics market would be around USD 215 billion in the next two years compared to about USD 160 billion currently

Key feature of the National Logistics Policy

The National Logistics Policy has been prepared in consultation with the Ministries of Railways, Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Civil Aviation. Forty six Partnering Government Agencies (PGAs) inputs were analysed in detail for consideration in the Policy

Vision and Objectives for Logistics in India: To drive economic growth and trade competitiveness of the country through a truly integrated, seamless, efficient, reliable and cost effective logistics network, leveraging best in class technology, processes and skilled manpower

Key objectives of the national logistics policy: Given the pivotal role of the logistics sector in the development of the economy and the need to incorporate learnings from global best practices, the policy outlines an ambitious set of

objectives The following are some of the key objectives for logistics in India, to be achieved in the next five years:

• Creating a single point of reference for all logistics and trade facilitation matters in the country which will also function as a knowledge and information sharing platform

• Driving logistics cost as a % of GDP down from estimated current levels of 13 14% to 10% in line with best in class global standards and incentivize the sector to become more efficient by promoting integrated development of logistics

Objectives of the National Logistics Policy

• Creating a National Logistics e marketplace as a one stop marketplace. It will involve simplification of documentation for exports/imports and drive transparency through digitization of processes involving Customs, PGAs etc in regulatory, certification and compliance services

• Creating a data and analytics center to drive transparency and continuous monitoring of key logistics metrics

• Encouraging industry, academia and government to come together to create a logistics Center of Excellence, and drive innovation in the logistics sector

• Creating and managing on an ongoing basis, an Integrated National Logistics Action Plan which will serve as a master plan for all logistics related development

• Providing an impetus to trade and hence economic growth by driving competitiveness in exports

• Doubling employment in the logistics sector by generating additional 10 15 million jobs and focusing on enhancing skills in the sector and encouraging gender diversity

• Improve India’s ranking in the Logistics Performance Index to between 25 to 30

• Strengthening the warehousing sector in India by improving the quality of storage infrastructure including specialized warehouses across the country

• Reducing losses due to agri wastage to less than 5% through effective agri logistics

• Providing impetus to the MSME sector in the country through a cost effective logistics network

• Promoting cross regional trade on e commerce platforms by enabling a seamless flow of goods

• Encouraging the adoption of green logistics in the country

Policy thrust areas

• This policy defines the key thrust areas for logistics in India, which will be the focus of the relevant ministries as well as act as a guide to the state governments The prioritized focus areas for logistics are detailed below:

• Focusing on critical projects to drive an optimal modal mix and to enable first mile and last mile connectivity

• Driving the development of Multi Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs)

• Driving interventions to reduce logistics costs and promote logistics efficiency for the movement of key commodities

• Creating a single window Logistics e marketplace

• Setting up a Logistics Data and Analytics Center

• Creating a Center of Trade Facilitation and Logistics Excellence (CTFL) and leveraging the expertise of multilateral agencies

• Creating an Integrated National Logistics Action Plan and aligning with respective state development plans

• Support strengthening of the warehousing sector

• Enhancing transport and rolling stock infrastructure

• Streamlining EXIM processes to promote trade competitiveness

• Reducing dwell time for interstate cargo movement by road

• Promoting standardization in the logistics sector

• Ensuring seamless movement of goods at Land Customs Stations (LCS) and Integrated Check Points (ICP)

• Generating employment, enhancing skilling, and encouraging gender diversity in the logistics sector

• Setting up a Startup acceleration fund

Funding for logistics initiatives

A non lapsable Logistics fund will be created, to drive progress against the key thrust areas. The Logistics fund can be deployed for the following

• Providing viability gap funding for select MMLP projects, first and last mile projects and projects for poorly serviced remote areas

• Incentivizing select logistics skilling programs and training institutes

• Setting up a start up acceleration fund to incentivize the development of new technology in logistics, particularly the farm to plate space

• Creating the Center for Trade Facilitation and Logistics Excellence (CTFL) Setting up a big data enabled logistics data hub and analytics center

• Creating a single window logistics e marketplace

Institutional Framework & Governance for Logistics

For this purpose, four committees/councils will be constituted:

• National Council for Logistics, chaired by the Prime Minister of India

• Apex inter ministerial Committee, chaired by the Minister of Commerce and Industry

• India Logistics Forum chaired by the Commerce Secretary with representation from key industry/business stakeholders and academia An empowered task force on logistics will be created, as a standing committee chaired by the head of the Logistics Wing

The National Logistics Policy formulated by the Commerce and Industry Ministry will improve India’s trade competitiveness, create more jobs, improve India’s performance in global rankings and pave the way for India to become a logistics hub

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s view on the National Logistics Policy

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister called the launch of the National Logistics Policy a significant step in fulfilling the ‘Pran’ of India being a developed country. “To ensure quick last mile delivery, end transport related challenges, save time and money of the manufacturers, prevent wastage of the agro products, concerted efforts were made and one of the manifestations of those efforts is today’s National Logistics Policy”, the Prime Minister said The resulting improvement in coordination will lead to the desired speed in the sector

The Prime Minister noted that in India, which has become the 5th largest economy in the world, things are changing rapidly Referring to this morning’s release of Cheetah, the Prime Minister said we all want that luggage should move quickly like a cheetah

The Prime Minister said “the echo of Make in India and India becoming self reliant is everywhere India is setting big export targets and is also fulfilling them. The notion

that India is emerging as a manufacturing hub, is stabilizing in the mind of the world If we study the PLI scheme we will find that the world has accepted it ”

In such a situation, the Prime Minister said, the National Logistics Policy will bring new energy to all sectors He said that policy is a beginning and policy plus performance is equal to progress When parameters, roadmap and timeline for performance come together then policy plus performance equal to progress emerges, he elaborated “Today’s India prepares the ground before bringing any policy, only then a policy can be implemented successfully National Logistics Policy has not come out of the blue and there are 8 years of hard work behind it. There are policy changes, major decisions, and, if I talk about myself, it has my 22 years of governance experience behind it”, he said

The Prime Minister reiterated that schemes like Sagarmala, Bharatmala, expedited the work of Dedicated Freight Corridors to improve logistics connectivity for systematic infrastructure development Shri Modi pointed out that the total capacity of Indian ports has increased significantly and the average turn around time of container vessels has come down from 44 hours to 26 hours For promoting export, 40 air cargo terminals have been constructed 30 airports have been provided cold storage facilities 35 multimodal hubs are coming up in the country “Through waterways, we can do eco friendly and cost effective transportation, for this many new waterways are also being built in the country”, the Prime Minister added He also mentioned Kisan Rail and Kisan Udan experiments during the Corona time. Today 60 airports have the facility of Krishi Udan

Stressing the need to adopt technology to strengthen the logistic sector, the Prime Minister said that the government has worked towards initiatives like paperless EXIM trade process through e sanchit, faceless assessment for customs, provisions for e way bills, FASTag etc that have greatly increased the efficiency of the logistics sector. He also underlined the importance of a unified tax system like GST in smoothening the issues of the logistics sector Change in drone policy and connecting it with the PLI scheme is promoting the use of drones in the logistics sector

“Only after doing so much, we have come out with a National Logistics Policy, ” he explained “From 13 14 per

cent logistics cost, we should all aim to bring it to single digit as soon as possible This, in a way, is a low hanging fruit, if we have to become globally competitive”, the Prime Minister emphasised.

The Prime Minister said that Unified Logistics Interface Platform ULIP will bring all the digital services related to the transportation sector into a single portal, freeing the exporters from a host of very long and cumbersome processes Similarly, under the policy a new digital platform Ease of logistics Services E Logs has also been started “Through this portal, industry associations can directly take up any such matters which are causing problems in their operations and performance with the government agencies A complete system has also been put in place for the speedy resolution of such cases”, he said

the world has increased in us”, the Prime Minister said He urged the nation to fully live up to the trust of the world “This is our responsibility, we all have a responsibility The National Logistics Policy, launched today, will help the country a lot in this”, he added

The Prime Minister urged competitive behaviour in Indians and said “India, which is determined to become developed, now has to compete more with developed countries, so everything should be competitive ” He continued “be it service sector, manufacturing sector, automobiles, electronics, we have to set big goals in every sector and achieve them”, the Prime Minister remarked The Prime Minister also pointed out the increasing attraction of the world toward products that are made in India. “Be it India’s agricultural products, India’s mobile or India’s BrahMos missile, they are discussed in the world today ” The Prime Minister also mentioned the Made in India covid vaccines and medicines that helped in saving millions of lives across the globe

The Prime Minister pointed out that the PM Gatishakti National Master Plan will be supporting the National Logistics Policy in all earnest. The Prime Minister also expressed happiness while mentioning the support that states and union territories have provided and that almost all the departments have started working together “A huge data of information related to different infrastructure projects of state governments has been prepared Today, data from the central and state governments in about 1500 layers are coming on the PM Gatishakti portal”, the Prime Minister informed “Gatishakti and National Logistics Policy together are now taking the country towards a new work culture. The talent that will come out of the recently approved Gatishakti University will also help it a lot”, he added

The Prime Minister said that today, the world is looking at India as a ‘democratic superpower’ He highlighted the ‘extraordinary talent ecosystem’ of India that has impressed the field experts who praise the ‘determination’ and ‘progress’ of India. The Prime Minister said “today the world’s attitude towards India is changing. Today the world is evaluating India very positively, it is keeping a lot of expectations from India”

The Prime Minister remarked that the resilience shown by India and the Indian economy in the midst of a global crisis has filled the world with new confidence “The reforms that India has done in the last years, the policies implemented are unprecedented. That is why the faith of

The Prime Minister underlined that for the products manufactured in India to dominate the world market, it is crucial to have a strong support system. “The National Logistics Policy will greatly help us modernize this support system”, he said Shri Modi also pointed out that the issues related to logistics are reduced and when the country’s exports increase, small industries and the people working in them benefit the most “Strengthening of the logistics sector will not only make the life of common man easier but will also help in increasing the respect of labour and workers”, the Prime Minister added

In concluding his address, the Prime Minister said “The National Logistics Policy has immense potential for the development of infrastructure, for expansion of business and increasing employment opportunities We have to realize these possibilities together” the Prime Minister said

Industry’s reaction on the National Logistics Policy

Representatives of the Logistics sector, R Dinesh, Managing Director, TVS Supply Chain Solutions; Ramesh Aggrawal, CEO, Agarwal Packers and Movers; Amitabh Saha, Founder and CEO of XpressBees Logistics also expressed their views on the occasion

Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General of CII, said that besides improving ease of doing business, and ease of living, the policy, along with other pillars of PM Gati Shakti has the potential to usher in an unprecedented era of ‘ease of moving' in the country, ensuring the speedier and seamless movement of cargo and people across modes of transport water, air, roads, railways

“Reduced logistics cost and increased logistic efficiencies will energise the economy across sectors in multiple ways and take us many steps closer to emerging as a global

manufacturing powerhouse,” Banerjee said

ASSOCHAM's immediate past president Vineet Agarwal expects the policy to address prevailing concerns in India’s logistics sector from an international lens. He added that a comprehensive national policy for the logistics sector is critical as it will help the country understand how it can reach its economic goals

Agarwal said the NLP should increase standardisation, reduce informalisation, improve digitisation, and become competitive in the international market

“The policy should help integrate local supply chains with international supply chains better,” Agarwal said

Arindam Guha, leader and partner for government and public services at Deloitte India, said the NLP will aim to increase the movement of cargo through the Indian Railways in a combination of additional infrastructure investments and formalising and mobilising the supporting ecosystem and also enabling single window approvals.

Guha added the main challenge of the NLP will be to address subjects that are divided between the Centre and the states

“The Policy is expected to facilitate a modal shift in logistics from the current over dependence on roads (over 60% share currently as against 25% globally) to railways (30% currently viz. a viz. around 60% globally) and waterways (only 5% currently), thereby reducing average logistics costs as well as carbon footprint It is also expected to lead to a significant improvement in India’s ranking in global studies like the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, where India was ranked 47 out of 160 countries in 2018,” Guha said

“Effective implementation of the policy would depend on support from individual States, with critical areas like first & last mile connectivity, transport, industrial development etc together with associated regulatory approvals falling under their jurisdiction The Government seems to have already made considerable headway in getting their buy in with over 15 states having announced their own logistics policies which are more or less aligned with the National Logistics Policy and also having onboarded most states on the Gati Shakti platform To enable effective coordination, the NLP has also proposed a multi tier institutional structure with the National Logistics Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, at the apex level, supported by relevant stakeholder forums at different tiers of Government,” Guha added

Ravi Jakhar, chief strategy officer at Allcargo Logistics, said the focus on building integrated infrastructure to enhance connectivity will eventually reduce the cost of carrying cargo and increase operational efficiency.

“The NLP will also bring in global standards in warehousing infrastructure and operations by facilitating technology integration,” Jakhar said

Ketan Kulkarni, chief commercial officer of Blue Dart, expects the NLP to expand India’s global connectivity and increase shipments in and out of the country

He said the NLP will aim to reduce high transaction costs in India and will provide a stimulus to trade while enhancing export competitiveness and giving a push to the MSME sector through cost effective logistics

Uttam Digga, cofounder of Porter, expects the NLP to integrate the digital systems of departments such as road transport, railways, customs, and aviation and introduce a Unified Logistics Interface Platform, which will enable smooth cargo movement

“The launching of the National Logistics Policy is a significant step towards addressing inefficiencies and cost concerns around the entire logistics framework and its successful implementation will enhance operational efficiencies and improve competitiveness of Indian products,” commented Abhishek Guha, Equity Partner, M&A and private equity, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co

Rajiv Agarwal, Operating Partner (Infrastructure), Essar and Managing Director, Essar Ports, said “National Logistics Policy 2022 which forms part of the Honourable PM’s Gati Shakti Plan is a welcome move which will not only make India competitive but also boost logistics efficiency through interconnectivity and tech based integrated ecosystem The policy lays the platform where efficiency in services and processes is at the core and can pave way for India becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse It has the potential to set a domino effect which may very well boost India’s journey to USD 5 trillion economy and more at Cheetah speeds ”

“The National Logistics Policy will accelerate the growth of the sector in the coming years as it aims to promote seamless movements of goods across the country and addresses the infrastructure, procedural gaps in India’s EXIM connectivity by creating efficient, reliable and streamlined cross border trade facilitation The sectoral plans for cost effective logistics aligned with Gati Shakti initiative is poised to be a game changer and we look forward to its unfolding in the near future,” said Cyrus Katgara Partner, Jeena & Company.

As part of the first phase of execution of the National Logistics Policy (NLP), the logistics division of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has identified 107 bottlenecks at ports in India that need to be developed and given last mile railway and road connectivity

The division has categorized these ports into three on the basis of priority and is working with state governments to develop the infrastructure, said Dr. Jivisha Joshi, Deputy Secretary for the Logistics Division at DPIIT.

In an interview, Joshi added that the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) had been integrated with data from 17 ministries and is now live and available for use by the public. The government is now working to encourage private companies to register on the platform for ULIP to become a logistic e marketplace.

Interview with DR. JIVISHA JOSHI

We are working with the industry to spread awareness about the ULIP platform and are encouraging industry members to register on the website in order to help the website move towards its aim of becoming a logistic emarketplace.

Given how fragmented and unorganized the logistics industry is, how does the government plan to bring all participants in the industry to register on ULIP, announced under the National Logistics Policy?

The Unified Logistics Interface Platform is already live with data from around 17 ministries available on its website

ULIP was to assist different stakeholders of the industry including shipping companies, government agencies, and private representatives to exchange information on a real time basis.

So there are three layers to ULIP, the application platform is now open for everyone We've already done the base work and are now inviting the industry to kindly come and register on the website and also use the data available on the website

We expect that as the industry starts using the APIs (Application Programming Interface) available on the ULIP website, it will provide a base for the industry to have ministry data available to them.

And all the data available on the ULIP platform will also be updated on a real time basis automatically

We are working with the industry to spread awareness about the ULIP platform and are encouraging industry members to register on the website in order to help the website move towards its aim of becoming a logistic e marketplace

What are the internal targets set by the government for the development of ULIP? Is there a deadline for logistics companies to register on the platform?

There is no deadline set by the government for logistics companies to register on ULIP; we are encouraging industry participants to register as soon as possible, but there is no deadline

ULIP is in a nascent stage, and I don’t think there are any internal targets set just yet for further development of the platform

The NLP also focused on increasing the market share of the Indian Railways in cargo movement to reduce the overall cost of logistics in the country. How is the government planning to bring about a shift from roads to railways in the logistics sector?

The biggest step the government is planning is to increase last mile connectivity of Indian Railways

We have identified that any commodity transported across the country can be sent using Indian Railways, but people prefer to use road systems due to last mile connectivity

We are planning to improve Indian Railways’ last mile connectivity by addressing any infrastructure gaps that currently exist and thereby offering customers a choice between railways and roadways

What are some of the last mile infrastructure gaps that the government has identified in the logistics industry?

When we don't have last mile connectivity to infrastructure, it causes an increase in freight cost, so, the National Master Plan is addressing it by plugging these gaps

We have recently done a study for all ports in the country and have identified that around 107 ports in India do not have either proper last mile road or rail connectivity

We have divided these ports into three categories, on the basis of the priority with which their infrastructure gaps need to be addressed, and have reached out to different ministries and state governments and are coordinating with them to come up with solutions to provide multi modal connectivity at these ports.

The NLP calls for the creation of State Logistics Coordination Committees/Cells? By when will these committees be setup?

The Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGOS), Network Planning Group (NPG), and Technical Support Unit (TSU) that were setup under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan will work as State Logistics Coordination

Committee.

All 36 states and union territories have already created these committees

The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of execution when launching the NLP What has been the biggest challenge that you faced or expect to face going forward in the execution and success of the NLP?

There are too many players. As we say it's fragmented not just in a sense of industry, but also a sense of ministry

A lot of coordination needs to be done not just amongst central ministries and the industry but also with the state government

I think coordination, active coordination, and good coordination will be key to success and that is also going to be the most difficult thing to do.

PM Gati Shakti is an approach of working together that can be realized using the GIS (Geographic Information System) mapped National Master Plan

It can also be called the technical arm that aids in optimal mapping and expedites the decision making process

Earlier, when we started, it was believed that the Network Planning Group, consisting of the heads of all planning divisions of 7/18 ministry departments, would meet once a month

The NPG meetings began in early January By July, we had 29 interactions and at times we also met for seven consecutive days

Coordination is taking place between 23 ministries under the EGOS

The logistics division coordinates with the teams set up in state governments every Thursday and apart from that at

least two times a month we coordinate with state governments on project execution

Given the fact that the infrastructure needed in India to improve cargo movement in the country will take a few years, what improvements can the industry expect in the next couple of years on the logistics front?

The government has started working on the digital platforms required to address the policy side bottlenecks when it comes to the logistics industry in India; these platforms will be made active soon

Apart from coming up with digital platforms to address the policy bottlenecks in logistics, we are also using technology to fast track the planning stage of infrastructure development in India, which has historically taken the most time

The NLP highlighted the need to set up storage facilities to improve logistics movement in India. What is the plan, going forward, to increase storage in the country?

The government is working to come out with a set of standards to set up storage facilities across India

The idea is that once there is a Standard Operating Procedure, the industry can set up storage facilities based on requirements

At the same time, under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the government will plan to set up warehouses to address the critical infrastructure gaps in India

The logistics division is also coordinating with various ministries to understand the requirements of all the ministries and is planning to set up an infrastructure where it is critically required.

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How urban public transport can be a game-changer?

 Mitu Mathur, Architect & Urban Designer

The Covid 19 world has witnessed a paradigm shift in every industry worldwide. The suburban expansion of cities, resulting from a change in infrastructure development, demands innovative, inclusive, and sustainable models of infrastructure As architects and urban designers, we need to think global and act locally, adhering to sustainable usage of resources worldwide

With urbanisation being inevitable, we need to plan development models that synergise with augmented infrastructure in the city. Our future developments need to be derived with a step by step approach that can have a significant impact if large pockets of growth are tied up to a bigger infrastructure network There is a critical need to review redevelopment as an opportunity to upgrade and energise the city’s dying and inadequate infrastructure The focus should be on bridging the gap between architecture and planning and bringing a holistic vision for a progressive city Currently, urban infrastructure, especially transport hubs, are treated as isolated envelopes of development and do not converge to form a larger picture. The new age transit nodes should be looked at from a broader perspective on an urban scale that facilitates ease of access for pedestrians and cyclists and gives preference to the renewed norms of public transport Railway station developments should also be considered as channels of economic revitalisation and social upliftment as they generate more employment opportunities and unlock the real estate opportunities of otherwise under utilised land parcels.

Transportation hubs are one of the approaches which catalyse the growth of thriving cities, so it’s no wonder that a good deal of infrastructure focus is dedicated to the development of railways and rapid mass transit systems

Although, new guidelines need to be put in place for urban public transport systems, which in turn will also bring many challenges to the fore, and numerous construction technologies will have to be used to address the issue. A systematic approach that responds to a phased out model is required to gain public trust in mass transit systems Adhering to the social distancing protocols, we need to ideate well distributed hours to limit contact and focus on non motorized transport in the initial phases

Apart from fulfilling functional requirements, these projects must accommodate all safety protocols to enable a seamless and safe transportation experience for passengers. Especially considering the heavy footfall, the movement of the arriving and departing passengers should be designed in a segregated manner The redeveloped stations should also be envisioned with state of the art passenger facilities, parking needs, retail options and food courts, activating these urban hubs

The efficiency of public transport depends on the availability of different transport modes and their connectedness Developing railway stations as multimodal hubs will efficiently enhance the overall quality of urban infrastructure by reducing distances and travel time, offering maximum comfort to its users Incorporating non motorised vehicular routes and dedicated pedestrian zones is required to step towards a multi modal development and ensure a safer and more comfortable transportation system. New business models and strategies are being developed to encourage a new transit system focusing on shared mobility and digitising public transport infrastructure

Like most other industries, the mass transit and public transport industry is also facing the urgent need to transform its infrastructure facilities and offer a better and safer experience Capacity management, contactless ticket generation and other sensor based security measures are now being installed at large. In addition, the focus is shifting towards making the rider feel more confident and safe by developing user centric transportation services It is well known that public transportation is the backbone of cities; hence providing vital services allows us to shape new forms of mobility Additionally, developing New Age transit networks not only creates a synergy between the Centre and the state but is a testament to collaborative work Using Covid 19 as an opportunity to develop, mass transit is using technology and data in new ways to re energise the city’s infrastructure.

How electric buses can reimagine the future of Indian public transport?

Satish Jain, Chairman, PMI Electro Mobility

As India races ahead in championing the cause of sustainability, there lies a great opportunity to combat climate change in the country by targeting core areas like public transport The growing popularity of electric buses (e buses) amongst travelers, governments and industries is making them a dependable choice for India's drive toward a sustainable future As compared to ICE, commonly diesel run buses, the electric variants are a much more effective and viable solution for the intra city segment to cater and benefit the common Indian commuter, state exchequers, and the environment at large It is promising that the e buses are receiving encouragement from policy and decision makers across India and also offer a great chance to modernize the public bus service in India.

E buses: A great opportunity for clean, modern public transport

The switch to e buses is extremely crucial for India to decarbonize public transport and cut reliance on fossil fuels The buses currently ferrying on Indian roads are mostly dependent on fossil fuels and account for more than 10% of diesel consumption in the country as per reports Buses in India are the most preferred and affordable means of travel. A majority of the workforce, students, and others depend on it for daily commutes.

As these buses are responsible for a large portion of pollutants, replacing them with electric variants can bring huge advantages They are easy to run and maintain and come with low running costs Electric buses can minimize urban pollution and offer noise free roads

Furthermore, e buses have drastically lower carbon footprints and they require much lower energy/km to operate As compared to diesel variants, these buses have zero tailpipe emissions and offer comfortable smoke free and smooth rides to passengers In a recently conducted survey among e bus commuters, 78% of respondents prefer to travel by e bus because of less noise and vibrations

Advantage India: Factors contributing to e mobility growth

India has set a target to get 50% of its energy requirements



from renewables by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2070 Pushing e mobility, it wants to achieve EV sales penetration 30% of private cars, 70% of commercial cars, 40% of buses and 80% of two and three wheelers by 2030. Aligned with these goals, the Indian government is giving huge support to electric mobility in the country with initiatives like FAME and PLI, and the results are encouraging

Moreover, today, the country is ramping up its EV and battery manufacturing capabilities which will help in localisation and making economical products suitable for Indian needs. Technology advancements will soon be able to offer products with a high range to cover long distances and make e mobility more viable for users

Eliminating the existing bottlenecks

According to benchmarks set by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Indian metros require 60 buses per lakh population Going by these numbers, the country is operating at less than one fifth of the buses it needs and to adequately serve the users, it needs to add an additional 1, 45,000 buses

While electric mobility can add great value to STUs, they currently lack the technical know how, operational knowledge and skills to deploy, run and manage fleets of e buses. Financing e buses is another impediment to EV adoption. Additionally, funding gaps and inadequate budgets also hold back STUs to make direct purchases The e bus ecosystem needs high capital investments in addition to subsidies by the government to drive the transition

The success of e buses in India is also dependent on domestic manufacturing capabilities which require a favourable industrial policy. The segment can contribute to huge revenue opportunities, employment generation, innovation and collaborative efforts from all stakeholders required to transform the face of public mobility with e buses in India

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Media Partner

URBAN INFRA BUSINESS SUMMIT AND AWARDS 2023

OCTOBER 10, 2023 | INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE | NEW DELHI

Urban Infra Group (Urban Infra Communication, Urban Transport News and Metro Rail Today), in collaboration with leading industries, corporates, government/nodal ministries, PSUs and media firms, is pleased to announce the date of 3rd edition of Urban Infra Business Summit & Awards 2023 The program will be hosted on 10th October 2023 at India International Centre, New Delhi, India

Apart from discussing the business opportunities, new innovations, technology development, challenges in implementation of major urban infrastructure projects and possible solutions by private players, this program will also honour and recognize industry leaders (individuals and corporates) for their extraordinary contribution in developing infrastructure in nation-building through their innovative ideas, products, and services.

Nominations called from the eligible industry leaders/corporates 

KEY DATES

Nominations for Awards (Closing Date): 15th August, 2023 

Announcement of Awardees: 9th September, 2023 

Delegate Registration (Closing Date): 30th September, 2023 

Awards Ceremony: 10th October, 2023 

Venue: India International Centre, New Delhi

Eligibility & Nomination Guidelines

Nominations invited in two categories Individual and Corporate 

Nominations are open to all individuals/businesses (Govt./Non Govt.) irrespective of their age and the size of the business. 

The individual nominee should have either in working or retired from the capacity of senior management positions such as MD, CEO, Director, President, Vice President, General Manager etc. 

The nominee must have at least one representative office/person in India and be engaged in development oriented infrastructure projects. 

The nomination form must be filled out either by nominee or authorized representatives. 

More than one nomination can be submitted from a company or firm.

Selection Procedure

The winners will be selected by a jury comprising of industry experts and our editorial advisory board

The evaluation will be done based on their contribution and innovative achievements irrespective of the age of the person/business entity

Criteria to be considered by the selection committee include use of latest innovation & technology, result oriented products & solutions, strong leadership and outstanding track record in the Industry.

The winners will be awarded an artistic trophy along with a 'Certificate of Appreciation’ in presence of renowned industry leaders.

Decarbonizing transport: Shifting people and goods onto railways

Transport currently generates 20 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions That’s a huge number Reducing the GHG emissions produced by transport is a big challenge, but by no means an impossible one Many tools already exist to reverse rising transport emissions policies, infrastructure investments, and new technologies. The priority now is matching the tools to local needs.

The World Bank is working on ways to bring the benefits of movement so that people can get where they want to go, goods can move quickly and efficiently to markets where they are needed while taking the carbon out of transport In many places, railways can deliver the prompt mobility and logistics economies need, with a low carbon footprint.

In a conversation with Martha Lawrence, a senior railway specialist at the World Bank Group, we learn more about

what can be gained from shifting people and goods to railways, and what role rail plays in decarbonizing transport Martha has over 40 years of experience working on railways

Why is rail a better option for transport than roads, from an environmental perspective?

Whether diesel or electric powered, railways are more energy efficient and generate lower emissions per passenger and per ton of goods than almost all movement by road and air

One passenger train can carry a thousand or more passengers One freight train can carry one thousand to five thousand tons of freight. Using diesel fuel for rail freight, while not necessarily optimal, generates only a quarter to a third of the GHG emissions produced by trucks.

A complete transition to electrification or other non carbon fuel can bring added benefits, although this will take years For the short term, moving traffic from air or road to diesel powered rail will reduce emissions by 70 percent or more per passenger kilometer or ton kilometer That’s an important part of the move toward zero emissions.

Where will railways freight trains, passenger rail, urban light rail work best?

The market needs to be competitive

Strong potential markets include places where traffic is heavy and where lower costs and more efficient service can attract customers For passengers, this means urban and suburban trips of about 80 kilometers or less, a maximum of around one hour of travel time. For people going from city to city, trips on conventional railways of up to about 500 kilometers will attract passengers. For high speed rail, that expands to about 1,200 kilometers, or about three hours of travel time

For freight, it is a little more complicated Competitive markets for freight are determined by volume, distance, and the kind of goods being moved For example, rail is the best system for nearly 100 percent of large mineral transit, while rail is likely to be competitive for only some manufactured goods moving longer distances. Freight rail is also more competitive when pick up and delivery are at places served by trains because those sites don’t require transfer to trucks for last mile delivery

Many trains still rely on diesel fuel. Are there new technologies coming that could help rail transition to greener fuels?

Trains even when powered by diesel are already lower carbon than alternative forms of long distance transport by road But there are ways to reduce emissions from railways even further

Options include using greener fuels or improving the technology of train engines to make them run more efficiently.

Just as car manufacturers over time have improved the efficiency of internal combustion engines (so we get more miles to the gallon of gas), locomotive manufacturers have also improved the efficiency of their engines in recent years

For instance, new driver assistance systems promote energy efficient driving, and they can also warn engineers about potential problems. Other new ideas focus on improving the carrying capacity of train wagons and using computer modeling to reduce the number of empty wagons on returns There are plenty of potential gains through technology

But for most countries, converting trains from diesel to electric or hydrogen powered engines will bring the largest GHG reductions in emissions from railways. Conversion to electric power remains expensive and is only practical if there’s a reliable power supply or battery storage onboard. This is a critical issue in many developing countries where reliable energy access remains an issue For hydrogen, the greatest barrier is the availability and cost of fuel No matter which alternative engine technology is pursued, the decarbonization of the energy sector will be critical to

“One passenger train can carry a thousand or more passengers. One freight train can carry one thousand to five thousand tons of freight. Using diesel fuel for rail freight, while not necessarily optimal, generates only a quarter to a third of the GHG emissions produced by trucks.

ensure that electricity or hydrogen is produced from renewable sources.

What are next steps in making rail more plentiful and popular for governments and for consumers?

Governments have a big role to play in the shift to rail They can use prices and taxes to help railways be cost competitive as compared to road and air transport and to boost demand. They can plan housing and industrial development around stations, hubs, and rail lines. They can use government money to invest in and support railway infrastructure and services and, of course, they can run their countries’ railways as smoothly and efficiently as possible

Which transport modes are the lowest emitters for intercity passenger trips?

Compared to several modes of transport, rail whether it be powered by diesel or electricity emits the lowest grams carbon dioxide equivalent per passenger kilometer (gCO2e/pkm)

conversation with

Harpreet Singh Malhotra is a successful firstgeneration entrepreneur and has received rightful recognition both at national and international levels Under his wing, Tiger Logistics has grown to be the 9th and the youngest Indian Logistics Company to go public. Malhotra firmly believes in the motto: “hard work is the key to success in life” He is a Commerce graduate from Delhi University and an alumnus of IIFT, New Delhi. He has led the company through many turbulent times, despite which Tiger has emerged as one of the most reliable names in the international shipping and logistics industries The company is now focusing on digitizing the logistics business and is investing heavily in developing a one of a kind logistics digital platform which will be a game changer for the industry

With his leadership, skills and understanding of the logistics industry, Malhotra dreams of building Tiger Logistics as a recognized leader in the fields of International Logistics and Freight Forwarding

In a recent interaction with Urban Transport News, Malhotra shares his thoughts on the future of the Logistics Industry and his vision to take his company to new heights.

Tell us about your professional journey in the logistics industry.

My professional journey didn’t start as a businessman; before Tiger Logistics, I worked in the Hero group, and in 2000, we launched this company Since I did not come from a conventional business family, I had to learn about trade and commerce as we grew Still, we were quick to observe the market gaps and adapted to new developments pretty quickly, which gave us an edge over the competitors

How is Tiger Logistics contributing to India's Logistics & Transportation sector?

As the spear headers of the Indian freight forwarding and shipping industry, Tiger Logistics has been working in tandem with both importers and exporters of India to provide end to end logistic services that cover a wide array of services such as transportation, customs clearance, and freight forwarding. Their services and collaboration with different vendors rail, ship, transport, and their fleet of trailers have enhanced the overall mechanism of India's Logistics & Transportation Services

How will you define Urban Logistics, and what are some major challenges the Logistics industry is facing in India?

Urban Logistics is simply the management of transport goods that are distributed in an urban environment, such as cities supporting trade and movement of cargo. Urban Logistics aims at creating efficiency and striving for sustainability as a good move through cities and urban centres Urban logistics include seaports, airports, railroads, highways, and other modes and docks of transport The recurrent challenges faced within this arena are Traffic congestion, environmental damage, and air pollution

In

Harpreet Singh Malhotra Chairman & Managing Director, Tiger Logistics

“Integrated freight parks will greatly help India's logistics sector by easing freight logistics, making freight movement seamless, saving time, and reducing costs. This will encourage the export market of India and fix the infrastructure gap in our industry.

Condition of the roads broken/poorly made roads can lead to the goods getting damaged on the way.

How technology providers and transporters can partner to drive sustainability success across the country?

Advanced technological developments have recently made the usage of inland waterways such as rivers has emerged as a significant opportunity for domestic transportation Tech empowered transport providers can rejig their older vehicles with newer ones that boast a better and more efficient engine that causes less pollution and is much more cost efficient Yet another readily available approach has been the introduction of EVs (electronic vehicles) into the logistics sector The latest navigation and GPS routing systems help freight forwarders most economical routes, with lesser wait time, better efficiency, and better space utilization Using new age tech such as big data and automation, the paper used for printing can also be limited sizably.

How automation and digitization will play a critical role in the sustainability of the overall business?

With both factors acting in a favorable synergy, the overall sustainability of the business can observe significant differences in the overall output to input ratio and cost efficiency Through automation and digitization, intensive physical resources can be minimized, and computer driven resources can be deployed to curb costs and diminish margins of human error It can also streamline the entire supply chain process with the help of data blacked estimations regarding mobility, and the route calculators can determine the time and fuel efficient routes that give analytics on overall energy use

Do you think there are some grey areas in logistics sectors that need to be addressed?

8 of the top challenges faced by the industry players

• Keeping transportation costs down

• Keeping up with customer/industry demands

• Sourcing consistent, reliable carrier capacity

• Keeping up with the latest technology solutions and demands

• On time pickup and delivery performance

Other Macro issues:

• Fuel Costs

• Business Process Improvement

• Improved Customer Service

• Economy

• Driver Shortage & Retention

• Government Regulations

• Environmental Issues

• Technology Strategy & Implementation

What is your take on Govt. of India's initiatives to set up Multi-modal logistics parks across the country?

Integrated freight parks will greatly help India's logistics sector by easing freight logistics, making freight movement seamless, saving time, and reducing costs This will encourage the export market of India and fix the infrastructure gap in our industry These parks will also increase employment and help boost the economy

What is your feedback on the content we serve in the industry through our digital and print publications?

We highly appreciate the content of your publications which is rolling out for the masses because it is essential for people not only those who are in this business but the normal readers, to be aware of policies, players, and other developments that are happening in this arena

Anything else you want to share with our readers?

India is on its way to becoming a superpower in the coming years, and the backbone of this growth is Indian logistics, both domestic and international. Tiger Logistics feels proud to be at the forefront of this ship and contributing to the growth of the Indian economy

In developing countries, the emobility revolution is closer than you might think

Riccardo Puliti, Vice President for Infrastructure at the World Bank

One important aspect of this transition is electric mobility Electric vehicles (EVs) which come in many varieties including private cars, two and three wheelers, and buses have been taking some global markets by storm. Sales of electric cars doubled in 2021, reaching a record 6 6 million But most of these vehicles are concentrated in Europe, China and the United States

EVs offer many benefits, including the most talked about their potential to shift the world toward net zero transport For megacities like Cairo, Jakarta, or Santiago de Chile, which suffer from intense congestion, EVs can greatly improve local air quality for citizens. But the benefits extend beyond transport decarbonization; EVs can have a positive impact on development goals For instance, electric two and three wheelers can meet the last mile mobility demands of many low income citizens in places such as Mali and Burkina Faso, where getting to jobs, health services or schools is still difficult due to a lack of public transport systems.

In growing cities around the world, air pollution is a matter of life or death Health complications from poor air quality contribute to nearly eight million years of life lost annually The transport sector plays an important part in this global crisis, as many of the pollutants we breathe in every day originate from vehicle engines

This is a difficult problem to solve because mobility is a fundamental lifeline. There are many parts of the world that still lack even the most basic access to transport infrastructure and services A pressing challenge is finding ways to curb emissions from transport while still improving accessible, affordable and safe ways for people to travel

A growing number of developing countries are looking to harness the potential of e mobility, and the World Bank is already working with clients in several regions to support this transition In India, for instance, the World Bank together with other partners, is discussing with the Indian authorities how to support their ambitious e mobility program for two and three wheelers, as well as electric buses. In Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East, the Bank is providing technical assistance and expertise to help major cities across the region electrify their public transport fleet

Given these advantages, why hasn’t e mobility taken off in more places? One important reason is that, until recently, EVs have been simply too expensive compared to their internal combustion engine counterparts Electric vehicles come at a cost premium sometimes upwards of 70 80% more than conventional alternatives. This has been a major

hurdle to adoption, both for developing country governments trying to green their fleets, and for consumers looking to purchase private vehicles

But new research from the World Bank suggests that this unfavorable math is changing, and faster than you might expect. In our new analysis, we took a closer look at the Economics of e Mobility in low and middle income countries, factoring in current and projected EV pricing in the next decade, savings in fuel costs and maintenance, and monetization of health and environmental benefits The analysis makes it clear that the economic case for increased e mobility is stronger than ever before In fact, half of the countries we studied already have a strong economic case for using more EVs, especially buses and two or three wheelers. Over the next few years, it is likely that further EV price reductions through efficient procurement and technology innovation will make the economics even more appealing

Of course, EVs cannot single handedly solve all transport challenges in developing countries They need to be pursued as part of broader plans toward a sustainable mobility transition One way to make that happen is to prioritize the electrification of high efficiency, high occupancy transport, such as bus rapid transit (BRT). Experience from the field has shown that the electrification of mass transit can be an excellent way to reduce transport emissions while giving residents access to reliable, affordable mobility Another promising solution is to activate more financing for electrified two and three wheelers And most importantly, governments can invest in charging infrastructure, the most influential factor behind an EV purchase even more important than subsidies or incentives.

Accelerating progress toward sustainable mobility in developing countries is crucial, and electric vehicles will be an important part of the equation All countries need a plan for incorporating electric mobility into their transport progress and prioritizing investments that are relevant to the local context The World Bank stands ready to support this transition every step of the way

Accelerating progress toward sustainable mobility in developing countries is crucial, and electric vehicles will be an important part of the equation. All countries need a plan for incorporating electric mobility into their transport progress and prioritizing investments that are relevant to the local context.

Real-time Tracking Information System (RTIS)

– Know All About

What is RTIS?

Did you ever get stuck in a situation when you were on time to board the train but you hear the announcement that ”Your train is running late, sorry for the inconvenience”?

It’s a very frustrating and uncomfortable situation if you find that a particular train is running late and you had no way to know this beforehand Wouldn’t it be better if you had a way to know that your train is running behind schedule so that you can rearrange your timing in a more efficient way? Now, it will also be possible with RTIS, one of the most ambitious and expensive rail projects ever by the Indian Railways Real time Train Information System or RTIS allows passengers to get the real time location or train running status of a train on their smartphone

To enhance the security and comfort of train journeys, Indian Railways has partnered with ISRO, the space organization of India The project is termed as Real time Train Information System (RTIS) and currently it is executed by Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) ISRO has launched GSAT satellites that have GAGAN payloads for tracking the movement of trains and relaying that information down to the Central Location Server (CLS) of CRIS. The information that the satellite sends is almost real time and very accurate. The same information is passed on using enterprise service BUS in CRIS’ data center to the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) From there on, NTES feeds that information to all the public information dissemination systems be it websites, mobile apps, the 139 railway helpline number, or any other medium

The most helpful feature of this system is that the information from satellites goes automatically to all those systems which fetch data from NTES Thus, passengers or railway customers also are now able to get accurate train running information in real time In December 2016, MoU was signed between CRIS and Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO for this project It is not a future thing, in fact the trials for this system using GSAT series satellite have been done successfully during July September, 2017 on New Delhi Guwahati (NDLS GHY) and New Delhi Mumbai (NDLS BCT) Rajdhani routes jointly by CRIS and SAC

Image Credit: Siemens Mobility 

Rohit Chaubey, Content Analyst, Rail Mitra

Why Real time Train Information is Needed?

Do you know the fact that Indian Railways has about 5500 electric locomotives, 6500 diesel locomotives and 3000 EMU/ MEMU /DMUs? About 600 locomotives are added every year Handling such a large scale of train data manually is not only complex but also highly inefficient Thus, automatic data acquisition for train movement is a key requirement for improving the operational efficiency and quality of passenger information. This requirement gained greater significance on all Indian Railways divisions following the introduction of ICT based Control Office Application (COA)

Benefits of Real time Train Information System (RTIS): Indian Railways is the backbone of the transportation system in India So, it becomes very necessary to enhance the facilities and provide passengers with correct train information. That’s when the Real time Train Information System (RTIS) comes into play. From keeping customers updated about timely train arrivals to improving overall quality and efficiency, here are the key benefits of introducing RTIS in the rail industry

Improve the overall satisfaction of passengers: Train helpline number 139 receives a lot of complaints which are mainly related to train delays By providing real time arrival and departure information of trains, the expected and actual waiting times for passengers can decrease significantly. If a commuter can see a train running behind schedule, they can more easily rearrange their time

Increase service usage: RTIS can make the journey more comfortable and seamless for passengers So, the total train ridership will increase significantly resulting in more revenue for Indian Railways

Stress free work for train controllers: Currently, train controllers are almost always busy handling and maintaining data of all the trains After the introduction of RTIS, they can focus on controlling and managing train routes in a better and efficient way That will increase the punctuality of all the trains

Optimum utilization of resources: RTIS allows the Indian Railways to determine the real world version of train schedule, thus enabling them make instant adjustments and publish more accurate passenger service information. So, the resources are fully and efficiently utilized

Enables the train information to be accessed through a web or mobile service provider: Now you don’t need a computer system to see the live running status or train running status RTIS makes it possible to see the current location of any train in real time So, if you are looking for the answer to “Where is my Train?”, then Indian railways has given you the answer with the help of RTIS.

Richer MIS for management: Since the complete work of train data handling is automated with the help of RTIS, it gives ample time and resources for train authorities and management to focus on other important railway management tasks such as decision making, coordination, control, analysis, and visualization for future rail plans

How does the Real time Train Information System Work?

You can easily understand the principle behind the working of RTIS through these following points:

• In train loco, a device application software will determine train movement events i e Arrival, Departure, Run through stations, etc based on predefined logic applied to spatial coordinates The train speed is received continuously from the GAGAN receiver.

• These events shall be communicated to the Central Location Server (CLS) of CRIS using S MSS as well as 4G/3G mobile data service, along with position / location updates

• For automatic plotting of control charts, the CLS processes the received data and relays it to the Control Office Application (COA)

• As COA is already integrated with the National Train Enquiry System (NTES), it will automatically allow accurate real time passenger information as a by product. So passengers are able to get precise train location through NTES app download

LMCS software is used to monitor the loco device’s health, control its configuration and upgrade the software / firmware in the loco device Emergency messaging between the Loco driver and the control office is also carried out via RTIS There have been several successful trial runs, and the RTIS system is now to be rolled out on Indian Railways. Centre for Railway Information Systems expects to complete the project in subsequent phases

According to Indian railways, RTIS devices have been installed for 2700 locomotives in 21 electric loco sheds As part of Phase II rollout, 6000 more locomotives across 50 loco sheds shall be covered by utilizing ISRO’s Satcom hub Currently, GPS feed from around 6500 Locomotives (RTIS and REMMLOT) is being directly fed into the Control Office Application (COA). This has enabled automatic charting of trains and real time information flow to passengers through COA and NTES integration

Hindalco launches

India’s first allaluminium freight rail rakes

The bottom discharge aluminium freight wagon, specifically designed to carry coal, is tipped to reduce the carbon footprint measurably For every 100 kg weight reduction of the wagon, the lifetime CO2 saving is 8 10 tonnes This translates to a saving of more than 14,500 tonnes of CO2 for a single rake.

With the Railways planning to deploy more than one lakh wagons in the coming years, the potential annual CO2 reduction could be to the tune of over 25 lakh tonnes, with say 15 20% shift to aluminium wagons a notable contribution to the country’s sustainability goals

“The launch of the India’s first aluminium freight rake is a testimony to our capability and commitment to offer smart and sustainable solutions for nation building. Hindalco is steadfast in bringing together the best of global technologies with local resources to make Indian Railways’ logistics more efficient and contribute to the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat,” said Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco Industries Ltd

The new generation wagons, fabricated by M/S BESCO based on RDSO approved design are made from high strength aluminium alloy plates and extrusions, indigenously made at Hindalco’s state of the art rolling facility in Hirakud, Odisha with extrusions from the company’s Renukoot plant in UP, leveraging its global technology These all aluminium rakes offer 19% higher payload to tare weight ratio, which will have a transformative impact on the Railways’ logistics and operational efficiency

Hindalco Industries Limited launched India’s first all aluminum freight rail rakes, helping fast track the country’s ambitious plan to modernise freight transportation and enable large carbon savings for Indian Railways The gleaming rakes are 180 tonnes lighter than existing steel rakes, can carry 5 10% more payload, consume less energy with relatively negligible wear and tear to rolling stock and rails

Flagging off the new 61 wagon rake from Bhubaneswar station, which will carry coal for Hindalco’s Aditya Smelter in Lapanga, Odisha, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology, said, “This is a proud moment for the country and our drive for indigenization as these lightweight aluminium wagons are a big innovation for Indian Railways

“These wagons save 14,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions, have more carrying capacity, consume less energy and are corrosion resistant They are 100% recyclable and even after 30 years, they will be as good as new These aluminium wagons will enable us to achieve our climate goals,” he added.

The freight sector in India is expected to grow at more than 7% CAGR to 15 billion tonnes by 2050, with the energy efficient and eco friendly Railways expected to notably increase its volume share from the current 18%

Hindalco is also planning to participate in manufacturing of aluminium coaches for high speed passenger trains Aluminium trains command a lion’s share in the United States, Europe and Japan because of attributes such as sleek, aerodynamic designs and their ability to tilt at high speeds without going off the rails.

Aluminium is the preferred choice for metro trains worldwide for their durability and most importantly passenger safety, as it has improved crashworthiness or superior crash absorption capability Indian Railways have already announced their plans to make aluminium bodied Vande Bharat train sets Hindalco is committed to bringing in this revolutionary change in India and is engaged in discussions with global partners to set up a conducive ecosystem in India

Is free public transport a social experiment or just a gimmick?

 Dr. Amudhan Valavan, Advisor, Mallawa Mobility Inc.

In western countries, the primary motto for the free travel to the female passengers by the government more than 50 cities and towns, citing climate ambitions and social equality as their primary motivators But in Tamilnadu Government did not make such announcements or communicate the reason for giving free travel for females in busses in a crystal clear manner

The free bus ride scheme for women was launched by the Delhi government in the national capital in 2019 More than three crore women availed the facility of free travel in public transport buses in Delhi in FY2021 22, as per the data shared by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Legislative Assembly in March 2022

Tamilnadu Government is providing compensa tion monthly for the value of Rs 206 Crores of money for 13 73 Crore passengers free travel in Tamilnadu STU’s approximately in July 2022

Free bus travel for women is a golden bullet to improving sustainable mobility in the respective region If you have a complete vision and new strategy for women development programme, free fare policy would be a tool to support the working class and improving the quality and connections of public transport and is a key to attracting more female passengers

In my view, free Public Transport to lady passengers is better than the scheme of 100 days’ work to the ladies. "If the Government does not communicate a complete vision or a new strategy on free travel for women development and if it does not have an investment programme on which they show that they are improving the connection facility for women, then introducing free bus travel for women will not bore great results for both government and public transport sector

I can point out of the reasons like big established outlets and franchises used to relocate human resources from villages and outskirts to an in house dorm like setup which is free closer or attached to the business centre and also provide food in return for ease and availability of human resources at lower pay scale throughout the day This setup led to lots of human right problems to the respective

labourer’s especially women

Tamil Nadu Governments’ free bus travel for women scheme has now brought great relief too many rural women folks who were previously not able to either move to such dorms, or even just travel to city for work This has greatly improved their earnings and has also opened new opportunities for many women for whom travel remained a blocker in their progress

Rural employment resulted in lower pay in local area for the female community Now with free travel, women are availing the facility provided and are now finding better employment with greater pay in places like malls and gated communities with pay increasing from Rs 4,000 to 15,000 (3 5 times their previous pay) This has resulted in an overall development in women contribution to GDP

Overcrowding can lead to a higher incidence of sexual harassment Due to safety concerns, women have a narrower time frame to travel by public transport The reduced ‘safe window’ can increase congestion during certain hours and make public transport less reliable and safe Safety is a major concern raised by women regarding limited access to public transport Women also have fewer mobility options and are highly dependent on husbands for dropping and pick up their wife from their office stations or kids to schools respectively This leads to increase personal vehicle use by the public, intermediate public transport or non motorised forms of transport And introducing free travel for women overcomes both the problems of sexual harassments due to overcrowding as well as reduction in use of personal modes of transport

The reasons for Women at Chennai uses free public transportation, even though many public transport stations have a poor level of accessibility, public transport is still considered, by women, the safest and most punctual mode of transport

Pro’s for Providing Public Transport free mode to women are:

• Free public transport would reduce the number of cars on the road (Climate Change)

• The government's job is to provide services especially for women (Women Empowerment)

• The environment would greatly benefit (Prevent Sexual abuse/ Harassment)

• We would need more public transport female workers (Women safety & Opportunities’)

• The government would be forced to improve public transport (Reduce Air Pollutions)

• Single or zero fare maximizes the efficiency, convenience and attractiveness of public transport systems for female users & operators in inner cities (GDP increase/Reduce Traffic Congestion due to women independent)

• A lot of public transport companies are reliable and need more customers (women motivation)

• Heaps of female would be tempted by free transport (Not Dependent on Personal Vehicles)

• A lot of female would already be using it if it didn't cost so much (Women Delight to Public Transport)

As a Sustainable Mobility expert, I request all the public to stop the criticism on the free travel to public transport facilities by the government as actually it gives more benefits to female passengers

***

(Tamil Nadu Govt launched Pink Bus for free ride for Women in Chennai on August 6, 2022)

Over 980 km of metro rail and RRTS are currently under construction in India: Hardeep S. Puri

(UMI) Conference & Expo 2022 in Kochi on 4th November 2022 The event was organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in collaboration with Govt of Kerala from 4th to 6th November, 2022 at Hotel Grand Hyatt Kochi, Kerala. Senior officers from Central and State Governments policy makers, Managing Directors of Metro Rail Companies, Chief Executives of transport undertakings, International experts, professionals, academicians and students will participate in this event

Acknowledging the incorporation of best practices/ learnings from other countries into Indian Urban Mobility Systems, Puri said that we have been able to learn from the experience of

other countries The metro lines that we are introducing today are the kind of systems which are incorporating the best practices from others.

Our process of indigenization is going to contribute to also an experience wherein we will be able to share with other countries placed in the similar level of the developmental ladder, he added further

Touching upon the rapid progress of Indian Metro lines in global context, the Minister said that as of September 2022, 810 kms of metro line are operational in 20 cities and a network of more than 980 kms of metro network and RRTS is currently under construction in 27 cities India currently has the fifth largest metro network in the world, and will soon overtake advanced economies such as Japan and South Korea to become the third largest network These developments will lead to a significant reduction of traffic congestion and the associated air quality and emissions concerns

He expressed satisfaction for his association with transport and the evolution of metro systems and other transport systems over the period of five years

Expressing his happiness at organisation of 15th Edition of Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Expo 2022 at Kochi, Kerala, Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, said Kochi is the apt choice for hosting this 15th edition of the Urban Mobility India Conference and Exhibition as it has distinguished itself as an exemplar city for promoting seamless public transportation in urban areas Its focus on creating a system that encourages people to switch from personal vehicles to public modes of transport is a laudable objective. It aligns with the Centre’s objective of ‘moving people rather than vehicles.’

Hardeep S Puri and Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan jointly inaugurated 15th Urban Mobility India

Puri congratulated the Kochi Metro for the innovative Kochi Water Metro project, which will connect 10 islands through 15 routes and will cater to a daily ridership of more than 100,000 people across 78 kilometres of network Not only will the water Metro revive the traditional water train and travel routes once ubiquitous in the city. It will also provide a cheaper and more sustainable alternative to daily commuters Inland water transport is inherently more energy efficient than road or rail transport, he mentioned

A developed India by 2047 makes it imperative that urban mobility is a crucial driver towards that goal, especially since nearly 50% of the population will be in urban areas In his concluding remarks, Puri said that we can start preparing the roadmap for what urban transport will look like in 2047.

EV Sales Crossed One lakh in October 2022 in India

 Varnika Jain, Commerce Student

lectric vehicles saw a surge in sales and they made a hitting point by selling 1 Lakh vehicles this year. This rapid sale could be owned to various factors, the biggest reason being the war between Russia and Ukraine that made the matters worse and led to hefty prices incurred on the oil barrel As of November 4, 2022, the price of WTI crude oil is 92 61 per barrel This brings a heavy toll on the pockets of normal citizens who appeared worried EVs were bringing some panacea to the mobility sector of India On average 140 EVs are registered on a daily basis

Previous Benchmark

The Indian economy’s automotive industry currently ranks fifth globally, but by 2030 it is projected to move up to third place The transition to electric vehicles has begun,

despite the fact that the majority of vehicles still run on gasoline In October 2022, total EV sales grew month over month by 28 1% to 1,19,889 units Additionally, there was a y o y increase of over 200%. Sales of electric vehicles picked up in 2022, increasing up to 200% for all two wheeler, three wheeler, and four wheelers This shows that people are dedicated to buying EVs

Top Players in EV Two Wheeler

Company Name OCT 22 Sales

Ola Electric 16178 Units

Okinawa Au 14924 Units

Ampere Vehicles 10053 Units

Hero Electric 8861 Units

Ather Energy 7306 Units

Facts and Figures 2W Sales

The market for electric two wheelers is burgeoning and expanding quickly Retail sales in the first quarter of FY2022 exceeded 1 lakh, which might be seen as a sign of customers’ maturing and growing acceptance of electric vehicles Sales of high speed electric two wheelers reached 122,015 units in the first quarter of FY2022, with a monthly average of 40,672 units sold

In the first quarter of FY2022, Ola Electric just edged out Okinawa Autotech by 532 units, indicating that there is intense competition for the top spot

With the first ever deployment of 20,000 electric two wheeler units in India in October, Ola Electric continued to hold the top spot this month The start of the holiday season and the increase in sales were mostly caused by physical retailers. While Hero Electric further slipped to number four, Okinawa kept the number two spot Ampere surged to rank three after seeing a more than 50% rise in sales from the previous month Jitendra New EV Tech unexpectedly replaced Revolt in the top 10 clubs

Top Players in EV Three Wheeler

The top 5 electric three wheeler brands in terms of retail sales as of October 2022 are Yatri EV, Mahindra Electric, Mayuri, Citylife, and champion Poly Plast

Company Name OCT 22 Sales

YC Electric Vehicle (Yatri): 3151 Units

Mahindra Electric: 2953 Units Saera Electric Auto (Mayuri) 1904 Units

Dilli Electric Auto (Citylife) 1521 Units Champion Poly Plast 1295 Units

Facts and Figures 3W sales

Sales of registered E3Ws of the passenger and cargo types were 31,837 units and 2,959 units, respectively, in October 2022 This represents an m o m reduction of 4 82% for the E3W Passenger and an increase of 10 12% for the E3W Cargo E3W Freight This month’s decreased sales of E3W Passenger were mostly caused by decreased sales of E Rickshaw (P).

Manufacturer of e rickshaws and e carts Yatri, based in New Delhi, sold 3,151 e three wheelers in October 2022, placing it at the top of the retail sales list In Northern India, the e rickshaw brand Yatri is well known The business makes electric rickshaws, electric carts, and electric loaders

Mahindra Electric, with 2,953 sales in October, is in second place Electric pick up/delivery/cargo vehicles and auto rickshaws are also available from Mahindra The Mahindra Treo is India’s most popular electric auto rickshaw The brand’s other electric 3 wheelers are the Treo Yaari, Treo Zor, and Zor Grand

Top Players in EV Four Wheeler

Tata Motors

MG Motor India

Hyundai motors Ltd

BYD India

Facts and Figures 4W sales

The overall number of E cars sold in October 2022 was 4,984 units, up 17.6% month over month but more than 2.8

times year over year in registrations. The E car has been operated by Tata Motors. Additionally, sales this month witnessed more than 80% of the total E car registrations held by the Company Hyundai was the only other automaker to have a modest uptick in E car sales this month, aside from Tata Motors and MG Motor This month marked the beginning of Kia Motors’ E car sales

Road Ahead

The demand seems to be rising every day and with the government providing subsidies on electric vehicles along with a GST cut, people have been inclined to use this opportunity and invest in the advancing technology along with saving bucks on petrol filling

Delhi became National Capital for EVs

In its quest to become the nation’s capital for electric vehicles, Delhi appears to be nearing a critical turning point. More EVs were sold in the city in a single year since 2018 25,890 in all during the first half of 2022 Through June 30, this year, 9 3 percent of all vehicles registered in the nation’s capital were electric vehicles, up from 5 6 percent in all of 2021 Five years ago, 96 7 percent of all electric vehicles sold in Delhi were e rickshaws or e carts; in 2019, 93 4 percent of all EV sales were made Only one in every four electric vehicles sold this year are e rickshaws or e carts, down from 83 percent in 2020 when the EV policy was enacted to 57.9 percent. ***

REC signs MoU with MMRDA to fund ₹30,483 crores for nine Mumbai Metro corridors

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with REC Limited for the funding of Rs30,483 crores for the ongoing nine corridors of Mumbai Metro Rail projects in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR)

According to MMRDA, the funding, which has been raised from REC Limited at the rate of 7 59% for the first time, will help to fast track the metro rail work across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

"MMRDA has undertaken various ambitious metro line projects to weave a metro network in the Mumbai Metropolitan region to ensure smooth travel for Mumbaikars Considering the ambitious nature of these projects, these projects require huge capital investment in the initial stage," said the official release

The MoU was signed during the 153th annual board meeting of MMRDA at Mantralaya on 20th October 2022. It was chaired by the Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. “This will resolve the liquidity issues and help the authority to complete the ongoing projects speedily Had this facility not been availed, we would have asked for loans from financial institutions or raised funds by monetising lands,” said SVR Shrinivas, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA

For 9 Metro Lines which are under various implementation stages by MMRDA, REC Ltd, a Government of India undertaking and a Maharatna Company under Ministry of Power has sanctioned in May 2022 a Loan of Rs 30,483 crs (Rs 14,434 crs towards Electrical & Mechanical and associated works and Rs 16,049 crs or in principle for non Electrical & Mechanical work) was approved

Apart from this, the board also gave a nod to the various infrastructure projects worth Rs17,215 crores in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and parts of Mumbai Metropolitan Region The permission was also given for the commence feasibility study and detailed project report for Mumbai Metro 9 MMRDA has approved the the proposal to handing over its land at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) for the under construction Mumbai Ahmedabad High Speed Bullet Train corridor to National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL). The transport development project with the cost of Rs 289 crores at Teen Haath Naka, Thane, was given the go ahead in the board meeting The proposal of Rs 143 crores for the Bhiwandi Wada state highway was also approved by the MMRDA board

Another proposal of a multi storey parking lot with the estimated cost of Rs 81 53 crores was also approved by the MMRDA board. “The MMRDA should complete all these projects in a time bound manner,” said Eknath Shinde.

European Union decided to ban sale of diesel and petrol cars from 2035

The European Parliament and Council reached an agreement on the Commission's proposal to place a ban on the sale of new cars and vans with combustion engines from 2035 on 28th October 2022

The decision marks the first step in the adoption of the "Fit for 55" legislative proposals, the EU's target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 It was tabled by the Commission in July 2021 and essentially concerns the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, light commercial vehicles as well as hybrids (petrol electric) From 2035 the sale of these vehicles will be banned

Following the announcement Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal, said, “The agreement sends a strong signal to industry and consumers Europe is embracing the shift to zero emission mobility European carmakers are already proving they are ready to step up to the plate, with increasing and increasingly affordable electric cars coming to the market The speed at which this change has happened over the past few years is remarkable It is no wonder that this file is the first one in the entire Fit for 55 package where Member States and the European Parliament have come to a final deal.”

This clear signal to manufacturers and citizens will accelerate the production and sale of low and zero emission vehicles and put road transport on a firm path to climate neutrality by 2050. This new legislation will make the EU's transport system more sustainable, provide cleaner air for Europeans and marks an important step in delivering the European Green Deal

“This is the make or break decade in the fight against the climate and biodiversity crises The European Union has set ambitious targets and today we present how we can meet them Getting to a green and healthy future for all will require considerable effort in every sector and every Member State. Together, our proposals will spur the necessary changes, enable all citizens to experience the benefits of climate action as soon as possible, and provide support to the most vulnerable households Europe's transition will be fair, green and competitive", Timmermans added

The European Green Deal, presented by the Commission on 11 December 2019, sets the goal of making Europe the first climate neutral continent by 2050. The European Climate Law, which enters into force this month, enshrines in binding legislation the EU's commitment to climate neutrality and the intermediate target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels The EU's commitment to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 was communicated to the UNFCCC in December 2020 as the EU's contribution to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The EU's long term budget for the next seven years will provide support to the green transition 30% of programmes under the €2 trillion 2021 2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and NextGenerationEU are dedicated to supporting climate action; 37% of the €723 8 billion (in current prices) Recovery and Resilience Facility, which will finance Member States' national recovery programmes under NextGenerationEU, is allocated to climate action. ***

Infra

The Urban Infra Group (Urban Infra Communication Pvt Ltd, Urban Transport News and Metro Rail Today) in association with i Metro, Rail Land Development Authority, Ministry of Railways and other leading industry players has successfully hosted the 2nd edition of Urban Infra Business Summit & Awards 2022 in New Delhi, India The event was organised at India International Centre, New Delhi and attended by more than hundred renowned industry leaders from the Government, Nodal Ministries, Public Sector Undertakings and Private Players. The theme of event was "India@75: Development of Rail, Metros, Transportation and Urban Infrastructure in India"

The 2nd Urban Infra Business Summit & Awards 2022 was jointly inaugurated by Chief Guests Shri Ashish Kundra, Principal Secretary & Transport Commissioner, Government of Delhi; Shri Vinay Kumar Singh, Managing Director, National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) and Smt Mamta Shah, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Editor, Urban Infra Group Publications followed by national anthem and Welcome Note by Ms Himani Gupta, Vice President (Marketing), Urban Infra Group

In his keynote address, Shri Ashish Kundra has delivered insightful speech on how is Delhi becoming a role modal for sustainable transportation systems in India. He noted various key initiatives taken by Government of Delhi and Delhi Transport Department to curb the carbon emissions and provide safe, sustainable & ecofriendly public transportation systems in past years

" First of all, we are trying to move to a clean fuel technology so which means we are encouraging use of BS VI CNG & electric powered vehicles if I just take this few times the active registered vehicles in Delhi uses about 80 lakhs to 30% already in the clean fuel space which means increasingly the number of clean fuel technology based vehicles are increasing in Delhi," said Kundra. "We have given a major push to electric mobility in the personal transport space and I am happy to share that the numbers this year are increased more than 10% of newly registered vehicles are electric In fact, the numbers in October are touching 11% and two wheelers are fastest growing segment unlike it was the e rickshaws in the past are the main segment of growth in electric mobility"

Prof (Dr ) Surabhi Singh has given the presentation on Transforming Transport Infrastructure with Sustainable Marketing and suggested some measures need to be taken to achieve the sustainable transportation system in India at par with other developed countries

During the day, conference participants had the opportunities to choose among various technical sessions to discuss topics and develop recommendations Topics included challenges in implementation of major urban infrastructure projects (like Rail, Metro & Transportation) in India and suggested solutions; various opportunities for investors in modernisation of Indian Railways Stations; Investment, Financing and Business Avenues in Urban Railways, Infrastructure and Mobility Industry in India; issues in major Urban Infra contracts and suggested measures to achieve sustainable goals; opportunities in Rolling Stock & systems market in India and Asset Monetization and Business Avenues at Railway Heritage Sites.

Shri Vinay Kumar Singh has given a very insightful speech supported by a detailed presentation on the Role of Regional Rapid Transit Systems (RRTS) in Urban and Regional Development in India He also discussed about advantage of RRTS over other modes of transportation systems and how RRTS will fill the gap of regional commute across the country

At the beginning of each sessions participant were presented with background information and discussion questions. Then, following a structured process of brainstorming and information exchange, participants in the sessions reached consensus on various recommendations and discussed barriers and solutions

Plenary Session on Implementation of major urban infrastructure projects in India Challenges & Solutions

This technical session was moderated by Ms Harshita Jain, Director, Consulting Engineers Group Ltd This technical session was participated by eminent speakers namely Shri Rajesh Prasad, Director (Operations), Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL); Shri Ashish Singh, Vice President (Marketing & Business Development), KEC International Ltd. and Shri Siddharth Jha, Head (Rail Business), WSP Global.

Plenary Session on Rolling Stock & Systems Emerging Business Opportunities in India

This session was moderated by Shri Keshav Kumar, Railway System Expert This session was participated by eminent speakers namely Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Former Member (Rolling Stock), Railway Board, Ministry of Railways; Dr Anirudh Gautam, Principal Executive Director, RDSO Lucknow; Shri M C Chauhan, Former GM (NCR & Metro Railway Kolkata), Indian Railways; Shri Devendra Dutta Mishra, Executive Director (Rolling Stock), Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha Metro) and Shri Harshkumar Bajpeyee, Managing Director, Schwihag India

This session was moderated by Dr. Namrita Kalsi, Principal Architect, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) This session was participated by eminent speakers namely Shri Sudhendu J Sinha, Advisor (Infrastructure & E Mobility), NITI Aayog; Shri Abhijeet Sinha, National Program Director (Ease of Doing Business) and Project Director (National Highway for Electric Vehicles); Shri Nanduri Srinivas, Director (Operations & BD), Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL); Smt. Vinita Srivastava, Executive Director (Heritage), Railway Board, Ministry of Railways; Shri Ashish Saini, Dy Financial Advisor & Chief Accounts Officer, Northern Railway (Indian Railways) and Shri Harsh Dhingra, Management Consultant (Rail & Metro)

Presentation on Modernisation of Indian Railways Stations - A big opportunity for Investors

Shri Vinod Kumar, General Manager (Business Development), Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) has given a very insightful and worthy presentation on mega investment opportunities in modernisation of Indian Railways' Stations under Ministry of Railways, Government of India. The Ministry of Railways has developed several redevelopment plans for railway stations, including the Model Station Scheme, Modern Station Scheme and Adarsh Station Scheme More than thousand Railway stations will be redeveloped under the PPP modal

Plenary Session on Investment, Financing and Business Avenues in Urban Railways, Infrastructure and Mobility Industry in India

Presentation on issues in major Urban Infra contracts and suggested measures to achieve sustainable goals

Shri Veer Narayan, Technical Director Railways, Systra Ltd has given a very interesting and insightful presentation on issues in major Urban Infra contracts and suggested measures to achieve sustainable goals According to him, the major urban infrastructure projects deal with different types of challenges like working in public space with tough environmental guidelines, lot of utilities, multiple stockholders, interference from public, tight timelines, limitation of working hours and space etc These constraints leads to tough conditions in project management, scheduling, quality and safety issues. His presentation deals with the challenges to the major urban infrastructure projects and how to fine tune the contract agreement to deal with these challenges

Award Ceremony

The 2nd Urban Infra Business Summit & Awards 2022 was concluded after a grand award ceremony where Urban Infra Business Leadership Awards were felicitated to a total of 41 winners in Individual and Corporate Leadership Categories The awards were felicitated by Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Former Member (Rolling Stock), Railway Board, Ministry of Railways; Shri M C Chauhan, Former GM (NCR & Metro Railway Kolkata), Indian Railways and Shri Abhijeet Sinha, National Program Director (Ease of Doing Business) and Project Director (National Highway for Electric Vehicles)

Presentation on Asset Monetization and Business Avenues at Railway Heritage Sites

Smt Vinita Srivastava, Executive Director (Heritage), Railway Board, Ministry of Railways has given a very interesting and insightful presentation on how business avenues can be created through asset monetization at Indian Railways Heritage Sites Her presentation was supported by various examples and initiatives being taken by other countries.

The 2nd Urban Infra Business Summit & Awards 2022 brought together national and international experts, technology and service providers, policy makers, think tanks, practitioners and officials from Railways, Metros, Urban Transport and Infrastructure sectors under one roof

The 3rd Edition of Urban Infra Business Summit & Awards 2023 will be hosted in next year on 10th October 2023 at India International Centre, New Delhi, India

The vote of thanks was delivered by Ms. Himani Gupta, Vice President, Urban Infra Group, who mentioned how the event was a unique forum of networking with experts and exchanging of ideas

Padmashree Dr E Sreedharan conferred as Most Exemplary Urban Infra Leader for his Life Time Achievements and Contribution for developing mass rapid urban transit systems in India.

Award 1 Dr. E. Sreedharan

Most Exemplary Urban Infra Leader (LTA) 2 Mr. Vinay Kumar Singh Most Innovative Urban Infra Leader 3 Mr. Sudhansu Mani Most Innovative Railway Technology Leader 4 Dr. Brijesh Dixit Modern Metroman of Maharashtra 5 Mr. Rakesh Gaur

Most Accomplished EPC Business Leader 6 Ms. Manjula V. Most Innovative Urban Mobility Leader 7 Dr. Namrita Kalsi Most Innovative Urban Infra Architect 8 Mrs. Vinita Sribastava Most Innovative Heritage Railway Leader 9 Dr. Amita Singh Emerging Urban Infra Women Leader 10 Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Best Public Transporter of Silicon Velley 11 Chennai Metro Rail Ltd Most Preferred Metro of South India 12 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd Most Admired System In India 13 Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd Excellence in New Rail Infrastructure Development 14 Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd Sustainable Metro on PPP Model 15 Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd Innovator of Eco Friendly Metro System 16 Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Ltd Emerging Metro Operator of the Year 17 RDSO Excellence in technical Advisory for Rail & Metro System 18 Bharat Electricals Ltd Excellence in Indigenous Innovation for Rail & Metro 19 L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Excellence in Community Centric Technology Innovation 20 Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd Excellence in Commuter Friendly technology Innovation 21 Dedicatec Frieght Corridor Corporation of India Ltd Excellence in Railway Frieght & Logistics

Alstom Transport Excellence in Rolling Stock Solutions 23 Sensedge Transportation Systems & Solutions Pvt Ltd Excellence in Railway Signaling Sloutions

Railtel Corporation of India Excellence in Railway Telecom Solutions

Schwihag India Pvt Ltd Excellence in Railway Track Technology Solutions 26 Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. Excellence in Railway E Locomotives Solutions

HYT Engineering Co. Pvt Ltd Excellence in Railway M&P Solutions

Aludecor Lemination Pvt Ltd Excellence in 3D Facade Solutions

Atal Indore

INDUSTRY EVENT CALENDER 2022

Dates Event Name Venue

January 20 InfraTalk Virtual

February 10 Rolling Stock Forum London, UK

February 15 17 International Railway Summit Berlin, Germany

March 8 10 RailTech Europe Utrecht, Netherlands

March 9 10 UITP India Urban Rail Seminar Virtual

March 15 18 Rail Digi Expo Virtual

March 17 19 RailwayTech Jakarta, Indonesia

March 22 24 Global Stainless Steel Expo 2022 Mumbai, India

March 23 25 Transport India Expo New Delhi, India

April 4 5 Rail Modernization Summit 2022 New Delhi, India

May 11 12 Asia Pacific Rail 2022 Bangkok, Thailand

May 23 24 Urab Transport Projects Abu Dhabi, Dubai

June 5 9 World Congress on Railway Research Birmingham, UK

June 20 21 The Multimodal Show 2022 New Delhi, India

July 15 UITP India Bus Seminar 2022 New Delhi, India

August 21 24 International Conference on Railway Technology Montpellier, France

September 20 23 InnoTrans 2022 Berlin, Germany

October 26 Modern Railways RVE Milton Keynes, UK

November 4 6 Urban Mobility India Conference & Expo Kochi, India

November 7 Urban Infra Business Summit & Awards 2022 New Delhi, India

November 9 10 MOVE London, UK

Nov 29 Dec 1 Rail Live 2022 Malga, Spain